Gardening… what a way to Live wise and Spend wise!

I guess this is just an update on my gardening project more that anything else and I must admit, gardening is one of the best things I do that completely matches up with the title of my blog.

My last Garden update was May 10th and although I am posting today, please note I took these pictures June 29th.  It has been 7 weeks since the last posted pictures and these I am posting today and boy oh boy what I difference we have!

PEPPERS!  If you remember, in my last post I mentioned I was having trouble with something eating the leaves of all my peppers plants. I picked up some Captain Jack, which is an organic spray, and it seemed to have helped a little.  Overall however, my peppers are the slowest plant I am growing.

Jalapenos – They are coming along. The plant hasn’t taken off like it did last year, but I have peppers! I assume by August I will have a ton more.

Bell Peppers – Last year I did a green bell pepper. This year I went with a green bell and a red bell. They are still showing no signs of peppers or blooms. Last year they took forever as well so I’m just being super patient.  Fingers crossed.

Hot Banana peppers – This guy has been a slow grower as well.  I got one tiny pepper so far and that’s it.  Over all I think I need patience with all the peppers.

I’m hoping throughout July, they will go nuts! Any advice?

Tomatoes – My tomatoes are booming, but they are slow turning red.  Just look at all the grape tomatoes I have!  They are just so green. I want red!  Even the roma hybrids are green.  Again, I need patience, or advice.

Zucchini – WOW, do these plants get insanely huge.  This thing has not been shy about growing enormous. Just look at it! It’s neat to see the blooms open up wide like this in the morning hours, but then in the heat of the day they will close back up.  As big as the plant is, I have been waiting and waiting to see a zucchini. Finally, this past weekend as I was working in the garden I did a double, almost triple take and noticed two of the biggest zucchini hiding way up under the plant.  I had them this past Sunday and man were they yummy!

Cucumber – It’s a good thing I gave my cucumber room to crawl and fencing to climb. This by far, has been my most productive plant. I have had a cucumber almost everyday for nearly two weeks now.  I’ve even given some away and they aren’t stopping. I just plucked all the ready ones before this picture, but look at the blooms still coming! I’m about to have to make some pickles and ask for recipes 🙂 Anyone had cucumber slices in their water??? YUM!!

The watermelon is looking pretty healthy thus far. I forgot to take a picture but there isn’t much to show other than a vine going crazy. She gets the least amount of sun, so we will have to wait and see if anything is to come from her. I saw a few blooms the other day, but that is it.

So there you have it.  So far I feel like I’m doing ok for only my second year at this hobby.  In addition to growing the plants, I also have had to fend off weeds. I spent last Friday in the 104 degree weather (yes I’m nuts) doing major weed control. I got tired of pulling weeds so I went with plan B. Time to smother them! I put down 2 rows of newspaper and lots and lots of mulch.  It actually made a huge difference and even looks prettier 🙂 Im just back from my parents lake house and Im already anxious to head to my BF’s house to check on the garden. I wrote this post a few days ago and saved it as a draft. Now I’m posting it a few days later and ready to see what has changed….Here’s to hoping for more produce after the storms from the week!

DIY – My Garden Project 2011 vs 2012

My boyfriend has this amazing area in his backyard. In addition to a swimming pool, large deck, and screened in porch area, there is also a plot of land that just sits there growing weeds.  Last year I finally got sick of looking at this wasted opportunity before me and I said to him about mid-April, “I think I’m going to make a vegetable garden in your yard over there”.

His response, “Alright”.

So I embarked on my biggest D.I.Y. project of 2011.  I should probably preface this with the fact that I have NO green thumb. I have never taken any gardening or horticulture classes.  I can recognize roses and tulips, but planting, growing, and caring for plants was foreign to me.  My parents gave me some rosemary a few years ago that I managed to kill in 3 months. Needless to say, this was a big challenge for me. Luckily I have some close people in my life to guide me along.  My mom and step-mom were quite the helpers for me.

I’m glad I documented my project last year. Now that we are back full circle and it’s time for me to start again, I’m already correcting mistakes I made from last year.  I think I might document my pictures and progress along the way comparing last year to this year. If anyone out there has any advice I’m all ears!

Here is my little project from last year…

Tilling the soil manually. UGH!

My tiny little area with not quite enough sun.

Gotta add the poop!!.... along with some top soil and Nature's Helper.

Ready for planting!

Plants in the ground 2011. Jalapenos, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers (green and banana)

Last years mistakes realized thus far –

Mistake 1 – Get a motorized tiller. Its so much faster. This year I rented a tiller from Home Depot for $35.  I was done in 2 hours AND I expanded the garden to three times its size from last year

Mistake 2 – Kill the weeds the right way. Last year I did a quick spray and started tilling too quickly only a few days after spraying. I should have spent a few weeks prior killing the weeds so the spray could get down to the roots. I struggled with returning weeds all summer. This year I have spent the last few weeks (starting in March) spraying the yard with Round Up when no rain was in the forecast. Here’s to hoping it got all the way down to the roots. **Keep in mind this was a new plot of land never touched and overgrown with weeds. Not every plot needs this much attention.

Mistake 3 – Know where the sun will fall.  I didn’t get quite enough sun in the plot I chose last year. This year I have extended the garden making it 3 times as large. This expansion will give me an area with almost all day sun.

This years changes.

Tiller needed and used this year!

Much larger area with sunshine galore!

Not much different here. Still the poop, helper, and soil!

So there you have my DIY phase 1 comparison from last year to this year.  How to get the land ready!

This weekend I plan to head down to the store and pick out my plants.  I already have in mind what to plant and what not to plant….

Any suggestions for the Atlanta, Ga area my little farming friends??

For the record, the reason I picked this hobby up….It’s a great outdoor activity. I get some exercise. Vitamin D is good. I get a chance to learn.  I save money on food. I eat healthier. It’s fun! It’s one of my priceless moments that last all summer long!

Wishing all a goodnight from Asheville, NC

Not much to write about today. I’m in the midst of a mini vacation to one of the most beautiful places in the country. Well this is according to GMA.  Asheville, NC  This is actually my first trip here so the jury is still out for me.

I’m actually assisting my best friend and husband house hunt and scout the town since they are relocating to this town quite soon. Since I have off work this week, I figured it was a great excuse for a road trip for some one on one time with a girlfriend, taking in some new scenery, and a chance to see a close friend from college that already lives here.

So far so good. I was greeted by some beautiful mountain scenery as I pulled into town.

Next my friend, her husband, and I met met up with my college friend and Asheville local. We had a quick bite to eat and then she snuck us up to a secret spot called Sky Bar and surprised us with this beautiful treat pictured below.  The picture doesn’t do it justice, but it was breath taking. I simply love chance to appreciate the beauty of nature. Tomorrow I yearn for a little more!

Like I said, I’m on a mini vacation, so I shall take a mini vacation from my writing as well. Good night all and I’ll be back in a few days!