Chick-Weed's Garden

Garden Skirts...

2011-07-27T16:32:00.008-04:00

I know, I've not blogged in ages, and NOW I am going to do a short little blog on SEWING...Yes, sewing, with an E not an O.

I am tired of my shorts riding up when I am working in the gardens, so I thought, a knee length skirt should work just as well! But after shopping and shopping (which I detest - well, clothes shopping) I realized I needed to just make my own.

After a few quick searches of the Internet, I came across a great blog that gives instructions on making skirts out of SHIRTS! Just my cup of tea!

Off to a local store to find some inexpensive shirts that I could put to good use. I purchased plain t-shirts for work skirts and some fancy t-shirts for every day wear!

Here is what I did...not exactly step by step, but you will get the idea and I will also link to the blog I found that inspired me.

First, find a shirt you like - that when you hold it up to you, will make the length skirt you desire. If you like it, and it is super inexpensive ($3-5), I say buy it! Better yet - go to your local thrift stores!

When I got home I washed and dried the shirts, just as I will once the final garment is done.

I laid the shirt out flat on my cutting board. Measured from my waist to where I want the hem to fall (just above the knee in this case) - and added one inch for seam allowance.

At the 21" mark, I cut across the shirt, trying to cut as straight as possible, just at the bottom of the sleeves. Since I am not a pencil, I wanted my skirt a bit longer which meant I had to cut a bit through the bottom of the sleeve. I turned the shirt inside out and ran a seam at the "armpit" to close it up so that the cut shirt was now just a tube.

Carefully folding the edge over to make a 1" seam, I pinned the shirt all the way around, making sure there would be enough room for the elastic later.

Stitch all the way around, but leave one inch of seam undone - so you have room to thread the elastic through. Make sure that you have thread that matches!! My first skirt, I didn't bother filling a new bobbin, and when I had almost finished sewing, I realized I would have a white seam on my brown skirt...on the outside! Oops! Oh well, it is for working in the garden. Who will see it, right?

I hooked a LARGE safety pin through the end of the elastic (in order to measure the 3/4" wide, no roll elastic, I held it around the part of my waist where I would wear the skirt, pulled it a bit snug, and cut the elastic allowing for a one inch overlap.). Thread the safety pin around the tube you created at the top of the skirt. It takes a bit of time and patience. Make sure the elastic doesn't twist. When you come back to the end, pull both ends out as far as you can. I pinned the ends, overlapping about one inch, then sewed over the ends and around in a box and then across the box - last thing I need while in the garden, is for the elastic to snap and my skirt to drop! Would NOT be good. Then I fed the skirt back through the machine to close up the slot where I threaded the elastic through.

Et Viola! A brand new skirt!

Here is the blog that inspired me The Shirt Skirt
Check it out!

April Showers...

2011-04-13T08:19:00.003-04:00

Not sure how many May flowers we are going to be getting out of all this rain, but I hope it is a lot!

My seedlings have been doing well for the most part. I have unfortunately lost all of my turnip seedlings. Left them one day too long and they dried out. I was disappointed in myself, but I will direct sow some this week. The beets I started aren't doing well either, nor the chard. Not sure what is happening with those. Maybe just low germination rate. I will also direct sow them. The sweet potato slips are now in containers with soil - so we will have to wait and see!

Fungus gnats have been a huge problem this season. They may have contributed to the demise of some of my smaller seedlings. I am trying a remedy of my own thinking to try and rid my plantings of them. Instead of paying a ton of money for a product that is formulated to treat for fungus gnats, I got some mosquito dunks (which contain the same strain of Bt that the gnat product does) and put a chunk of a dunk in a gallon of water. I use that to water the seedlings every second watering. I also moved the more infested plants outside - seemed to be more prevalent in the pot that I am trying to root some bay in. Fingers crossed! If it doesn't work, next season I will probably purchase that other product.

Due to business booming, I've not had the chance to do a whole heck of a lot in my own garden. I still need to construct my two new raised beds for veg. And I need to get more things planted out in the hoop house - as it will be coming down in another month! Luckily, one of my clients had a walk-in greenhouse that she never used and was kind enough to give to me, so I've been able to put some other seedlings out there.

I have found out that my thumbs might just be greener than I had thought...as I have been the only one that had success starting our year old Ramapo tomato seeds! I wound up with 61/62 seedlings out of 65 seeds, when at least 2 other people only managed 20 seedlings out of 65! It will cut down on our Master Gardener Association fund raising, as we will be selling the seedlings at Earth Day, but I am glad mine did so well!

Another day of wet weather, means I can take the day off and go work in the hoop house!

Happy Gardening everyone!

What's Sprouting!

2011-03-19T21:06:00.002-04:00

I've got lots of things in the flats that are coming up well.

