I have not been here for a while. It might be the sign of the times. I wrote stories but could not publish them. However, I most certainly missed visiting other blogs and receiving feedback on my own.
During my absence last year - I started a new hobby. The title of the post gives it away. I started a garden – a table garden on my balcony/terrace at the start of Summer 2021.
Happy, healthy, green Table garden - 11 July 2021
I was truly amazed that this table system could yield so much and how lovely everything tasted and looked.
I purchased it from the "Makkelijk Moestuin" - literally translated into Easy home garden and it truly was easy. As a newbie at gardening - I bought the table, soil mix, seeds and accessories from them. The best part is the easy to follow app - which helps me to lay out my garden, track what I planted and it tells me daily what to do and what to expect.
My garden in the app-March 2022
At first, I was apprehensive but not with this one-stop shop no-brainer home gardening. Was it truly a no brainer though? Well-yes but Mother Nature- threw a few surprises in for me - pest, insects etc. I will share any challenges if they occur this year as well.
I was very exciting to start this season, planning and deciding what to plant in the table garden or grow bags. I bought extra seeds and bags in preparation.
I started sowing seeds on March 11.,2022. The app advised on the right seeds for each position on the table. I needed to germinate some seeds before planting.
Luckily, the seeds planted could handle the cooler spring temperatures. There has been lovely spring days but also zero Celsius temperatures, freezing rain, hail and snowfall during March and early April.
Despite that - with the help of covers - my vegetables are progressing nicely.
My garden today- April 21, 2022
There were 2 empty spots - as shown in the app photo above. I will plant cucumbers and courgettes (zucchini) there shortly. In the meanwhile - I planted Lollo Rossi and Bionda lettuces. I am already harvesting them. Aren’t they beautiful?
I have also harvested radishes. There were perfect - being crunchy and mildly pungent. Did you know that the leaves are also edible?
This year, I’ve added some strawberry plants. The strawberries were a special request from my children – in order to have a garden with not just “serious vegetables”. Some of the flowers have already become mini-strawberries- aren't they gorgeous.
I love the miracle of watching seeds become seedlings, then full grown plants. I will share the progress and changes in my table garden, grow bags, experiments etc.
I am loving my new hobby. My terrace veggie garden is a place of solace - my own haven in the city.