This spring we had a fence built in our backyard. What a tremendous relief. After just a few months with it I can’t imagine NOT having it. I love the general idea of wide open space and not having fences in-between neighbors in theory, but with a 4- and 2-year-old, their play dates and our proximity to a busy neighborhood street, the backyard was nearly unuseable without a sophisticated assembly of lumber and the lock at the top of the gate that they can’t reach. I love that part the best.
While the fence guy was doing the fence, I asked him to build a planter box, too. I had him put it in the part of the yard that I thought got the most sun for the duration of a day. I dumped a whooooole lot of garden and potting soil in there and planted some stuff. That’s about how much thought I put into it. What do I think my kids might eat? What do I think might grow? Okay, let’s make a hole in the dirt and drop it in. Did I pay any attention to how much space things needed in-between? Not really. Just dug ’em and dropped em. Here’s a photo from June 1, when I really wondered whether any of this would amount to anything at all.
Clockwise from top left, dill, peppermint, two tomatoes, cucumber, green beans, watermelon, more green beans, strawberry, squash, red pepper and squash.
Here’s a photo from June 30. Please note the great care I took in straightening those cage-y contraptions.
I’ve had a great time staring at the tiny little leaves and those curly grabby parts emerging. And the girls get excited over searching for anything new in there.
And here it is on July 15. So far we’ve eaten squash, cucumbers, dill, peppermint and green beans. And there’s one watermelon growing somewhere under there, all the way on the left, as far as it can get from where it’s planted and still be in the planter box.
Not only have I learned that next year there’s no point in planting aaaanything in the middle, I’ve learned that cucumber plants are rather unpleasantly spiky AND that cucumbers themselves have spikes. I had no idea. I just thought they grew bumpy. Not spikey. Here they are before a quick wash with a kitchen towel…
And after:
I’m sure you girls who’ve grown cucumbers before are bored out of your minds and are scrolling to find whatever’s next in your reader. But I was completely surprised. After I picked the first one I actually went to the grocery store and somewhat creepily manhandled the cucumbers, looking for spiky bits. None to be found. And then I wondered whether I’d not noticed a sticker on the original cucumber label that said “we grow up to be scary and spiky!” Since I’d saved the label, I checked it. Nope, no indication of freaky cucumberness. Finally friends with gardening experience confirmed that it was normal. Phew.
I see this as a city-girl-gardening public service message. Don’t let spikey cucumbers scare the pants off of you.
Unrelated:
I know some of you are looking for a Katie update. All continues to go well. More on Katie crafting soon!
you’re garden looks great! I’ve tried to grow a little mini container garden this year but i planted things to close together and may or may not have forgotten to water it several times :( But its still fun and my two year old loves it so maybe its a half win. Love your blog to pieces!!
Well as somebody with the opposite of a green thumb, i’m really surprised and kinda weirded out to hear that cucumbers grow spikes. I had no idea! Thats awesome that all your stuff grew with hardly any effort!
haha thanks for the laugh – who knew! Plants grow very well for you – how rewarding…enjoy!
LOL! You are growing pickling cucumbers as opposed to the smooth skinned salad cucumbers!! I have cucumbers on my brain today too apparently as I just posted about our garden and making refrigerator pickles!! YAY for gardens and fresh veggies!!
This is funny! I was pretty surprised myself last year to find out that they have spikes. ;)
Lol, I always knew cucumbers were evil :oD
I wanted to warn you about your peppermint. It is a very aggressive plant and will take over if you don’t stay on top of it. At least your yard will smell good if it gets it’s way. :)
Our garden looks much like yours, but about 12 times bigger. :) Our squash plans fought for space (and 2 died), I’ve been stuck by spikey cukes more times than I care to admit, and we’ve gotten only a handful of grape tomatoes off one plant. BUT knowing where your food comes from, and being able to show your kids HOW food grows… is worth the sticks from a CUCUMBER. Who’d have thought?! :)
I THINK if you look for “burpless” cucumbers that they are spike-less hybrids. :) I could be wrong, however… that just what I remember the seed I bought this year (*ahem* and never planted…) said on the packet.
WOW! Check out your thumbs… are they BOTH green?
My Gramps could make ANYTHING grow, big and beautiful. It is one of the many traits I unfortunately did NOT inherit from him. But I still keep trying! :o)
I think a lot of people don’t realize HOW many varieties there are of cucumbers (as well as all the other vegetables)…as Maggie said, you’ve got pickling cucumbers, but there are many others you could grow next year that won’t be spiky!
Here’s an example: http://rareseeds.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=cucumbers&searchbox=products&Submit=
Wow! That looks great. I started an herb garden at the end of winter (it’s not that cold here in Israel, just rainy) but it couldn’t take this summer heat. I miss it! Now my kids and I are making paper flowers to fill in the window boxes until autumn. No water required!
I wish there was a way to write laughing without writing a million HA!’s. The scary cucumber bit is just too funny. My grandfather grew cucumbers upside his garage and we used to steal them and eat them. Can’t say I remember being scared off by the spiky bits.
Your garden is so pretty, I’m jealous :)
❤
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