YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
What did you learn from your garden this year?
Posted on September 24th, 2008 – 8:09 AMBy Connie Nelson
Yes, it’s time. We Greengirls are putting our blog to bed. To mark the end of yet another short-but-sweet season, we’ve decided to wax somewhat poetic about what we learned from our gardens this year. Please join us and share some of your growing lessons, too.
OK, here goes (Connie Nelson):
My garden taught me: not to plant vegetables in the shade. I know this. I’ve known this for years. But I can’t resist. I vow to have no undersized peppers and misshaped cucumbers next year.
My morning glories taught me: to always replace the soil in my containers before I plant in spring. (It’s really hard to deal with soil-based fungal diseases in containers mid-season.)
And my overgrown, splayed sedums taught me: to divide in the spring, when plants are smaller and easier to handle. Not in the fall, when they’re massive, uncontrollable monsters.
My garden friends taught me: how to be generous with my time, knowledge and, most important, my garden cuttings.
From Jaime Chismar:
My blueberries taught me: To plan ahead — or at least save time at the end of the season to transplant perennials out of patio pots and into the ground.
My tomatoes taught me: To grow what you and members of your household enjoy eating. If you only like cherry tomatoes, then don’t grow slicers. You’ll be less disappointed by end rot.
My fellow Greengirls taught me: That the Twin Cities metro area is full of smart and sassy gardeners. I have learned so much from all of you! Anyone up for a happy hour to celebrate the end of the growing season?
From Robyn Dochterman:
My garden had much to teach me (or, I had much to learn). My sweet potatoes taught me that growing isn’t just for plants, so I need to try something new every year.
The veggie and flower gardens offered similar lessons: Weed early and often, because no plastic mulch, straw or hailstorm can completely stop weeds.
Apparently, I needed this one repeated, as the teachable moments came from my bees (which swarmed while I wasn’t watching), from my potatoes (which I successfully “hid” from Colorado potato beetles), and from my chickens (which became fabulously enjoyable once the coop was finally built): Timing is everything.
Now it’s time to say goodbye. Thanks for a great season! See you next spring!
28 Responses to "What did you learn from your garden this year?"
My azaela taught me: protect me from hungry rabbits during the winter. Water really, really well during the summer, or I will turn mostly brown. Gulp! I hope it makes it through the winter!
Thanks for another great season—I love this little community and all the garden smarts we share.
And, Jaime, if you mean to have a HH of anyone who participates in this blog, I would be very up for that!
Oh! We could go check out the new bar at the top of the Foshay!
2 things my garden taught me this year -to water, water and water my azaela- this was the first year it bloomed for me. Also my roses need rose food/fertilizer monthly. The roses grew but didnt’ produce many flowers until late this summer.
This community has been a weatlh of knowledge. HH sounds great!
I knew this already, but this season reconfirmed that I have no inate design sense when it comes to gardening. I know great design when I see it, but I am not so hot at it personally. But that said, I learned that I get the greatest joy out of what I plant myself. That means the lowly pastel impatiens everybody thinks are a cliche gave me such pleasure every time I entered my front door. So I’m taking hold of my own plot of yard and if a plan occurs to me, next year I’m doing it. It’s the work itself, more than the result, that matters (I hope).
Also, returning to Minn. from a more densely urban area, I learned that I am afraid of critters, chipmunks to ugly ugly woodchucks to deer. I learned I have to just go out there and garden “around” them and if there are screams (mine not theirs) so be it. I really liked reading this blog. Thanks so much.
[…] Greengirls – […]
My garden taught me to mulch, mulch, mulch. I discovered this year that if you spread out newspaper which is soaking wet under your mulch, it is like a miracle! No weeds. Much more important, my garden taught me to stop work and just enjoy it. This morning I sat out in back in the glorious, cool sunshine, and just looked around for a full hour. Yes, there were many chores I could have accomplished out there, but I will remember this peaceful time when the cold darkness of winter arrives.
I love the lessons shared. They are helpful for us all. Keep ‘em coming!
