Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well, maybe not with cockleshells and silver bells and pretty maids all in a row. However, my garden is definitely growing these days. During the quarantine period this spring, I decided to plant a garden, incorporating vegetables in among my flowers for the first time.
*Disclaimer: This post includes links to Amazon products. If you click on one of the links and make a purchase, I may receive a small amount of compensation. There is no cost or obligation to you, but any support is appreciated. To learn more about any of the items I used in my garden or to purchase one of them, click on the links within the text or at the bottom of the page.
Deciding to Plant a Garden: Background
If you know me, you’ll know that I am not known for my plant growing skills. I couldn’t even keep a cactus alive (or bamboo, for that matter) in my house. I’ve never had a green thumb and even managed to kill a rhubarb patch that my dad had had for years. The only plants I’ve ever had any success with were clematis, trumpet vine, daylilies, hostas, and the occasional annuals like marigolds. Vegetables? No way–those were totally out of my comfort zone.
However, this year, like many of you, I found myself with a little extra time. (It’s amazing how much extra time you have when you can’t go anywhere.) Because of that and other reasons, I decided to plant a few vegetables in the flower bed behind our house. Our yard is very shady, but this area does get about 8 hours of sun each day.
Choosing plants or seeds
I originally thought I’d just add a few tomato plants, some green peppers, and a border of lettuce to my normal perennials and marigold border. I always have a border of marigolds to keep the critters away. Supposedly, marigolds deter rabbits and other destructive animals and insects. I don’t know if it’s really true, but I’ve always planted a border of marigolds, and it seems to work for me.
I decided to plant actual plants because I’m sure I would have killed seedlings. I’ve never had much luck with them in the past when I’ve started them indoors. Here in Northeast Ohio, most people don’t plant their gardens until Memorial Day. Before that, you could lose it all to a hard frost. Since we did have snow in mid-May, I didn’t plant until late in the month. Using plants instead of seeds gave me a little head start.
The only seeds I planted were for the pole beans. Since I didn’t want to rototill a section of the backyard (where it was too shady anyway), my space was limited. I tried to purchase plants that would grow upward as much as possible. I purchased these 78 inch fleur-de-lis topiary frames for my veggies to climb.
Puppy-proofing
For some reason, Penny loves the flowerbed. In order to keep her out of it, I ordered myself a fence for Mother’s Day. It’s just high enough that she doesn’t jump over it. Each section of the fence connects at the bottom, but we also connected it with black zip ties near the top. It does make it harder for me to get in and weed, but I’m willing to step over the fence.
Preparing the soil
Honestly, I did nothing to prepare the soil. I planted my vegetables in a mulched flower bed that’s been next the house for years. All I did was plant, add peat moss around the plants, and water. I did add Miracle Grow a few weeks later.
Choosing which vegetables to plant in my garden
Tomatoes
Going to the greenhouse was a lot of fun. There was so much to choose from. I took my time, trying to read descriptions. I knew I wanted cherry tomatoes, but I also purchased Lemon Boy tomatoes and Super Italian Paste tomatoes. I’m really not sure how I ended up with the paste tomatoes–I don’t intend to make sauce. I only purchased one of each type. I think I was looking at the number of days until maturity. The Sweet Million cherry tomatoes were 60-65 days (approximately mid-July), and Lemon Boy was 72 days. The paste tomatoes were 80 days.
Peppers
Despite planning to only purchase one pack of peppers (4 plants), I ended up buying 3 packs. I know I got sweet peppers and Fooled You mild peppers (they’re supposed to taste like jalapenos without the burn), but there’s third type. Unfortunately, I have no idea what they are, so I suppose I’ll be surprised. I actually ran out of room, and four of the pepper plants are in my front flower bed.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers sounded good, and I knew they would climb the trellises, so I got eight Straight Eight cucumbers. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make Dad’s famous refrigerator pickles with them when they mature in late July.
Squash
I also purchased four plants of butternut squash and four of Mashed Potato squash. The butternut squash is climbing its trellis well, but I’m not having as much luck with my Mashed Potato squash. I thought it was a climber, but I must have read the sign wrong. I’ve tried tying it to the trellis, but it wants to spread along the ground. Zucchini might have been a better choice.
