Chrystel's Potager

Gardening in 2012

2012-01-13T07:21:00.000-06:00

The holidays have come and gone, decorations put away (well almost,) and garden catalogs are arriving daily. Time to think gardening!

Having taken the Master Gardeners class this past fall I need to complete 30 hours of volunteer work to receive my certificate. Since I am spending an extraordinary amount of time with my dad at Superior Care Nursing Home, creating a patio garden with and for the residents seemed to fit the ticket. Alas, Superior Blooms Garden Club was born.

Wow! What a surprise show of enthusiasm from the staff, residents and their families as well as the community. Activity directors, Erin and Brenda as well as other staff eagerly took the residents to the patio this past fall to watch as lettuce seeds germinated and pansies bloomed. Resident’s family members have volunteered to help with projects.

An artist from Wilmington, N.C., Calvin Doss, donated this pretty little sign. The Perennial Garden Club assisted the residents in making Christmas arrangements from live greenery and plan to join us next month as the residents start seedlings. Melody Rose, writer and administrator for the popular web site, Dave’s Garden, spoke at the January meeting on ways to incorporate container gardening on the patio that has little sun. Her “we can make this happen” attitude is very motivating and we are looking forward to her continued support as an advisor. And what do the residents think, the look on their faces as they remember their past gardens and speak of plans for the patio says it all. Unfortunately, due to privacy rules, I cannot post their pictures. (But you can “friend” Superior Care on Facebook to see some really beautiful photos.)

Fall kale in patio planter

Superior Blooms will be a focus of my gardening in 2012. I am looking forward to learning from other Master Gardeners and from Melody on ways to garden in a small, somewhat shady space. But most of all I am looking forward to helping residents, and especially my dad, rediscover their passion for gardening.

Yes, you can plant those pretty mums in your garden…..

2011-10-09T22:10:00.002-05:00

And they might live!

After the blooms die on the chrysanthemums that decorate my porch and/or my patio, I often plant them in a garden bed. Sometimes they live, sometimes they don’t. The ones in this picture were in two large pots on my porch steps a few years ago.

I plant them after the blooms die and before a hard frost, covering them with leave mulch. I read a recent article on Dave’s Garden web site gives information the proper way of planting. I always trimmed the plants back before planting, not realizing I should leave the dead foliage on until spring. Maybe that is why some of mine didn’t make it. I know to “pinch” the plants to about 4-inches until July but usually I am so busy I don’t get it done. I haven’t pinched these red mums but they don’t seem to mind.

These need to be divided, another chore I didn’t get around to doing in the spring. I did divide some in the back garden and shared with friends and co-workers. One person told me hers had hundreds of blooms on it. If you were a recipient of my mum sharing I would like to know how yours are doing.

I took some cuttings of mums in the spring for potted plants this fall. They did reasonably well. I neglected to trim them so they are somewhat leggy. Lesson learned, for well shaped plants I must keep them trimmed.

Mums are relative inexpensive and most folks don’t want the bother of wintering them over, but if you have the space and time it is an easy way to have an abundance of fall color.

How is the Garden

2011-08-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

“How is the garden?” A question I often hear this time of year. Actually it is in better shape in August than in previous years even with several weeks of 100° plus heat index. The rainfall in our area, while not as much as the garden would like, has been more frequent than in the past few summers. Having cut my work hours to one day a week and not going out of town during the summer has allowed me to give the garden consistent, daily attention.

Friends, neighbors and co-workers have been the beneficiary of the abundant tomato crop (especially the Sun Sugars) and the hot peppers.

Lemon Fig

A bumper crop of Lemon Figs is just about finished fruiting. They have paired nicely with the Malabar spinach, topped with goat cheese and lime olive oil vinaigrette. The Malabar spinach was a wonderful surprise given to me by a friend. It came up as a volunteer in her garden. I am so looking forward to saving seeds to plant next summer. The Alma fig tree is loaded with little figs but they seem to be stagnant. They look healthy but not getting larger. The Alma fig wintered over, covered with leaves behind the greenhouse while the Lemon fig was cozy inside the greenhouse. Perhaps Alma just got off to a later star.

Malabar Spinach

The carrots and beets are small, but tasty. The basil has been very nice. Since we eat so much basil I have started some plants for a fall crop.

Due to lack of space, the melons were planted late. The vines look healthy so if we have a late fall and the raccoons don’t find them we should have Sugar Baby and Charentais melons. Both are short maturation.

The cutting garden has been a playground for butterflies, hummingbirds, robins, cardinals and a cute little black and white bird I haven’t identified. As my husband and I look toward retirement in a few years I think the potager will change, perhaps it will be more of a habitat for the birds and butterflies.

Although the summer garden is near finished, the fall garden is just getting started. Shelves in the “propagation station” are loaded with pansy and ornamental cabbages. Cuttings of mums have rooted and are waiting for their “home pots” to be vacated by the petunias and verbena.

Cuttings from roses, verbena and lavender are in moist soil under plastic. Cuttings from lantana, geraniums, rosemary and the Peggy Martin rose will be taken in the next week.

So, “how is the garden?” It is very much alive and full of activity.

