Kat's Gardens-n-More

"Huge Profits Growing Peach Trees"

2008-11-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

"Peach trees can offer a delicious crop of fruit for both your family to enjoy and for you to sell for a nice profit. When properly cared for, with in three years, a single peach tree can produce 45 pounds or more of crop! That is a tremendous return on your investment! Here are some simple tips to getting started."

Click on the link below to view the complete eHow article by Gracie 1402

http://www.ehow.com/how_2323056_huge-profits-growing-peach-trees.html

Click on Wild Bird Food Recipes to order today.

How to Know the Latest Garden Trends

2008-11-12T02:00:00.000-08:00

"Gardens are changing along with the economic, political and environmental climate. Here are some of the latest trends you can incorporate into your garden or landscape."

Click on the link below to view th complete eHow article and beautiful picture by Gardegates.

http://www.ehow.com/articletemplate3.aspx?id=4591890&originalurl=%2fhow_4591890_latest-garden-trends.html

Click on Square Watermelon Secrets Revealed to order now.

How to prune a weeping cherry tree

2008-11-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

"One of the biggest pruning mistakes is cutting off branches in the wrong place. Without knowing it, many people tend to leave too much of a stub when removing branches. Once the stub dies off, it makes an entry point for disease and insects. Trees have a natural defense system built into to them (right where the trunk intersects the branch), known as the "collar". It is important to do your best to make a flush cut without removing the collar. Cuts should be made just beyond the collar without leaving a stub but leaving the swollen area."

Click on the link below to view the compet eHow article by Gracie 1402
http://www.ehow.com/how_2268773_prune-weeping-cherry-tree.html

Click on High Density Gardening to order your ebook now.

"How to make a compost pile"

2008-11-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

"Compost piles are great sources of fertilizer for your garden and a great way to naturally eliminate food and yard waste. They do require attention and several months of work before they are in full swing, but well worth the time and effort if you have a garden or just want to do your part for the earth."

Click on the link below to read this eHow article by Bfastattifanys.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4517855_compost-pile.html

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Click on The Secret to High Yield Vegetable Gardening to order your ebook now

"How to prune hydrangeas"

2008-11-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

"Hydrangeas are always a bold addition to your garden. The big blooms (on most varieties) are what draws most people to the Hydrangea. Pruning hydrangeas are much easier than one might think, in fact, very little pruning will help to produce even larger, more beautiful blooms the following year!" Gracie 1402

Click on the link below to this eHow article by Gracie 1402 with step by step instructions, including pictures.

http://www.ehow.com/ArticleTemplate3.aspx?id=4553560&fid=4553560&OriginalURL=%2fhow_4553560_prune-hydrangeas.html%3ffid%3d4553560

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Click on The Gardner’s Handbook and order your copdy now.

DeStress the Fun Way

2008-11-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

Whether you are male or female, young or old, everyone has stress in their lives at one time or another. Not all stress is bad either- a wedding, new baby, an awards dinner are examples of good stress. Here are some of my family’s favorite ways to de-stress.

DeStress the Fun Way

http://www.ehow.com/how_4544787_destress-fun-way.html

Clean & Deodorize Your Microwave Without Chemical Cleaners

2008-11-02T10:46:00.000-08:00

Ever have an explosion of food in your microwave? With seven children in my house this happens regularly. I usually find the explosion after it is hard and crusty. Here is a simple cleaning & deodorizing technique a co-worker passed on to me.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4550868_clean-deodorize-microwave-chemical-cleaners.html

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T02:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!

My Mom gave me a Halloween flag specifically for my garden gate.

Halloween Recipes Ebook

"Friendships, like gardens, must be nourished and cultivated if they are to flourish and thrive."

