Cutting garden gets a low-maintenance makeover. Early June in my “sweepable” cutting garden. When possible, overlap the fabric to avoid any unnecessary cuts. Tuck the edges under, giving yourself a 5″ or 6″ hem, and anchor securely on ends and sides to prevent fraying. Headed for the dahlias, his life was cut short … It was about six or seven years ago that I began to realize I’d create…
The Hori Hori Knife If I had to pick one tool that’s indispensable for a gardener, it would be the hori. No other tool is more useful. When pulling weeds, grab your hori as shown and plunge in behind the weed to loosen it and pull it out. Resist the inclination to hold it like a serving spoon (or trowel) because it’s hard on your wrist.What is a hori? It’s a formidable knife that looks like something a hobbit might carry to fig…
…mal DNA. Many Americans are concerned about the negative effects of GMO use on the agricultural economy and small-scale and organic farming. Surveys show a wide majority of Americans support mandatory labeling. At least 21 countries and the European Union have established some form of mandatory labeling. Mandatory labeling will allow consumers to identify food products they want to avoid. So why not label? Well, here are some of the argu…
…7;s out, start shaving the rootball with a soil knife or a Japanese hori. You can use the jagged edge to saw off slices of soil and roots. It’s a good idea to trim the bottom of the mass, too. I usually shave about 1 or 2 inches off the mass — more if the plant is large and root-bound. I use the tip of the knife to tease out a few of the roots. I plant the reduced mass in the original pot with fresh soil to fill the gaps. Water well, and t…
I used to grow enough corn that we could eat it for dinner every night during August and still have enough to freeze for winter. Once you’ve been eating home-frozen corn for a few years, it’s difficult to be satisfied with store-bought. It takes seven or eight ears worth of sweet corn to fill a one-quart freezer bag. So to get 25 quarts of frozen corn (the minimum amount I try to freeze each summer) you need to start with…
What’s ahead for this year’s garden? It’s the time of year when folks are making all kinds of resolutions. Like most gardeners, I’ve made my share of pledges for the new season. I spend the winter creating the lists, prioritizing and dreaming. Come fall, when the season ends, some resolutions remain unfulfilled. But, you know, I’m OK with that. I’ve learned that for me, gardening is more about the doing than i…
4 x 4′ Elevated Grow Shelter Monday, April 29 Planted Bloomsdale spinach, Pot of Gold Swiss chard and Strawberry Blonde calendula in what I imagine to be the most captivating pattern ever. Started seeds in our Grow Shelter. In addition to lettuces and various greens, I included a few flowers, as well as Burgundy okra, birdhouse gourds, and luffas in small peat pots (to minimize root disturbance when I transplant them). GardenQuilt garden…
…te new growth. Try to have at least two growth points on each section. Flat, shallow pots called bulb pans are ideal because they can accommodate the sections. I can usually fit several sections in each of these 10-inch bulb pans. Plant the rhizomes about 1-2″ deep, using fresh potting soil, such as Transplant Mix. If space is tight, it’s OK to plant the rhizomes at an angle. They don’t seem to mind being…
Nobody likes to thin seedlings. It’s fussy work, and always hard to decide which ones to save and which to toss. Here’s and easier way: When the first true leaves appear, use a scissors to snip off the extra seedlings at the soil line. You’ll be left with only as many seedlings as you need. Nobody likes to thin seedlings. It’s fussy work, and always hard to decide which ones to save and which to toss. Here’s a…
…rn-on-the-cob is available nearly all year round in some supermarkets, the starchy flavor and chewy texture of that shipped-from-afar vegetable barely resemble the sweet, tender, buttery kernels of freshly picked corn. Within 24 hours of picking, most corn varieties have transformed at least half of their sugar to starch. Even the new super-sweet varieties eventually succumb to the natural process. The only way to attain perfectly succulent corn…