Backyard Farming in the Summer of 2016

After getting a very late start planting this spring, my vegetable garden is finally starting to provide me with a healthy variety of delicious vegetables that I love. I would advise you to only plant things you love or are pricey at the grocery store.  

I decided to start as many plants from seed as I could and prepared the soil with organic soil amendments such as humus and manure.  I have been building the soil up for the last three years since starting the garden patch.  This year I also extended my raised garden bed and it has been a big success as you will see in the photos that will follow.

I planted the seeds in seed starter trays and kept the trays moist but was careful not to over water and drown them.  After they grew to a strong healthy size, I began taking them outside during the day and back indoors at night to get them acclimated to the cool spring weather. Eventually planted them in late May, about three weeks later than I usually do.

Watering daily and weeding often as well as feeding the plants with compost tea bags (soak in a watering can overnight) was very important in growing healthy and pest free plants.

I have been able to harvest spring onions, summer straight neck squash, basil and peppers so far. Because I planted a few weeks later, my tomatoes have not turned red yet.  The eggplants and cucumbers are now coming in as well as the pumpkins and watermelon.

It is amazing how fast the squash and cucumbers grow.  You really have to check under the leaves well so your vegetables don't get too huge. They tend to be tough and seedy if you don't pick them when they are tender and not overgrown.

Working in the garden is so rewarding as well as very therapeutic for relieving stress.  The Vitamin D from the sunshine and getting a workout while I do what I love is fantastic! I look forward to sharing more updates and photos on my backyard farm soon! Stay cool in the summer heat my friends!