Lettuce in Winter: Part 2 »
We spaded the ground in our unheated greenhouse, removing weeds and debris. To spade, push your shovel in the ground and lift a shovel full of dirt out of the ground. Turn your whole shovel over and let the dirt fall back into the hole you just made. The point of doing this is to [Read More...]
Plant Profile: Amaryllis »
This plant profile is a real crowd favorite! Common Name(s): Amaryllis is actually the common name even though it is the generic name for another plant that looks similar, but is a hardier specimen from South Africa. Scientific Name: Hippeastrum (hip-ee-AS-trum) from the Amaryllidaceae family. Hippeastrum is Greek for knights star. The common name, Amaryllis, [Read More...]
My Quick and Easy Cold Frame »
A garden project I did several years ago brings to mind how much I like to re-purpose things. In my opinion, Recycle and Re-purpose are must haves when it comes to gardening. The project was a cold frame I built in front of my house near the hot water heater outtake pipeline. Nothing inside the [Read More...]
Garden Recommendation: Peat Pots »
On our farm we plant 1,000’s of tomato plants, each one grown from seed. We start the seeds off in a standard 1020 flat, growing them under florescent lights in our heated basement. When they are large enough and the weather has warmed up we can set them out in our unheated greenhouse. When the [Read More...]
10 Things You Need for Successful Seed Starting »
It seems like just yesterday we were all clearing the garden and prepping for the long, cold winter. Luckily, most of us didn’t have to deal with frigid temperatures and mountains of snow, but the seeming lack of a real winter may have caught a number of gardeners off guard. Boom…here it is. Seed starting [Read More...]
Choose the Right Soil for Successful Seed Starting »
When you’re seed starting in containers, don’t just scoop soil out of your garden. You risk exposing the seedlings to pathogens and bugs, and there’s no guarantee that the soil has all the properties necessary to give those plants a good start in life. That’s why the best possible seed-starting “soil” is actually a sterile, [Read More...]
Inadequate Seeds for Early Indoor Starting »
Q. Are there any vegetables that are not ideal for starting indoors? A. Yes. Many root crops, including beets, carrots, parsnips, and turnips, either don’t start well indoors or don’t transplant well; the same is true for some non-root crops, like beans, corn, and peas. Your best bet is to directly seed them into pots, [Read More...]
Get a Jump on Indoor Seed Starting »
If tending houseplants just isn’t enough for you this winter, then get a leg up on spring by starting some seeds indoors! It’s easy, and offers plenty of benefits. For example: It’s more cost-effective than buying seedlings. You have complete control over the growing process, from the very beginning. You have a much wider choice [Read More...]