Jenn McKinlay: When the Hooligans were little, we always had a garden patch. It wasn’t very big but I felt it was important for them to grow things like watermelon or tomatoes. When they hit the teen years there was no time and less interest (on their part), but now that I’m a free bird I’m back to the garden!
Life has been stressful in 2025 (understatement), so I thought adding the life and death drama of raising veggies would be an awesome idea—just kidding, mostly. But seriously, instead drowning in anxiety, I am outside I do think Martha (see below) is onto something.
It all started with one raised bed last fall and now we’re onto two raised beds and several wooden barrels that I can move out of the sun as needed.
What am I growing? So glad you asked!
Cherry tomatoes (this crazy plant survived the entirety of last summer and has produced hundreds of cherry tomatoes this year).
Grapes! Really didn’t think this guy would take off but he’s thriving! And I have loads of baby grapes!
Potatoes: My Thanksgiving taters sprouted eyes, so I chopped them up and stuck them in the ground! Very exciting!
Zucchini: A bit of a pervy looking plant but I try not to judge.
I also have shishito peppers, cucumbers, cantaloupe, pole beans, and eggplant. For herbs, surviving from last year (I planted the seeds), we have parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, mint, and lavender.
So, where are my gardeners? What are you planting? Any tips and advice welcome!
Yes, we have a garden! Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, grapes; the herb garden has rosemary, basil, thyme, and chives. We planted seeds for watermelon and cantaloupe; waiting to see how that works out . . . .
ReplyDeleteI had a watermelon seed pop today!!!
DeleteLots of basil, rosemary, Myer lemon, key lime, Maui gold pineapple.
ReplyDeleteOooh, pineapple!
DeleteIt took 2.5 years to harvest the one we grew in Minnesota by rooting the top of the pineapple our kids brought us from Maui. It was so sweet and delicious! Now we are growing plants here in Florida from the top of that pineapple and pups that were on the first plant. We’ll see how it goes.
DeleteNo garden for me…no green thumbs here. But good memories of Mother’s garden and her “war” on deer who would taste the tomatoes and her delight in her first harvest of potatoes! Like you and the Hooligans she waited until I left home to begin. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteIt is much easier when the teens are out of the house.
DeleteI have had a garden since I was in college! The garlic I planted last fall is a foot tall and gorgeous. I have lettuces and snap peas up, and the blueberries have a good fruit set. I'm behind on all else, so I'll be off to the local farm for tomato, pepper, cukes, eggplant, parsley, mint, and basil seedlings tomorrow. Oh, and I need a new rosemary plant because I forgot to dig it up and bring it last year. My thyme and oregano are back and looking good.
ReplyDeleteI have less energy for gardening these days, but there's nothing like wandering outside and picking your dinner!
Edith, I planted about 5 heads of garlic last fall, and I cannot find it! I thought I put it in the zucchini bed - no, maybe the brussels sprouts bed - no. Since my favourite gout weed is still growing well in spite of digging to china, adding napalm, and cursing the soil, there is a reason the garlic should be up as well. To the grocery store, I too will be going, and maybe next year will be a better year! As for the Rosemary, why is it that every year, I bring it in, use it all winter and then the last month, it decides to expire - and a new plant it will be! Isn't gardening fun.
DeleteThat is so interesting! I brought my parsley in for the winter, and it was just fine, flourishing, until about a week ago when wham. It just collapsed . Weird.
DeleteI tried garlic for the first time - we'll see how it does!
DeleteThe Zucchini comment...lol! Right now I am in our little 16' x 16' courtyard having my first cup of morning coffee and the sun is just coming over the roofline. Now that we are condo living I don't have any ground area to plant a vegetable garden and the courtyard faces northeast so it doesn't consistently stay in the sun all day. I am, however, thinking of having a container garden on the side of our garage with just tomato plants. (Who can resist a summer tomato with mayo sandwich? :-) ) However, despite not having the acreage, I still love gardening, attend seasonal garden lectures regularly, listen to a garden radio show weekly and a Zoom Happy (garden) Hour monthly. I love flower shows and books on horticulture and could easily hang out in a garden nursery all day. Gardening is so therapeutic. But my focus is mainly on perennial and annual flower gardens. Right now as I sit under our market umbrella sipping my morning coffee I am quite satisfied with myself as I have spent the past two weeks transitioning my little area of garden bliss :-) from late winter to mid Spring and yesterday the beginning of the summer season. So the pansies (Spring) are happily cohabiting with the hummingbird planters (Summer) and the rest of the summer annuals will join the party in another week when the temperatures will be a bit warmer. Then the pansies become bunny food (our little wild "Thumpers" love them) and all the courtyard planters will be filled with summer Mandevillas, begonias and other annuals that attract hummingbirds, honeybees and a butterfly or two. I just love this time of the year!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I admire all vegetable gardeners like yourself, Jenn, and Edith and Joan above. You all sound like seasoned gardeners and it is wonderful that you grow your own fresh vegetables. The only tip that I can offer as a....ahem....mature harvester is that waist high frost resistant garden planters are saviors for anyone who still loves to putter in the world of horticulture but their knees are no longer eager participants. We have variegated junipers that have been living quite happily in large containers for 10 years. I have areas set aside for other perennials as well also in containers. All my annuals are in containers. Basically the courtyard is all container gardening and my knees and back are grateful.
