Vince has never been a gardener. He’s happy to till up the garden for me, but that’s about the end of it. Even with a big garden, I can maintain it until things start getting ripe and ready for harvest. I cannot weed, water, prune, pick off the bugs, pick the beans, tomatoes, peppers, shell the beans, peel the tomatoes, and can it all. We have to water every single day. We have to spend hours and hours and hours on weed control because we have those blasted grass burrs that are just awful.
I had hoped that when Vince retired, he would take more interest in the garden and I’m very happy to say that he has.
We had just about decided not to have a garden due to the watering and bug issues. Our soil has an unbelievably high pH and our water also has a high pH so that’s another battle I’m fighting in the garden. I dream of gardening in Missouri or Arkansas or Louisiana where it isn’t impossible to grow a garden.
Vince started watching youtube videos has has come up with all kinds of ideas about growing plants in tubs. We have everything we need to start some of these plants in containers. We’ll probably wait til after the next few storms. Even though these will be in containers, some of them will be heavy and not easily moved so the larger containers . . they’re going to stay where we put them.
Vince ordered some fertilizer. I like to use a all purpose (of sorts) fertilizer in the beginning, then use something high in phosphate when the plants start blooming, then switch to something that’s a little higher in potash for once the fruit starts producing. Vince basically order phosphate and potash (we already have a high nitrogen fertilizer) and he’ll be able to mix exactly the proportions we’d like.
I also hope to make really good notes so we can see what works and what doesn’t and, of course, I’ll share all that here.
By the way, I told Vince tonight . . do you know we ended up with 42 tomato plants and 30+ peppers. He said “Is that all?” Let’s see what he thinks when I enlist his help with the canning!
Cindi says
Are you going to plant the keyhole garden? I’m curious as to how that has worked.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes. I already have it planted. Have beans and carrots growing in there now.
W Jordan says
Have you ever put cardboard down between rows ? as much stuff you get shipped you should have enough ? It would keep the grass down I get those big boxes like watermelons come in . Get from grocery store or watch trash bins behind stores for them . Yes dumpster dive. Works for me
Judy Laquidara says
Yes. We put cardboard down but the weeds still come up all around the plants and it’s the grass burrs that are so painful.
Rosalie says
Have you been to one of the Mother Earth seminars?
A friend of mine goes every year- I think in the Waco or Temple area.
Judy Laquidara says
We went to one in Belton two years but I don’t think they do it there any more.
Janna says
Don’t get your hopes up about gardening in Arkansas–my sister and her husband have a huge garden and they fight awful weeds!
Judy Laquidara says
Don’t tell me that! 🙁
At least they get rain! When we were there several times in late summer/early spring, we saw beautiful gardens and that was after months of everything being dead here.
I don’t think we’re moving there so it doesn’t matter at this point I suppose.