Sun Setting On Us After Day One
Some years we have amazing gardens. Some years life is so hectic we don’t even try. Even though we are getting a late start this year, we think we might set a record for our most epic garden ever.
Getting the garden started is a LOT of work, so it’s “all hands on deck!” Thankfully we have a lot of strong and able kids who understand how wonderful it is to grow your own produce. We were also blessed to have a good neighbor come over with his tractor and till up a huge area for us!
Our garden is in an old barnyard. We don’t have any animals in this area, but for years the soil was amended with manure from a pony who used to live here. We have also added truck loads of composted horse manure we got from a friend.
Along one side of the garden we planted Marigolds. They look so pretty and also have natural pesticide qualities.
For our peppers and tomatoes we used black landscape fabric that is 3 feet wide. It really keeps the weeds down and also adds heat that these tropical plants love! I’ve used black plastic in the past, but the fabric is a bit more durable and I’m hoping to reuse it several times. We cut dinner-plate-sized holes in the fabric every 2 feet for the peppers and every 3 feet for the tomatoes. To keep the weeds down in between rows we put down grass clippings.
 |
We added 1/2 tablespoon bone meal to each circle for the peppers and 1 tablespoon for the tomatoes and stirred it in with a trowel. I’ve heard you can have your soil tested for deficiencies at the State Agricultural Extension Office. We haven’t tried that yet, but we know from experience with our soil that bone meal prevents blossom end rot. You can also learn a lot about your soil and how to make it better from the book, Let’s Get Growing by Crow Miller. I love that book! It is very easy to read and organized and really gives you confidence to grow your food organically.
One of my sons set up an irrigation system using PVC pipe, garden hose repair kits, and drip irrigation distribution tubing. This allows water to get to the base of several plants at once, saves us a ton of time and water, and prevents the hose from accidentally being drug across the plants. It’s pretty sweet!
 |
| PVC Pipe Irrigation |
To support the peppers, we used small wire plant cages or tires, but for the tomatoes we decided to try something new this year. I really hate using the large tomato cages. I usually hit a rock about 10 inches down and end up bending one of the spokes. Of course it is easier if you soak the ground first, but I still really hate putting the cages in. Getting the huge tomato plant out of them at the end of the season isn’t any fun either. My neighbor, Mike, is an amazing gardener. He gave me the idea of using cattle panels to support the tomatoes. We ran the panels along one side of the tomatoes and coaxed the plants through the openings. So far, we love this system!
 |
| Cattle Panels to Support Tomatoes |
We planted our “vines”(cucumbers, squash, etc) in a different section of our barnyard, using the black landscape fabric again but allowing much more space for the plants to spread out. On one end of the vine section we planted Cosmos and Zinnias. On the other end we planted an herb garden. I love seeing all that black fabric and knowing I won’t have to pull any weeds there!
 |
| Our Vines |
When we moved here we found lots of tires down our hill and they have really come in handy in the garden. Not only do they hold the landscape fabric down, they also provide a nice little windbreak to the young plants.
To help the seeds in this section stay moist, we put down about an inch of cocoa bean shells over the soil in each circle. I love using cocoa bean shells for mulch! They are so pretty, the seeds can easily push up through them, and they smell amazing!!! We have them in full sun so we never have a problem with them getting moldy.
 |
| Zucchini |
Finally, in another section we sowed 4 rows of Detroit Red Beets, 1 row of Bright Lights Swiss Chard, and 3 rows of Zinnias. We just use a sprinkler to water this section.
 |
| Beets |
The garden looks so pretty when it is freshly hoed and raked, but leaving the soil exposed to the sun damages the microorganisms that keep the soil healthy so we will add grass clippings between the rows of plants.
To protect our plants from animals we use Deer & Rabbit Repellent granules. I love this product! It is completely organic and is so much easier to apply than a liquid spray. We apply this every 2 weeks at first and then about once a month. It is super stinky, so we are careful not to get it on the part of the plant we want to eat. For my beets and Swiss chard I can get away with just sprinkling it on the soil around the plants. I don’t need to use it on my herbs or flowers, because our deer and rabbits leave those alone.
It’s also a great idea to keep a garden notebook. I record everything from how far apart to thin seedlings after they come up to what my crop rotation plan will be. Each year we gain more experience and writing down what worked well or what we want to try next year helps us remember what we learned.
 |
| Recording What we Did |
Now that the garden is in and growing, we just need to continue to Weed, Water, Feed and Protect it from pests. The kids each have one gardening chore a day (in addition to other chores) so each morning we walk through the garden, noting which plants are thriving, which need attention, how moist the soil is, etc. and assign the chores accordingly. About 30 minutes or less from each family member keeps the plants thriving and the garden looking great. It is a labor of love, but so worth the effort!
Hello friend, this post contains Amazon affiliate links which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link, at no additional cost to you. And no worries….I only link to products that I love! ~Rebecca
I love your garden! What great tips! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Julie!