Garden Recap 2014

Alas, the garden season has come and gone, and it's time to reflect on the season that was. Some of the stand-out moments were watching the kids' excitement to pick and eat veggies, and seeing some of the new plants grow.

In every growing season, there are surprises and frustrations. This season had more frustrating moments than any other year - record rains, disease, low yield, etc.

Here is a garden 2014 recap...

What was planted?

This year's crop had the usual staples - cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, kohlrabi, onions, cilantro, and peas. After a two year hiatus, garlic was reintroduced. Making a first-time appearance were sunflowers, califlower and carrots.

Harvest Results?!?

The Best - Sunflowers and Peas

Good - Onions, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Garlic

The Bad - Cucumbers, Peppers, Carrots

Non-existent - Kohlrabi and Califlower
Note: There were a couple of factors that resulted in the low yield - record rains in June led to rot/disease, and the tree roots next to the garden appears to have stole important nutrients for growth.

Changes in 2015

• Smaller Garden
• I have had enough of dealing with tree roots. As a result, I trimmed 5ft of the garden closest to the tree. 
• The garden will be 60sq ft smaller next year. Tough decision but had to be done.
• Sticking with the Staples
• There will be no more sunflowers or kohlrabi. The sunflowers took over the garden and may have stole nutrients from other plants. 
• Kohlrabi has never done well, so that experiment is over.
• Going back to the basics - cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, carrots, onions, peas, and cilantro. Considering giving califlower a second chance.
• Experiment
• Adding mulch to the bottom of tomato plants. The rain splash has caused blight the last two years. Mulch will absorb backsplash.
• Buying a trellis for cucumbers. The cucumbers haven't produced because (a) its leaves touch the ground, thus more susceptible to diesease, (b) its leaves block sunlight, causing vine rot. A trellis will prevent all that from happening - I hope.
•  Not sure what to do with peppers - just praying for a better year.

Highlights

Once again, the best moments of the season were the kids picking and eating produce. 

• Ryan and Laura 
• Totally consumed the limited supply of cucumbers. We ate in our usual spot - on the dining room floor.
• Gobbled up all of the peas.
• Found a fascination to dig for worms
• Laura 
• A super-duper helper by carrying tomatoes and cucumbers into the house.
• Told me when the wind blew over the sunflowers.
• Enjoyed eating carrots. All two of them. :)
• Ryan
• Wanted to help with digging.
• Enjoyed eating peas so much that he begged me to "find more!"

Pictures

The Sunflower Harvest

Gigantic Sunflowers

The first carrot

Where is Ryan? Must be behind that carrot!

Days before the sunflowers bloomed. Sad looking garden

Picking peas for Ry-Roo

Where are the worms?

New addition...Tulips in the front yard.

Garden in full bloom

Cucumber Competition

It's time for my annual garden post. Take a look back at this one in 2011. Laura has changed quite a bit.

Trying to find something to harvest.

Each growing season, Laura looks forward to eating peas out of the garden. A better way of phrasing it, she loves it! Unfortunately, each year those pesky rabbits get to them before she does. I finally caved in and put up a fence. In doing so, the pea crop has flourished and Laura has been eating a ton of peas.

Laura proudly sitting next to her cilantro.

Cilantro
This spring at daycare, Laura started cilantro from seed. She brought it home and we quickly transplanted it into the garden. Look at it now! FYI- it's to her left.

I have to admit, it's been fun watching her get excited about the garden. She wants to see her cilantro grow, eat peas, and pick other vegetables.


What have I done?
As the sole cucumber eater in this house, I have had the pleasure of harvesting, slicing, and EATING bowls full of the yummy vegetable year after year. It looks as though that tradition has come to an end.

This year, I had encouraged, somewhat urged, and maybe egged on Laura to join in on the cucumber fun. Knowing that she would reply with "Yuck Dad!" I stayed persistent. Then one day, I gave Ryan a bite and he demanded more. *Side note...I should have known, he eats anything and everything.

Laura watched and quickly wanted in. She grabbed a slice, took a bite, and loved it. We now have started a daily ritual. Each day, Laura, Ryan and I sit on the floor to eat the day's harvest. To my surprise, Laura eats them so fast I can't keep pace. So much for enjoying a bowl of cucumbers in peace. 

Daily feeding location -on the floor.

Laura and the Garden

Tomatoes!

It is the end of the growing season, my first year of gardening is in the books. The most memorable part of this experience was spending time with Laura. It was so much fun watching her get excited about picking tomatoes, eating peas and watering plants. She would ask me almost every day, "Daddy-yo, can we eat peas?" or "I go pick tomatoes."

Things we planted...
Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Kohlrabi, Potatoes, Peppers, Lettuce, Peas, Beans, Onions, Garlic, Zucchini, Pumpkin and unfortunately/mistakenly Gourds.

Before I go, I must thank Grandpa George for his help, guidance and expertise throughout the growing year.