If I look back at this summer in the vegetable garden objectively, I’d say it was an average success. My garden produced a fair number of tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers. We ate well. But it felt like a really hard year, and I don’t think I’m alone in that experience. We had some nasty heat waves and dry spells, and the plants and produce seemed extra susceptible to damage. I had more cracking and insect damage on my tomatoes than usual, and the plants gave up early due to all the fungal disease. Squash collapsed from vine borers and cucumbers got all the blights. My peppers were the biggest disappointment, battling bacterial leaf spot both in my own beds and at the Derwood Demo Garden. I think some infected seed was to blame, since a few ‘Big Red’ plants were the first to show symptoms, but the disease spread quickly to all the rest.

I’m very invested in gardening, so I’m not going to give up even though I know the struggles are likely to continue; our climate issues aren’t going to get any better and the bugs and diseases are here to stay. I don’t think you should give up either! But I can see how a beginner might feel very daunted.

Here are a few ideas about making your garden less exhausting and more rewarding. I’m writing them down because I need to read them as much as anyone!

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