April is National Garden Month.
As the weather turns warmer and the landscape changes from barren to blooming, we say goodbye to winter and welcome spring with its longer days, green foliage, and warmer temperatures. We kick off the season by celebrating all things garden.
For the last few summers, I’ve attempted to grow my own vegetable garden. There’s something fulfilling in growing the food in your pantry. Maybe it’s having relatives who farmed successfully over the years. Or perhaps a little too much Little House on the Prairie growing up. Whatever it is, it’s a yearly yearning that draws me out of the house and into the yard…to dig, to plot, to sow, to cultivate, and to reap a bountiful harvest.
Every year, I have the best intentions. I pull out the shovel and hoe. I clear the perfect plot and carefully prepare the ground. I space out my seeds and seedlings. I water, weed, and wait. But sadly, the bugs have stronger intentions and they are FAST!
The last two years, the pests have completely annihilated my humble garden. Just when I think my plants look amazing and I’m envisioning an abundance of tomatoes and zucchini, the pests swoop in and devour all my hard work. From pesky slugs and hornworms to the latest annoyance, the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly, my garden suffered mightily these last two summers. While I did manage to make a delicious bowl of salsa once or twice, there was no bounty to fill my kitchen or share with my friends. +1 for the bugs.
Now, here we are in the throes of spring and it’s garden planning time once again! Ever the optimist, I staked out my plot in a new section of my yard, tilled and fertilized the soil, and started a batch of seeds indoors. I am READY! This is my year. I can feel it. No bug is going to defeat me this time. No slugs or hornworms or Spotted Lanternfly. They will have to find another garden somewhere else.
Will this happen?
Well, I don’t really know but I am better prepared this year. Not only did I move my garden to a new location and away from where the Lanternflies liked to hang out, I also joined gardening groups and read up on companion planting and natural repellants. From the Three Sisters method to nematodes and neem oil to nasturtiums, I am armed with resources and hoping for the very best garden this summer.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Share your favorite gardening story or tips in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.