Monthly Archives: March 2010
It’s Not Too Late!
I’m feeling so behind. I live in the Green Group, and for me it’s already week (-6). I have started my broccoli and parsley, but have yet to start my hot peppers, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Outside I should have planted peas and onions. Instead, I have 6 bags of compost in my garage, and garden beds in every kind of disarray. My trellises are outside and ready to go–because I left them there all winter! All spring, the weather has been taunting me. It gets warm one day, and I think, “If it’s like this tomorrow, I’m going to … Continue reading
Posted in 2010, My SFG
11 Comments
Emilee’s Square Foot Gardening Plan–A Case Study
I’ve loved having my readers send me their square foot gardening plans and pictures. Emily, I found your website last night while doing some research on growing a square foot garden. It was so helpful! I found tons of great info. I was hoping you could take a look at what I have planned for this year and give me any feedback. This is my second year growing a garden, and I am hooked! I love it! We have a 4×16 foot garden and a 2×16 foot raspberry patch along a south fence. I didn’t use the SFG technique last … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Posts
16 Comments
Announcing my new e-books!
I’ve been working overtime to create two e-books that I hope will be helpful to you. Here is a short video overview: The first book is Planting by Color. It is a beautifully formatted planting schedule for each color group. I have put this in my gardening binder, with each page in a sheet protector. That way I can have everything with me in the garden! The sheet protectors serve several purposes: I can take notes with an overhead marker, and then use the schedule year after year It protects from water, dirt, and wind It serves as a pocket … Continue reading
Posted in Random
10 Comments
Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting seeds indoors can be a fun way to garden while the weather is still cold and dreary. If you are a beginner, skip this step and just buy your plants! Supplies: Your garden plan Pots Potting soil Scissors Bucket Seeds Pencil Labels and permanent marker Storage containers with lids Grow lights Heat lamp Timer that turns lights on and off Be sure your pots and potting soil are sterilized so you don’t spread disease to your new plants. Refer to your garden plan to determine how many plants I you need to start. I’ve had great success with starting … Continue reading
Posted in Plant
37 Comments
Companion Planting Tool Fixed
Today I was working with the companion planting tool and realized it did not work correctly. If you downloaded the tool before today, please download it again to get the updated version! Thanks!
Posted in Random
2 Comments
Leeks
Leeks are a hardy vegetable that grow best in cool weather. Spring Planting Start seeds indoors 12 weeks before the frost date, or purchase transplants. Harden off and transplant outside 6 weeks before the frost date. In raised garden beds leeks require at least 12″ of soil. Before planting, take out the soil until there is 6″ on the bottom and set it aside. Plant leeks 2-3″ deep in the soil, covering the stems up to the leaves. As they grow, gradually replace the soil–keep covering the stem so that only the leaves are exposed. This will blanch the stem, keeping … Continue reading
Posted in Veggies
6 Comments
Companion Planting
Choosing what to plant together for the happiest, healthiest garden is called “companion planting.” Companion planting is the practice of growing plants next to each other for mutual benefit. This can happen because a companion attracts beneficial or repels harmful insects, or because the natural chemicals found in or produced by a plant improve flavor or growth. I have scoured the web for lists of what each vegetable likes and dislikes, put it all into a spreadsheet, and here you go! Two simple tools to help you when planning your garden. If you have Excel, you can use the companion … Continue reading
Posted in Plant
63 Comments