60+ Ramapo seedlings - for our MGA fund raiser - are all looking good! Not bad for 65 seeds planted (left over from last year).
Two varieties of beets - Detroit Dark Red and Golden
Turnips
Various herbs
Onions
Leeks

Got some things in the salad table - arugula and romaine. Planted some radish seeds out there yesterday.

Also trying carrots - AGAIN! This time in potting soil mixed with vermiculite - in buckets. We'll have to see.

It is a bit late - but got some garlic in the ground finally.

And two buckets planted with blue potatoes - with soil on the bottom and I am going to try just packing the rest of the bucket with straw as the taters grow! I am giving the straw that I am using in the garden this year, to my chickens first, to let them take a day or two to scratch it up and eat up any leftover seeds.

This is shaping up into an exciting growing year! Lots of new seeds to try and several new techniques! Tomorrow I need to get my sweet potato slips in the ground and start the next batch rooting.

Sweet Potato Slips - Step TWO!

2011-02-28T11:36:00.003-05:00

Two of the sprouts finally seemed large enough to try rooting. This morning I gently twisted the sprouts from the sweet potato. Then I laid each sprout in a small dish of water, where they will stay until they root - which hopefully will only take a few days.

The other two potatoes do not seem to be rooting well - but they have sprouts. I will monitor them a few more days (now that I've changed their water) and see what happens. If no more growth happens, I may try shaving a bit more off the bottoms to see if that will encourage more roots. Fingers crossed!

The Hoop House Demise

2011-02-22T08:59:00.004-05:00

Yet again, the wet heavy snow has decimated my little hoop house structure.

Hoop House Collapse

My structure obviously needs re-structuring. I made it of PVC with short sections connecting each hoop at the top. I had decided to NOT use PVC glue, as I wanted to be able to dismantle the whole thing come summer. Unfortunately, this has lead to easy spots for disconnect when the snow gets heavy. I also didn't clip the plastic sheeting to the individual hoops, as I had done on my small hoop structure last year. The plastic is not as taught as I would have liked, also leading to the current structure fail. Well, we live and learn. By next fall, I hope to have a more permanent structure (aka - small green house) put up, made of reclaimed window sashes. Or possibly another hoop house, but this time made of metal conduit and wood ends, to aid structural integrity.

Luckily, my plans of winter gardening this year did not come to fruition, due to travel. Otherwise, the downed structure (with almost every snow fall) would have been more heart wrenching. So far I've only put some potatoes in buckets and there are a few small pots of herbs that are overwintering in there.

Hoop House On a Good Day (and the girls enjoying some range time!)

Annie's Project - New Jersey

2011-02-21T23:20:00.003-05:00

This year, New Jersey is hosting "Annie's Project" Classes!

So what is Annie's Project?? Well, it is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women's roles in the modern farm enterprise. Annie's Project's mission is:

"To empower farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information."

To learn more about Annie's Project or to find out if classes are available in your state: Annie's Project

Unfortunately I missed the first class, as I was visiting friends in Ontario. They went over writing a business plan. Sorry I missed that, but I am awaiting presentation notes from our County Ag Agent. Last week we discussed the importance of marketing and using social media. So now I have a twitter account, and I am more determined to keep up my blogging. Maybe even start a Face Book page for my little business.

Here is the Press Release from Rutgers!
Rutgers Launches First-Ever "Annie’s Project" in New Jersey

I am so glad I have the opportunity to take this class! Though I do not currently have a farm, or work on a farm, and I only do small scale private garden maintenance (aka - weed pulling for other people), I think the information I will gain will become invaluable to me in the coming years, as I get closer to my ultimate life goal of small scale farming in Prince Edward Island, Canada. (Or maybe somewhere in eastern Ontario...or possibly the Adirondacks!) I will also be able to apply the general, practical business knowledge to my current business.

Sweet Tater Slips Update

2011-02-19T10:31:00.003-05:00

Well, after a month of waiting for it to sprout...so far - only roots! And such lovely roots they are. My grocery store sweet potato I now believe was most likely treated with some anti-sprouting medium. Also, the water turned cloudy, and while changing the water I discovered that the entire potato has turned to mush! Lovely roots, mushy potato. Time for it to go into the compost pile.

Luckily, I had a few other sweet potatoes on the counter that had started to sprout, so I cut the end off of three of them, stuck them in water (just like my previous potato) and VOILA! Sprouts!

I'm going to give them another week or two before cutting them off and rooting them. Hopefully I will be able to get a half dozen slips or so to plant.

Now on to starting my seeds...Today it will be the various lettuces that I've collected (Okay - I'm a seed hoarder...I admit it! But I refuse an intervention.), radishes, onions (a new thing for this year - trying to start them from seed), leeks, arugula, and Ramapo tomatoes.

New Sprouts!

