A few things I've learned from our garden

Our garden has been so much fun this year. Though I grew upo with my mom having a huge garden.., this is only the second year for our family to have one, so I'm still learning from my mistakes. This year I've learned that I do not need 5 zucchini plants and 5 yellow squash plants. 1 or 2 plants of each is enough to feed the entire neighborhood. Let's just say..., we've had zucchini and yellow squash in abundance all summer long. I've also learned that when the back of a seed packet says to space each plant 2 feet apart.., they really mean it. I now have a 'tomato hedge' instead of 12 individual tomato plants! I've also learned that things ripen in warp speed during the night. I checked on tomatoes last night and there was one or two ripe ones. Today, I went out to the garden to get a tomato or two for salsa and came in with this??? Don't they look pretty?Branching out from my norm of canned tomatoes.., I made this..., spaghetti sauce. It easy and it turned out pretty tasty. I think I'll try salsa with the next batch or tomatoes.This summer.., I've also learned that I have to look under all the leaves to check for veggies. I had close to a zillion little cukes hiding and had no idea. So I made some dill pickles. The funny thing is..., I HATE dill pickles.., and the even funnier thing is.., so does my husband! I wish I would have realized that before I came up with the great idea to make them. They could become Christmas gifts for the neighbors!I've also learned that herbs works better for me if I keep them in pots so they don't spread all over the place..., i.e. mint! Here is Herb Row as we call it in our home. It's hard to differentiate the herbs..., but I LOVE them all. I tried a few new ones this summer.., dill, lemon thyme, lemon balm, cinnamon basil, and Thai basil are the new ones. I'm trying to figure out how I can bring them all inside when the frost comes. Perhaps the addition will be done and I will have lots of extra space. A girl can dream, can't she???I've learned that if you plant corn for the sole purpose of using the corns stalks in the fall because you're too cheap to but them any more.., that actually ears of corn will grow on them. I had no idea I would actually get real corn! In fact.., I have dozens of ears! Here's my questions..., how do I know when it's ready to be picked????

I've learned that pumpkins as well as my squash and tomatoes require more space then I allowed. Pumpkins and gourds spread like crazy! Can you see this beauty hiding beneath the leaves? I have about 5 pumpkins now and tons of gourds!
Lastly.., I've learned things pop up when you least expect them to. here's a honeydew melon. I really wasn't expecting this to actually grow. Not only has it grown..., but i have a couple growing!
Oh how I love my garden. Mason and I planted everything in it this past spring. He was surprisingly a great help and enjoyed throwing the seeds in each hole. I'm sad it's already the end of August and fall will be coming soon. That means that the garden will be ending soon. I am, however, excited for the crisp fall air.., pumpkins.., sweaters..., oh.., I do love the fall too!