Vegetable Gardening 101

I am a newbie to the vegetable gardening scene. After years and years of growing flowers I finally decided to get serious and become a "real" gardener. That said I decided to start with raised bed gardening due to the fact that then I would not have to plow and till my yard. Granted I am starting out slow, but I am steady. Think turtle.

I have three tomato plants, ten pepper plants and one cucumber plant and probably ten basil plants. Then I must confess, I filled the rest of the dirt up with flowers. Zinnia's and Cosmos. Oh I almost forgot - just yesterday I bought a pack of 'Jack Be Little' pumpkins that I'm going to plant as soon as the ground dries out. We have been having storms almost everyday here in the midwest which is super for the garden.

I am loving watching the veggies grow. Everyday at least once I go out into the yard to have a look at the progress. I am reading lots of articles about veggie gardening and have picked up a few tips. I have gotten some of my tips from this website! That said, so far I have removed the bottom leaves from my tomato plants. I have spread coffee grounds and crushed egg shells around the roots of the tomatoes and peppers (I ran out before I got to the lone cucumber plant but maybe later this week he'll get some).

So far I can count six tomatoes coming along. I don't' know what the pepper or cucumbers are suppose to look like when they start their journey so I don't' know if I have anything there or not. But I will say this - the cucumber plant is getting really, really big. Today I am going to brave the heat (100 +) and go out and tie the plant up around one of those metal round things. I have no idea what they are called, I just know that my neighbor said I can take some of his as he is not using them anymore.

Of course my flowers are coming along just grand. This is the best conditions they have ever been exposed to. Premio soil and sun, sun and more sun. They are growing by leaps and bounds. I am hoping to have the house filled with flowers in a few weeks. What would really make me happy is to have my kitchen counters filled with vegetables too! I will keep you posted on my progress. If all goes well next year I expect to add another raised bed. Soon I anticipate feeding the neighborhood. Next? The world!

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