2011-01-20T11:09:00.004-05:00

Well, it has been too long since I have blogged. Just couldn't seem to find anything interesting to blog about.

It was a long hot summer. The gardening business was good - lots of weeds this year! But I neglected my own gardens more than I had intended.

As usual, this year is starting out with HUGE plans, or as most would call them, "Delusions of Grandeur." This year's hoop house has increased in size. It did collapse under the Christmas snowfall. I already have plans for a new, more permanent, greenhouse made up of old windows. I've got the windows, and finally have a plan. I will make sure to document my progress.

A few days ago, I took inventory of my seeds. A whopping 48 varieties - and that is just the veggies! Where ever will I put everything? New beds of course! One more project to add to the list. The ten or so flower varieties, will all be tossed into the Slope Garden with the rest of the wildflowers. Maybe this year the empty spaces will fill in.

Two new experiments are in the works. Sprouting my own sweet potato and sprouting flax seed. The sweet potato came about because buying slips just isn't in the budget and the minimum order is way more than my small household would ever need. The flax sprouts are to supplement my chickens' diet for the winter. They are much happier with more greens in their lives. (I also just discovered yesterday, to my shame, that the two girls I thought were Cochins, are in fact, Light Brahmas! Well, it just goes to show that one can never know everything about a subject! I will be breaking the news to them later today.)

Back to plantings... In order to grow my own sweet potato slips, I scoured the internet for directions. The simplest one was to suspend a store bought sweet potato in a jar of water. I took an old sweet potato, 2 small bamboo skewers, and an empty glass. I broke the skewers in half and stuck them into the top 1/3 of the potato so it would be suspended in the center of the jar. Then I filled it with water and placed the jar in a sunny spot. Within a few days, it already has two nice white roots! When there are several more, and they are about 6 inches long, I will snip them off, and put them in their own little pools, until they sprout. Then they will be ready for planting.

For sprouting the flax seed, I put perlite into two 6 inch plastic saucers (you know the kind that you put under pots?) and dampened it. I spread the flax seeds sparingly on the top, then covered them with a second saucer. I placed them in a dim warm spot. After just 12 hours, some of the seeds have already broken open. They just need to stay moist and when they have all started sprouting, they can be put in a sunny spot.

The gardening is beginning!

"Thank you for dining with us....

2010-06-15T19:59:00.004-04:00

Please - DON'T COME AGAIN!"

Something was eating my collards...but what are a few holes in the leaves among friends? UNTIL - there were more holes than leaves...

Upon turning over a leaf (not a new one...just an old one) I saw one of the culprits - a small green worm like critter that was munching away at my collards.

Well, I had seen some white cabbage moths flitting around a week so before...I fed those few holey leaves to my chickens and they just gobbled them up! They really LOVE collards!

A few days later, I was looking at the garden...and almost ALL of my collards looked like they'd been shot with buckshot! How many more cabbage moth worms are there? I didn't only find the familiar little green guys...to my complete surprise, I found a bunch of these...

Meet The Cross-Striped Cabbageworm! Kind of a pretty little thing really. The adult cross-striped cabbageworm (moth) isn't so pretty - sort of pale yellowish-brown.

So, what about it? Well, the cross-striped cabbageworm (from here on out referred to as CSC to enable me to type quicker...) are enamoured with cabbage (hence the name!), collards, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli...and any other related crops! Oh joy! I had turnips, from my hoop house, but they bolted so I ripped them out...but I still have collards and cabbage! UGH!!

Sigh...so what do these little buggers do?

Well, the larvae will eat very large oval shaped holes in the leaves and can burrow into a developing cabbage head. This would be no big deal if I had acres and acres of collards and cabbage...but not so great when you have a small veggie patch in your backyard. No wonder they just decimated everything in their path! When I found particularly infested leaves and stalks, I carefully plucked them, and fed them, leaves and all, to my chickens! My two Cochin pullets ate them like candy! Plucking them off one by one before even bothering with the greens!

But for those of you without chickens...you can hand pick the CSC's from your crops - and then DESTROY THEM!! Don't just knock them to the ground...they will find their way back. And since they can overwinter in their pupal stage, just beneath the soil...you may want to destroy all that is left after you have harvested the heads or leaves you desire. You can plow them under, but I'd prefer to destroy them. Another method, as suggested by the Rutger's Cooperative Extension is to use" parasites, predators and parasitoid wasps to help control the CSCs"...but with a small plot, hand picking will probably be sufficient, though time consuming. Using Bt can also be beneficial - if you are inclined to use pesticides.

As for me, I've pulled up my collards, fed the remaining to my chooks, and am closely watching the smaller collards and my lovely Swiss chard - that is just about ready for some harvesting...found a few on them too...luckily my chooks love greens!! And CSCs! Happy Hunting!

