The Gardener's Spot

What is Mulch?

2012-03-05T13:29:00.003-07:00

So what is mulch, and why do I need to use it in my garden?
Mulch is usually organic matter that you add to the top of your garden soil around your plants. Mulch helps to keep moisture from evaporating too quickly from the soil, and it also helps to control the temperature of the soil. Have you ever pushed some rock chips or leaves out of the way and felt the soil temperature of the soil in that spot? It is usually cooler and more moist than a spot that has nothing to cover it.
When you use organic matter as mulch it also breaks down over time, and adds nutrients to your garden soil. It is a great way to add to your soil every year. Top every year with a thick layer of organic matter when the temperatures warm up a bit and after you have all of your plants planted.
We add it not only to our vegetable garden every year, but also to our perennial flower beds.
Some additional benefit to adding mulch is that it makes the garden look nice and weed seeds have a harder time germinating though the mulch so it reduces weeds.

So what can you use as a mulch?

A few things that are used as mulch:

Leaves- if they are used, they are best chopped up. this can be done with a lawn mower and collected in the catch bag, or with a leaf chopper. For leaves to properly break down, they would need extra nitrogen applied to them. I use leaves in the fall to add organic content to my beds. I also have a barrel of leaves so that they can break down into leaf mold. the leaf mold is then an EXCELLENT mulch for the garden. But it takes a few years to break down enough to use. Check out my blog post about it for more information.
Grass clippings can be used as a mulch, but you need to be careful as they are usually sprayed with things that would be harmful to garden plants. It also tends to mat together, and actually impedes the moisture from getting through to the soil. It also needs a lot of nitrogen to break down. I personally do not use this option as it causes more problems than I want to deal with to make it worth it.
Straw can be used as mulch, but it also has some of the same problems as grass clippings and can contain weed seeds. I do not use that option either.
Wood chips can be a great option, but I would advise to use really small pieces. It is even better if the wood chips are mixed with some compost. This is what I usually use and add some each year.
Some people also use newspaper and cardboard as a mulch, but they tend to get picked up with the wind. So wetting them down helps to add weight to it. You would just have to cut holes in it to plant your plants.
Compost is the best option in my opinion as it is already broken down for the most part and has excellent properties. You can make your own or purchase some for your garden.

Another option is plastic sheeting and cutting holes for the plants to grow through, or small pieces of rubber like cut up tires. I personally do not like this option because it doesn't do anything for the soil other than keep the moisture, raises the temperature of the soil and keeps weeds at bay. This is what many big farms use to grow massive amounts of vegetables, but then it creates plastic waste that can be harmful to our environment.

Choose wisely. In the long run, adding an organic mulch to your garden dose wonders for the soil and atmosphere of your garden. So, Happy Gardening!

Creating Leaf Mold

2012-03-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

What is leaf mold? Leaf mold is broken down leaves that turn into great organic matter. It is an excellent, and free way to add organic matter to your garden soil. So how do you make leaf mold?
First of all the leaves need to be raked up, this can be done in the fall or if they didn't get blown away or raked up from fall, you can still rake them up this spring after the snow melts.
You will need some chicken wire to create a barrel. Just unroll a bit of chicken wire, then tie it together in a barrel. You do not need a bottom to it as long as you do not plan to move it around a lot.

Then simply pick up the raked leaves and pack them into the barrel adding soil every so often. Pack the leaves in tightly and add as many leaves as will fit.

Now move the barrel of leaves to a spot in the yard that you will not mind having it sit for a few years.
Lastly all you have to do is wait. it will take a few years for the leaves to break down enough to use. You can speed up the process by adding nitrogen if you would like, or let it take it's natural course. You will know that it is ready when it looks like it turned back into dirt. It can have some pieces in it still as they will break down quickly when added to your garden.

Simply add the leaf mold to your garden soil, or add on top of the soil around the plants as a mulch. Happy Gardening!

Hot Caps Uncovered

2012-03-01T09:25:00.002-07:00

There are several ways to protect your plants from bad weather. We have talked about row cover and cold frames. There are some more ways to protect your plants today we are going to talk about hot caps.
There are a few different kinds of hot caps. You can buy small plastic ones that are relatively thin and provide minimal protection. You would use it to pop it over the top of a tender plant when the temperature drops below the ideal for that plant. Or keep it on until the plant gets to big for it, or the temperatures reach a better range.
There is a hot cap that we use a lot especially to start tomatoes early. They are called Wall-o-Water. They have little tubes that you fill with water. The sun heats up the water during the day, and at night the water releases the heat to the plant when temperatures drop. The top of the Wall-o-Water is open, and can be covered with newspaper on nights that there will be a heavy frost or snow.

A free option for a hot cap is an old milk jug. Cut the bottom out of the milk jug and place over the top of the plant. On hot, sunny days, remove the cap of the milk jug to release some of the heat from the hot cap.
Wall-o-water and hot caps are great options for plants that are spread apart and would be more economical to cover individually. Hot caps are a great tool to use when growing your home garden. They key is to choose the hot cap that is right for the job and your garden. Happy Gardening!

How to Care for Seedlings

2012-02-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

How you care for your seedlings can mean the future for your garden. So what do you do when they pop through the soil and show their faces? The key is to keep them growing and growing fast.
The first obstacle is to maintain a steady moisture for your seedlings. Letting the tender roots dry out can stunt their growth and even kill them. Just beware to not to drown them. The roots also need oxygen and if the roots sit in water it is hard for them to breathe. So to check the soil, stick your finger down in the soil just below the surface, and if it is still moist, then wait to water, if not, water it.
Watering from the bottom is a great way to encourage root growth. Pull out a few of the plants and add the water then replace the plants. The soil will pull up the water as it needs it. Watering this way will also help to stop the top of the soil from growing mold.
A few weeks after the seeds come through the soil, you should fertilize them with a watered down even fertilizer. Choose organic if you plan on growing fully organic vegetables. Fertilize every few weeks until it is time to plant outdoors to keep them growing quickly.
Lastly, you should transplant them into a bigger pot when the roots fill up their pot, but don't start wrapping around the out side. If they start to do that, their growth might be set back permanently. So transplant as soon as they need, it.
Move the lights up often, and keep them about 2 inches above the plants so that they get enough lights.
One last thing that might help is to gently stroke the plants daily to help them develop strength and keep transplant shock at bay.

Here is a picture of our tomatoes growing this year. Happy Gardening!

Using Row Cover

2012-02-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

What is row cover, and how do I use it?

