Summer Has Arrived

We have had an unusually long spring this year. I am not complaining, believe me! The past three days have been rather hot, though, and it was quite humid today, also. Thunderstorms are expected tomorrow. Sounds like summer to me!

My vegetable garden is coming along nicely. The self-watering containers are working well with everything but the pepper plants. My sister says they have shallower roots than the others so they might not be wicking up the water yet. To combat this problem I have been top watering the peppers in the evenings.

When I look at my garden and see the dozens of tomatoes growing and the first peppers appearing, I get excited about the prospect of eating the tasty veggies. Next week, I will be planting a second round of green beans. Plus, I am considering planting kale in late July.

I have found gardening to be a contemplative time, as do many gardeners. Today, while watering and checking for unhelpful insects, the book Rascal came to mind. I thought about the main character, Sterling, and his war garden. His vegetable garden was much larger than mine, considering he was harvesting bushels of carrots, beets and potatoes, among other things. It is clear in the story Rascal that war gardens were important in that time of global unrest. The gardens made everyone feel like they were helping in the war effort, too. People probably gardened anyway in those days but the war gave them another reason to grow some of their own food.

Are you growing vegetables this year? What are you growing? How is your garden coming along? I'd like to know!

Self-Watering Containers...Will They Keep Me From Killing My Garden?

I am trying something new this year - self-watering container gardening. I am a plant killer from way back. I even had an air fern die in my care! I gave up on gardening for many years, but last year I successfully grew herbs in pots so I am feeling encouraged enough to grow some vegetables this year, along with the herbs.

My family worked for a few hours on Saturday, prepping 5-gallon buckets and 18-gallon storage bins with drainage holes, aeration screens, wicking chambers, etc. I am excited! I already have cabbage, lettuce and pepper plants and will soon have tomato plants, too. I am also planting green beans, zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers. Wow! When I read all that, it sounds like a bit much. Hopefully, the self-watering containers will do what they are supposed to do and we will be enjoying a bounty of yummy veggies come summer.

Curious about self-watering containers? Do a google search or watch some videos on youtube. Self-watering containers can be made with nearly any container, once you understand the gist of how they work. Take a look and see what you think. Maybe you will spend next Saturday drilling holes in buckets yourself!