How Does Your Garden Grow?

As promised today I am posting some updated pictures of our garden.

First a picture of the day we planted.

This is what it looks like today. The watermelon plant was all over the place but my husband moved it to mow yesterday.

 Look it's taller than me. (please excuse the goofy expression)

 okra blossom

 This is what happens when you don't pick your okra every day. Whew look how big that sucker is!!

One more thing I learned about Okra: the leaves are a skin irritant and the okra themselves have little thorns that will prick you.

Garden Time!

Ever since Ryan and I have been together he has talked about building a kitchen garden.  Nothing fancy just enough to put some veggies in our pantry. When we bought our house this year it was the first project we tackled.  We got started a little late in the season so there was not a lot we could plant, but we were able to harvest more than we really expected.

 Isn't it perfectly lovely?! This picture was taken the day we transplanted all the starter plants. I will take an updated picture soon (as soon as I break out the lawn mower). The Okra is as tall as me now!

We didn't get any tomatoes this time, but we kind of knew it was too late. We got about a pound of black eyed peas, TONS of okra, several eggplant, loads of Jalapenos, and a couple of bell peppers. We had two watermelons but they were broken into by some critter. :( However, we are still hopeful that we may get some more.

What I've Learned :
Next time I plant okra it will be in its own box, because as it gets taller it blocks the sunlight to the other plants. I will try different recipes to can/pickle them and possibly sell some.

I will plant more pea plants next time and stake them up better. (I planted three plants this time)

I will NOT try and plant watermelon again unless we make a VERY large box for melons only! THEY TAKE OVER LIKE CRAZY!

It is a lot of work but it is so worth it! I love seeing my daughter play in the garden and I know she will value the experience of watching and growing her own food!

Do you have any advice for first time veggie gardener? whats your fav/least favorite thing you have tried to grow?

That's all for now! Check back soon to see updated pictures!!

I'm Baaack

Wow... I have no excuse I have been a slacker. A lot has happened over the past year for our little family! We got a puppy, bought our first house, started a garden, and Ryan was promoted to Executive Sous Chef! It's been a whirlwind year and now I am ready to get back to writing! I have really come into my own as a wife, mother, homemaker, and gardener. I cannot wait to share all my adventures with you!!

My daughter and her "puppy"