Mom brought me a surprise home last week. She brought me a bag full of different types of seeds, including flowers, vegetables, and herbs. She told me she'd like to plant a garden this year, and I got really excited! I think it will be really fun! On Sunday, we tilled up the ground and made a barrier with old broken limbs that we found in the woods. Mom said it would be more natural, plus they were free. It was really hot and sunny by then, so we decided to move on to some potting work in the shade. We planted herbs in individual pots. We planted oregano, cilantro, dill, and lots of others. I also helped her clean out her planters and add new annuals for a splash of color in the front yard.
Today, I was excited to get started on planting and started bugging Mom as soon as I walked in the door from school. Dad said growing in dirt mounds grows stronger plants, so that's what we did. I used a hoe to make the dirt into mounds. We added potting soil to the top to give more nutrients and to help hold in the moisture. Instead of using black mesh weed barrier, we used wet newspapers. The newspapers are better because they are "natural" and will eventually disintegrate into the ground. We chose which plants to put where by their spacing needs and by how much sun they needed. We planted sunflowers, tomatoes, carrots, squash, kale, cucumbers, and watermelon. We also planted Marigold seeds around the edges because they act as a natural bug repellant. The bugs think they stink.
I think this garden is a good thing for my family to do together. I am really hoping that our work pays off and that I can see lots of cool things grow. I'm glad we might have real fresh food that we grew in our own backyard. I'm interested to see if they will taste different than the ones we buy from the store. I'm going to use this blog to keep track of our progress and let you know what happens. I hope you will read about our garden adventure and tell me if you have any tips or experiences of your own to share.
Today, I was excited to get started on planting and started bugging Mom as soon as I walked in the door from school. Dad said growing in dirt mounds grows stronger plants, so that's what we did. I used a hoe to make the dirt into mounds. We added potting soil to the top to give more nutrients and to help hold in the moisture. Instead of using black mesh weed barrier, we used wet newspapers. The newspapers are better because they are "natural" and will eventually disintegrate into the ground. We chose which plants to put where by their spacing needs and by how much sun they needed. We planted sunflowers, tomatoes, carrots, squash, kale, cucumbers, and watermelon. We also planted Marigold seeds around the edges because they act as a natural bug repellant. The bugs think they stink.
I think this garden is a good thing for my family to do together. I am really hoping that our work pays off and that I can see lots of cool things grow. I'm glad we might have real fresh food that we grew in our own backyard. I'm interested to see if they will taste different than the ones we buy from the store. I'm going to use this blog to keep track of our progress and let you know what happens. I hope you will read about our garden adventure and tell me if you have any tips or experiences of your own to share.
Til next time... Steven
Steven, good luck with your garden. It can be a lot of fun but it does take some work to get things to grow just right. My son is going to be 9 in July and helped me plant sunflowers in the front yard. We are also going to plant watermelon and already have 3 tomato plants that are doing great. Keep up the good work in the garden, and on your blog. ~ Valerie™
ReplyDeleteGood luck Steven! A garden is so much fun and so rewarding! Not to mention the yummy fruits and vegetables that you will harvest. I didn't know that about the the marigolds. Thanks for sharing. Dale and I will be following along with your progress. Happy harvest!
ReplyDeleteSteven, I'm so excited to hear about your garden! You've done it exactly right to this point, as you probably know, right down to the chicken wire against the rabbits.
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest checking with people there who know the climate/seasonal crops to see what you can plant as you harvest. You can get a lot out of a little space.
There is a book that might interest you: "All New Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew that comes in a Kindle edition that you can download.
Keep up the posts. We need a neighborhood gardener when you get back to SC!
Lacy, the neighbor who composts her yard