7.20.2011

My Garden Life


I tried doing a regular, in-the-ground garden for the last two years. After the first year I was enthusiastic as I had successfully harvested a plethora of tomatoes, cucumbers, and even pumpkins. Year two brought cucumber beetles and potato bugs and my garden became the bane of my existence. I was ready to throw in the gardening trowel {a little pun there}, but when I was given access to free seeds and free plants this spring, I decided to give container gardening a try. 

Success! I think I've finally found my style of gardening. I like the easy access to the plants (right on our back deck) because it doesn't allow me to forget that they need to be watered, nor do I have to head out to the yard where I am eaten alive by mosquitoes. Yes, container gardening is the thing for me. I've actually gotten more peppers this year than I did in the previous two attempts. {happy dance

I'm joining up with Tiffany @No Ordinary Homestead to share some photos of my 2011 garden successes. If you have a garden and would like to share it with others, feel free to join us each Friday when Tiffany hosts Garden Life.

My 2011 Container Garden: Tomatoes and various pepper plants (lettuce failed this year)

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Bell Peppers

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Banana Peppers (I think - these were free from a friend)

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Various types of tomatoes

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And "The Surprise" of the season!

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Last year I thought I would save the decorative gourds that I used in the fall, but over the winter they rotted in their plastic container in our basement. This spring we were burning wood from the PH, and I grabbed the gourds and threw them in the fire. One gourd landed (and exploded) just outside the ring of fire. A few weeks ago, this plant sprouted up and now we have between 6 and 8 gourds growing in our fire pit! That makes this pumpkin/gourd-loving girl quite happy!


9 comments:

  1. I had a pumpkin plant come up in my compost bin last year. I transplanted it and it took over my yard and gave us several pumpkins. Those types of seeds must be hard to kill off. The containers look great.

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  2. I'm sending my mom the link to this entry... She is gonna LOVE this idea!!! =D

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  3. Awesome! I love white pumpkins. They just look so cool :) And I know you have to be overly ecstatic that this guy has graced you with his presence!

    Loving your container garden. Seriously, every gardener has to find their style. This is also our 3rd year gardening and we've always had some successful outcomes, but I think that any time your garden is right under your nose it will have the greatest success. :)

    Thanks for linking up! Looking forward to seeing how things are going next week :)

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  4. Lovely and delicious! This year we did both; our containers gave us eggplant and basil early in the season while we wait(ed) for the main garden to come on. The gourds are interesting; I'll but some in a container for next year, thanks for the idea.

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  5. WOW!! Congrats on your yummy garden. How exciting. And I cannot believe that a plant sprouted from the exploded gourd!! How cool is that??

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  6. Love the peppers! Mine are taking forever, the blossoms are just starting to open...I guess they need more sun, live and learn, right? Congrats on finding that container growing is best for you, I have my toms in containers this year, but hopefully can get them in the ground next year (we need another raised bed or 2-or 3 first!)

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  7. Those peppers are big! Love it so much and I'm jealous of it.haha. Those containers are perfect in my grandmom's flood-y place. Her plants are easily die because of flood. I guess this containers are much better.

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  8. love the way you decorated your garden! The tomatoes, peppers and pumpkins look so great!

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  9. Your container garden looks good! I think this type of gardening has lots of advantages like you can easily transfer a plant to a safer place when it is attacked by pest like insects. It's also easier to manage. No wonder why your vegetables are all healthy.

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