I’ve been putting off posting about my tomato garden because I had grand dreams of collecting photos as it grew and then making a movie about it. Eh. Maybe that will still get done, but in the meantime I’m wasting good post fodder.
Remember when I dreamed up a garden using the concrete blocks that we’ve owned since we were first married? Well, it turns out that it is not an original idea, but it still has some merit. I’m actually gardening – my parents will be so proud! Ok, maybe ‘gardening’ is not the right term – ‘experimenting with edible plants’ might be more accurate. (If you Google ‘square foot gardening’ you’ll get some cool articles that started me thinkin’.)
Way back in April I started some seeds in an egg carton on the windowsill. “Welcome to hell Good luck, little seeds,” Lloyd said.
Once they showed that they were going to make a go of it, I put some of the blocks out along the south side of the house. It gets a fair amount of sun out there, according to Brad.
Then, determined not to spend more than the couple of bucks on seeds, I filled the spaces with compost, then a little leftover potting soil from various plants we’ve killed.
So, the two best-looking tomato plants were transplanted to the big space, and I sprinkled lettuce seeds in the spaces in the blocks themselves.
It was around this time I was tinkering with the rain barrel idea (Which has run into a few snafus, Beth. I’ll have to talk about that with you.), and thought, “Y’know, I still have several blocks yet – why not build an annex?” So, now there is a little spot to the side for cucumbers to grow, and yet more lettuce. Lloyd thinks it looks stupid. He has no heart for ingenuity, only a passion for symmetry.
I realize that I’ve probably planted the cucumber seeds too late, but I don’t care. It’s all in the name of experimentation!
Cricket approves of it all.
Beth says
It is a beautiful little garden. Heck you might even have enough lettuce for a side salad. 😉
Lauren's dad says
You wanna borrow my rototiller to keep the weeds down?
Beth says
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (I laughed out loud.)
Deanne says
Naaaaaw, it won’t jinx it! Now we’ll all be sending happy-growing vibes to your pretty plants!
c says
What a great idea! I would call your cinder block design asymmetrical. very cute.
Rae says
I’m surprised that Cricket didn’t request cat nip…maybe in the annex portion.
Peggy says
It looks wonderful!! I’m very proud of you!! You are a genius!! Yikes…you’ve left me all alone in the dust of the gardening challenged.
But I have a question…are you supposed to use compost when planting things? Is that what I’m doing wrong?
Lauren says
I just used compost because we have so much. (I was too lazy to dig down to where it’s more dirt-like, as you can tell.) The square-foot garden pots tell you to put a mixture of compost, peat and something else, but… eh. Whatever.
Lauren's mom says
Your parents are SO proud! Grow little tomato plants! You can do it.
Tomato Plants says
Thanks, but we have little faith in your daughter. Her track record with plant matter isn’t so hot. 🙂
Lauren says
I heard that.
Keren Lowell says
Maybe we should have a race. Alaska tomato plants vs. Nebraska tomato plants. Who will win? Nobody can say….
Keren Lowell says
Oh. I forgot to say that I never even LIKED tomatoes.
Lauren says
I always remember that when I eat a tomato -- “Keren doesn’t like tomatoes.” 🙂