My Life of What Ifs

Monday, July 20, 2009

Green

For the last four years we have planted a garden here at the Swann homestead. The first year was really trial and error, and there wasn't much yield at all, probably because we planted a little bit of EVERYTHING and we also planted it all THISCLOSE to one another. The next year we trimmed some dead branches around the garden and moved it over so it would get more sun. Not bad, but not great either.

Last year we cleaned up, or out, an area of old deck wood (which left some excellent soil underneath) and moved our garden up to our fence. Even though we had been using a rototiller each year to really turn the soil we still had our Halloween pumpkins from the year before self-seed and take over, therefore leaving us with a glorified pumpkin patch. The girls thought it was great.

It should also be said that every year so far, I would pick about 4 cucumbers and then the vines would die off. This made me very angry. Four cucumbers is not enough!


Anyway, this year I think we've finally got it going on. Lots of sun, lots of spacing, and after three previous years the soil is much more hospitable to our little green plants. OK, there are still some weeds here and there, specifically around the fence (we live in a rabbit haven and must keep those pesky rascals away!) but things are really taking off and I am so excited!


Above is a nice picture of the whole garden, weeds and all. Here are a few pictures of what we have to look forward to, and yeah I have picked four cucumbers already! And the vines are still going strong.


Another beauty of a cucumber is almost ready to be picked and our five tomato plants have so many green specimens on them. Turn RED already!!!!!


Over there to the right we have two very tiny, but very lovely watermelons!!! Yes, watermelons, can you believe it! They may actually make it this year, and we may actually be able to...gasp... eat them!!!!!

And here to the left are some sprouts on our one, yes, I said ONE, pumpkin plant! So while we should have at least a pumpkin for each of our girls, we won't need to open our own roadside stand.

We also have green beans, radishes, squash, onions, garlic, green peppers and chili peppers, (yes my husband was feeling brave) to look forward to eating.

I love having a garden. I am also glad that our fourth year could give us the biggest and best harvest yet. Because with me no longer living in a corporate world and the economy in the crapper, it's never been sweeter to go out back and grab a tomato and a cucumber that you grew all on your own.

Stacy

1 comment:

Kristin said...

That's awesome! I would love to be able to plant a garden, but I have that whole "black thumb" wherein I kill every plant I touch. Also, the Westie tries to eat just about anything outside. Scott tried growing chili peppers years ago and Gracie found out the hard way that they are not very enjoyable for the canine types. :D