This past spring, I thought it would be a good idea to plant a container garden with the kids. I thought it would be fun to have the kids help me plant some veggies that we would eventually use to cook with. I am not a gardener, and don’t have much of a green thumb, so I thought we would go the route of a container garden rather take on the task of big backyard garden. I am about to show you what not to do when planting a container garden.
I ordered carrot seeds and lettuce seeds, as well as a few containers. In addition I chose to buy a cucumber plant rather than start from seed. I did the same for tomatoes.
I am all into using my Cricut, so I dressed up the containers with what the veggie was. To do this, I used Oracle 651 vinyl. Oracle 651 is a permanent vinyl and can withstand the outdoor elements.
I am in zone 5, and zone 5 called for planting the lettuce and carrots in May after the danger of frost. In June, I planted the cucumber and tomatoes.
The twins and I excitedly planted our little garden and tended to it. We were so excited with how quickly the lettuce started to sprout. In no time at all, the carrots started to sprout too. The twins and I made sure that our containers had enough sun and water. The boys liked doing a “taste test” of the lettuce. They would pick off a tiny piece and eat it. We had to thin the carrots out on a regular basis so as to not let the carrots become over crowded. When that happens it prevents the carrots from growing to their potential.
So what wrong? Well, an animal came and ate all of my lettuce. I never got the chance to even make a salad. It was so disappointed because it was growing strong. I could never get it to grow again after that. The cucumber got knocked off the back deck from Maya, our dog. I had a baby cucumber growing, and that went to waste. I did get to eat a couple of tomatoes, but I went on vacation and the plant dried out, turned brown, and died on me. See, I told you I didn’t have a green thumb. My container garden was done with and dead before the end of July. I gave up and succumbed to the idea that I was not meant to plant a veggie garden.
Last week, I found hope in the idea of trying again. I had forgotten all about my carrots, and noticed they had not died off on me. So, I plucked one out and wha la I had carrots. These were by far the most delicious carrots that I have tasted. The twins agreed and they got to carrot to picking and eating with me. I ended up using the carrots to make homemade chicken soup, which by the way was a parent fail. I added spinach and broccoli into the soup and my family was not having it. What can I say; I guess I am not much of a good cook either. So, I have started to re-evaluate the idea of a container garden again next summer.
I think that placement of these containers is key. I will keep the containers higher so as to hopefully prevent a critter from eating my lettuce. I will definitely find a better spot so that the dog doesn’t know them over. I think I will plant less lettuce in the container as well. It may have become overcrowded which prevented new sprouts. I need to plant less carrot seeds as well. I did get some good carrots but not nearly as large as I would have liked. Some were tiny, so it was probably overcrowded. I might try to plan the tomatoes from seed rather than a plant. I think the cucumber would have been ok if Maya didn’t knock it over. So tell me, what other tips can you share with me so that I have a better farm to table experience next summer?
Oh my I am sorry for your lettuce. Just like you I have no green thumb and my son just said he wants to plant some veggies and flowers. I am yet to agree because I don’t want to be disappointed.
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My son loves to grow things and we have had our fails too. Living in the desert doesn’t help matters. He did grow cucumbers from a see this year and I enjoyed 3 of them.
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I wish I could grow stuff! I tend to have a black thumb and kill stuff. I’m glad you are able to grow things!
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I can so relate, and questioned if these were some of my same pictures lol. It can be difficult, I am not sure how some make it look so easy. It gets better with time and practice.
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This makes me miss my childhood and my family. I miss my parents. Lovely post though.
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This post reminded me of my childhood and my family. Lovely post though.
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You should be definitely using the containers to avoid your grown veggies from being eaten by animals. I have never grown stuff as I didnt have a chance to have a garden at our home, but would love to someday.
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I love gardening. I don’t always have success with it, but it is fun to try. It’s such a great tool for educating kids on how things grow. It’s also a good chance to teach them the value of responsibility and hard work. I plan to start gardening again now that my baby is a little older and we have a huge yard at our new house.
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I have never done it before and I wish I could grow that in my backyard. I love your post.
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I love gardening. It makes me sad when I plant something and it won’t grow but it’s a part of gardening 🙂 Nice to know that your carrots didn’t die and you have some delicious carrots in your garden.
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That’s a great idea to grow your own vegetables! I think I’d destroy anything, even the most not demanding plants, but I’m really into this idea! Hope you’ll do better with your lettuce next time! 🙂
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A container garden is a cool idea for people that don’t have the yard space to spare. Living in south Florida, I’d say it’s a perfect place to try out a container garden. I may try it myself!
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I fail at gardening too, anytime I try to plant something, it dies. I don’t have that great green thumb, like my mother.
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I am not a gardener at all but I love honesty in a post. So many people publish the success stories which make any failure seem worse. We should all be able to learn for successes and failures.
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I so don’t have a green thumb! But I should encourage my son to grow stuff like you did.
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I remember gardening when I am young too but when I left our hometown and have to study far away from home, I have never tried gardening again. Would love to try it again soon.
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Yes gardening some time include fail too. But your son are really cute and they really work hard to grow that carrot.
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I love gardening! it is always so much fun! and how great when you get food out of it! sorry to hear about your lettuce but you still had carrots =)
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I can relate. lol! I tried many times to plant and start gardening but I always fail. But hey, at least you got carrots. haha!
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I love gardening.And I am happy and feel proud on this that I never failed :). The kid in the picture is too cute.
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I’m hoping to do better next year! Thank you!
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Haha, glad I am not alone in this!
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Thanks! I will have to try again next year!
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Thank you!
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I hope you can try again soon!
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If anything it is a teaching moment for the kids.
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Thank you! I am all about showing what I could be doing better.
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Haha! Glad I am not alone!
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Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
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Thank you!
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Thank you! I am hoping for better next time!
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Thank you!
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I totally agree! I am looking forward to trying again with my boys next year! Good luck doing it with your baby!
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Thank you!
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Thank you! I am glad it brought back good memories!
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Thank you! Good luck to you and your running!
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Haha I have a black thumb too. Hoping to do better next time!
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If you can manage to do it in the desert then I should be able to do it haha.
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Go for it! At least it is a teaching moment for your son!
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Oh wow this is so nice! I would like to do it, too. But I don’t have time to take care of them. I don’t even have time to exercise, huhu
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Congrats for growing carrrots! I am happy it came out good and tasted delicious too i am inspired~
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Thank you! You should give it a try!
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Thank you! You need to carve out some you time for yourself 😉
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