Mulching

I have been putting off mulching my container garden until this morning.

Yesterday, after watching Jerry Baker's video about weed control, I got inspired to use newspapers as mulching material.

Vegetable Garden - Summer 2013

My dear twin sister in Ohio has been bugging asking me to post photos of the vegetable garden. I finally decided to get it done just now.

This year, I started planting the seeds in early May because I was busy focusing on my teaching job. I thought of giving up gardening this summer, but my fingers were yearning to feel the soft soil and I couldn't stop dreaming of harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden. So on an early Saturday, I bought a bag of potting mix and spent about two hours preparing the pots for the seeds. Three years ago, I kept packets of vegetable seeds in the fridge and prayed that they will still sprout later. All praise be to Allah SWT, all of the seeds sprouted without fail!

The seedlings in the potting trays are Thai chill peppers. The ones in the bigger pots are eggplants which husband loves to eat. The green bean plants are growing well in the rectangular pots on the right side. DD1 is helping me to water the plants as and when needed. She is excited about growing these vegetables checking their growth. I am sure the chickens are keeping an eye on the vegetable garden gate. I better double check that it is secure every day in case the ladies get to feast on these yummy treats.

Life is a garden - Dig it!

I have been dreaming the day when I can start gardening every since DS was born, so that was exactly what I did last month.

At the garden center, I bought some marigold plants, a big bag of potting mix, and some bamboo stakes for the green bean plants.

It feels so good to dig in the garden, and starting chili pepper and eggplants from seeds. Most of the seeds have sprouted, and in a couple of weeks, they will be transplanted into bigger plant containers. Thanks to husband's effort, the chickens are unable to chow down on those delicious seedlings.

Now that DD1 is older, I plan to assign watering duty to her. I hope that she will enjoy observing the plants' growth and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Cinderblock Planter

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Renee on Pinterest

Amazing plants

This zucchini plant has been growing out of the crack of a concrete walkway outside a portable classroom. It is an amazing reminder for me that we should be determined and focus like plants-when there is a will, there is a way.

Beautiful zucchini flowers coming out! Can't wait for the harvest!

Dream Garden

All praise be to Allah SWT, we received invaluable help from Sr. Maryam and her kids to prepare the vegetable garden for planting seedlings.

Yesterday, husband worked on a new fence so that the chickens cannot nibble all the yummy leaves from our precious plants. We also bought 4 bell pepper plants, 1 cayenne plant and 1 jalapeno pepper plant from Home Depot.

I took about 20 minutes this evening to transplant them in the vegetable garden.

May Allah SWT bless us with an abundant harvest so that we can share them with Sr. Maryam and her family.

Where are the eggplants?

This is the Chinese eggplant that husband ate in June, 2011.

The plant is now flowering, so we are waiting for more eggplants to come.

I wonder if the 100+ degree F heat has something to do with the delay.

Budget for Fruits and Vegetables

Since DD2 was a newborn last spring and summer, and I am pregnant this spring and summer, I have not been able to grow as much vegetables as I would like to.

The easiest vegetables that I've grown so far are okra, snow peas, onions, green beans, and bell peppers. We have somewhat success with tomatoes, and not much luck with zucchini and cucumber. Although we try to buy as much organic vegetables and fruits as possible, often we can only afford to buy conventional grown ones. I find that when we buy fruits and vegetables that are in season, we can stick to our weekly grocery budget.

Click this link to see what is in season in your region.

The Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables Month-By-Month from About.com

January
oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos, lemons, papayas, cabbages: red, white and green; leeks, broccoli, cauliflower

February
oranges, tangelos, grapefruit, lemons, papayas, broccoli, cauliflower

March
pineapples, mangoes, broccoli, lettuce

April
pineapples, mangoes, zucchini, rhubarb, artichokes, asparagus, spring peas, broccoli, lettuce

May
cherries, pineapples, apricots, okra, zucchini, rhubarb, artichokes, asparagus, spring peas, broccoli, lettuce

June
watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, corn, lettuce

July
watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches, apricots, kiwi, raspberries, plums, cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, corn, green beans, lettuce

August
watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches, apricots, kiwi, raspberries, plums, cucumbers, corn, eggplant, tomatoes, summer squash, green beans, lettuce

September
grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, eggplants, pumpkins, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce

October
cranberries, apples, pomegranates, grapes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash, broccoli, spinach, lettuce

November
cranberries, oranges, tangerines, pears, pomegranates, persimmons, pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach

December
pears, oranges, tangelos, grape fruit, tangerines, papayas, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower

Always a Good Deal
bananas, potatoes, celery

Back to container gardening

Yesterday, I brought DD1 and DD2 to the nearby garden center.

I bought 2 cubic feet of garden soil, 1 Chinese eggplant seedling and a bottle of slow-release fertilizers for flowers and vegetables.

