A Redhead Said...: How Does Your Garden Grow?

This blog is waaaay overdue. Months overdue. Michael kept asking me when I was going to blog about our vegetable garden, and well, blogging took a backseat to life. Plus, my kids are just way too cute not to write about them instead.

But I have to write about the garden because I'm just so gosh-darn proud of it! Does that sound cheesy? Does it also sound cheesy that it's a dream come true to have one? I tried to plant vegetables on our condo balcony in Florida but the lack of sunlight made it impossible. Then we moved to Ohio and I didn't want to start one at our rental home. Last summer we moved into our new house too late in the season to start. This year, though, it was finally time, and I owe a huge thank you to the hubster for making it happen.

This is how it started. It's a little long-winded but it will be great reference material for me to use during next year's planting season.

Michael bought me a "starter kit" with 18 seed cups: Butterhead lettuce (2), Romaine lettuce (1), Loose Leaf lettuce (red) (2), Spinach (1), Snap Peas (1), Bush Beans (1), Sweet Pepper (1), Tomato (2), Cucumber (1), Basil (2), Cilantro (2), and Dill (2).

To get a jump on the growing season I started the seeds in cups in the laundry room in April while Michael built the garden.

I initially wanted the garden along the side of the house but there's not enough sunlight there. Neither of us liked the idea of adding a permanent installation (at this time anyway) in our backyard. I suggested a gardening table, and then Michael one-upped me. He built me a garden wagon.

It's about 4x8', complete with wagon wheels and a tow hitch. We drilled holes in the bottom, added a layer of gravel, filled it with soil (a lot of soil), hooked it up to the riding lawnmower and positioned it in the yard. Every week or so we move it to another sunny location in the backyard so we're not killing the grass. It really is ideal! At season's end we can bring it in the garage for storage (or heck, fill it with hay and give the neighborhood hayrides!). Maybe next year we'll even fancy her up with paint.

I struggled with the planting since each plant needs a certain amount of room, and being a complete novice (and graphic designer) I drew up a map to determine where to plant each and how far apart so we could maximize the space most fully. I used bamboo sticks to mark out all the plantings first, and then went back and transplanted the pods. I interspersed marigolds, too, to help keep pests away. I planted them in early May, but up here around these parts, they recommend planting after Mother's Day for a lessened chance of frost.

I was delighted at how quickly we saw growth! It's no wonder teachers use pea plants in elementary classrooms; they shoot up so fast! Every day after work I check on the garden and marvel at one day's progress.

The cucumber and the green beans didn't take at all because they need to be planted in-ground initially and not transplanted like I did by mistake. The tomatoes didn't take either, and I'm not sure why. We had one last cold snap (but no frost) after planting that may have zapped them. Or perhaps I overwatered. I was a bit obsessive about watering in the beginning!

Once the garden started to flourish, we added rosemary and thyme, more beans and peas, two immature tomato plants and a jalapeño plant. Those last two, plus the sweet pepper, are just starting to ripen now. We are really enjoying the lettuces, the fresh basil and cilantro (yum!) and the delicious fresh peas! Adam loved them raw! Because we had a late start on the tomatoes we'll be nearing the end of our lettuce crops just as our tomatoes ripen. I'm considering planting a few more to take us through the fall.

It's been a learning process.

Yes, that's lettuce. Bolted lettuce.

If it says direct to soil planting, don't try to plant in containers first. I got so carried away with my planting that I noticed after the fact that some can't be transplanted, like the beans and cucumbers. They didn't survive.
Plant more of what you love! Since this was our first crop, we only used what came in the kit, for the most part. We soon discovered that one pea plant was not enough! Last month we added 6 more pea plants and 4 new bean plants. Next year I'd plant at least 6 of each and stagger the planting so everything won't be ready at the same time. We harvested all the peas at one time and are still waiting, and waiting, and waiting for more to be ready!
Have you ever heard of bolting? My lettuces sure know how to do it. It's when the lettuce grows really tall instead of staying in a ball near the ground. It's attributed to heat, so next year I may not plant the lettuce quite so early. We've enjoyed the lettuce anyway!
Harvest even if you're not going to eat it to promote continued growth. We went on vacation, and while we were gone the cilantro and dill began blooming/went to seed. Had we been here to keep pruning we may have had a longer crop.
We limited ourselves to 2 tomato plants (plum and beefsteak). We'll see if that's enough or too much. Those are almost ripe now and can't wait to pair it with the fresh basil!
I don't know if we have a slow grower, but the sweet pepper is taking forever to bear fruit. I'd definitely plant this as early as possible to get it producing earlier.
I would probably not plant the red lettuce (I prefer the green) and not the dill (unless anyone has suggestions for dill?).
Next year I'd have at least 3 cilantro plants, two sweet pepper plants, maybe a squash and maybe some strawberries for fun.

It's a nice way to spend part of my evening, out by the gardening, checking the progress, and picking crop for dinner. Adam loves to help me do "sprinkles and showers" (taken from his Brothers Forever book meaning watering the garden) and has on occasion become too ambitious picking the "vegetables" (leaves) on his own.