Lettuce give ourselves a break
Gardening is one of those projects that requires daily attention. I do actually find it managable within the confines of everyday life, except during a book tour.
I was stubborn when we moved into our new house on April 1st. I insisted on planting my most ambitious-sized garden yet, a 4’ x 8’ bed out back and two 6’ x 3’ beds in the front yard, in spite of my impending absences. I invested in a couple soaker hoses and a timer. All was going to work out great, except for the fact that gardens need more than just regular watering.
All in all, I’ve been away from home for 40 days this spring and summer. During the course of those weeks away, and all the disappointing returns I found no surviving, hopeful little sprouts; plenty of wild viney-ness, though no tomatoes; peppers alive, but not really fruiting; okra growing steadily, but attacked regularly by aphids; and a few dramatic herb deaths (RIP English Thyme).
My answer to this inedible disappointment: plant flowers. All of which are still alive and thriving (hallelujah!)
;)
Lots of flowers
;)
Flowers that even the Texas heat couldn’t kill
;)
Flowers (and stems) you can eat. Thank goodness for Portulaca, you can’t kill it (it’s a weed in many cases); it’s edible (sautee the succulent greens and stems in a stir fry or eat raw in a salad); and pretty flowers of all colors!
;)
And, my other great redeemer, lettuce, the one thing that will grow if you plant it and water it, and you can re-sow late into the growing season without any repercussion. With my days now spent more solidly at home, I’ve reclaimed a few patches of otherwise barrenness and littered them with a variety of lettuce mix and arugula seeds.
;)
And they’re growing, tenaciously green and thriving amidst the sun-scorch brown landscape, with a will to match my desperation to eat from my summer garden yet.
Garden & Outdoors, Gardening
Reader Comments (8)
I love coming back home to the garden after traveling for a few days. I'm always amazed at how much everything has grown and changed in my absence. You don't really notice how fast things develop when you see them every single day.
Gardens do need almost daily care, although it amazes me still. I have been struggling with my beds the last two years and I know that after this one I will have to take a good look at the soil, get it tested and amended and start the care from the beginning.
And that is ok, because it is part of the process!
Good for you for sticking with it! I'm in the midst of my first "garden" myself and like Daedre referred to, found that going on vacation for two weeks was the best thing to happen for my zucchini. As my best friend told me, a watched pot never boils. Hmph. :)
I started a garden cam too (http://homewaresbyhand.com/gardencam/) which has been wonderful when I've sent inquriies to our local garden hotline (a beginner gardeners best friend, really)!
Good luck with your lettuce!
That's how I feel about gardening in the fall and winter when life gets super hectic for me with "Back to School" things. It's a work in progress and always important to pay attention to the things that are growing and surviving. Way to look on the bright side! :)
Between the garden and the two dogs ... well, that's why we don't go on vacation much. I can only imagine this would be even worse if we got chickens, huh?
The only problem with summer lettuce is that it is very bitter due to our Texas heat. Stick with arugula in the summer - Yummy!
I also read that you can chill bitter lettuces in summer for a few days to take the edge off that taste.
We really need rain!
another Texas Gal
Daedre, I agree. What fun to see the progress that was happening under your nose, but you were too involved daily to see!
Kristi, good for you. I appreciate hearing and talking about how gardening isn't a just 'plant and reap the bounty' kind of thing; it's the realities and so-many-moving-parts that make people give up. Glad you're staying with it!
Yay for focusing on the positive and giving ourselves a break! Thanks all for great comments.
Oh I know how you feel! I had a nice little garden with a sprinkler and timer set up just right. Left for a week during a drought and returned to find everything half-dead. Something had gone wrong in my meticulous watering setup. However, there's always the fall garden! Mine's looking quite nice at the moment.