Well, September is upon us and I'm starting to wind down the gardening activities. Truth be told, it's been much easier than I imagined. After we got the garden bed constructed and I planted everything, it really was just a matter of being patient and watering and weeding.
Not so complicated. Not so difficult.
Though there have been many stumbles. We planted too many tomatoes, too close together. I planted the broccoli in the middle of the garden, not realizing that it would sprawl several feet and take up way too much room. My peas were too delicate and too sparse to really make much of an impact and my zucchini never sprouted at all. Such is the life of an amateur gardner. Half the time I was proud beyond what I deserved, and often I was so clueless and impatient I felt like ripping it out.
Still, I did love it. I've already started talking to Mike about creating a second raised bed next year and plotting just where it will go. Likewise, I'm researching how to tackle the zucchini problem. There is an organic gardening course offered through the park district and I'm determined to take it next year.
Recently, I had some heartbreak. My tomatoes started to develop this nasty yellow spotting all over the leaves, they got all brown and gross and I had to prune them down nearly 80%. They are but a shadow of their former selves. I asked my next door neighbor if she was having this same attack on her tomatoes. She politely pointed out that plants don't live forever. They've just reached their peak and are dying out. Oh yeah. Duh. It's the end of the season.
So I'm harvesting the last of the to-maters and just now getting my tiny crop of peppers. I've been waiting forever for these little puppies to show up. Yellow bell peppers. If I pull this off, I will be ecstatic. And, by the looks of it, I will have one shortly.
Meanwhile, it's a little sad watching my garden dwindle down. I've pulled out all the beans and peas and planted lettuces in their place. They are cold weather plants and will be a nice way to extend the life of the garden. I'm just hoping they make it. Lately, the raccoons have been getting into our garbage and I fear my garden will soon be on their radar.
But the squash have decided to grace me with their presence finally and I see six small vegetables peaking out from the vines. I love watching these grow. The huge thick vines will sprout a pretty orange flower and then right at that juncture between the flower and the vine a squash will grow. See below... Isn't that cool?
It's been a great time and I'm so glad we pulled it off. Of course, the neighbors helped by offering advice and watering while we were out of town. And the internet deserves a hearty pat on the back for giving me information about how to handle mold on leaves and stake plants.
I'm no farmer, but I can understand how you can get addicted to gardening. It's so much more productive than other outdoor activities. Flowers? Bushes? Nah... not my thing. But food? Oh yeah, I'm in. I even find myself getting snobbish about the amount of space and water wasted on huge designer landscapes in the nearby McMansions. Just think of the tomatoes that yard could produce!
But I know that some people love flowers and bushes and really who am I to judge anyone else's love of nature? The Roth Homestead will resume its activities next year and I'm sure I'll have even more pictures of produce to amaze you with (cuz you're amazed, right? of course you are!).
April, come quickly, we're already excited to start seeds again.
2 comments:
yes! I am amazed! your garden was/is awesome. huge pats on the back to you. and when I finally get into this, you are going to have to be my teacher, okay?
Well done! I am very impressed with your first year's work. I remember so many summers in the back yard garden at our old house in KC. Lots of cool memories as a kid watching that food grow. Good luck with many more growing years!
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