July Garden

Hey, friends! I know awhile back, I discussed our plans to really revamp the layout of our garden this year. Unfortunately, we’ve had so many other house projects and summer plans to tend to, that we never got around to it.

I did, however, still plant a garden and change it up a little, and am excited to report that it’s taking off quite well so far!

I thought I’d share a quick update about the state of this teensy plot of land of ours, and what it’s been providing (or is about to provide) us this summer.

Around this time last year, it was all about the cucumbers, basil, peppermint, and tomatoes. This year, the cucumbers are just beginning to take off and the herbs haven’t been doing so hot, but we’re practically swimming in all of the zucchini, strawberries, lettuce, and pumpkin vines taking over every spare inch of land!

The tomatoes have finally begun to appear and I can’t wait until they start to ripen (I anticipate this week or next) so I can stop buying them from the store for the next couple of months!

We’re getting lots of yellow buds on our cantaloupe and watermelon vines, and lovely purple ones on our eggplant.

It seems like I’m concerned every year that our green peppers won’t make it (they always look so puny and sad next to the other plants) but they never fail to prove me wrong! We’ve got a couple of little beauties coming along now.

This pumpkin. Is ridiculous. Last year, I planted a pumpkin plant and it produced two teeny, tiny babies that perfectly fit into the palm of my hand. This year, there are already 10+ blooms that are holding strong and transforming daily, and if they keep it up, they’re going to be massive. As you can see, the honeybees have been doing their part to watch over them for us. : )

I also feel like our sunflowers sprouted up overnight. Seriously, they went from knee-high to as-tall-as-me in a matter of days. Isn’t Nature so mysteriously magnificent?

Our strawberries hardly produced anything last year, but this summer, they’re almost weed-like in how fast they grow and spread. I’m able to harvest a handful daily, which is just fine by me!

I’m also regularly pulling handfuls of fresh lettuce in the mornings, and skipping over it at the grocery because we have so much. And it’s so good.

I’m anxiously awaiting the day I can pluck the onions and carrots. The tops are looking lovely, but they still have quite a ways to grow before they’re ready to harvest.

As I said earlier, our herbs were taking off like crazy last summer, and I was hardly able to keep up with them. This year, not so much. I did place them in a different location than last year, and wasn’t watering them quite the same.

After doing some research last week, I decided to move them and get into more regimented watering schedule with them, and almost immediately, they sprung back to life and are finally beginning to grow. So thankful for that, because I need that fresh basil in my life!