Garden Reflections and Ideas

My garden is growing but already am trying to find better ways to things that might make it better next year.  Out of all the plants that I am growing I am having the most problem growing okra right now.  That is funny to be since many people consider okra a type of weed.  I planted about three seeds per hole at the same time I planted the rest of the garden and given that they have a 21-day emergence period I have been waiting to see what happens.  So far out of the eight holes I planted only three plants have come up.  Now it isn't too late to plant more especially since they seem to like warm weather but I learned a slightly better way of starting those seeds after talking to my ever-wise mom.  Milk.  Yes, soak the seeds in milk for 12 hours then plant them because the shells are really hard.  Looks like I will soak and plant in the next few days.

The next thing I have decided is that I really don't like the "soil" I used.  I bought the Evergreen brand topsoil and Evergreen manure compost since they were the cheapest and I need so much but it isn't dirt at all.  It is finely-chipped mulch with some compost added.  We did use that in our front flower beds as mulch which looked beautiful but as a soil I think my plants are suffering.  Hopefully the earthworms that I added will break it down well for next year and I will get (or make) real compost to add.

I am happy I am doing the black fabric for weed control but I am astounded at how persistent grass can be as it sends out runners and tries to lift its way through the fabric.  We keep pulling the fabric up to pull the weeds so that we give the veggies a fighting chance.  I know that we will win this but it frustrating that I even have to battle.

Lastly, I am worried about pest.  One of my red bell pepper plants was shrived up because it was chewed off at the stalk as seen in the picture below.  Time for me to get those marigolds in hopes of keeping pests away.  Not sure what did it but I am hoping it wasn't those pesky cicadas.  Those are my random thoughts on garden with hopes of improving next year.

Poor bell pepper. Sorry little guy.