Post Tagged with: "gardening"

Happy Friday!  I can’t say why, but some weeks just feel long, and for me, this was a very long week.  I’m looking forward to at least one free day this weekend to finish up a new outdoor project.  This one is pretty simple, but finding the time has been a struggle.  I’m building a light canopy for my back deck.  There’s so many ways to go about this, but I’ve decided to build a wire frame for the lights to hang over.  I’m far from finished, but I thought it would be good to share in two posts, so consider this post phase one.  The materials are simple….3 ten foot wooden posts (the height is important), 60 ft. of 3/32 gauge galvanized wire, 6 wire clamp sets, and 6 snap clips.  I bought it all at the hardware store for under $60.  The idea is to anchor the tall posts to my existing fence to give the canopy structure height (I’m short, but tall people will hit their heads on the lights if the posts are too low).  Each post has an eye hook at the top, and a reciprocal eye hook has been anchored to the house on the opposite side of the deck.  I’m building three strands of wire to connect each post to the hooks on the house. To build the wire pieces I’ve used these interesting clamps that pinch the wire around a metal ring to create a secure loop – who designs these things?  I love discovering solutions like these…so clever.  From there I attach a snap clip to each end of the wire.  So far – the most difficult seems to be measuring the wire pieces to make sure they will be taught when clipped to the post and house. I’ll probably have trouble getting this right (exact measurements aren’t my thing).  The end result should be a three row wire canopy ready for lights to be strung.  I’ve bought commercial grade outdoor lights that can hold a full sized bulb.  I like the effect of the larger lights (instead of the christmas light strands).  Now everyone cross their fingers for me.  I’ll post the outcome next week.  Have a great weekend!

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* photo of the Montreal Jardin Botanique shade garden

I’m very fortunate to have a raised bed vegetable garden in full sun.  It just happens to be that my side of the street is south facing and I have a vegetable patch in my front yard (not ideal for privacy though).  Now that I’ve successfully planted the veggies for a few years, I’m attempting to tackle the back garden, which has raised beds as well, but unfortunately, they only get a few hours of sun a day.  This partial shade situation has been tricky.  I’ve made a few attempts in years past that didn’t quite work out.  I wanted to grow veggies in back, but I’ve found the rumors to be true, not many vegetables thrive in shade (I was in denial and being stubborn)…so it’s time to adjust some of my expectations.  The good news is, I’ve discovered plenty of plants do very well in shaded areas – even some edible varieties.

I’ve found a good number of edible plants that will tolerate partial shade (mainly leafy greens and not ‘fruiting’ vegetables), and even more exciting, I’ve discovered really beautiful flowering plants that will grow well in shade.  My favorite flowering plants are hardy enough for cutting (for taking inside) – and luckily, many shade tolerant flowering plants are also perfect for cut flowers.

If you’re questioning what to do in your shade garden, here are a few more tips:

• Plants in shady areas shouldn’t be over-crowded.  The leaves need space to spread out and capture as much light as they can.
• For that same reason, large leafy plants do better in shade.
• Paint fences and walls near-by the garden white.  This will help to maximize your available light (you can cover boards with aluminum foil too, but I’m not that interested in aluminum foil in my garden).
• Don’t mulch or add compost until well into the hot dry season, otherwise you risk too much moisture.
• You may have a slug problem (gross I know), but the easiest solution is to pour a beer into an upside down frisbee and leave it out next to the garden.  Strange, I know, but beer is a slug magnet and it kills them…poor slugs.

Edible plants to try in partial shade: mint, parsley, wild ginger, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, arugula, endive, radicchio, mustard greens, kale.

Flowering Plants to try in partial shade: bleeding hearts, astilbe, foxglove, lambs ears, begonias, larkspur, snap dragons, cleome

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Having planted my own veggie garden for years, the process of starting up my spring seeds is second nature at this point.  I have a a shelf in my front hall where I store all of my supplies during the winter, and come February, I pull out the trays, the pots, the soil…I even have special light bulbs.  It’s nice having a stocked supply, and not having to run out to the garden supply store in the winter.  There’s something a little dismal about the garden center in the dark of winter.  It just seems a bit off.

All that being said, I know it can be intimidating to get started with seeds.  There are so many products out there claiming to magically improve the growth of seedlings.  I’ve fallen victim to many, so I thought I’d share some basics that should get any seed to seedling.

