A month ago, I planted my garden. In past years, my garden has consisted of exactly 1 tomato plant and some herbs — basil, parsley, chives, and thyme if I’m feeling adventurous. The problem with thyme is that I can’t use it fast enough and then it just goes wild and we all know what happens when a wild thyme bush takes over…
But this year, I went all out: four tomato plants, two yellow squash, two zucchini, one cucumber, chives, spearmint, basil, and dill. The basil and dill are already dust. Note to self: no more impulse “living herbs” purchases at SaveMart. I think dill needs more shade, too. The spearmint is thriving, as evidenced by the standing pitcher of water in my fridge with mint and lemon slices — one of my favorite summertime treats. I bought the spearmint at the same place as the other veggies — a pricey local nursery. Turns out, you get what you pay for. Who knew it?
One of the tomato plants I opted for is “Sweet Cream” by Wild
Boar Farms. They’re a little smaller than a plum tomato and a pretty ombre yellow-red. The plant itself is very bushy and dense, not sprawling and viny like other tomato plants. I also put in two Early Girl tomato plants and a little gold pear tomato.
I planted in grow bags — woven fabric containers specifically for growing plants.
Planting in my dirt isn’t possible because ours is actually rock – lots of crazy packed earth filled with slate, likely left over from the Gold Rush Disaster that tore up the land around my house about 150 years ago. I like my container garden. It was cheap, and if I don’t like it, I can dismantle it and do something different next year.
Yesterday, I picked my first veggie: a beautiful Gold Bar squash. About one million are close behind that gal, who literally went from two inches long to six inches long almost overnight. (Currently accepting squash recipes.) The cuke is bringing up the rear in terms of size. She looks healthy but is really taking her sweet time getting in the schwing of things. Maybe that’s normal. I haven’t looked it up yet. But I will.
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