The 2021 Garden
Well friends, I am happy to report that the 2021 garden is officially done. That's right. I wrapped up the last of the garden move, planting, mulching, and watering this week. All I can say is that it was a major whirlwind of getting things done. I can sit back now and just watch it grow. But knowing me, I'll find other things to do or add to it somehow. Although I will admit, I am out of room for this year. I still have a couple of cosmetic things to do--mostly putting rocks around some of the 'in-ground' beds that I made. You'll be able to see them in the pics below.
Planting
So. I didn't keep track of what I planted and when I planted it (although looking back at my posts here, I can tell I started planting the week of May 17th so we'll use that as our record for the future). It was mostly a free for all. Buy plants, plant them where ever there's room. Throw some seeds in the ground. Mark them. Hope for the best. But what I can tell you is that I have one garden plot for veggies. One for herbs and a few flowers. The hay wagon is all flowers. There's berries. There's a bed of onions. There's a bed of asparagus and then another little plot for overflow (our neighbor dropped off 20 asparagus plants after I planted 20 already! You just wait. In three years we will be rolling in the asparagus!).
Vegetables
So here's the rundown:
1. Tomatoes. Lots and lots of tomatoes
2. Peppers: banana, bell, and jalapeno
3. Watermelon
4. Squash: butternut and acorn
5. Pumpkins: lots and lots of varieties. Some are 'volunteers' from the compost. I kept them and spread them around as I found room.
6. Cucumber
7. Cabbage
8. Onions
9. Strawberries
10. Blueberries
11. Asparagus
12. Currants
13. Cranberries
14. Pea (volunteer. Just one little plant)
15. Beans (bush beans)
16. Fennel
17. Leeks
18. Broccoli
19. Brussel Sprouts
20. Melons
21. Corn
22. Potatoes
23. Eggplant
24. Horseradish
I think that's it. I don't remember what I planted for herbs and flowers. I'll have to wait about a month for everything to take hold and start growing. Then I'll do a drawing of the garden and give you an update. All I know is that it was a LOT of work and I can't wait to see how it grows. I have my watering system down. Everything has been mulched with either mulch or with straw. The straw will eventually compact down and then I do another mulching with it. I bought 10 bales of straw thinking that it wouldn't be enough. I was wrong! It only took 3.5 bales to cover the herb and veg beds! Haha. So I have plenty leftover.
The Rest of the Story
I think that's it for now. I'll definitely be back with updates throughout the growing season. I really want to get the newly updated garden drawn out on paper so I will have a good record of what I planted and where. I'll try my best to keep better track of planting in the future. It got hot so quickly this year that I felt like I was racing against the clock. Oh. I will mention that I didn't have success the first time around with melons or mini gourds. I did replant those from seeds this past week. HA! So there's the start to my record keeping.
Oh. I also wanted to mention a couple of other garden related items. First, the frost got my fig tree and my geraniums. I thought they were a lost cause, but I'm happy to report that all are rebounding and now have green leaves growing. I had the fig in a pot for a few years now (a customer gave it to me a few years ago) but it hasn't been thriving. So I overwintered it in the unheated dining room and it looked so beautiful this spring! I had it on the back porch and another customer was asking me about it and said it looked good. He told me that he planted his fig in the ground and how he protects it during the winter. So I decided to plant it in the ground! We'll keep our fingers crossed that she gets big and strong and gives me lots and lots of figs!
Also, I decided to change up the theme for the garden after I went on a shopping spree last week. I went to Christmas Tree Shops thinking I would get more red, white, and blue stuff for the garden, but then I saw the nautical themed stuff and just about died. HAHA. Anyway, I decided to move the red, white, and blue to the front porch and the garden then got a mini makeover with nautical stuff. You guys must know by now how much I love nautical, beachy, and preppy stuff. It makes me happy and I didn't spend a ton of money. I do wish I'd bought more of those buoys on the rope to hang off the fence. At the time I thought they were 'expensive' at $6 each, but once I priced out how much it would cost to make them myself, I realized what a good deal they were. I stopped back by Christmas Tree Shops but they were sold out (naturally). OH well. I'm sure I'll think of something to add to the décor.
Speaking of décor, y'all! I finally have a scarecrow. I've wanted one for years and years. Ever since I started gardening way back when. And this was the year for one. I took my really old overalls, bought a shirt and hat at Salvation Army and then used the handle to a broken hoe, a salvaged 2x4 and the Mister put her together for me. Then I added the raffia hair and the fabric ties. I love her so!! She doesn't keep the birds away, but she sure is cute in the garden. For now, I'll leave you with this little video I shot for Instagram. Enjoy!
And should you want to read about the 2021 garden, you can do so here, here, here, and here.
'til next time
-k
xoxo