Is there anything nicer than being able to go into your own backyard to pick fresh tomatoes? Its been years since I've grown vegetables because I just haven't been around enough in the summers to look after them.
This year I happily put in 5 tomato plants at the back of one of our flower beds.
I also put in 4 hot pepper plants and two pumpkin plants. I've never
done large vegetable gardens because I just don't have the time to look
after them and I think that it is such a waste to buy plants (or grow
them from seed) that just die from neglect.
It is false economy to try
to grown your own vegetables when you just don't have the time to do
it. Gardens are a commitment and my little crop of 11 plants is just
big enough that I can tend them well without me becoming overloaded.
I admire people that have the time and space for large vegetable
gardens and even know people that when they have bumper crops donate
the excess to the local food banks. But sometimes we have to know our
own limitations and be satisfied with the small efforts that we can put
in. It's better to do a small job well than a large job poorly.
- do you really have the time to tend a garden, if you know you will be gone for long stretches of the summer then the answer is no.
- are you close to a water source, if you have to drag out a hose and hook it up to the garage then bring it out back then the answer is no. Without water your veggies will die.
- make sure you are planting vegetables that you love to eat. Zucchinis are very easy to grow but unless you love eating them pass them by.
- just because tomatoes plants come 6 in a pack does not mean you have to plant all 6. Plant the ones you want and give the others away.
My little garden is doing me just fine. I
am enjoying peeking at the growing tomatoes and watching them change
colours from green to red. The other night I plucked our first ripe
tomato that we had on our hamburgers and I felt a surge of pride, it
truly was delicious tasting.
Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
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