Garden Update: Everything I've Learned So Far...

I started a garden. And I have made a few mistakes along the way.

But I’m absolutely loving it — so let’s talk about what I’ve learned.

I watered too much. In the beginning I was overly eager. Austin summers are hot, the sun is relentless, and I figured every other day made sense. It did not. After a trip to my local garden center I learned that you’re supposed to let the top 2 to 3 inches of soil dry out completely before watering again. Lesson learned. Ironically, it’s been raining so much here lately that watering has been completely out of my hands — which at least cuts down on the work, even if it’s not ideal. Nature is doing its thing and I’m just along for the ride.

I didn’t know I needed to fertilize. I did everything right at the start — good organic soil, the right location, proper spacing. But around week six, things just weren’t growing the way I expected. The herbs especially seemed stuck. Another trip to the garden center and I came home with two things: one to make the soil more acidic (which plants apparently love) and one to actually fertilize and give everything a push. That was a week or two ago and I can already see a difference. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know — and that’s what garden centers are for. Grateful I asked.

I put the string beans and cucumbers in grow bags right next to each other. Both have absolutely exploded and are now completely intertwined. It’s a beautiful, chaotic mess. Lesson firmly learned — give climbing plants room to do their thing, because they will do their thing whether you planned for it or not. Next season I’ll know better.

Despite all of this — or maybe because of it — I am genuinely loving this garden more than I expected. We have a path behind our house that people walk on every day, and almost everyone stops to look. Strangers pause and smile. Neighbors come by to check on the progress. That brings me so much joy — more than I anticipated.

So far I’ve harvested two cucumbers, a handful of herbs, and one very exciting cherry tomato. I have a yellow squash almost ready and what looks like a whole season of tomatoes on the way. And my zinnias are just about to bloom — which is making me excited. My grandmother and I used to plant zinnias together when I was little. Seeing them about to open in my own garden makes me think of her and brings a smile to my face.

I hope my next update I’m reporting back with a full harvest. Until then — I’ll be out there in the rain, talking to my plants, pretending I know what I’m doing.

More soon. 🌱