Musings From The Potager

2011-07-19T22:01:00.001-05:00

It is hot in the potager! Getting out at 5:00 a.m. is a must, as is an afternoon nap.

Some vegetables just don’t warrant real estate in the potager especially if they are readily available at the farmer’s market. I’m thinking squash, potatoes, cabbage and cucumbers. Let someone else deal with the bugs and blights!

We are currently eating Prince Borghese, Sweet 100 and Sun Sugar tomatoes, basil, and cucumbers. There are lots of green tomatoes on the Purple Calabash, Polish Linguisa and Jet Setter plants. The Kentucky Wonder green beans are ready to eat but my dad likes them “shelly” so we will wait a bit before picking. It looks like we will have plenty of peppers.

Due to late planting, the melons may not mature. There maybe some very disappointed raccoons in August!

Two of the fig trees are loaded with green figs. Since they are in pots they have to be watered everyday to prevent fig and leaf drop. The blueberry bushes look healthy but so far no blooms or berries. It is only their second year so I’m not too concerned. The strawberries didn’t produce well this year. I am thinking about moving them to a sunnier spot.

One of the delights in the cutting garden is the butterflies. They love the purple butterfly bush. Where are the hummingbirds this year? I have seen one or two hanging around the holly bush but none around the feeders.

Now, back to weeding and watering!

2011-05-14T08:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, the Perennial Garden Club visited the potager. After a brief talk about the potager style and the transformation of our backyard into a garden, here is a little of what they saw.

Peggy Martin put on her best show to greet them.

The tour begins in the cutting/butterfly garden.

I was in hopes someone would take my offer of red or rust colored mums. I really need to get these divided.

On to the Potager

A bed of Tennis Ball lettuce (an heirloom from the garden at Monticello) planted with beets.

Lots of garden thyme, a bed of Early Italian garlic and a bay tree.

Sun Sugar tomatoes and Ozark strawberries (actually after taking the photo last evening, we ate the ripe berries for supper.)

The fig tree experiment. The one on the left (Alma) was wintered over behind the greenhouse in a wire cage, stuffed with leaves. It looks healthy but no signs of figs yet. The one on the right (Lemon Fig) wintered over in the greenhouse. It has multiple little figs starting to bud.

The one below (Lemon) is planted in the ground. It was protected during the winter with a cage filled with leaves. The leaves were removed about a week ago. It would be doing much better had I removed the leaves about a month earlier.

The trees are getting too large to move into the small greenhouse in the winter, thus the reason for the experiment.

To the right is the give-away plants. Still left are a couple of rosemary plants, one red mum and an orange geranium.

Now that show and tell is over, I must get busy increasing food production!

April in the Potager

2011-04-27T23:15:00.001-05:00

The early crops are getting off to a good start inspite of recent rain, hail and wind. The addition of pea gravel around the beds proved to be an excellent choice. I was able to pull weeds and actually do some planting between storms.

Arugula, Beets, Carrots and Dill

Princesse LaRatte (French Fingerling) potato in high rise box and potato grow bags.

My winter expierment with strawberries.

I placed 6 plants from runners in the greenhouse and 6 in the cold frame. The ones in the greenhouse are getting ripe while the ones in the cold frame are just starting to bloom.

The Sun Sugar tomato was started from seed on January 1 and was grown in the greenhouse.

United States Botanic Garden

2011-04-13T23:34:00.001-05:00

Just back from Washington D.C. and a visit to the United States Botanic Garden. I have visited the garden several times but never in the spring.

The orchid display was gorgeous!

Potager Coming to Life

2011-03-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

After a long winter nap, the potager is waking up with new life poking through the leaf mulch in the cutting garden. Daffodils are in full bloom as are some of the early tulips. Wintered over lettuce, arugula and spinach are providing fresh greens for the dinner table. However, most of the garden activity is in the basement seedling nursery, the cold frame and the greenhouse.

Peppers, tomatoes, impatiens, and zinnias are germinating on heated propagation mats in the basement. After germination, they will replace lettuce and pansies under the grow lights. More pansies are lining the window sill waiting to be transported to the greenhouse or cold frame to mature a bit more before planting in the gardens and window boxes.

North End of Cold Frame

Cabbage seedlings and sweet peas did their germination on a hot bed in the cold frame and have joined the rosemary (from fall cuttings) and strawberry plants (from runners) in a cooler area of the cold frame. At the north end the lights have been removed to expose the over wintered lettuce, spinach and arugula to the cool spring air.

The greenhouse shelves are laden with cuttings of rosemary, lavender, geraniums, and lantana turned into nice little plants. Orange geraniums, foxglove and more pansies from seeds are waiting patiently to be planted in outdoor pots and gardens. The lemon fig tree is starting to leaf. The Sun Sugar tomato plants are putting out blooms. Blooms are on the strawberry plants that spent the winter in the greenhouse.