Due to the pending birth of baby #3 in August, I decided to go back to container gardening this summer. I thought about the effort and time needed to weed the vegetable garden in the backyard, and realized that husband would not have the time nor energy to keep up with it since he will be taking care of two kids, chickens/quail, rabbit and guinea pig.

DD1 helped to sow some okra and green bean seeds into pots that I moved from the backyard to the front porch. I also repotted rosemary, sage and thyme since they need more space for their roots. All praise be to Allah SWT, I am now 5 months pregnant and still able to handle light gardening.

Now the only gardening chore will be weekly light weeding and daily watering. Allah SWT willing I will let DD1 help with these easy chores.

Vegetable Garden Update: August 2010

It has been quite hot since last Monday with temperatures between 102 and 105 degree F. Since I started working, I try to remember to check whether the quails, chickens and Niko have sufficient food and water.

Niko chilling out under the big tree in the backyard.

Bell pepper harvest on August 6, 2010

One of the ladies laying an egg on top of the compost.

Bell pepper plants

The five Better Boy and Better Bush Tomato plants that were planted in May almost took over the entire left side of the garden bed. I pruned the branches last week so that the garden looks more tidy. Since tomato plants will not set fruit when temperature stays above 90 degree F (as heard on the radio from NPR Morning Edition), we'll have to wait till late October or early November to get any tomatoes, Allah SWT willing.

I have been harvesting at least one Okra per day from the container garden on the front porch. The Okra plants are just loving the heat and I just love to see the beautiful yellow Okra flower.

Agriculture in the Classroom

Just what I've been looking for to teach DD1 about gardening.

Food and Fiber for the 21st Century - a resource guide for elementary school teachers to use as a classroom aid in teaching agriculture.

Bell Peppers From the Garden!

All praise be to Allah SWT husband harvested about 15 small and medium bell peppers from the backyard garden this morning.


Mini chili peppers are also ready to be harvested.

All praise be to Allah SWT frequent raining days during this month has helped the plants to grow so much better. Allah SWT willing hopefully it will be as cool for the rest of the summer.

Vegetable Garden Update - July 2010 (2)

Bell Peppers and Pole Beans

Better Bush and Better Boy Tomatoes

Better Boy Tomatoes

Bell Peppers

Okra

Vegetable Garden Update - July 2010

All praise be to Allah SWT bell peppers are starting to turn red, and husband has been harvesting ripe tomatoes from the backyard garden.

I have been harvesting 1 or 2 okras from the containers each week. Although they are not enough to make a meal, I freeze them so that I can cook them together later.

This summer we have quite a number of rainy days to water the plants. Allah SWT willing I will ask husband to prepare another garden bed so that I can plant more okras and pole beans next year.

Cooler Temperatures

All praise be to Allah SWT this week's day temperature will be in the lower 90s degree F. Last night we even had a thunderstorm! Our tomato and bell pepper plants will appreciate the much needed moisture from the rain.

Addicted to Sunflower

All praise be to Allah SWT two sunflowers have blossomed during the past two weeks. It makes me feel bright and cheerful when I see sunflowers. I started to enjoy looking at sunflowers when I was pregnant with DD2, and I thought this feeling would go away after I gave birth. Apparently it has not worn off yet.


Allah SWT willing next year I will grow more varieties of sunflowers in the backyard garden. Maybe it is not too late now to grow more sunflowers? I'll give it a go and see if it is not too late.

Vegetable Garden Update - June 2010 (1)

The chickens have been pecking at our pole bean and bush bean plants. To prevent them from turning their attention to juicy tomatoes and yummy bell peppers, husband fenced up the garden bed last weekend.

Bell peppers growing well!

Better Boy tomatoes love the hot weather.

Summer squash flowers are so pretty.

Allah SWT willing just a few more weeks and we can harvest fresh bell peppers from the garden!

Our First Cucumber Harvest

This morning while watering the vegetables in the backyard, I found this cucumber hiding underneath the big cucumber leaves. All praise be to Allah SWT we finally have out first cucumber harvest this summer! I also harvested some french beans that were ready to be picked off the vine.


I showed them to husband and DD1 and they were surprised to see what I found. Allah SWT willing hope we'll have more cucumbers soon.

Vegetable Garden Update - May 2010 (5)

Sunflowers

Thai Chili Pepper

Edamame

Okra

Summer Squash

Vegetable Garden Update - May 2010 (4)

All praise be to Allah SWT we have been blessed with rain this month. The plants are happy that they are getting water and loving the sunny days. Husband has been harvesting the green tomatoes to boil them with chicken soup. It's one of his favorite Cambodian soup recipe.

Better Bush tomatoes

Better Boy tomatoes

Bell Peppers

Chinese Long Beans; Middle: Black-eyed Susan

Pole Beans