Halloween Creepy Crawley Cookie Cake

2008-10-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween Creepy Crawly Cookie Cake

What do you do with a bunch of teenagers at a Halloween slumber party? My bunch of teens made a Creepy Crawly Cookie Cake which was devoured in less than 15 minutes. It was a hit!!!

http://www.ehow.com/how_4575409_halloween-creepy-crawly-cookie-cake.html

Burpee Seed Company

2008-10-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

Burpee Seed Company has been the top company for ordering seeds, bulbs and plants for my family for generations. It was founded in 1876 by 18 year old W. Altee Burpee.

Their website http://www.burpee.com/ has many gardening articles, tips, gardening supplies and recipes. You can order online or through the mail. If you go to their website http://www.burpee.com/ you to can order a catalog or call 1-800-333-5808 or write W. Atlee Burpee & Co.300 Park AvenueWarminster, PA 18974.

They stand behind their products. I highly recommend this company. Now would be the time to get on their mailing list.

Organic Vegetable Gardening

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Cosmos Flowers

2008-10-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

My Aunt came to visit and commented on my Cosmos Flowers. She stated that Cosmos Flowers were my Great Grandmother Josephine's favorite flower. I had no idea as she had died when I was 2 years old. Here are some of my Cosmos flower photos.

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Cosmos flowers starting to turn to seed. My Cosmos are Purple Cosmos Flowers.

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More information about Cosmos Flowers:

http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/flowers/cosmos/cosmos.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(flower)

Cinder Block Gardens

"The greatest good is wisdom."

-St. Augustine

Butternut Squash - Cooking the Easy Way

2008-10-20T02:00:00.000-07:00

This is a quick and easy way to cook Butternut Squash. Follow the steps and if you want to freeze the Butternut Squash put it in freeser containers or bags, label with the date.

Supplies:
Microwave
Cutting Board
Sharp knife
Spoon
Microwave safe Bowl with cover
Bowl
Measuring Spoon

Ingredients:
Butternut Squash
Water
ButterOptional: Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar

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1. Cut stem end off the Butternut squash.

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2. Cut Butternut squash in half lengthwise.

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3. Scoop out the Butternut squash seeds. If you want to save the seeds for planting then wash the seeds and allow to air-dry for 3 days. After the seeds are dry place in an airtight container until ready to use.

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4. Place Butternut squash in microwave safe bowl, pour 2 teaspoons of water in area where seeds were scooped out, place lid on bowl and microwave on high for 6 minutes.

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5. Spoon out the flesh of the butternut squash and put in a bowl.

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6. Mash the Butternut squash and add butter. Optional: drizzle Maple syrup or sprinkle brown sugar over squash.

Garden Rack

“True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.”
-Ben Jonson

Mini Hothouses

2008-10-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

Soda bottle mini hothouses are a great way to protect your seedlings from frost.

Supplies needed:
* Empty 2 liter soda bottle
* Scissors or sharp knife
* Seedling

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1. Rinse out an empty 2 liter soda bottle. Replace cap.

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2. Remove label and discard.

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3. With a sharp knife or scissors cut off bottom. CAUTION: Be careful when cutting the plastic edges are sharp and can cut you.

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4. Throw bottom of soda bottle into your recycling bin.

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5. Place soda bottle over plant and twist down into dirt.

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6. On warm days simply untwist soda cap to allow fresh air.

Keep Earth Green

“Yesterday's news is good for the compost heap”

Irises-(Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) – Part 4 of 4

2008-10-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

In part four of the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises series I will show hoe I started a flower bed by my steps. This time I used a new less time consuming method.

CA Darko-Gosnell 2008
Early July-2008

The first thing I did was measure 2 feet out from the steps and placed a fence guide. Then I measured and dug holes 2 ½ feet apart for the Irises, placed some granulated fertilizer in the hole, placed some compost on top of the fertilizer and added some water to the hole. To prep the Irises cut the tops off 2inches from the bulb. When planted fan the roots out, place in the hole, cover with dirt just covering top of bulb, press firmly and water

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Late July 2008

Notice the Iris in the front has grown. You can see the leaves that were cut and new leaves shooting up. Annuals and bi-annuals were planted around the Irises.