It is a busy time around the potager! Two beds have been planted with beets, spinach and lettuce. As the weather warms, more beds will be planted. And of course there are leaves to be composted, fountains to be reconnected, furniture to be painted, pots to be washed and all those seedlings to be planted! Busy indeed and I love all of it!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2011-02-09T16:05:00.002-06:00

I am sitting in front of the fireplace watching the snow fall, flipping through gardening catalogs. Trying to decide if I want red or purple impatiens this year, contemplating if the convenience of seed starting kits is worth the cost, should I replace the compost tumbler before adding another rain barrel, and thinking maybe I should order heating cables for the cold frame. Thinking about all those gardening accessories I have purchased over the years that were indeed wasted money. I am trying to let reason win over lust. I do have a few tools and accessories that I would hate to be without. Some were a bit costly, some didn’t cost anything and several were designed and created by my ingenious husband, Randy.

A favorite I inherited from my late father-in-law, his trenching shovel from WWII. It is small and works well moving potting soil from tubs, adding compost to squares in the raised beds, and various other small shoveling tasks. Plus I get a “warm and fuzzy” when I use it!

I love my Mantis tiller. Light enough for me to handle but tough enough to break up hard clay soil.

The self-watering pots designed by my engineer husband work just as well as the $80 ones I bought several years ago and at less than half the cost.

My custom garden shed designed and built by Randy features a “top of the line” potting bench and book shelves to house my reference books.

I really like this hummingbird feeder. It uses recycled plastic bottles. When I am pressed for time and the feeder is empty I can grab a clean bottle and dispose of the dirty one

Propagation mats and “Soil Moist” are now essential for seed starting as well as propagation by cuttings.

My compost bins and tumbler takes composting to a higher level.

Everyone that composts needs a good paper shredder. I shred junk mail, scrap paper and light cardboard for the compost pile and the vermicompost bin.

And who wouldn’t like a sink (added last year by, you guessed it, Randy) for washing pots as well as produce.

Okay, the snow is pretty but I have had enough. I am ready to get out those tools and go to work. Maybe I will use a mix of purple, lavender and orange impatiens.

My Custom Garden Calendar

2011-01-08T22:23:00.051-06:00

I would like to share my custom garden calendar for 2011.

The featured pictures are from my garden at various times.

The pictures on the calendar itself are from the 2010 garden. Posting them on the date they were taken gives me an idea when to expect blooms and produce in the coming season. Little reminders written on the calendar are an attempt to keep me on schedule with garden chores.

The calendar was created using Photoshop Elements. It was bound at Office Depot.

Germination Station

2010-11-21T19:37:00.001-06:00

Recently I had the opportunity to help a young friend, Caroline and her friend, Anna, with a second grade Science Fair project. Titled Germination Station, the objective was to determine in what medium seeds best germinate. We chose a wet paper towel, Jiffy Seed Starting Mix and Pro Mix potting soil. Their hypothesis was the Jiffy Seed Starting Mix would produce quicker germination because if was finer than Pro Mix and was formulated for seed propagation.

After planting basil seed in 5 cups each of Jiffy Seed Starting Mix and Pro Mix potting soil, and placing seed on a wet paper towel, they were placed in a clear plastic container and set on a warm propagation mat.

On Day 5, the sprouts could be seen breaking out of the seed in the moist paper towel

By Day 6 germination had occurred in all medium. As the week progressed, the seedlings in the Pro Mix appeared to be larger and healthier.

The girls learned, it doesn’t take soil for seeds to germinate and just because a product is formulated for a particular purpose, it isn’t always better.

What did I get from the project? An opportunity to spend time with a couple of adorable little girls and share my enthusiasm for growing things.

Putting it to Bed

2010-11-14T21:26:00.000-06:00

Last week was perfect for working outside. I wasn’t needed much at the hospital, the weather was beautiful, and no family issues! I took advantage and did some fall gardening.

Early in the week I added 75-80 daffodil bulbs, some spring larkspur, a Firecracker in the Sky mixture (firecracker plant and Triteleia Queen Fabiola,) two varieties of iris rhizonmes and a few tulips to the perennial beds and cutting garden. Later in the week I made a Lowes run and discovered their bulbs were half price. Couldn’t resist and bought an additional 70 bulbs which I got into the ground just before yesterday’s rain.

In the potager I planted a garlic bed. Hopefully it isn’t too late. Supposedly garlic should be planted in October; however the garlic I planted last October sprouted in the late fall and didn’t produce garlic in the early summer, as it should. With that experience and an extra warm fall, I decided to try a later planting. Before planting the garlic I amended the soil with my home-made compost/worm casting mix. After planting I covered the bed with about 6-inches of straw. I also put the compost mixture on the strawberry bed (after cutting the plants back) and it is also covered with a thick layer of straw.

The zinnia bed was cleaned, spread with city compost and sprinkled with seeds from the spent zinnia blooms. That bed has a cover of shredded leaves.

My on-site handy man made cages for two of the fig trees. I will fill the cages with leaves, straw and newspapers for winter protection. The third tree is in the greenhouse.

It was a productive week but there is still work to be done, mostly leaves to be raked and shredded. If all goes well the garden will be put to bed by the end of November. For me, December is the only month of the year that I do no gardening. In January the seed nursery starts the cycle and we’re off to another year!

Savannah Botanical Garden

2010-10-20T15:41:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to seek out botanical gardens and garden shops. Accompanying my husband on a business trip to Savannah this week I found the Savannah Area Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. Botanical Garden. It was certainly worth the bit of adventure to find it.

