(Photo: Pigweed centre, crabgrass left, and lamb’s quarters right) “Weed” is a gardener and home owner’s term for any plant not wanted in a pot, plot, lawn, or between the patio/walkway/driveway bricks. Some of my “weeds” are tomatoes and squash growing wherever I put our compost - like the flower [...]
(Photo: Garlic, Fronted by Calendula) The quick and easy version of garlic planting: Plant outdoors in October, or early November or indoors in 8 hours of sun or 16 hours of grow lights. 3 inches/ 7.62 cm deep and 6 inches/ 15.24 cm apart (5“apart is OK) In-ground (best for [...]
(Soil bacteria can cause Potato Scab. Acidic soil prevents this.) Planning for the next growing season should include stress and disease management strategies because they can significantly change the layout of your garden, your gardening activities, and your choices of plants. Strategies (in no particular order) include rotation, 2 season [...]
Herbs are easy to grow and have a lot of uses in a garden. They provide flavor enhancers (e.g. thyme in your scrambled eggs; rosemary or mint on your lamb), offer great fragrances alone or in a potpourri (e.g. lavender, Thai basil), some will hide the fragrance of plants you [...]
After many years of urban gardening in all four garden types, in-ground beds, raised beds, box beds, and portable containers (small yards/ patios/decks/ roofs/balconies), I find a box bed is well worth the cost and effort if you have the space to dedicate to a box bed garden. Box beds [...]
At one time or another, all gardens will experience some or all of the following, but not all at the same time, so we must be vigilant: poor soil, insects (harmful & helpful), critters (harmful & helpful), diseases (harmful & harmful!!!), under or over watering, nutrient deficiencies, nutrient excesses, poor [...]
(Photo: raised beds provide convenience and savings) Raised Beds Raised beds save time on heavy soil work, preserve soil organisms, and reduce erosion, fertilizing, watering, and weeding. Tilling the soil is eliminated! Tilling increases weeding by bringing weed seeds to the surface and tilling chops up weeds which may significantly [...]
Organic gardening is an attitude and a methodology applied to food and flower gardens, and even to your lawn. The word “Organic” in and of itself does not mean safe food or safe environment, — many “organic plants” like poison ivy can hurt and even kill a person — but [...]
(Photo: gate to a poison garden in Alnwick, UK) This gate to a poison garden in Alnwick, UK seems a bit exaggerated; however, some plants can actually kill, depending on one’s physical sensitivities. With biodiversity and interplanting to create healthy soil and healthy plants, it is a good idea to [...]
All gardens need fertilizing This includes in-ground plots, raised beds, box beds, cold frames, and large and small containers. Plants feed on the water-soluble nutrients dissolved in the water they drink, and Mycorrhizal fungus helps the roots to accomplish this. Bags of soil will have “myco-active” or some other phrase [...]