Summer weather lasted longer than usual this year, which made me a very happy home vegetable gardener. I didn’t get my plants in my garden until the first weekend in June because the nights were still cool and frost was a risk. That’s why I’ve been especially thankful for warm days continuing into October. Thank you, Mother Nature. I’m still picking tomatoes, eggplant, squash, peppers and herbs; and I’m hoping the first frost stays away a little longer. Fingers crossed! 

Home vegetable gardening brings me joy while constantly reminding me of the importance of patience and perseverance. For as much as I try, nature has its way of doing things that may not yield a bumper crop season.

Sharing Lessons Learned

Gardening, though not without its challenges, brings me a sense of peace. It gets me outside, helps me focus, and lets me witness slow, steady progress. The summer my dad was hospitalized, my garden became a quiet refuge, my oasis. It helped ground me, keeping me engaged with summer when I was worried and scared and spending most of my time indoors.

Every growing season has its issues. Two years ago, it was a spring flood. Last year, it was horrible infestation of garden pests. This year started off quite depressing with a lackluster spring that was cold with limited sun, delaying my planting by several weeks.

Every year, it’ll be something that nature bestows upon determined and enthusiastic home gardeners, aiming for a bountiful crop while optimistically knowing there’s always next year to try again.

How It Began

I had a garden many years ago in my backyard, but over the years the trees filled in creating a shade canopy which led me to my driveway tomato container garden. And eventually, I strategically placed five corrugated steel raised beds (see post on how to set up raised beds) along the foundation of my house displacing hydrangea and peony shrubs.

Now, here we are in October when local garden peeps in the region are seeing their gardens dry up or are anxiously watching the forecast. But my vegetables and herbs are still holding on. For now. I even transplanted summer squash in late July, hoping to sneak in a late-season harvest and avoid the dreaded squash vine borer that’s decimated my plants in past years.

My Vegetable Garden Report Card

Since I haven’t shared the trials and tribulations as a home vegetable garden in some time, I thought I’d share how I graded my garden in 2025 compared to previous seasons and anticipated outcomes. See post on on my first season as a raised bed gardener!

Garlic – B+
My brother-in-law got me hooked on growing garlic. It started out that he shared his scapes in the spring and then I created a delicious spinach (or kale) garlic scape pesto (see my recipe). And then come fall, he’d load me up with the best-ever Music garlic to use over the winter. Three years ago, I started growing the bulbs in my raised beds and haven’t looked back.

This year, my bulbs were smaller than usual which is likely due to the cold, damp and sunless May. I’m already planning which varieties to try next year.

Tomatoes – A-
I gave my tomatoes and A- instead of an A, because my cherries, which did OK, weren’t as prolific as previous years. Of the three varieties I grew, the yellow pear took first place. My Super Sweet 100 and Sungolds were a bit disappointing. I still had enough to make batches of cherry tomato sauce and for salads, but not much, really, to give away.

Meanwhile, even though they started coming in late August, my plums have been glorious. I planted Amish Paste last year, but the Romas I grew this year performed much better in my raised beds. Will do Romas again next year for sure. I tried a few other varieties that won’t make the cut next year – Early Girl and Large Cherry. Meh.

Eggplant – A-
My Black Beauty globe eggplant grew large deep purple orbs regularly and through October, while my Asian variety were under achievers this season. Maybe next year I’ll opt out of the Asian variety, but they’re so fun to add to a quick stir fry that I may give them a second chance!

Peppers – A-
Compared to last year, my bell peppers really earned an A++ but they didn’t get as large as I’d hoped. Maybe due to limited sun or nutrients. But, once they started producing, they keep going strong. I’m planning to try a sweet pepper relish to use what’s left to close out the season.

My hack this year was growing pepper plants together and close so they could “touch” each other. I read somewhere peppers preferred that environment, so I’ll stick with that!

Herbs – A
I potted lots of herbs around my raised beds and they thrived. My basil did wonderfully, as I did succession planting from both seeds and nursery pots/flats. I’m quite fond of Genovese basil grown from seeds and how it comes in tender and fragrant, which I adore for basil pesto (see my recipe). Other herbs, including parsley, mint, chives and oregano were also quite happy this year.

Squash – B
This earns an A for effort. I planted pattypan, yellow and koosa squash in late July, about a week or so after harvesting my garlic. I decided to experiment: 1) to avert the dreaded squash vine borer and 2) staking and cutting them back to avoid overcrowding. Looking for a hack on how to stake and tie up your squash plants? Check out this video I found from GreenTGarden; highly recommend trying it!

Knowing that planting squash later in the season would be a gamble, I figured if I got any squash, I’d call it a win. And when I picked my first-ever pattypan (a white variety), I have to admit, it made my day. I also got some yellow and the lime green koosa. I may do this gamble again next year, but will need to act more swiftly after the garlic vacates!

Potatoes – B+
I grew potatoes! I was cheering myself on as I dumped each of the four grow bags to excavate the precious yellow and red spuds from the soil. They came out perfect! I didn’t get a large haul, but now I know my grow bags can handle more than I planted this season. Note to self: Get potatoes in earlier next year!

Broccoli – D+
If I didn’t get a least one floweret, growing broccoli would’ve been a huge fail. They actually were healthy but obviously must’ve bolted before having a chance to bear fruit. Like the potatoes, I should’ve planted this cold-season veggie earlier, but I didn’t get to it. Will do better next year.

Deck pots – B
I blame myself for not watering and fertilizing my deck edibles more regularly. My kitchen herb stacked pots did pretty well. I let my lettuces go by so I tossed them and we never enjoyed them. I enjoyed the color of the swiss chard, and like the lettuce, didn’t consume. But I did peas, late in the spring like my other cold-season crops, but enjoyed them nonetheless for a fun crunch in some salads. And I planted a second batch to fall that’s doing well, so far.

There’s Always Next Season

While the season winds down, I’ll savor the remaining days of gardening, making homemade pasta sauce, ratatouille (check out my sheet pan recipe!) and trying that pepper relish. I will take my lessons learned from this year to improve upon my raised beds and containers next year.

I always try something new, and not sure yet it will be. I’ll probably try a new variety or two of tomatoes, as I usually do. I might even succeed at growing beets. I love them, and they’ve been on my “someday” list.

I have loads of time because that’s what’s winter is for, right? For planning, dreaming and researching for the next growing season.

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