This post is all about frustration. I know that just a few days ago I was quite optimistic, but all week, I've been at the garden every day and see very little progress. I've determined that watering the garden with the hose simply keeps the plants alive but doesn't actually help them grow. I'm so convinced, in fact, that I've started buying distilled water for my houseplants. The only plants in the garden that seem happy these days are the acorn squash (which, by the way, has lots of leaves but only a couple blossoms) and the Super 100 cherry tomato plant, which has oodles of blossoms and seven (seven!) tiny tomatoes. I'm excited about the cherry tomatoes, but if only we'd had real rain in June, the garden overall would be in such a better place.

But yet, check out the picture of my neighbor's giant yellow squash. They had the same rain I did.

The nasturtium seeds I planted may have germinated--I see some little guys emerging (although it's too soon to tell; they could just be weeds). There are perhaps some more strawberries getting started, but one of the strawberry plants is clearly dying. The leaves are reddish, which the Internets say might be nematodes. (Nematodes‽ How could this happen to me? I thought I was being so careful). 

Most of the other plants, even those that show no signs of unhappiness, are all staying so short. I know I got a late start, but I thought once these plants were in the ground, they'd go crazy.

I put some lettuce in last week, which I think will do something, and I'm still hopeful for my okra and cucumbers although I don't know if they'll have time to produce anything before the cold weather returns. Also, something is nibbling on some of them.

I still have some empty space that I'd like to do something with (because I was saving space for my gardening partner who never materialized) and I'm looking for suggestions. Can I still get plants? Maybe I'll go talk to Plant Maven Jane at Alsip and get her take. 

Besides lettuce, what's a good mid-summer vegetable? My parents say beans. Or more flowers, maybe? Or, since it's July already, should I be content with what I've got and make plans for next year?