Works For Me Wednesday-Scaling Back The Garden

Hey everyone! Even if your *cough* help doesn't look like this...

There are some years you might not be as into gardening as others. This is one of those years for me. But I heard more than once that I had to do something, so on a beautiful Saturday I did decide to skinny up the garden to way less than 1/3 the size it normally is and plant a few things.

While this won't make the cover of BHG magazine, I'm using it as a test model to see if I miss the bigger garden and also to see if I want to build more of the raised beds the cukes are in. I'm also curious about the container plants, if they do well, that's a nice alternative to turning over (and weeding) a big garden. So, here are my notes on what's happening so far:

• The tomato is called Super Bush and it is (please forgive me:@) happier than a pig in mud! That is one sturdy, ambitious little plant!
• The zuke is doing well. Just hope to keep the cucumber beetles away, they destroyed them last year.
• Green Beans, so here's the deal... It turns out I'm a bit of a hoarder, a seed hoarder! Never realized it until my son asked to see what I had and pulled about 8 packs of string bean seeds out of my closet. This first batch of beans was dated 2009, only a few came up so I did replant some newer ones. Believe it or not I found cucumber seeds dated 2004! I have gone through and thrown everything over 2 years old out-head hanging in shame.
• Yellow flying saucer squash came up and I'm thrilled! I put 4 seeds in this pot and the birds snipped 2 off grrrrr, that's why the flag is there now, as a deterrent. This is the best summer squash in this reporter's opinion. It's meatier than zucchini, you can pick it anywhere from 1" to 4" and it's great! The little ones are gorgeous on shish-ka-bobs and the larger ones are very nice diced with zukes and steamed, then lightly mashed with butter and S&P-super simple and great!
• My rhubarb is a good 4 years old now and I'm truly glad I have it. Even if I did away with the garden site I'd still have a clump of rhubarb growing in the middle of the yard! 
• Thyme is in the barrel to try to help it behave... it's 2 years old and does like to sprawl...
• Rosemary does well in Philly, especially when we have mild winters (I'm sure the ultra humid summers help too). When it snows a lot it's treated as an annual.
• This is the first year I've only planted one basil plant, usually it's a six pack. So I'll truly find out if I miss it or not!
• The chives are well established and I just cut them back to encourage more growth. I find that they will regrow nicely but don't remember if they bloom again (I think they do)... If yes, I'd like to make some more chive blossom vinegar.
• This parsley has wintered over and is in it's second year. It keeps trying to bolt and I cut the stems with blooms off. I'm hoping it will last through this summer and I'll replace it next spring.
• I have to admit that I planted the sage for one specific recipe and the plant was cheaper than cut fresh sage at the store. So it wasn't planted in "prime real estate" and it's kinda on it's own. We'll see how it does.
• This is the first time I've planted cilantro, I'm sooooo hoping I decide I love it and start to use it often. 

So that's how I've scaled back this year, a much smaller area that's easier to water and hopefully weed.

How about you, did you go big or small, or decide to take the year off?

Have a great day:@)