Growing a Vegetable Garden
With the rising cost of food and gas I thought it would be fun, healthy and cost effective to plant a garden this year. I have been successful in the past with container gardens but have never tilled up the ground and tried to grow vegetables.
My grandparents plant a garden every year and usually grow enough to share some. I love fresh, organic veggies so I am very excited and a little apprehensive about my venture. My grandmother has showed me how to hoe to keep grass at bay (it can strangle the vegetables) and aerate the soil. I tilled up a small plot and created four rows.
I planted 10 tomato plants, 1 green bell pepper, 7 cantaloupes, 5 cucumbers, 4 yellow crook neck squash, and 2 rows of corn (my grandmother informed me you have to plant at least 2 rows of corn so that it will cross pollinate). I also planted some zinnia seeds at the ends of the rows to attract the bees and butterflies to help with the pollination.
Bee populations have been on the decline but I did have a swarm of them earlier in the spring that stayed in a tree while it was in bloom. The tree is about 5 yards from my garden so hopefully I will get enough bee action to provide a good crop.
I have been working in the garden everyday since I planted everything (about a week now). I have hoed twice and watered once. We are forecasted to get some rain tomorrow, I’m keeping my fingers crossed; I don’t want to water all summer. My corn hasn’t popped out of the ground yet but everything else is growing. I am so excited; my mouth is watering just thinking about a tomato sandwich!