DeleteI love my two waist-high boxes, eight feet long!
DeleteEdith ~ Such a smart way to garden! I know my knees and my back are grateful for waist-high planters.
DeleteIn my apartment years, I had quite the container garden!
DeleteWe've had such a cold and wet spring, I'm not going to attempt tomatoes. Herbs and nothing else. Love your lavender!
ReplyDeleteLavender is so lovely.
DeleteGardening (and reading) is my therapy (I am a therapist). I believe the science behind working with the earth being good for our minds, bodies, and brains! It is satisfying and challenging. A lifelong education about the ecosystem. This year I am trying my hand a beekeeping. Yes, we have deer here in Maine, but I love ‘em and don’t mind sharing my crops with them. I keep a smaller veggie garden for our food and the rest is just satisfying to watch grow and I share whatever the deer don’t eat with my neighbors and friends. But flowers are my passion! After an inspiring trip to France this spring, I will be obsessively planting more lavender and thyme starting today! I cannot feel more connected to life than when I am outdoors with the birds and insects each day. It also gives me something to focus on in colder months. I feel very fortunate to have found this little piece of earth to garden on.
ReplyDeleteI have a very small yard but it's perfect for my raised beds and fruit trees.
DeleteThe 2025 edible balcony garden was mostly set up May 6th, the latest start ever. I was away until April 11th in Singapore & Taiwan. It even snowed when I arrived home & we had a grey cold April in Ottawa. I did not grow any veggies or herbs from seed. So I boughtbsome herbs & leafy greens from FM. And put out my perennial herbs that I overwinter (bay laurel, rosemary, lemon verbena).
ReplyDeleteWill add cherry tomatoes in late May or early June for an August harvest.
I am envious that you can harvest tons of fruit already.
My garden will be dusted and done in late June :(
DeleteOff shopping this morning (a game of I’ve been everywhere, and the list is so long that I doubt we will get home in time for supper! Driver is really excited). Looking for broadbean seeds which may be called fava as well. I forgot to order them when I placed the catalogue order, and doubt this neighbourhood will have them as they really are a longer/hotter growing season that we have and most people roll their eyes and go huh, when we speak of them. It is still very cool at night, 5c so too cold to put anything in the ground as it needs to be up to 10c. Meanwhile inside the house…it is a jungle!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to testing/tasting yellow and peach tomatoes. Should have a nice crop of Pink Boar tomatoes which were our new favourite from last year. Have fewer ‘interesting ‘peppers to try, but enough to enjoy. For those who like cherry tomatoes, I recommend ‘Bonsai’. It grows short – maybe 12” tall, and stocky, so needs no staking. However, it is insanely prolific, meaning you can eat your way through it all day, and still have many to create salsa. It would be great for anyone growing on a balcony.
Meanwhile, we are looking forward to the rhubarb – in about 2 weeks!
I'll have to look for those cherry tomatoes. Mine has gone bonkers.
DeleteGreat photos of your gardening growing, Jenn! Lovely to see. Up here, nothing is planted yet. We've had temps in the low to mid 30-degree-Celsius range which is CRAZY for early May, and this coming weekend the weather forecast includes the risk of SNOW! So. Nothing planted yet. But when we get there, we'll put in tomatoes; parsley, basil and oregano; a few rows of green beans and peas. That's all the room we have. So fun to watch the food grow!
ReplyDeleteHeat wave to snow in a week! We are lucky to have 2 or 3 days in the low 20s so far in Ottawa. I have not planted basil since overnight lows are still in the 1-3C/30s.
