Gardening is just great, in case you haven’t heard.
It’s also a lot of work, but it teaches you about growth and hardship and nature and hard work and harvesting and celebrating. So much wrapped up in this daily task to make you feel more close to the earth.
But anyway, I was excited to do my garden a little bit different this year, mainly easier.
Since we were on a trip to Chicago and out in France for a few weeks in April and May, I decided I was just going to buy seedlings already growing from my local farm stand instead of growing from seed.
Lesson 1: Starting from seedlings is much easier
This probably isn’t surprising, but when the tomato, squash, zucchini and pepper plants are already strong, there’s a much better chance that they’ll stay alive…even through a freak hailstorm! (Our roof didn’t fare so well, but we just got it replaced.)
I think there might be a time in the future that I grow some heirlooms or specific kinds from seeds, but I’ve been very impressed with how the ones I picked up have flourished. It makes sense that I was able to buy varieties that already do well in my area and climate, too. And it was about $15 for the whole lot of dozens of seedlings.
You can compare the garden after the first few weeks and today above.
I just ate my first Better Boy tomato on a sandwich, and boy, was it delicious!
Lesson 2: Deer are always here, except when you have fishing line
Let me explain. I’ve never seen deer in my neighborhood, but we do live near some forested areas, so they’re there. And I don’t ever notice them until a few weeks into gardening when I start to see some pepper and tomato stalks chomped.
It makes me so mad because it’s a yearly struggle. I thought the contraption we bought that is solar powered and flashes and emits a high-pitched noise when it sees movement would work, but I guess they got over that over time.
So, I read a blog that said stakes with fishing line wrapped around them was just enough to scare the deer from eating your plants…and it’s worked! As far as I can tell, our plant babies are protected, and the biggest concern is now how I get in and to harvest things. It’s not easy or pretty, but I make do.
Lesson 3: Squash is amazing
I bought some yellow squash and zucchini plants this year, and while I haven’t seen much of anything come from the zucch, the yellow squash has had a nice little harvest. We’ve had about 4 squashes and made some delicious dishes from them.
I am currently a bit worried that the aphids have taken over our crop, so let me know if you have a fix for that! I’ve only tried spraying slightly soapy water on them so far.
Lesson 4: Extra flowers and bees are always good
My husband got excited about planting a small bee garden with pollinator plants this year, and I’m really proud of him! We’ve got salvia, banana peppers, lavender and another pink plant I can’t remember, and generally the bees are loving that and the herbs and other flowers.
I even ran across these bright and viny portulaca plants at the grocery store and they’re zesting up my front flower pot!
We also had some landscaping added to our yard and a wildflower garden from seed in the back that’s finally starting to grow some pretty blooms.
I hope you enjoyed my garden update! Feel free to leave your tips about growing and gardening.