Gardening During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Marcia Strykowski
♦ July 10, 2020
♦ 47 Comments
Like many others, my life has changed during the COVID-19 virus. One thing I’ve found a wee bit of time for is gardening. All thanks to a friendly woman who gave me a box of 80 seed pods on my way out of Stop & Shop. It was my first time going to this particular food store and I was leery of whether it was safe to do so during the height of the pandemic. It can take longer when you don’t know your way around a new store, especially when following floor arrows and peeking out from behind a mask. After grabbing a few necessities, I was anxious to get out of the store and on my way. I paused in the lobby entrance in search of an antiseptic wipes station. There didn’t seem to be any, but as I glanced over to the other side of the exit door, a big box of seeds was thrust into my hands. I carefully put them in my trunk, washed up, and then grinned. The adventure had been successful after all. I gave bunches of seed pods away to friends and family, but still had many more for myself, so it was time to start planting. I planted turnips, carrots, cherry tomatoes, kale, basil, thyme, and parsley. I’ve since moved a few tomatoes and cucumbers outside. My broccoli and eggplant never came up. Not exactly book news, but here’s a little photo display featuring my cucumber plant in particular. 
The brown disc is actually soil. You add water and it immediately expands into enough soil to fill the little pot!
The start of my cucumber! Later I transferred it to a sunny yellow pot.
Above is a closeup of my basil and parsley.
All together, three cucumber plants came up, but two are now outside.
To end with a book, this one seems to be doing quite well. It explores the ups and downs of gardening.
That’s all for now. Hope everyone is doing okay and keeping safe.
Early September Update:
Although many of my sprouts didn’t do too well outside in the heat, I did get some nice basil.
Also decided to check my cucumber plant a few days ago.
I figured there might be some miniature pickle-sized cukes under the leaves. 
But what should appear but four giant cucumbers. What a surprise!
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Marcia Strykowski 
Thank you for reaching out to all of us with this lovely post! Happy to know you are safe and healthy,
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Hope you are doing well, too, Michele! Great to hear from you.
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I love all your little plants! The lady who gave you all the plant pods must of had a sense you would nurture and harvest them. I am finding with life slowing down unexpected gifts are coming forth. When life gets up and going again I hope we remember to slow down and live our lives the way it was intended. Have a bountiful harvest!
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Ha, I think she was just trying to get rid of the free promotion items before it was too late for planting, but your thoughts are a nice way of looking at it. Yes, there are little bright spots during these dismal days. Thanks! 🙂
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Your seedlings look great! (And, of course, so do you!)
Is this your first time planting?
We are happy and healthy. Hope you and yours are, too.
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So glad to hear from you, Michelle. I’ve planted before, but usually not from seeds or little pods. Hope to see you real soon!
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I’m impressed with your seedlings. I managed to kill all of mine. Bulbs didn’t come up. Something ate two impatiens plants down to the roots. I’m about to welcome weeds to take over. They grow no matter what I do to kill them.
I’m glad to hear you are doing well.
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Wonderful to hear from you, Anne. Not sure if I’ll actually get any vegetables, but so far so good. I’ll have to check in to see what you’ve been up to. Good luck with those weeds!
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You’ve got real, live plants, Marcia!! That’s an important step to vegetables.
We had all our children and grandchildren together when Denmark daughter was here for two and a half weeks. My posts were full of family outings. They swamped with waterfalls, took a hike, made S’mores, and ate together. There! I’ve saved you quite a bit of time!
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Ha, now you’ve really got me curious to see! Sounds like a great time. 🙂
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How nice that you were given these seeds, Marcia. Gardening is very therapeutic and rewarding. Sadly, I don’t seem to have time for much these days, its all work, work and more work.
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I can relate. Even these tiny seeds are more than I have time for, but I’m trying my best to juggle everything. Hope your work goes well and that you’re able to take many breaks to stop and smell the roses!
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How wonderful to hear from you. Gardening is a perfect thing to do at this time. Stay safe and well. xo
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You, too, Darlene. Hope all is going well for you and yours!
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Nice, Marcia. My son-in-law, Ken, was also given some seed pods. That’s all it took to get him gardening,too!
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Hi Kate! It was a great program and easy. I hope lots of kids participated. Hope you’re doing well and thanks for your comment!
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Your colourful pots and the plants in them look lovely Marcia, well done you! I can’t say I’ve grown any veg (mostly because I’m too afraid to go out and buy the seeds!) but I have spent a lot of time in the garden and it’s given me immense pleasure. Terry and I had talked about moving into a retirement flat but I’m so glad we didn’t do it before the pandemic. I can think of nothing worse than having no outside space. Stay safe and well. x
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So glad to hear from you, Barbara, and to know you’re doing well. I’m sure your garden flowers are gorgeous, as always, and I’m happy you can enjoy them this summer. Best wishes for continued good health!
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Hi Marcia! Your seedlings did pretty well. I’m so glad you ended with a book, of course. My best to you!
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Thanks, Jennie, hope you’re doing well!
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You’re welcome, Marcia. All is well here, after a tough spring of distance learning. Fingers crossed that September school openings can ease up on restrictions. 🙂
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It certainly will be a different sort of September this year. My fingers are crossed, too–for vaccines and more.
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Definitely!🤞
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Gardening is keeping me sane, Marcia. Lovely post. I think we all would benefit from growing things and getting connected with Mother Nature this year.
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Yes, Mother Nature is a big help through these times. 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying your gardens and doing well. Thanks so much for checking in. I hope to catch up on all the blog news soon!
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Congratulations on the plants, Marcia! You’ll have to give us an update later when your are making salads from them. 😀
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Wouldn’t that be great, to have enough harvest for an actual salad? 🙂 I’m hoping to at least get a cucumber or two. The other plants still look a little too fragile, not sure if they’ll produce anything. Thanks, hope all is going well with you!
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How fun! I hope the garden is thriving.
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Thanks, Yvonne. Hope all is going well for you, too!
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Lovely! And I appreciate the book suggestion!
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Thanks, Brett. Take care!
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I’m gardening through COVID too! It’s turning out to be a fun use of my time!
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Great! Most of my plants are outside now, some doing good, others not so good. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
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I have heard this story from many former “non-gardeners”. congratulations to #stopandshop for a great idea.
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Great activity for kids during the pandemic, too. Stop and Shop was ahead of the rest on this one. My plants are all outside now, some doing better than others. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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Love those plants too.
Sent from my iPad
>
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The only one that might really produce of mine is the cucumber plant. The rest probably needed more water, sun, and care than I was able to give them. Hope you’re doing well, Edna!
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I love this! I have such a tough time starting plants from seeds. This looks like it will make it much easier.
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It did make it quite a bit easier. 🙂 Thanks for dropping in!
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This is awesome! A good way to start a garden. I hope you’re doing good, Marcia and writing more books!!
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Thanks, Ashley. Yes, I’ve been polishing up a couple of manuscripts. 🙂 Hope you’re doing well, too.
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It’s always amazing to see how fast the cucumbers can grow.
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Yes, they seem to sprout up out of nowhere! 🙂
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I recently read We are the Gardeners! Loved seeing all your plants. Basil is one of my favorites to grow. So nice having fresh produce! 🙂
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Hi Jess! I’m been a little lax in keeping up my blog, but it’s such a nice surprise to hear from you. No fresh produce today. 🙂 We have a foot and a half of snow. Thanks, hope you are well.
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Ditto Marcia. And thanks for sharing your gorgeous garden with us.😍
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You’re welcome, Lilly, thanks for stopping by!
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