Shadenators Part Deux!
Last week, I started a list of plants that tolerate shade, and this is the second of a small series I’ll do regarding growing things in less than sunny conditions. (Many of these crops and tricks can be used in container gardening as well!) Remember, you need at least 3-6 hours of sunlight a day. Or dappled sunlight, etc. You can’t toss …
Read MoreAsk and You Shall Receive, So Sayeth Hannah
So a good deal of you commented last week about what to grow in the shade (what are y’all, mole people?) and I have a small treasure trove of vegetable delights that do well in shade. Last year we had an enormous tree in our back yard that threw half of our garden into shade for a food portion of …
Read MoreBounty on the Cheap: Swappin’ Seeds
So, like the rest of you, I don’t wipe my ass with hundred dollar bills. We’re working class at best, if you’re feeling generous with your income index, and at worst, we’re skirting the edge of a Jeff Foxworthy joke. We have a budget, even when it comes to my most favoritest thing: seed shopping.
Read MoreFeelin’ Fruity: Fruit on Your Patio
At this point your patio is probably straining under the weight of the greens, potatoes and other garden delights you’ve foisted out into the sunshine; but what will you do for dessert?
Read MorePeas: The First Thing You’ll Plant This Year
There’s nothing quite like snap peas fresh off the vine. Or a juicy pea, freshly shelled. Peas are a fantastic way to kick off your gardening season; they can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked and finish their season right as summer warmth takes over.
Read MorePerpetual Harvest
Depending on your garden plans, there are a myriad of ways to time your harvest. Because we try to squeeze every drop of food out of our space, we practice succession planting so there is always something to harvest.
Read MorePotatoes Everywhere
I love potatoes. Like, REALLY love potatoes. We grew some in a raised bed last year from scraps and had some success (I chit potatoes left over from the supermarket; basically you leave them in a dark dry spot and let the magic happen).
Read MoreLadyguide: Three Sisters Gardening Method
You may have heard of the traditional gardening method called the three sister method: planting corn, beans and squash together to form a symbiotic relationship between the three.
Read MoreFunctional Beauty: Flowers in the Vegetable Garden
Flowers: is there anything they can’t do? Not only do these plant sex organs brighten our day with their happy little flower faces, they are also powerhouses in the garden. You may be thinking, “Flowers? But I want to grow food!” And I’d say, “You ARE little one, you are.” And then we’d hug.
Read MoreBrace Yourself: Gardening Season is Almost Upon Us
OMG IT’S ALMOST HERE. THE GARDEN SEASON.
Read MoreHow to Plant: Onions
Hardy from zones 3-9 onions, onions are a cold season crop. The easiest way to plant onions is from sets, and they can be planted outdoors a few weeks before the last frost (as long as it’s not below 20 degrees). You can see a full planting guide at The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Read MoreLadyguide: Homemade Pest Control
In the comment section of my last article, there was an entry about controlling those little fuckers others lovingly refer to as aphids. Now I’m no stranger to having my garden torn up by invading hordes of everything from Japanese Beetles to squirrels, so I thought I’d share some of my research along with personal experience regarding a few situations …
Read MoreCrowdsourcing: Ideas Edition
So for the past few months I’ve been writing up zany and wacky ways to feed yourself. I’ve been writing about the benefits of different plants. I’ve been basically free-form plant blogging.
Read MoreCheating Nature: Cold Frames for Apartment Dwellers
Depending on where you live your grow season may be considered very short. That doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze a few more weeks (or even months) out of your climb with easy fixes. I wrote an earlier post about a miniature hoop house giving us lettuce far past our normal harvest date.
Read MoreMy Magical Seed Starting Closet
In another two months, my magical seed starting closet should be up and running! And by magical seed starting closet, I mean the most basic DIY setup you’ve ever seen. I used a folding table, two milk crates, a few seed starting trays with clear covers and a light. They weren’t even those fancy pants plant lights! Yet most everything …
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