| To Order great seeds, I've included a great websites! Check them out! |
| How to Grow an Organic Garden Organic, means to grow without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Organic gardens are grown using natural fertilizers such as fish emulsions and natural insect deterrents such as companion planting. An organic garden is as easy to grow than one that relies on chemicals, but it takes a bit more advance planning. For an organic garden to be successful, you must have healthy soil for the plants to grow in. Build up the soil with nutrients to replace any that may be diminished. Start with good compost and natural fertilizer. Compost is simply deteriorated plant and animal matter. A compost bin can be started easily by using kitchen waste and yard trimmings, clippings, and leaves. You can use a wire mesh ring or a fifty-five gallon drum for a simple compost bin. If using a drum, be sure to drill holes every few inches around to sides to allow the compost to breathe and cook. Natural fertilizers can be purchased from any reputable garden centers. These can include fish emulsion, seaweed extracts, and various types of manures. Manures can be the droppings from rabbits, chickens, goats or cows, with cow and chickens being the preferred among professional organic growers. Spend a year building up the soil in the area you wish to have as your organic garden. By consistently adding compost and other fertilizers to your soil, when it is time to plant you will be giving your seeds and seedlings the best possible start. Healthy plants are your first defense against disease and insect invasion. Choose your plants for your garden wisely. Many organic gardeners choose heirloom plants because the seed can be saved and used from year to year. Others choose hybrid seeds and plants bred for disease retardant and insect tolerance. Or, you can choose a mixture of both heirloom and hybrid seeds. Most seed should be started indoors in late winter or early spring. Thin plants after a week or two of growth, leaving only the strongest one to a pot. This allows only the healthiest looking plants to grow stronger. When all chance of frost has passed in your area, plant the seedlings into your prepared soil. To help keep moisture in the soil, mulch around the small plants with hay or straw. To keep critters out of your garden, plants such as cabbages should have plastic tubes around the stems to keep slugs, caterpillars and certain type of worms from eating the plants. The tubes can be made easily from clean soda pop bottles; simply cut the tops and bottoms out and surround the young plants. Netting is used by many gardeners to keep flying insects away from both young and older plants in the garden. Fine mesh netting can be purchased at most garden centers or occasionally at the fabric section of department stores. You can shred old newspapers and magazines to place in the rows between your plants. This will help cut down on weeds that can attract bugs to your garden. Newspapers are printed with soy ink that will not harm the plants in the garden. An organic garden is worth the effort you put into it. |
| Growing giant pumpkins requires an early start. Seeds should be sown individually and started indoors in 12-inch peat pots about the end of April. A well balanced potting medium is recommended. Plants are ready for transplanting when the first true leaf is fully expanded. This is usually 10 to 14 days after seeding. Transplants can be protected from late spring frost using a floating row cover. Growing space in the garden is important. Each plant should be allowed approximately 2,500 square feet. This area may sound quite large, but it is essential for vine growth. Pumpkins prefer long hours of sunlight, so select your garden site accordingly. Avoid shaded areas and select an area with good surface and internal drainage. Always apply lime and fertilizers based on soil test recommendations. Providing adequate nutrients throughout the growing season will insure healthy, vigorous vines, and large pumpkins. Granular fertilizers should be applied as a broadcast application over the soil surface and incorporated into the soil 4 to 6 inches deep a few days ahead of setting out your transplants. Giant pumpkin vines require approximately 2 pounds nitrogen (N), 3 pounds phosphorous (P2O2) and 6 pounds potash (K2O) per 1,000 square feet of growing space. The addition of organic matter (manure, etc.) to the garden is important to establish good soil tilth. A foliar feeding program should be started after pollination and fruit set have occurred. There are several foliar fertilizers available. Follow label directions and continue application throughout the growing season. |
| GROWING A GIANT PUMPKIN |
| Old Fashion Recipes! |
| GARDENING FUN! |
Cabbage and kale are among the hardiest and most
nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow.
They are also very easy to grow, especially for home
vegetable gardeners in cooler climates. Beautiful, in
shades of pale yellow to wrinkled steel blue and
ranging in flavor from sweet and crisp to tangy,
cabbage and kale are versatile vegetables and there’
s a variety suited to almost every garden. Start 8-10
weeks before last frost date. Sow seeds 1/2 in. deep.
Water thoroughly. Full Sun
nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow.
They are also very easy to grow, especially for home
vegetable gardeners in cooler climates. Beautiful, in
shades of pale yellow to wrinkled steel blue and
ranging in flavor from sweet and crisp to tangy,
cabbage and kale are versatile vegetables and there’
s a variety suited to almost every garden. Start 8-10
weeks before last frost date. Sow seeds 1/2 in. deep.
Water thoroughly. Full Sun
Potatoes are one of those mystery crops that
develop out of sight, underground. You never really
know how you’re doing until you harvest - and then it’s
too late. Oval baking potatoes and red potatoes have
dominated the market, but there are actually over
1,000 different varieties of potatoes available for
growing. The texture of potatoes, even more so than
the flavor, is very variable from variety to variety.
Potatoes take 2-4 months to harvest.
develop out of sight, underground. You never really
know how you’re doing until you harvest - and then it’s
too late. Oval baking potatoes and red potatoes have
dominated the market, but there are actually over
1,000 different varieties of potatoes available for
growing. The texture of potatoes, even more so than
the flavor, is very variable from variety to variety.
Potatoes take 2-4 months to harvest.
Lettuce is a cool season crop and consequently is
best grown in either spring or fall.
However, lettuce likes a temperature around 70o to
germinate, so early plantings should be started as
plugs.
Lettuce seeds need light to germinate. Just barely
cover the seed with soil.
After a couple of weeks check to see if the roots have
branched out to the sides of the plug. If so, they are
hardy enough to go in the ground.
