Gardening isn't for sissys

The seedlings survived hardening, and now that Memorial Day is here, I planted the tomatoes & other warm weather crops under sunny skies and warm temps. Just before I started, my garden neighbor and friend Laura came by to see how my garden was growing. Not much to report, though the lettuce looks pretty good (and should be ready to pick in early July) and the herbs & onions are coming along just fine. The peas are a little slow to start, I wonder if the warm weather is a good or bad thing? Not sure what I'll plant in July when the lettuce is done. Maybe some more cilantro, or a fall weather crop? Can't say I really eat many fall weather crops...I'll have to think about that some more.




I started by planting the cucumbers and added a set of trellising. I got this idea a few weeks ago, since I didn't think the peas or cucumbers will be able to reach the trellising on the fence on it's own. So I tied a number of strings to a garden stake, buried the stake in front of the veggies, and tied the other string ends to the vertical trellising on the fence. Now the climbing vines can grab the new trellising that runs right over them. The idea is that they will continue to grow along the lower trellising and eventually reach the vertical strings. I'm pretty sure this will work, and I can even slide the knots up as the vines grow taller - a feat of creative engineering in the mid-day sun!



I continued the gardening madness by planting all the tomatoes & peppers. I saw a bunch of worms as I dug, always a good sign. Not too many weeds to contend with, which also good...but it's only May. I plan to buy another cherry tomato plant, as well as some basil. Later in the day, my brother gave me some yellow tomatoes he couldn't fit in his garden (which were actually given to him by our dad). So it looks like I'll have plenty of tomatoes varieties year!



It was so warm & dry I must have watered the garden 3 times before leaving. I saw one of my other neighbors planting some more and watering her onions and other leaf-type crops. I visited Laura as she was planting, but was so hungry and tired I didn't stay too long...I had another weekend cookout to get ready for!



(Notice a blurry spot on the photos? That's what's leftover on the inside of the lens from dropping my camera in the water last weekend.)

Addition: I also planted a Golden Jubilee tomato plant from my dad (yellow, medium sized), as well 2 Italian basil plants, and one African Basil plant (new to me!). I also planted some stuff on the porch, including another Golden Jubilee, Italian Basil, and the 3 nasturtiums.