My Small Vegetable Garden

How Does My Garden Grow?

This lens chronicles my small vegetable garden and its progress for one summer growing season. The photo galleries cover the months April until September.

Last year I had a great year for tomatoes and ate lots of tomato sandwiches! It was an experimental gardening year for me, so I did not make a permanent bed for my plants until I found the perfect spot with the best exposure to the sun.

Sunlight is the most important ingredient to the success of a vegetable garden. At least six hours exposure is important!

The next important ingredient to gardening success--fertilizer! Use organic or other kinds, but just use it!

In last year's experimental garden, I used pots of various sizes and materials so I could move the location if needed. I discovered that vegetables grown in pots are subject to blossom end rot. (Add calcium!) I also discovered that the dirt in the pots dries out quickly and that can hurt production on the plants and make them more susceptible to disease.

Now I have the location for the garden and have made a permanent raised bed garden. My husband built it in a day.

The timbers were on sale at Home Depot. The soil and manure for the filling was purchased at Lowe's with a $10 off coupon. I bought the vegetable plants at Lowe's as well. The flowers were purchased at a local garden shop. I bought some squash and flower seeds at Walmart. The lettuce seeds were a donation from a friend.

I created separate pages with photos for progress in just the raised bed and pots.

2009 Giant Squid Award Winner!

This lens won in the "Best Gardening Lens" category. Thanks to all of you who voted for it.

My Small Plot of Earth on June 21st

The above photo was taken on the 1st day of summer.

Not such a long row to hoe!

My husband wanted to take a picture of me by my raised bed garden before the hot, hot southern heat might ruin it.

It has been my experience that once the heat arrives, the plant diseases come and have a party.

Griff is also very proud of the raised bed garden he built for me. Notice that the picture he took does not show the potted vegetables that I am growing. Those containers were my idea.

In the beginning: we had a plan for the garden:

The birth of the small garden on April 14th

That morning we purchased these supplies for the raised bed:

14 landscape timbers
a box of 6" timber nails ($47)
the soil (3 bags 1CF top soil- $2.34, 1 bag 2CF Miracle-Gro Garden Soil-$5.36, two 50lb bags Black Cow Manure-$8.)
Total: $62.70.

Ten vegetable/herb plants totaled $31.00.

I bought a flat of bedding plants (flowers) for $14.95--I know, too much, but I had a variety of plants in one flat. I did not use all the flowers in the vegetable bed.

After lunch, my husband built the box. He bought 14 timbers and had 2 left over. Approximate finished size: 70"x48"x10"

Before we put in the soil, I placed an old bed sheet on the bottom. I thought I would see if it would keep the weeds and grass from invading my raised bed from beneath! Originally, I was going to use newspapers, but decided to try the sheet instead. I tacked the sheet up the sides of the box as well so the dirt might stay put in the box. (I am holding up the edge of the sheet in the picture above right.)

We shall see how this works. I can tell you right now, I should have bought more soil.

For the square pots:

I purchased the soil and tomato growing mixture for the 2 large pots from a friend for about $45. He got the supplies at Classic Garden and Landscape in Center Point, AL. This garden shop has a "secret formula" for growing tomatoes. He and I wanted to try the method so we shared the cost.

So, I need to get approximately $138.00 worth of vegetables out of this garden to break even! (I am numerically challenged so if my totals are off, forgive me.)

Here is a great product for the gardener: Laminiated gardening guides. Wish I had thought of this!
Click here to visit Laminated Garden Guides website!

What I planted in my raised bed garden:

1. Mr. Stripey Heirloom Tomato
2. Talladega Tomato
3. Lemon Boy Tomato
4. Anaheim Pepper
5. Sweet Basil (herb)
6. Brandywine Heirloom Tomato
7. Pattypan (early white bush scallop) Squash
8. Orange Bell Pepper
9. Red Bell Pepper plant.
10. Assorted lettuce

I planted extra lettuce seed along the outer edges.

I later added flowers for beauty and pest control (marigolds).