Checking with the concierge at the Hyatt, I was told I could take bus #28, get off at Waters and Eisenhower, the garden would be a short distance down Eisenhower. I made my way over to the bus stop in front of the Panera coffee shop. The bus driver confirmed #28 would take me to Eisenhower but it would be quite a walk to the botanical garden. Being a walker with a decent fitness level, that wasn’t a deterrent. What the concierge and bus driver neglected to tell me, there is not a side walk along Eisenhower (at least not on the side of the busy highway I needed to be on.) The seven blocks was nicely mowed grass and not a bad walk.

Arriving at the garden I was greeted by a friendly feline, no one else was around. The gates were open so I strolled along the paths, enjoying the beautiful roses. Before long I was joined in the garden with Harry Howard, president of the Savannah Rose Society and a volunteer at the garden. Mr. Howard, an ARS (American Rose Society) Certified Consulting Rosarian, is responsible for several rose gardens in the Savannah area. I felt quite fortunate to have an opportunity to converse with him. He inspired me to try to find a spot in my garden for Louise Estes which recently won Queen of the Show in Atlanta recently.

Being a truly southern gentleman, Mr. Howard gave me a ride back to the bus stop.

I Have Worms!

2010-10-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, I have worms, thousands of them. They are the backbone of my compost system as well as the cheapest and easiest manure available. And so easy!

I started my vermicompost farm about 4 years ago. It is really pretty simple. Using a storage bin from a “big box store” my in-house engineer (every gardener should have one of these) made vent holes which he covered with screen. I added bedding of newspaper strips, a little bit of sterile potting soil, sprayed with water to dampen and added the red wigglers. About once a week I add kitchen scraps like past-prime lettuce, potato peelings, coffee grounds with filter, over-ripe fruit, etc. I cover the scraps with shredded paper and shredded light weight cardboard. Usually I spray the bedding with water when I feed the worms. Sometimes weeks go by without me feeding the worms but they not only survive but thrive. The worm farm is in my basement where the temperature is around 72 degrees year-round. I harvest the castings 2 or 3 times a year and add them to the compost from my outdoor compost bin. I have not bought worms since the initial purchase of about ½ pound.

Harvesting the castings (otherwise known as worm poop) recently I realized they had reproduced enough that I could support two bins. Now I have little red wigglers in two bins, working constantly to provide castings for me:)

Productive Week in the Potager

2010-09-26T16:39:00.001-05:00

After weeding and trimming, I spread a pick-up truck load of compost in the perennial flower beds, along the side of the garden path and along the fence row.(notice the new fence built by my talented husband. It replaces the one damaged in the 2009 Ice Storm.)

I buy compost from the city compost facility; sometimes it is better than other times. This week it was premium, rich black color, earthy smell, very little trash and quite airy.

Like some of you I had reservations about using the city compost, not sure it would be safe. A couple of years ago I addressed my concerns to Kathy Keeney, who at the time was the horticulturist for the city. She sent me the following information:

“I understand your concern, and so I'm writing this to help clarify how the city compost system works

The city compost goes through rigorous EPA tests - each row is tested for various pathogens, including fecal coliform. It meets or exceeds these EPA standards, or it will be hauled away. To date, the city hasn't lost a single row due to a substandard test. The gentleman in charge of our compost facility keeps a close eye on reducing the possibility of contamination, so much so, that no one other than specialized facility vehicles are allowed on the concrete composting pad, in an effort to reduce the chances of any contamination being brought into the facility.

It does contain municipal sludge from Joint Sewer Agency, which has been tested for various pathogens as well as heavy metals. It's also tested every three months for heavy metals at our compost facility, again, according to EPA standards.

It's a quality product, and it is worthy of whatever use you may have - whether that is ornamental or vegetable. I've used it in my vegetable garden and the food is always lush and productive. It's an excellent soil amendment, and worthy of a much higher price tag than what the city charges”. She went on to say: “Seriously, you can't go wrong with the city's compost, and I'm not just saying that because I now work for the same department. It's a wonderful soil amendment, and it's improved some really poor soils and made them extremely healthy and productive - just look at the beds at the Demo Garden on Coleman Road if you would like an example!”

At $15 a truck load, I use it on the ornamentals I use Mel’s Mix and my own compost for the veggies.

In cleaning the fence row I removed, I hope the last, of the out-of-control Black-eyed Susans. Also I removed some hostas (that were getting too much sun due to the ice storm,) trimmed the Rose of Sharon and planted pansies around a bird bath.

Having enjoyed the butterflies and hummingbirds so much this summer I added a purple and an orange butterfly bushes as well as ten hollyhocks to the cutting garden. They are joining the Hyacinth Beans, yarrow, asters, mums, sweet peas and zinnias.

I replanted lettuce, spinach, aurugla and scallions in the cold frame and ordered garlic bulbs, beet seed and winter lettuce seed.

The strawberry bed has been weeded, fed fish emulsion, slugs have been fed Sluggo and bird netting replaced. It looks promising for a fall crop. Giving thought to trying some of the self-watering stacking planters, I potted some of the runners to over winter in the greenhouse.