I, too, knew this already but my garden taught me again that I have a problem with “enough”. I’m not ready for the garden to be done–today’s beautiful sunshine on the refreshed garden is too good to give up just yet. And, that patch on the south side? Really only enough room for 4 tomatoes NOT 8. And, my water bill taught me that next year I’m getting (building, buying, stealing) a rain barrel. Thanks to everyone for sharing.
Mememom - I almost forgot about the water bill lesson 
- I too need to find a rain barrel.
@connie - really…can I or should I not divide my sedums this fall? I should wait til spring?
I’ve been looking at them every day wondering when is the best time…
I learned this year that it’s worth it to buy those sad looking plants on the clearance rack… they just need a little love! All of my little outcast plants from last fall grew brilliantly this year. I also learned which plants I really love, and plan to incorporate those as the main plants in my garden next year. And a sad lesson learned… the only remedy for rabbits eating up my garden was our 11 year old springer proudly catching one as an example to all the rest!
Michele–maybe we can get a deal on several!
OK,let’s get the HH show on the road! (All it took was one other GG reader-Michele-to say yes!) Here are some dates: 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th of October, at the new bar on top of the Foshay, at 5:00 pm. Who’s in?
I’m in! Thursday Oct. 2 works for me!
Darcie… I just divided my sedum. They looked a little sad at first, but they recovered!
October 2nd works for me!
Great! Three makes a HH in my book. I’ve got it down. Any change in plans, email me: jdybusy2000 at yahoo . com
I am sad to see this blog close for the season! However, I am looking forward to a happy hour! I will try to make it into downtown by 5 pm on the 2nd - being out in Hopkins, I might have some trouble. Looks like I’ll have to come up with a great excuse to leave work early =)
My garden taught me this year, as all my gorgeous plants / bushes matured, that I underestimated their sizes and they need more room! What will I do with all these crowded perennials?!?!
Today I learned why my sedum looks as sad as it does (gorgeous blooms on the ground!!) Thanks for the springtime dividing tip, I never even thought of it. Would anyone like some lovely sedum in the spring? Can’t wait til spring and want it now? =)
Weird Aunt Martha - what kind of sedum do you have? I have 2 Black Jack sedum plants but I’m always looking for new/more plants.
I’d love to join for HH! Thursday Oct. 2 works for me as well.
My hosta garden taught me that making and using my own compost is really, really worth all that effort. It’s amazing how something so wonderful for the garden comes from lots of icky egg shells, veggie and fruit peelings and assorted yard debris. I was blessed with a glorious season of hostas!
I moved/divided my Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ last fall, and I still needed to support it this year. I don’t mind, but I think that’s just how it grows.
Michele - It was transplanted from a friend’s yard and I do not know the name of it. I’ll try to get out and get a picture of it this weekend. I will post it on Flickr and come back here and let you know when it’s up. I’ve linked my Flickr account so you can find me easily.
Sorry all - I spoke too soon about a HH on the 2nd. I can do the 8th if anyone else can.
I learned that if you want to grow Brussell Sprouts instead of leaves, you cut the leaves off from the bottom up - after the little nubs appear. You leave the crown of the plant on the top. Next year mine will be better! When I talked to my local garden center guy he said exactly that “do you want to grow sprouts or leaves? The plant is putting it’s energy into the leaves!”
i learned the difference between determinate and indeterminate, and i learned what blossom end rot is and how to treat it.
I learned to divide in the spring, when people will take the leftovers. In the fall, not so much.
I also learned that there’s a wealth of knowledge among my neighborhood gardeners.
I learned that you can meet some nice people by putting a pile of dirt on the boulevard with a sign inviting people to haul it away.
I learned that not having a garden saves a lot of hassle.
Greengirls Connie Nelson, Robyn Dochterman and Jaime Chismar are dishin' the dirt from the backyard garden and beyond. Whether you're a greenthumb or greenhorn, they're eager to learn from your misshaps, mistakes -- and most importantly, your sweet successes -- all growing season long.
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