Eat Your Vegetables
My first-ever vegetable garden, more than 25 years ago, was planted in exactly the same spot where Mrs. Tucker, matriach of the Tucker Hill farm in Annapolis, had planted hers. Her daughters, four of whom still lived in the neighborhood, noticed right away and told me I had stumbled on their mother's long-ago garden spot.
The Tucker Hill farm house had been demolished and the property sub-divided. I was the lucky new homeowner with the fertile corner in an area that was largely clay.
Vegetable gardening ended for me when my neighbor's Linden tree grew too large and the shade too deep. Mrs. Tucker's vegetable garden is now part of my shade garden, and the plants continue to do remarkably well in that spot.
You can't have a garden blog if you don't write about vegetable gardening - and it helps if you have one - and for thorough coverage of that topic I am turning to my friends and colleagues Joannah Hill and Carrie Lyle, both Master Gardeners.
You will be hearing from them every Tuesday, and perhaps on other days as well, as they chronicle the life of their vegetable gardens this season and help you with yours. In the current economy, suddenly everyone wants to have a vegetable garden.
I have asked Joannah and Carrie to tell you a little bit about their gardening life.
This, from Joannah
'I started out gardening in South Florida where vegetables are planted in October and hibiscus bloom year-round.
Since then I've grown beautiful strawberries and lettuces in the brief, but bountiful growing season of Eastern Washington and harvested what seemed like an endless crop of tomatoes from Georgia's red clay.
I've been a Master Gardener since 2006, and now garden in Baltimore County.''
And this from Carrie
"I have been been growing organic vegetables in my Baltimore community garden plot since 2002. I learned most of what I know by screwing it up the first time around."
I don't know about you, but I think Tuesdays are going to be the liveliest days in the garden!!
Photo credit: Marty Ross
Comments
I am really looking forward to Tuesdays!
Posted by: NotableM | March 24, 2009 8:02 AM
This morning I saw that Poor Boys (corner of Old Harford & Taylor) has kale and broccoli - I think it was the entire cabbage family - on its sign. The last time I grew any of these, I was in Houston and grew them as a winter crop. I'm thinking of stopping by and picking up some broc. Maybe some kale, if they'll sell me just one plant (a little kale goes a long way for me)
Eve, I wrote a food story about kale last winter. I will dig it up and email it to you. -- Susan
Posted by: Eve | March 24, 2009 10:08 AM
How about advice on how to keep the bunnies from eating everything in the veggie garden?
Any thoughts out there? In the meantime, I will see what I can find in one of my (many) books. Susan
Posted by: Dahlink | March 24, 2009 3:58 PM
Dahlink, after I brush the dog - never as often as I should - I put his hair in the veggie garden. Sort of like mulch. It feels like we have less bunny action. (Perception is everything)
Posted by: Eve | March 24, 2009 4:50 PM
Eve, a friend with long hair did the same thing after she brushed her own hair, and thought it helped. Last year I tried using coffee grounds as top dressing in the garden, mainly to break up our heavy clay, but I thought it might be a mild bunny repellant as well. This year we have two new kittens who are itching to get outside and chase critters. Stay tuned!
Posted by: Dahlink | March 25, 2009 6:26 AM
I have a cat who is not supposed to go outdoors. The good news is that he took care of my terrible, terrible mouse problem (they would eat the cheese/peanut butter/whatever I used for bait and then poop on the trap!) and now there is not a sign of rodent in my house. The bad news is, he doesn't just chase the bunnies. It's heartbreaking to walk across the yard on a glorious morning, coffee cup in hand, reciting poetry and doing the One-With-the-Earth bit only to come across proof that The Great Hunter has been victorious once more.
Posted by: Eve | March 25, 2009 10:02 AM
Wonderful idea for planting veggies with limited space...edge your flower garden or trees with varities of lettuce. Colorful and healthy!
A perfect idea for small spaces! Full disclosure: This is my baby sister, Lizzie. Whom I ADORE!
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 25, 2009 8:17 PM
Eve, our dear departed kitty Cleo once brought a bunny inside the house. It was not a baby bunny--more like a teen bunny, and it must have weighed almost as much as Cleo, who was only 7 lbs. I never did figure out how she managed that. The good news is that we were able to escort it outside again.
Cleo never killed a bunny, but a few chipmunks met their Maker. Mostly she specialized in voles and field mice.
; Does Cleo make house calls. I have vole issues!-- Susan
Posted by: Dahlink | March 28, 2009 11:33 AM
Susan, Cleo is buried in the garden, so her vole-hunting days are no more. I'll let you know how our kittens do once they get outside!
Posted by: Dahlink | March 29, 2009 7:10 AM