Gardens Update!

2010-05-30T15:43:00.006-04:00

Wow - have I been gardening up a storm for the last month and a half...unfortunately, it has only been minimally on my own gardens!! My clients' gardens are looking splendid, so at least I am doing my job.

My own gardens have also been doing well without me! Guess that is a good thing. My "Slope Garden" is beginning to bloom - with coreopsis and dianthus (Sweet William). The irises are mostly faded, with a few stoic stalks, holding their blooms til the bitter end. I am anxiously awaiting the daylilies opening - the buds are plentiful.

My veggie garden is doing well too! Though we did get "robbed" the other night - something came in and took a bite out of each strawberry that was just about ready to harvest! Ugh! Well, the chickens got a treat anyway. A tighter chain on the gate, and there were finally enough berries for another harvest! Phew!

My "Squarish Foot Garden" is flourishing! I've still got squares to fill...hopefully today I can sow some seeds. I did put a few tomato plants at the end - two each - Yellow Pear and Super Sweet 100's (cherry tomatoes).
As for my other tomato plants, they have gone into buckets.

And a new project was begun...

I have started herb seeds in shallow containers (they are "deep planter pans" with holes drilled in the bottom) that I am hoping to be able to move in and out of the chicken run - for them to have some "grazing" - but they don't like chives, so more for us people! :o) Hopefully they will enjoy some of the other varieties I planted: Garlic chives, common chives, common thyme, lemon balm, lemon grass, oregano, dill, parsley, chamomile, and cumin!

I am hoping that I can get a few more flower seeds going out front and a few more veggies...

I've also been enlisted to give my friends some gardening advice!! Love that - it has helped me focus my thoughts on gardening - since I've been obsessed with my chickens and all that goes to caring for them! (Best part of chicken ownership?? My littlest, Zig, sits on my shoulder and snaps mosquitoes out of the air! So much better than spraying myself with bug repellent! If I could figure out how to make her a harness, I'd take her to work with me everyday!)

Hoping all of you (my loyal readers!) are getting out and getting soil under your nails!

Time to harvest some lettuce and arugula for salad...

"Squarish" Foot Gardening!

2010-04-14T15:08:00.005-04:00

Hello All! I know it has been nearly a month since my last post, but Chick-Weed-ing has been keeping me busy, as well as my little chickies! One of which has been to the vet for an injury - I am picking her up this afternoon...

So back to my title of "Squarish" Foot Gardening...'WHAT IS THAT??' you ask? Well I'll tell you. It is my version of "Square Foot Gardening", pioneered by Mel Bartholemew. According to his website, "Square Foot Gardening is a simple system that adapts to all levels of experience, physical abilities, and geographical locations. Grow all you want and need in only 20% of the space of a conventional row garden. Save time, water, work and money!"

Basically, you divide your garden bed into square foot areas, with either twine, lattice, whatever you have on hand. Then you plant according to Mel's scheme - so many radishes per square, so many tomatoes per square, etc. There is a lot of great theory behind his method - I have two of his books, and even got to hear him speak! So this year, I was determined to try it...in just one of my veggie beds.

Since the weather was accommodating today, and I was finished up work early, I decided I would at least get out and mark off the bed. The tools I used were: bright yellow mason's string, scissors, ruler, staple gun and hammer.

Then I proceeded to string off sections...this is where the "squarish" comes into play. Because my bed is 9' x 4' (the outside dimension), I couldn't get even 12" x 12" squares. So I have a few that are only 12" x 11" and some that are 12" x 18" - so I will plant larger things there. I stapled the string at the first point and then tied a knot around the staple. I pulled the string tight, measuring to make sure I was close to 12" and stapled it on the other side of the bed. I ran the string along the outside of the bed, put another staple in at 12", then ran it across the bed, until I had all the short lengths done. Then I started the long runners - measuring as I went - and wrapping the string around the existing strings...and hopefully forming some squarish boxes.

Once everything was roped off, I started planting!

In the first square I planted some Burpee Little Caesar that I had started. The other three squares are 3 different types of onions - Candy, Mars, & Copra - that a friend traded me (for some Ramapo tomato seedlings).

I can't wait to get out and plant some of the other things I've got still under lights! And I am hoping that my "squarish" foot gardening does in fact take less work, produce more in smaller spaces, and reduce the amount of weeds I'll have to pull!

If you would like to learn more about Square Foot Gardening, you should visit: Square Foot Gardening Foundation
Happy Gardening!

Chick-Weed's Chick Adventures

2010-03-23T19:44:00.004-04:00

Yes, you read it correctly! I picked up my chickies yesterday!! 6 little girls. So cute, if I do say so myself. It was hard to choose which ones!

I'm not positive of the breeds, but it looks like 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Cochin, and the 6th is either RIR or a Buff Orpington...only time will tell.

