If you’ll recall, I made the decision to put out a garden this year, and have been dutifully tending my 26’ x 5’ plot in the Clear Spring Community garden ever since.  I’m also happy to report that after a slow start (where I thought I might be this year’s only tenant), three more of the six remaining plots have been claimed, so at least I have some gardening neighbors.

I’m still working from home most days of the week, and as soon as my shift ends (at around 4:00 PM) each day, I take a stroll down to the garden for watering, weeding, new plantings, and other daily maintenance.  The walk is good exercise, and I find the work itself freeing, as my mind can wander as I pull weeds or pluck the suckers off of my tomato plants.

Following a late cold snap (in which I did lose a few plants), everything is now going like gangbusters since the late spring/early summer weather has arrived.  I still watch my YouTube videos for tips and tricks, but mostly I’m figuring out things on my own as I experiment with trellises, staggered plantings, and top dressing my plants with mulch.

I have also “relaxed” my militant planting plan (kept on a spreadsheet) and am now very happy to leisurely replant a square (once it has been harvested) or drop something in that looks interesting (with no regards to the plan whatsoever).

Like any grand experiment, there have been hits and misses.  For example, I’m convinced that one could easily grow radishes between a crack in the concrete sidewalk or in the gravel of a parking lot.  Talk about wet it and forget it.  Same thing with cilantro.  Just drop the seeds in the dirt and get out of the way.  Other crops, though, have tested my patience.  I tried onions from seed instead of from sets, and the wait for them to get established has been excruciating.  Same thing with chives.  I just can’t seem to get them to germinate.

Although I’ve never grown them before in my life, I’ve got several maturing broccoli heads and quite a few cauliflowers coming on (the ones I planted earlier have done better, overall).  My sugar snap peas, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, bush beans, tomatoes, and peppers are all doing well (so far), and I have even added kale to my “salad greens” section.

Like gardeners everywhere, I learn something new every day, and so far at least, I’m enjoying my time digging in the dirt.  Barring any major pest infestations, plant diseases, or rabbit invasions, I should have quite a harvest coming on throughout the summer (he says confidently without really knowing).

I’ll keep you posted……