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Early August 2008

The level part of the stairway show how the mulch was put down. Usually I do not dig up the grass but in this case I did to level it out. In the front of the photo you can see newspaper with mulch on top. To do this first water the ground, place 10 layers of newspaper (DO NOT use the shiny ads in the newspaper), wet thoroughly, add 1-3 inches of mulch, water thoroughly and gently step on the mulch. The newspaper keeps the weed population down.

CA Darko-Gosnell 2008

Mid September 2008

The annuals and bi-annuals are in full bloom. Next year the dirt and mulch will be removed to reveal the top of the Iris bulb so they can bloom.

High Density Gardening

“Love of flowers and all things green and growing is with many men and women a passion so strong that it often seems to be a sort of primal instinct.”
-Helena Rutherford Ely

Irises-(Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) – Part 3 of 4

2008-10-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

Part 3 of the Dr. Pauline Thompson Iris Series takes us to the largest Iris flower bed, which is on the side of my house.

CA Darko-Gosnell 2007

Side Flower Bed - June 2007

This flower bed was started in June of 2007. I dug up an area the length of my home out from the foundation 12 inches. The Irises were planted 2 feet apart about 8 inches from the foundation. In between the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises, toward the lawn edge of the flowerbed, I planted annuals. You can see the Clown Violets in the above photo. Cedar mulch was placed over the top of the bulbs so they would not bloom again. This allows the bulbs to spend energy on bulb reproduction rather than on buds.

CA Darko-Gosnell 2008
Side Flower Bed - Early May 2008

If you compare this photo to the photo above you can see how much the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises have multiplied in a year. The flower bed was expanded another 8 inches to accommodate low annuals and perennials. Now is the time to brush last year’s cedar mulch off the top of the Iris bulbs so they will bloom. If you are using a granulated fertilizer that lasts 3-4 months now is the time to sprinkle it. DO NOT let it touch the leaves or bulbs as the fertilizer will burn them. This should be done before you add a fresh thin layer of cedar mulch to the flower bed.

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Side Flower Bed - Late May 2008

The Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises have buds on them and are approximately 2 feet tall. Notice how the Irises cover up the blah foundation adding beauty to the building.

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Side Flower Bed - Early June 2008

By early June the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises are starting to bloom and are as high as 3 feet tall. In the lower right hand side of the photo you will see the Lily of the Valley white flower.

Wild Bird Food Recipes

“All the great blessings of my life are present in my thoughts today.”

-Phoebe Cary, Poems and Parodies

Irises-(Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) – Part 2 of 4

2008-10-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

In 2006 the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises were planted in the rear of my home. This area only has sunshine approximately 3-4 hours per day. The Irises do grow, but have fewer and smaller blooms than those that are planted in a sunnier area.

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Mid May 2008

Irises are beginning to shoot up against the foundation of the building. The violets are also shooting up in front of the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises. Notice how the cedar mulch is not covering the top of the Iris bulbs. By doing this it allows the Iris to bloom.

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Early June 2008

The White Violets are blooming in front of the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises which have yet to get any buds. There is just too much shade during the day in this area. I have decided to transplant them this fall to a sunnier area.

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Early June 2008

The White Violets have finished blooming and the Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises never even got buds even though the bulb tops were not covered with mulch. Notice the Petunias growing in front over the White Violets. I had expanded this flower bed 10 inches to accommodate the Petunias which do well in partial sun.

Make Money From Greenhouse

“Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing.”
-Socrates

Irises-(Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) – Part 1 of 4

2008-10-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Pauline Thompson Irises are my favorite type of Iris. Part 1 of this series will cover the front flower bed where I first started my Irises. Originally they were planted at my former home of thirteen years and then transplanted in 2004 to my current residence. The Parent plant is 16 years old. It still blooms vibrantly.

