Make It: 2011

My boys and I were so happy when mid February rolled around and the ground was finally soft enough to dig.

Digging in!

Back side of our property. Just hay and weeds when we arrived.

All winter I read library books about gardening in Tennessee and organic gardening and landscaping. I got a little overwhelmed by the information, but decided that this year would be experimental. It is my first year gardening in TN, and since our acre has never been cultivated as far as I know I figured anything would be better than what it currently was.

I decided to hand dig my plots. From what I understood from my how to gardening book, the double digging method is good for a couple of reasons. First, being it is best for the soil because it breaks it up nicely, but doesn't overly break down the molecular composition of the soil. Which would make it compact more when rain and sun beat it down the entire growing season and causing damage delicate roots. This is especially true for heavy clay soils. (Hello, TN.) Second reason is no fossil fuel used, just muscle. Sweet. Third reason is it is pretty easy to dig in compost and organic matter deep down which will nourish the roots all growing season. It really was a fun project for me and the boys after being inside all winter. It did take about a month to get it done. We took our time, and it was quite a bit of hard work.

Muscle power!

I had really good help. Thanks Jack and Charlie!

Digging in compost.

I planted peas, onions, carrot, beet, spinach, lettuce, and mesculin in March. Everything came up and did really well. Peter Rabbit ate all of the beets which I'm sure were delicious. Next year, I probably will put up a little fence.

Onion sprouts.

Finally done!!!!

I started the rest of my seeds indoors and waited until I was sure there would be no more frost. I planted at the end of April and was so happy to have help from my brother Joey. We planted in square foot garden fashion. I inter planted a lot of my crops after reading about how different combinations of plants can deter pests and promote healthy growth. I planted carrots with onions, corn with squash and climbing beans, and marigolds, nasturium, and zinnas with everything.

Used sticks and string to make a structure for my
plants to climb.

Cold tolerant veggies up! Getting ready to plant everything
else.

I do think I planted too closely. I had to remove some plant because over crowding and after a wet spring I had some problems with powdery mildew. I understand that is often caused by not enough sun light being able to keep the stems and stalks of the plants dry. I used a spray of baking soda, liquid detergent and oil to help control the mildew, and it worked! (Recipe: 1 gallon of water, 1 Tablespoon soap, 1 Tablespoon baking soda, 3 Tablespoons oil) Baking soda has anti-fungal properties. The soap and oil help deter insects. It is a great non toxic spray. The downs side is keeping up with it. In order for it to work you must spray every day.

Sweet peas and mesculin

Onion and carrot

"Peas taste better than candy." Jack, 4

Tiger Toms

Over all I think this year's garden has been fairly successful. Japanese beetles did some pretty good damage and so did the squash vine border. I'll need to figure a safe and effective way to remove those bugs next year. I'm not crazy about poisons since J & C frequently pick food and eat it with out washing it.

Rubarb, watermelon, broccholi, white beans, tomatoes, peppers

Right: yellow squash, zucchini, sun flowers
Left: pumpkin and cauliflower

Yummy! Love those fresh veggies. So satisfying.

My other garden project began last fall when I decided to put in a flower bed between the road and the front of our house. It created a nice border that made the road less accessible for my children. Since the front used to be a gas station I found myself removing quite a bit of concrete and gravel. Sheesh! Talk about work! I transplanted day lilies and irises from my grandmother's house in the fall. In the spring, I planted dahlias, fox glove, holly hocks, blanket flowers, cosmos, daisies, four o'clocks, poppies, and marigolds. It turned out rather wild, but pretty.