DeleteI'm anxiously monitoring my pole beans!
DeleteNo garden for me, but I am looking forward to raspberries and strawberries, both of which look fairly healthy. I'm planning a trip to Portland Nursery to replace the daphne odora that sadly died last year
ReplyDeleteBerry bushes are so fun!
DeleteOh, your garden is so impressive! That’s fantastic! As you know we have flowers everywhere , which we adore, and when the time comes— it’s still too early here – – we will have our wonderful sun gold tomatoes and basil and parsley— we don’t do much more than that, but we absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Jenn , wow! That is so wonderful!
I look forward to your tulips every year, Hank!
DeleteAfter two years of lying fallow, the garden that came with The Cottage needs major work. A neighbor offered to loan us a roto-tiller. The Hubby wants to put up a greenhouse. I have purchased a few herb plants (oregano, rosemary, chives, sage - nothing survives the winter here except the chives) to put in the raised corner. And he's promised me some space for sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteNow if only I could get him to stop renovating the apartment at the VFW and start working here. Grr.
Oh, there are strawberry plants, but the birds and squirrels inevitably get those before I do. Sigh.
DeleteA greenhouse would be amazing!
DeleteI really miss gardening. It is my Zen, my negativity eraser, my therapy. It feeds, nourishes, teaches and beautifies. I pull weeds and imagine pulling negative thoughts with them. Very centering. I really need a garden again. Enjoy yours and be kind to the zucchini, it can't help how it was designed! -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteForgive me for not replying to the morning topic Jenn, that will come later. I wanted to share with my JRW's companions that Major, my senior cat died this morning around 4:15 AM. She was about 16 years old, and has been in decline for about 3 months. Yesterday she refused food, and by 1 AM it was obvious her transition had started. We sat with her, counting her breaths, and feeling her heartbeat slowly grow fainter and slower. I want to thank Julia for offering the Pet Parade last week.
ReplyDeleteNow all of you saw our Major Gray who came in from the tropical heat to the warmth of love in the home.
Oh Coralee ~ I am so heartbroken for you. These family members bring so much love and comfort into our world but sadly their time on this earth is too short. Losing a loyal companion is gut wrenching and I empathize with how sad you are right now. How reassuring for Major that she was not alone in her final hours and found solace in warm and comforting arms.My condolences, Coralee, for your loss.
DeleteKaren in Ohio
DeleteCoralee, I am so sorry. Major was fortunate to have you to the very end. Sending hugs. (Barbara)
DeleteSending hugs, Coralee.
DeleteSorry for the loss of your dear pet, Coralee.
DeleteSorry CORALEE. Hugs.
DeleteSo sorry Coralee! It's so hard to say goodbye to our companions.
DeleteSo sorry, Coralee. Hugs.
DeleteCoralee, I am so very sorry for your profound loss. Thank you for sharing Major Gray’s picture with us. — Pat S
DeleteI'm sorry, Coralee. That is so hard to deal with.
DeleteCoralee, you have my deepest condolences.
DeleteCoralee, hugs to you and your daughter. I'm thankful Major's passing was so serene for her and for you. And, yes, it was wonderful to 'meet' her in the Pet Parade. (Flora)
DeleteAw, Coralee, that's a hard day. You gave Major a wonderfully long life, and a loving, peaceful end.
ReplyDeleteCoralee, Kensi Kitty and I send our love.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Portland, where the entire area is a garden, and just met GILLIAN!!!
ReplyDeleteSo great to chat with you in person! JRW is a great community.
DeleteI’m so excited for the two of you! Have a wonderful visit and Karen, enjoy Portland and wherever else you visit. — Pat S
DeleteAs for gardening, my husband does the planting and tending because my family farming genes skipped my generation. I do, however, do the picking and preparing of tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, cucumbers, onions, and a few herbs.
ReplyDelete"How does your garden grow?" reminded me of two things. The children's storybook THE SECRET GARDEN has this story about Contrary Mary. The author Frances Burdett? Hodgson's great great? granddaughter has a social media account about gardening. Her photos are gorgeous! And there was a Hercule Poirot story by Agatha Christie titled "How does your garden grow?"
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos. This reminds me of my childhood. We lived in a house that was built by a sailor for his wife in 1939. It was gorgeous. The garden had a greenhouse and a bird bath. I remember rhubarb plants growing outside and my Mom would make jams from rhubarb. I think we also baked pies.