Tools of the trade:
(click for information on this "just too perfect and cute" gift idea for the gardener in your life.)

What I planted in the pots:

Will I get enough from this garden to justify the expense?

On April 17th I had tiny tomatoes. They are on the plant in the tan colored pot. It is a "Patio Tomato" variety specifically for pots.

In one of the square big pots, I planted one of each:
Big Boy Tomato Plant
Bush Goliath Tomato Plant

In the second square big pot I planted one of each:
Bonnie Original Tomato
Patio Tomato (a branch that was broken off the other patio tomato--I hope it roots!)

Gardening by the square foot ~

Click the following to go to the Original Square Foot Garden website:
Welcome to my garden!

Could not locate item B001TKKJ6A. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

Or the square inch ~

No more excuses for not having a garden.

Learn how to grow food in small spaces.

Fresh Food From Small Spaces: The Square Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting: A review of the book written by Susan Wittig Albert.

Fresh Food from Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting

by: R.J. Ruppenthal

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/28/2009)

April 14-16th in my garden:

Click on each picture to get a description of my gardening efforts:

I have three pots this year. Last year, everything was grown in pots and I "did battle" with blossom end rot. These pots were planted on April 14th. There is a "Better Boy" in the upper left of the pot.

A friend and I got a potting formula from Classic Gardens in Center Point, Alabama. It is supposed to be a really good medium to grow tomatoes in pots. We shall see.

My husband built this raised bed for me in one day. I planted on April 14th. Three tomato plants are from the left to the right in the back row next to the fence. Continuing the back row are pepper plants. There is another tomato plant in the front left. Two hills are planted with pattypan squash. I am going to add flowers on April 16th.

Another view of the raised bed.

I am attempting to grow some lettuce in the round pot in this picture. It gets warm here in the south very quickly in the spring time, so I am not sure how it will do. The lettuce seed was planted about a month ago. I also planted lettuce seed in the raised bed which has not sprouted yet.

Pepper plants should not be planted deeper than the top of the container that they came in. Of course, take the plant out of the container if it is plastic, before you put it in the ground.

My basset hound is behind the fence in the backyard. My raised bed is located between the driveway and the fence. It gets the most sun here--that is important!

One of the heirloom tomato plants is shown here. Those are "wave" petunias that you see flowering in the lower right corner. These plants have only been in the ground for one day.

Two more tomato plants. It is very important to plant "deep" with tomatoes. Pinch off the lower leaves, dig a hole and bury the plant up to the top group of leaves. Do not cover the entire plant! Leave the top group of leaves above the ground. Day one in the earth is done.

A tomato that is specifically for a pot. I lost the tag, so I am not sure what the variety is. It is probably a cherry. It was potted about four weeks ago and is doing very well. I need to remember to check the moisture in the dirt when I use a pot that is not plastic. The dirt dries out very quickly in a clay pot.

My Garden on April 22nd

See how my plants are growing--click on pictures to read comments or get a larger size.

As you can see, I added flowers: marigolds and zinnias.

The piece of timber in the front middle of my raised bed was placed there to provide a level spot to put a sprinkler. I can also stand on it to reach the back of the bed if I need to.

The lettuce can be picked! Mmmm, baby lettuce in my salads!

The patio tomato plant is really showing progress!

My Garden on April 30

Click on a picture to see it up close.

Two peppers!

Notice seed case on the leaf of the bush squash!

It looks like the branch rooted. Remember, I accidentally broke off a stem of the patio tomato?

Growing like a weed--but it is a tomato with LOTS of little green globes that will soon be turning red!

My Garden on May 7th

I had to add supports for the tomatoes and peppers this week! You can click on a picture to enlarge it or read comments.

I have been looking for cages for these tomatoes. My husband and I are not agreeing on what to use. I want to use bamboo and make a teepee shaped cage. He wants to add more wooden strips similar to the supports in the back of the pots.

These photos were taken around 3PM.