Row cover is a fabric that is water permeable, breathableand will let light through. But one of the main functions of row cover is that ithelps the soil to retain the heat gathered from the sun during the day. It canraise the temperature of the soil 10 degrees F. That will allow seeds togerminate or protect tender plants from frost that would normally not survive the cold temperatures. Cover loosely and anchor withrocks or other heavy items to keep it from blowing away.

Using row cover is very easy and will make a huge differencein your gardens outcome. A few of the things I have used row cover for is:

· Covering strawberry patch to help the plantskeep the fragile flowers. If the flowers abort on the strawberries, that wouldmean no strawberries. We used it and had a wonderful harvest of strawberrieslast year! This was one of the keys to the patches success.

· Use it to start lettuce and spinach seedsearlier than normally possible. Plant the seeds, and then cover. You will needto check the soil moisture every so often because although it lets waterthrough, it is not getting as much water as being uncovered. As the seedlingssprout and grow, you will need to raise and support the row cover so that anymoisture that gets on the top will not weigh the cover down and smother thefragile new seedlings.

· Cover newly planted squash plants. Covering notonly allows the soil to be warmed and enhances the growth, but helps to keepbugs that like to eat tender squash plants out. You will need to remove thecover once the plants start to flower or if the temperature gets above 80degrees F.

· It can be used to cover almost anything thatwould benefit from warmer temperatures or needs a little bit of protection fromthe cold weather.

Row cover will last quite a few years with proper care, butis a thin material and will rip and wear out from use and exposure to theelements.

To me, row cover is one of the best things that I havediscovered to use in my garden. Being so easy to use, and the great benefitsfrom it, I highly recommend you try it out this spring. Happy Gardening!

Cold Frame

2012-02-23T00:15:00.002-07:00

What is a cold frame? A cold frame is a structure you canbuild in your garden to extend the growing season in the cold weather. It isusually built from wood or blocks. It should slope downward slightly so thatwater can drain off, and so that the sun can have the most exposure. Face theframe to the south so that the winter sun can have the greatest effect. Placeglass or plastic on top to act as a greenhouse effect and gather the heat fromthe sun during the day.

What can you grow in a cold frame? There are many vegetablesyou can grow in a cold frame, including lettuce and salad mixes that are coldhardy and some root crops. The cold frame could also be used to harden offseedlings that were started indoors and need to be planted outdoors. By using acold frame to harden them off, you will prevent possible damage and setbacksfrom stress of the new harsh environment to the seedlings. Using a cold framemight make it possible for you to grow and harvest hardy greens all winterlong, depending on how harsh winter gets in the area you live.

There are many possibilities to using a cold frame, and theywill last many years. To me building a cold frame to have a longer growingseason is worth it to me. Here is a website with some information on how tobuild a cold frame.

Happy Gardening!

How to warm soil in the garden

2012-02-22T10:09:00.002-07:00

Are you as excited to get your garden going as I am? The soil temperature is still a little bit cold here in Utah, but it is not impossible to start growing a garden now or in the near future. The soil temperature is one of the things you need to have warm enough for the plants to grow, and seeds to germinate. Here are a few ideas for you.

Use row cover. Row cover is a fabric that is breathable and lets water drain through, and also lets the sunlight through. The best thing is that it holds in the warmth from the sun and raises the temperature about 10 degrees F.
Wall-of-water is another way to plant tender plants early. We use them every year for tomatoes and plant them about a month and a half earlier than they would be able to be planted. It uses a green house effect and stores the warmth of the sun in the water tubes surrounding the plants, then releases it at night when the temperatures drop.
plastic cover can be placed over the soil a few weeks before you plan to plant. This is not breathable or water penetrable, but the sun can penetrate, and the plastic holds on to the warmth of the sun and raises the soil temperature about 10 degrees F. But you will just have to remove it, or cut holes to plant your plants in the soil. Just remember when using it, that it is not water penetrable, so you have to make sure and water the plants by hand, or set up an automatic watering system. After the temperatures warm up in the summer, you will need to take off this plastic or your plants might get too hot, and dry out quickly.
You can use a combination of the plastic cover and the wall of water. Warm up the soil first, cut a hole and plant your plants, then place a wall of water around the plant to help protect from frost and cold weather. This is a good way to start squash early.
Cold frames are another great way to grow cold weather plants even in the cold winter months. Here is a great article on cold frames.

Happy Gardening!

How to grow your own vegetables from seed

2012-02-20T14:47:00.002-07:00

It is very rewarding and fun to plant your own vegetablesfrom seed. Here are some steps to follow to be successful at growing your own vegetablesfrom seed.

1. First is to get some potting soil, choose organicif you plan on growing fully organic vegetables. I pour a good amount into amop bucket and wet it down with water. You want it wet enough that when yougrab a handful it sticks together, but not dripping. Mix well with the water. Thisstep is especially important if the potting soil you buy is dry. It will have ahard time absorbing the moisture if you skip this step.

2. Next fill the containers you plan on using forthe seeds. It is good to start out with fairly small containers so that themoisture will reach the seeds easily, but for large seeds like for squash youcan start out with a larger container. Also choose containers that drain waterout of the bottom so that the seedlings do not drown if watered too much. Asthe seedling grows, you can transplant them to lager containers. Press down thesoil into the container so that there are no air pockets making sure not topack the potting soil in too tightly as the seedling needs oxygen.

3. Then I take an old pencil or pen and make acouple of holes to drop in the seeds then gently cover with soil. Watch theseed packets to see how deep the seeds need to be, but at least twice thelength of the seed is usually the general rule for seeds.

4. Place the containers in a tray, and place aplastic cover over the top. This is only used until the seeds germinate. Itraises the temperature of the soil and helps it to retain the moisture for theseeds.

5. Be sure to water them before you put them in thelight garden. Then place them under lights in a light garden with the lightsjust above the plastic.

6. Keep the lights on for 16 hours a day. We use atimer so that we do not have to keep track turning on and off the lights forthe light garden.

7. Keep them moist, but do not over water as thiswill cause the seedling to rot. Stick your finger in the soil and if it ismoist, it is fine, if it is not then water from the bottom to stimulate root growthand keep from allowing mold to grow on the surface of the soil.

8. As soon as the seedlings pop up, take off theplastic cover and keep a close eye on them, raising the lights to 2 inchesabove the seedlings all the time. Transplant into bigger pots when the soilstarts to dry out every day.

