Garden Journal Entry #6: End of Season Review

So I realize I've left some sizable gaps in this journal. Namely, the entire months of July and August. Once I hit month seven of my 4th pregnancy, I did a lot of napping and praying that my children were safe and somewhat clean, somewhere in the neighborhood.

Needless to say, if I couldn't even manage my children, I wasn't managing much in the garden. So journaling about the non-management of the garden definitely wasn't happening.

I have just two clean-up photos which I'm mainly posting for the purpose of before and after pics for next season, and I have a quick list of things I want to remember for next year. Otherwise, I look forward to the routine of school, this new baby (born August 17th!), and bigger better things for my yard in the future.

I will be spending the winter months on Pinterest, pining for warmer and longer days....

Once again, in no particular order.

1. Spinach bolted very early. Perhaps there is no way to make it last longer, it seems it was just too hot. Perhaps pick more, earlier?
2. Cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets were mostly a bust.
3. First pickings of green pepper were big (grocery store size) and delicious. Everything that grew after that was tiny and bitter. Probably won't do again.
4. Basil went crazy. Harvested often, put in water on kitchen table, replanted many when stems grew roots in water.
5. No oregano at all this year; tomato plant grew quickly and blocked all sunlight.
6. Planted garlic much too early; it died.
7. Cilantro bolted early; harvest more often? Lower expectations?
8. Bugs not a major problem all summer (not even mosquitoes at the new house, hooray!) but the birds got many tomatoes if I didn't pick quickly.

1. Grape tomatoes instead of cherry.
2. Tomato cages for larger plants instead of poles.
3. Raised beds.... somewhere.
4. Squash on a trellis.
5. Netting over strawberry plants.
6. Ever-bearing strawberries vs. June-bearing.
7. Blueberries?? (Yes, please.)
8. Consider planting some winter crops: carrots, garlic, onions, others?
9. Potatoes for next year.
10. Do more basil and make pesto.
11. Save herbs through the winter.