Herbs I’m Planting

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Karen

till the soil 12″-24″ deep
mix in 6″ layer of compost or sphagnum peat moss to top 12″
add a little perlite to improve drainage
a little organic fertilizer helps

ph = 6-7 1/2

water herbs at the ground. they are soft stemmed & susceptible to fungus when wet

Basil

Basil

Basil – um –  pinch as it grows.  can grow 2 feet tall.  sun or partial shade. moderately rich soil. keep it watered.

Catnip

Catnip

Catnip (perennial) Nepeta cataria –  member of the mint family – also a tea – 2-3′ tall and wide – prefers moist, light, rich soil – some shade

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Posted in Garden Organization, Getting Started, Herbs | 8 Comments

Edible of the month: Asparagus

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Karen

Mature asparagus plants send up multiple spears that can be cut for up to 6 weeks.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a member of the lily family and has been grown and eaten since 1000AD. It’s thought to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean region as a wild plant and modern varieties have been selected for larger and tastier spears. Asparagus is unique, because, unlike most home garden vegetables, it is a perennial, coming back year after year. A well-maintained asparagus bed can produce spears for 20 years. Therefore, it’s important to spend extra time and energy preparing the soil in the bed and planting it correctly.

The young shoots (spears) are what we eat. The spears are only available in spring for a 6- to 8-week period. (There has been some experimenting with forcing asparagus to send up new spears in summer and fall, too. See the article link later on). Once the asparagus spears are allowed to grow into ferns, they can top 6-feet tall, making a beautiful barrier or wall of green in your garden. Asparagus can be used as an edible hedge, backdrop to flowers or shrubs, or a visual barrier. The ferns turn yellow in fall and should be cut back to the ground in winter.

Asparagus is a great spring treat steamed, roasted, or sautéed in butter and garlic, or served along with other spring vegetables such as peas, spinach, and spring potatoes. It’s high in fiber, vitamins A and C, and minerals, such as iron.

Cut asparagus spears at the ground level with a sharp knife.

Planning

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Posted in Asparagus | 3 Comments

Growing my raspberries

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Karen

Raspberries

My Raspberries need trellises!  OK, something new to come up with.  I know where I’m planting them, along the creek.

Click the photo for a great info site.

Growing Raspberries, University of Maine

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How to prune Black Raspberries

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Karen

The vines on blackberry bushes are called canes, and they grow for two years. The first year, they are lush vegetation. In year two, they bloom, bare fruit and then die. Prune away old canes every year and keep new canes so they will produce fruit the next growing season. Black raspberries grow like weeds in the wild, and without pruning or tending they are difficult to eradicate. To maximize fruit yield, treat black raspberries with care. But don’t worry too much, the plant will come back just fine the next year if you over-prune or do nothing at all.

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • Garden hose
  • Leather gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt
  • Pruning Shears
  • Twine
  • Trash container

    How to Prune Your Black Raspberry Bushes

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Posted in Black Raspberries | 2 Comments

Terrific Garden Tonics

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Karen

Terrific Garden Tonics

Jay recommended this book for gardening solutions.  Hope he brings it over so I can check it out before I buy!

Thanks, Jay

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Black Raspberries

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Karen

Black RaspberriesJust wrote to Sharon to see about planting and care for the black raspberries.  Here is her response:

Black raspberries actually like partial sun but do need a lot of organic matter to produce well .

I would suggest that you give each plant 2 ft of space, a good shovel of well aged compost and a deep mulch . I would also suggest a drip system or watering system to provide water during fruiting in early spring if needed, as well as a deep mulch of leaves or spoiled hay.

Black raspberries need to be pruned each year and it helps to train them onto a wire to help in harvesting. You may also want to get a good organic fertilizer if needed.

You will receive plants that are ready to grow and you should not expect fruit till next season . I prune every March and advise going to the library and getting a book on pruning.  Please let me know if you have any more questions  :)  Sharon

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Tilling the Garden

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Karen

Garden Tilling

Ok so, here’s the thing.  Call 811 before you dig to find out where your utilities are!

Yup, we hit the yellow tape for the gas line.  Had to stop and call them to come out and mark the line.  Took about 48 hours.  Then, we had to move the garden over only, fortunately, by about a foot.  Whew!  That was close!

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Post Carden

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Karen

Post Carden

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Local Harvest

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Karen

Seeds

Thanks, Christi, for this great site.

Local Harvest lists all the gardening sites in your area.

Fruits, flowers, vegetables, gifts and so much more.

Check it out!

Arminda told me to order black raspberries because they are her favorite, so I just ordered 10 plants!  Ordered from Sharon’s Natural Gardens.  Here’s what it said:

“We were given these plants as a gift when we first moved here in 1978. We never knew what variety they were. They are however, our favorite berry, ripening right after the strawberries are done. They are about the size of a dime. We make raspberry vinegar and wine as well as can the juice and make jellys and syrup with them. We also dry the leaves for teas. They like semi- shade to produce best though will bear too in full sun . They need water when they are fruiting and like a good mulch . No insects or disease have ever bothered them It is best to grow them on a fence, though you can just let them grow into a thicket. We prune in March. They will last generations if you care for them.

All of our seed offerings were grown here. We have been seed savers for 20 years. Our seeds are packaged in original art packets, hand folded with 100% recycled paper. Instructions for growing are not on the packs but are on the listing under seed template. Books on gardening as well as many catalogs carry general information on growing seeds. I am available by e-mail or phone to answer any growing questions as well. You won’t find that service from many sources of seeds . The shipping on our orders also includes the processing and handling charges which is also less or equal to most seed companies. Remember we hand pack each order and drive from the farm to the post office to ship your order. We are not a big seed company, in fact not a company at all. We are homestead gardeners.”

I’m so excited!

Posted in Resources | 2 Comments

Blueberries, continued!

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Karen

BlueberriesThank you, Karen Small, for recommending Dab Finch in Stanley, NC, as the resource for blueberries.  I will definitely be going to Sanley!

I love his site!  Wanna go there?  Click on the blueberries above!

UPDATE:  I ordered 5 bushes from Dab Finch and they should be here the week of the 15th.  Woo hoo!!!

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
1 egg 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk 2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
Beat egg with a fork and stir in milk and oil. Mix dry ingredients. Stir together just until flour is moistened. Batter will be lumpy. Carefully stir in blueberries. Bake in greased muffin cups 20 – 25 minutes at 400°
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