Fall garden dreams

When I planted these beet seedlings back in August, I promised them that in September the temperature would at least occasionally dip below the 90s. I promised that it might rain at least once a month.

And I lied.

They’re limping along, despite the lack of rain, incredible heat, and yesterday afternoon when my 8-year old filled a 10-gallon bucket with water and dumped the whole thing on the seedlings.

Can you even see them? They’re peeking up among the weeds (too hot to weed) and leaves (that are dropping because it’s so dry).

Spring gardens begin with so much hope and excitement. Fall gardens are planted with an umph and a grumble.

Or maybe that’s just me.

I’ve never had much luck with cool-weather plants, but still I persist. I planted brussel sprouts, broccoli, beets, arugula, and kale and they’re all barely hanging onto life.

Maybe they’re like everyone else and are desperate for cool weather. Or maybe it’s because they, too, can sense my disdain for fall?

 

P.S. Side effect of 90-degree days in September? My tomatoes apparently love it.

 

8 Comments

  1. Mamie October 1, 2019

    We are excited about our fall garden.

    Reply
  2. Dawn October 1, 2019

    I’m very sad, the last two years I didn’t do a summer garden. My oldest is 2 and youngest is 6 months, so it’s been tough to get out and do it! And my mom had trouble with her fall garden too. 🙁

    Reply
    • amandakrieger October 2, 2019

      i completely understand! my four kids are all about two years apart and when they’re that little it’s so tough! i have dreams that one day they’ll be out there helping me, but right now they’re mostly destructive 🙂

      Reply
  3. Christine October 1, 2019

    I’m just getting into gardening more and it can be ao tricky! We are so reliant on the weather!

    Reply
  4. Adriana October 1, 2019

    I am so excited for fall. Even though it is officially fall, we still have summer like weather. I am ready for it to cool down.

    Reply
  5. Maggie October 1, 2019

    We love our fall garden! Though it feels like fall more than half the year here in SoCal so it’s not really a specific time of year! Hope you get some goodies out of your garden!

    Reply
  6. Gayle Ann October 3, 2019

    Have you ever tried saffron? Plant the bulbs once, and you are done with them, and if you don’t harvest the saffron, at least you have pretty fall crocuses. Win win.

    Just as you plant spring bulbs in the fall, these are planted in the spring. MUCH cheaper than purchasing saffron, and, again, beautiful flowers.

    Reply
    • amandakrieger October 6, 2019

      i just searched saffron and they’re so pretty. i’m going to put that on my list of “to-grow.” so lovely, and fall flowers are so nice, aren’t they? everything blooming in the spring, i love a bright spot in the fall 🙂

      Reply

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