I still have quite a lot to do before winter. The garden shed, potting area and greenhouse need to be cleaned, pots to wash, cuttings to take, mulching, and the list goes on. And I am still watering!

It's a Sad Summer in the Potager!

2010-09-09T21:20:00.001-05:00

The potager is in sad shape. An extremely hot and dry summer, neglect due to summer travel and family needs, not to mention a midnight thief, it has not been a good for the fruits and veggies. Hand watering just keeps the plants alive, but not thriving. The rain barrel has been empty for months. The green beans dried up while we were in D.C. in July. The squash got annihilated by the squash bug. The neighborhood raccoon(s) have taken care of most of the melons.

Here is one they haven't found yet!

Finally I have come to the conclusion it isn’t worth the effort and expense to water the tomatoes and peppers (still plenty at Bennett’s farm stand.)

The fall plantings are not much better. The peas and shallots have germinated sparsely and I have replanted the peas already. The lettuce and spinach have not germinated (probably too hot) so will replant them again this weekend. The broccoli is just sitting there. The Chinese cabbage looks pretty good. Rain today gives me some hope.

All this to say there hasn’t been much to write about since the first part of July. There is always another year! I plan to talk with my in-house garden engineer over the winter about upgrading the watering system. Hopefully he will not talk me into running away with him for a week or so during the critical garden season next summer!

What are we eating from the potager?

2010-07-05T15:10:00.001-05:00

Potatoes,tomatoes (Sun Gold, Sweet Cluster, Polish Linguisa, Purple Calabash, Principe Borghese and, my favorite, Sun Sugar ) bunching onions (shallots),

arugula, pineapple tomatillo (excellent with grilled chicken, basil, augula and goat cheese on grilled pizza,) strawberries (only a few, but enough to add to grilled chicken, goat cheese and pecans on a bed of greens, dressed with lime olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing),

lots of herbs including basil that we eat almost every day either on grilled pizza, bruchetta or in pesto.

Thanks, I'll see if I have the right spot.

2010-07-01T22:03:00.003-05:00

After spending a good part of a morning digging up Flag Iris, I think I have learned to say “Thank you, I’ll see if I have the right spot” before accepting plants from generous friends and neighbors. And then I will do some research!

Having spent quite an amount of money buying plants, I was delighted to accept the little yellow iris my neighbor offered a couple of years ago to add to my cutting garden. I was equally delighted the next spring when those little green leaves poked through the ground and grew so vigorously. Indeed the little yellow bloom was very pretty. I wasn’t quite so delighted this spring when the plant was even more vigorous, spreading rapidly. They did bloom, but the flower didn’t last long after cutting and they were sparse compared to the leaves. Recently I read an article on Flag Iris and learned I had a very invasive bed of pseudo irises. Apparently, once they are established, they are very difficult to remove. The article advises to put the plants in a plastic bag and dispose with garbage, not with plant debris to protect against invading streams and rivers. Thus I had 3 large bags for the trash bin this week.

Trying to establish a ground cover for a garden path a few years back, I graciously accepted a few cuttings of a sedum from one of the local garden center owners. Even though it looks very pretty for about a week in early spring, it spreads over the pavers and in the surrounding beds. I try to contain it by mowing, but then it looks ragged the rest of the summer and continues to spread in surrounding beds. I am trying to pull up the invaders, but that is taking more time than I have to give. At the present the path looks ragged and overgrown.

I have had similar experiences with Morning Glories. I love the purple Grandpa Ott. I planted it on my arbor a couple of years ago. It was beautiful. However I have little Morning Glory seedlings everywhere, even in places they were never planted. I am constantly pulling them up.

Orange Road Lilies also spread profusely and are hard to eradicate. They were established when we bought the house. I love the orange color but they are impossible to contain in a small area.

To my dismay, I read on Dave’s Garden that I have planted and am nourishing some other invaders including Black-eyed Susan and Yarrow. I just planted six yarrows this year! Unknowingly, I have divided and shared tons of Black-eyed Susans, I'm sure my friends and co-workers will be considering ways to decline my offers of plants in the future!
Appalachian folklore advises to never say thank you for plants or they will die. I do wish I had remembered to thank those folks who so generously shared their excess plants with me!

Poppy Seed

2010-06-21T22:31:00.001-05:00

Those who asked for poppy seed can pick them up at the potager anytime. If you want some seed but do not live in Paducah, email your mailing address to me at chris_brooks_janne@yahoo.com and I will send them snail mail.

Poppy Tribute

2010-05-31T08:35:00.000-05:00

The tradition of Red Poppies on Memorial Day goes back to World War I when Canandian soldier, John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Field. Moina Michael, an American woman, wrote these lines in reply:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies

The custom of wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day evolved.

My beds of poppies bring memories of a special WWII veteran to my husband and me. They are from seeds saved by my late father-in-law. A couple of years ago I found the seeds in my mother-in-law’s refrigerator, stored in a medicine container. It was labeled “Dbl Pink Poppies, Sp. 88. “Yes” my mother-in-law confirmed, they had been in the refrigerator for 20 years and yes I was welcomed to them. Both of us doubted they would germinate. I was thrilled that they not only germinated, but thrived. What a treasure! Some are single, some are double (kind of ruffled,) some are shades of pink and some are shades of coral. This year there was even a lavender one. Each year I save the seeds, plant some and pass some to friends.