Check out our website for more information and to order seeds and supplies.

Happy Gardening!

Why Grow From Seed?

2012-02-15T10:56:00.002-07:00

What are the benefits of growing your own vegetables from seed verses buying them as a transplant? There are many reasons, but here are a few to help you decide.
Is one of the reasons that you are growing your garden to save money? Then think about how much a packet of seeds cost and how much a transplant costs. It usually is about the same but with a seed packet you will get many plants, and only one from a transplant.
Another reason might be that you want to grow your plant fully organic, and when you grow a plant you have no control over the nutritional input in the plant when you purchase the plant already grown.
There are many fun varieties of vegetables including some heirloom vegetables that you can harvest your own seeds from. You can have some fun variety if you purchase seeds that you wont be able to find at a nursery.

There are some vegetables that are so easy to grow from seed that it is a waste of money to get them as transplants. Also corn, sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, carrots and other root veggies, grow from seed sown directly in the garden much better than growing them from transplants.
Growing a garden is an amazing experience, just add the satisfaction of growing from seed, it makes it even a better experience that you will only know by growing for yourself.
True that growing from seed will have a small learning curve, but if you do your homework, after a few years you will be a pro.
Happy Gardening!

More About Lettuce

2012-02-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

It’s believed that the ancient Egyptians were the first tocultivate lettuce. Along with the Greeks and Romans, the Egyptians would uselettuce as a remedy for stomachache and as a sleep-inducing agent. The Romansintroduced it to England, and Christopher Columbus introduced it to the newworld.

Yesterday, we talked about how to plant, today we talk about how to harvest the lettuce you planted:

Known as the foundation of a good salad, lettuce has become agarden favorite. Lettuce, grown in the garden, is richer in taste andnutrients. Harvest lettuce leaves andheads in the morning, before the sun begins to warm the plant. Lettuce is at its peak of flavor in themorning, and will retain more sugars if picked in the morning. It will store for about a week in therefrigerator, but is best eaten the same day it is picked.

Lettuce should reach harvestable age in 4 to 6 weeks. Harvestthe outer leaves with scissors or a sharp knife about 1” (2.5 cm) above thesoil. Continue harvesting leaves until they become bitter, and then pull the plant. Not to worry. If plants were planted insuccession, there will be new plants ready to harvest. Head lettuce is ready toharvest if the head is tight and about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) indiameter.

For more complete information check out our vegetable encyclopedia on The Gardeners Spot website.

Planting Lettuce

2012-02-09T08:56:00.002-07:00

Lettuce is one of my favorite veggies to plant in my garden. You can harvest them early, and a homegrown salad just hits the spot. We have had an unseasonably warm winter, so I decided that I am going to go ahead and plant my lettuce now and cover with the row cover. Here is some instructions on how to plant lettuce. Happy Gardening!

There are two different types of lettuces that can be grownin the garden. Varieties produce better leaf lettuces, and thosethat produce better heads(All varieties, if left to grow, will eventually produce a head). Both can be sown indoors 4 weeks beforetransplanting in mid-spring, or directly sown outdoors when soil is ready towork. Leaf lettuces that will be harvestedcontinuously are best sown directly outdoors and thinned to ½ inch (1.25 cm)apart in long rows. Head lettuce shouldbe planted in diamond patterns to maximize space, giving between 8 to12 inches(20 to 30 cm) between plants.

Lettuce is a cool, weather plant and can be planted early inthe garden. It can tolerate light frost,but should be protected with row cover when temperatures dip below 30 degrees F (-1 degree C). Plant seeds every 2 weeks for a constantsupply of young lettuce leaves or continuous harvest of heads.

Lettuce should be grown quickly to ensure the leaves aresweet and don’t grow bitter. Prepare the soil in the fall by turning in 1 inch(2.5 cm) of good compost. Fertilizeevery few weeks after transplanting with a good, nitrogen rich fertilizer.

Lettuce should be watered lightly in early spring, until warmtemperatures dry the soil. Keep soilmoist from that point, but not wet. Lettucehas shallow roots, so cover lightly with mulch 2 inches (5 cm) deep. It is also best to plant with othervegetables that will offer some shade in the hot, summer months.

Garden Design Contest!

2012-02-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

We are going to have a contest to see who can come up with the best garden design. If you win, you will win a full year subscription to the online garden planner!

To participate, you will need to sign up for a free account at The Gardener's Spot Garden Planner. Choose the setting to allow others to see your plan in the account page, and then when you are finished designing it, there is a tab at the top to publish it. You can publish it to Facebook on The Gardener's Spot Facebook page. Be sure to "like" us while you are there, and tell all your friends about it too! Then those who receive the most votes (likes) by February 29th will win the free membership. Here is a short video to help you get started. Good luck, and start planning!

Building a Light Garden

2012-02-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

When growing your Vegetables from seed, you will need toprovide a place for them where they will receive enough light and water togrow. I have placed mine in a south facing sunny window, and they grew ok, butthey seemed to bend over towards the light, and they also were pretty weak. Sothat is an option if you don’t have any other options.

I recommend building a light garden. When we first startedgrowing from seed, we built a light garden frame out of pvc pipe, and hung thelights from the top bars. That worked well, and we used it for many years. Butthen it started to fall apart, and there was also the issue of where to put itwhen it was not being used. It took quite a bit of space and we did not want todisassemble and reassemble it every year. So we decided to buy a shelf that was4 feet long by 2 feet wide. Then we measured out were to put hooks, and screwedin the hooks and hung the lights. It is fairly easy to take apart if needed,but it can also be left and used as shelves for the rest of the year. I particularlylike this because we can have 2 levels of light garden or more if we wanted,and it also gives us space to store the seed growing stuff above it. It is alittle bit of an investment, or if you already have a shelf, then it is evenbetter. It does not have to be the same kind of shelf; you could find hooksthat would work for hanging the lights for the metal shelves, and even theplastic ones. It should be 4 feet by 2 feet to work the best.

As for the lights, regular florescent lights work well, butwe found you need the kind that has wings on the side to direct the light down.We tried the cheaper kind that doesn’t have the side wings, and they do notwork very well, the plants really suffered. We also use a timer for the lightsand they should be on about 16 hours a day to give the seedlings enough light,and have them about 2 inches above the plants and slowly move the lights up asthe seedlings grow.

Check the moisture of the soil every day, they will need tobe watered often, and it will greatly stunt the growth if they dry out toomuch. Watch for when they need water every single day, which would be thesignal that the plants need to be transplanted into a bigger pot. Keep them inthe right size of pot to avoid them getting root bound and possibly stuntingthe growth.

