1. We have a small garden, about 10 x 10. It is a summer garden only; there isn't enough room there to plant enough for canning or freezing.
2. This year we planted radishes, kale, green beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers and marigolds.
3. The marigolds help keep away bugs.
4. The plot is very full, with only room for a hoe between rows.
4. The layout is thus: Row 1: radishes and peppers, Row 2: cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini (in hills, actually), Row 3: tomatoes, Row 4: Peas, Row 5: kale, Row 6: marigolds, and down the side in a vertical, green beans.
6. I wanted to make notes so I can have a better crop next year.
7. The marigolds work well next to the kale, and kale works better in rows than it did last year in hills.
8. Don't plant peas in such a small area. They are too much work for too little return. Plant more green beans instead.
9. The radishes did not come up at all and I believe birds ate the seeds. Next year, consider netting not only 8 feet high around the perimeter to keep out deer but also across the top to keep out birds.
10. Begin using Miracle Grow sooner in the year.
11. Make sure to fertilize extensively this fall with natural fertilizer from the pasture (cow poop!)
12. Consider planting broccoli next year instead of radishes.
13. Next year, try watermelon, too, if there is space! (They are $6 in the store!)
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I never knew that about marigolds...do they really keep bugs away? All bugs?
ReplyDeleteWe've been buying a lot of watermelon this season. That's our treat now instead of ice cream. It's expensive, but oh so juicy delicious! I had forgotten how much I liked it.
June - I don't know if they keep ALL the bugs away but I do seem to have less bugs when the marigolds are blooming in the garden. Deer don't care much for marigolds either, at least around here, and I'm all for anything that has the potential to keep away the critters and bugs.
ReplyDeleteI love planting lots of collards, kentucky blue beans and butter crunch lettuce. Those are my favorites (and easiest to grow :). Tomatoes are a favorite too, esp. with the prices in the stores now. My husband got a bit of the gardening bug this year and is trying to grow "Stripey" tomatoes. I have tried watermelon many times, but never had any luck. They never grow bigger than a small ball, much to our disappointment.
ReplyDeleteWe use cow poop, too! Since the folks who previously lived here kept cows, we have an ample supply. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe'll have to try the marigolds next year. I'm impressed by anything that keeps deer away from the garden!
If space is limited, pole beans are a much better choice than peas. You can make some fun garden decorations with bamboo poles. Or grow a sunflower or two for the beans to grow up! Way to go in the garden! If everyone grew a 10x10 garden in their backyard, or a few plants in containers on their porch, the world would be a nicer place.
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