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Soil for Starting Seeds
A question came in over the holiday:
“What is a good commercial soil in which to start vegetable seeds?“
That’s a great question. There are many ways to start seeds, and almost as many opinions about what soil to use for seed starting. In general, commercial seed starting mix is of a finer grade of potting soil, meaning it is not as course or chunky as regular potting soil. It is intended for use when starting seeds indoors under grow lights. Many companies produce seed germinating mix that has higher moisture retaining properties, and some add fertilizers to their mixes …
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Planting a Nectarine Tree
For those who have been tracking our landscaping project, you might recall there are 5 spaces for fruit trees in the front yard, and only 4 trees. On Christmas Eve, the final addition arrived via FedEx (upside-down, despite the multiple appearances of “up” arrows all over the box, thank you very much). Our Fantasia semi-dwarf nectarine arrived virtually safe and sound, with only a couple of broken branches.
Admittedly, I had never planted a bare root fruit tree before. I’ve killed a couple bare root roses in the past, so …
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Rat-Proof Compost Bin
A new gardenerd wrote in recently:
“Any suggestions [for a rat-proof compost bin]? We do trap and try to control the rats but they just exist and like to
come around compost in our neighborhood.”
There must be a global increase in rats this year. We’ve been seeing an increase in these critters around our community garden as well. I had them nibbling away at my tomatoes all summer. Here are a couple suggestions I can across in my research:
First of all, you will want to make sure that you aren’t composting any animal fats, bones or flesh. Rats are …
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Eco-Gift Festival
There’s been a bit of a lapse on blog entries in the past week. Reason being, I was at the Eco-Gift Festival for 4 days, and the workload leading up to it was tremendous. Now that it’s over, and after a little much-needed rest, blogging can resume as regularly scheduled.
For those who couldn’t attend, here is a little taste of what it was like at the Festival. First of all, we had a great location – the first booth you saw upon entering the tent. You couldn’t possibly miss our banner, which was wonderfully designed by Lenore …
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Easy Plants for Pots
“Love your podcast and website. I am new to gardening. Browsed your site and enjoyed the blog on veggies in a pot. As I start thinking about the spring, I began to ponder the possibility of additional veggies and herbs in “pots.” What do you think are the easiest veggies and herbs to plant in pots. Right now I grow watermelon, tomatoes and strawberries in my tiny garden. Any advice? I live in New Mexico in a dry climate. Thanks—David”
Thanks so much for writing in, David. There are some great veggies that will grow in pots, …
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Lots of Flowers, but No Fruit
A frustrated gardenerd wrote in recently:
“Having a little gardening crisis – I planted a second round of zucchini and cucumbers in September. They are large now and have produced many flowers, but no fruit! Other things I planted at the same time are doing well. Beans and peas aplenty. I know pollination is an issue, since what few bees there are right now are OBSESSED with the eucalyptus tree on the other side of the house, not my garden – but I’ve added some sweet alyssum pots to the garden area, and even poked at the flowers with …
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Rats in the Garden
A concerned gardener wrote in this week:
“Rotten rodents! …I have some rodent, maybe squirrels but more likely rats, that help themselves to whatever is young and tender in the garden. They have just decapitated all of my new little lettuces and broccoli. In the summer it was the new string beans that they decimated. How do I get rid of them?”
When someone uses the word “decapitate” I think of rats. I have had a similar problem at my community plot, where broccoli plants have been eaten off right in the center, up from the ground about 6-8 inches. Likewise, over the summer, my tomatoes …
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Our Landscaping Project – Part 3
In a bit of a diversion away from the usual subject of vegetable gardening, I am pleased to report that our front yard no longer lies barren. Plants – actual plants now reside in the space that once was a flatland of mud and weeds. No longer the embarrassment of the neighborhood, we can now hold our heads up high – and even smile – as we approach the front door.
If you’ve been following the previous segments about this project, you’ll remember the exciting plant removal, and pathway and irrigation installation. (It’s really worth comparing …
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Fall Gardening To-Do List
For those who are cooling down for the winter, there are plenty of things to do before saying goodbye to gardening this fall. As the leaves change color and the weather becomes more crisp, here are a couple fall gardening check lists for your end-of-season needs:
Organic Gardening Magazine’s Fall To-Do List
Better Homes and Gardens Fall Garden Checklist
I also found a section on Consumer Reports’ website that you might enjoy surfing through:
Consumer Reports Fall Lawn and Yard Checklist
Happy fall gardening! …
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Battling Mealy Bugs
One more question came in this week at Ask Gardenerd:
“I have large New Zealand Flax in planters on the balcony, they got white mealy buys – how can I treat it? I removed the nearby smaller plants where the bugs seemed to have invaded…but want to be sure I can save the large flax. Please help! Is there anything organic that works… the internet suggests malathion….ekkk! thanks…Beatrice”
I’m pretty sure we can save your New Zealand Flax (Phormium), Beatrice. But first, let’s make sure we have the right bug. Is this the culprit?
http://floriculture.osu.edu/archive/oct97/mealy2.html
If so, there are a few …
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