5.29.2014

Overcoming a Black Thumb

Gardening

In the whirlwind of things we tackled for the Home Depot Style Challenge makeover, we also threw in a raised bed for good measure. I mean, it's our first time with a backyard, so we might as well try our hand at gardening, no?

I have this bad habit of having good intentions about being thoughtful and thorough when approaching a project but then get excited and sort of hastily tackle them. This was one of those projects, so this certainly isn't a tutorial. I'm sure I mucked up plenty of things in the execution of this one. In fact, I don't even really know what the grid of strings is for, but they appealed to my love of a geometric pattern so I threw 'em in (scientific, right?).

Anyway, let it be known that I have I kept all 20 of the plants alive that occupy this little bed (plus the tiniest little maple tree that popped up in the one unplanted square...because why not?!) for a solid month now! I'm not saying that I've exactly conquered my black thumb, but I'd say it's a deep, moody forest green right about now. In fact, I feel a little maternal each day when I lovingly water and inspect them for growth. If things go as planned, we'll have a stockpile of homemade hot sauces and tomato juice (or as I like to call it, Bloody Mary mix) by the end of the summer. Have you had any successes or failures with home gardening?

Gardening
Gardening
Gardening



Signature 1

2 comments:

  1. Yaay for gardening! Its one of my favorite things in the world and im missing it terribly since we are still in the apartment. 20 more days! (hopefully) I did manage to get some tomatoes and cukes in a container at least. What you have there my sweet friend is a Square Foot Garden. Each square within your lovingly symmetrical grid equals one square foot. The theory is you are able to pack more veggies into one small "plot of land" (the raised bed) as opposed to needing tons of space which traditional rowed garden beds require because you plant a different item in each square. So based on how you built yours you are able to get 15 plants into a small space. Since its summer you should be able to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, beans, squash, zuchinni, etc all in that little space!

    ReplyDelete
  2. About seven years ago, I had the courage to bring home a tiny baby Euphorbia. After about a month, I noticed that its leaves had started to turn yellow, with others falling off already. Another week passed and it looked hopeless already. It was only then when I realized that it was long gone... that its stem was already hollow. And it turns out... that I overwatered it. Silly me, thinking that all plants needed was sunlight and water (pretty elementary, but no!)

    RIP My Little Euphorbia... I'm so sorry...

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Pin It button on image hover