• The container.  I highly recommend cowpots for a few reasons.  They are inexpensive, so you can feel free to buy extra.  More importantly though, they are completely biodegradable and there’s no need for transplanting.  You just plant the entire pot right into your garden bed.  This is time saving, but also reduces the shock due to transplanting.  As an added bonus, as the pot breaks down in your garden, adding nutrients to the soil.  Cowpots all the way.

• The soil.  Unlike potting soil, or garden soil, seeds starting solution is fine in texture and holds onto moisture better.  The best seed starting mediums are actually considered ‘soil-less’.  I’ve had great luck with this Organic Seed Starting Mix, but you can find similar mixtures at your local greenhouse.  I would avoid Miracle Grow products at all costs.  Even the ‘organic potting soil’.  It’s full of sticks and there’s nothing fine about it.

• The light.  Once sprouted, seedlings like sun.  Particularly veggies.  That being said, find a south facing window that’s not too drafty and you should be all set.  If you don’t have any southern exposure, you might want to consider one of these artificial full spectrum florescent blubs.  They should be placed no more than 3 inches from the plants.  Regular light bulbs produce more heat than light, not benefiting the plant.  The proper amount of light will keep your plants hearty and not leggy (tall and thin with no leaves).  These lights can be used in low light situations, or even basements.

• The moisture.  There’s two phases of moisture requirements for seedlings.  The first, before the seeds sprout, requires a plastic cover to keep the soil very moist.  If you’re using cowpots, just cover each planter with plastic wrap and an elastic to secure.  As soon as the seeds sprout, remove the plastic, otherwise mildew and rot can form.  Once sprouted, you’ll want to make sure the soil is constantly moist.  This will likely mean daily watering.  I find it’s best to fill your watering can the night before and let the water come to room temp.  Seedlings are sensitive, and ice cold tap water can shock them.

With these four tips, I think you’ll be good to go.  Pick out some seeds you’re excited about and check this planting guide for the right timetable.  Have fun, Spring is just around the corner!

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I’m so glad I discovered these beautiful gardening tools at Williams-Sonoma (I had no idea they sold this type of thing).  Since I’ve just started properly caring for all my tools, I’m allowing myself to spend a little more for something really special.  I’m likely not going to spring for the copper shovel (it’s beautiful, but $199), but these small handtools will make the upcoming gardening season much more enjoyable.  I love the hooked vegetable harvester, and the Hori Hori knife.

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Looking for a fun project this weekend?  In RI we’re 10 weeks out from the last frost date.  That means it’s time to get started on some of the indoor early spring veggies.  Four I’ll be starting this weekend are broccoli, cabbage, kale and collards.  A few of my faves really.  ( I directly seed some of the more delicate leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach later in the season).  For the first time I’ll be planting in these cool velcro pots to reduce transplant shock (in the past I’ve always used small ‘cowpots‘).  I love how they’re reusable year to year!

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In January, I start taking the simple, but necessary steps to prepare for the upcoming season of vegetable gardening.  If you’re interested in having your own garden, I’d suggest doing the same.  Testing your soil is as simple as taking a sample and mailing it to a lab.  In Rhode Island I send it to this lab.  With shipping it comes to about $20, but well worth it.  The test results will guide you in the early spring when you fertilize your soil. You’ll learn about your PH levels, nutrients, and any toxins in your soil.

The next thing you’ll want to do is identify your planting zone.  Here in RI I’m a 6B.  Your planting zone will help when deciding what to grow.  All seeds and seedlings identify their zones for growing.  You can easily find your zone here.Every year I sketch out my veggie garden.  It’s super helpful when buying seedlings and seeds.  It’s so easy to go overboard and buy more than I have space for.  This site has a great interactive feature to help layout your garden beds.  Remember to check which direction is South facing.  You’ll want the lower height plants like herbs and root veggies on the South wall, and the taller vines like cucumbers, beans, and tomatoes toward to North back wall.  This grid is in square feet, so my veggie garden is 7′x5′.  It’s amazing what kind of yield you can get out of such a small space.  If you have good soil and sun, you really only need a few of each plant to feed a small family.

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The Sunchoke has always been a bit of a mystery to me.  I’ve only just started cooking with it, and I’m glad I did.  This little tuber is sweeter than a potato, and has a slight resemblance to an artichoke in taste.  They grow like weeds (up to 10 feet tall), are native to North America (discovered by the French in Cape Cod but a staple of Native cooking long before then), and have sunflower like flowers.  But what to do with them in the kitchen??  Here are a few great recipes to try out:

Simple Roasted Sunchokes from the Kitchn.  It doesn’t get easier than this.  Slice, drizzle with salt and oil, and let the oven do the work.

