Growing in the Basement!

2018 garden has commenced!

We have paired down our garden considerable from last year as it was more than we could manage at this point, and David's come to the realization he doesn't really like gardening so it's more of a one person task. That's not to say he isn't a big help with tilling and some larger tasks, but the daily maintenance just doesn't bring him the pleasure and joy as it does me.

For now we have plans to grow the following (obviously things might/will mostly likely change):

Tomatoes
Hot/Sweet peppers
Green Beans
Squash (summer, butternut (?), green)
Corn
Basil
Pumpkins
Onions
Brussels sprouts
Okra
Watermelon

We've added a section in the garden that we've devoted to flowers this year, hopefully including sunflowers, zinnias, tulips and anything else we think would look pretty :o)

Some things on the TO DO LIST are:

-Add additional supports to trellises
-Move berry plants (raspberries and blackberries) out of the tilled garden area
Uhhhh, there has to be more to this list but nothing else is coming to mind at this point.

For now seeds have been started in our basement as we did last year and they're doing great. What worked out really well without me realizing it was my mom and me planted the seeds one day before I went into labor! Perfect timing!

Instead of transplanting the plants into larger containers halfway thru I just put them in the larger cups in hopes they'll make it all the way in those containers until being moved out to the garden.

Mom's kale, first thing to sprout

Kale

Tomatoes!

Garden Adventures 2017

It's started! I bought seed, planted it, it's growing, and I'm trying to not kill it all! I'm planting for my own garden as well as starting plants for others so the pressure is on. But as each year has proven, this garden will be one of great lessons learned, mistakes made, and memories created in the process. I'm constantly feeling challenged to not make forward progress because I feel as if I have no idea what I'm doing or don't have a good enough plan, but that's when David's been a great force to push me into action. For now let's keep these plants alive and hope for the best garden yet!

Here's a trip down memory lane real quick:
Year one starting our garden while we renovated our kitchen and using the flooring boxes for growing containers...

Pinching penny newly weds. Some things never change, ha!

Second year was this cold frame...

 Third year was inside our work shed with this tiny south facing window...

These years were proof of how resilience nature is because we sure as hell weren't giving them that great of a start.

Last year was moving transition so I just helped mom with her garden. Let's just say she took full advantage of her live-in grounds keepers. It was fun and turned out to be a pretty kick-ass garden...

Here is to year five...

Containers ready. I've been collecting containers from annual plants for awhile with this purpose in mind. Hoarding acceptable in this situation

Little pot filler helper

1 week in - see the tiny sprouts!

3 weeks!

Light situation is constantly changing to keep up with the growth. Using these 8 footers that David plans to use in the barn. For now they're perfect for this space.

Started to out grow their containers, starting the transplanting process to individual styrofoam cups

The garden!!...2 months ago

Yah, this post is a little late, oh well. I still figured I'd post the pictures so you can see the progress this garden has made. Literally this is the best garden I've ever had! Granted, it helps when there are 4 people to help, and when you find the tool to manage weeds!! More on that later. The garden contains tomatoes (duh!), basil, peppers (hot and sweet), beets, kohlrabi, carrots, swish chard, peas, green beans, onions, shallots, potatoes, butternut squash, summer squash, acorn squash, seedless watermelon (no idea where that plant came from), and spaghetti squash. The squash problem (evident in later posts) is because mom doesn't like to to prune plants and ended up putting way too many in the garden. Oh well, it's been fun to watch it all grow and take over the garden.

Garden with a greenhouse!

Work in progress, old tarp, new door

Tomatoes, basil, potatoes in the box

View from the back corner of the garden

Basil

Green bean tee-pee!

Sooo many squash!!!

First squash to start producing

Beets and kohlrabi

Peas, swish chard, brussel spouts (?), peppers

Shallots and onions

All Wrapped Up

The garden is officially over. Well at least the outside, I have some peppers hanging out to dry to make into a dry spice, but that won't be for a while. As per usual, I learned a lot this gardening season and have plans for our future garden to hopefully make things easier to maintain (mainly the weeds) as well as produce a better yield. If you would like to experience a range of emotions for 8 months, take on gardening, it will definitely put you through the emotional and mental ringer.

I was going through pictures and here are a few that didn't make it into any posts this season. 

I love this attachment for my mixer, it helped to skin, seed and puree the tomatoes. No cooking or blanching required

They ripened early, rotted and then seemed to attract a gross amount of stink bugs. I think we'll pass on this vegetable in future harvests

Quiet and still morning, most of the garden tore out

The fighters

2015 season a wrap