much needed rain

my garden received some much needed rain this week and today is a glorious day so I an expecting great things. 

6 weeks into this project I want to take a minute and reflect on what I have learned:

Seed Starting:
Next year buy plants!  I do not have alot of inside space and my house isn't very warm.  None of what I grew inside was big enough to transplant and even if I did transplant it it did not make it.  Peppers never grew once they were in the ground, tomatoes never made it and sunflowers grew sideways.  The summer squash made it but honestly that could be started by seed.  I either need to get a greenhouse of sorts or I just need to buy plants.

Garden Size:
For my first year I have a pretty big garden (900sq ft) but I could go bigger.  I don't feel overwhelmed by the size and I am enjoying it.  Next year I would like to double the size and I should have fewer weeds next year since I will be in my 2nd year.  I will definatly double the cantelope/pumpkin/watermelon patch and square off the garden.  I would also like to put out strawberries so i could do my own jam.

Vegetables
Peas - start sooner so I have them by june.  They seem to be doing alright with the radishes
Tomatoes - getting these from plants are the best way for me to go.   I bought cherry tomatoe plants but do I really like them?
Beets:  I need more seeds for beet greens and I need to start earlier if possible.  Maybe the ground wasn't warm enough so next year I will cover the ground with that black cloth cover.  I was careful to sprea the seeds out but I think that I can scatter them and then thin them when beet green time comes. 
Carrots:  These were seeded too closely together but so far they are ok
Broccoli:  Thirving as plant sbut the bugs are eating the leaves.  I put down some Garden Dust
Cucumbers:  One entire row of pickling cucumbers never came up.  WHY??? They are gorwing but I haven't seen a signle fruit yet so I have more to learn.
Lettuce:  Worked great - but I only really need 3-4 heads of it. 
Summer Squash - I was nervous at first b/c the plants didn't seem to be taking, but it appears that everything I read is true - summer squash is super easy to grow!
Sunflowers - damn deer got them all
Watermelon/Pumpkins - Due to the problem with not having my lawn mowed and not being able to get to the patch the watermelon were slow to start, but they look ok now, we will see what I finally get for fruit.
Pumpkins - these are going like gangbusters!

Tools
    I need to purchase some better tools... list included
    Small Seeded
    Hoe
    Salad Spinner - i have alot of lettuce and it gets wet and takes forever!
   

General:
    I love it!  I am really enjoying the garden process overall and can't wait to can some of what I grow so that I have it all winter.  I want to expand for next year, I want a winter garden which I can still do, less lettuce next year and a bigger area for things that can be constantly sown like radish, lettuce and a bigger watermelon patch!