Sunchoke Pickles from Bon Appetit.  If you know me, I love just about anything with vinegar.

Celery, Sunchoke and Apple Salad from Martha Stewart.  With the mustard vinaigrette this sounds so tasty.

Sunchoke and Kale Hash with Farro from Food and Wine.  Everything about this one sounds like the perfect winter comfort food.

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This time of year I always find myself missing tomatoes, but they are truly few and far between.  There’s nothing worse than mealy winter tomato, but the idea of giving them up entirely until summer isn’t great either.  I’ve been seeking alternatives, and I’m really pleased with roasting cherry tomatoes (you can use plum tomatoes too).  These sweet little cherries caramelize when they roast and become even sweeter, with a richer taste perfect for winter recipes (I added them to a puttanesca sauce).   It’s easy to do, and well worth the dirty pan.

What you’ll need: one package of cherry tomatoes halved lengthwise (use a teaspoon to remove the seeds), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Directions: This one is simple!  Pre-heat oven to 400.  Gently toss all ingredients in a bowl to coat the tomatoes.  Lay on a rimmed baking sheet skins down.  Cook for 20-30 minutes until tomatoes begin to dry out and caramelize.

Allow the roasted tomatoes to cool.  You can use them in anything from a salad, to sauce, to top a pizza, or in a sandwich.

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I’ve been looking for ways to improve the air quality in my apartment this winter.  It’s always so dry, dusty, my allergies go haywire, and I just feel crumby every winter.  Buying a humidifier is definitely on my list, but I’m looking for some additional remedies to keep things fresh.  Turns out some common houseplants have amazing air purifying qualities.  Even better, I found that I already owned quite a few of the best varieties for cleaning toxins (I love this plant RX).  The alpha botanical site has good tips on different plants, all based on the NASA study showing plants create a healthier home.  Different plants have been know to help with removal of common household toxins like Formaldehyde, Carbon Monoxide & Benzene (yuck).  And these toxins are everywhere, really, they are found in everything: fabrics, wood, plastics, cosmetics, cleaners, tissues, toilet paper, paint, detergents, insulation, deodorant, and more.  It’s easy to get worked up reading about all the things we’re breathing in everyday, but it’s nice to know that simple houseplants really help, plus it’s a great excuse for a winter trip to the greenhouse.

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Gardening is one of my passions, and I’m always ready with a wish list of coveted items, so putting together this list of gifts for the gardener was simple.  I’ve included some of my favorites for indoor gardeners and some outdoor items that will come in handy when spring rolls around.  I’m sure all of your gardening friends will be glad to open up one of these gifts.

1. These Wallter Spun Aluminum hanging planters from Sprout Home are as pretty as they are functional.  They have holes punched into the bottom, so you can plant directly in them.  Perfect! And they come in orange and white too.

2. Looking for something a little different? These Wally Pockets are the perfect gift for the gardener with everything.  You can pick the color (I love this green), and indoor or outdoor, just plant directly into the pocket and hang anywhere.  They’re made from recycled plastic bottles and in the USA.

3. This hanging planter would look so good in just about any home, but I imagine it living in a beach cottage or bright loft.  It’s made in Brooklyn, and can be used indoors or out for planting, or as a bird bath, fruit bowl, or maybe even a bird feeder?

4. These string lights are a splurg for sure, but they are just the best.   From Toast, these Festoon Lights are vintage inspired with Bakelite blub holders, a fabric cord, and hand stitched filament bulbs.  A special gift for sure!

5. The illustrations in this garden calendar are so sweet, and will keep us all dreaming of spring all winter long.

6. Every gardener needs an arsenal of these tubtrugs in a variety of sizes and colors.  They are strong and light enough to haul heavy rocks and dirt, and they can be hosed down to clean up.  Fill one with garden tools, seeds, or some good soil and you’ve got the best gift for any gardener.

7. It may seem like a funny gift, but good soil is the only way to grow healthy plant, and for those of us without room for composting, a good bag of compost is always appreciated.

8. This perfume smells awesome, and the best bonus ever, it keeps away the bugs.  Good for men and women.

9. Wilder Quarterly is a great gift for gardeners looking for inspiration.  Buy one issue or a year’s subscription.

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