CA Darko-Gosnell @2008

Irises in Early May 2008 (Originally transplanted July 2004)

The Irises are just beginning to shoot up. Fresh cedar mulch has been added to the flower bed to retain moisture. Only place mulch around the outside of the plant, not directly on the top of the bulb. This area needs to be exposed in order for the Iris to bloom. If it is covered the Iris will not bloom.

CA Darko-Gosnell @2008

Late May 2008

In this photo you can see how crowded the flower bed has gotten. The Daffodils (yellow flower), Tulips (pink flower) and Irises (green shoots) are all intermingled.

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Early June 2008

The Irises are in full bloom. They need to be thinned out. Now that fall is here it is the perfect time to do this. Last year one parent plant produced 19 bulbs. You do not have to wait until fall to thin and transplant bulbs, but it is best to wait about 4-6 weeks after they have flowered and the leaves are beginning to turn brown. The reasoning is this allows the parent plant to produce bulbs. To have the plant produce the most bulbs allow all the leaves to turn brown.

Create Your Own Farm Implements

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"This is perfect share-a-sweater weather."

Irises-(Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) Introduction to a 4 Part Series

2008-10-06T02:00:00.000-07:00

Irises (Dr. Pauline Thompson variety) are another of my favorite flowers. The blooms are a beautiful shade of purple. They are a large flower with a hardy stem. When cut for a vase they last a long time and have a light fragrance. I will be doing a 4 part photo series to show how my Iris flower beds have developed over the past four years.

Square Watermelon Secrets Revealed

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"Trees make the best jungle gyms."

Strawberry Jell-O Cake

2008-10-03T02:00:00.001-07:00

The pansies are not in full bloom. Instead of making the glazed pansy topped cake (for my birthday) I made a Strawberry Jell-O Cake.
Ingredients:
1 prepared 9 x 13 vanilla cake
6 oz strawberry Jell-O
3 ½ cups boiling water
8 oz cool whip
1 pound fresh strawberries

Equipment:
Stove with oven
Refrigerator
9x13 cake pan – preferably glass
Mixer
6 cup pot with lid
wooden spoon
measuring cups
spatula
paring knife
Large mixing bowl

CA Darko-Gosnell @2008

1. Prepare cake according to the box directions or if making from scratch according to recipe directions. Cool cake completely.

2. Put water in pot with lid and put on the stove to boil before starting step 3.
3. Take the handle of the wooden spoon and poke holes in the cooled yellow cake as shown in photos.
4. With wooden spoon mix 6 oz. of strawberry Jell-O with 3 ½ cups of boiling water in mixing bowl.

5. Slowly pour hot Jell-O over cake and especially into holes. Take Cool Whip out of freezer and place in refrigerator to defrost. Refrigerate cake for 3 hours

6. While cake is gelling, prepare fresh strawberries. Wash fruit, cut off leaves and then slice as shown in photo. Place, covered, in refrigerator.

7. Using a spatula spread 8 oz of cool whip over entire top of cake

8. Place strawberries on top of cool whip. Cake must be refrigerated until ready to serve.

9. A slice of Strawberry Jell-O Cake shows how the Jell-O has gelled in the holes. It is a delicious refreshingly cool cake.

Living On A Dime

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"May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door."

-Irish Toast

Pansy Visitor

2008-10-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Another pansy has bloomed in my back shade garden. I took a photo and when I downloaded it realized this pansy had a visitor

There are more blooms coming. They should be in full bloom by the weekend. The plan is to bake a cake and decorate it with sugared pansies. Yes, pansies are edible.

Natural Insecticides

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"Gaze upon a distant star and know life's wonder reaches far."

Trimming Zucchinni Plants

2008-09-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Zucchini seeds grow into a very large plant. The leaves can be as big as or bigger than two hand palms. Sometimes the plant gets a fungus. I prefer to trim the leaves off rather than use chemicals or dish soap and water solution.

Zucchini plant after trimming the diseased leaves off is healthier and more vibrant.

