In Our Garden: 2020 Fall Season

I’m so excited to be starting the Fall season of our garden. We have a new trellis to test out, new plants to grow, we are experimenting with a 3 sisters bed, and so much more! Stay tuned for updates of our San Antonio, Texas Back Yard Garden!

New PVC Garden Trellis

• 

• 

I absolutely loved the Spring trellis I experimented with for our cucumbers, squash, and green beans but it definitely had some areas of improvement that I’m hoping to solve with this updated design. While I got over 63 pounds of produce off of the last one, I had trouble with it breaking apart often (thankfully it was only PVC couplers that had to be pushed back together so it was an easy fix), I couldn’t reach the top of the trellis for harvesting/maintenance, and the plants were getting caught in the wire since the holes were so small (about .5 inches). So time to improve for the Fall!

For the Fall I’m constructing the trellis out of .75 inch PVC piping but adding additional supports so it’s a little more sturdy. I’ve also bought some new wire panels that have much larger holes so the plants can grow without having to get caught in the wire gaps. I’ve also decided to make the trellis for only 1 bed instead of spanning 2 beds. I’m hoping this help with making sure the plants get more sunlight while casting shade under the trellis for some less sun loving plants I want to grow. I’m also attaching the wire to the frame with zip ties because it took forever to attach the wire with screws/washers for the last trellis and I don’t think it made that much of a difference. Zip ties are quick and inexpensive.

Garden Growing List

I try to make it a point to grow something new every season which allows me to try something I can’t find at my local grocery store (like this season’s Chinese Red Noodle Beans). I also will grow my favorite items from previous seasons so I always have something new and excited and old time favorites. I also find this gives me new fun challenges every season since I have to learn the ins and outs of a new plant. So this is what’s in my 97 square foot garden this Fall 2020 Season:

Plant Harvesting Log

Do you ever wonder how long something actually takes to grow? Or are you like me and plant something and want it to start producing immediately but often forget exactly when you started? This is why I’ve started logging when I started the seeds, put them in starter pots, transplanted outside, and how much I’ve harvested. This will help me next year adjust as needed in terms of starting my seeds earlier or later, shifting transplanting times, and even with succession planting.

Plant:	Germination Date:	Starter Pot?	Transplant Date:	Total Yield:
Zucchino Rampicante Squash	8/30	9/3	9/5	10.09 lbs
Lemon Squash	8/19	8/22	9/2	0 lbs
Table Dainty Squash	8/30	9/3	9/12	1.55 lbs
Lemon Spice Jalapeno	From Spring Garden	N/A	N/A	7.0 oz
Japanese Giant Red Mustard	8/19	8/22	9/21	7.3 lbs
Red Leaf Romaine Lettuce	Bought at a Nursery	N/A	9/12	9.75 oz
Tom Thumb Lettuce	N/A	8/29	9/21	4.25 oz
Sunrise Bumble Bee Tomato	8/18	8/22	9/21	0 lbs
Orange Jazz Tomato	8/30	9/3	9/21	0 lbs
Orange Hat Tomato	8/30	9/3	9/21	0 lbs
Barry’s Crazy Cherry Tomato	From Cuttings	N/A	9/3	2.01 lbs
Chinese Red Noodle Pole Bean	8/30	N/A	9/2	1.41 lbs
Rattlesnake Pole Bean	8/19	No	8/22	4.66 lbs
Dragon Tongue Bush Bean	8/30	9/3	9/5	.75 oz
Red Swan Bush Bean	8/30	9/3	9/5	1.88 oz
Early Glow Sweet Corn	8/24	No	8/26	0 lbs
Golden Bantam Sweet Corn	8/30	N/A	9/2	0 lbs
Total Fall 2020 Harvest:				28.5 lbs

Natural Pest Control Methods:

This season I really wanted to focus on natural methods of pest control in the garden. I hate the thought of spraying chemicals on food I am going to eat as well as exposing my dogs to something that may hurt them if they get into the garden. Historically in my garden I’ve had issues with squash bugs, stink bugs, fire ants, aphids, and black velvet leaf-leather slugs.

With this in mind, I’ve done a ton of research to control my garden pests naturally this season and I thought I would document my journey so you know what works and what doesn’t.

Garden Layout: