How Does Your Garden Grow? A Mid-Summer Update

Today, we’re sharing a quick update on our growing season here at the farm. We have successes to celebrate and notes on things to do better next time.

AND we are really curious to hear how you’re doing. How is your garden this season? Tell us in the comments at the end!

In spring, we posted tutorials for a raised bed and tomato container. I’m happy to report that both projects are a success. We are booming with fresh veggies and herbs, beautiful flowers, and frequent photo ops of proud kiddos and happy pollinators. Here’s the progress report, 8 weeks later!

Raised Bed Update

A Quick Recap: In the raised bed tutorial, we shared one main reason for raised beds…kids are less likely to step in it because of the clear boundaries.

There were other reasons, too:

• easy to build
• good drainage
• defined space makes chores easier
• less soil disturbance
• looks tidy
• size is good for kids to help
• size is good for adults to avoid overwhelm
• easy to plan
• easy to replant and rotate crops
• pattern is repeatable and modular

We are happy with our results.

Our boys are respecting the boundary.

Watering, weeding, and harvesting (the chores) have been easy and even fun for the boys.

The bed is lush, with healthy soil and happy plants.

We have lots of fresh veggies to eat. (And so do the bees and butterflies).

And it looks tidy, even as the plants fill the space and extend beyond the frame.

But it isn’t perfect.

Sure, it isn’t perfect. Here’s what we’ll do differently next time:

• Cut back to one tomato and one cucumber.
  These things are vivacious! The sprawling plants leave little room for air circulation (something that’s especially important for discouraging disease in tomatoes). The cucumber vines are also overshadowing the spinach and peppers.
• Add a trellis sooner.
  We added a pole and string trellis (similar to the Florida weave system) to the north end of the bed, where we’d planted the tomatoes and cucumbers. But the plants were sprawling before we started training them, and we are still trying to get them under control!
• Use synthetic string for the trellis.
  I made a mistake here when I used biodegradable jute string. I picked it because I can compost it at the end of the season. Seemed like a solid, ecological pick. But…as the plants grew and the rain wet the string, it stretched, and one piece snapped. In the big garden, I’m using a heavy-duty synthetic string for the tomatoes (because I had a humongous role of it from another project). It is holding well with no stretching or snapping.
• Going, going, gourd.
  We will not allow our two-year old to play with (aka pour out) a whole packet of gourd seeds in the bed. Despite gathering most of the seeds, we have too many enthusiastic gourds vining over the rest of the plants. The radishes were a bit dense and out of control, too.

Small price to pay, though, when gardening with children.

Tomato Container Update

Our container tomato is growing like gangbusters. We should have juicy ripe fruit any day now.

The boys check it daily for red tomatoes.

Our two-year old says, “Me see red, Dadda!” at the slightest blush. Then, I explain it is a little red, but mostly still green. It’s not ready to pick yet.

One problem though.

The plant is larger on the south side and leaning the cage over the side.

I drilled holes in the rim of the container and tied the cage down. Then, I rotated the whole container so the other side of plant faces south. Problem solved!

I’m pleased with the results of the container method so far. The tomato has reached a decent height of 5 feet with lots of fruit forming.

Of course, it doesn’t rival the indeterminate tomatoes in the big garden. They are approaching 8 feet in height!

All our tomatoes (container, raised bed, and big garden) are growing well and will likely give us a bounty of fresh, organic tomatoes for slicing, saucing, selling, salsa, and, of course, my favorite thing to do with fresh off the vine tomatoes…..share them with friends and family.

I can hardly wait.

A Great Summer So Far!

We have had a lot of rain this summer, which is great for the garden. Everything is green and lush. It is one of our best gardens yet. (Knock on wood!)

We enjoyed fresh greens, radishes, carrots, and herbs all spring.

The boys have grazed on berries for a couple of weeks.

We harvested garlic, broccoli, and most of the potatoes.

The green beans, cabbages, and onions are waiting their turn.

The cukes and tomatoes are moments away.

The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye.

The sunflowers are about to show their faces.

The evening fireflies give us all with wonder and delight.

It is a wonderful time to be in the garden.

We are blessed and grateful.

Progress, Not Perfection.

So sure, the raised bed garden isn’t perfect. Neither are the tomato container or the big garden. But perfection wasn’t the goal.

The goal was progress.

We are growing in so many ways and that’s progress! (We’re even working on plans for our fall garden, but more on that next week.)

When you think about your garden, are you able to see the progress you’ve made?

How does your garden grow?

What’s working? And what will you do differently next time?

We’d love to hear about your successes and challenges in the comments below. (Or send us an email!)