I have a small garden but I don't spend hours working on it, maybe 5 minutes a day at most, I don't have to water, sigh! as it has rain so much! but I do seem to find myself spending a hour or more once a day doing the rounds of the garden, I find myself staring at stuff! examining insects, and amazed by something each day, such as finding a tomato growing! and thinking, when did that happen?, how did I miss it! its not like daydreaming, but is!! I am in a place where I don't think of anything, until I hear one of my children shout or scream! then back to reality! and it really annoys me that I have a habit of making a cup of tea, then doing the rounds and thinking I will be 5 minutes, and I return and it is stone cold! one of my children joins me on this most the time, and it is the most peaceful time of the day with him, as he inspects "his" garden but boy when he does ask a question it is always impossible! "why are pumpkins?" "if Daddy made a seed for me, do you have dirt in your tummy?" for instance! 4! growing anything child or veg is amazing, always a new challenge, a worry, and the best thing with veggies you get to eat them! I am hoping the longer haul with my children bares fruit too and they are good, truthful and caring people, and I find the garden along with their pets seems to be aiding that part of their nurture education.

Heather38 - I enjoyed reading your lovely post.

I spend about 15 mins a day doing the rounds.

I have 2 4x12 raised beds, 4 blueberry bushes, 1 peach tree, 4 mango trees, 1 cherimoya, 2 lemon trees, strawberries, herbs, some container plants so I do the rounds every day.

My husband set up a watering system so that saves a bunch of time. I hardly have to weed because it is a new raised bed so when I do see a small weed I pull it pretty quickly before it becomes more of a nuisance.

Today I spent my time finding and killing hornworms as well as harvesting some cherry tomatoes.

Also I take a lot of pics and chronicle everything so I have sort of a journal for next year.

Below is my blog

Here is a link that might be useful: 1st year gardening blog

I spend about an hour per day working in my garden. Then I spend another hour per day just walking through it and looking. But my garden is NOT small. It is about an acre now. When I am planting, I may spend 20 hours per week in the garden. That usually lasts about 2 or 3 weeks max. After that, it is weeding and tilling and putting up supports for tomatoes and beans.

DarJones

I spend about 6 to 8 hours per day "gardening". I am retired (from both work and golf, due to mental and physical, respectively, disabilities), and I don't have anything else to do.

I do have a fairly large garden, for a typical residence (~2,000 sq'), and do not worry about working efficiently to get inside and sit in front of a TV. I spend all winter sitting inside, waiting to go outside, so I tend to dawdle when puttering in the garden in the summer. I also spend a lot of time in my garden when no actual "work" is being done.

Much of the time I spend in the garden is devoted to repair work. Our violent Kansas weather probably causes at least half of my garden work.

Just now starting to have to spend more time looking for ripe tomatoes. Set out most of them about 56 days ago, so some are starting to ripen.

Preparation probably takes the most time. I remember double digging some beds of mine...must have taken at least 5 hours a day for a week. Now I'm just sitting back and relaxing, occasionally checking for pests and seeing how things are going, perhaps hand pollinating a couple plants or weeding.

As many as I can...

This weekend we had SUN for the first time in a while so I spent about 8 hours each day in the gardens weeding, tying tomatoes, planting, hoeing...well you get the picture.

Ideally I spend about 1 hour each weekday and 2-4 each weekend day in the garden. Doesn't always happen but I try. I work full time plus have a part time job and a family so it's a challenge but it keeps me sane.

I too lose myself in the wonder of growing things.

How many hours 'do' I spend, or how many hours 'could' I spend?

My garden doesn't cry, "Moooommmmmyyyyyy" in that pattented sing-songy whine. It doesn't have dirty diapers, pull its brother's hair, or grind play-doh into the carpet. It doesn't have essays for me to grade or parents to call.

That, and I can name each little frustration for a weed or bug and either rip its pretty little head off or squish it dead.

It's cheaper and more rewarding than therapy and less damaging to my health than lots and lots of alcohol.

I usually get about 5-10 minutes a run at the garden at a time, but I do go out there several times a day when I think about asking the kids to start calling me 'Susan' or 'Joan'....I wonder if that would grate on my nerves as much?

Here is a link that might be useful: The Corner Yard

We bought a run-down farm two years ago, and in that time we have cleaned it up, planted a small orchard, two herb beds, two vegetable gardens, an asparagus bed and started two compost piles. How much time do I spend in the garden? Better to ask how much time I spend in the house!
I dearly love gardening, and spend at least an hour a day in the "off" season, and up to six hours a day in the planting and harvesting season (which here in Texas is extensive).
Heather's post sums it up--gardening is relaxing, a pleasure and very healing.

It's like a part time job, 20 to 30 hours a week. But have been putting in beds and lots of trees. When done, maybe an hour or so a day for maint...but will have to wait and see.

