I planted only two raised beds this year due to time constraints. Some of the pics are from April at planting time, and I am including new pictures from the end of June to show how much growth has happened over the last month and half.
Repair and planting of the beds April 20th 2019
Mid April Planting
Jalafuego, Jalapeno,Homestead Toms, Basil, Lavender, Bell Pepper
Bed 2 Planting in April
Early to Mid May
some growth
The first funny harvest, but lots more to come
I planted some Bonnie plants from six packs along with some seeds that I bought, or already had. Bed #1 has Bonnie Jalapeno, Bonnie Homestead Toms, and Bonnie Yellow Bell Peppers. See links to those three below. I also planted for the first time Jalafuego plants from Papa Joe’s Naturally Grown line from Sunbelt Greenhouses in Douglas, GA.
In ground herb garden in May, lots of progress since then.
Bed two is coming along in May. Needs fertilizer tho.
I did a soil test and realized I was totally nitrogen deficient in the beds. I fertilized with an Organic fertilizer from Espoma called PlantTone about a week ago, and am seeing very good results. Updates to follow soon.
Next post will be about planting my Dad’s Memorial Garden in North Carolina.
Tomatoes-Yellow Pear, Okra, Baby Sugar Pie Pumpkins,
Peppers- better pictures of later harvests to follow in my next post which will cover the progress from June-Aug.
1. Jalapeno 2.Habanero 3. Sweet Italian 4.Tabasco
1st Okra of the season
1st Jalapeno! Slug damage on leaves. Too much rain early in the season.
Herbs-
Basil- 3 varieties 1.Thai 2. Cinnamon 3. Genovese
1st Basil Harvest. Many more to follow!
Borage, Dill, Fennel, Caraway, Cucumbers. Details to follow in next post.
I moved the Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Oregano from Raised Bed #1 to in ground locations very early in the spring, because I wanted to make room for more veggies in the bed, and those herbs are perennials which survive the winter here.
February
Rosemary in the Raised Bed location
Pretty rosemary bloom I wanted to capture in case I killed the Rosemary by moving it.
Loving the new location just after planting.
Lemon Balm removed from raised bed & ready to be planted in ground
The Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Oregano in ground
The first raised bed is repaired after the removal of the Rosemary, Oregano, & Lemon Balm.
The garden area in early August! So much growth this year.
March
New Greenhouse from Cofer’s with overwinter lettuces and seeds started in late February.
March 2 Four types of peas and chives planted in early March
Baby lettuces. You will not believe how much lettuce I harvested. Pic gallery to follow below!
Peas Planted & Lettuces in Raised Bed #2.
Seeds started on March 14th
March 16th
April-May
I really needed a new third bed, given how many seeds I started this year. I finally got it built in mid April-, but then didn’t get it filled and planted, until first week of May.
Snow Pea Plants everywhere. I planted two rows pretty close together. I don’t have much space, but it works. See pea harvest pics below.
Dill plants ready to transplant into raised bed.
First Harvest
Look at all those blooms!
First Salad Bowl Lettuce Plant growth
2nd Harvest
More lettuce & Peas!
I’ve been needing a large Strawberry Pot, and I finally found the perfect one at
Cofer’s – my absolute favorite garden center of all time!
First Strawberries in Porch pot. Sequoyah
Raised Bed 1 was full of strawberry plants that grew from 1 mother plant the previous year. I got this amazing, huge berry pot at Cofer’s.
The perfect amount of holes and room for all my berry plants!
Filling up with mix of Mushroom Compost, Soil Conditioner, & Native Soil
I’ve wanted this berry pot for years. Yay!
Not pretty, but delicious. Had to get them before the slugs did.
Below is a link to my transcription of my handwritten, in a hurry seed starting notes. Not very interesting, but I’m trying to record my data to improve my yields and timing for the future.
I will post the details of the garden progress from the months of June, July & August very soon. I have already harvested many beans, herbs and peppers! The garden work finally slowed down enough, and the weather is too hot to be outside working much anyway, so I am finally catching up posting.
Step #1-Find a spot with good sun. 5-8 hours per day. Mostly level with slight drainage slope. Southwest or South facing is usually good.
I built my first raised garden bed back in 2013. I needed a second bed this year because I started so many seeds, and I was ready to expand my garden. I completed the construction of the second bed in June finally-thanks to a lot of help from my wonderful husband. He did a lot of the hard work this time because I was recovering from surgery.
Step #2- Get materials, Construct, & Fill the Bed –
Materials needed– untreated wood, corner stakes, screws and drill, hammer
I refilled last year’s bed back in late April because it had settled and lost volume. I used some of my own compost from the Earth Machine, and I supplemented with organic mushroom compost and organic pine bark soil conditioner.
The Rosemary, Lavender, Peppermint, and Oregano survived the winter!
Lots of shovel turning later and …
Step #3- Decide & Plan what you will plant & where in the bed you will put the plants
Step #4- Plant herb and vegetable seeds and/or plants
The picture above is from mid May at planting time. Everything looked a little yellow here, but below is a photo from just recently. Everything took off and I have had the best garden year yet!
Sweet Basil
Pickling Cucumber
Early Girl Tomato
Step #5-Tend the beds by watering, removing pests, and harvesting throughout the season.
Enjoy the Harvest!
I am including a link to my Growing an Essay piece here. I find the connections and similarities between gardening and writing interesting.
Start with mini greenhouse, peat pellets, and water …
Wait a day or two before planting for the pods to lose a little moisture (leave the top off for evaporation). Agitate the soil, and bust open the tops of the pods. This gives the seeds more room, and looser growing medium.
Plant veggie and herb seeds! Or flowers, if you like. I started this batch of seeds in mid-to-late February. Most of them were leftover from last year. Some I harvested from last year’s plants-like the green beans. I also bought more seeds (& a couple tomato plants I couldn’t resist) from Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace- my favorite garden center ever. More about that later.
I also started a second round of seeds a few weeks later. Some are the same as the first batch-like greens beans and tomatoes. I am experimenting with staggered planting times, so I can harvest throughout the long growing season here in Georgia.
Below are pics of the second round of seeds I planted.
They are just getting started in these pics from mid March. Many of the plants are now in the raised garden bed. *Fingers crossed for no late frost.* My next post will be about the repair, filling, and planting of my raised herb & veggie garden bed. The project was completed a few weeks ago with help from my sweet husband, and my friend Peggy, who was in town for a visit to Gibbs Gardens! I will also post some great pics of the Daffodil Festival at Gibbs in the next week or so.
