Garden Progress: A Texas Vegetable Garden Before Vacation

I'm currently on a roadtrip and finally getting around to uploading my photo's from a hotel room. I wanted to do a quick update on my garden to show its progress and really hoping it's in good shape when I return within a week. The day before we left, I did some moderate weeding, staked my tomatoes, and inspected my squash, melon's, peppers, cucumbers, and greenbeans. Okra seems to be reviving, tomatoes are blooming, and my Zucchini seems to be taking a turn for the worse. I win some and lose some.

Hoping for more rain while I'm gone.

Preparing the Garden Before Traveling

Leaving a garden for several days can be a little nerve-racking, especially during a Texas summer. Before heading out on our road trip, I made sure to pull as many weeds as possible, stake the tomatoes, check each vegetable for insects or disease, and give everything a thorough watering.

Even with good preparation, gardening always involves a little faith. Some plants thrive while you're away, while others struggle with heat, weeds, or hungry insects. Every growing season is a learning experience, and I've found that it's best to celebrate the successes while learning from the disappointments.

Every Garden Is Different

One of the reasons I enjoy keeping a garden journal is that no two years are ever exactly alike. Weather patterns, rainfall, temperatures, and pests change from season to season. Looking back at photos like these helps me remember what grew well, what struggled, and what I'd like to plant again next year.

That's one of the greatest rewards of gardening—there is always something new to learn, and every season offers another opportunity to improve.

This week I also planted Granny's Mixed Zinnias, Black-eyed Susans, and a young fig tree. I always enjoy mixing flowers with vegetables because they add color to the garden and attract pollinators throughout the growing season.

Serious weeding needed in the melon patch, but I ran out of time.