Come into the veggie garden and see what I’ve been up to!
Finally!
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We’re past our official last frost date so technically we can start planting. I’m being a bit cautious as the weather has really been strange the last few years. So I’m waiting till next month to plant some flowers. But I did plant my potatoes and some tomatoes today!
This year I’m just planting some Yukon Gold potatoes which I got from Gurney’s. What I do is dig a deep trench in one of my raised beds and place the seed potato (or potato piece) in it about 8 inches apart. Plant with the eyes facing up! I then cover this with about 3 inches of soil. As the plants grow I keep mounding the soil over them until it’s time to harvest them. I’ll take pictures as they grow.
I just did one side of the planting bed this week. I’ll do the other side in a few weeks. That way I won’t have them all ready to harvest at the same time. Last year I grew potatoes in a big black container and they did very well. So if you don’t have space to grow them in the ground try them in a container.
I also planted a few tomatoes. I always plant marigolds around my tomatoes. They’re suppose to be a natural pest deterrent. I don’t know if they really are but I never have problems with my tomatoes. So I keep doing it! You all know to bury your tomato plants deeper than the pots they come in. Right?!
I may plant some carrots in with the tomatoes. I’ve done basil before and that’s done very well. Here’s a companion planting guide. So far I have three beds that have veggies in them and my strawberry bed going right now. I still have two more beds to work on.
Every morning I go out and pick some lettuce for sandwiches and salad!
Besides my raised beds, I have some herbs and other things sprinkled in amongst the flower beds.
Here’s some lettuce and cilantro. There’s lavender next to it and there is also some parsley in this bed. Parsley and cilantro come back every year for me (I’m in Georgia) and actually the parsley never dies back!
By the way, my plates have not fallen off the fence once! Even through all these bad storms we’ve had (including last night when the tornado siren went off about 4 times in two hours).
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the veggie garden. It’s really my favorite place in my whole yard! I’m not an expert, but I’d be happy to answer any questions you have. I’d love to see more people growing their own veg so I’d be happy to help if you have questions.
What fun to see your garden and compare it to ours. You must be a good month ahead of us. I can’t wait to have lettuce everyday. Sally
We just built our first raised planter yesterday. I have never had a vegetable garden before and I am so excited! I will be sure to keep an eye on your blog to see what you are up to with yours and to get some great tips! Thanks! p.s. LOVE the plates in the ground and on the fence…so cute!!!
Oh…I have such a shady yard I can’t have a viggie garden…but I do love yours! If you have too much at harvest just let me know. But, I have to tell you…I am so in love with your plates on the fence and garden trim…you are so brave!
Blessings,
Susie
Roses blooming, lettuce up and snow peas! What zone are you in? We are zone 5 and can't even think about planting yet. Your garden looks so beautiful already. We plan on doing some raised beds this year too:>)
I remember telling you before, but I’ll say it again…I love those plates on your chippy fence and the plate border…so charming!
The raised beds are looking great. It must be good to enjoy the fruits of your labor already in your sandwiches. I love Yukon Golds so now you have me thinking about that…
I love Yukon Gold potatoes. They’re so yummy. I never thought of planting them, though. And, I don’t have room, but may have to consider putting them in a pot. I LOVE your plates on the wall. I’m assuming you have them up with normal plate hangars? I can’t imagine them staying up. I’m amazed that they have. Very cute, idea, hmmmmm. . . . . . Thanks for stopping by and commenting, btw. It’s much appreciated!
Wow, your garden looks fantastic!
It’s so much fun watching other people’s garden as they grow. You are doing very well and the lettuce really looks delish. Manuela thx for show us your garden, I know I love gardening, but then you know that too.Take care.
Your vegetable gardens look so great. How wonderful to be able to go get fresh veggies out of your yard. Are the plates hung on the fence with just regular plate hangers and one nail? Are they in a protected area? They look so pretty. laurie
Hi Manuela,
Thanks so much, I enjoy your blog as well.
I don’t know anything about vegetable gardening. You are going to have amazing veggies!!
Rosemary
I’m learning so much from you…your veggies look great!
Questions:
* yes I’ve used marigolds for pest control…do they work for deer? I have a terrible deer issue, they are eating more and more plants, sadly.
*I’ve got to read your companion guide for nore info
*my basil and cilantro have gone to “flower”. Sould I just cut them back? This is my first attempt with growing herbs…I’m cluless.
*the weather is so hot here in South Mississippi, i fear i can not grow some of these veggies that i’m attempting. I have a plan to move the containers to a north wall, put them on concrete blocks, and hope for the best.
*i love seeing your plants, i can only dream to grow a few veggies like yours.
fondly,
lamp tramp
Hey I was blog hopping and stopped upon your blog and I am sooooo glad I did. I LOVE the plates on the fence. I am so stealing that idea from you.
THANK YOU.
I always admire how neat your garden beds are. Wish my hubby would do that kind, he just gets out there & plants & it's really not very pretty. I think it's great that you grow so much. I hope ours does well this year.
I’m SO JEALOUS of your veggie garden! I have very little sun in my hard so my veggie garden is miniscule and doesn’t produce much unfortunately. I also plant marigolds with the veggies. I’ve never had a pest problem with out the marigolds, but I think they add some color to the veggie garden.
Can’t wait to see how your potatoes grow!