Rhubarb
In addition to planting these vegetables in my garden, I also wanted my own rhubarb patch. Dad’s patch had a hard winter and wasn’t doing well, so when I saw plants, I decided to purchase two different varieties. I planted them along the side of the house, where there is afternoon shade and hope they do well. So far, so good. They’ve grown a lot since I planted them. Since you aren’t supposed to pick rhubarb for the first three years, it will be a while until I can make Aunt Dixie’s rhubarb pie using my own home-grown rhubarb.
Lettuce
I also planted lettuce. I thought I was buying Ruby Red leaf lettuce and green leaf lettuce, but when I got home I realized that the green lettuce was actually Romaine. However, it was a wonderful mistake. I’ve been making delicious salads every day using my home-grown lettuce. The Romaine is much easier to wash than the red leaf lettuce and has a much crispier texture. I wish, however, that I had bought spinach as well. We could have put extra spinach in the freezer, whereas extra lettuce goes to waste until I can give it away.
I used the lettuce as a border behind my marigolds, but it’s overpowered them. The lettuce is much larger than I thought it would be. I also wish I had grown my lettuce from seed. I could have sowed some and then waited a week or two and sowed more. It would have worked well to have three or more plantings of lettuce instead of all the plants maturing at the same time.
Pole Beans
I planted my pole beans from seeds, using two trellises. I didn’t use all of the seeds in the package–it seemed like it would be too much. In retrospect, I could have easily added another trellis. It was fun watching the beans pop out of the ground and start to wind themselves around the poles.
Eggplant
The only plant that hasn’t thrived in my garden is my Bambino eggplant. It has blossoms, but no veggies. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it. It was supposed to be the first vegetable ready with 45 days to maturity, and it’s nowhere close to ready. I’m willing to wait, but I don’t have high hopes. I only purchased one plant, so I don’t have any others to compare this one with.
Relaxing by the garden
I love looking out my kitchen window at my tiny garden. The hummingbirds are often at our two feeders, and there are often dragonflies and butterflies fluttering about. When I sit outside on the patio in my Adirondack chair, the sights and smells of my little garden surround me. I’ve loved watching the tomatoes and other plants blossom and start to bear fruit.
The mixture of flowers and vegetables is a good one. Different perennials have bloomed at various times. Some of the lilies are done blossoming, but others are ready to open any day. The bee balm will open in a week or two. Hummingbirds love the purple clematis. Every time I look at my garden, I see something new to marvel at.
Final thoughts on deciding to plant a garden
Our backyard is a peaceful oasis, both during the day and at night. The color-changing solar lights give it a special glow once the sun goes down. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea in the morning or a glass of lemonade later in the day.
Adding vegetables to my garden was a great idea, and I will definitely plan on doing it again next year. I’ve learned a lot this year and will apply that knowledge when I plant my next garden. I may never be a master gardener, but I can be happy growing my own small selection of veggies each year.
Shopping List:
I don’t have a garden but I used to have indoor “mini jungle”, unfortunately had to sell my leaf babies due to relocating. Looking at your garden make me miss them!
It’s so good to havea garden. I have mine too. I love taking care of it and making it more beautiful with my kids.
Great job on your garden. There is nothing better than eating fresh vegetables and herbs straight from your garden.
I started some tomato plants by seeds and some I bought as a plant on the ones I planted as seeds are doing better.
Nicely done! It always starts with tomatoes!! If you’re not already in it, please join my Facebook gardening group “Creative Gardeners Unleashed”. We are a fun, drama-free group!
Your garden is so beautiful and gorgeous! I hope I can build a garden very soon.
It looks beautiful and calming. A beautiful garden can have an amazing inpact on your health.
We have a lot of pepper plants growing because of my fiance. We grew a lot of other vegetables too. Love your garden set up, its so pretty.
This is awesome! So glad you invested your time to grow your garden. I love those lillies
Your garden looks awesome! Love the variety.
I don’t have one currently as I live in a flat, but like many others, I decided to grow a few things this year. I actually grew my tomatoes out of seeds from supermarket fruit, and they are in pots in my kitchen. They don’t have any fruit (yet) but they are beautiful, big plants. Definitely a wonderful thing to see every time I go to my kitchen.
