Veggie Tales

I know not everyone is into growing vegetables, but believe it or not, this is how most children become interested in gardening.  There are so many cold crop vegetables that grow in short periods of time, the results are watchable almost daily and most can be put on the table to taste or eat.

Not only is the growing a first class science experiment, but the preparation and cooking integrates language, math and science.  Think of some new words to learn such as germinate, soil, fertilizer, even photosynthesis and phototropism (even young children can be introduced to these terms and an explanation of the meaning - remember this is an introduction, not mastery).  Growing veggies is such a great way to get children to try new things, especially if they grew it and nurtured it into adulthood and finally to the table.

I began growing veggies at age eight on a thirty foot city lot in Chicago.  I probably would have begun earlier but I lived in an apartment in the big city.  Neither of my parents were gardeners, but my aunt was, my mentor who I followed around the garden on my hands and knees learning about each plant as we hobbled along.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, my first crop was carrots.  I have carrots growing this year layered in between the lettuces.  They seem to be doing just great, but my radishes have lots of little nibbles showing, don't think I planted them at the time recommended by the Farmers Almanac!

I love the Red Rosie lettuce, so dark and mysterious, Oakleaf Panisse is a brighter green than any other Oakleaf that I have grown.  I have already planted two Celebrity tomatoes because they are determinate and do not take over my small garden.  I had to have a Beefmaster but still have not received my Brandy Boys and peppers from Burpee.  I did add some hot banana peppers,  jalapenos, mild banana peppers and basil.

Blooms For Fertilizer Friday

That's what's blooming around the garden today!

Focal Points In Your Garden

I have been reading a great deal about focal points in the garden.  The two blogs I especially enjoyed were written at opposite ends of the country, one being Carolyn's Sweet Home and Garden Chicago http://sweethomeandgardenchicago.blogspot.com/ and the other Rebecca's Gossip In The Garden http://gossipinthegarden.com/ out in California.  Both are written by professional garden designers and are excellent in that they deal with what we can do in our own yard as regular gardeners.

I read all of the Roundtable blogs and each one had specific ideas which were usable.  But Carolyn's and Rebecca's displayed multiple focal point ideas which were all usable and executable by even the amateur gardener.  Talk about turning gardeners on, something we all need to think about when we speak our gardenerese.

Even if you have a small urban type garden like Carolyn and I have, there can be many focal parts to your garden.  Those with sprawling landscapes can think of focal points in terms of several rooms to a big house.  As you move through these rooms, the focal point will change.  Some will be close up and personal and some will be down a long gently curving path and some might be way in the distance, that we see immediately, but have a journey to reach it.

I have several focal points in my very small yard, however, I am still working on the north side of my home.  It just seems to be a long stretch with a gate at the end, not a lot of interest except the plantings on the side.

I loved one comment, I think from Pam at Digging, that some focal points just need to be screened off!

Container Time

It is that time again, to plant the containers!  I don't know why I bother each year to say I am going to cut down on my container gardening.  There is something about seeing various containers throughout the garden as points of interest.  They make every part of your garden a "go to" location.

I do have some small Guy Wolfe pots that I purchased up in Wisconsin and I use them around my vegetable garden.  Even with additives they dry out quickly, but they look "cottagey" and I like that look around my vegetable garden.  I do bargain hunt for pots at the outlet stores and have found some really special containers such as the broken ceramic piece pots.  We have added drainage holes to many of these with a ceramic drill bit.  It is important to have drainage holes or your plants will rot. 

I purchased two new pots this year the same color tone as my home, and I gave away pots that were repaired or just not something I use anymore.  We put them out in the alley and they were gone within an hour.  It is good to know that someone will get use out of them.  I have a ton of too small pots stored in cabinets in my garage which I should also give away because they dry out too quickly when planted. 

I do use moisture control potting soil, but I also add water retaining crystals to my mix.  Do not add too many preinflated crystals or during a rainstorm they will be all over the ground.  I know the resin pots are getting better and better each year, but I still favor the real thing, concrete, ceramic, clay, etc.  I did purchase two pre-planted bluestone look resin pots at Costco for the far end of the garden, and from a distance, they look great.

Containers require consistent fertilization, at least every two weeks.  I mix up a five gallon pail of super bloom fertilizer, fill up my gallon jug and fertilize, fertilize.  That's what I mean about containers, they are work!  We will revisit when I begin to plant the thrillers, spillers and fillers.  Figure out your expenses per plant, soil, etc., and sometimes is is more economical to purchase a preplanted container if it has all off the colors and plants you desire.

I keep telling myself with each one I plant, they are a lot of work but so beautiful!

Mr. Wizard

When I was a young child, there used to be a person on television called "Mr. Wizard."  He was an expert at experiments and could do things that would always amaze us.  Now, I am not saying that I am Mr. Wizard, but I am trying some experiments this year.

My first experiment was with a product called Plantskydd, a critter repellent.  I tried it in three different gardens, one completely overrun by rabbits - most perennials eaten last year, one with spring bulbs tops eaten and the other with various plants and bulbs eaten.  The product was applied in early March and reapplied in the overrun garden because mulch was put down.  Not one plant has been eaten or chewed in any of the three gardens.  The product is guaranteed against animal plant damage.  I know, no one wants to believe this, it it not inexpensive, but it seems to work.

My other experiment is the layered raised bed vegetable garden.  I have really gone big time this year, layering just about everything.  I am also experimenting using the philosophy of Art in the Garden and incorporating the colors of famous artists in my containers and garden beds.  My final experiment is the seed starting that I said I was not going to do, but I have done it without my lights.  I am now hardening off Nicotiana, Saliva and Amaranthus (Love Lies Bleeding).  They are all so fragile I hope they make it.

Mr. Wizard (Don Herbert) I hope you will be proud of me for being an experimenter!