I am trying to save money by reusing cages from last year. I also had some short bamboo stakes that I put on the heirloom tomato plant in the front left corner.

I had a small support in my stash that I put between the pepper plants. It might be too small. We were expecting some bad weather, so I just went ahead and used this trellis to give the plants some support. So far it is working fine. I have LOTS of blooms.

The wave petunia bit the dirt (died) so I put a globe basil plant in its spot.

Close up of the globe basil.

This patio tomato keeps getting more little globes of green. See the closeup photos below.

May 14th--Still Growing!

You know the drill - click on a picture to enlarge it.

Howie the Wonder Basset! He Loves tomatoes! Honest!

May 21st ~ A Problem Arose for my garden!

The Roofers Came and wreaked havoc on my veggie garden and pots! Click on each picture to enlarge it or read comments!

This week the tomatoes did not get as much sun. I had to move the pots away from the house because of the roofing project.

I hope the roofers finish soon.

Use what you have on hand! Recycle old window screens to protect from flying shingles. I am hoping that this will protect the delicate tomato and squash plants that were doing so well.

Side view so you can see that at least the raised bed garden is still there.

This poor pepper plant was beheaded! I have noticed that there is a sprout coming up from the base of the plant that was not harmed.

The blossom set seems to be doing its job. I have several tiny tomatoes on one of the plants in the pots. Blossom set spray helps when night-time temps are not warm enough in the late spring or summer for the blooms to germinate.

May 28th in the garden

Click on each picture of my garden to enlarge it and read any comments.

I added bamboo stakes! I finally found some and it was not in a store!

I am really pleased with the bamboo.

Howie the wonder dog is jealous of the attention I have been giving the garden. Or maybe he is waiting for a tomato to drop off one of the plants.

Yep, he wants a tomato. Yesterday I picked a ripe one off the patio tomato and put it on the wood siding for the bed. Howie found it right next to where he is lying today.

No, Howie. The next ripe tomato goes to Griff.

June 4th In My Garden

Click on each picture to read any comments I have made:

I am needing to back up to get the tallest tomato plants in the photo.

Howie is eying the patio tomato plant!

June 12th in the garden!

Click on each picture to read comments I made about the vegetables:

One plant grew at least a foot this week. See it on the extreme left.

I am having trouble getting the entire raised bed in the photo!

A patty pan squash developed this past week. I could eat it now as a baby, but it is the only one I have - so I will let it grow to maybe the size of my hand. The skin gets tougher as it grows, so pick a patty pan when it is youngish.

My hand, one squash plant leaf!

I these poblano peppers grew just this week!

My decapitated pepper plant is surviving. New growth and new blossoms! Yea!

Harvest!

Vegetables as they ripen and are ready to be eaten! Click on a small picture to read the comments and get a larger size.

Pattypan or "early white bush squash".

One day's harvest: squash, green tomatoes, lemon boy tomatoes, etc.

Brandywine Heirloom tomato--this is one of the green tomatoes that I rescued from a broken plant and wrapped in newpaper to ripen.

Talladega tomato--This plant is not producing well.

Bush Goliath tomato--cut and ready for a sandwich.

July 3rd in the garden

Gardens do not fare too well when you are on vacation!

Yep, they keep on growing.

My son took care of the watering of the plants. He also harvested about 20 tomatoes while we were out of town.

The patio tomato plant is spectacular!

My third pot did not do well. My husband moved it to make it easier for Todd to water it. The move almost did the squash plants in. I moved it back to its original spot and trimmed the dead leaves.

July 31st--High Summer in the Garden

My garden has over-grown its spaces!

The two pots.

The squash is growing over the driveway. And I thought they were supposed to be a bush!

The cherry tomato plant.

Howie waiting for a cherry tomato.

How NOT to stake a tomato plant!

The End: September 22, 2009

Fall Garden is emerging! Click on each photo to make it larger and read comments.

What a difference a season makes. My garden is not so pretty any more.

The two pots needed to be separated because they were getting bugs and such. Moving one to another spot created more air space around them and discouraged disease.

