Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for August 13, 2023

Welcome to the Crankshaft Mystery Garden.

Is that Ed’s imaginary Inner Gardening Child?*

*No, of course it’s supposed to be his great-grandson Mitch, who was born in the Valentine movie theatre during a snowstorm back in February of 2020, a fact which should make him a rather advanced three-year-old (assuming one discounts the reality-warping powers of a certain time-travelling janitor, which makes him a rather puny 13-year-old).

Looks like little Mitch had another growth spurt.

“I am RICTUS HOMUNCULOUS! The child of HORROR who haunts your…seeds? Last time I manifested, I was yelling ‘OH, BOY!’ over comic books, now…I am who? WHO IS RICTUS HOMUNCULOUS?! WHY DOES TOM MAKE ME EXIST?”

Indigenous folk’s Three Sisters?

A vegetable medley (blend)

Variety is the spice of life……..hey, no weeds.

The Three Sisters method, with a few cousins and a wayward Uncle mixed in.

Is that Jfff’s imaginary Howdy-Dooty ego thing?

Does this mean no excess zucchini jokes this season?

Think of it as a positive. Atleast the garden IS growing. I have seen many that are a total failure.

At least the garden grew.

I mix it up in my planters. That way I can tell which the deer like and which they ignore.

hey, it looks like it works!

The kid admits it…somewhat!

…and it was the best garden ever, because plants thrive outside of monoculture.

It’s better for the soil this way. For those who don’t rotate their crops, you need to in order for the soil to retain the nutrients needed to grow healthy fruits and veggies

Can’t wait for tomorrow when it’s back to comic books.

a real gardener could tell the difference between a watermelon seed and a corn seed.

Stand and face the music, sonny. You shredded Ed’s classic baseball cards in the spokes of your bicycle.

Ed, Ed, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

Problem is I’m not aging as fast I should be aging

Haha! XD