Too busy to start seeds indoors? Don’t have a sunny south facing window or enough artificial lighting to properly grow seedlings inside? Or maybe it’s already too late…Don’t give up on sowing your own seeds just yet. Plant Seeds Directly Outside EARLY Plant directly outside under a homemade mini greenhouse and create your own ecosystem that keeps the seed moist and protecte... »
If you have spare ashes lying around from a backyard fire pit, recycle some of it into your soil! Two hundred years ago, ash was processed for use as a potash fertilizer source. Eventually, the production became more costly and new methods to produce potash were developed. Why might ashes be good for the garden? Depending on source, wood and plant ashes contain varying amounts of potassium, phosph... »
You can make your own seed starting mix and potting soil at home with the same recipe! You’ll need: One regular sized brick of coconut coir. This will make approximately 2 gallons (8 quarts) of medium. One gallon (4 quarts) of organic compost (NO MANURE) One gallon (4 quarts) of vermiculite (not a huge bag – it is common to see smaller 8-quart bags) One gallon (4 quarts) of perlite (no... »
Host Mike Podlesny of the Vegetable Gardening Podcast talks with Cindy about innovative school gardens and making your own fertilizers and soil amendments. Host Dave Ledoux of Back to My Garden talks with Cindy about nature appreciation, watermelon pickles and the secrets of Home Grown Fun! For more podcasts with garden gurus visit these links: Vegetable Gardening Podcast Back to My Garden Podcast... »
Let’s talk coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer for vegetables and other plants. A study from Linda Chalker-Scott entitled “Coffee Grounds-Will They Perk Up Plants?” shows some evidence that grounds might enhance beets, cabbage and spinach but could potentially damage tomatoes. But how? Grounds will add a bit of nitrogen. We gotta have that! But do you know when to apply nitrogen to fertil... »
Gardeners around the globe want to know how to make organic fertilizer. Homemade fertilizers can be inexpensive and effective if you know: how to make them when to apply them how to apply them what plants to use them on Get access to more than fifty natural fertilizer recipes in one convenient eBook. Find solutions to plant and soil problems and customize applications for your garden. Only ... »
I always seem to plant too much arugula and mustard greens – seeds are so tiny. Luckily, I discovered years ago that they make a wonderful cover crop for smaller spaces. Plant arugula to eat, protect the soil, control weeds and add nutrients. If you live in a cold climate, they’ll naturally decompose over winter. PLANTING: Scatter the seed lightly. Cover with just enough soil to keep t... »
WHAT IS SEWAGE SLUDGE? Sewage sludge is a byproduct of water treatment plants and as you can imagine it’s plentiful. It comes from homes, hospitals and businesses – anything flushed or dumped down the drain. You’ve got human fecal matter, heavy metals, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and hundreds of contaminants that are not fully removed even after treatment. It IS regulated but onl... »
Until recently, I thought hay and straw were the same thing. Hayrides, barn floors, over-stuffed scarecrows and cows munching on grass – that’s what I knew growing up in Maine. I went to the Scarborough Fair and checked out the 4-H animals but never payed attention to the stuff. Now I know the basics and it seems so obvious that “Hay IS for Horses”. These fun facts and imag... »
Go no further than your pantry, backyard or the beach for materials to make your own organic fertilizer: BANANA PEELS – Eating a banana helps replenish lost potassium. Roses love potassium too. Simply throw one or two peels in the hole before planting or bury peels under mulch so they can compost naturally. Get bigger and more blooms. I also use banana peels on my vegetables. See more pict... »
We’ve tried a bunch of foods in our bins at home and have a nice list for you to keep things simple. It’s easy to make worms happy if you feed your red worms a variety of foods they love. LOVE: Vegetable scraps: apple cores, peels, carrot tops and wilted lettuce or trimmings. Any vegetable that’s not spicy or really gaseous will make them happy. Non-citrus fruit work best, such ... »
