Lots of work and dedication goes into keeping a veggie patch in growing order, as well as a flower garden. Both can require a gardener to lug around heavy materials such as soil, mulch and cuttings. Enter the trusty wheelbarrow, a true partner in the maintenance and development of any sizeable outdoor area. Though you might have formed quite a bond with your wheelbarrow, they can on occasion be difficult, like when they sway under the weight of what we have piled onto it, and even sometimes fall over due to the weight of the work.
Yet, we can make things easier for ourselves as we do our gardening, and for our much loved wheelbarrows. After all, we are the ones who ask them to lift and carry more than they would probably care to, and our navigational skills, and lack of physical strength are often contributors of the tipping, swerving wheelbarrow.
Nowhere is this more true than on garden steps, and luckily it can be amended when the occasion calls for such action. Just make a ramp with planks of wood, along with a chicken wire cover to create traction for the wheel. Be good to your wheelbarrow, it deserves it.
So you have spent your blood, sweat and tears on making your garden grow, and yet you do nothing to keep your garden hose from beating it up. I mean really, how many times have you pulled aggressively at the hose without concern for what damage it may inflict? I bet there are times that you intentionally did not look back at the path of the hose because you really did not want to know what was occurring.
Listen, we all know it is inconvenient to have to walk back and see what is holding the flow of the hose up, or what has mired it down. It is so much easier to keep your eyes focused straight ahead, and to flick the hose forward with brut force. Yet, we all know this is unwise. But what’s a gardener to do? Simple, make a garden protector. Do this by hammering rebar sticks into the ground, and then sliding copper tubing over it. This will hold the hose outside of the perimeter you have established and the tubing will spin as the hose passes it, so it moves how and when you want it to smoothly. For both safety reasons and visual appeal, add some caps to these posts.
Having your own vegetable garden means never having to wish for a big delicious salad. One of my all time favourite salads comes from a restaurant named Buca di Beppo, and it is their famous Italian apple and gorgonzola mix. What makes this salad so great is that it can be made in a simple form, or bolstered with additions like shrimp, or chicken should you need something more substantial. Still, if all you are craving is a fruit and vegetable blend then this will be one you will want to give a try.
The recipe calls for Romaine lettuce, but I have used both Bib and Iceberg, and loved them equally. So, I think any lettuce you are growing will work just fine, because this is really about the red onion, tart apple, dried cranberries and walnuts. The dressing is a white wine vinaigrette, and I should mention that you need not make it from scratch as store bought will suffice. However, the nuts are very important. If you are trying to keep it authentic then you will want spiced walnuts, because they truly are the crowning touch on this one.
I was browsing through a garden supply website and happened upon a product called the Raspberry Trio. I was easily absorbed by the photo that accompanied the description of the purple Jewel berry, red Nova berry, and yellow Anne berry. The thought of planting these in my edible garden and having them fruit at different times throughout the season was too much to pass up.
The Jewel will be harvested first, and I will use those I do not eat off the bush in jam. Then I will have Nova midseason to make into toppers on salad, cereal, and yoghurt. Finally, right up until the first frost I should be collecting the golden Anne to put into jelly. I still can’t get the image of those dazzling berries out of my head. This should be a very fun addition, and if you do not mind the pun, very fruitful too.
To get your garden to produce those gorgeous veggies you dream of, you may have to work on your soil. This is one of the main things people skip, and then pay the price for later on. In order to know what will grow well, you need to be familiar with the soil. If this means altering your vision somewhat based upon reality, then so be it. You will need to know if the soil is heavy on clay, silt, or even sand. These will aid you in evaluating the way water will reach your goodies, and how much they will require. Or, also of great relevance, if you need to change the balance in your soil. You can even out whatever there is too much of by adding in other materials. Though it might not be the way you envisaged the first work on your vegetable garden, it will be well worth it in the long run.
So, the signs of winter have set in and the days in which you would gather tasty herbs from the garden a distant memory. Sure, it is ever so delightful to be able to traipse into the outdoor world to collect your oregano and mint. However, you need not go without growing your own fresh herbs in winter.
There are a great many indoor kits that consist of every style pot you could want. There are miniature terracotta, glazed decorative ones, and sleek modern ones too. The seeds are pre-planted, and just raring to grow for you on your windowsill. The only downside I can see to this winter option is that you might become so accustomed to having it an arms length away that you may not return to the garden to grow the herbs even in warm weather.
Ooh mint is so wonderful that you cannot exclude it from your herb repetoire. However, it is the most aggressive herb, unless you curtail its growth. For mint will spread its underground runners in each and every direction possible and invade the intended territory of your other herbs.
To keep things under control you should do one of the following. Though it is widely recommended, the first way is my least favourite. You can place the mint in a large plastic nursery pot and then put it directly into the ground. The idea is that it will restrict the plants urge to take over the garden. However, in my experience mint that wants to breakout will do just as it pleases. So, what my advice here is to double pot it.
Otherwise, make a separate home for the mint altogether. A lovely window box all its own, or a nice big pot will make it happy. Give it space to flourish and it will serve you well.
When you aspire to create an edible garden the very first thing of importance to learn is that soil is critical. If the area you have chosen was previously lawn and shrubs, then you are probably dealing with soil that has a low organic matter content. In such a case, you will want to work in a lot of bulky organic matter.
A garden that has been mostly lawn, flowers and shrubs will probably have soil that is fairly low in organic matter. If you are uncertain as to what this means let me clarify. You will need to get well rotted animal manure or compost. Once you have set this up then you should find that the soil is transformed into the right stuff. A true sign that this has been successfully achieved is the arrival of earthworms. They are your garden friends and will get things off on the right foot.