Patience is a Virtue...

   My title has never rang more true..."Patience is a Virtue." I didn't understand how truly important good soil is until now. I had only been going by the strips I used a month ago, and hoping that the soil was ready to go. But all of a sudden, I noticed some strange changes in my garden.
   My corn, cucumbers, and zucchini were yellow! I looked around at the surrounding gardens and noticed how their corn and other plants were dark green. What was happening?

   I decided to immediately get online and order a proper soil tester. It was around $10, and I had it shipped priority mail. As soon as it arrived, I made a beeline to the garden. I was very disappointed with the results. The soil was not acidic at all, but rather alkaline. Not good. The fertility meter read "too little." Boy, oh boy, did I mess up! I had been so excited about my garden that I relied on incorrect pH strips and a prayer. I admit...I was overzealous.

   Nothing to do now but raise the acidity and fertility quickly! I made a trip to Lowes and picked up Jobes Organic Fertilizer. I also rounded up as much of my organic coffee grounds that I had been saving and got busy!

   I hoed and cultivated around the corn and sprinkled the fertilizer about 6 inches away. Then I pulled the dirt and fertilizer back over the corn. After I treated the rest of my plants, I went home and waited. Luckily, I didn't have to water because rain was in the forecast. It has rained for 2 days now. I am anxious to see if my plants can quickly recover from my mistake. This has been a great learning lesson for me. Fingers crossed my babies recover!!

                                       

The life of a farmer!! My vehicle shows it all lol

The beginning of it all...

My freshly tilled garden is ready!!

   On April 16th, I received a freshly tilled plot. As I walked around in delight, I began imagining what Thyme with Tomatoes would come to be. I tested the soil with pH strips that were given to me by a friend.

   The soil tested slightly acidic...but did I use the correct strips? I will talk about that in my upcoming blog. I have to admit that I was extremely excited and a little impatient; I wanted to plant everything now!! Trying to be thrifty and hoping the soil was at the proper pH balance and fertility, I went ahead and planted my sprouts.

  Several weeks ago, I designed a layout of the soon-to-be garden with the help of a companion garden chart that I found from unclelukes.com. But after looking around the garden, I changed it slightly. I lined the entire garden with marigolds, petunias, and borage. Research shows that these flowers deter certain pests. Hey, if it doesn't work it'll at least be pretty. I planted the tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers that I previously sprouted. The tomatoes were planted on the far left side of my garden, while the corn was planted on the far right side. Supposedly tomatoes and corn share the same pest and are companion garden "enemies." My cucumbers, zucchini, melons, and pumpkins were planted in the middle with room for the melons and pumpkins to vine out and grow. I have always wanted to plant and harvest my own pumpkins for Halloween. I mean...how cool?!
   As a newbie to the world of gardening, it didn't take long for me to feel the effects of the afternoon sun. I'll be coming back in the early mornings, or late evenings, from now on! I continued to plant more seeds and decided to call it a day. I lightly watered the seeds, thanks to the community garden so graciously providing free water. Fortunately, the forecast called for rain all week. Little did I know what was to come...

Can't wait for these goodies to be ready!!

The zucchini and cucumbers are in the ground!

My next blog will be about what unexpectedly happens when it rains off and on for nearly two weeks!! Surprises, surprises!!!