The last of my seed orders arrived in the mail today and now I have all the seeds I need and want for my 2008 garden.It's hard to imagine that I could be sowing some of my seeds outside in just a few weeks when I see the garden still covered with a light snow. Winter is still very much in evidence here.But it is time to start sowing some seeds indoors.I’ve been sowing seeds indoors for many years and have had my share of disappointments as well as triumphs. I’ve learned some lessons the hard way … [Read more...] about Seed Sowing Secrets
vegetable gardening
Garden Bloggers’ Muse – A New Hoe Quote
Here's the muse: "If you pray for potatoes, have a hoe in your hand." AnonymousHere's a picture:That's one of my hoes, getting ready to work its magic between a few rows of corn.And here's the prose:Some gardeners think that vegetable gardens take a lot of work, that they require hours of hoeing between the rows.But you don't have to spend hours hoeing in your garden.Here are some suggestions on how to take the hoe out of your vegetable garden and increase your enjoyment of this kind of … [Read more...] about Garden Bloggers’ Muse – A New Hoe Quote
Tray O’ Tomatoes and The Secret Revealed
I did some research on the water content of vegetables. Did you know that this vegetable is 96% water?Do you know what it is?No, unfortunately, it is not a zucchini squash. It's a cucumber and I let it get far too big to be edible so it went straight to the compost bin.Next question...How many different varieties of tomoatoes are there on this Tray O' Tomatoes? There are at least eight varieties here. I've got everything from yellow and red cherry tomatoes to Beefsteak tomatoes, plus some … [Read more...] about Tray O’ Tomatoes and The Secret Revealed
Behold! Food!
When a gardener grows flowers, it is not expected that every flower be picked and put into a bouquet to be enjoyed outside the garden.Even if the gardener has a cutting garden, it would be unusual for every single flower to be cut and brought inside to enjoy.In fact, it is often seen as a good thing to actually let some flowers go to seed, which can provide food for the birds in the winter time. It is okay to let flowers fade and then deadhead them and throw the spent flowers in to the compost … [Read more...] about Behold! Food!
What Goes Around, Comes Around
Earlier this spring, I was at Lowes with my youngest sister and my nephew and I saw a packet of seeds for Atlantic Giant pumpkins. I've always wanted to try to grow a ginormous pumpkin, but I just don't have that kind of space in my garden. Those vines can grow everywhere and won't be contained to one raised bed.So, I grabbed the packet of five seeds and said to my sister, "Will you grow these in your garden?" "Hey", I said to my nephew-who-is-five, "how would you like to grow a pumpkin that is … [Read more...] about What Goes Around, Comes Around
Never Give Up!
Patience in the garden is one thing, persistence is quite another.Patience is about waiting, persistence is about not giving up.Last summer, I lamented that I could not get a decent harvest of green beans. I think I picked one bowlful before the pathetic little bunny eaten bean plants died off. And it didn't help that the beans were also attacked by Mexican bean beetles, which pretty much finished them off. Prior years were even worse for my beans.But I persisted, I did not give up. I adjusted. … [Read more...] about Never Give Up!
