2 Green Thumbs Up For Gardening!

So last weekend we got our patio garden started. We tried to keep it kind of small for this first attempt for 2 reason 1) I don’t have the best track record for keeping plants alive so I was hoping that by keeping it small I'd have better luck and 2) we’re doing a pretty big garden up at my grandparents house so I didn’t want to grow way more then we need.

You know I love the farmers market and I think getting plants there is great. However, our closest farmers market is in Sacramento and we have a great organic nursery called Front Yard Nursery right here in Placerville, so I opted to keep it local.

After checking out some companion gardening sites I decided to plant lettuce and carrots together, chives and green onions together, and peas and mint together and some yarrow to attract ladybugs. Hmm, me and plans, what do you think the chances are that this is what I did?

When we got there Dylan found a cart and he REALLY wanted to push it. I wish Todd got a movie of Dylan trying to turn it around. He was so determined to do it and after a few minutes and some huffing and puffing (but no crying) he got it facing the right way.

Dylan tried some lettuce at the garden at his school and has since decided he likes it. Front Yard had a few varieties of lettuce so I wanted Dylan to try the one he picked before we bought it just to make sure it was the “right one”.




It passed the taste test so we were on our way. Tyler kept pointing out thing he knows I like for me to get which I thought was sweet. It turns out that there are A LOT of different types of peppers and tomatoes, which are 2 of the things we’re going to plant at my grandma’s. I can’t wait to go back with her and pick some out!

I had originally planned on planting strawberries at my grandparents where there would be more room, but then Tyler found a hanging basket of berries and the boys REALLY wanted them. I certainly couldn’t say no to more fresh food, so we grabbed one of those to bring home too.



For the veggies we got lettuce, 2 kinds of carrots, pole beans, scallions, chives, cilantro and a pineapple mint, as well as a few bags of potting soil. So mostly what I planned. It turns out; herbs like chives attract ladybugs as well so we skipped the yarrow.



The only seeds we bought were for the carrots and the boys really liked getting to plant those. They were so careful to put just 2 seeds in each hole and then gently cover each hole back up, it was so cool.



They went back and forth with helping me plant and playing which was fine with me.



It took us way longer then I expected to plant everything, mostly because Todd and I had a hard time figuring out the best place on the patio to put our 4 big containers. I wanted to be able to see them so I wouldn’t forget about them (hehe) but I also wanted to make sure they didn’t take up too much room. Todd really wanted to keep some free space along the long side for leaning and “enjoying the scenery”; um ok all we have back here is scenery. But he likes that spot and I like him so if he wants some space, he can have some space.

So we ended up with 2 containers along the long railing, one with chives, cilantro and pineapple mint and the other with lettuce and scallions.



Along the right side railing we put the other 2 containers, one with carrots and chives and the other with pole beans and carrots and the strawberry plant. Oh, and Todd plans on building a small lattice for the beans to climb so they don't climb the railing.



The lettuce and scallions are looking great, they were a bit wilty when we got them, and Bud has only dug the chives and cilantro up once so far. Yeesh.

It’s been raining all day so far, I hope the plants do ok because that would really stink if they didn’t even make it a week!

Next weekend we’re starting the garden at my grandparents house and I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes, as well as give you updates on our patio garden.

I just have one request from you guys; WISH ME LUCK!