Though my condo does not have a garden, I am thinking of having a mini garden on my balcony and growing vegetables.
I've already planted Persian and Armenian cucumbers. This week I'm having my gardeners plant my cherry tomatoes. ( My back is acting up so I can't do it myself.) I'm growing the Sungold variety as I love the flavor. That's about it this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous, Julia - I only grow plants that can survive benign neglect... mostly the surviving perennials that the previous owner of the house (more than 40 years ago) planted. Our burgeoning rabbit population was the death knell for my wonderful hostas. This year I I plan to try some potted tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteJenn, isn't it satisfying to grow food outside your door? I had no idea tomato plants were able to keep going! Or maybe your thumbs are extra green.
ReplyDeleteI grow, or try to grow, everything, from houseplants, annuals and herbs, to bulbs, to flowering shrubs and fruit trees, to berries and vegetables. The only thing I've never tried, and don't expect to, is bonsai.
Someone gave me a sweatshirt that says "plants whore". I can't deny it. LOL
My husband took a couple photos of Gillian and me. We had a very pleasant coffee date this morning!
So wonderful that you and Gillian got to meet!
DeleteJenn, love your garden photos! I'm envious that your tomatoes survive the winter there. Often we will have tomatoes up until December but they won't make it past the first hard freeze. But, the year is new, as are the tomatoes, cukes, a couple of peppers and an eggplant in our cloth tubs. I bought half a dozen heirloom tomato varieties from my friend at the farmers market, but my garden helpers very unhelpfully threw all the labels away. Now who knows what we'll get? But we also have Sungold and Sunsugar and a couple of "small fruited" tomatoes which are already producing like crazy. Loads of basil, including Thai and purple ruffled, oregano, thyme, sage (that plant has survived the last two or three winters with 10 F freezes) chives, rosemary (I plant the trailing variety in decorative pots), lavender, and, after much searching, French tarragon. And of course all the annuals and perennials. It has been mini-paradise here, but tomorrow we are predicted to shoot up to 100 F. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteLovely garden photos! We always used to have a vegetable garden, but I've switched it over to cutting flowers. We now have a daughter who (along with her husband) have left their tech jobs and started an organic farm nearby where I can get all the veggies I need. But we have a lot of fruit . . . apples, sour and sweet cherries, blueberries, grapes, and blackberries. I measure the success of the blueberry crop is by how many audiobooks I listen to during the picking season.
ReplyDeleteJenn, your garden looks and sounds wonderful. I have a balcony with pots and "window" boxes that hang off my balcony rails. I grow only flowers! Today, as it so happens, I bought my summer plants. After years of experimenting with different flowers, I now stick to bright pink geraniums, pale pink cleome, white alyssum, and blue salvia--lots of them all--and they usually last until mid-November. I get a lot of pleasure from all the colors.
ReplyDeleteNo tips or advice, Jenn, but 'm happy to come over to your house and try any of these at harvest tme!
ReplyDeleteSorry, my "I" key seems to be acting up!
DeleteWhoa! Beautiful. Unfortunately, I come from a family of farmers and I seem to have inherited the black thumb. Good thing my husband can grown anything!
ReplyDeleteI have the gardening bug but the pollen keeps stopping me from gardening. It’s also would be helpful if we didn’t have deer getting into everything.
ReplyDeleteMy gardening has changed a lot over the years. Instead of a plot of earth I use containers now. Canvas-like grow bags filled with dirt contain my three tomato plants. I can move them around and don't have to dig in that rock hard dirt. Spearmint in an old metal tub. Basil and chives in some cement planters. Only the mint and chives returned. That dang rosemary didn't. I have to go get a new one. Was rosemary on strike this year?
ReplyDeleteI'll be popping in and out over the next two days and Hooligan 1 is graduating and there's so much to do but I'm loving all of the garden stories.
ReplyDeleteCleanup is still progressing here as I have several gardens. I shopped for some new plants at a local Agricultural High School sale a week ago which I supplemented with trips to Lowe's and Home Depot. My seed trays are set as I just swapped some new seeds with a friend from my Zumba class. My grow box is ready for the tomato plants, but needs to wait until our carpenter finishes putting a new mahogany railing on the back deck which should be tomorrow as we picked up the wood at the forestry warehouse this morning. I am now planning where I will place the hummingbird feeders! Crossing my fingers that I stay motivated!!!!
ReplyDelete