Wow- I am so impressed by what you have growing already! And I LOVE your plate border… I have a brown thumb, so I depend on friends with gardens to share their bounties with me. 🙂 Sue
Hi Manuela 🙂
I’m so excited to start planting! We are still having freeze warnings, but I think we’ll be fine by the middle of May. I love how your garden looks and I’ve been showing Rich the pictures 🙂
hugs,
rue
I need to get marigolds tomorrow to add to my bed. This is my first year doing a raised bed. Normally I plant 2 tomato plants and a basil plant or 2 right off my carport. This year for the first time I have a raised bed and am doing a little more (bell peppers, cucumbers, etc).
I have never had any luck with cilantro. Any advice on growing it? I’d love to be able to make my own salsa.
Oh and NO, I didn’t know you planted tomatoes deeper than they come in the pot!
Thanks for the info! I love your gardening advice and ideas since I am in GA too!
Great veggie garden Manuela! Here in Pa I am not even putting anything out until May. Last year, I put out in April and had to baby them from the frost and wind. Wish I was in your zone, except for the tornados:) Thanks for visiting today. You would love the french countryside with all the vineyards, olive groves and luscious greenary everywhere.
So wonderful! I got my strawberry roots from Gurneys. They have great quality stuff! Isn’t it addicting to look through their catalog!? My favorite garden veggie is the sugar snap peas….so wonderful …even raw with a bit of dip. Yum! We still have about 6 weeks to go before planting most stuff. Sigh.
Manuela, your garden is a delight. I love the lettuce heads…..love! Everything is so bright and cheery.
Barb
Your garden looks great how is your handy rolling seat been working….. You have peas….. gosh I wish I could work in the yard more….. Poor Maxie and the storms…. by the way I got some pills for Mickey when it storms….. it was awful….. she was hung over the WHOLE next day….. wont do that again…..
HUgs
Linda
I was going to plant potatoes but I thought it was to late guess not.
When did you plant your lettuce and where did you get it from?
Ally
Love your veggie garden. It’s beautiful!
We tore up 2/3 of our back yard last year for a veggie garden and it was great! I will be planting some things this Thursday and Friday.
I’m stepping out and commenting on your blog for the first time. I have admired your decorating in your home and now your gardening…a passion of mine also. I live south of you in North FL and would like to know if you have any solutions to problems with squirrels. I also planted the snow peas as yours and they were coming up nicely and now completely devoured by SQUIRRELS! They love to eat from my garden and clueless how to keep them out. I did plant marigolds..hope this helps some. Any suggestions from you or anyone else sure would be appreciated.
Love your blog!
Linda
Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden with us, my friend. You are encouraging me! Today my sweetheart took the day off work. It was nearly 80 degrees which is unseasonably warm for us this time of year. We finally were able to plant our cool weather crops (seems strange when it’s 80 degrees out today). Our weather has been cold and wet much longer this year. My sweetheart built raised beds for me this year. He’s always been the gardener but it’s my project this year – he is my consultant! I’ll share my garden soon. I’ve enjoyed walking out to see it this evening. Just knowing that planting has started is exciting! ~Adrienne~
Oh my word!! That edgeing of plates is so cool!! Love it!!
Jen
I had bookmarked you in my favs and then my lap top crashed loosing a-l-l- my bookmarks. So, I thought I’d lost your charming blog forever….
Well, I just happened upon a new blog friend today and saw you there.
I’m so happy to have found you again.
We’re finally heading into some hints of spring. We’re looking forward to the summer harvest.
Please keep in touch, I’d like the visit.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
Sweet wishes,
Sara
Your garden is beautiful and an inspiration!
Hugs,
Maryjane
Looks great! We are planning some semi raised beds…Does that make sense. We are putting them in on a hill. It will be interesting to see how the retaining wall end of the garden does. With drainage and everything. We will never know unless we try.
Linda (rainydaywren) I hope you look here to see your answer since I don’t have anyway to reach you.
As far as I know there isn’t any sure fire way to get rid of squirrels other than to trap and relocate. I do have a dog that likes to chase them but he really doesn’t do that unless he’s totally bored LOL! But that’s no reason to get a dog!
I’ve never had a problem with squirrels eating my veggies except corn. They think it’s funny to tear off an ear of corn and sit up in the pecan tree where I can see them and chew on my corn!
Now, my yard is a certified wildlife habitat so I have plenty of other things for the squirrels to eat. I make a point of not only planting for myself but also for all the wildlife (I’m in the suburbs so I don’t really have exotic wildlife running around!).
Have you tried hot pepper spray? Or some how blocking the peas like netting them? There are a lot of old folksy remedies for getting rid of squirrels but none of them are proven to work every time.
Manuela
I may take you up on the offer of garden mentoring. I just took a book out from my library and would love to start gardening. I thought if I started with container gardening, it may be easier?
You have been busy! Don’t you just love Spring. 🙂 Congratulations on your fireplace winning. Was going to comment on that post, but it had “comments are off”.
Glenda
Manuela,
Thanks so much for sharing your garden with us 🙂 It’s just beautiful. I long for when I can start planting here. Our growing season is very short and the end of May is planting time for us 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Looks like a yummy dinner !!! Clarice
Hi Manuela!
Come over to see my little garden…I am not as knowledgeable as you are….just dumb luck! But I do it for the yummy veggies and it makes my mom happy to have a garden every year….
karen….
recycledrita.blogspot.com
Looks fantastic 🙂
Nice gardens! I’ve got my square foot gardens planted now too.
How did you get those beautiful plates to stay on your fence?
BTW, your blog is gorgeous! I found you via Save At Home Mommy's blog and I am just so thankful for both of you! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity and warm welcome to your blog. :o) Sonja