Pumpkins!

I am proud to report that out of the few plants that made it from seedling to garden and thrived are these beautiful pumpkin plants. Off to the right are turnips, which I've never grown before but am hoping do well! It's been so hot here that none of the peas made it. I've got a tomato plant and a couple of pepper plants still hanging on in the back gardens. We'll see...it just hasn't been a good year for growing!

Peppers...

So far, the pepper plants look good. Last year, I lost most of my peppers to slugs or some other unknown bug. This year I've got 6 plants total- three bell and three carnival pepper. Hopefully I can keep the bugs off long enough to actually eat the veggies!

Peas= Total failure

I wish I had taken a picture of my failed sugar snap peas, but I was so discouraged I pulled them all out before I could. Last year, I had beautiful snap pea plants that produced absolutely wonderful peas. This year, I transplanted them and we promptly had a late frost. I didn't think this would be a problem, but two weeks later we had 90-degree weather. I think they just couldn't make it against the rapidly fluctuating temperatures. The leaves yellowed, dried up, and died. I watered them, I gave them compost and good soil to grow in, they got plenty of sunshine and still they died. I was really looking forward to sugar snap peas!! I planted another row directly outside last weekend, and they have sprouted. I just don't know if they'll have enough cool weather left to thrive in, as it's been almost 90 degrees again a few days this week. So much for Connecticut's temperate growing season!

Sprouts!

The digital camera was too far away, so this cell phone picture will have to do for now. We've had crazy weather here- a late frost two weeks ago that damaged some of the plants I put out too early, and yesterday we hit a new record for May 26th of 98F. I was so glad to see that the heat hasn't affected the seeds I planted this past weekend. These are my "Baby Pam" pumpkins, just sprouted this morning. I've also got turnips coming up, and basil and bell peppers successfully transplanted outside. No sign of life from the lettuce or spinach yet....but maybe they are just slow learners! I'll transplant the Roma and Cherry tomato seedlings to the outside beds this weekend. Pictures to follow, hopefully!

It's been quiet...too quiet!

My apologies for the quiet from this corner for the last week or two! We've been preoccupied with planning for baby (I know, I know, we've got time still!) and trying to get the gardens going. I spent last weekend, which was beautiful and sunny, weeding the garden beds where the peppers and tomatoes will go. This past weekend was VERY windy and cold, and we've got frost warnings for tonight so everything is on hold until I know I can put the rest of the plants outside. Not unheard of weather for Connecticut in May, but not common either. I thought for sure that after a couple of 90 degree days at the end of April, the warm weather would be here to stay. Boy, was I wrong!
If you can see the tool in my hand, let me tell you- that was the best $2.99 I ever spent on a garden item ever! One side is a hoe and the other is a small rake. Great for weeding! Besides, it makes me look slightly dangerous when I'm out in the yard by myself, which is always helpful since I'm small, blonde, and mostly harmless. :)

Big News!

I've been quiet for the last week or so because we've been overwhelmed by the big news at our house. My husband and I are having a baby! We've been married almost 6 years, and it seems that the time is just right for us to grow our family. The dog and the cat are ready to be "big sister and brother" and our parents are overjoyed. I'm due in December. Updates to follow- this weekend's big project is to get the rest of the garden beds built for all of the plant babies. :)

Free stuff rules!

I belong to my local freecycle, which is basically an internet email group where folks can list stuff they want to get rid of or stuff they are looking for. I responded to someone who was offering old wood from a workbench. I ended up with 5 pieces, 8ft long by 6in wide, about 2.5 inches thick. I originally intended to build a garden bed with them, but found they had unknown paint on them and I didn't want to risk contaminating my veggies. I had the brilliant idea to use them to edge the garden bed on the side of our garage, which has always just sort of been a pile of dirt with lots of day lilies in it. I think it came out really nice! And all I had to spend was my time, to get it done. Hooray for recycling!