This year's garden

My cucumbers should be 3/4 of the way to the top by now...

This is just sad...

My string beans look like they are trying to keep me sane by looking decent.

I have 3 raised beds and grass started growing in between them so I just went with it.  

Well I am not giving up for it is not in my nature but upon looking at my older posts (I knew I would be glad I wrote them)- I know it is not all in my head.  My garden this year is stinkin! I tried the raised garden beds and filled them mostly with top soil.  Don't do it people! Bad idea! If you are going to use the raised garden beds, mix in some of the soil that you have with potting soil and a few others, etc.  I started my seedlings in February, planted them at the end of May, and they don't look like they grew during June....



I put down lime (thanks Dad!) and I see a slight improvement.  I asked the Home Depot guy why is lime important and basically, as far as I understand it, it opens up the pores of the soil so that it is willing to accept whatever good fertilizer you would like to give it.  So I put down lime about 4 days ago and sprayed Miracle Grow on everything today.  I always feel like that is cheating for some reason. 

So, in an attempt to not weep over my garden losses, I did buy a few extra plants (2 tomato, 1 cucumber, 1 pumpkin).  As I went out into the front yard to put lime down on the grass out there....the puppy ate one of the tomato plants and well....his head smelled like tomato leaves for two days.  I was upset for about 2 seconds and then I burst out laughing.

tomato plant eater

It may not be the best garden this year but by God, I will do everything within my power to ensure that it produces!