I'll admit that the first day of the kind of sun that feels like it's burning your skin is the kind of day I get the urge to plant. It becomes time to dust off all of the old pots from last year, clear away the spiderwebs and occasional arachnid, and head to the local garden center.
I've got a community garden plot that's still in the plotting and planning stages in my mind. My first vegetable garden was last year, so this year I've got to show my garden neighbors that I can keep up with the best of them. Most of them are from the retirement home across the street and have thousands of garden hour experience on me. It showed in my pathetic, wimpy, half empty plot where the squash beetles outnumbered the produce. But between you and me, I was the silent observer, searching other plots for ideas on improving my space next year. This year.
I'm still a little hesitant to start the big garden too. The season is being tricky because it's starting a bit early and so the danger of cold temps at night still looms overhead. That's why we are starting an experiment on the deck with some leftover pots from last year. We've decided to plant some of the "losers" of last year's garden on the deck to see if we can make them produce some produce! I've also brought the herbs miles closer to the kitchen :)
Here's what we've got going so far:
I'm using my failed tomato plant container from last year to hold all of my soil and tools.
I'm thinking of drilling holes and adding rope handles for easy transport to and from the community garden???
Tips I'm going to try for this years big garden:
Planting marigolds to deter pests.
Using a fence or trellis to elevate my squash plants off the ground, hopefully keeping the squash beetle population at bay.
Planting zinnia to attract butterflies.
Erect a small perimeter fence to keep the rabbits out.
___________________________________________________________
Do any of you have vegetable containers?
Regular gardens?
What are your favorite gardening tips for a beginner like me?
What a great garden you are going to have!
ReplyDeleteI have the opposite of a green thumb...maybe that means I have a red thumb? Regardless, I love your ambition and all the goodies you have planted. I vow to plant some herbs this year...maybe I'll have a blistered thumb then?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have a great garden started! We did it last year with tomatoes and peppers, and just before they were ripe enough to eat, as they started changing colors, the squirrels came and ate them. All. Yeah, no fun :( So, this year I just planted some container herbs, and so far so good.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you, it should turn out great!
-Molly
www.justalittlecreativity.com