deck box… veggie casket? only time will tell

So here it is- the great reveal.  As you may know, this is my first attempt to see if I can actually grow something that can be consumed.  So far, so good, but we are only at the wee early stages of the project I’ve aptly named:  Maybe.  Maybe Not.  We’ll See.

I’ve already posted about starting my plants inside.  Well, over the past week and weekend I finally hardened them off and moved them along to the great outdoors.  This will be the final resting place for my little veggie plants until one of two deaths occur – they’ll either go by natural causes, or it will be homicide by mouth.  And let’s face it; “Natural Causes” is just another way of saying “homicide by Jen’s black thumb of death.”   I’m super anxious to find out which way I’ll kill these guys.  Cross your fingers that it will be death by mouth. 

First, I want to show off the beautiful deck box my husband and dad worked together to build for me.  Deck box… veggie casket?  Only time will tell.  But for now, even empty I think it is Awesome Sauce. (B & C, that’s for you) 

            

I’ve decided to use the square foot method of gardening for Project Maybe. Maybe Not. We’ll See.  So with this 8′ by 2′ box I have 16 beautiful square feet to utilize. 

     

The eight squares in the back from left to right are:   1 Bell Pepper, 1 Jalapeno Pepper, 1 Tomato that Shannon gave me seeds for but I can’t remember the name, 1 Roma Tomato, 2 Cucumbers, 2 more Cucumbers, 8 Peas, Um 9 Romaine Lettuce (3 of which saw the light of day, and only 1 of which is still alive).  I’ve got five bucks on the lettuce being my first complete casualty.  But since I’m betting myself, win or lose, I’ll never see a dime of it. 

The front row squares are: 9 Red Onions, 9 Scallions, 16 Carrots, 16 Carrots planted 3 weeks later, 16 Radishes, 16 Radishes planted three weeks later,  Golden Beets and 9 Golden Beets planted 3 weeks later.  

         

Just to increase my odds of having something (anything) survive I’ve got additional containers:  two summer squash, one Shannon Tomato, a Fuji Apple tree, an Arkansas Black Apple tree and one pot with various herbs (Dill, Basil, Lemon Basil, Thyme and Cilantro, to be exact).  Now that I think about it, I’ve already consumed some of the herbs, so no matter what happens, I win.  WooHoo!

         

I’ve also got back up Bell Pepper and Jalapeno Pepper plants under the light in the house, so the Bell Pepper and Jalapeno plants on the deck each have one phone-a-friend lifeline.  And the odds are looking ever in my favor.  Maybe.  Maybe Not.  We’ll See. 

-jw