How does your garden grow?

A few months ago I learned I was awarded a pea patch (community garden plot).  Since then, I've been hard at work, starting seeds, putting compost and chicken manure in the dirt (for fertilizer), planting sees and starts, as well as lots of watering.

Over the past couple of months, I have been tending to my garden as well as watching the other gardens in the pea patch flourish.  Mine has struggled to establish.  I know that since I don't use synthetic fertilizers or chemicals of any sort, I am technically at a disadvantage.  But I feel the payoff is worth it in the end, since my vegetables are not filled with chemicals.  Since this is my first time gardening in this climate and soil, I fully expect to have a learning curve.

Just when I was feeling really discouraged (the woman's garden next to mine is incredible and prolific already, while my peas barely produced anything), mine took a turn and started to take off.  Suddenly, I saw flowers forming, beans taking shape, and baby squash appearing.  My hope had been revived.

The rainy season will be here very soon.  My garden has to be strong before it comes otherwise it will be susceptible to disease.

I have a lot to learn here.  I look forward to gathering my homegrown vegetables, but first I have to understand how the different weather and soil effect the crops.  It seems that nothing can be done automatically here.  Everything, even gardening requires extra effort and a learning curve.