I didn’t get a chance to really know my father-in-law as he passed away away shortly after Randy and I married. However, as I use his gardening tools and reference books, I feel connected. With ferns, mums and poppies from his garden, the spirit of Everett Janne is alive in my garden.

Symbol of Survival

2010-05-11T21:52:00.000-05:00

Planted in the spring of 2008, the Peggy Martin rose on my arbor is blooming profusely.

The rose has an interesting story of survival. In 2003 Dr. William Welch, a horticulturist from Texas A & M, visited Peggy Martin at her home in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, While there he took several cuttings from a beautiful old pink rose. Later, he was saddened to hear his friend Peggy had lost her parents as well as her home and garden in Hurricane Katrina. However when Peggy was allowed to return to the site of her home, she was surprised to see the rose had survived, even after spending 2 weeks under salt water.

To assist in the rebuilding of gardens in Louisiana, Dr. Welch has propagated the rose and has made it available in several nurseries across the south, including Petals from the Past and Antique Rose Emporium. From the sale of each rose $1 is given to garden restoration in the New Orleans area.

You can read the entire story of the Peggy Martin Rose here.

Questions from the Coffee Shop

2010-05-02T08:10:00.004-05:00

About a dozen folks joined me at Market House Coffee Shop yesterday for discussion of my potager and Square Foot Garden. We were fortunate to have horticulturist Kathy Keeny present and appreciated her sharing tips and answering some of the more technical questions. Following are some of the questions with my answers.

How did you get started doing Square Foot Gardening? I first heard of Square Foot Gardening in the early eighties on the PBS series by the same name. I bought the first edition of Mel Bartholomew’s book at that time and started with a couple of squares. I now have eight squares and his latest edition published in 2005.

Do all vegetables require a lot of sun? As far as I know, with little exception, most vegetables do require at least 6-8 hours of sun.

When do you plant lettuce? Late February, early March, depending on the weather. Also again in late summer I plant lettuce as well as arugula, Swiss chard and spinach under a shade cloth for a fall harvest.

What is “Mel’s Mix” that you keep mentioning? Mel’s Mix is the planting medium mentioned in his book Square Foot Gardening. It is equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and compost.

How do you know when to fertilize? I only add fertilizer if the plants seem to need it (leaves starting to yellow, plant not growing or producing.) I usually apply fish emulsion. Good compost has most of the nutrients garden plants need.

What do you put in your compost? Peelings from the kitchen, newspaper, cardboard, dryer lint, coffee grounds with filters, garden debris, etc. (See earlier post.) Avoid meat and fats as they will attract undesirable animals (like raccoons.)

Have you had problems with animals getting in the compost? Not yet, maybe because I avoid the meats and fats.

Where do you get those neat little compost bins? The posts were ordered on-line from Green Culture. The slats are from Home Depot or Lowes.

Is there time to grow summer vegetables after you harvest the early produce? Don’t wait until you harvest the lettuce, onions, peas, etc. to plant the summer vegetables. I use the lettuce and onions in the center of a square first and plant a tomato, squash, melon, etc. By the time the summer crops need the space, the early stuff will be done. See Louise Riotte’s book Tomatoes Love Carrots for more information on succession planting.

Much thanks to Valerie Pollard for inviting me to share my passion for gardening at Market House Coffee Shop. For more information on Square Foot Gardening, visit their web site.

Coffee Shop Talk

2010-04-29T23:30:00.002-05:00

I will be giving an informal talk about my potager and Square Foot Gardening at noon on Saturday, May 1 at Market Square Coffee Shop

Market Square Coffee

@ The Stranded Cow

527 N 6th Street

Paducah Kentucky

Can I toss that?

2010-04-25T21:20:00.002-05:00

Can I toss this? A question often asked around our house. Usually the answer is “no,” it can be composted. Cereal boxes, egg shells, dryer lint, newspaper, coffee grounds and, of course, kitchen scraps. (I don’t have a garbage disposal in my kitchen, don’t need one.) My neighbors no longer raise their eyebrows when I take the pick-up down the street and load up their bagged leaves. So far I have been able to restrain myself from asking for kitchen scraps at dinner parties, but have been known to collect coffee grounds and tea bags at church suppers.

You may wonder if compost is really worth all that effort. Does “black gold” resonate? With black gold I rarely need to use extra fertilizer. Last fall a gourd plant evolved from the compost pile. I elected to let it go. When it reached about 20 feet, I had to trim it to keep it from engulfing the entire garden. It produced about 15 gourds without any fertilizer. I have two bins and a tumbler and still can’t generate enough compost for my small garden. So, yes, I do think it is worthwhile.

Art in the Garden

2010-04-19T09:12:00.001-05:00

My friend, Jana's raised bed.

Patience!

