You know when you go to a restaurant and you say that your eyes were bigger than your stomach?
Well, at the Woodwards, our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs when it comes to projects. We always go a bit over the top. Do a little more than is normal. And then wonder why in the world we thought that was possible.
The garden’s sort of like that. We set our sights a little high and planted an area that is about 20×75. That’s a lot bigger than the garden we’ve planted the past two years – which was 0x0.
I thought it was about time for a garden update, since I’ve gotten a few questions about how it’s going. (Check out our overly ambitious plan for more details. I stuck pretty close to this plan.)
Overall, it has been going well. A few highs and lows …
I’m a slave to the weather.
We had a crazy spring and most everything got in the ground later than I expected. It was so cold for so long. And then it just rained and rained and rained some more. It ended up working out okay, because our plants were loving all the water. But, geez. I thought we were going to wash away.
Starting seeds didn’t go according to plan.
After all the work we did starting seeds in our basement growing station, they didn’t do great in the ground. I let them grow accustomed to being outside (hardening off) before planting, but they still didn’t adjust well. I think it may have been because they were still rather small and we have such hard, clay soil, even after adding compost and manure and tilling.
A few have survived, but I ended up having to buy a LOT of pepper and tomato plants, which is a bummer. But that’s okay. It’d be more of a bummer to have no peppers or tomatoes. Look. Pepper.
Hay is the best thing ever for our garden.
We bought a few hay bales and we’ve been using them as mulch between rows. Because we don’t live at the property (yet), we aren’t weeding as regularly as we probably should. So Ryan uses a hoe to get the weeds broken up between rows and then we spread hay to keep the weeds at bay. It really works well, and looks nice and neat to boot. It also makes a great walkway.
Found objects can be the best garden additions.
Ryan recently created trellises for the snap peas and cucumbers from these metal pieces in the ravine on our property. He says they were part of some sort of structure for pigs when the property was used as a hog farm.
Regardless, they have held up great for being in the ravine for 50+ years and are a sturdy way to hold vining vegetables. A stake easily holds it up.
Veggie progress reports
Our lettuce is dominating. I don’t know if it’s because they are getting a little more rain than normal, but they are still holding out into July. Normally, they’d be done and done by now.
I’ve already picked a bundle of snap peas, which we love to eat raw and steamed.
Our pumpkins and squash are going nuts. I so hope we get tons from these this year.
And we planted eight total rows of corns and pole beans (the pole beans are intended to grow up the corn stalks). This variety is a strawberry popcorn variety that has the neatest stem.
Once I broke down and bought tomato plants, they took off. I already have quite a few fruits growing.
The onions are going crazy. I could actually pick the green onions anytime, but we’re holding out for the big guys. (I Planted red, white and yellow varieties.)
And I also added a few strawberry plants. We likely won’t get any fruit this year, but maybe next year. And the leaves look uber happy.
For the first time ever, I am actually having luck growing cilantro. Again, maybe it was the rain. But, I see lots of salsa in my future.
And I have a dill plant that is looking awesome, too. I started this from seed and it’s the first time I’ve been able to get dill to grow from seed.
Harvest
The harvesting has already begun. The lettuce is always in abundance and we’ve also brought home a few peppers and snap peas.
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Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says
I’m still waiting to see a picture of you in overalls.
Kim Woodward says
OMG – the world isn’t ready.
Gretchen says
Fun! I love seeing other people’s garden updates….mine is so tiny!
Sara says
I have never been able to prevent cilantro from going to seed. It’s so finicky! Your garden is amazing. I have a basil plant, a jalapeño and a bell pepper and the jalapeño just got totally eaten by a rabbit. I hope if has intestinal issues now.
Heather Longoria says
Nice garden update!! Tim and I planted 2 square foot gardens. We have no idea what we are doing, but the gardens are literally busting at the seems! It’s fun to watch what happens in that jungle every day. 🙂
daisy says
Oh goodie, I’ve been waiting for a garden update. Love, love, love all that you are growing. Henry will be some kinda farmer.
Just wanted to share that I’ve had great success here in Central Florida (it gets hot here, ya know) with a lettuce variety called New Red Fire. It’s still growing and shows no signs of bolting, even in our 90 degree days.
Did you know that dill is a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies? Make sure Henry checks them for eggs!
Congrats on creating a wonderful garden bed full of yummy delights. Enjoy!
Lisa H. says
Love your garden AND your ambition! We planted sunflowers in a few pots out back, and I was amazed at how fast they sprouted. Does Henry visit the garden or help out much? It is so cool for kids to see where food really comes from. 🙂
Kim Woodward says
He does visit, but he mostly just wants to step on the plants and whine. So, not exactly a great experience for anyhow. 😉 Ahhh…. toddlers. Someday, I hope he loves it.
Erin says
Amazing! I’m so impressed with your strawberries – those leaves do look super happy! Mine – not so much 🙁
Happy harvesting!
Brooke says
We also have had bad luck with cilantro seeds in the past, but this year it surprised me and it grew bigger & better than ever! I am glad yours is also doing so well 🙂
Jena says
I love the garden!I’m in the middle of Florida and our soil is mostly sand and weeds. I’ve planted a garden for two years and haven’t been able to get plants to grow very well even with adding things to the soil. Right now here it’s too hot for just about anything to grow in the garden, although we too have lots and lots of rain. We gardeners have to be optimists though to put a seed in and hope and wait! Continued good luck! The peppers looked yummy!
Stephanie, Sandpaper & Glue says
yum!! I’m a little jealous of how much space you have to grow, but that’s definitely a lot to take care of too. I had to put my stuff in super late too.. my cucumbers JUST started and my peppers are still at the flowering stage. I had NO IDEA how big my one single tomato plant would get and need to stop for a tomato cage today, stakes are just not going to cut it.