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Time to Can or Freeze Vegetables

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:42:43 +0100

Now that we are harvesting our vegetables from the garden we need to decide how to store what we are not eating right away. Fresh vegetables need to be stored as soon as possible after picking to preserve their goodness for those off season months.
Fruits and vegetables should be prepared, canned, put into the freezer, dried, or place in cold storage as soon as possible. Those foods that are usually cooked before eating are most suitable for freezing.

* asparagus
* lima beans
* beets
* cauliflower
* broccoli
* brussels sprouts
* peas
* carrots
* rhubarb
* squash
* sweet corn
* spinach
other green vegetables

Canned vegetables can include:

* Fresh lima beans
* Snap beans
* beets
* carrots
* cream style corn
* whole kernel corn
* mushrooms
* green peas
* squash
other greens

All low acid foods must be processed in a steam-pressure canner because they require temperatures higher than that of boiling water for sterilization.
High acid foods such as fruits, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables can be processed in a boiling-water bath.

Gardenia rooted cuttings

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:05:51 +0100

The Gardenia is an evergreen bush, it stays green all year. It blooms in June with white fragrant flowers that last several weeks. Gardenia's are great as cut flowers, placed in water they will last almost as long as those on the plant. You can always tell when Gardenia's are blooming because of the fragrants that warfts across the yard with a gentle breeze. Gardenia's are acid loving plants and do best when mulched with pine straw. They need plenty of sun.
Add to your garden the beautiful and fragrant Gardenia. After the Gardenia has bloomed take an 8 to 12 inch clipping from one year growth of an established bush. Place the cuttings in water, let the cuttings remain in water until 4 or 5 roots have formed. Once the roots are about 1 to 2 inches in length repot them. Now that I have rooted some Gardenia's, I need to pot them to establish their roots for next years planting. See pictures of the process below. After potting place in shady area and keep watered.
To keep the roots from freezing over the winter, place the pots in the ground or cover with 3 or 4 inches of leaves or straw. Plant after last frost or anytime during warm weather, to give the new plants time to establish roots.

Mites on my Roses

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:48:58 +0100

I have an old antique running rose bush that I have let run wild along my fence, it is beautiful when in bloom. These roses usually have a long blooming season if you keep the spent blooms cut back. I was gone for a few days and when I returned I realized the roses were no longer blooming. I started cutting the spent blooms off and discovered that there was a problem. The roses never finished blooming lots of the buds had wilted and died. I was quite confused and started looking for something that could have caused this. I found the blooms and buds covered in a white powdery looking mass. They also had some small webs across the leaves. I learned this is mites and they can kill plants, shrubs and trees, where ever they attack. After some research I found to destroy this insect, trim off all the infected parts, spray with liquid sulfur. Burn or destroy these cutting to prevent further infections and damage. If the infection is small spray with water to wash them off.
I have seen it on other plants and trees. It can kill any parts that are infected. Some friends have lost parts of trees and some shrubs as well as outdoor potted plants.

Growing Garlic in your Garden

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:45:07 +0100

Best planting time for garlic is in the fall, southern gardeners can plant in early spring, but bulbs will be smaller. Plant 4 to 6 weeks before significant ground freezing Sept to Oct, the idea is to get the plants into the ground during warm weather so germination occurs and good roots will form.

Once you have obtained your planting stock, (cloves) for planting consider the soil. Garlic likes full sun and well drained high organic soil. Sandy soil (mine) or sandy loam works best. Check ph, garlic needs a ph balance of 6.2 to 6.8 range. I add some lime to adjust the ph balance for my sandy soil. For the small garden plot turn the soil 6 to 12 inches deep. Garlic roots like to go deep, so well cultivated soil is a must. Garlic grows best when the soil is well cultivated almost sifted looking. Mix in organic matter, such as mulch and well rotted manure. A raised bed is a good idea, you can mix the correct soil and organic matter garlic needs to grow. Garlic appreciates fertilizer, a good 10-10-10 works well. Side dress at planting and then again in the spring.

Seperate the cloves. I pull them apart at the time of planting to prevent cloves from drying out. Plant with the pointy side up/ basal (root) side down. Plant about 2 inches below the soil surface and about 6 inches apart. For the large elephant garlic plant 3 to 4 inches deep. Garlic really likes moist soil, watering regularly in the fall during germination is essential. Do not let the top several inches get dried out. Keep watering into spring. Stop watering when the hardnecks are standing high. When the bulbs are fully grown and the wrappers are drying out, too much water is not good for the bulbs.

Harvest when the lower third of the leaves turn brown, but there are mostly green leaves higher on the plant. Harvest can begin as early as the first week of July. Use a pitchfork or similar tool to loosen the soil and then lift the entire plant from the ground. Do not wash or let them be exposed to water, as this will cause them to rot before curing. Cure the garlic for 2 to 3 weeks in a well ventilated place. The simpliest way is to tie up a bunch with string or wire and hang them in a well ventilated area. After curing, cut off the tops and trim the roots. Store in well-ventilated room with average humidity and even temperatures of about 50-70* F. Do not store in the refrigerator, they will try to sprout and lose their taste.
Happy gardening.

Herb Garden

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:47:22 +0100

Herb Garden

An herb garden can be great fun and rewarding. Not only can you choose the plants, but ways that you use an herb garden can enhance your garden. Combine certain herbs together with vegetables to ward off insects. Use herbs to make homemade teas, jams and spice vinegars. Plant an herb garden for medicinal purposes or home pest control. Herbs can also be included in sauces, desserts, and some herbs are used to season meats and to enhance salads.

When planting an herb garden, you can create any look you want. Some herbs are best grown in pots to control their invasive tentencies. For example mint should be planted in pots to control its rapid growth, catnip can spread rapidly and become a weed.

If you are new to herb gardening, consider planting the popular easy to grow plants, such as lambs ear, rosemary, lavender, mint, basil, thyme, lemon balm, and parsley.

Planting Rhododendrons

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:03:00 +0100

I live in the south, my soil is very sandy and acid, my dad calls it "sweet sand" because it's almost like beach sand. I have to work very hard to get my soil in better condition to grow plants other than those that are acid loving plants. I have no problem growing azalea's, gardenia's, and wild roses.

I planted a Rhododendron this year. They like well drained acid soil, partially shaded, usually around pine trees. The area I choose had been covered in pinestraw for a long time and the soil isn't very fertile. I turned the soil over good then added lots of mulch before planting. I have been forewarned that my plant may not survive. I will keep this updated to let you know my success or failure.
I am going to try rooting a few cuttings just in case I fail with this one. The best time to take cuttings is in the summer around the middle of July. Softwood or semi-hardwood would be the best to get cuttings from. Rooting success is considered low, but will give it a try.