Don’t let the seedlings get too large before placing
them out.
best grown in either spring or fall.
However, lettuce likes a temperature around 70o to
germinate, so early plantings should be started as
plugs.
Lettuce seeds need light to germinate. Just barely
cover the seed with soil.
After a couple of weeks check to see if the roots have
branched out to the sides of the plug. If so, they are
hardy enough to go in the ground.
Don’t let the seedlings get too large before placing
them out.
Onions like a location that gets plenty of sun, and
they prefer a rich, light soil that is slightly acidic.
Onions can thrive in nearly any type of soil conditions.
You can also grow onions in containers on the patio
or in raised beds if you don't have room in the ground
for another crop. They particularly love the raised
beds where the soil can be looser and prepared just
to their liking. This can be a good option for any type
of root vegetable if your soil is especially sandy or
clay-like.
Most onions should be sown in early spring,
depending on your climate zone.
they prefer a rich, light soil that is slightly acidic.
Onions can thrive in nearly any type of soil conditions.
You can also grow onions in containers on the patio
or in raised beds if you don't have room in the ground
for another crop. They particularly love the raised
beds where the soil can be looser and prepared just
to their liking. This can be a good option for any type
of root vegetable if your soil is especially sandy or
clay-like.
Most onions should be sown in early spring,
depending on your climate zone.
Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetable
crops. The shoots are picked as young spears in the
spring. Later in the season the foliage matures into an
airy, fern-like cloud which changes to a golden color
in the fall. Because asparagus takes up a permanent
place in the garden, but can be an attractive plant,
many people with space imitations use asparagus as
a border or hedge plant. Asparagus likes full sun,
zone 4-9
Bloom Period/Days to Harvest:
Spring through early summer, depending on the
climate
crops. The shoots are picked as young spears in the
spring. Later in the season the foliage matures into an
airy, fern-like cloud which changes to a golden color
in the fall. Because asparagus takes up a permanent
place in the garden, but can be an attractive plant,
many people with space imitations use asparagus as
a border or hedge plant. Asparagus likes full sun,
zone 4-9
Bloom Period/Days to Harvest:
Spring through early summer, depending on the
climate
| PLANTING TIPS |
Composting is one of the easiest environmentally friendly things
you can do. It's as simple as collecting food waste and yard
trimmings and allowing them to decompose. This decomposed
matter, makes a wonderful amendment to your soil. It adds
beneficial nutrients, helping you to grow healthier and more
productive plants. You can even use compost as a potting
medium.
Composting occurs on it's own, naturally, but if you live in an area
with composting restrictions, or if you want your compost to
mature more quickly, there are many things you can do to
intervene. Below are three tips to help you compost more
effectively.
1. Use a compost bin. Many municipalities require the use of a
compost bin rather than just letting you pile up your food waste
and yard trimmings. There are many different types available, but
the most common is a black plastic bin with a lid on top for adding
your organic matter, and a door at the bottom through which you
can retrieve your compost.
2. Do not add meat or fat to your compost pile. Only put fruits
or vegetables in your compost; i.e. apple peels, onion peel, carrot
peels and leaves, etc. You can also include eggshells (wash them
off first to prevent the risk of salmonella) and coffee grounds and
tea leaves. It is very important to never include any meat or waste
that has been cooked in oil or butter.
3. Layer your compost. After adding your "green" scraps (food
waste) to your compost pile, you should add a "brown" layer to the
bin. A brown layer can be some newspaper or leaves; sawdust or
straw can also be used. Layering is important to build
nutrient-rich compost. It also helps to keep the bugs down.
You can easily create healthy, nutrient-rich compost at home.
This eliminates the need for costly soil amendments and helps to
save the environment.
Do you want to buy a compost bin?
You can find a great selection of compost bins for sale in all sizes
and shapes, all at unbelievable prices.
You can find more information about compost bins, along with lots
of FREE information and tips to help you to garden more
efficiently and help the environment at :
you can do. It's as simple as collecting food waste and yard
trimmings and allowing them to decompose. This decomposed
matter, makes a wonderful amendment to your soil. It adds
beneficial nutrients, helping you to grow healthier and more
productive plants. You can even use compost as a potting
medium.
Composting occurs on it's own, naturally, but if you live in an area
with composting restrictions, or if you want your compost to
mature more quickly, there are many things you can do to
intervene. Below are three tips to help you compost more
effectively.
1. Use a compost bin. Many municipalities require the use of a
compost bin rather than just letting you pile up your food waste
and yard trimmings. There are many different types available, but
the most common is a black plastic bin with a lid on top for adding
your organic matter, and a door at the bottom through which you
can retrieve your compost.
2. Do not add meat or fat to your compost pile. Only put fruits
or vegetables in your compost; i.e. apple peels, onion peel, carrot
peels and leaves, etc. You can also include eggshells (wash them
off first to prevent the risk of salmonella) and coffee grounds and
tea leaves. It is very important to never include any meat or waste
that has been cooked in oil or butter.
3. Layer your compost. After adding your "green" scraps (food
waste) to your compost pile, you should add a "brown" layer to the
bin. A brown layer can be some newspaper or leaves; sawdust or
straw can also be used. Layering is important to build
nutrient-rich compost. It also helps to keep the bugs down.
You can easily create healthy, nutrient-rich compost at home.
This eliminates the need for costly soil amendments and helps to
save the environment.
Do you want to buy a compost bin?
You can find a great selection of compost bins for sale in all sizes
and shapes, all at unbelievable prices.
You can find more information about compost bins, along with lots
of FREE information and tips to help you to garden more
efficiently and help the environment at :
| Compost Bins - 3 Tips For Using Compost Bins Effectively By Graham Allmanson |
| Link A Thought! |
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