Getting ready to build them a coop and run...I'm trying to do most if not all of the construction with freecycle materials.

Without further ado - Here they are! The two Cochins are named - "Zig" (my nephew's chick) and "Angel Allabeena" (my niece's chick)!

Happy Spring!

2010-03-21T09:23:00.004-04:00

It is official! Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox and nature sure knows it! I was able to take a quick walk around my property yesterday and survey everything. Luckily, all the snow we had, seems to have only had minimal impact on my azaleas, and my rhodos have snapped back and are looking good.

I love seeing all the day lilies peeking up from the soil. I was so inspired by the new sprouts, that when I was in the garden center, I bought a few things...which I said I wasn't going to do. I picked up some asparagus crowns and some freesia bulbs. Now, where to put them? This addiction to gardening is out of control! But I love it!

I just spent a week in Ontario visiting friends. They still had quite a bit of snow and ice still on the ground, but the weather was heavenly. We talked about her garden plans - she's putting in a pond this year - and I can't wait to see it!

While in Canada, I got to go to Montréal and visit the Jardin Botanique de Montréal! Most of the outdoor garden beds were still under their covers and some snow, but as it was raining that day, I didn't mind spending time strolling through the greenhouses. I lucked out and arrived during the middle of their "Butterflies Go Free" exhibit! A gorgeous display of flora and fauna - hundreds of butterflies and moths that they have hatched out. So here is a bit of spring from indoors...

Well, I'm off to start clearing up the last of the leaves from the beds and potting up some seedlings!

Seed Starting...Getting Started!

2010-03-03T13:47:00.007-05:00

Well, it is finally that time…I got my hands dirty (with the help of my 3 ½ year old niece) and got my seeds started. Phew. This is my third season starting my own seeds, and I am a novice at best! Each year I do something a little different to improve upon last year’s crop.

So how does one start seeds? Well, first things first. Plan! Before starting your favorite seeds indoors, you must be certain that you have room outside to put them once they are ready! Another part of planning, is deciding which seeds to start and the best time to start them.

Once I’ve decided which seeds to start indoors (vs. what I am going to direct sow in the gardens in spring) I gather my supplies. Now you are probably thinking, do I need to buy seed starter trays, expensive grow lights, etc.? The answer is NO! I personally do use the multi-cell starter trays, but that is my own personal preference. However, once the seedlings need to be potted up, they go into containers I have collected over the years – food containers are fantastic – sour cream, ricotta cheese, yogurt…and the easy way to put holes in the bottom for drainage? A corkscrew. Yes, you read that correctly! I use an old broken corkscrew, gently pressing the point into the bottom of the “pots” to make multiple holes around the outer rim and a half dozen in the center. And if cared for properly, these containers last from year to year! I clean mine and store them in the garage, out of the sun. I also save pots from purchased plants! Just give everything a nice soak in a mild bleach solution! As for grow lights – I use 2 4’ shop lights – each with one soft white bulb and one cool white bulb. The mix of bulbs provides different wavelengths of light – totally acceptable for starting seeds.

I have found that using a soil-less starting mix works best for me. I pour a good amount into a small tub and gradually add water to moisten. It is important to not over water the mix. You want it to sort of stay together when you squeeze a handful of it. It shouldn’t clump or drip. A little on the drier side is best.

Once the mix is ready, I begin filling my containers, compressing it lightly, just to make sure that the container is filled. Then, with seeds in hand, I begin sowing! For very tiny seeds, I will put in a small pinch 3-5 seeds, in each square of a 72 cell flat. For larger seeds, such as those for Swiss chard, I place only one per cell. Just follow the directions for sowing depth, lightly cover with some more mix if the packet calls for it, place in a marker and you are done!

I cover my flats with the plastic domes they came with – but I’ve used cling-film in the past, anything that helps keep the containers moist. Then the trays go onto the grow stand (that I built the 3 seasons ago, and plan on adding one more light to the top) to germinate!

I write down everything in my Garden Journal and then I wait!

Here is a quick list of supplies, to help you get started!

Soil-less seed starting mix
Seeds
Containers
Plant markers (either store bought or popsicle sticks or plastic knives)
Plastic to cover
Warm place (some people use the top of the fridge!)
Light source (shop lights, grow lights, a nice WARM sunny windowsill!)

Give it a try! It can be so satisfying to watch the emerging seedlings, knowing in a few months you will have gorgeous and nutritious veggies from a small effort on your part and a few tiny seeds. Isn’t nature grand?

10 Days after planting!

Next time…I’ve got them sown, NOW what do I do??

All this white stuff...

2010-02-12T13:22:00.004-05:00

Green has been far from my mind. We've been bombarded by snow storms this last week - losing our cable (therefore no internet) and electric. Now that I am back on line, I find that gardening has been far from my mind. I am not complaining mind! I love the snow! We haven't had snow accumulations like this in ages!