To trim you need a pair of gardening scissors or hand pruners and a pair of gloves. The zucchini leaves are very bristly which can give you a slivers.

Zucchini plant with fungus before trimming.

Step 1– Grab the diseased leaf about 1 ½ - 2 inches from the main stem and cut.

Here you can see the leaf stems that have been cut. They are hollow.

Step 2- Throw out the diseased leaves. DO NOT put them in your compost heap.

Notice the bud is still attached to one of the zucchinis and there are allot of new leaves growing along with new buds and blossoms.

A close-up of the zucchini flower still attached to the zucchini.

The next day after trimming the zucchini plant I took this photo. The zucchini is lying on a bed of chives.

The flower top has fallen off the zucchini.

Worm Farms - Save Your Time and Money!

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-"Some people talk to plants; others listen."

Pansy Flowers One of My Favorites

2008-09-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

Pansies are a hardy flower that enjoys the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. I have planted them in spring and they usually die out in summer, but this year one pansy bloomed again in fall.

This year I planted my pansies in the rear of my home where they get some of shade. This is the only area where they have bloomed a second time in the same year. I have planted them in the front of my home where they get full sun. The blooms are beautiful and bright, but they have never bloom a second time in the same year there.

The color theme of my flower gardens is mainly purple. I do have some other colors, but basically the purple hues. The pansies I have planted have a rich purple color and are a low growing plant. I use them around as a border planted in between the spring tulips. As the tulips begin to die out the pansies are in full bloom before the summer flora arrives.

More Information

Utah County Extension has an excellent download about Growing Pansies

Here is another article about pansies

To order pansy seeds or plants go to Burpee Seed Company

Do It Yourself Worm Farm
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Spring forward, fall back…and winter on a beach somewhere.

Gardening Tips for Vegetable Gardens

2008-09-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

Make sure the area where you are going to start your garden gets at least 8 hours of sunlight. In the spring it may seem as though the area you have chosen gets allot of sun, but by summer when the trees are in full bloom this may not be so.
Have your soil tested. At your local extension office you can get a soil test kit for a nominal fee. When you get your results back the extension office can help you read and understand the report.
Unless you are doing raised bed gardens make sure to plant your seed or seedlings as recommended on the seed package or plant stick. Seedlings are small but grow quit large. Thin out your seedlings. If you plant too close together your actual yield will be much smaller than if planted as recommended.
Buy plants and seeds from a reputable dealer. Burpee Seed Company is well known for their delivery of exceptionable seeds. If you buy plants that are sickly chances are they will die when transplanted or you will spend more time than it is worth to nurse them back to health and only receive a small yield or no yield for your efforts.
Choose plants that will grow well in the climate that you live in. If you contact your local extension agency or a reputable nursery they will be able to help you with choosing which varieties will grow best for your area
It is important to water your plants properly. Do not water after the sun goes down as this will cause root rot and fungus. Make sure if it is very hot to water the root systems and not the leaves as they will burn. Water consistently. Press your finger in the soil to see if it is damp. If the soil is not damp then your plants need watering.
Use good compost for your garden before planting and this will reduce the need for fertilizer. Most recycling centers have excellent compost that you can buy at a reasonable fee by the yard or even get for free. If you use too much fertilizer your plants may shoot up fast, but may not be able to support any fruit. Cow manure is also excellent for gardens. The best source is a local farmer. The bags of manure you buy at a local nursery may contain other components such as sticks and stones that you do not need.
When planting figure out how much you can actually care for or will be able to eat. Any excess you can freeze, can, give away to family and neighbors or donate to a local food kitchen or food pantry.
Make sure to trim any dead or damaged leaves on your plants to encouage new growth. Pull any weeds to allow more room for your growing plants
Start a compost heap away from your gardening area. Never put any animal products in the compost heap. Any trimmings from plants, grass trimmings and leaves can go on the heap. Turn it with a pitch fork at least once a week. Put some worms on the compost heap. They help to decay the trimmings quicker and their elimination is very healthy for your plants. This compost can be used the following year for your garden.