Your garden looks beautiful! With everything going on this year, my garden was apparently forgotten in the shuffle which is unfortunate but it could be worse! Right? We usually have a nice sized vegetable garden in the back yard with peppers, squash, peas, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach and more. I love being able to eat food grown fresh right here at home!
Your garden looks wonderful! You have so many plants. I have planted tomatoes and cucumbers this year
You planted the whole garden by yourself? This is awesome!
You have so much insight to share about gardening. I’ve learned so much here that I can implement right away!
A lot of my friends got into gardening because like what you’ve mentioned, people got more time in their hands because of the quarantine. Plants make everything look better! Your garden is wonderful and there are different kinds of plants too.
Your garden looks lovely! I wish I had more time to be more often in my garden.
I’m so jealous , wish we have a garden will deffo plant vegies as my husband like planting. You did a good job.
Wow, what a beautiful garden! I love that you included puppy proofing! I would definitely need to do this for my dog. She just LOVES dirt!
I didn’t do a garden this year!! I love your garden!!
You’ve got beautiful flowers in your garden. We have raspberries plants in our garden 🙂
Wow you really did a lot with your garden, it looks beautiful! We haven’t done much with ours but we did make a raised bed and put some Kale in it. Pretty much everything fries in the summer heat here in Florida.
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful glimpse of your garden, I truly enjoyed this post!
Love that you planted your veggies in your flower garden…so much prettier than my “all in rows” garden 🙂 Your rhubarb looks amazing…I’ve managed to kill two patches so far lol
All pictures of your garden are so nice and they are giving a positive vibes. You have done hard work, must say.
Wow! I love your garden and have been inspired.
I dont have garden but your garden pictures look so good!
I remember seeing your photo on IG. You should feel very happy with the health of your garden!
This is such a great beginner’s guide! I’ve been toying around with the idea of starting a garden for awhile… now I’m feeling really inspired!
I love your garden! I l have never planted rhubarb before but the plant and leaves are really pretty maybe I should add it to my garden next year.
Gardens look so beautiful and I really enjoying spending my time there. I don’t have a garden of my own but I hope one day
Your plants look great! So healthy!
You have done an amazing work! Love your vegetables! I also grow from little plants than the seeds but this year did seeds and potted plants, and they are coming up ok. Great job and keep it up!!
Love!! You gave me a great idea to do eggplant in our garden!
Oh home grown eggplants are AMAZING! There are minimal to no seeds and the cook and grill SO well. I grew up with so many of the same vegetables you have planted except rhubarb. I might need to plant some of my own because they’re my favorite. I can’t wait to have a forever home to have such a garden!
I am planning to make my own garden but i don’t know what plant i am going to start. After reading this i decided to plant some veggies maybe so i can have fresh veggies from my backyard. Thank you for this, this really help.
Backyard gardening is one of the greatest challenge for many people but the best to do. Thanks for your information.
We have not done much in the terms of real gardening this year, but we would love to try and grow our own for sure…it would be fab x
What a lovely garden! My husband actually made me a raised garden bed this year.- I’m really loving it. I have peppers, onions, cucumbers, strawberries, and asparagus, and a few herbs growing. Your garden looks very peaceful, and so pretty. Your lettuce looks amazing!
The one positive of this pandemic has been the ability to spend time doing work around the house and gardening. Being that there’s been nowhere to go I’ve gotten a nice little garden together this year and have had the opportunity to plant some beautiful flowers as well. Sometimes things start coming back from previous years that I don’t even recall planting. I love your little oasis.
You have a lovely garden and I share your love for gardening, although I don’t have souch space but I have managed to grow capsicum, onion , mustard seed and curry leaves 😊
Great job on your garden! 🙂 I didn’t plant one this year, but I hope to next year. I’ll have to try the marigold idea, since we have lots of animals around that enjoyed eating our plants other years.
When I buy my forever home, I fully plan on having a garden as well. My thumb definitely isn’t the greenest one, but I plan on learning. Home canning and preserving is something I’ve done for years, so growing my own vegetables to use would make that an even better experience. I will remember the tip about not planting the same plants all at once. I can only imagine trying to consume it all before going bad would be difficult.