I got a late start and so I realize that I'm not gonna get high yield or anything (the Texas heat is just too much for a blooming tomato plant to take), but I am proud of myself for making the effort and I've realized exactly how rewarding gardening can be. I can see how gardening can be addicting. Problem is, I don't have much more room in my life for addictions. Between food, blogging, and home and family, I'm all tapped out!
Now for those of you who are experienced gardeners. Don't laugh at me. I have to start somewhere :)
Here is what I began with. My plan was to make a whole in the ground big enough for one plant and then add room a little at a time and add one plant at a time. Digging up grass is HARD WORK and this project was done all by my lonesome. Oh well, it the effort all went towards my calorie burn for the day!
After a few weeks, here's what it looked like. As you can see I lengthened the bed a bit. The tomato cages were free from my local Freecycle and the bricks were leftover from our house building materials. I spent about $20 on compost to add to my existing soil. One day I might get adventurous enough to start my own compost bin.
Here's how things looked last week:
The biggest tomato plant is so large and heavy that I've had to do all kind of weird things to get it to stand upright but it's still hanging in there. Now for the fruit of my labor - it's beginning to show itself! Here are some of my cherry tomatoes (some still green and couple ripe). Me, my boys and my nephews had a blast the other day just popping them all the other red ones off the plant and into our mouths.
My larger plants aren't ripe yet but they are looking good! I can't wait to slice 'em and serve 'em. I've always heard homegrown tomatoes turn out to taste much better then the ones I would normally get...
This is one that the boys picked while we were out the other day. They just got picking happy and picked the wrong plant. So...this one is not gonna make it to the table.
So there you have it folks! I've tried it and had a little success. Maybe next planting season I'll venture into different veggies. I hear bell peppers grow pretty good in the Texas heat...
6 comments:
Chrystal,
You will be a year ahead of me next year. My husband has decided that we have to do a garden. He grew up on the farm and his mother plants 2 acres every year. She cans...
Anyway, in his home, the kids were responsible for weeding and hauling water to the garden when the God didn't send rain. He feels it taught him a good work ethic. The kids also had a vital role in putting food on the table.
So, of course, our kids need to have the same proving ground. And, I don't even know where to start... and I most certainly don't know how to can. I figure if my family doesn't die of botulism the first year, I am doing pretty good.
I'm impressed! Another year has gone by and I didn't get a garden done again. Boo. I've had some good succes in the past, but the last few years I have missed my window of opportunity. I loved having fresh zucchini and bell peppers.
Hi Chrystal,
Well, I usually don't read blogs, but enjoyed reading your gardening efforts. And phooey on the woman fussing about toy use in the store! That's ridulous! See ya later.
Hi Chrystal,
Every year my boys and their bama plant a garden behind our house. I'm from MS and I'm not a gardener, but I enjoy seeing how their faces light up when they go out and find a tomato, watermelon or cucumber. Each year we try something different. This year I'd like to even try pumpkins. It's fun and the food is great! Oh, I don't know how large it really is, but that green tomato can make it to the table - have you ever heard of fried green tomatoes. I'm sure like me you don't fry much when you're trying to be healthy, but one bite shouldn't hurt you much.
I say it looks pretty good if you ask me!!!
This is year 2 for me gardening. I love it. I don't even mind the weeds too much. It is fun to be outside and seeing the literal fruits of your labor!
My MIL is the "Green Queen," and with her help (or most of her work), we're doing the same. I'm still learning about the organic ways of gardening, but it's definitely rewarding. And yes, the tomatoes really do taste so much better.
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