And forgot to say all the hours on the web and at night studying what to do. Still learning the ropes!

I have a large garden (trying to do a market) so in the spring it was 5 - 8 hrs everyday. Had a bit of a lull, now getting ready for round 2. But I do love this and I would much rather "work" in my garden that sit in an office all day or be on the road. The plants don't give me too much flack.

As many hours as I can and when it gets too dark to 'do' anything I sit and enjoy the peace the garden gives me, then I come in for my evening meal and read on gardenweb!

My garden is my saving grace...without it I have nothing. My friends are those who visit my garden...the birds who tolerate me while I refill their birdbath or the Question Mark butterflies who land on me for a spell and give me an upclose view of the wonder of their colors or the hummingbirds who come to admire my red shirt or when I sit and talk with my bunny, Snowflake who loves to have me rub her face and begs for carrot tops from the garden. I find more peace in my garden than any other place on Earth.

Yes, it is frustrating when I feed and water and weed but my tomatoes do not look like the ones on the Tomato forum. BUT that said the ones we harvest are very tasty and probably better for us than the ones from the grocery that have no taste. Yes, I hate the stings of the fire ants and the itch from picking squash or okra but fresh squash is so GOOD! Yes, squash bugs are a pain in the a$$ and it takes time to squish them. But I know if I want to eat squash or cucumbers or melons, I must 'squish' since I don't like to use chemicals. Yes, it is work dragging the hose to water daily because we have had no rain in ages and are in the 100's. But so rewarding to see how far up the trellis the squash grew overnight or to see the little melons and how quickly they are growing.

My hubby has never stayed with me in the garden before but is slowly beginning to feel the peace that comes over you while you sit in the shade with a nice cold glass of iced tea and enjoy the hummingbird's ballet and the Giant Swallowtails fluttering over the Lantana and the chatter of the doves or the daddy Cardinal who brings his son into the garden to feed/drink. It is so exciting just sitting quietly and waiting to see who else will arrive to entertain me.

How many hours do I spend in my garden...not enough. If I were a doctor I would prescribe several hours a day in a garden to all my patients...it does the body good as well as the mind and soul!

I'm planning on making an area of our garden into 'My Secret Garden'. It will have walls with vines climbing up with windows that will tease with a small view of what is within...planning on a pond so I can enjoy the sound of water and fish and frogs. I enjoy sitting in the area while I try to get a visual of what it will look like and what kind of chair I want where I can sit and relax and welcome my friends to join me.

Peggy

At least 2 days out of 3 I'll spend between 2 and 4 hours out there puttering around.

If I were really efficient an hour every third day would work except when preparing for new plantings or cleaning out spent areas for replanting. But I have no especial desire to be efficient while gardening because I need the exercise and enjoy the time spent.

I would sit in my garden all day if I could. It is by far the most therapeutic thing in my life and I am in love with gardening. I work in it mostly on the weekends but I am out there several times a day just examining the plants, the fruits, the growth habits, etc. I dread when winter comes and I can no longer fulfill my passion to garden. I spend all winter thinking up what I will plant next season and looking at seeds, planning my layout, and researching so I can be even better the next year.

Most days I'll spend between 10 and 30 minutes watering container plants, checking for squash bugs and picking anything that needs to be harvested. 1-2x a week, I'll spend an hour or two with weeding, mulching, thorough watering, pruning, or whatever else needs done. This doesn't count the time spent back there in my chair zoning out and doing nothing. With bed preparation and so on this spring, I was spending probably 4 hours a day each weekend, though that included finishing up laying pavers in the paths. Tending seedlings indoors also takes up extra time in the early spring.

West texas peg - You took me away there for a minute. That's what I get out of my garden. I said to a friend of mine last year, "sometimes I don't know why I am so obsessed with this, then I said I find total grace when I am in the garden. To look around and see all of the life that is in the garden and to think that I took a seed and put it in the ground and this is the reward. How wonderful!!

As a psychologist, I spend most of the day listening to my clients' concerns; when I get home, the garden listens to mine. . .

It depends on the time of year & a lot more, but right now, probably 30-45 minutes each weekday & 2-3 hoursa on the weekend.

What a great thread! Love it, and agree completely!

About 3 hours actual gardening,
3 hours planning the garden,
3 hours researching,
And the rest of my waking hours thinking about it!

I think there is something wrong with me.....