It is very rewarding to watch your plants grow from seed,and once you do it a few times, it becomes second nature. Happy gardening!

Planning your garden

2012-02-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

One of the most important steps in planting a garden is to plan. If you do not plan your garden, you might forget to plant things at the correct time or in the wrong place. The first step is deciding what you want to plant, then map it out. We like to use an online tool called The Gardener's Spot Vegetable Garden Planner. All you need to know is what you want to plant, and the size of garden you have. Then it is easy to draw out the plan in the garden planner, and then simply add the vegetables. What I love so much about it is the reminders that are sent by email telling you when it is time to start the plant from seed or outdoors. Then the next year when you are planning it out again, it will help you know how to rotate successfully. It is all based on the frost dates from your area, and is thus personalized for your own garden. You can try it free for 30 days with no obligation to pay for the yearly subscription which is only $25. It is such a great tool, and I highly recommend it. So now the only question is, what are you going to plant this year?

Peas

2012-02-01T08:52:00.003-07:00

Here is an overview of Peas one of my favorite vegetables to grow in my garden.

Peas are one of the oldestcultivated vegetables in recorded history. We are not entirely sure where theyoriginated. Early on, peas were primarily dried before for using in soups andstews. During the dark ages they proved to be a staple for peasants who couldbuy dried, field peas cheaply. That iswhere the little rhyme came from:

Pease Porridge hot, PeasePorridge cold

Pease porridge in thepot nine days old

As the pea spread across the world,new varieties developed like the snow pea and the standard garden pea. Peas area cooler weather plant and do best in the spring, but can also have anotherharvest in the fall when the weather starts to cool down.

Very few things bring more joy andsatisfaction than eating fresh-out-of-the-garden peas. They are easy to grow, add a vertical elementto the garden and are high in vitamin’s A, B, and C. It is a must for any home garden.

Harvesting and Preserving Tomatoes

2012-01-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

Last week we had an article about how to plant and grow the tomatoes, today is how to harvest and store the tomatoes. Tomorrow I will post my salsa recipe. If anyone has some excellent salsa recipes, please feel free to share them in the comments tomorrow.

Pick tomatoes when they are a deepred. There is no need to pick a homegrowntomato early, so let them ripen on the vine; however, before pulling the plantat the end of the season, pick all ripe, partially ripe, and large greentomatoes. Place them one layer deep in abox and lay a few pieces of newspaper on top or in a paper bag folded at thetop. Check them frequently and throw outany that show signs of spoiling.

Tomatoes can be preserved by freezingor bottling, but bottling produces a better end product.

To freeze, wash and core thetomatoes. Then, place them on a cookiesheet in the freezer until they are frozen and pack in bags. You can also blanch and peel the tomatoesbefore freezing. They can be slightlythawed to put in salads, but don’t wait too long or they turn mushy.

To dry tomatoes, wash, core them andcut to ¼ inch (7 mm) thick, and then dry in dehydrator at 120 degrees F (50degrees C) for 8 to 10 hours or until crispy. You can also use a conventional oven at 120degrees F (50 degrees C) turning the slices a few times. To sundry the tomatoes, dry in the sun for 1to 2 days until crispy, making sure you bring them in at night or if it isgoing to rain. Put in airtightcontainers.

*To make the Italian sun-driedtomatoes, you can pour boiling water over dried pieces to partly hydrate them.Then, put in clean jars and fill with extra-virgin olive oil. Use within a fewmonths.

Prepare tomatoes for bottling by runningthe bottles in the dishwasher on a warm setting, and leave them going until theyare ready to use. Also, place some wateron the stove on the low setting to warm the lids.

Blanch tomatoes for 30-60 seconds to loosen skins. Then, transferthem quickly into a bowl of ice water to cool.

1. Peeltomatoes and you can then either cut in half, or put in the bottles whole.

2. Fill thebottles until ½ inch head space and then pour in 1 tablespoon for pints and 2tablespoons for quarts of lemon juice to help preserve. Then, ladle in hotwater until ½ inch head space, and use a plastic or wood spoon along the insideof the bottle to press out any air bubbles.

3. Wash theoutside of jars, including the rim. Get lids ready; place the lid on and screwon the ring, snugly, but not overly tight.

4. Process ina boiling water canner for pints 35 minutes and quarts 40 minutes.

5. After theyare cool, check each jar lid to see if it has a proper seal by pressing on thecenter for any give. You can also gently pull up on the lid to double check.

Kids Garden

2012-01-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

This article is shared with us by my friend Cheryl. She shows how much fun kids have growing a vegetable garden. Thanks for sharing Cheryl!

I have four children, ranging from 3 to 10 years old, and allof them enjoy dirt and water---a lot. According to them, children + water + dirt= heaven. Two years ago, I decided that it was time toput their love to good use. We builteach of them a 4' X 8' garden box in our back yard, and filled eachbox with 1 part local dirt and 1 part compost. At the beginning of the growing season, we ask the children what they wantto grow. From that point on, they arethe farmers of their own plot of land. They get to prepare the soil, sew their own seeds, weed, water and watchthem grow.

I love watching their excitement and pride as they discoverthe first few sprouts poking up through the dirt. At this point, I sit with each child on theedge of their garden boxes, and guide their muddy little hands to the weedsaround their sprouts. They learn to payattention to the subtle difference between weeds and “fruitful” plants. In fact, this simple lesson has been thecatalyst for many deep conversations about life. Of course, they aren't always excited aboutthe weekly chore of picking weeds, but the garden boxes are small enough thatit isn't an overwhelming task. They arelearning through personal experience that if they neglect the hard work, thegood things won't grow.

This year my oldest daughter, Hannah, grew peas in the springand then decided that she wanted to plant a trumpet vine to attracthummingbirds when the weather got warmer, she is our bird lover. She startedthe vine a little late in the season and I am not sure if we will see it againnext season, but that's the beauty of having a personal garden. She will have the opportunity to experimentand learn through trial and error.

Johnny, my eight year old, decided that he wanted to grow Zinnias because hefelt like our yard needed some color. I loved it when he would bring flowers into me, even though he only brought them in because he knew that I would pay him10 cents a flower. It always seemed so sweet, and they looked beautiful on ourmantel. I told him that someday, maybe he can grow a flower garden and give hiswife fresh cut flowers in the summer. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Maddie, 5 years old, grew spinach in the spring and watermelon in the summer,they were delicious. She even gave a watermelon to her little neighbor friend.

