Starting garden in Late Spring mid-May

One of the things to remember when starting a garden- whether as a novice or expert- is that you should accept that projects are always a lesrning experience. You have to experiment with growing crops early or late for your area; types of soil and compost to use at different stages of planting and for different plants; type of container or location; and amount of watering. There's so many factors that contribute to the experimental successes. 

I try all kinds of methods of growing. Mostly because my situation changes all the time to the quality of a garden I can or do produce. I either don't have time, or don't have enough money, or I-am-just-plain-fed-up. For me lately, gardening can just feel like an expensive hobby with little reward. Houseplants are a little different because you tend them year round with the knowledge that their purpose is air quality and aesthetics, not necessarily to produce food. Houseplants have nearly become the only thing I can tend to! 

I have the houseplants outside full time, now that the area has become hot and humid during the day. We're having flood after flood, and tornados, in our area. For the people, here, it is one natural disaster after another. 

Before we got more rainfall this week, I got a piece of the garden shoveled, tilled, then hoed in wildflower seed, cosmos, marigolds, zinnias, cucumbers🥒, cilantro, lettuces🥬, peas🫛, squashes, beans 🫘 & pumpkins 🎃 Some of those may be too late and some may be too early, but again- it's about experimenting! 

Additionally, I have started germinating some pepper, tomato, and flower seeds. I have basil, cilantro and mint growing with my houseplants and some snapdragon flowers on my porch.  

Mint

Basil

I can utilize my mini greenhouse for the starter plants on the cooler nights. In fact, I keep my cacti plants in the greenhouse right now

This week, I had some personal time off from work, so I took advantage of this time to care for some of my houseplants, germinating the starter plants, and prepping a part of the tilled garden. It was a rainy week, so hopefully the seeds planted will take root and get to growing. I'll need to check the garden at least twice or three times a week from here on out, and to prep the rest of the garden. Which means, I'll need to shovel and till to expand the garden to plant more bean seeds, peppers, transplant tomatoes, and try to use the rest of seeds in inventory. 

One of the most crucial lessons I have learned in successful gardening is growing lots of flowers amongst your herb, fruit and veg gardens. I cannot stress this enough. If you're not attracting pollinators into your garden, then you're going to have a difficult time getting your plants to bear fruit and keep pests away. The most successful home growers have established large varieties of flowers throughout their yard. 

Both of my grandmothers have long standing patches of a variety of flowers. 

Poppy

Peonies

Clematis

Wisteria

Wisteria 

Iris

Roses 🌹 

Dianthus

Petunias

Impatiens, begonias, cannas, tomatoes, & colelus

Remember to have fun, experiment, grow big flower beds, and grow with intention this year. Don't ever feel like giving up; start again small and start with the basics. Good luck this year!