I think all in all, the 2020 Garden was a success, even with a Covid 19 pandemic and pretty much finished as the heavy heat hit in July. The winter garden gave us a lot of enjoyment from the spinach, kale and lettuce I planted in late September. It was still in full swing when the big freeze hit in February. The above freezing temps weren't bothering it at all and it wasn't until temps fell into long periods of below 25F and then to freezing sleet and snow that it finally died off. That was a fluke storm so I'm still going to plant again next year and might get all the way to the spring with the greens this time if we don't have another big freeze. I LOVED using the straw bales and I’m definitely doing that again.
Hay Bales - Let's talk about the bales. It was a success and I'm going to plant them again this year and increase the formation and the number of bales. The cucumbers grew very well as did the Roma tomatoes and green beans. In my garden, the problem is always sun and getting enough of it. I do get at least 6 hours in the main garden area. I tried to grow in four bales against my fence with just the morning sun but it just wasn't enough. I did get a few green beans and cucumbers but that was about it. The bales were REALLY starting to break down by June. I think I may have over-conditioned a little but I think mostly it’s the Gulf Coast humidity just breaks them down faster than what gardeners in other Zones experience. I don’t think I’ll ever get two seasons from my bales. But let me say this, the compost left from them is STELLAR. I used a lot of it in my containers and I’m going to use the rest for potatoes in the Spring. I'm trying somthing new in 2021 so stay tuned.
Again, the squash was a miserable disappointment and the squash borers found the plants every time, even when I used the sevin dust. I think it's important to get a jump in the spring, get what fruit I can before they show up in late June.
Tomatoes were growing GREAT in the pot and and in the bales. The problem again was squirrels. I tried everything. I put these little bags over the tomatoes but they stole those too and drug them out into the yard. I have a new plan of attack for 2021 so stay tuned for that as well! On a side note, I loved the Brandywine tomato at first but I swear, I think it fell to every single tomato difugalty in the book. Whoever said they were not disease resistant was telling the dang truth. I'm not growing it again this next year. I tried a determinant tomato for a late season run that I planted in July, but they stupid squirrels got that too. I also didn't like the cherry tomato I grew because the fruit was the size of grapes or blueberries and I just didn't like it. I'll be looking for a bigger size cherry next year.
As for garden timing, I started all the seeds I used in February and it really went really well. I think using those jiffy pods helped. I was also conditioning straw bales (started on 2/22) during this time and was ready to get plants in the dirt and bales on March 7th. I think it was a little early for the peppers to go out, I think the still cool evenings stunted them as they didn’t do well at all. I also think a possum was visiting them.. lol.
I started using a watering system this year and I don’t know how I ever lived without one. This is one of the best new ideas I’ve had for the garden. I did have help from my husband to put it in but really, It’s so simple that anyone can do it. I am using it abain and expanding it for the new garden set up. I got some of the original set up from Drip Depot and then I discovered that there is a sprinkler warehouse close to me and got the rest from them. I highly recommend putting in the time and money. It’s not that expensive at all and worth it in the long run.
Well, so much for looking back, time to move forward and get on with Spring 2021.
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