Vegetable Gardening

[Reesha]

I was just outside in the rain planting 30 radicchio plants. I find that managing the garden at school keeps me much more on track than if I tried to do it at home. I like gardening for the cafeteria and we also sell to my friend's restaurant. It keeps me on my gardening toes!

The tomato plants we planted a few weeks back still don't seem to be taking, but there are a number of plants I kept under the grow lights inside that are much heartier and will probably succeed with more oomph when I plant them out there.

I started the carrots from seed and they seem like really slow starters-- then again, this is the first time I've ever grown carrots. The seedlings were extra tiny for weeks and weeks and now they are just starting to increase in size. It could be a function of the clayey Missouri soil... I have a mind to make two new raised beds with a sandier peatier soil exclusively for carrots and other root veggies that like things loose and limber.

The zucchini is ridiculous right now-- if I can keep the ants away, I'm going to have loads of it to sell! But the crookneck squash is having a tough time adapting to the outdoors after being started inside. We'll have to see.

Now if I could just keep the squirrels from eating my cucumber seedlings straight away, I'll be a happy woman!

Some pictures!

English pea trellis:


The garden prior to planting this March:


I'll try to get some current pictures up soon!