The Secret To High Yield Vegetable Gardening
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"How is it that what used to be weeds is now high-priced salad?"

Zuchinni Blossom Visitors

2008-09-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

This Zucchini Blossom has some visitors, only I didn't realize that when I was first taking the photo for a future article on cooking zucchini blossoms.

Zooming in it looks like a bee.......

..............and a buddy!!!!

Fruit Dip

2008-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Children love this fruit dip (and adults too). My twins and I in springtime went to a Girl Scout camp for the weekend to help cleanup and get ready for the camping season. We were served a buffet lunch with this dip and fruit. The twins liked it so much I asked the caterer for the recipe.

Fruit Dip

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese - softened
1 (7 oz) jar of Marshmallow Creme

Place in a bowl or food processor and whip.
Serve with the fruit of your choice.

Dessert University

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"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family."

-Thomas Jefferson

Cultivating Wild Strawberries in Containers

2008-09-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Wild Strawberries in containers is not difficult. In the past, when I lived near the game lands I cultivated wild strawberries, wild blueberries, wild blackberries and wild raspberries. At first the fruit is small, but as the years go by the fruit gets bigger.

This container has holes in the bottom and is set on a bed of red cedar woodchips. You can see numerous runners on the mulch that are hanging down from the main wild strawberry plant.

When I was at my Mom’s admiring her new raised-bed vegetable gardens, she mentioned she wanted to get some strawberry plants. As we walked by the garage I noticed many wild strawberry plants growing from the woods onto the gravel. She had no idea they were there.

A hanging basket holds more wild strawberries.

Mom lives in the country at a higher elevation than me. I dug up some wild strawberry plants to cultivate at my suburban apartment. Some were put in hanging baskets and some were put in planters. They will be planted permanently in a raised-bed garden next year after the fruit is harvested.

This is a close up shot of some of the runners from the hanging basket.

An even closer shot of the runners reveals how they are growing on the trunk of the tree

Steps to Cultivating Wild Strawberries

1. Make sure they are wild strawberries.

Main wild strawberry plant with two runners hanging alongside the root system of the main plant.

2. When digging up a wild strawberry plant it is best to do this after the plants have produced their fruit in late July/early August. There will be runners on the main wild strawberry plant that can be planted as well.

Prepped container.

3. In order to plant the main wild strawberry plant in a container place some gravel in first. Add soil/compost mixture to within three inches of the top of the container.

Place main wild strawberry plant in container.

4. Make a shallow hole in center of pot. Add water/ fertilizer mixture (liquid fertilizer mixed with water). Fan out root system of main wild strawberry plant.

Top View of main wild strawberry plant with runners hanging over edge of container

Side view of runner plant hanging over side of pot. Notice the top of the runner has a new plant with roots already and the bottom of the runner has another new plant just starting.

5. Add soil only to bottom of the base of the wild strawberry plant. DO NOT cover base of the plant. Make sure runners are not buried.

Top view of main wild strawberry plant and runner wild strawberry plant.

6. Place another pot filled with soil next to container with main wild strawberry plant. Place runner across to new pot; place a very small amount of soil around the base of the runner plant. When the runner plant has rooted well, usually 4-6 weeks, the runner (the vine connecting main plant and runner plant) can be snipped. Now you have two main wild strawberry plants.

More Information

My favorite website for more information is In Mama’s Kitchen. If you click on Food is Art and scroll down to strawberries and click on it you will find Cliff Lowe has written different articles on wild strawberries and has several recipes. Included is an article titled Some strawberry facts you may or may not wish to know that I found interesting. Next year when my harvest comes in I am going to try his Freezer Strawberry Jam which sounds a lot easier to make than the traditional way of canning.

Vegetarians Paradise
has an informative section on Taming the Wild Strawberry. Topics include Nutrition, History, Recipes, Folklore, Medical Benefits and more.

