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On The Verge Of Growing An Amazing Garden

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Zone 5b Garden Update For June


Lots growing on this month in the garden. This month I learned the importance of succession planting crops such as carrots, lettuce, and beets. It's a little late for this year as all my space is filled, but I will save space to do this next year.


I'm also proud to announce that all my plants are officially in the ground! It's time for a plant-off dance-off. Vegetables are sprouting and growing very quickly! To track the growth, I take pictures at least weekly of my plants. Taking photos ensures I can look back and see how far my plants have come since being put in the ground.


In June I put my final touches on my scarecrow head, added hay to my plants, and, experimented with growing sprouts. Keep reading to find out about everything I have growing on.



What The Hay?


June 2021 in zone 5B was very hot! We had 5 days of 90+ degree heat in a row the first week in June. Mass panic spread across the local area - particularly I was wondering was all my hard work about to be scorched.


Thankfully, a fellow gardener had some extra hay and was willing to share. I didn't even know why I was putting hay down honestly, I just saw that she did it, so I did it too.


As it turns out, hay is great for your garden - it helps with weed control, retains moisture, and will eventually compost down enriching your soil. Here's a wonderful article on the benefits of hay in the garden. I believe the hay saved some of my non-heat-tolerant plants such as lettuce.

A garden is freshly covered in hay to help project from the summer heat

Building A Scarecrow For The Garden


In contrast to hot temperatures, I started thinking about my fall garden - I know - it's a little early and the spring season just started. I'm a planner, and more specifically, I like to take things that I learn and apply them as soon as possible. As I talked with fellow gardeners, I learned that some plants are cold-tolerant and should be planted in the fall. In particular, plants like lettuce and Brussels sprouts have a better chance of growing in cooler temperatures.


At the same time I was thinking of my fall garden, someone mentioned a scarecrow would help keep animals out of my plot and could be useful later in summer. With this in mind, I thought to myself - I need a scarecrow so all of my hard work doesn't get eaten before I can harvest!


In the meantime, I have this hawk I can keep in the garden to scare off animals.

A fake hawk is in the garden to ward off animals

This month I made a lot of progress on the scarecrow - he now has a head with hair and hat! I still have more work to do, namely on the body, but the scarecrow will be complete shortly.


It's important to realize how much time and effort goes into a flourishing garden before getting a garden. That's partially the reason I started my garden updates.


Not only can you garden outside, but also inside. This month I experimented with growing sprouts - continue reading after the videos for how to grow sprouts (no dirt needed!).

How To Grow Sprouts At Home (No Dirt Needed!)


Growing sprouts is easier than I thought, and likely easier than you think! Sprouts require nothing but water and a place to grow, I purchased these lids that attach to a mason jar. These lids come with a handle that helps with draining the sprouts which is especially important. This version also comes with 6 lids so you can have a continuous supply of sprouts. My sprout mix of choice has alfalfa, radish, broccoli, and clover sprouts.


Sprouts are surprisingly easy to grow and I want to point out that they only take 5 days. Minimal effort is required daily and the payoff is well worth it. Use sprouts to complete sandwiches, top soups, or add to salads.


Growing Instructions For Growing Sprouts Using A Sprouting Lid


  • The amount of sprouts you want to grow is up to you - I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and seeing how much this makes and then adjusting from there - if you find you have too many sprouts, use less mix, if you want more sprouts, use more mix

  • Wash sprouts by putting them in the jar, add water, and the lid then drain - I repeated 3 times. After the final rinse, add water and replace the lid. Let sit for 8-12 hours.

  • Drain water and rinse then drain

  • Every 3-6 hours you will need to rinse & drain

  • On day 3 - move the jar to a well-lit location (direct sunlight only if you are using a tray)

  • Continue rinsing and draining every 3-6 hours

  • Day 5 - harvest when the leaves are open and green

  • I placed my sprouts on a paper towel and removed as much moisture as possible before placing them in a bag in the crisper drawer


That's it - after 5 days - you'll have a large number of sprouts to enjoy over the next few days.


Fast Facts About Angie's Garden


  • Plot size: 10' x 16'

  • 30 plots total in the community garden

  • All plots are in a gated area

  • Tools, wheelbarrows, gloves, etc. are all located in a shed in the garden

  • Water and hoses are also included on-site

  • 65 different vegetables were planted in this plot - including my 2 Mr. Stacky's - these hold 20 plants each



Catch up on all of Angie's garden updates by clicking here. I've got to get back to the garden - the work never ends!

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