Part 2 –– I’ve Gardened Before. I can do this.

I have decided to plant my Victory Garden this year with hopes that it will outshine any previous gardens I’ve grown.  During the past few years, I’ve become more interested in developing a more self-sustaining lifestyle.  And with the pandemic situation of late, I’m committed to this and to promoting it for others. (See my blog, part 1.)

Our supply chain has been interrupted in more ways than COVID-19, causing me to consider more gardening.  Sometimes it’s severe flooding, sometimes it’s a supplier disaster at their location, sometimes it’s a hurricane or tornado, and sometimes it’s rampant sickness or recalls of contaminated produce.  Citizens of the U.S. have become spoiled by having fresh fruits and vegetables available to us all year long, but that abundant supply comes with a cost—the increasing reliance on imported foreign produce.

I know the benefits of gardening.  I’ve planted many gardens over the years, the earliest being a patch of ground my little brother and I dug up in our backyard when we were 11 and ten, respectively. 

I know the benefits of gardening.  I’ve planted many gardens over the years, the earliest being a patch of ground my little brother and I dug up in our backyard when we were 11 and ten, respectively.  We created rows in the six-foot by ten-foot patch of rich black topsoil that is common in southeastern Wisconsin.  We planted seeds for radishes, green beans, carrots and pumpkins, and we planted a few small tomato plants.  The part of our harvest I remember is a small pumpkin, about seven inches in diameter, whose vine had wound its way through the fence into the neighbor’s garden.  Since we were generally not allowed in her yard, we were quite surprised when Mrs. Wheeler came to us that fall and asked if we wanted to pick our pumpkin that day.  Of course, we did rather proudly.

As a new homeowner in Missouri in the mid-80s, I was anxious to till the soil and create my new garden in the city. I first read everything I could get in my hands about vegetable gardening: books and magazines (before internet, folks!). We hand-dug the patch—about 300 square feet—and added composted manure to ensure a bounteous harvest.  I purchased seeds and plants at a local garden shop based on the list of items we decided we’d try—quite a variety. My first husband and I planted, weeded and watered the slightly raised beds, and we watched it grow.  For the most part, it was a fantastic little garden in spite of the bugs that made the broccoli look like it was alive.

Since that time, I’ve had numerous annual gardens, trying new vegetables and new methods. (We quit hand-digging after that first year.)  My daughter, as a toddler, had gardened alongside me, talking to each worm she found as she placed them “where they belonged.” I started seeds under grow lights, created trellises, mulched paths with newspaper, clippings or bark, tried composting and even set up timed watering systems using sprinklers and soaker hoses.  Some things worked and some did not.  I became busier, became single and married again, and I moved out to the country.  

In more recent years I’ve ambitiously planted in early April, but I surrendered when July’s heat baked both me and my plants.  The clay soil here easily turns hard without extensive water, and too much doesn’t drain well.  My vegetable garden last year was planted in containers on my deck, filled with a variety of tomatoes and herbs only.  The bright spot last year was an abundance of blackberries from canes we planted several years ago.  I ate, baked, preserved and froze a great harvest which we’re still enjoying. (I’ll share a few recipes soon too.)

This year we have an additional half-acre area on the lot next door to plant, after we purchased the land and tore down the neighbor’s house that had burned last fall.  Jeff, my hubby, has been diligently developing terraced and raised beds as well as vegetable garden area. He created an ambitious plan to create our own hobby berry farm here at home, in hopes of transferring our experience to Barbed Wire Hollow, our future country retirement property. 

This time, the soil has been amended with “black gold” compost and sand, and Jeff installed drainage in any areas needed. And yes, it’ll have an extensive watering system in place.

I have seed flats filled with little tomatoes (four varieties), broccoli, brussels sprouts, peppers, watermelons, and herbs that are aching to be brought outside to harden off.  I also have packages of seeds awaiting that last frost date and for the finally tilling and raking to be done. 

In future entries, I’ll share with you our planting ideas and trials, our good moments and bad, while we hope to grow our best garden yet.  Hopefully we can keep our sense of humor when the rain falls too many days in a row, the bugs are multiplying like crazy and the critters start stealing tomatoes and biting into ripe berries.  Stay tuned!