Lucy, 3 years old, decided that she wanted to grow a pumpkin after her peaswere finished. Again, it was a little late when we got the seeds in the groundfor pumpkins, but she faithfully watered it and patiently sat on the edge ofher box and waited for it to grow. It was still a little green when Halloweencame around, but she was as proud as she could be when we helped her carve herpumpkin into an awesome looking Jack-o-lantern.

As a mom, I sometimes get caught up in the everyday tasksof...well...everyday, and forget to notice the amazing world around me. Seeing the wonder in my children's eyes asthey grow their own gardens, reminds me of the magic this world holds.

2012-01-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a great "how to" video on how to stake and grow tomatoes in cages. Happy Gardeining!

Health benefits of the Tomato

2012-01-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard that the tomato is good for you, but why? You might be surprised to know that eating a processed or heated tomato is better for you than a fresh tomato. The bright red and orange colors of the tomato are tell-tell sign of Lycopene. Lycopene is reported to help prevent many kinds of cancer including: Prostate, cervical, skin, breast, and lung. It also helps prevent macular degeneration of the eyes and other degenerative diseases. With those benefits and the vitamin C content, they offer a great immune benefit.
The reason that processed tomatoes are healthier than fresh is because the Lycopene is stored in the cell walls of the tomato and are released for easier absorption when the tomato is heated. It is also of benefit of vitamin C to help boost your immune.
When eating tomatoes be sure to them with some fat, because lycopene is fat-soluble. Olive oil is always a great choice, or your favorite cheese.
A fun side note: Historically the tomato was thought to be poisonous because it is part of the nightshade family whose plants are poisonous. But did you know that the stems and leaves of the tomato are in fact poisonous? Only about 200 years ago was the stigma of the tomato being poisonous was changed. I am awfully glad it was I don’t know if I could live without the tomato.

How to Plant Tomatoes

2012-01-26T10:30:00.003-07:00

Yesterday we talked about where tomatoes come from and today is how to plant them to get the most from your tomato patch:

Tomatoes like loose, fertilesoil. Prepare the garden in the fall byturning 1 inch (2.5 cm) of good compost and dry leaves into the top 4 inches(10 cm) of soil. For most growingregions, it is best to start the tomato early inside, or from purchasedtransplants. Sow indoors 4 weeks beforethe last frost and transplant after danger of frost.

Start seeds indoors by pressingmoist, potting soil into small planting cells or pots. Using a pencil, drill a small hole in thesoil and sow 3 seeds. Lightly cover theseeds and place in a window that receives full sun or under growinglights. Seeds will germinate in 1 to 2 weeks. As they grow they need to be transplantedinto larger, deeper pots. Transplantbefore the plant begins to produce flowers.

Tomatoes are a long season crop,most maturing after 80 days. In coolerclimates tomatoes can be transplanted much earlier, before the last frost date. This takes additional work but will be wellworth the effort. Start seeds indoors 8weeks before the last frost and transplant 3 weeks before last frost date. One week before transplanting, place a rowcover or Wall-O-Water where the plant will be planted to warm the soil. After planting, water the plant every otherday and fertilize with a nitrogen rich, organic fertilizer to stimulategrowth. If using a Wall-O-Water, be sureto cover the top on frosty nights by stuffing some newspaper inside.

Plant tomato seedlings 18 to 24inches (45 to 50 cm) apart in rows spaced 36 inches (90 cm) for optimalproduction. When planting, bury theplant up to the first set of true leaves, or even deeper, depending on the sizeof the plant. Place either a cage aroundthem after removing the row cover, or have posts ready for tying them up. This will help keep vines and tomatoes offthe ground, which is very important to control disease and bugs.

Tomatoes need a lot of water whenthey are growing and forming fruits. Inthe hot summer months when green tomatoes are on the vine, it is sometimesnecessary to water once in the morning and once at night. If tomatoes begin to split, they may be toowet. On very hot days, tomato leaves tendto curl; this is normal unless there are brown spots on the leaves.

Tomatoes need very littlefertilizer if planted in rich soils. Watch for slow growth, as this may indicate the need for nitrogen. If you do fertilize, do so lightly, as it maystimulate the plant to grow instead of producing fruits. Also, watch the fruits for brown spots on theblossom end, called blossom end rot. This is typically a sign of calcium deficiency or low watering.

After tomatoes begin to blossom itis good to “stimulate” your plants. Dothis by running your hands through the leaves and gently shaking thevines. Tomatoes are wind pollinated, anddoing this encourages new flower production and fertilization.

The Tomato

2012-01-25T13:02:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite vegetables to grow is the Tomato. They are easy to grow, and the rewards are almost endless. Here is just a little bit of information about tomatoes. For the how to's of growing them, check out our website: www.thegardenerspot.com

The tomato is botanically a fruit,but is considered a vegetable for culinary purposes. Tomatoes are native to South America, but itis not known when it was first domesticated. It was brought over to Europe during thecolonization of the Americas and was first used in Spain and spread from there. In Italy it was initially used as atable decoration before being used in food. It was so easily grown in the Mediterraneanclimate that it was quickly adapted into their cuisines.

It took much longer for the Britishand their American colonies to accept it as food. They initially thought of it as poisonous. Althoughit is a perennial plant in warm climates, it is grown as an annual in thecooler climates.

It is now one of the most commonlygrown vegetables in home gardeners. Thereasons for this are obvious, the taste is so amazing when picked right off thevine, they are fairly easy to grow, and they are heavy producers. The tomato is a good choice to include inyour garden.

Seeds

2012-01-23T10:43:00.002-07:00

If you are planning on growing some or all or your vegetables from seed this year, here is a coupon code that you can use to save you a little bit of money exclusive offer from Burpee, only through The Gardener's Spot. Click this link and place your order. At check out use the Promo Code "JDC12". Be sure to use the link you see here. Hurry offer ends on January 31, 2012!
Shopgardening at Burpee.com and get $10 off orders over $50 with code JDC12, thru1/31

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Web site launch

2012-01-18T09:54:00.002-07:00

We have officially launched our new gardening website. We are very excited about it, and hope that you find it very useful. Please check it out and let us know what you think. Within the next few weeks we will have a few contests that we will give away a few things, so keep checking back to know the details. Add us to your favorites, and check us out on facebook too.
www.thegardenerspot.com www.facebook.com/thegardenerspot

Preparing your soil in the spring

2012-01-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Soil is literally the foundation of your garden. A greatfoundation to your garden will bring a great harvest. The key to good gardensoil is deep, loose, fertile and well-draining soil.

