Bugs and soil. The productive garden needs to have beneficial insects but not those that are destructive. It also requires fertile soil with the proper pH for what you are growing. With the sun shining beautifully on the garden this past weekend, I began exploring how to optimize both of these this year.
It was the blueberries I planted that prompted me to first search out help with the acidity of my soil. The bushes we first planted produced berries but never thrived. I want to be sure the soil is at the correct pH level this time. I was happy to find a pH meter in the gardening section of one of the stories I frequent. I promptly purchased it, read the instructions and tested our soil. As I suspected, it’s not acidic enough.
I had already added organic matter, which my organic gardening book had recommended. I wasn’t sure what else to add to keep the garden organic so I began my search, finding the same recommendations repeatedly: pine bark mulch, pine needles, cottonseed meal and sulfur. This article has more insight.
It sounds like this will be a longer-term process than adding a simple amendment immediately, but I believe patience will pay off.
The other research I picked up over the weekend was a start to which herbs and companion plants might diminish garden pests. I experimented with this last year on a small level and the only bugs I had trouble with were squash beetles. I’m more serious about it this year. Our winter wasn’t as cold as usual and spring has come early, ideal conditions in which some bugs will thrive. For now, I’ve planted some herb seeds in pots for later transplanting. As the sun shines I’m sketching out my planting plan for this year, experimenting with different arrangement to maximize the benefits of companion planting.
Before I sign off today also want to revisit the question of safe seeds to use. So far I’ve identified two sources that I feel safe recommending because of their company philosophies and statements: Johnny’s Select Seeds and Seeds of Change.
If you have recommended sources for seeds, or any other gardening advice to share, please post it in our comments so we can all continue to learn.
Showing posts with label seeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seeds. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
From seeds to plants to questions
My cauliflower and broccoli sprouted within a week after I planted them in pots, claiming their place as my first green babies of the gardening season and putting a joyous song in my heart. Spring is coming!
Just as I was rejoicing in the start of the gardening season, I received an e-mail from a friend that caused me to wonder about the seeds I’ll plant next. I ordered this year from three different companies. Two of those choices I made intentionally because I value them as respected sources. A third company I ordered from because I had a money-saving coupon.
Then I clicked onto my friend’s link to an Inspiration Green post about avoiding Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds. I've read about some of Monsanto's practices previously and didn't feel good about them. Did I unwittingly buy some of them? And does it matter?
I am no expert on this topic so I leave you to read further and decide where it is best to purchase your seeds. I prefer to avoid genetically-modified foods so I’ll be doing some research to find out more about the source of my seeds. I’ll also make a note about who to avoid ordering from in the future.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to digging my hands into more potting soil to plant my next batch of seeds.
Just as I was rejoicing in the start of the gardening season, I received an e-mail from a friend that caused me to wonder about the seeds I’ll plant next. I ordered this year from three different companies. Two of those choices I made intentionally because I value them as respected sources. A third company I ordered from because I had a money-saving coupon.
Then I clicked onto my friend’s link to an Inspiration Green post about avoiding Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds. I've read about some of Monsanto's practices previously and didn't feel good about them. Did I unwittingly buy some of them? And does it matter?
I am no expert on this topic so I leave you to read further and decide where it is best to purchase your seeds. I prefer to avoid genetically-modified foods so I’ll be doing some research to find out more about the source of my seeds. I’ll also make a note about who to avoid ordering from in the future.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to digging my hands into more potting soil to plant my next batch of seeds.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Seed saving season
Every winter I receive at least a dozen seed catalogs that encourage me to think ahead to spring. And every fall I consider that if I would save my own seeds, I wouldn’t need to buy as many next year. This year, I’ve tried to do more than just think about seed saving.
Squash and bean seeds are easy enough to save. Squash seeds are large so I rinse them then put them in a bowl or on a paper towel to dry before storing them in a glass or hard plastic jar and labeling. Beans can be left on the vine until they dry then it’s simple to open the pod and pop them out for storage.
Then there are tomatoes. I’ve tried a few different methods but I think the one Jim showed me this year worked the best. It’s the method he used for years as a farmer and agriculture teacher, now adapted to our back yard garden. Here’s what I did.
1. Collect all frost-bitten (or too green to ripen) tomatoes from the vines. Put them in a bucket.
2. Let the rain cover them. If it doesn’t rain, use your water hose to add water. (The rainwater is my addition. Jim prefers the power of the garden hose to help separate the seed from the pulp.)
3. Put on your rubber gloves, crush the remaining tomato chunks with your hands, releasing the seeds into the water. Remove as much pulp and skin as you can.
