Archive for ‘Organic Gardening’

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April 12, 2012

J is for Japanese Beetles

Eww. That’s right, I said eww.
I know, not a highly descriptive word, but you have no question in mind what I’m thinking, right?
Japanese Beetles are not my friend.  Sure their green iridescent shells might be pretty, but I h-word them. I always hesitate to use the word hate. It’s such a harsh word, but in this case, the word hate and Japanese Beetles are becoming synonymous.
Right now the Japanese Beetle grubs are under our sod and soil munching on our plant and grass roots.  Eww. Then, when the time is right, they’ll emerge, crawling onto our plants to munch away on the leaves and leave us with nothing but the skeleton of a leaf. Grrrr…. But, while they’re at it, they’ll emit a pheromone (Eww) calling all of their metallic backed friends to join them so they can mate, lay eggs in the soil and do it all over again. Again, eww.
Now, unless you really like your plants to look lacy, you could knock these buggers into a bucket of soapy water and end their life cycle in about 30 seconds.
You can also put chemicals into the soil to kill the grubs, but guess what? It impacts more than just the Japanese Beetles, it hurts the beneficial insects too, including bees. So you might want to skip that one.
Maybe you’ve heard of the pheromone traps? Go ahead and hang them up.  That is if you really, really like Japanese Beetles, because they’ll be calling their friends from a 5 mile radius to come and par-tay.
So what can we do? Not a lot. A bucket of soapy water is about the best non-toxic remedy at this point, because remember the chemicals will work… In your yard. But is your neighbor killing them? How about their neighbor? How about the people living 5 miles away whose beetles came for the pheromone party? Then it’s best to skip the chemicals and the long-term damage they can cause, do what you can without making yourself crazy and learn to live with them, because unfortunately, they’re here for the long haul.
So if you can’t beat them, don a green metallic shell grab yourself a,leaf and munch away. Ew. Never mind. Just live with them.

Kate

Posted in Insects & Diseases | Leave a Comment »

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April 9, 2012

H is for Hardening Off

If you’ve started growing seedlings indoors in the last week or two, chances are you’re starting to see shoots, sprouts, little green growth right about now.   It will still be a few weeks before it’s time to get your plants outdoors, but when the time comes you want them to be ready.   You want those little guys to grow up and be big and strong and do well in your garden this summer.

Hardening off if how it’s done.  And there’s not all that much to it really, but you need to put it in your planting schedule.  About a week or week and a half before you plan on putting these little guys into the ground you need to prepare them for reality.  While they’re growing inside, under plant lights with optimal conditions, they’re being pampered, if you take them outside and pop them in the ground without preparing them, chances are they are going to get beaten up pretty quickly.  Instead, you’ll want to  get them used to their new world, one with real sunlight, cool nights, wind and less frequent watering.

So here’s how you do it.

Day 1 – Choose a mild sunny day.  Set your seedlings outside in a sunny, protected location for only about 2 or 3 hours.  Then bring them back inside.

Each day afterward add another hour or two to their time spent outside.  By the end of the week they will spend the entire day, cool evening hours and even spend the night outdoors.

While hardening them off, watch the weather forecast like a hawk.  If rain is in the forecast, make sure they are only exposed to light rains initially, protect them from heavy or severe rain storms.  In addition, when you get to the point of them being outside during the cool evening and night hours, make sure to watch the nighttime temps so it doesn’t get too cold and nip your new seedlings.  (Cool crops/flowers can typically handle lows around 40 degrees, warms season crops/flowers typically don’t like to go below 60 – 65 degrees.)

That’s it.  Once you’ve hardened them off, they should be good and strong and ready for the garden.

Until tomorrow,

Kate

p.s. – H is also for Hard Frost, which we’re in for tonight and tomorrow in Minnesota.  If you have any tender plants outside or are just worried about damaging that tender new growth on others,  either bring them in or get out the old sheets!

Posted in Seed Starting | 3 Comments »

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April 3, 2012

C is for Crazy Containers! (Think outside the pot!)

C is for Crazy Containers!  (Think outside the pot!)

As we think about container gardens, we usually think “pots”.  But I hope to inspire you to give it a little more thought.

All of the pictures that you will see, were found on the web, but I’ve gathered them up for thee, and Barb and Jim and Deb.

So search out your closets, your attics, your Grammy’s, for anything could work as a “pot”, even a bra or jammies!?

Hanging Basket Herb Garden

Garden In a Bucket

DIY Rain Boots Garden On A Fence

Wine Crates

Bathtub Garden

Pallet Vertical Garden

Galvanized Containers

Wagon Fairy Garden

Suitcase Garden

Container Garden for the Fashion Conscious

Bra Garden

So there you have it, have you been inspired?

You’re next, what will you do?  What will you find that’s been retired?

Kate

Posted in Container Gardening, Laughing at Life | 4 Comments »

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April 2, 2012

B is for Brussel Sprouts

B is for Brussel Sprouts.  Aack!  Spit!  Gag! Puke!

“Are you kidding me?  I’d rather have a cuke!”

I know you may not believe this for neither did I, until I learned the secret of how, and when, to buy.

Brussel sprouts are delicious, steamed, with a little sea salt and olive oil.  And they’re super nutritious, but please don’t allow them to boil!

Now you’ll think I’m a trickster, a swindler, a fool.  But I’m telling the truth, for I hated ’em in school.

And it wasn’t just there, it was at home on the table.  No matter how I tried, I couldn’t eat ’em, wasn’t able.

The were mushy and bitter and caused instant gag reflexes.  I was sure it was punishment.  “I’m moving to Texas.”

So many years later while talking to Mom, she convinced me to try ’em.  “They’re awesome!  They’re the bomb!”

So what’s different now than so many years ago?  Frost is the key.  If they’re not purple, let ’em go!

What?  You might ask.  But brussel sprouts are green!  Are these a special kind? No they’re not.  You will see.

As the warm weather fades and cause night temps to fall, the brussel sprouts will be standing nearly three feet tall.

And so at this point, Jack Frost will also visit, six or seven times and the purple he’ll bring with it.

He will leave slight tinges on the tips of the leaves, signaling to us that it’s time, but only if you perceive.

This purple, this color, is a sign from above that the starch is now sweet and sprouts you will love!

So save a row, or a corner, in your garden bed.  And if you can’t, or you won’t, then hit the Farmer’s Market instead.

Just remember, don’t forget.  Grab ’em purple, not green.  And if you try ’em, when they’re fresh, you will like ’em you will see!

Kate

Posted in Healthy Eating, Veggie Garden | 12 Comments »

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