Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary....

How does your garden grow?

This is the 2nd year for the Parker's to put in a family garden.  We planted our first one last year in March of 2010.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and when time restraints didn't allow us to put in a fall garden I was really bummed.  But, determination had us back out there in March of this year to once again make us some veggies!!

Here's Johnny, hard at work getting those beds ready for planting.  We found this roto-tiller on Craigs list last year AFTER already putting in the garden.  We knew it would be a purchase that we would get a lot of use out of in the future and couldn't pass it up.

A very proud young man who worked along side us getting everything in the garden.  From left to right, bed #1 has green beans and peas planted from seed.  Bed #2 has tomato's and bell pepper from transplants.  Bed #3 has squash, cucumbers (3 from transplants and 6 or 8 from seed),  and on the end some okra.  Bed #4 is the one Caleb is standing in front of and it has onions from transplants, a few onion seed, and down on the end out of view are some jalapeno plants from transplants...

It's always fun to watch the plants grow and we wait in anticipation of the first veggie to be ready.  With this years garden, it only took a couple of weeks and two of these guys were ready for the picking.  Unfortunately, they were curled, which led me to believe they might be pickling cucumber plants.  That's a disappointment if it's the case.  Gill's might have mis-marked them.  We'll see.  I'm hoping it's just because they were the first one's and that they curled.

On of my most favorite veggie is just beginning to grow.  Aren't they the cutest squash you've every seen?  LOL

Here's another picture of the garden a week or so later!  Isn't the growth incredible.  You can tell just by looking at the onions.  See how tall and green they are already?  Amazing.

I had every intention of putting a week by week picture on here, but alas, that is not to be.  But here's an updated photo anyway.  Definitely a lot more green to see!

With one of these yummy squash ready to eat!  Mmm, mmm, GOOD!  It wasn't a few days later and we had a pile of them.  John grilled them on the BBQ and they had to be the BEST squash I'd ever eaten.  I could have made a meal of them by themselves.

And this vision of loveliness - grape tomato's!  I can't wait.  I love to eat them for a snack all by themselves.  Just pop them in like candy.  Delicious!

And these, finally a few to pick. Still very young though as the pod's were rather tough...tasty peas though...but only enough for me to snack...I'm hoping that as they produce they will make a more mature and tasty product. 

Yesterday (Apr 17th) we saw a quarter sized bell pepper. Today there were a few of the tiniest ever jalapeno's starting out and YES, green beans.  They are very small and so skinny, but they are coming.  Can't wait!

April 20, 2011:

Now, THIS is what I'm talking about!

And finally - GREEN BEANS - only a few for me to nibble, but that's okay....more will come!

Until our next update...

God bless,

Pam