Every Friday morning at 9am I listen to the Gestalt Gardener on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (our affiliate of NPR.) The Gestalt Gardener is Felder Rushing, a horticulturalist. He calls himself an old hippie, but really he just looks more like a past- middle- aged- man who needs a shave and a haircut.

So! Felder says on his program you can buy a bag of potting soil and plant seeds in it and voila! None of that pesky digging in the dirt and hoeing and that dreadful stuff. Gullible me listened and made the 50 mile round trip to the nearest Wallymart. (Gas $7.00.)There I purchased a bag of garden soil with slow release fertilizer for $5.99. Then I got a packet of cucumber seeds--99 cents.

(While perusing the seed packets picked up $5.00 worth of morning glory seed, and some chive and parsley seed, another two bucks, but I'm not even counting that in the cuke total.)

Lugged the soil home and split the bag down the middle and planted the cuke seeds. Watered frequently. The cuke vines sprang up lush and beautiful. I put the bag next to the post on the carport so they'd have something to climb on. This weekend I went out and it looks as if a cat or some critter has gotten into the middle of my cukes and wallowed around in there, flattening most of the plants.

Picked up some Miracle Grow for $1.00 at a yard sale and soused them with that. They are blooming, and one little cuke has made an appearance. So far that lone cuke has cost me $15.00--not to mention the time, water and concern over them. Grrrr-next year I'll buy my cukes at a fruit stand and listen to Felder with a lot less credulity!

Bye y'all, susil

Comments:

comment by troutbend on June 25, 2008 11:41 AM ()

Hi Laura; Bet you have a green thumb and could grow
anything. I hope you try container gardening sometimes.

reply by susil on June 27, 2008 3:23 AM ()

Hey... home grown ain't cheap

comment by shesaidwhat on June 24, 2008 7:15 PM ()

Hi she; that little cuke has cost me so much I'm thinking of
having it brozed (like a pair of baby shoes) and keeping it
on display!

reply by susil on June 25, 2008 9:44 AM ()

I am trying patio tomatoes this year. So far I have 4 green ones.

comment by tealstar on June 24, 2008 8:40 AM ()

Hi teal; no, there's no fence around my place; it's open
to the woods on three sides..most people with gardens get
it eaten up by deer. (PS I like those little pickling
cukes--they're so crispy. I do hope I get a few cukes
from my project.)

reply by susil on June 24, 2008 3:40 PM ()

comment by panthurdreams on June 23, 2008 4:37 PM ()

Yes, Hawaii, it dang sure better be!

reply by susil on June 24, 2008 5:51 AM ()

Oh, I do miss my garden! I rooting for your cucumber, but this apartment dweller will keep visiting my local farmers' market.

comment by marta on June 23, 2008 4:29 PM ()

Hi marta; next year--fruit stand shopping only for me too.
You're okay with that!

reply by susil on June 24, 2008 5:54 AM ()

I did some container gardening last summer, and the tomatoes didn't ripen in time... ended up with a bag full that ripened eventually. The cukes were too bitter to eat. I said that was it, but I ended up with a few rows of stuff this simmer. Squash and cukes are starting, the tomato plants and pepper plants looke like carp. Enjoy that $15.00 cuke, it's better than nothing!

comment by jjoohhnn on June 23, 2008 3:29 PM ()

Hi jj; if that little cuke gets big enough to eat, it's gonna
be the best tasting thing I'll eat all summer!
I grew up on a farm, and have this urge every spring to plant
things. My cuz has been bringing me squash and tomatoes and
other produce. Good luck with your crop(s.)

reply by susil on June 23, 2008 4:06 PM ()