One positive thing to emerge from my lockdown experience is the vegetable garden my wife and I planted in the early spring. Though my wife has some experience in tending to gardens, it would be a stretch to say either of us possesses a green thumb. With this in my mind, the vast majority of the seeds and seedlings we planted in May were what are commonly referred to as 'low maintenance vegetables': radishes, carrots, potatoes, corn, green peppers, zucchini, and squash. As promised, all these grew well and delivered substantial yields - and all without much fuss.
Unfortunately, our experience with vegetables requiring more intensive tending has been mixed. For example, the varieties of tomatoes we planted have been a spectacular success; and the Brussels's sprouts look as if they will produce a healthy yield. On the flip side, insects ate our kale and the spinach we planted didn't make it past their second week in the soil. Of course, we have only ourselves to blame for these failures.
Nevertheless, I have learned much from this year's gardening adventure. First off, I really only enjoy low maintenance gardening. A half-hour or hour a day in the garden is pleasure; anything more equals pain. Secondly, my favorite vegetables to eat tend to be of the low-maintenance variety, so I see no need to grow anything beyond those next year. Finally, I need to expand my current knowledge, to the point where I at least feel I 'know' what I am doing rather than giving the vegetables I plant an intuitive 'whirl' and then seeing how they turn out.
I suspect gardening books will comprise a fair bit of my cold weather reading this winter.
Unfortunately, our experience with vegetables requiring more intensive tending has been mixed. For example, the varieties of tomatoes we planted have been a spectacular success; and the Brussels's sprouts look as if they will produce a healthy yield. On the flip side, insects ate our kale and the spinach we planted didn't make it past their second week in the soil. Of course, we have only ourselves to blame for these failures.
Nevertheless, I have learned much from this year's gardening adventure. First off, I really only enjoy low maintenance gardening. A half-hour or hour a day in the garden is pleasure; anything more equals pain. Secondly, my favorite vegetables to eat tend to be of the low-maintenance variety, so I see no need to grow anything beyond those next year. Finally, I need to expand my current knowledge, to the point where I at least feel I 'know' what I am doing rather than giving the vegetables I plant an intuitive 'whirl' and then seeing how they turn out.
I suspect gardening books will comprise a fair bit of my cold weather reading this winter.
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