4. Soak for a week or so to encourage seed separation from the rest of the pulp.
5. Place half of a large screen over another bucket. Pour out the water and seeds over the screen. The seeds and a few tomato bits will remain on the screen. Cover the seeds with another screen (to avoid feeding the birds)and put outside in the sun with the top screen securely in place. (We used bricks to hold it down.)
6. Let seeds dry. If the sun is out and you’ve removed most of the tomato bits, it shouldn’t take more than a day or two.
7. Use your hand and fingertips to loosen seeds from screen and pour into a storage jar. Label and keep for spring.
I collected my Constaluto Genovese and San Marzano seeds yesterday then reused those screens for two other types of tomatoes. I had hoped to collect the rest of the dried seeds today but Mother Nature delayed me with a morning rain. That’s okay because planting season is still months away and Mr. Sunshine is at work to dry for me.
Squash and bean seeds are easy enough to save. Squash seeds are large so I rinse them then put them in a bowl or on a paper towel to dry before storing them in a glass or hard plastic jar and labeling. Beans can be left on the vine until they dry then it’s simple to open the pod and pop them out for storage.
Then there are tomatoes. I’ve tried a few different methods but I think the one Jim showed me this year worked the best. It’s the method he used for years as a farmer and agriculture teacher, now adapted to our back yard garden. Here’s what I did.
1. Collect all frost-bitten (or too green to ripen) tomatoes from the vines. Put them in a bucket.
2. Let the rain cover them. If it doesn’t rain, use your water hose to add water. (The rainwater is my addition. Jim prefers the power of the garden hose to help separate the seed from the pulp.)
3. Put on your rubber gloves, crush the remaining tomato chunks with your hands, releasing the seeds into the water. Remove as much pulp and skin as you can.
4. Soak for a week or so to encourage seed separation from the rest of the pulp.
5. Place half of a large screen over another bucket. Pour out the water and seeds over the screen. The seeds and a few tomato bits will remain on the screen. Cover the seeds with another screen (to avoid feeding the birds)and put outside in the sun with the top screen securely in place. (We used bricks to hold it down.)
6. Let seeds dry. If the sun is out and you’ve removed most of the tomato bits, it shouldn’t take more than a day or two.
7. Use your hand and fingertips to loosen seeds from screen and pour into a storage jar. Label and keep for spring.
I collected my Constaluto Genovese and San Marzano seeds yesterday then reused those screens for two other types of tomatoes. I had hoped to collect the rest of the dried seeds today but Mother Nature delayed me with a morning rain. That’s okay because planting season is still months away and Mr. Sunshine is at work to dry for me.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Spring will actually arrive!
We had beautiful spring-like weather here yesterday. I think it hit 64 degrees. Even though it’s too early and wet to do anything in the garden, I wandered around the yard picking up limbs and sticks. Then I gathered up dried leaves to mulch the daffodils that have broken through the soil. They don’t know it’s going to get cold again this week!
I also found the first flowers of spring – snowbells (see photo). The plant is the height of my index finger. A friend gave me some of her snowbells a few years ago to plant in my flower garden and they are a delightful sign that winter is ending. Unfortunately, I’ve pulled some of them up during my weeding frenzy of warmer days (they look like long grass when not blooming) but there are a few, including these in my Marian garden, that survived. Now I need to mark them so I don’t pull them up, also!
The sun also inspired me to plant my first seeds for my “indoor greenhouse,” which is the window in my office. Every year I like to try something new so this year it’s leeks, which need to sprout and grow inside for several weeks before they are ready for transplanting. It was so nice to see dirt under my fingernails.
Before I knew it was going to be so warm, I made a pot of butternut squash chili with one of final two squashes from last season. I love the recipe not only because it tastes so good, but I can also use our canned tomatoes in it. So we have a good pot of soup to carry us into this week.
I also found the first flowers of spring – snowbells (see photo). The plant is the height of my index finger. A friend gave me some of her snowbells a few years ago to plant in my flower garden and they are a delightful sign that winter is ending. Unfortunately, I’ve pulled some of them up during my weeding frenzy of warmer days (they look like long grass when not blooming) but there are a few, including these in my Marian garden, that survived. Now I need to mark them so I don’t pull them up, also!
The sun also inspired me to plant my first seeds for my “indoor greenhouse,” which is the window in my office. Every year I like to try something new so this year it’s leeks, which need to sprout and grow inside for several weeks before they are ready for transplanting. It was so nice to see dirt under my fingernails.
Before I knew it was going to be so warm, I made a pot of butternut squash chili with one of final two squashes from last season. I love the recipe not only because it tastes so good, but I can also use our canned tomatoes in it. So we have a good pot of soup to carry us into this week.
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