Veggie Garden 2023: What We're Growing and Lessons I've Learned
Our veggie garden is in full swing for the summer! At the moment we’re getting lots of raspberries, mint, arugula and basil while other things are just starting to flower and grow. Gardening to me is such a rewarding experience— it teaches patience, perseverance and being in touch with nature. I especially love getting to share the experience with my kids; Showing them where food actually comes from and the work needed to grow that food. Below I’m sharing what we planted and some things I’ve learned from my few years of gardening!
What we planted this year:
raspberry bush that grows back yearly
mint that grows back yearly
zucchini
cucumbers
carrots
peppers: banana, lunchbox snack, serrana chili, red knight
tomatoes: cocktail, pink bumblebee, sungold
basil
rosemary
Gardening tips and lessons I’ve learned over the years:
Start out with good soil. We add peat moss and organic fertilizer each year so the soil isn’t depleted of minerals, and mix it into the existing soil.
Have a rough idea of how much space each plant will take up so you can plant accordingly. Some plants grow really wide while others grow tall. Knowing which does what means you can plant in a way that doesn’t block sunlight from other plants or overcrowd any one area of the garden. I’m still learning this!
Know which plants will need supports and what kind. Tomatoes and peppers do well with a stake and ties while cucumbers need a trellis to climb.
Herbs can be planted separately in pots if you don’t want them overtaking your garden.
Incorporate flowers, especially varieties that attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Read more about that here.
Harvest when you’re ready to eat. I find picking the produce same day is tastiest and crispest.
A good clean up at the end of the year is a good idea so everything stays neat and tidy and it’s not as daunting the following spring.
Try not to stress or get defeated when things don’t grow or get eaten by pests, especially if this isn’t your main source of food! Each year is different and it’s all a learning process, but I definitely believe the plants feed off our energy so I try to keep a calm attitude and look at it all as a learning experience. Hopefully my kids learn enough that one day they can live off their own gardens if they want to!
Along the same lines, let go of perfection. Veggie gardens get messy! But that’s what’s so beautiful to me— the organic look is inviting and real. Stay on top of weeding, trimming and harvesting as best you can and your garden will be beautiful!
Here’s a look back on our original veggie garden reveal. I love seeing how it’s changed and weathered through the years!