Here is the other pot.

This is the third pot that really did not produce well. Not sure why. I will ponder its failure this winter and plan for next spring.

The patio tomato plant was one of the best producing plants. It was put into a bucket because Howie (my basset hound) knocked it over and broke the original clay pot. I held the broken pot together and put it in the bucket. I did not want to transplant it to another one.

As you can see, the patio tomato survived the Howie attack and is still producing.

100 Heirloom Tomatoes for Your Garden

A book for your gardening library

Smith & Hawken: 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden

by: Carolyn J. Male

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/28/2009)

Mother Earth News recommends this book.

Cherry Patio Tomato Plant - watch how it grows!

Ate the first ripened cherry tomato on Friday, May 22nd. Oh so good!!!

April 14th

April 16th

April 23rd

April 30th

May 7th--these will be turning red soon, I hope!

May 14th. I have one tomato that is turning red!

May 21st--I had to move the patio tomato because the roofers came.

May 28th! Yep, harvest time every day.

June 4th.

June 12th. Notice how the tomato has grown past the support. I need to tie up the side vines.

Cherry (or Patio) Tomato Plant in September

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Love This Lens about my Garden?

Informative Vegetable Gardening Websites

Check out these sites to help your vegetable garden grow!

Planting Vegetables: Plant a vegetable garden and how to plant a vegetable garden
Organic Homemade Weed Killers | AltGlobe.com: Weeds can detract from anyone's home garden. Whether beautifying the world with lovely flowers, or cultivating your vegetable garden, weeds can choke the life out of your plants. Pulling weeds is a time consuming and never ending task.
Red White and Grew--Victory Garden: A patriotic blog for gardeners.

Products I Recommend:

You might have a brand that you prefer to use. Not all the brands I use are available on Amazon, therefore, I have tried to find the products that match as close as possible.

Green Light 14816 Blossom-End Rot Control

I highly recommend any product that will stop blossom end rot. This is particularly valuable for potted vegetables.

Amazon Price: $4.33 (as of 12/28/2009)

Jobe's 6028 Organic Vegetable Fertilizer Food Spikes, 50-Pack

Amazon Price: $7.26 (as of 12/28/2009)

Organic Garden Dust Insecticide (2-pack) 2.3lbs Each

Amazon Price: $14.97 (as of 12/28/2009)

Soil Moist Mats

I think that this product really works well for the potted plants. Summers get hot and dry and these granules keep the moisture handy for the roots!

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/28/2009)

Espoma Organic Bio-Tone Plant Starter - 10 oz Liquid #BTS10

I have become a firm believer in helping any plant get a boost when you transplant.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)

Plant Seeds of Wisdom!

The Guestbook:

What I have learned about vegetable gardening:

1. Water every day in the morning when there is no rain.
2. Do not plant tomatoes close together.
3. Do assume that all the plants will grow and allow for lots of room.
4. Do NOT assume that a "bush-type" squash will be a bush and not a vine.
5. Do not be afraid to try something new - ex. trim tomato vines.

Please let me know what you think of my garden. I also welcome useful tips.

Thanks!

[image from stargazer00's lens.]

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Laniann Laniann Dec 23, 2009 @ 3:16 am

Congratulations on being selected as one of the 2009 Giant Squid Award Winners for your Small Vegetable Garden lens.

Reply

GrowWear GrowWear Dec 22, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

Congratulations for My Small Vegetable Garden, 2009 Best Gardening Lens!

Reply

The_Health_Lady The_Health_Lady Dec 22, 2009 @ 10:28 am

Congratulations on your Giant Squid Award! I love looking at your garden photos (we never have a garden)

Reply

BevsPaper BevsPaper Dec 22, 2009 @ 7:09 am

Congratulations on winning the 2009 Giant Squid Award for Gardening! Sprinkling a little Angel dust for your plants.

Reply

Pukeko Pukeko Dec 21, 2009 @ 10:03 pm

Just stopped back to say congratulations!
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