How do you obtain this, you ask? Well, no matter the kind ofsoil, clay, sand the very best thing you can do for your soil is to add lotsand lots of organic matter every year. Organic matter is anything that is no longer alive( accept meet and dog and cat feces carry too much disease). So things like leaves in the falland small wood shavings and anything that was green at one time counts asorganic matter. That includes steer manure and composted plants.

If you are starting a new bed for your garden in the spring,then make sure you add lots of organic matter, and every year thereafter. Youcan buy bags of steer manure and peat moss to mix into the soil if you do not want to make your own compost. Things like wood chips are considered organic matter, but they take such a long time to break down that they are not the best option to add to your garden soil. After the plants are planted in the early summer, we add a nice compost as a dressing on top of the soil and around the plants to help keep moisture in the soil and cool the roots of the vegetables. We do not gather this up, but rather leave it and add more next year. This would count as adding organic matter. They we add chopped up leaves with the lawn mower in the fall with a little nitrogen fertilizer to break it down. Free excellent organic matter- it cant get better than that.

Here is a picture of leaf mold which is leaves just broken down from a few years ago. This makes an excellent amendment to the soil.

Choosing a location for your garden

2012-01-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

Almost all vegetables and food need full sun which means 8hours of sun light a day. There are some vegetables that do not produce a fruitthat can tolerate some shade such as lettuce and spinach and some herbs. If toomuch shade is on your garden, it will significantly reduce your harvest. Sowhen looking in your yard for the right spot, it might not be the easiest spotto use, but choosing the sunniest location will be the best. Morning sun is agreat way for plants to start their day, so if the option is afternoon shade ormorning shade, choose afternoon shade.

You will also need to take into consideration watering whenchoosing your location. The best option would be to run a sprinkler lineunderground to your garden so that you can install a drip irrigation system toautomatically water your garden for you. But if you do not have that option,make sure that your hose will reach your garden before planting. They will mostlikely need additional watering after being planted.

Soil is also an issue, but if it is not conducive to growingvegetables, no fear. Simply build raised beds with or without a boardersurrounding it, and then you can add as much extra soil and amendments neededto create a nice loamy soil for your plants.

It is a nice option to have easy access to your garden sothat you can run out to the garden and harvest a few things for lunch ordinner, but alas that is just a luxury that not everyone can have.

Conclusion: just remember sun and water as the most important forlocation of your garden.

Why grow a home garden?

2012-01-10T15:17:00.002-07:00

There are countless reasons whypeople grow their own food, and here are just a few. There are also a fewreasons why someone might not plant a garden, such as: cost and the amount ofwork the garden takes. I will show you in this article, that the benefits ofgrowing a garden far outweigh the costs. Even with limited space you can growsome vegetables in containers if needed.

Taste

Once you have harvested and tasted food from your owngarden, this question would be obsolete. Every single vegetable and fruit thatI have grown, tastes so much better than any food from the grocery store. Theproduce grown in the store is bred to harvest when green and ripen while intransport to the grocery store. Letting your produce ripen on the plant or in theground will give you that many more vitamins and amount of taste and texturethat the store produce lacks. Proof in point, most everyone has tasted a homegrown tomato, and a store bought tomato, so there is no need to describe theincredible difference.

Chemical free

There has been a lot of controversy and focus in the pastfew years on pesticides that are used on our food by commercial growers. Theyuse it for good reason, they don’t want to send half eaten vegetables and fruitto the shelves by bugs, or deformed by disease. So they spray them withchemicals that prevent the bugs from ruining their harvest. However, thosechemicals enter the food and we then ingest that poison. Washing before eatingis an important step for even a home grown garden, but washing only takes offwhat is on the outside, and many of those chemicals get inside the fruit orvegetable and cannot be taken out. One option would be to buy only organicallygrown food, and that is a great option. But growing your own food gives you thefreedom to have chemical free food for a good price.

Good for your health

It is obvious that vegetables and fruit are good for yourhealth, but we are talking about the act of gardening being good for you. Toomuch sun exposure can be harmful, but a certain amount is actually beneficialto help you create and break down certain vitamins, and it also helps elevateyour mood. But let’s be honest, gardening is hard work. Using a shovel andgarden fork can be some good exercise. Go out in the morning before the heat ofthe day and doing 20 minutes of weeding and or watering of your garden would doyou some good. For many, getting some fresh air and the smell of the dirt andgarden plants is a great stress reliever. I am sure getting your blood pumpinghelps with stress too. By making a decision to have a garden, is also a greatway to incorporate a daily exercise routine.

Beautifying your yard

Creating a space for fruit and vegetables to grow can be agreat way to make your yard beautiful. Some people have the notion that vegetablesare only good for one thing, and that is eating. Vegetable plants can be agreat way to add some annuals to your flower beds and pots. Most of themproduce some nice flowers themselves, and the fruits they produce add amultitude of color. To me, my garden is the most beautiful, peaceful place inmy yard. We have raised beds and they are very easy to keep weeded with just afew minutes every day as I walk through, I just pull any little weed seedlingsthat I see, and that takes care of that. The sound of the wind gently blowingthe corn stalks and the smell of the tomato plants adds to the beauty of theseen.

Reduces energy use

We all know that we use too much energy, and are using upthe oil reserves. It is also common to hear about global warming almost daily.Well, what can you personally do about it? Not much right? Well, there arethings we can do, and every little thing we do helps to do our part. My idea isplanting a garden. Think about the plastic that we use to put the vegetables into carry home, and that some of them are wrapped in. think about the fuel thatwas used to transport those vegetables to the store for you to buy, especiallythe ones that cannot or are not grown locally. Think of the tractors andequipment that is used to produce and harvest those vegetables. All of thosethings use fuel and oil. We don’t need any of that when we grow our own food.Of course we cannot all have a big enough garden, nor would we want the job ofproducing ALL of our food, but growing some of it will help to reduce theconsumption of fuel.

