The last time I shared about my garden, it was late April and I had just planted everything. Garden planting post found here. I was hopeful and excited. Fast forward two and a half months to where we are now (knocking at the July’s door), and I am wiser, sweatier, but just as giddy.

I knew I wanted a garden but I never really imagined that I’d so quickly become the person that truly enjoyed spending any spare minute out in it. I try and skip the midday because it’s crazy hot right now, but in the mornings and evenings it calls to me. I love pruning and fussing over it and have gotten a lot more bold at pulling pests off with my bare hands.

I’ve asked friends with gardening experience if the thrill of harvest ever dissipates, and to my delight, I have yet to find one that says it does. There is something so deeply satisfying about growing and eating things right out of my garden. That’s not to say I haven’t faced a few challenges.

My first challenge was/is squash bugs. These little destructors come in, lay their eggs on your big, beautiful squash leaves, then sink their teeth into the hearty stalks, quickly leading to decimation of the plant. I read a lot about deterrents, but the solution I have found works best is simply to pick them off with your bare hands, drown them in dish soap, and scrape their eggs off the leaves. A butter knife works well for this!

They fully killed my zucchini plant and almost took out all my squash while we were in Scotland for a week, but I came back with a vengeance, planted a new zucchini plant, and have been out there in the morning and evenings, when they are most active, to pick them off. It’s now oddly satisfying to grab them (they are almost always in pairs, attached at their backends). It’s working so well! Now I’m sure when we travel again they’ll take over again, but hopefully I can harvest plenty between now and then.

My second challenge has been my tomato plants. Apparently I planted indeterminate tomatoes which means they will keep growing and keep producing. Sounds great, right? Except they get huge and heavy.

Next year I’ll look into using a cattle panel but to help my already established issue this year, I got wooden stakes and this great soft tie product and gave them some much needed support inside the flimsy tomato cages. I also went heavy handed with the pruning to get better airflow and I’m happy to report it seems to have made a big difference!

My third challenge is not wanting to waste a thing. I’m already a huge waste-nothing food person and growing it myself has only increased that desire. We’ve been eating a lot of “farm” breakfasts to enjoy the squash and kale. I’ve made our favorite squash casserole several times. I’ve also been canning pickles and blanching and freezing some squash and beans, too. They’ll be great in a veggie and beef soup. I’m also putting fresh herbs (my parsley, thyme, and oregano are thriving) and giving away as much as I can to any friends that want it.

All in all, I’m enjoying this learning process so much. The girls and I are currently listening to The Secret Garden and while that focuses on a flower garden and mine is largely veggies (and zinnias!), so much of the sentiment rings true to my feelings about being out there, watching things come alive, grow, and produce. I thank every little bee I see buzzing in a bloom and look forward to all the learning and harvesting still ahead of me. As the saying goes, one day you’re young and cool and the next day you’re taking pictures of vegetables in your garden. Guilty. And happy to be so.