2010-04-08T00:42:00.000-05:00

The unusual warm weather this past couple of weeks tempted me to set those cute little tomato and basil plants in the ground. Past experience tells me “be patient!” And I am glad I was as it has turned a bit cool again. Even if frost didn’t get them, they would have just sat there and waited for the soil to warm. Now is the perfect time to give their beds a layer of compost and to prepare for the little darlings. Tomatoes are one area I do not use the Square Foot method. I usually put 4 plants in one 4’X4’ bed and they fill it up. I think I will try to control their size by doing more pruning. From what I have read, they usually produce as much if not more than letting the vines go rapid.

Raised beds have become more popular and much easier than a garden plot. In the past there has been concern of inorganic arsenic leaching from treated landscape timbers. My research finds that the process using arsenic (chromated copper arsenate) has not been used since 2003. However, I notice the warning is still present in gardening books and on web sites. You can read the report at the Government EPA site. If you are still concerned; I noticed Lowe’s has resin raised bed kits priced from $40 to $100, depending on size.

Friends often asked me about the soil I use in my beds. Over the years I have used top soil amended with synthetic fertilizer, top soil amended with compost, soil left over from outdoor projects amended with compost, etc. I have found the crops due much better when compost is amended to the soil. But hands down the best soil I have found for raised beds is Mel’s Mix, as in Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Garden book. It is equal parts of compost, peat and coarse vermiculite. He recommends using bag compost from different sources to incorporate a variety of microbes. In addition to my homemade compost, I like to use bagged compost with manure, especially chicken manure. (I admit, I do get looks of disgust, especially from the younger folks, when I pull up to the loading area to pick up my manure.) Peat is available by compressed bale at most garden centers. Large bags of coarse vermiculite are not as available but I did find a 3 cubic bag at Phelps Farm Store on 4th street (in Paducah.) Mel’s Mix may seem a bit expensive initially but a one time process. After filling the beds, just add compost each time you replant a square.

Remember, practice patience! (That’s a note to me) The last frost date for this area (Zone 6) is around April 20. Planting summer crops before that time may find you gathering blankets, sheets and Grandma’s quilts to cover your plants when a frost or freeze is predicted. Most seeds for the summer garden require the soil temperature to be at least 50° before they will germinate. My experience with plants planted before May have not yielded an earlier harvest. They don’t do anything but sit there and wait for the heat (kind of like I do on a cold morning, waiting for the house to warm.)

Trash to Treasure

2010-03-31T20:22:00.004-05:00

Before you head out for the recycling center, grab a few water bottles or other plastic cylinder containers and have some creative fun. Paint, paper mache, colored sand and joint compound can transform those otherwise ugly containers into pretty vases for giving flowers from your garden. On Wednesday, April 7, I will be conducting a workshop on ‘’Trash to Treasure” at 12:30 p.m. at the McCracken County Library. We will use paper mache to cover empty coffee creamer containers. To register contact the McCracken County Library at 555 Washington Street Paducah, Kentucky 42003 or call (270) 442-2510, Toll-free 866-829-7532

On April 7 we will paper mache Coffeemate containers. On April 21 we wil return to the library and decorate them using paint, decoupage, sand or whatever creative medium that comes to mind.

These containers once held
Coffeemate, Gatorade and cola.

Ahhh........Spring

2010-03-28T00:23:00.003-05:00

Warm breezes, daffodils, pansies and surprises. Everyday I take a walk around the yard and potager to see what new little sprouts have arrived. My surprise today was violas or Johnny-Jump-Ups. Last spring I bought the seeds on a whim and tossed them around some pavers. They sprouted but didn’t do much, just sort of sat there. I didn’t give it too much thought as it was only a package of seeds. To my surprise and delight, there are now sweet little violas blooming all around the pavers.

The potager is coming to life. Early crops of peas, potatoes, broccoli, Swiss chard, beets, spinach and bunching onions are sowed and starting to sprout. The strawberries are putting out new growth and are enjoying the side dressing of compost and drink of fish emulsion they received this week.

In the greenhouse tomato, pepper, eggplant, rosemary and basil are being nurtured, just waiting for the days of frost risk to pass so they can be planted in the garden. The thyme, rose and crepe myrtle cuttings taken last fall are ready to move to their permanent spot. Alma Fig has leaved out and is sporting the breba (or first) crop. She will fruit again with her main crop in late summer. Cuttings from last summer’s geraniums have thrived and are blooming.

A little time now to relax, let the spring rains soak in and watch the plants grow. Did I say “relax?” I just heard the neighbor’s lawn mower. I forgot the rains make the grass grow! Glad I only have a small front yard!

My First Helleborus Bloom

2010-03-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

Today I saw the first bloom on my helleborus (Lenten Rose.) It is a bit late as they are usually the first bloom of the season appearing in late January or early February. Given to me two years ago by gardener friend, Dick Holland, I have waited patiently for it to bloom. Today was the day!

Cover Girl

2010-03-24T08:50:00.000-05:00

Yes, that’s me on the cover of the March/April Paducah Life magazine. It took 60 years, but finally I am a cover girl! The attention generated some interesting requests. The McCracken County Cooperative Extension Office invited me to include my potager on the Garden Tour on April 13 (which I had to decline due to some unexpected family needs.) But I have agreed to give a talk at Market House Coffee on May 1 (in exchange for their used coffee grounds and filters) and to help a second grader with a science fair project in the fall.

