Soup’s On
When the weather cools down, thoughts turn to warm soups. Here's a new resource for great heirloom legumes both for cooking and growing.
Easy Plants for Pots
"Love your podcast and website. I am new to gardening. Browsed your site and enjoyed the blog on veggies in a pot. As I start thinking about the spring, I began to ponder the possibility of additional veggies and herbs in "pots." What do you think are the easiest veggies and herbs to plant in pots. Right now I grow watermelon, tomatoes and strawberries in my tiny garden. Any advice? I live in New Mexico in a dry climate. Thanks---David"
Thanks so much for writing in, David. There are some great veggies that will grow in pots, ...
Garden on the Rocks
A gardenerd wrote in this week:
"We have very rocky soil in No. Calif. What do I need to start a garden in a small area with bad soil. Thanks, Margo."
Well, Margo, first of all let me say that you've got every gardenerd's sympathy right now, but there is hope. There are many things you can do to work with (or not work with) rocky soil. Here are a couple of previous blog entries that might help your situation.
This one addresses how you can condition the soil:
http://blog.gardenerd.com/2008/02/29/a-rocky-start-in-paso-robles.aspx
This one gives you details about another great option - raised beds. I ...
An Adventure with Parsnip Thinnings
I was out in the garden the other day and noticed that my parsnips, which I had planted from seeds that I had saved last year, were sprouted and very happy. In fact, they were in need of thinning. See, I had planted several seeds on each hole because I didn't know if my saved seeds would actually be viable. Turns out, they are extremely potent.
So instead of following my own advice to snip off the extra sprouts with scissors, I opted to gently pull them out and put them to use in the kitchen. I was already ...
Thanksgiving Weekend To-Do List
Begin your holiday season with a ritual of planting something now for the spring that is to come. Bulbs will bring you color and cheer before most plants recover from winter.
Lots of Flowers, but No Fruit
A frustrated gardenerd wrote in recently:
"Having a little gardening crisis - I planted a second round of zucchini and cucumbers in September. They are large now and have produced many flowers, but no fruit! Other things I planted at the same time are doing well. Beans and peas aplenty. I know pollination is an issue, since what few bees there are right now are OBSESSED with the eucalyptus tree on the other side of the house, not my garden - but I've added some sweet alyssum pots to the garden area, and even poked at the flowers with ...
News on the Colony Collapse Disorder
Admittedly, I'm a little behind the curve on this one, but I guess I can blame the fact that I don't have television for getting news a little later than other folks. Anywho...
For those who haven't yet heard, it appears that a major cause of the bee collapse has been definitively sussed out. There are still a few other possible causes, but a recent report that came out in September confirms the connection. Lawsuits are a'flyin' and hopefully soon we will begin to see change around this issue. Read below for more details:
http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2008/09/colony-collapse-disorder-resolved.html
Special thanks to Ramon for bringing ...
Chillin’ with Compost
This week's tip of the week saves you from your own gag reflex. Use this trick to keep compost scraps in check before they go out to the bin.
Rats in the Garden
A concerned gardener wrote in this week: "Rotten rodents!...I have some rodent, maybe squirrels but more likely rats, that help themselves to whatever is young and tender in the garden."
Go Totally Bare
This week's tip of the week will save you money if you think ahead - and order ahead. Get your fruit trees and berries while you can.