City Gardening

Now that the typhoon season has passed and all the torrential afternoons are behind us I hope my garden finally gets it’s act together and gets a job, err, I mean, grows some veggies. A few months ago I adopted a small garden in front of my apartment. After one failed attempt- how was I to know that plants need regular attention?- my second venture has met with moderate success. I’ve harvested three tomatoes and a paltry sum of beans. But I am not deterred: one benefit, perhaps the only benefit, of Georgia’s weather is the long growing season.

The cucumbers and squash are showing such potential. They weathered the weeks of waterlogging resiliently and even bloomed in spite of it. Unfortunately, I am not smarter than an insect. Some unknown pest has chewed most of the orange blossoms off my various gourds, gunning them down before their prime. A few bright blooms remain– they’ll produce fruit, even if I have to pitch a tent garden side to personally defend them from their diminutive attackers.

None of the many watermelon patches I’ve tried to grow have done diddly squat. By planting them in the back yard, which has limited sunlight, instead of in the garden proper I knew I was handicapping them. Unfortunately vines tend to takeover their area, kind of like large families at the beach. If I had enough room, I would give the squash, cucumbers and watermelons their own hills, but space being limited as it is I’ll make do. A city garden is not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. As for the beans I’ve harvested, some I gave to a friend and some I put in a pork stew. Another handful will be ready in a few weeks. Anyone want to trade for a cow?