Gardens Update!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

1. Soil-less seed starting mix
   
2. Seeds
   
3. Containers
   
4. Plant markers (either store bought or popsicle sticks or plastic knives)
   
5. Plastic to cover
   
6. Warm place (some people use the top of the fridge!)
   
7. 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...

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

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!