I’m thrilled! The gardener came today, armed with wire, soil, new sprinkler heads, and yippeee-I-oh! The last two vegetable boxes are repaired and planted. Here are some pictures. Note the corn for the raccoons and gophers – two varieties for them! -and enough romaine to feed an army of rabbits! The marigolds are to ward off pests (seemed to work a bit last year). I bought several varieties of romaine lettuce because it is my husband’s favorite, and he makes AWESOME salads, can’t wait!
I tried to rotate plants to different areas than last year, as I read it helps prevent disease. Sadly, I think I violated the tomato code by putting some tomatoes in the same spot as I had tomatoes last year (makes illness more likely), but I ran out of room! I need another veggie box!
Noteworthy: Since I bought so many baby heirloom tomato plants and ran out of room, not only did I plant these precious tomatoes in verboten areas of the veggie box (i.e., in the same spots as last year), but I also needed to plant the tomato plants a bit too close together. So while each tomato plant is a different variety (I can’t wait for fruit), I fear I put them at risk for crowding and disease – Aaaaaaargh! -But… how is it that FOUR veggie boxes is not enough room? Plus, I don’t even have enough cages for all the tomatoes, so I need to trot off and find more tomato cages.
I know from the photo below it looks like there is lots of space for all the tomatoes, but last year the tomatoes took over, spilling over the fences and crowding each other out. I could barely walk the pathways between the veggie boxes. Therefore, this pledge: This year I PLEDGE TO TIMELY TRIM THE TOMATOES!
- Doesn’t Look Crowded Now but wait til these Tomatoes Take Over! I Pledge to Trim them this year – REALLY!
- Enough Romaine Lettuce for an Army of Rabbits! -and Swiss Chard too!
- So Pretty and Cozy! I Love it out here!
It’s hard to believe this is my third year with this veggie garden. I started out asking the gardener to build one box, and then quickly changed my mind and asked him to build two boxes. By year two I had asked him to add in boxes three and four! I’m already contemplating box 5! I don’t know where all the space goes!
