A big thank you to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. Sharing your photos and experiences on One Hundred Dollars a Month helps inspire others to create great gardens this summer. Please keep them coming!
Hi, Mavis!
I’ve been a loyal reader for several years. I enjoy canning, gardening, cooking, crafting, reading, and shopping on Amazon, so your blog really speaks to me.
I consider myself an aspirational gardener. I make big plans every spring, but by August the heat, drought, and weeds in Eastern Washington often overwhelm me. This year, though, my garden has exceeded my expectations.
Over the last five years we’ve built our vegetable garden in the former dog run that the previous owners left. The chain-link fence has been perfect for the honeysuckle we planted. When it blooms the fragrance is heavenly and brings back memories of summers at my grandmother’s house.
This year we planted acorn squash, jack-o’-lantern pumpkins, ornamental pumpkins, yellow squash, zucchini, pickling cucumbers, butter crunch lettuce (which bolted while we were on vacation), carrots, peas (they also died while we were on vacation), jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, poblano peppers, serrano peppers, onions, Roma tomatoes, and green beans.
I have a few questions about my vegetable garden and would appreciate any advice.
1. My zucchini plants are infested with squash bugs. Do you have tips for getting rid of them or preventing them next year? I’m familiar with squash bugs—they’re nasty. Through trial and error I’ve learned several effective strategies. I wrote a post about How to Deal with Squash Bugs that may help you.
2. My onions have pushed up above the soil surface. Should I harvest them now or will they continue to develop above ground? Can I mound soil back over them, or are they finished? It’s common for onion bulbs to sit partly above ground. You’ll know onions are ready to harvest when their outer skins are papery and brittle, the roots are dry, and the tops have completely dried down.
3. I see a mildew growing on the soil beneath my green beans. Should I take action, and if so, what should I do? Yes. Remove and destroy any diseased plants immediately. Also remove the affected soil and replace it with fresh, clean soil to reduce the chance of recurrence.
Along our back fence we’ve planted additional edibles. Our grape vines, planted about three years ago, took off this year and produced plenty of table grapes—delicious. We also have prolific raspberry canes; we enjoyed fresh berries and froze 1½ gallons for jam and baking later.
Just for fun, I included a photo of my flower garden. It’s a bit wild and weedy but still lovely. I hope it encourages readers who dream of picture-perfect gardens but are dealing with real-life challenges.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my garden!
Erica
Richland, Washington
~Mavis
Find more Mavis Mail posts here.
If you’d like to have your garden, chicken coop, pantry, or a project you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:
- Garden Pictures and Tips – Show your garden layout, growing areas, and any indoor seed-starting setups with clear photos and a brief description of your methods.
- Pantry Photos – Share pictures of your pantry, fridge, or cabinets along with a short note about your food habits and storage tips.
- Chicken and Poultry Stories – Coops, chicks, hens, roosters, eggs—if it clucks, send photos and details.
- Arts & Crafts – Handmade projects with well-photographed steps and concise instructions.
- Pet Pictures and Stories – The more photos and background you provide, the better.
- Garage Sale, Thrift Store, and Dumpster Finds – Include pictures, the story behind each find, and prices paid.
You’ll need to send a minimum of five high-quality photos and the stories that go with them. Please don’t send only a couple of grainy pictures and a brief sentence; those don’t make for an interesting or informative feature.
If I feature your submission on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20 gift card to Amazon.com. Send your submissions to onehundreddollarsamonth @ gmail.com (remove the spaces) and put Mavis Mail in the subject line. I look forward to your submissions.
Go here for the official rules.