These are my garden lessons learned in 2026, including what worked, what disappointed me, and what I’ll do differently next year. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Isn’t it funny how we can do something so often, with so much passion, and still have room for learning and failure? This year’s garden was quite disappointing. If I sent you a photo, you might have said, “WOW, that’s incredible!” And it certainly was, don’t get me wrong. The expectations we give ourselves when it comes to the garden should be illegal.
I went into the 2026 gardening season starting seeds indoors. I pulled out our seed organizer, picked the newest packets we had, and went to town. I started tons of herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, flowers, zucchini, squash… you know, all the usual.
Then it was time to plant the babies in the garden and watch them flourish.
Basil Understood the Assignment
Our flowers and herbs certainly took off. I was the proud owner of 24 Genovese basil plants, and I couldn’t wait to put up loads of pesto. Organic basil from the store is outrageous, and it takes so many leaves to make a batch of pesto, so this was a smart growing choice for me. I think we ended up with 30 jars of pesto in the freezer.
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Cucumbers: From Pickled Mush to Barely Any Pickles
In the 2025 season, we grew endless cucumbers. I was able to put up jars and jars of pickles. I was super pumped until I opened a jar and realized it was pickled mush. I had somehow butchered the entire cucumber harvest.
Now, me being determined not to waste anything, I did save the juice for marinating chicken and fed the pickle mush to the chickens. But man, was I bummed. I couldn’t wait to try again in 2026.
Until… the garden decided that this year she was going to provide us with 10 cucumbers.
10.
I was able to make one batch of fridge pickles. How sad. The cucumber beetles took over the plants and left us wildly unsuccessful. All we can do is hope next year is better.
Zucchini and Squash Had a Similar Story
Another sob story is our zucchini and squash. Same thing: an army of beetles took them out.
At the beginning of the season, when they were growing just fine, I was able to harvest a few zucchini. I shredded them, drained the liquid, and froze them in batches for future zucchini baked goods.
I remember having so much squash last year that we had to give it away, and this year’s harvest was very slim. Ebbs and flows, I suppose.
Apparently, I Don’t Love Eggplant That Much
I grew way too much eggplant. I love to think I love eggplant. I have no idea why my brain works this way.
I grew two varieties, and the plants were successful. I think we had six plants going? We were on an eggplant kick until that one damned bitter eggplant.
In a huge batch of eggplant parm, there were a few pieces that tasted terrible, and we had to sample each one to find them. The taste was like no other. It was absolutely horrendous.
We did not eat eggplant for the rest of the season, but the chickens didn’t seem to mind.
The Peppers Pulled Through
I feel like I’ve shared enough with you that you know I was super successful with most of my peppers.
We tried something new this year and grew one plant per pot in the garden rather than planting a full bed. The plants produced, but I think they could have given us more peppers, and bigger ones.
Still, I was super happy with the harvest we did get. I may even leave out a few varieties next year, as I was able to put up so many that we could very well get 24 months out of them.
The Great Tomato Reality Check
Then there were the tomato plants.
I started probably 50 tomato plants. Maybe fewer, but it sure felt like 50. I wanted so many tomatoes that I was going to be swimming in them. Canning marinara, ketchup, enchilada sauce, BBQ sauce… you name it. I wanted a year’s worth on my shelves.
I harvested them when they were almost red because there are pests outside who like our perfectly ripe tomatoes. I would place them in a brown bag with a banana in the house and let them ripen. Then they would get tossed into the freezer for later preserving.
You couldn’t open either freezer without gallon bags falling out. I was amped up waiting for canning day. I knew I had at least 100 pounds, maybe more.
It was 60.
60 pounds.
To say I was devastated would be an understatement, lol.
After those huge bags of tomatoes cooked down, and cooked down some more, and eventually became sauce, the amount kept dwindling. I was able to can 24 pints of sauce.
Okay, still incredible, I know. I am grateful, but I was sad first.
What I’m Changing Next Year
Things I noted for next year are to tone down the amount of eggplant and peppers. I would love to increase the chamomile plants, plant green beans, find a way to be successful with carrots, and grow more tomatoes.
I will also be ordering new seed packets this winter, as that is something we did not do this year at all. I will say we were successful in growing what we did with older seeds. Be sure to check out our Top 10 Seed Starting Essentials on Amazon.
Lastly, we did not start a fall garden. Our life moves so quickly, and that was not something that made the priority list this year.
What were your garden successes and failures this season?
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