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.
It was warmer than usual, longer than usual in fall of 2017. I harvested peppers and peas until Dec. 8th. It was a great garden year, and it was fun trying new seeds and plants for the first time. New garden beds, seeds, plants, and new adventures to follow for 2018!
I harvested green bells, orange baby bells, and absolutely no Poblanos. The Poblano bloomed many times, but no peppers.
Beautiful Pea Bloom
My first time growing peas, and I planted late Sept/early Oct. It was hot all fall, so they had trouble getting started, but continued to produce peas until December.
First Pod
Climbing vines getting bigger
More Pods!
Pea Bloom
Second small harvest b4 the first frost.
I grew two varieties of Burpee brand peas from seed for the first time- Sugar Daddy and Super Sugar Snap. I learned about the types of peas, Snap vs. Garden. With Garden Peas, the peas inside the pod are the edible part, and you discard the pod. Snap Peas have tender, edible pods. The peas are tiny and tender, and you eat the whole thing pod and all!
Beds in early November
Finally- Tabascos turning red. Took a long time. Planted seeds in March, and got peppers in November.
Used one of my Green Bell peppers and orange baby bell for fajitas!
Harvested the last Jalapenos, Peas, & Tabascos before the frost on Dec. 8th
I have a small, metal frame greenhouse on the porch for the first time this winter. I put plants from the raised beds in the greenhouse before the first frost, and everything is still alive. My next post will be about the greenhouse, and the new seeds I’m planting for my 2018 garden!
The three raised beds have produced more this year than I hoped! I harvested many beans, peppers, and herbs. I will give descriptions & details, with links, for all plants soon. Here are a few photo galleries & brief info for each month from June through August, 2018.
June
Raised Bed area June
More Beans!
More Beans
& more Beans & Basil
July
Pumpkin Bloom
Sweet Basil & donated Peaches
Jalapeno. So many more to come
So many beans, I had to freeze some this year.
Okra Bloom
Baby Okra. 1st time growing.
August
Beans, cucumbers (a few) more jalapenos
Boil 10 mins, then saute with olive oil, sesame seeds, and salt & pepper. Yum.
The meal with my cukes, peppers, okra and beans.
Still more Okra & Peppers & Beans until the pests ate my bean plants.
I planted new fall & winter seeds the week of Sept 19. See my previous post for detailed information about the raised bed building process, seed starting, and garden harvests from earlier this year. Also, my next post will feature some of the gorgeous, Georgia native plants that finally bloomed in my garden this year!
Seeds I just planted this past week for fall & winter garden!!!
Snow pea seeds going in this week. Can’t wait! Details about planting to follow soon.
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.