Vegetable Garden 2014

Started off gardening weeks ago. What has been done:

- Inside planting: habanero peppers, bell peppers, eggplant, and melon. The melon have all died, but one. Not sure what their issue was.
- Three stumps dug out. (Three more to go!)
- Transplanted raspberries given to us by a co-worker.
- Planted two blueberry bushes and one more rhubarb above the huge underground rock in the garden. I'm hoping to get two blueberry bushes each year for the next 3-5 years.
- Tilled with the new Troy-Bilt!
- Garden raked
- Bought plants for the first time: tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeno and bell peppers. But, these are not the only of these kinds I'm planting. I'm using the plants as my row markers and planting seeds between. I'm mostly doing this so I remember what is planted where... (photos soon)
- Bought tomatillos
- Planted!!! Chamomile, spinach, lettuce, arugula, cucumbers, carrots, leeks, red onions, turnips, tomatoes, tomatillos, bell and jalapeno peppers.

Finishing the garden this week and  transplanting in the next week or so, I don't feel like my seedlings are quite ready.

Garden 2012

Small Sugar Pumpkins:
Great for baking! I will try 3-5 plants. Pumpkins take up a bit more space than I'd like to give up, so I decided I will try just a couple to see how they will grow in my area.  I'm thinking about growing the pumpkins vertically to save precious gardening space.

I bought 2 small pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch this fall and saved the seeds. They save their seeds from year to year so I'm hoping we get a few good baking pumpkins from these little guys!

Brussel Sprouts:
I love good, fresh brussel sprouts. I am in Zone 3 which may prove to be my downfall with these but I'm going to try. I have a few spots that get the most sunlight and will try these in one spot.

Eggplant:
My sister was lucky enough to grow eggplant this year. I held off just because I didn't know much about eggplant, or whether I wanted to eat it! I'm going to have to start these little guys early to plant as full plants. We don't have the growing season I need to get them up to size in time for the fall frosts. Will be fun to add some color to the garden!

Green String Beans:
I grew beans last  year but it was too shady and too cool right away. Most of my plants curled up and died shortly after sprouting, most about 4-5 inches tall. A few little plants made but not as many as I would have liked. My family eats a lot of beans so I would love to have lots more for next year. I have a different spot in the garden picked out and have cut down a few little trees that were blocking the evening sun. This will keep the ground warmer and give the plants more sunlight after 3 p.m.

Peas:
Here's another veggie that I didn't even attempt this year. I didn't feel like I had the room. I'm hoping to use a vertical system to get more bang for my buck with peas next year. There is really nothing better than eating peas fresh out of the garden! 

Herbs:
This year I tried a few herbs and wasn't overly happy. I used a few pots and one small box planter. Maybe these were too shallow, maybe not enough sun, or soil, or water? I tried Stevia (twice), Sweet Marjoram, basil (twice), and dill (grew wonderful).

Two herbs survived my terrible herb-thumb and lived! I had pineapple sage and spearmint. I used a little bit of the spearmint for Mint Juleps in August (recommended by Tara and very tasty). Pineapple sage, from what I read, is best the second year so I let these grow, pruned them back, and will find a good use for them next summer. 

After doing quick research on herbs I decided for next year I am going to try:
Dill - cooking and to use for use in making pickles.
Thyme - for cooking, possibly tea, and possibly in baths.
Coriander - hoping to use the plant, seeds and roots for cooking.
Chamomile - use for visual appeal in the gardens, and possibly tea.
Lemon Balm - possibly tea, mosquito repellent,
Chives - cooking



My garden is under a light blanket of snow at the moment. Hibernating and rejuvenating for a few months. She will be pretty fun to see in July 2012!