Ron’s Rustic Birdhouses Presents Gardening Blog 2015 Volume III
I have been remiss in getting one of these out again…and here are some tips….some were asked in the form of questions….others are just great information for planning your garden this year.
The big one was radishes….they grow tops, but the good part (the root) doesn’t develop. Well, first of all, make sure that you have good seed. The next thing is to plant is very friable (loose) soil, and you might have to add sand to the area that you are trying to plant these in. We have clay soil all around. So we plant in ground that has had compost added for at least five years in a row. And, we also plant quite a few early in pots with potting soil to which we have added compost. Try that….and keep them watered well.
Don’t like chipmunks and rabbits munching on your beans and radishes? (OR ANY CROP or FLOWERS, for that matter!) Mix equal parts of flour, dry mustard and cayenne pepper and sprinkle it on and around the plants….you may have to reapply after a rain of significant amount.
Plant your really fine seeds (lettuce, carrots and radishes) this way: Fill a soup-can half full of fine dry soil and mix in the seed. Then shake to distribute it well and sow it in a line. The seed won’t blow away and should be evenly spaced. Just make sure that you don’t space them so thinly that you can’t tell the plants from weeds!
Use yarn to tie your tomatoes to stakes or cages. Works well if you are planting beans next to corn stalks, too. Anything that needs staking can use this.
I DO clean out the fireplace from time to time, contrary to popular opinion around here. And, when I do, Chief Cook appropriates the wood ash to sprinkle on and around plants. Bugs don’t care for the taste or smell!
The other bug deterrent is four cups of flour, 2 oz of garlic powder and about 4 T of sage. Bugs hate this. I like the smell of garlic and sage, but they don’t!
And the last one for today…when you cook veggies, potatoes, beans, cabbage, etc., in water, don’t let that go to waste. Water your patio or porch plants with the water after it has cooled. You won’t believe how much better they will look and produce.
Happy Gardening!
Best, Ron
Comments (40)Subscribe to CommentsComment