Category Archives: Blog

Seed Germination Test – now on iTunes!

Posted on March 9, 2008 by Christy

Gardenerd.com is proud to announce that we are now podcasting on iTunes!  If you open iTunes and type Gardenerd into the search box in the
top right hand corner of your screen you, then click on the Podcasts (see all) display, you will be taken to the page where you will find our little green and white logo with the famous
Gardenerd carrot. 

The first 3 Tips of the Week are posted and the new one for the week of March 9th should show up Monday morning.  In the meanwhile, here it is for your listening
enjoyment.  Feel free to send feedback to podcast@gardenerd.com.  We’re …
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Sulfur in the Water – Friend or Foe?

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Christy

A gardener recently wrote in a curious question:

“Hey gardenerd!  My new place has an artesian well… Will the high sulfur content (assumption scientifically based solely on smell) of the well water affect plants?  Yers
truly,from the turtle coast, Florida.”

Right off the bad I have to admit that I had no idea how to answer this one, simply because I’ve never dealt with wells or sulfur or anything other than chlorine in the water.  While I never
claim to know everything there is to know about gardening, I do know where to go to find the answer.  In this case, …
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Snails and Beer – a Good Combo

Posted on March 1, 2008 by Christy

Here is the Gardenerd Tip of the Week Podcast for March 1, 2008

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I’ve got the Tomato Blues

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Christy

Here’s the second part of our new gardenerd’s question:

“I buy organic and local produce here [in Paso Robles], but my heart’s desire is to grow most of my own veggies.  I also want to do so organically, without using
pesticides.  I have tried the last two years with truly disastrous results and I’m really discouraged.  I’m thankful I found this site as I’m hoping it will assist me in trying again. 
I especially crave homegrown heirloom tomatoes.  I finally did 3 plants in pots last year and they had bugs galore and then this horrible rotten part at …
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A Rocky Start in Paso Robles

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Christy

A new gardenerd wrote in recently with a couple of questions.  We’ve broken it up into two blog entries so we can address both issues separately:

“My biggest challenge is being a novice gardener with terrible soil.  We moved to Paso Robles, CA  (45 minutes north of San Luis Obispo), about 3
years ago.  We have this rock hard soil, which is almost impossible to dig around in, and it doesn’t drain at all.  To top it off, we live in an area with temperature extremes.  It
gets over 100 degrees here in the summer and have frequent frost and temperatures routinely below freezing …
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First Organic Gardening Class a Success!

Posted on February 28, 2008 by Christy

Last Saturday, February 23rd, a group of new and veteran gardeners gathered in Mar Vista to discuss one thing – soil.  We talked
dirty.  Um – I mean, we talked about dirt.  I’m talking about the Gardenerd Organic Gardening Series. 

In the first class, The Basics 1, we covered all the glorious components of what makes up good soil.  We played in the garden, got dirt under our nails, and learned a little about
composting to boot.  Everyone took home a 1 gallon plastic bag full of spent coffee ground for their own gardens.  Mary walked away with something else …
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Strawberry Crowns – the Podcast

Posted on February 24, 2008 by Christy

The next Gardenerd Tip of the Week Podcast is online and available for your listening pleasure.  Take a gander here:

Strawberry Crowns are King

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Feeding Fruit and Flowers

Posted on February 22, 2008 by Christy

A  question recently came through Ask Gardenerd:

“Is this the time[February/March] to fertilize – Roses, fruit trees (apple & orange) bushes, etc? Last year our roses didn’t produce much.  Right now our flowering shrubs look yellow and the
overall look of things looks spindly and not healthy. Help!”

In many parts of the country, fruit trees haven’t started to show buds yet.  I don’t know about you, but my fruit trees are all either in full bloom or already have buds fattening on
the branches.  So if you live in zone 10, yes, fertilize your fruit trees now.  (I worked some into …
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Gardenerd is Featured on Low Impact Living

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Christy

Just a quick note to let you know that Gardenerd.com is featured in a guest blog entry on Low Impact Living.com.  Special thanks to Jessica Jensen who gave us a place on the
homepage for today, February 20th, 2008. 

http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2008/02/20/organic-gardening-gardenerd/

Check out this great website, packed full of wonderful ideas for living the green life.  Whether you rent or own, there are plenty of ideas to help you lessen your carbon footprint.  Visit
www.lowimpactliving.com and have a great day!

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Dumpster Diving for Coffee Grounds

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Christy

What would make a person don gloves and a shovel to dig through a dumpster for coffee grounds?  This isn’t a case of being thrifty, like the nuns in my grade school who would
re-use tea bags and tissues until they disintegrated.  No, I’m not making weak coffee with old filters and spent grounds here.  I have bigger plans.

Coffee grounds are a highly coveted commodity both before and after they’re used.  Walk by any Starbucks and the lines out the door (or in the drive through) will tell the tale.  It’s the
“after” part that leaves most people hanging.  Why …
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