In this storm several of my lovely holly trees snapped off under the weight of the snow, as have a few of my fuller cedars; it has been rather depressing. One bright spot though, my hoop house is still in one piece! How the veggies underneath are doing remains to be seen! I cannot get the garden gate open with two feet of snow surrounding it, and as I have yet to dig out my car and I need to go grocery shopping...

So today's blog is going to just be a few photos.

Holly Trees

Sparrow on a snowfree spot in the sun

Barn buddies

Hoop House - half way through first storm - Still standing!

I should be starting my seeds soon... Until then - Keep warm & dream green!

Stroll Through a Winter Garden

2010-01-27T15:10:00.005-05:00

The chilliest day we have had all week, and I decide to go out and take photos (and stock) of my gardens. I find I need to fill up my time with such tasks as I eagerly await my new seed starting flats so I can start getting my hands dirty. It also stems from my attendance last night at a lecture by a fellow Master Gardener on Garden Pests & Beneficial Organisms. Will this be the year that I really look for pests in the garden? And keep it up beyond May 1st?

I did not find any little creatures hiding in the garden, but to my surprise and delight, I noticed several early birds (besides the daffodils which I mentioned in my last blog):iris, yarrow, and lilac! I also stumbled across a lovely little moss making its home at the base of a small retaining log in my Hollow Shade Garden. So though I may have been moaning a bit about all the blah of a winter garden, it isn't that long of a time without some green.

Here are a few bits of green for you!

Daffodils & some wild strawberry

White Lilac buds

Moss in the Hollow Shade Garden

Iris peeking out

Happy Gardening!

Spring's sprung already? Where's my Garden Journal?

2010-01-20T16:29:00.010-05:00

While standing in the snow flurries this morning, holding the pony, awaiting a visit from the farrier, I happened to notice the first signs of green pushing up! I couldn't believe it. I had to look twice. My one little patch of daffodils has decided to start growing.

Upon closer inspection, I concluded they began sprouting some time last weeek. Surely that is too soon, or so I thought. I decided to scan through my Garden Journal to see if I noticed this in the past year or so. And in mid-January 2008, there it was, a small note about the daffodils sprouting. A note later, confirmed that sprouting early didn't hurt the blooms. They were full and plentiful.

The Garden Journal, one of my favorite "tools." You may be asking yourself, do I really need one? The answer is YES! Well, you should at least consider it if you are serious about your gardening.

Your journal doesn't need to be anything fancy. I myself use a 3-ring binder. I set my journal up with calendar pages for each month and plenty of loose leaf in between. I keep separate sections for tips and ideas; projects lists; plant lists; garden diagrams; budget. Everything that has to do with my gardens goes in.

Seeds ordered
Seeds started and when
When things sprout
When seedlings go into the ground
Garden diagrams
Garden projects - new beds, transplanting
Photos - as things sprout, stages of the garden
Plant list

As you can see, I like to document. I take stock in my evergreens - do they look like they got damaged over the winter? How well do they come back, if at all? I cut the photos out of the catalogs of things I purchased and stick them on sheets behind my plant lists. But that is just me - it is the science geek in me coming out. At the end of the season, I can move the pages for the year to the back, and start again in January! I only have to start a new binder when one gets full. Good thing I bought the 3" wide binder!

Get started! Grab a composition book, 3-ring binder, spiral notebook, or a bound journal, pencil or pen and start documenting! You'll be glad you did.

I'm glad I take notes - now I know that I don't need to worry about my little daffodils being early, they typically sprout this time of year.

Composting 101

2010-01-09T19:16:00.013-05:00

How can you help your garden and cut down on garbage at the same time? By COMPOSTING! But what is composting, why should you compost, and how do you do it?

Composting is a natural process where organic materials decompose and are recycled into a dark, crumbly, earthy smelling soil conditioner known as “compost.” To gardeners, this is known as "black gold." Composting organic kitchen wastes and yard waste cuts down on what goes into our landfills and we can all benefit from that! It can save you money. Adding compost to your garden improves soil structure, promotes soil fertility, reduces chemical additives (commercial fertilizers) and stimulates healthy roots! All it costs is a bit of time to get started with your compost pile.

Let's get started! The first thing you need to do is to select a site in your yard or garden to put your compost pile or bin. Placement of the bin should be convenient and on level, well-drained ground. You do not want to put your compost bin in a low spot, where it stays wet, nor in the sunniest spot, where it may dry out. Also take into consideration who can see it! Some neighbors may consider your compost bin an eyesore.

