My Little Vegetable Garden

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I invested in a few vegetable plants to grow in pots. Against my better judgement I was just too excited about growing veggies so bought seedlings with a friend and kept them in her garden until I moved in. I had only intended to get one or two plants but I am a go big or go home kind of girl, so I left the organic garden centre with quite a stock. I'm also a hands on learner, so other than talking to people and a few quick google searches, I didn't do much research, lol. I figured it would be an experiment.

So I planted my seedlings in small pots in my friends backyard to make them easy to transport when I moved and figured I would plant them in something bigger when I moved in. I bought three cedar planters, and I have a few big pots.

When I bought the tiny little seedlings I had no idea how quickly they would grow to a nice big size. I was also expecting to find the time to transplant them much sooner than now. By the time I got to transplanting them they had already grown so much I wasn't sure if I should move them. So far I moved the red pepper plants and the eggplants, but now I'm thinking they are too close together.

The red peppers are starting to come in but not the eggplant:

I also moved the set of red onions, but I'm not sure they will make it because they were too close together in the pot for too long and all their roots were connected and I had to seperate them.

What concerns me most are the tomotatos. I put two seedlings in one big pot because, well, I was out of pots. I figured I would move them each into their own giant clay pot as soon as I moved in. Well the plants grew huge really fast and now I'm not sure I can move them.

I'm not sure if should leave them be, or try moving them both together into one of the cedar planters, or try seperating them. They are already sprouting tomatos.

I also grew zuccini from seed and the little seedling is not looking happy. I might try again in one of the cedar planters.

as well as snap peas, which I'ven now learned should have been planted super early on in spring as peas do better in cool weather and it is stinking hot here.

And finally, I have a couple pots filled with herbs, like lemon grass, bay leaves, parsley, oregano, rosemary and mint. All are doing wonderfully except perhaps the Thai Basil, which is flowering and I've been told that isnt' good when it comes to herbs.

I may not have the perfect vegetable garden, but I'm really enjoying learning and am loving having a back yard to learn in. The other day while out on a walk we ducked in behind the community centre, and saw a little gravel path that went behind some trees. We followed it and came out on the otherside to find an enormous community allotment garden. I'm going to consider getting on the list for a plot next year. It's only ten minutes from home, and would probably be much better than growing vegetables in pots.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It's wonderful to learn and experiment in the garden. I'd leave the tomatoes as is, they seem happy. You need to give them some support with tomato cages--no tying, or stakes to which you you'll have to tie them. Herbs tend to bolt, that is flower, and I don't know whether just lopping off the flowers solves that but I've done it. Vegetables in pots have advantages in terms of critters sometimes and weeding too. The onions may need more room. I'd just plant them somewhere you have a bare patch of ground. They may be fine and not too many critters will bother them, My former vegetable garden has some berries, all apparently reserved for the birds, assorted other things and tons of phlox which has multiplied. It just got to be too much for me : )

Here are the doodles in front of the former vegetable garden:

My current "vegetable garden"  has some tomatoes in pots and some parsley:

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks F. Your doodles are ridiculously cute! I like your container garden. I can't plant anything in teh ground for fear the doodles will pee on them. I could try putting the onions in the front, I'm not sure if they'll do well in the shade though. I'll have to look it up.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sun would be better. But put them in an unlikely peeing spot if you have one. You might want to block off a small area for veggies. My two are squatters so it's the lawn that takes a beating from pee.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That is a wonderful picture of C & L!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks S and K. At least somebody appreciates my doodles. I'm beginning to think A certain DK administrator discriminates against innocent doodles : )

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I feel the same way. But perhaps it's my photography skills that are causing the problem :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

No way : )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Zucchini, as well as all squash and most vine plants like cucumbers, need a lot of room and usually don't do well in pots. I agree with F that the onions need more room as well and will do better planted in the ground.

Sherri, you are very ambitious! With a new house, to be undertaking a vegetable garden, too! Oh to be young and energetic again!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Really. But if I were young enough I wouldn't have this garden : ) I find most things are bountiful and cheap in the supermarket when my crops would be ready and I feel much less guilty throwing away lettuce and things I haven't planted. Sometimes it seems I buy things just to throw them away like the celery I deep sixed last night. But there is nothing like popping a little tomato, or the maybe one blackberry the birds have left, in your mouth as you walk in the garden.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

lol. I'm kind of hopping the effort I put into growing my own will make me actually want to eat them :)

I also plan to give away what I don't eat.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That sounds good. Truly home grown tomatoes are especially delicious.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

ok, I'm going to try growing one zuccini plant in one of the big planters and see what happens.