Saves money

It is true that there are some costs to starting up yourhome garden, like shovels, soil amendments if needed, seeds or plants, and ifyou are building grow boxes- the materials for them. According to a study doneby the National Gardening Association in 2009, on average the amount spent ongrowing food in a home in the U.S. per year was $70. And the average return fora 600 sq. ft. food garden was $600 worth of food. Giving a return of investmentfrom the $70 spent $530 saved from not buying food. That is taking into accountthat an average 600 sq. ft. garden produces an estimated of 300 lbs. of freshproduce. That could be more or less depending on how well the garden did andhow well it was taken care of. That is a very good investment of money and timenot even taking into consideration the other benefits you receive from homefood production.

Helping kids learn to grow a garden

It is easy to see that children love gardens. Some of my owncherished memories as a child is walking through my grandfather’s garden andpicking fresh peas, carrots and raspberries and eating them right in thegarden. He would also grow watermelon and we would sit on the back porch andeat it altogether and spit the seeds into the garden to see if any newwatermelon plants would grow back. I see the same love of gardens in thechildren in my neighborhood. My own children love to help and run around in mygarden. They have fun rummaging through the strawberries and peas, and alsopicking ripe tomatoes warmed by the sun. All my children’s friends big and small love to come into our yard andharvest what they can from the garden as they tell me how much they would loveto have a garden at their home. It is amost amazing thing to watch something you planted and cared for grow andproduce something you can eat yourself and something that is a wonderful thingto see through the eyes of children.

As you can see, the benefits of a garden are many, but theonly way for you to know for yourself, is to take the plunge and start your owngarden this year.

Raised Bed Gardens

2012-01-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

We have raised beds in our garden. We have clay soil, and having raised beds allowed us to bring in some nice top soil and lots of organic matter to have a nice soil for our garden with less work on our soil. I have also noticed that the weeds have been kept at bay because they don't get blown up into the raised beds as easily. The soil doesn’t get packed down as much because you have very distinct walking paths and you can sit on the side of the bed to weed and take care of the beds without getting in the growing area. Lastly, they add a nice organized look to your garden.

The Tomato: A Vegetable or Fruit?

2011-12-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia defines a fruit as: “The structure of a plant that contains its seeds.” Technically speaking the tomato is a fruit. But how is this possible since many of us were raised thinking of a Tomato as a vegetable? We find the tomato in our local grocery store on the same shelves as other vegetables. And when cooking, the tomato is listed as a culinary vegetable?

It’s true, even in my youth I was known to defend the tomato as the vegetable of choice, but sadly I was misguided. By taste the tomato seems more like a carrot than an orange. We use it in salads, in salsas, as a sauce for our spaghetti and French Fries, and place cherry tomatoes on the veggie tray with the Ranch Dressing. Actually, it’s for these very reasons we think of this misfit fruit as a vegetable.

In 1893 the US Supreme Court settled the debate; the tomato would be considered a vegetable despite overwhelming evidence of to the contrary. The ruling was necessary due to the Tariff Act of 1883 which imposed a new tax on imported vegetables. As no official classification had been established it was left to The Collector of the Port to distinguish fruit from veggie, and at the Port of New York taxes were not being collected on tomatoes. This didn’t sit well with government officials.

The case was debated in lower courts but finally was settled before the Supreme Court in a unanimous vote. The justices sided with the culinary classification rather than the botanic. The tomato was to be taxed with the vegetables because; they were usually eaten as a main course instead of being eaten as a dessert.

Along with the tomato many other fruits have been classified in this way. A few are the pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini and other squashes, grains such as wheat and corn, peas, and some funguses.

Whether vegetable or fruit you have to agree, the vine ripened tomato is the garden king.

*Reference: US Supreme Court Nix vs. Hedden, 149 U.S. 304

Garden Excuses Overcome

2011-12-03T10:42:00.003-07:00

This post is written by my husband, Nick.

Shortly after being married my wife came to be with two propositions which I wasn’t so thrilled about. The first was to join the church choir; the second was to plant a garden. I thought surely there must be better things I could do with my time since at the time I was working and attending school full time. As it turns out we did both, and still do to this day.

While growing up, we had a garden that my sister and I were required to maintain. That garden never really produced much as you can imagine. But thanks to my wife I have discovered the love of gardening. When she made her first proposal though, I wasn’t so sure. I came up with all the excuses in the book like, “I don’t have a green thumb” and “I just don’t have the time”. None of which proved to be true. But had she allowed me to get away with those excuses, there is so much I would be missing out on today.

So let’s address all those excuses starting with what I thought was my best argument, no time.

Excuse #1: I Don’t Have The Time:

The secret to having a garden and also maintaining your life is simple. Plant your garden to match to the time you have to maintain it. Too many times people plant more garden than they have time and energy to maintain, and what happens? By July, what started out as our victory garden is now just a dried up mess in the corner of the yard.

If you are new to gardening, start out small. An 8’x4’ (32² ft.) garden will take about 1 to 2 hours a week. That’s it. During the heat of the summer your garden will need to be watered every day. Setting up an automatic sprinkling system will save you even more time. Almost everyone has a few minutes every day and 1 to 2 hours a week. And you would be amazed how much you can grow in 32² ft.

Excuse #2: I Have Poor Soil:

I hear this a lot and it could be true. Many people see clay, or sand, or compact soil as bad and not conducive for a garden. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Bad soil does exist and when I hear this excuse I always give two answers.

First, bad soil can be fixed. The process of fixing bad soil is called amending. Good soil consists of a few things: dirt, nutrients, and organic material. Most soils can be amended quickly with a tiller, organic material, and an all purpose fertilizer. I recommend hand tilling your garden space with a good gardening fork or spade shovel. Rototilling machines are fast but they leave soil below the tines more compacted than before. This is call tiller pan.

Simply spread 3 inches of organic materials and sprinkle all purpose fertilizer on top of the garden section and turn it into the soil until it is equally distributed in the soil. Till into the soil at least 8 to 12 inches. Also, never do this when your soil is still wet from winter and spring snow. Take a hand full of soil in your hand and squeeze it. When you let it go it should break apart. If it makes a mud ball it is too wet, do not work the soil.

Second, you can build your garden up. Raised garden beds in my opinion are best for backyard garden spaces. Raised beds are easier to access, simple weed control, avoids soil compaction, increases the depth of healthy soil and lastly, you can fill it with high quality, amended top soil. You can build a raised bed a number of ways such as wood, rocks, landscaping bricks, or simply mounding your soil. I prefer 2”x12” wood planks screwed together to make an 8’x4’ grow box because it is inexpensive, quick, and makes your garden space look sharp.