The minimum size for a compost pile is 3'x3'x3', but larger than 5’x5’x5’ will inhibit air getting into the middle of the pile. Some people like to have a bin to put their composting materials in. My own bin is made from a piece of old wire fencing and unused fence posts formed into a square, where the front "panel" can be opened for ease in turning the pile. You may chose this method, or you can build a bin out of pressure treated wood and wire mesh, cinder blocks, whatever you have to hand. Some people have multiple bins to move the compost as it breaks down, but for small yards and gardens, multiple bins aren't necessary. Ready-made bins and composting "barrels" are available from many gardening retailers. Whatever method you chose, make sure there is ample ventilation. Air circulation is an important component in the decomposition process. The microorganisms in the compost pile need water, nutrients (such as nitrogen & carbon) and oxygen in order to live.

Once the location is chosen, it is time to get started adding organic matter. Here are a few "Do's and Dont's" of composting.

DO Compost:

Kitchen scraps - vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds
Garden debris & yard waste - weeds, flowers, leaves, grass clippings
Sawdust (from untreated lumber)
Wood ash

DON'T Compost:

Meat scraps
Grease
Pet feces
Food with grease or soap residue
Weeds with seeds
Diseased or infested plants

How to care for your compost pile: Caring for your compost pile is where the cost of time comes in. If you aren't in a hurry to get your compost, just start adding materials and turn the pile with a pitchfork once a month. With minimal effort, you should have usable compost in 12-18 months. Can't wait that long? More effort will be needed. Start off with green material (grass clippings, veggie scraps) and mix with some brown material (leaves). Wet the pile until it is damp - like a rung out sponge. Turn the pile twice a week, making sure the moisture level stays consistent, in order to aerate the pile. The microorganisms that are working to break down the matter need oxygen. A byproduct of decomposition is heat! A well maintained compost pile will reach temperatures between 110° and 160°F. If this temperature range is reached, it will help kill any weed seeds that may have gotten into the pile. Special compost thermometers can be purchased, but aren't necessary.

You will know your compost is ready to use when it is dark, brown, crumbly and it should have an earthy odor. It shouldn't smell rotten or be moldy. Any of the original materials that went into the compost pile should no longer be recognizable in finished compost, except for some woody pieces. The compost can be used as soil amendments, mulch, or in potting mixes!

For more in depth information on composting, try some of these links:
How To Compost
From Rutgers University:
Home Composting
For vermicomposting (composting with worms)

Happy Composting!

Cabin Fever

2010-01-05T13:55:00.003-05:00

I love the cold of winter. I like seeing the trees dormant. Sure I miss going out and spending time in my garden, getting soil under my nails, and mud all over my boots. I do have my hoop house, but that pretty much takes care of itself.

January is that time of year that every gardener looks forward to, when they are experiencing cabin fever and are frantically thumbing through the nursery and seed catalogs and searching websites for new and exciting specimens; placing orders and planning out their gardens. This year I almost dread it. The catalogs are flooding my mailbox and feeding my cabin fever! How long until the last frost date? When do I need to place my order by? Where will I put all these plants?? What type of weather will we get in the spring? Will my efforts be in vain? Ugh!

I have found myself mentally circling all the things I'd like to purchase this year, though I know I don't really need anything nor can I afford anything new this year. I did go a bit seed-happy last year, buying a packet of this or that each time I went past a display! But this year, I need to stick to my budget, which is next to zero. How will I fill my desire to grow things?

Luckily, I did not plant every seed I purchased last year. I saved half of each packet of vegetable seeds and stored them in a cool dry place. I also saved seeds from my own garden for favorite self-seeding annuals and perennials, along with a strange collection of interesting blooms and cuttings from a few clients - who were more than happy to share with me.

My preparation for the coming spring is planning on what seeds to start, when, and where to transplant the seedlings. I will be adding a third light to my grow stand. When the ground thaws out, I am going to start cutting a new bed for a mix of herbs and veggies.

How to stick to a garden budget? Here are a few tips to get started.

Check with fellow gardeners or local garden clubs, see if anyone you know saves seeds and is willing to swap! Check out gardening websites to see if they have seed exchanges.
Need to thin out some of your plants? See if a neighbor is willing to take some in exchange for something of theirs - maybe you have a green thumb for flowers and your neighbor excels with vegetables.
If you live in a rural area, see if the pony owner down the street is willing to let you haul away an older section of their manure pile - many will be glad to be rid of it! And you can get a great deal of free compost! And don't forget to thank them with some of the produce!
If you don't do so already, save seeds or take cuttings from your favorite plants this year. Make sure you do your research first! Many specimens are cultivars and the seed you save may not produce the traits of the parent plant that you so admire. See if cuttings are a good way to replicate the parent plant!

Until I get my seeds started, I will still thumb through my catalogs while sipping hot tea, looking out upon my dormant beds dreaming of what my garden will become and await the first bright green leaves to push their way out of the soil...