This article Strawberries, Modern and Medieval tells some of the history of the strawberry.

The Gardner’s Handbook
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“In seed time, learn; in harvest, teach; in winter, enjoy.”
- William Blake

Bucket Gardening

2008-09-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

Today I will be giving you a little history of my experience with gardening before I get into "bucket gardening". In Northeastern PA I grew up on a family ranch. We had different livestock and many fields of vegetables as well as fruit orchards. As young as four I can remember beings in the fields with my Grandmother pulling weeds, picking rocks and chasing butterflies, all the while learning and having fun.

In this photo are seedlings I bought - lettuce, broccoli and tomatoes. In the background are some flower plants I nursed back to health.

As I grew older I always had some kind of garden whether flowers, vegetables or fruits. Sometimes I had limited space and grew them in pots.

It's been a few years since my husband and I separated. During this time I mainly planted flowers. He and I shared plants and continue to do so. This past spring I decided to plant a vegetable garden. My neighbors think it is a huge garden, but to me it is small. Growing up with acres of vegetables puts a different perspective on things.

In this photo you can see the seedlings I bought and boxes of seeds I planted inside (before transplanting outside). I would take them outside if it was warm enough for some fresh air and direct sunlight. At night I would bring them back in as my area was still getting frost in May.

These are some boxes of planted seeds that I transferred out side towards the end of May They are covered with roll plastic and 2 x 4 lumber is placed on the edges of the plastic to keep it from blowing off. When it got warmer I would take the plastic off for a few hours to air the plants. If it was sunny and cold I left the plastic on. Sunny and cool the two outer edges were lifted so a breeze could pass through. Sunny and warm I took the plastic off completely.

"Bucket Gardening"

My neighbor NeaNea had given me some buckets she had gotten from a catering service. Fruit had come in them. So I started out growing plants in the buckets. I do not recommend using any buckets or containers that have had construction supplies in them. eg: joint compound orpaint. These types of materials seep into the plastic and are harmful if ingested. The chemicals can transfer through your plant into your fruit and vegetables. Also, these chemicals will retard the plants growth yeilding less crops and possibly killing your plants.

This photo shows buckets planted with seedlings.

1. First drill a hole in the bottom for drainage. If you don't your plant can develop "root rot" and
die.
2. Next place some gravel in the bottom about an 1 1/2 inches.
3. Then layer some soil and compost or you can mix it before you put it in.
Use only about three inches.
4. Put some granulated fertilizer and another 1/2 -1 inch of soil mixture.
(so the fertilizer does not burn the roots of the seedlings or burn the seeds).
You can use a weekly fertilizer that you mix with water, but the granulated last for 3 months. CAUTION: Always wear gloves when handling granulated fertilizer.
5. Next place your seed or seeding in.
If you plant from seed place recommended amount of soil mixture on top.
If using a seedling clip any brown leaves.
Put soil mixture up to bottom of the green leaves on the stock.
As your plant grows add soil mixture around the plant.
This method strengthens the stock of the plant.
6. Plants in containers dry out quicker than plants in the ground.
Check moisture of soil twice a day morning and early evening. Water as needed.
CAUTION: Do not water in late evening as this will cause root rot and your plants will die.
If there is a frost warning in your area cover with a plastic grocery bag or other plastic.

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Fall Will Be Here Soon

2008-09-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

The leaves are already starting to change color in Northeast PA. My gardens are still producing allot of vegetables - tomatoes, corn, green beans, cucumbers, variety of squashes. Many of my flowers are still in bloom.

Before I started the vegetable garden this spring I was known in the neighborhood as the "flower lady", now I'm the "garden lady". Neighbors from many blocks away (some from other towns )come by to see the progress of the gardens. At first I think they came because the vegetable gardens looked so peculiar. Then some came to just admire, some to learn, and some just for the fruits of my labor.

My next post will have some of the beginning photos. They are a bit strange, but hang in there as this blog progresses you will see some beautiful things happen.

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