Potatoes in Bags

2010-03-17T19:52:00.000-05:00

This will be my third year to plant potatoes in the potager. So far I have had very limited success. In the past two years I have used potato bags from Gardener’s Supply, filling them with compost and top soil. The potatoes were very good, but pretty scarce. This year I used Mel’s Mix (equal parts of compost, vermiculite and peat.) I used the bags again, but also experimenting with the “high rise” method described on the Square Foot Garden web site. The high rise is an open ended 12-inch square box; it can be 6-12-inches deep. Directions for planting potatoes using this method, as well as the traditional method of “hilling up” are in the Square Foot Gardening book or click on the web site at the bottom of this page.

from 2008 garden

I had chosen some potatoes from a garden catalog that were $7.95 plus shipping for 3 pounds. Fortunately before I placed my order I was in Tractor’s Supply and found the same seed potatoes for $6.95 for 5 pounds. Now this is way too many potatoes for my potager but much less expense (no shipping.) If you are interested in trying to grow potatoes, I will be happy to give you my extras.

Taking my dad’s advice, I planted peas today, St. Patrick’s Day. Since he was a champion gardener in his day, I am expecting a bountiful crop!
Already planted are lettuce, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, Swiss chard, arugula, broccoli and beets. This completes the early spring planting.

Free Plants

2010-03-11T14:47:00.000-06:00

Free plants are readily available with just a little effort.

Taking advantage of an unusually warm day in March, yesterday I spent the entire day, cleaning off beds, pulling weeds, trimming herbs and just generally puttering around in the potager. Cutting back a lavender plant, I was pleased to see it survived the winter very well. I don’t recall the variety, but it must be hardy and worthy of propagation. I took five tender stems about 4 – 5-inches in length, stripped the leaves from the lower two-thirds and put it in moist potting mix with added moisture crystals. Off to the green house to join the rest of my free plants. Taking a quick inventory, I counted 3 rosemary, 6 thyme, 1 Peggy martin Rose, 5 Knock-Out Roses, 2 Crepe Myrtles, and 20 geraniums, all from cuttings last fall.

Cuttings are quite an easy way to increase a plant collection. I take tender stems from healthy plants, strip the bottom leaves, dip it in rooting hormone and stick them in moist Pro Mix (which I buy by the bale). Okay, the plants aren’t totally free. I mix moisture crystals into the potting mix to insure the stems do not dry out. I place the cuttings in a shelter spot out of direct sun. After roots are formed I move the plants to a sunny location and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a diluted water soluble fertilizer (like fish emulsion or Miracle Grow.) You don’t need a greenhouse for cuttings. For several years geranium cuttings have over wintered in the window sills of my basement.

Two other sources for free plants are division and seed collecting. I have ferns and chrysanthemums from my mother-in-law, iris and cannas from a neighbor and my eyes are set on some gorgeous hostas in a friend’s garden. I have just begun to collect seeds. My one success is poppies. I collected seeds from zinnias last fall and will know in a few weeks if they will germinate.

Quite often I have more plants than I have room for in my potager, either from cuttings, overzealous seed starting or division. Tossing healthy plants into the landfill is simply not an option. First I offer them to friends and co-workers. But it isn’t unusual to drive by my house and see plants by the curb with a free sign. Now that I am blogging I will post a list of the free plants I currently have available. Hopefully some local gardeners will read my blog and can use the freebies. I have no problem bribing folks to read my blog!

2010-03-10T01:53:00.000-06:00

Why do I want to blog?

Because I am passionate about my potager (or kitchen garden,) I tend to talk about it non-stop. I notice the eyes of my non-gardening friends and family glaze over in boredom. I think I have been hidden by more than a few of my friends on Facebook. I need an outlet! (Okay, the real reason I want to start a blog is I just watched Julie and Julia and thought "How cool is that?") I do hope to have interaction with other gardeners and if no one reads it, well I will have a journal, something I have often considered but have never put to practice. Now to start blogging...........

It is March and my greenhouse is full of young plants and cuttings. Seedlings are emerging under grow lights and the early spring vegetables have been planted in the garden. Bulbs are up, pansies and crocuses are blooming. As Carolyn Roof mentioned in her gardening column in the local paper, March is a "hurry up and wait" month. After a short flurry of activity, we now wait for the weather to warm some more. It is also a move month. Move seedlings to the greenhouse, move plants outside during the day, move plants back into the greenhouse at night until finally they can be moved to their garden spot.

March is full of surprises, like when I removed a row cover from one of the beds yesterday and found arugula, bok choy, beets and Swiss chard had survived the winter. They were immature plants leftover last fall. I put them under a row cover hoping they would continue to grow. They didn't grow any, but did survive the single digit temperatures and snow of the winter. I side-dressed the plants with compost, now let's see if they will finish maturing.

What, you may wonder, is in the black jugs? Water. I spray detergent jugs with black paint, filled them with water and placed under the row covers for heat. It must have helped as the most of the plants survived.