Lessons From The Garden

Wasn’t it just spring and we were talking about preparing and prepping for the summer garden?

And here we are, almost fall, talking about the lessons from the garden.

For where it started >> CLICK HERE.

The garden got off to a great start. It rained shortly after I planted it which seemed to really help the plants.

By May, I could not believe how massive it was!

Sometime in June, however, things took a turn and plants started dying. At a rapid pace.

It could have been a number of factors such as heat and bugs, but I think it had something to do with me throwing used coffee grounds on it.

I read up on it after I had tossed them all over the garden. It appears that adding to the soil is key; not on top of the plants themselves.

Whoops!

What Went Well

The plants that thrived were my tomatoes, hot peppers, sunflowers, and zinnia.

The cut flowers were a huge attraction for the pollinators which turned out to be a win-win all around!

I’m still getting hot peppers as of today! I had forgotten how delicious a homegrown tomato really is. They will be missed over the next few seasons!

What Flopped

My cauliflower and eggplant never took off. Maybe it was too hot, maybe it was the bugs. Whatever the reason, they did not thrive.

My cucumbers were also a flop. This is my second time growing them and both times have led to less than stellar results. I think I will leave those alone next year.

I was shocked that some of the cut flowers did not pop, specifically the coneflower, morning glory, and asters.

What I Learned

Bugs were abundant. All shapes and sizes and life cycles. They were everywhere! I made sure to wear gloves when picking the produce as I hate the thought of touching a bug! :P #rookiegardener

If you leave vegetables on the ground, they will rot. And quickly. (seems obvious but I didn’t think about vegetables laying on the ground for days on end)

Zucchini plants will scratch you up! Wear long sleeves when picking your zucchinis otherwise be prepared for an afternoon of hot, itchy arms!

Leave breathing room in between the plants. What seems like plenty of space when you plant, will quickly become crowded when the plants grow.

Stake your tomatoes at the same time you plant them. Don’t wait like I did! Some plants never got staked and therefore never produced any worthwhile fruit!

The sunflowers created far more shade than I expected! They grew to roughly 10’ tall! Next year, I will place them at the edge of the garden so they don’t shade other plants like the tomatoes!

What has been your best gardening tip to date?

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