Nicholas has begged for a garden for years. For a long time we rented, so we couldn't exactly rip into the yard. Last year we intended to build a garden, but didn't. This spring guilt got the better of us and we attempted a garden. I coached the kids that this was all an experiment and since we had no idea what we were doing, any sort of harvest would be a bonus.
We've had mixed results. It has been cool and rainy for the entire summer here in New Hampshire. I'm going to blame some of our woes on that.
We started peppers inside in late winter, but they really haven't taken off in the garden. I don't think we'll be getting any peppers. Next year we'll buy plants at the store. I bought one tomato plant for Megan because she's the only one in the house that will eat them. The plant has grown and it had a few little flowers, but there is only one green tomato hanging on it. We planted peas. The package of seeds said nothing (I checked about 4 times) about stringing up a trellis for them, but once they grew it was clear they should have had some support. We got a small bowl of pea pods out of them. The carrots are ok, I guess. I haven't actually eaten one yet. The corn is short and stumpy. They are forming cobs, but I'm not hopeful for their quality. Our area of expertise appears to be the squash family. We planted 2 mounds each of yellow squash, zucchini and pumpkin. The plants have grown and spread all through the garden...and out of the garden....and across the yard. The pumpkins have gone through the corn, out of the garden, through a bush and up into the neighbor's chain-link fence! Today The kids hollered from the back yard that there was a baby pumpkin. I went out back to find the pumpkin HANGING from the fence. Since it's the only one we have so far, I'm hoping it doesn't get too heavy and fall of! We've only gotten a handful of zucchini and no yellow squash at all yet, despite tons of flowers. This is what I'm blaming on the wet weather. I think the flowers are falling off before a veggie has the chance to germinate. Or the plants have a disease, or rot, or bug that keeping the veggies from forming.
Ahh, well. We've had fun with it and we'll know more for next year. Here are some pictures. Anyone with gardening know-how is welcome to weigh in.
This is the base of one of the zucchini stalks. It clearly has issues.
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