My Random Thoughts on Gardening

This year we finally got around to planting a garden. We are complete garden novices. This garden was more of an experiment than anything. I was testing my mother nature abilities. We were experimenting with space. How much we think we have versus how much we actually have. How many seeds to plant. Is planting 100 zucchini seeds enough? Can I really ever get sick of zucchini? It is my favorite vegetable. The answer is most definitely yes!

We started with watermelon, zucchini, squash, carrots, green beans, lettuce, red bell pepper plant, orange bell pepper plant, one tomato plant, and one cherry tomato plant.

I planted the watermelon inside the house, and it was doing well. I never got around to transplanting them to the outside of the house. They died. Then I thought I could squeeze in a few carrot plants between my green beans and zucchini. But it wasn’t long before I realized that zucchini has no sense of boundaries, or that zucchini could care less about the concept of sharing (sounds strangely similar to my 16 month old). The zucchini quickly encroached upon my carrots and before it could completely consume them I had to dig the carrots up.

We also planted lettuce which grew beautifully, but for some unknown reason I never got around to picking any of the lettuce. It has now succumb to this ridiculous Colorado heat (I am all for summer, but I’m not sure I can take another 90 degree day). Now the lettuce is now no longer edible. Poor lettuce.  

Our zucchini grew strong as well as our squash. Maybe a little too strong. I picked a zucchini as big as my leg one day. No joke. I swear we have grown 100 pounds of zucchini this year. I have never eaten so many stuffed zucchini, zucchini crusted pizzas, zucchini parmesan crisps, zucchini relish, zucchini bread or any other of the numerous dishes that incorporate zucchini into their name.

Our zucchini grow big, but our squash grow quick. I swear I can pick five a day. They just keep coming. We have been out of town so much lately that our squash plant has withered up , turned yellow and still manages to produce insane amounts of squash. The little engine that could… that plant just wont give up.

I didn’t get a head start on our tomatoes this year. Since they got in the ground a little later than they should have we are just barely starting to see some ripened tomatoes. Although I have to be quick to pick them or the squirrels are there to feast. Squirrels are my worst enemy at the moment. Squirrels and Bee’s. Bee’s because they decided to build a nest in my sons sandbox. Seriously squirrels and bees… grrr!

Oh and I can’t forget about the beans- they have been fabulous!

Let’s take a look back at the beginning of our gardening process.

Here you can see a little of the progression of our garden.

The beginnings:

Mid summer garden:

This is the garden at the moment- completely over grown and sad looking. It is obvious that this summer we chose vacationing over gardening.

After all of that, have I loved gardening? Heck, yes! I’m already looking forward to next years garden.

A few lessons to learn for next summer.

• Plant less zucchini
• Remember to pick my lettuce
• Rid the world of all squirrels before next summer- okay not a lesson just a completely doable and sane task ;)