Garden Tour 11

Hi friends! Thank you for joining me for our garden tour... I'm so happy to share the literal fruit of our labor!
Two years ago my husband and I were compelled to grow our food. This is our third summer of gardening and we have both been surprised at how much we enjoy it! It's extremely satisfying and honestly, captivating to watch the plants grow! (from a tiny little seed - it's truly a miracle).
The desire to share our garden with the online-a-verse and the small harvest with our friends- is to show that this impactful lifestyle choice is attainable. Growing your food can be tailored to whatever capacity fits into your life. Whether it's just herbs on a window sill, tomato plants on the front porch, a small bed, or tilling up your entire backyard - growing your food (whatever that looks like for you) will bring fulfillment - and dare we say - happiness to your life!
Personally, starting was the most overwhelming part of the process. Partly because I hate to fail, but also because I'm extremely competitive. Looking at social media, KZbin, and farmer's gardens made me feel like I lost before I even planted my first seed. I could never achieve or replicate what I saw online!
Friends I picked up a little secret - if you have dirt, a seed, and water - you can grow something. I even learned potatoes grow from other potatoes! Did you know that? I just cut a potato and put it in the ground and before I knew it - I had more potatoes growing!
Don't let the masquerade of online perfection stop you from trying!
I also have a note - this is teamwork and I'm very blessed to have a handy husband (he made our garden beds) who is also very patient. He often encourages and reminds me- it's okay to start small. We crafted the perspective that everything in the garden is an experiment... at the end of the day, it's trial and error until we get it right. That perspective (and the fact that we don't live in a time when feeding our families is only based on the success of your crops) really does take the pressure off and allows you to enjoy the process
Anyways friends - bottom line: We're hoping to show you - if we can do it - you can do it! :)

[@growyourownfood7814]

Your tomatoes did really well. You can pick them when they start to blush (turn colors) and they will finish ripening inside so they will not split. What you saw in you potato bed appears to be a volunteer tomato. Same thing with the green plant in your beets. They spread pretty easy. And fall potatoes are really tough. You have to plant them early when it is still hot, hope they sprout and have time to produce tubers. Planting them in early spring, about a week or two before your last frost date is a good time to plant Irish potatoes. Sweet potatoes are planted in late spring since they love the summer heat. You did really well with your garden.

[@amomentwithhales]

Thank you for all this info! I"ll have to make sure I get a plan together in the spring and get more potatoes going! I will try to get to the blushing tomatoes before the rain comes again - thanks for the tip! Because I let so much stuff go so long in my garden, I wonder if I'll have random plants popping up all over my beds... The micro dwarf tomatoes sound super fun to try over winter! Again, thanks for all the tips - can't wait until next season!

[@growyourownfood7814]

@@amomentwithhales I get random tomatoes every year. If you want any micro dwarf tomato seeds I have a few extra if you want them. Just let me know.

[@growyourownfood7814]

Forgot to add, you can plant micro dwarf tomatoes in half to one gallon containers and grow them inside during the winter. They will need a south window and/or supplemental lights. I have some planted and a couple of them already have blooms and they are only 2 inches tall. All micro dwarf tomatoes should grow 12 inches or less. Fun to play with during the winter time.

[@GrowsGoneWild]

Looks like a great year for your garden! Do you grow any fruit trees? Growing what you like to eat is the best advice!

[@amomentwithhales]

We got 2 apple trees this spring! and one didn't make it through the summer. I'd also like to get a fig and pear tree. We live in VA -- any suggestions on what's best to grow?

[@GrowsGoneWild]

@@amomentwithhales too bad for the apple. How cold does it get there? Not really familiar with Virginia, but some figs are more cold hardier than others. I have liked tiger panache and violette de Bordeaux but not sure how they would do in your area. The great thing about figs is that they root pretty easily and do well in pots so it’s easy to try out several varieties.

[@amomentwithhales]

@@GrowsGoneWild the winters are pretty mild here! A few cold days, but nothing too crazy. I’ll have to research those- thank you!

[@GrowsGoneWild]

@@amomentwithhales oh that’s good! I am looking to add Smith, I 258 and CDA next year. There’s honestly too many figs out there 😂