It's that time in Missouri where gardeners start hearty early veggies like carrots, potatoes, onions and broccoli and begin some later seeds indoors. This year, I'm planting my first "real" vegetable garden and I'm really excited about it! I've grown some tomatoes and squash and berries at my former patio garden but this year, I have a small yard space so I can really get serious about my veggies. My kids eat more vegetables than I can keep stocked in the fridge, which is fabulous but boy, does that get expensive! So I thought "We have the space, why not grow our own?" I'm finally buying myself a canner this year so we can preserve the harvest and enjoy it during the colder months too.
We're doing cucumber, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, pole beans and we're thinking about adding strawberries and onions too. It's not a huge yard so I'm planning carefully so we still have enough room to play and have a little kiddie pool in the summer. I'm planting some cooking herbs near the kitchen door and front porch as well.
Are you growing any edibles this year? If so, check out my pin board "Victory Garden" for inspiration and gardening tips.
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| living playhouse garden in a pallet start seeds in toilet paper tubes vertical strawberries |
I wish I got more sun in my garden, because I would have a darn sight more veggies in it! I do have some strawberries, and raspberries. A number of wild herbs (my lemon balm got craaaazy!). A pomegranate tree (I LOVE the flowers).
ReplyDeleteI love veggie gardening and I am thinking you and I must be in the same zone :) (7a) since it is time we have to start here too!
Pretty darn close! I'm in that strange area where 7a meets 6b LOL! It was strange, I think last year or the year before, they changed our zone due to climate change!
DeleteLOL those are the weird spots. My garden grows more like a 7b one, because we're fairly sheltered. I usually go to Colonial Williamsburg for veggie garden inspiration- you should check out the book from them.
Deletehttp://www.amazon.com/Vegetable-Gardening-Colonial-Williamsburg-Way/dp/1609611624/
I think there are pictures on my garden blog somewhere too :)
I have but a balcony - so tomatoes are the most I could ever have room for. I shall have to live vicariously though your planting!
ReplyDeleteI got my veggie patch in this week after 2 weeks of soil preparation. I've always wanted to have a decent growing patch so persuaded my boyfriend to dig it out for me. I then had the lovely task of sieving through about a ton of earth to get rid of the massive number of stones in it! It's only about two feet by twelve (our garden is pretty tiny), but every little helps. I'll be growing onions, carrots, garlic and peas in there this year. I'm also planning potatoes, spring onions and tomatoes to grow in patio containers, as well as cooking herbs that will go in a hanging basket by the back door. Oh, and lettuces in pots too. I might buy some strawberry plants later in the year too to keep my little one happy! No room for flowers in the garden this year lol.
ReplyDeleteOH you are making me wish I had a garden! Can't wait to see what you grow!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, dear Brittany! I really hope your garden delivers a bumper crop!
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
we never have much luck with the veggies we try on our patio. The only thing that grows well are herbs, so this year we have decided to only plant herbs. I really love dipping outside to cut some fresh basil while I'm cooking.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your garden.
I'm having my own Victory Garden, too, this year. My husband is building me garden boxes and I cannot wait to get started. I'm particularly interested in trying some heirloom veggies.
ReplyDeleteI've tried to garden before. I'm not very good at it! But we also have very sandy soil that is missing something and if you are doing a fairly big garden it gets expensive to buy a lot of soil. So this year I'm going to do a container garden with tomatoes, carrots, and peppers. I started some oregano, which I grew from a starter plant in the past with success, but this time I started it from seed and it's not doing very good. But I'm goint to keep trying!
ReplyDeleteMy DH just got potatoes planted this week. We'll be breaking ground for the rest of the garden soon. We actually use an old plow and horse now. It's a fun adventure. I hope your garden does well. Don't forget to use varieties where you can save and reuse your own seeds.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Love your Victory Garden pin board! We've just written a little something about Victory Garden history in anticipation of some gardening tips. We are still enjoying the last of our broccoli and carrots. Can't wait to see our bell pepper seedlings sprout up.
ReplyDeleteNatalie
http://thesunshinegrove.blogspot.com/2013/03/victory-gardens.html
So, my husband wants to turn our garden into raised beds! Easier to maintain, it will look awesome as well. We don't start until May, we learned our lesson one year planted early May and got a frost that killed our entire garden, we usually wait till after Mother's day. Good luck, I know you are going to love it.
ReplyDeleteooooh I'm thinking of doing this at some point but I need to do raised beds as my soil is clay and heavy, not sure if you have this problem where you are but it's awful.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'll get round to it this year but maybe I'll get the bed built this year.
Good luck!
Thank you for this post! It gives me motivation to start a garden. I would love to know how you get your children to eat vegetables..?? My son is so picky, I often just give up!
ReplyDeleteThey started on fruits and veg when they were babies and just loved them ever since! I have to get creative with most other foods that aren't fruit and veg. We give things clever names like I cut up a grilled cheese into tiny squares and call it "fairy sandwiches" or I tell them that swiss cheese is the kind the mice like cause there's holes all in it :P My sister in law has a lot of luck getting her kids to eat veggies by hiding it in things. Like shred up carrots in pancakes, make muffins with shredded zuchhini in it, meatballs or meat loaf with shredded or minced vegetables inside, hide it in casseroles or soup. Good luck!!
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