That secret garden sounds really lovely. Early in the season I probably averaged several hours a day working on the garden, but these days, I don't spend much time. I think the plants are mostly self-sufficient now. I do wander around staring and touching, though :-)

Maybe 15 min a day, most days. Of course, that dosn't count sitting there and admiring it. That takes much more time.

gardener1908

We are in the 100's this week so I take breaks in the shade of our pecan trees and enjoy the sights/sounds of the garden...I think that is what God intended...don't think he thought it should be all work and no play. When it gets TOO HOT, I come in and cool off until the sun gets a little lower in the sky then I go out again until dark...much better than anything on TV. I really want a water feature for my garden to add the sound of water. I made a small pond out of a trash can someone put in the dumpster and recently found it has a resident...a Leopard Frog...also found a toad in it one day. I need to hook up the skippy filter we made from stuffing from an old pillow and a small trash can to take care of the mosquito larvae.

We have peaches that are just about ready to pick...these are very large, sweet and juicy...the kind you love to pull from the tree and bite into with the juice running down your chin like the lil Coyote tomatoes that I snack on while I work my tomatoes...sweet and juicy.

Sadly, I have no friends who are the least bit interested in hearing about my garden...one was rude enough to tell me I bored her...needless to say, I no longer waste my time sharing my Joy with Her! For her it is all about shopping until you drop then having garage sales to get rid of the 'old' stuff...she has no clue how old my clothes are--shorts, tshirts and flip flops are all that I need!

destroyerpuppy

Hmmm, quite a title...expect that will be what my granddog will be called in a very short time. After 14 years my son and daughter-in-law finally came up with a granddog for us; an adorable Basset Hound named Fred (Lemon...not the tri color). Last night my son called to tell me Fred growled for the first time...no barking yet--their 3 old maid cats are in for the shock of their lives! LOL

Bless your heart...I can only imagine the stories you hear and how difficult it is to clear your head at the end of the work day. So happy you have your garden to give you an escape.

Opps, my bunny alarm is going off...time to take our bunny her ice bottle...she loves to pop the cap off and shave the ice with her bottom teeth then sips the water when it begins to melt.

To ALL Have a Great Garden Day!
Peggy

for us not necessarily daily but we spend enough time for some hands on bug control, planting seedlings and harvesting crops, no weeding ever, too easy realy.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page

~off-topic~ :-) How are the peaches in the Sandhills, iam3killerbs? So far we've been getting some nice Sandhills peaches at the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market.

Depends on the time of year and whether I am adding new beds and/or planting out, but right about now my work is minimal. I'd say an hour a day at this time.

Peaches are just coming in at the farmers markets. There aren't many truly local orchards -- mostly in surrounding counties where the soil is a little better.

The one I had yesterday was splendid!

10-30 minutes a day, I go out a few times a day to pick japanase beetles. No squash bugs so far this year. Yesterday I spent 4 hours digging a pumpkin patch and mixing the dirt w/ compost and putting it all back and of course planting my pumpkin seeds w/ worm castings. Also planted radishes and sweet clover & alfalfa to prepare a section of the same bed for next year.

I've seen some great dragon flys this year. It's amazing how their wings seem to be almost nothing. Lots of frogs in the garden, seem to be keeping the crickets and grass hoppers from doing too much damage. I wish I had a few more birds visiting, or a bunny to take care of.

I also wish I had wider paths. They're less than 2 ft in between my raised beds, I have a very small garden and sacrificed path space for bed space. The cukes keep trying to get in the next bed, the sungold is taking up all of the path next to it, and I suspect many more of the toms will demand path space to grow in soon as well, I've been keeping them tied up as much as possible but they are getting to be monstrous.

Last year I planted in June and the toms this year I planted in mid April were bigger in one month than all of last years growth.

Turning the compost pile used to take me at least an hour w/ wire bins. The new plastic bins that I'm using have cut the time down to a 1/2 hour about once a week or less often if I don't feel like doing it. I'm not in any hurry to make compost.

just a quick minute to check things over always turns into hours for me. I too find no other place that brings me such peace. I am not much for the heat of the day so it usually begins about 6am in the garden until the sweat dripping in my eyes tells me it is time to find shade. The joy of having our first granddaughter go running to the gate saying "carrot gamma" is like no other. It simply amazes me how much physical labor I can handle when it comes to gardening chores but "gee honey I just don't think I am strong enough to help you with that" is quick on my tongue!

And the best part of all is walking out with an empty basket and bringing back in a full one without having to start my car and run to town!!!!

I love reading all of these responses and share many of the same feelings about my garden that you all do about yours.

I am a second year gardener who built a raised garden in my back yard last year. It caused a little consternation with my wife because we were in the middle of planning our wedding that was going to be in that very same back yard. I got the garden in and the wedding went off without a hitch, so all was good.

This year I tripled the size of my garden (from 6x12 to 18x12) and have tripled my pleasure. Last year I was more of a hands off gardener. I watered and weeded and picked, but that was about it. It ended up working surprisingly well. Now I can (and have) spent hours just looking at the plants and the bugs and trying to learn a little more about this art form.