If you're a regular reader around here, it's no secret that I have a pretty bad track record with keeping plants alive. Nevertheless, that hasn't quelled my urge to try my hand at growing vegetables. So when the opportunity arose recently, I took it.
Our sidewalk project left us with a rectangular strip of dirt that was just begging to grow something. Remember what it looked like back here before the sidewalk? Let's reminisce...
Yeahhh.... pretty trash-tastic.
So once the sidewalk and resulting landscaping bed were completed, I figured there was no better time to attempt to be a gardener and plant some veggies. But first, I had to clean up the post-sidewalk mess:
Bricks, boards, concrete chunks, more bricks, potted daylilies, snow fence, and more bricks.
So after a couple hours of moving everything out of the way and tilling up the soil, I finally had an area to work with. (I ran out of places to put all the brick, so just had to line it up around my "garden"...maybe I'll actually put a brick border here someday?)
I decided to get zucchini, cucumber, and green beans. Hopefully they are all pretty easy to grow for a novice like me. I have no idea if this is enough space to be planting all these things, but I guess I'll find out. I feel like I've been told that the cucumber plant spreads a lot.... Anyway, after studying the directions on the seed packets, I got out my little hand shovel and got to work.
As it turns out, there are a lot of seeds in these packets, and I didn't end up using them all. Maybe that means I should have a bigger garden than this? I probably put them too close together as it is.
This picture looks pretty much the same as before, but the labeled flags are there as proof that the seeds have been planted.
I think seedlings are supposed to sprout in about a week or two, so now I just have to play the waiting game. And, more importantly, remember to water them. If they all grow, then I'll have some veggies ready to harvest in about 50-60 days. And if not, then I guess I only wasted about $8 on the seeds.
Do you have any experience growing vegetables? What do I need to know?
How fun! All three of these plants are viners, I believe. I usually grow my squash and cucumber up a fence or piece of chicken wire. It looks pretty climbing up and it likes the air circulation.
ReplyDeleteIs there any room to put a small piece of chicken wire?
It looks so nice I hope it yields a great harvest for you.
ReplyDeleteas long as you thin out the weak plants, that should be enough room! kim @ newlywoodwards is right, though-- you need a fence or some chicken wire for them to grow up! something sturdy, for sure :-)
ReplyDeleteKnow that the veggies you chose LOVE heat. Once it gets warm, get ready to make A LOT of roasted summer squash.
ReplyDeleteAlso? You should know that summer squash plants are HUGE. Seriously. Huge.
Good luck with your gardening. It looks like you've done a really nice makeover to that area!
ReplyDeleteI looove gardening, but alas, I was not blessed with a green thumb. I usually have a few plants that sputter their way through the year, and sometimes we even harvest a strawberry or two. I can usually manage an indoor herb garden for six months or so. But that's pretty much where it ends!
ReplyDeleteKelly
Keep those little seeds pretty wet and you should be fine in that spot. And I have to echo a trellis of some kind.
ReplyDeleteYou are too cute! lol. This is about how I sound when attempting to grow green things... "I'm not really sure what I'm doing, but I guess I'll figure it out." can't wait to see your amazing harvest!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your little garden! We haven't tried growing any vegetables, but my parents always had a large garden and it was great to be able to pick something fresh throughout the late summer!
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea for a small house! there no doubt about it!
ReplyDelete