Gotta have flowers among the veggies

I've decided I like to have flowers among my produce when gardening.  There's a lot of practicality to gardening but I also need the visually appealing beauty of the flowers.  Of course flowers are vital to producing anything and also attractive to pollinators and other beneficials.  So I make sure there's room to plant marigolds, zinnias, and nasturtiums with my veggies.  Nasturtiums are tasty and nutritious, too!  And are  supposed to improve the flavor of tomatoes.

Fingerling Potatoes

I planted 8 fingerling potatoes that I got from the grocery store (organic) in a large container.  It was originally a self-watering contraption that my husband and I made but the weight of the dirt and everything pushed the self down so far it covered up my watering hole.  We probably didn't do something right.  It's a great concept.  Here's what I pulled up 2 weeks ago from four of the original potatoes!  I stopped counting after 50!

Carrots!

I don't know why but I have always been kind of scared of growing carrots.  I didn't think you COULD grow carrots in Texas.  A couple of falls ago, I planted a few and waited and waited but nothing came up.  About a year later I noticed I was getting a weed that looked just like a carrot top so I let it grow, curious to see what it would become.  A few months later I pulled it up and there was a healthy little carrot on the other end!  Ever since then I've tried harder to grow carrots.  And I don't know if it's because my soil has been improving or what but I've had more success!  This week I pulled up my finger carrots- I think I planted them in January or February.  (This is partly why I'm going to be better about this blog- so I can remember these things.)  Look how beautiful these babies are!!

They have a delicious, mild flavor.  I had them planted in front of one of my patio tomatoes.  Carrots do love tomatoes!

In other news, we had a good rain on Saturday and by Monday the squash and beans I planted last Thursday were peeking through.  What a difference rain makes!!