What A Deal!

Here’s a way to get the best deal on gardening supplies. Be the last person to plant your garden!

It seems I’m that person every year. While filling my cart at the local farm supply store, I ask, “Am I the last person to put in my garden?” The answer is usually a shrug of the shoulders to indicate that I may be.

The shelves are almost empty. I can hear the employees talk about taking down the temporary plastic hoop structure the next day. There isn’t much to choose from. But the basics are still there and that’s what I really want.

Tomato, cucumber, various squash, and pepper plants are all half price! Herb plants are included on the half price rack. (A neighbor has a sweet corn patch where we can take all that we need.)

Why We Are Last in the Gardening Race

May through June are very busy months for a farmer. Getting the crop in is the most important item on the “Farming To Do List”. But what about the garden? It’s second on the list and put in after the crop. So our garden is put in well after common sense and gardening calendars note planting time.

It’s not my choice to plant so late, but it’s now done. Planted in the early evenings, before the sun sets. Give it some time. Give it some water. It will catch up. Like the student who lags a bit. Who doesn’t quite get it the first time. Give them some time. They will catch up.

Come to my garden in July. It will be beautiful. August is plentiful. September is better. Give it some time. Give it some water. (And a bunch of chicken poop for fertilizer doesn’t hurt!)

Be Blessed!

P.S.- Do you see how black and beautiful our garden soil is? You can see in the tilling photo of this garden, it went from a soggy, mulch-filled mess to beautiful garden gold! Can you see the sad old vegetables and egg shells laying on top of the mulch side? Our neighbor (3.5 miles away) has a garden tiller. We are thrilled he can do this for us. Please refer to a previous post about how we use mulch and lazy composting to create this beautiful garden soil.