Greenhouse Gardening In Western Washington

The other day I wandered over to my neighbors garden to see how their vegetable beds were doing and HOLY CANOLIES people, what a difference some really, really good compost can make.

Earlier in the spring I called around for prices on compost and was shocked some companies were selling it for upwards of $50 – $72 a yard delivered. I couldn't believe it.

Yada yada yada… I ended up ordering from a local place that sold it for $23 a yard {or was it $25? I don't remember}. Granted, the compost {50% loam 50% shellfish compost} had a few more crushed shells in it that I had hoped for, but at $23 a yard, the price seemed in line with what I had previously paid for compost back in Western Washington.

So when my neighbors mentioned they were placing an order for the $50 a yard compost I just shook my head. I just couldn't believe someone would be willing to pay $250 for 5 yards of garden soil.

Well, the joke was on me because their garden, the one with the super jacked up compost, is WAY ahead of mine. My neighbor's plants not only look healthier, but size wise they're much larger as well.

Over the winter my neighbors offered me the use of their greenhouse, so when I started my seeds back in February and March, I planted double the amount I normally would so I'd be able to share.

Since we were both starting fresh this year with brand spankin' new garden boxes, neither of us had the luxury of time to build up the soil for the garden boxes ourselves. We both had to buy soil this year. And well, since we both started with the same seedlings, the reason their plants are looking better than ours are 100% soil related.

Gaaa! I guess this means I'll need to plant cover crops this fall and amend the soil so that I am starting off with better soil in my garden boxes next year. Has anyone tried using seaweed before? I might give it a try.

It's not only the plants in the garden that are doing extraordinarily well, the plants in their greenhouse are on fire too! {The picture above is kale growing in an old recycle bin}.

Got kitties? Save those buckets!! Check out the plants they have in their greenhouse right now.

The leaves on the pole beans are HUGE!

They even have cucumbers growing in buckets… Can you believe it?

And last but not least… the tomatoes in the greenhouse are about DOUBLE the size as the ones out in the garden thanks to all the heat. I said I wasn't going to get one… but I don't know now, after seeing how well the neighbors plants are doing in their greenhouse, I may have to get a greenhouse of my own. A big one. A really, really BIG greenhouse.

Gardening, it rocks. There's always something new to learn. 😉

Stay awesome everyone, and have a great Wednesday,

~Mavis

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