Hello. My name is Susan and I’m a Master Gardener. And sometimes I’m a terrible at it. There, I said it. When you’re a Master Gardener, people expect a lot outa’ ya. Heck, I expect a lot outa’ myself. But, I definitely do not have it all under control, even when I know the right thing to do.
For example:
I leave tools out in the weather. All. year. round. On purpose, even. I’m lazy and I want them where I use them. The garden fork and the wheelbarrow near the compost. Hand tools, gloves and shoes on the back porch. A basket for weeds in the garden.
This one annoys me about myself more than any other, I think. I like to try different varieties of plants. I mark them clearly when I start seedlings. And then I transplant them into the garden, and I don’t. So, are these the Fiesta broccoli, or the Arcadia broccoli? Last year, I planted two varieties of brussels sprouts. One did fantastic. The other, not so much. Ummm, but which was which? Really bad habit.
I have a passion for gardening, but I DO NOT enjoy starting seedlings. Potting, repotting, watering, re-watering. Measuring fertilizer. Oh, who’s kidding who here; I never measure. Gaaaa! I have an equal dislike for caring for houseplants. Love them in the house. Don’t love caring for them.
Don’t step on your garden beds. It will compact your soil.
I emphatically preach against stepping on your garden beds . . . and yes, I occasionally step on my garden beds. But only rarely. So, not so bad on this one.
I run into the house to grab something I need. And I don’t always take off my shoes. I guess that makes me a bad housewife, not a bad gardener.
I know my own problems – the pests I get in my own garden, for example – but I’m terrible at diagnosing your problems. And people always want me to diagnose their problems.
I’m inconsistent. I companion plant. I don’t companion plant. I rotate crops. I don’t rotate crops. I’m going to foliar-feed this year, and I do it twice. Tomorrow I’m going to plant the peas. And I clean house. On and on.
I’m not always so organized, either. I have a gardening journal. Some years I’m not bad at recording what I plant, where I plant it, and problems I’m having. Other years, there are slips of paper with notes all over them paper clipped into the journal. And please don’t ask me how much I spend on gardening in a year. I. don’t. know. Keeping track hurts my brain. I need a secretary. If I had a secretary, I would be organized.
But, I mostly end up with a fantastic garden. And I do lots of things right. I’m grreat at building soil, I’m a zealot for composting, and I’m good at attracting beneficial insects to my garden. My plants are usually strong and healthy, and I’m passionate about what I do!
What about you? What are your gardening confessions? Fess up now.