Excuse #3: I Don’t Have Space:

If you have room to plant one plant you have room for a garden. What do I mean by this? Many times I find that people with this excuse have yards with grass and flowers. Grass can be dug up for a small garden space and vegetables can be inter-planted in flower beds. You also can plant vegetables and herbs in pots which can be set on the sides of driveways and sidewalks. Also, if you have a fence many garden plants can be trellised on the fence and grown vertically. Virtually any spot can be transformed into a vegetable garden.

But you say, “I live in a condo or apartment on the north side of the complex in the middle of the city. I literally don’t have space.” This is a tough one but not impossible. Many condo and apartment complexes have open space with grass and flower beds. With a few other tenants, approach the front office management with an idea to convert a section of the open space into a community garden. You could also do the same with your church, employer, or local park.

If that isn’t an option there are thousands of established community gardens. Most have a nominal rental fee but have gardening plots established with raised beds ready to plant. Community gardens are also great for first time gardeners as they are usually run by experienced gardeners who can help you with questions and problems. Make friends with your neighbor gardeners to maintain your garden when you are out of town. You can find a local community garden at http://www.communitygarden.org/.

Excuse #4: Isn’t Gardening Expensive:

I hope by now you realized that gardening doesn’t have to be expensive. It is true, the most expensive part of gardening is getting started. Developing the garden spot and purchasing the tools can be pricy. But you should think of planting a garden as an investment. You will gain much more than you will ever spend on your garden. There’s a reason gardening is one of America’s most popular hobbies.

A small 8’x4’ garden can cost as little as the time you put into it and the vegetables you plant. Grow beds can be built from wood, rocks, and other things you may already have lying around the yard, or that a neighbor might want to get rid of. Many people have extra soil they are looking to give away and organic amendments can be yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves and sawdust.

If you decided to purchase products from your local garden center an 8’x4’x12” grow bed will cost under $200 for everything. Tools will cost under $50. Utilize birthdays and Christmas to ask for garden supplies and tools. Spread the cost out over time rather than in a onetime purchase.

For every garden excuse there is a garden answer. In that first year of our marriage, after all my excuses we ended up planting a very large garden. Being able to work with my wife on that project and now with my children not only provides us with a bounteous harvest of nutritious, fresh, and organic vegetables, but also brings us closer together as a family. And who doesn’t want all that?

Happy Gardening.

Here are a few pictures I took of my garden this summer.

Tools for gardening

2011-11-23T14:31:00.001-07:00

As it is nearing the gift giving season, I thought we might introduce you to what tools you can purchase so that you will be ready come spring. For a small garden, or any garden you will want to start out with a shovel.

You will need a shovel when you are building your grow beds and possibly for planting in the spring. You also will want some smaller hand shovels or trowel. Purchase one that has a nice handle and a stainless steel blade so that you will not have problems with rust. Wooden handles are nice because they don’t get as hot as a metal handle.

The second tool that is a must is a garden fork. We like to use this for tilling the soil and tilling in the organic matter in the fall and spring. You will want one that has sturdy thick tines so that they do not bend and break while in use.

It is also a good idea to have a steel rake. It is really useful for smoothing out the soil and moving small amounts of soil in the bed. We use it to even out the soil in the beds and when we apply mulch to the beds. A nice smooth bed is much better for watering purposes and looks neat too.

We have a spade which has a flat sharp blade and helps you to cut nice straight pieces of sod when you are installing your garden.

Some more ideas is a nice garden watering wand that extends out so that you do not have to bend over.

A good gift idea for an avid gardener is gift certificates to seed catalogs, garden scissors to trim and harvest herbs and vegetables out of your garden, and don't forget some new gardening gloves!
Remember with most things, quality counts if you do not want to have broken tools after only a couple of years. I also do my best to clean them up after using them so that they don’t encounter constant water and sun. But they are occasionally left out, and so having one that is better quality is a good choice.

Getting started in your garden

2011-11-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

It is a perfect time to start planning and preparing your garden for next year. As the saying goes "Gardens are not made by singing Oh how beautiful, and sitting in the shade". So here are some helpful tips on what you can do now to prepare.

If you are starting from scratch begin with choosing the right location. This means looking for the spot where your plants will get 8 hours of direct sun, have easy access to water, and fertile soil to sink their roots into.

If space is a problem you can effectively grow vegetables and herbs in containers. Just find a spot with full sun. Your containers need to be large enough for plants to grow to full size. You can also inter plant vegetables in your perennial beds.

Grow boxes are an excellent solution for yards with bad soil. They also make tending to your plants easier and your garden look sharp. Watch for upcoming posts on grow box gardens.

Fall is the best time to prepare your soil as Mother Nature provides you with an abundant source of free compost, leaves. Simply chop and turn fallen leaves into the soil. Sprinkling a little nitrogen fertilizer on top to help the leaves break down, then let the worms to do the rest of the work.

Add other forms of organic material now to your garden for rich, fertile soil in the spring. Other than leaves, steer manure and other compost products from your local garden centers make excellent organic additives.

Now may be a good time to have your soil tested. Soil tests tell you the condition of your soil nutrient levels. Knowing if you have an excess or deficiency of nutrients is important and gives you the information needed to fix any problems. You can purchase soil test kits and do it yourself, but for more accurate information contact your local agricultural extension office to have it tested.

Start planning how you will water your garden because after all, vegetables will not grow without adequate water. Watering by hand can be fun but also very labor intensive. If you don't have the time chances are your plants will suffer. A better option is an automatic watering system. We prefer a drip irrigation system because it saves time and conserves water by delivering the right amount directly to the plant.

Lastly, make a plan of what you want to plant in your garden, and what you will have space for. It is a good idea to start out small and work up to a larger garden. Gardening should be enjoyable and starting small will ensure it stays that way. After all, you can always expand later if you find that you like it as much as I do, and have enough time to properly manage it.

Do you have garden planning ideas? Please share them with us. Because the more we know the more we grow.

What we are about

2011-11-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

One of my passions is Gardening and growing things. It is just amazing to watch something grow that you planted and are taking care of. It is even more fun for me to grow something that I can eat. I just LOVE going out to my garden in the morning or afternoon and deciding what we will be eating for dinner based on what we have ripe in the garden. Or when I am cooking a recipe that calls for a seasoning or herb, and I can run out to the garden and snip the herb it calls for. Food just tastes so much better when it is fresh out of the garden. That is why I am creating this blog, so that I can share my excitement and what I have learned with you. I will share experiences I have, and also share some how to articles so that you can start your own garden and experience this fun, amazing feeling I get when I garden!