: Farmer Williams :

Well, after much watering, fertilizing, worrying and crying... i have a GARDEN that is growing and producing. WOO HOO!! I really never thought it was possible that i would be able to eat things that i have grown in my backyard. When i had the thought of wanting to build a raised bed garden, i honestly never really thought that it may actually work. I had absolutely no clue what i was doing but that sure did not deter me from wanting to plant different fruits and vegetables. Everything that i read did say... "don't plant a big garden your first time or it will overwhelm you." I tried to remember that when i was figuring out what i wanted to plant. However, that thought escaped me every time i looked at plants. I planted 12 different things and it has been tolerable. There are a few things that i would change next year though. I planted onions (and maybe once i eat one of them, i will change my mind) and they took up space that i could have used and the bulb you plant only produces 1 onion and then it is done. I planted about 15 and they will all pretty much be ready at the same time. I will also probably not plant strawberries again because birds are eating every one of them!! The only way i will do these again are if i can make a contraption to go over them where the birds cannot get to them. I planted butter crunch lettuce and i may try lettuce again but will probably see if i can find leafy green lettuce. And i am still contemplating the broccoli. That is the only thing that has not produced anything so far but it took forever for the actual plant to get bigger. I am hoping any day now there will be broccoli. There are so many other things that i would love to try so i may have space if i eliminate a few from this year! I have learned this will be a trial and error project. But i can deal with that. Here are a few close up pictures...

 I have 7 Roma tomato plants, 7 Big boy tomato plants, about 15 onions and 4 cucumber plants.

 Here, i have 8 regular Bell pepper plants, 4 red Bell pepper plants, 2 Cayenne pepper plants, 2 Banana pepper plants, 8 Broccoli plants, 4 Butter crunch lettuce plants, and 4 Mammoth jalapeno plants.

And i also have 2 regular Jalapeno plants, a pot of Strawberries and 1 Roma tomato plant.

In addition to all of these plants, i also have 2 Cherry tomato plants (not pictured).