First Winter Harvest

2009-12-27T11:52:00.004-05:00

Today is a great day to go outside - the sun is shining and it is a balmy 50˚ F! After yesterday's rain, the sun is a welcome sight. I put on my Wellies and headed out to check the hoop-house crops.

I had a few surprises when I opened up the end flap. The soil was still damp under the surface layer, that tends to dry out anyway, and I had 2 turnips and 1 carrot ready for harvest! Now the carrot's growth has been stunted for one reason or another. I am not 100% sure of the cause. When I sowed the seed, they sprouted rather quickly and spent most of their energy into forming the greens, which is what I assume is the cause for the small stunted root growth. All the previous carrots harvested had this same type of stunted growth. But the pony likes them, so they aren't a total waste!

My other surprise was in the collards - I caught the culprit that has been munching away at them...a lovely little slug!

Some sow bugs were also found hanging about in the damp soil under the carrots - they are a constant pest wherever conditions are damp. It was a good reminder that even though my crops are covered, the pests can still get in! The turnips both had a little insect damage on them, but nothing detrimental. They will be part of tonight's dinner - boiled and mashed up with the leftover potatoes from last night.

Happy Harvesting!

Winter Gardens

2009-12-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

I have been lax at keeping up with this blog - and I apologize! With the holidays and all, I've been busy with all the non-gardening aspects of life.

One issue I've been discussing with some of my fellow Master Gardeners is "What do you do during the winter months?" The consensus seems to be that we are all busy ordering catalogs and planning for spring. A few of us start seeds indoors. I personally, got very adventurous this year, and put up a mini hoop-house over one of the raised beds in my vegetable garden. I planted some cool season vegetables - collard greens, Swiss chard, turnips, spinach and carrots. The carrots are left over from summer - they have been growing slowly, most likely they were started too late in the spring, and being a cool season veg, they were not happy with the warm wet weather we had.

I sowed the seeds for the collards, chard, spinach and turnips in early September. We still had some very warm weather, and unfortunately the spinach and chard did not do well. I had a few chard seedlings come up and none of the spinach. The turnips however, really took! And the collards started out well, until the insects got to them.

Even though my crops were more sparse than I had anticipated, I decided to go to the local home improvement center and picked up 6 lengths 1/2" PVC pipes, 1 length of 3/4" PVC and a roll of 4 mil plastic sheeting, and construct my little hoop-house.

To begin the hoop-house, I had my Dad cut some salvaged re-bar into 18" lengths. There were 10 pieces in all. I drove the re-bar stakes halfway into the ground just to the outside of the raised bed frame, equidistant, down each side. Then, carefully, I drove one end of the 1/2" PVC pipe over the re-bar, and down into the soil about 3". With some ease, I bent the pipe over the bed and down over the re-bar. Once the arch was made, I pressed each side of the PVC until the top of the arch was the height I desired. I continued this until I had 5 "ribs" along the bed. I used the 6th PVC as the top rail, which I tied underneath the center of each rib. The plastic sheeting went over it, anchored with bricks along the sides and ends. I cut the 3/4" PVC into 3-4" pieces, that I split down the middle, removing a sliver about 1/8" wide, to make cuffs for holding the sheeting down. Carefully - and this was the most difficult part of the process - I slid the cuffs over the sheeting and arches. One near the top and one at the bottom of each rib. Where the top rail hung over at the ends, I also put a cuff. And my hoop-house was done!

It has been keeping my little crop of veg nice and warm - even with the 6" of snow we had last week! They are still growing and doing very well. I do not need to water too much, as the plastic sheeting keeps in the moisture. I water thoroughly every two weeks, when the condensation on the inside of the plastic sheeting has decreased. The soil is still warm, and the plants are happy!

My next project will be starting seeds indoors with seeds harvested from some of my clients' gardens as well as from my own garden.

Pulling Weeds

2009-12-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

I know I may be starting yet another endeavour that I should wait on, what with all the other projects I'm juggling. But I know come spring, I'll be busy cultivating my outside garden. And today is a good day to start some seeds indoors.

I am a certified Master Gardener in NJ. Most of my volunteer hours are spent on the Horticultural Helpline - trying to discern other people's plant and garden problems. It has been quite an education. In my spare time, I have a small gardening business that consists mainly of weed pulling and other garden maintenance chores.

My interests go beyond the garden gate, into the woods, across the water, into the barn, and occasionally into the artist's studio. I've always loved writing and photography, and enjoyed sharing my passions with others, so what better forum than a blog?

My aim is to post mainly gardening information, but keep your eyes open for recipes and photos as well! And projects for the garden - I'm mulling over a few at the moment and if they are successful I will post them here.

Sharing gardening's ups and downs helps all of us gardeners learn!