Stanley Wallace quickly denies he has a green thumb when he is praised for the bounty his garden produces.

However, his wife Carolyn insists he does.

“He can get anything to grow,” she said. “Everything he plants gets bigger and produces more than the year before.”

And, she declared that no weed dared to show up in the rich soil he has prepared to showcase the current crop of vegetables.

These include tomatoes, beans, peas, okra, pepper, onions, cucumbers and more.

“We have already enjoyed fried green tomatoes,” he said. “They are getting bigger every day.”

He also anticipates sampling the green beans and cucumbers, which are almost ready to harvest.

The couple agreed that a garden saves money on groceries since they don’t have to purchase produce. They freeze what is not for home use or shared with family, friends and people that don’t have the health or a site to grow one.

They also believe that sharing garden chores helps keep them healthy and fit.

“I work with him but he has better luck,” Carolyn said. “The plants seem to show off when he is around.”

However, both admit that it requires a lot of work to successfully produce a crop of vegetables.

Stanley said he remembers helping his father and learned quickly that the weather can bring success or failure.

“The drought has been a problem, but we have had good rain this year,” he said.

He also takes care of the yard and flowers, which grow in unique containers such as a child’s wagon.

Meanwhile, Carolyn is planning menus that will include a variety of fresh vegetables when their children come for dinner.

“They are especially fond of my chocolate fudge cake,” she said.