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Growing Vegetables:
Cool-vs-Warm Season Vegetables:
COOL:
Roots that are shallow and are in danger
from drought. Most can withstand light frost.
Need cool soil
and air temps to germinate
and grow.
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Kale
Lettuce
Onions
Peas
Potatoes, Irish
Radishes
Spinach
WARM:
Deep roots, resist drought well.
Need warm soil and air temps to
germinate and grow. will not withsand
any
frost.
Beans (bush, snaps, pole, lima)
Cantaloupe
Corn
Eggplant
Okra
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Vine crop (cucumbers, melons, pumpkin,
squash, watermelon, zuccihini)
Flowers and their Meanings;
Aloe;
Healing, protection
Angelica;
Inspire
Arborvitae;
Steady friendship
Bachelors Button;
Single Blessing
Basil;
Love and best wishes
Bay;
Glory
Black-eyed Susan;
Justice
Carnation;
Pity on a broken heart
Chamomile;
Patience
Chives;
Usefulness
Clover, white;
Think of me
Coriander;
Unseen
worth
Cumin;
Fidelity
Fennel;
Flattery
Fern;
Sincere
Geranium,
oak-leaved;
True friends
Goldenrod;
Encourage
Heliptrope;
Eternal love
Holly;
Hope
Holly cock;
Ambition
Honeysuckle;
Bonds of love
Horehound;
Health
Hyssop;
Sacrifice, cleansing
Ivy;
Steady friendship
Ladys mantle;
Comfort
Lavender;
Devotion, virtue
Lemon Balm;
Sympathy
Marjoram;
Joy, Happy
Mint;
Always refreshing
Morning Glory;
Affection
Nasturtium;
Patriot
Oak;
Strength
Oregano;
Substance
Pansy;
Thoughts
Parsley;
Festive
Pine;
Humility
Poppy, red;
Consolation
Rose;
Love
Rosemary;
Remembrance
Rue;
Grace, clear vision
Sage;
Wisdom, immorality
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TIPS:
Plants;
Instead
of buying new plants each year, try taking clips from plants you
like that are growing, take home and pot. Let them root
and grow inside
over the winter. Then in the summer plant them in your yard.
This will save you lots of money!
Water Plants;
1) Feed flat canada dry club soda to your houseplant or
outdoor plants. The minerals are beneficial to plants.
2) Water ferns and other houseplants once a week with
a tepid, weak brewed tea to help invigorate plants.
3) Revive
ailing houseplants by adding 2 Tblspns.
original pancake syrup at the base of plant once a month.
4) Revive ailing
houseplant by giving plant 2 Tblspns.
Geritol twice a week for 3 months. New leaves will begin
to grow within the
first month.
Tomatoes:
1) Keep tomatoes in storage with stems pointed downward
and they will retain freshness longer.
2) Sunlight
doesn't ripen tomatoes, warmth does. Find a warm
spot near stove or dishwasher where they'll get heat and they'll
ripen faster.
3) Save juice from canned tomatoes in ice cube trays. When
frozen, store in plastic bag in freezer
for cooking uses or tomato drinks.
4) Improve flavor of cheap tomato juice, pour 46 oz. can of it into
jar, add
1 chopped green onion and cut up stalk of celery, refrigerate.
5) Tie tomato
plants to the stakes using old panty hose without
causing any damage to plant.
6) Remove bottom of small paper cup
and push cup into soil
circling the plant stalk to protect from cutworms and insects.
**Longer lasting cut flowers;
1)Drop
2 aspirin tablets in the water filled
vase or container before adding fresh
cut flowers.
2)Add one-quarter teaspoon (twenty drops)
of clorox bleach to each quart of water used in vase.
3) Add 2 Tblspns. white vinegar plus 3 Tblspns.
sugar per quart of warm water.
**Bug be-gone:
Use soapy
water to spray on houseplants for bugs: About 1-2 teaspoons liquid soap to 12 oz. water. Spray or gently pour the
soapy water over the plants. Some people use old dish water (add 1/2-1 teaspoon more of liquid soap, if needed to
a spray bottle. Space applications of soapy water 7-9 days apart. (Too much is not good) I have found that after a day
or so of using a soapy spray, I will come back with wet paper towels and 'wipe' down leaves (top and underside) and
it helps to remove unwanteds even more. (Not on cacti, fragile or very thin spriggs though! (smile) **Help control Slugs (and earwigs);
Push
a saucer or short bowl into dirt so that the tip of the saucer is level with the
dirt. Pour a stale beer or beer and
molasses into the bowl. The slug/earwig will go to the bowl. Check, empty and refresh liquid every other day.
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Kill Mosquito larvae;
(rain barrels/buckets/etc)
Kill mosquito larvae in standing
water areas by adding 1 Tbspn.
vegetable oil to the water.
The oil
forms a barrier on top
of water preventing the larvae
from surfacing to breathe.
Ants:
Get rid of ants by sprinkling out either
corn meal or dry cream of wheat.
The ants will take this back to their
nest
and eat it, they cant digest these foods
which swells up inside, killing them
Stop Squirrels in Bird Feeder;
Using a spoon or stick, mix 1-2 Tblspns of hot cayenne
pepper to each quart of birdseed placed in bird feeders.
The birds dont mind it but squirrels wont eat it.
Pests out of Planting/Garden beds;
Place a few slices of cucumbers in a small aluminum
pie tin and place the tin in your garden.
Garden will be
free of pests all season.
The chemicals in the cucumber react with the
aluminum and give off a scent that pests
dont
like and will leave the area, including grubs
and sugs.
Dont forget to change the cucumbers every
so often to keep the reaction fresh. Watch seedlings grow roots;
(great
for young children)
Just grow seeds in jello so that the root structure
can be seen as it grows.
Stinky Compost:
If you
have smelly compost, you're not making it right.
You must have an even balance of "carbon based plant material",
such as leaves, wood chips, sticks and twigs, cardboard and
shredded newspaper. Then a "nitrogen
based plant material",
like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and grass clippings.
The secret is that
they must be layered (like lasagana, yum!) in
equal amounts.
A layer of carbon based, then a layer of nitrogen based,
then carbon,
then nitrogen,..etc.
Each week 'air it out', in other words, mix it up. Turn it with a shovel
or pitchfork, and of course if it's in a composter, just spin it.
Never add dairy, protien or grease to the pile,
it will rot, smell and
attract animals to it.
Maintain it and layer it properly and it should never smell.
Germinate seeds;
1)Turn
a small paper cup upside down and use a pencil to poke a hole in center of bottom.
Fill half of the cup with soil. Place
seed inside and cover with more soil. Write name of plant
growing on cup and follow seed pkg. directions for proper care.
2) Accelerate germination of grass seeds. Mix 2 Tblspns. cold, strong brewed tea into each pound of seed,
cover and
set in the refrigerator for 5 days. Before sowing, spread seeds to dry for a day or two on
newspaper in garage or basement
floor.
Repel Ants;
1) Draw
a line with chalk around windows, doors and water pipes outside your home,
as ants will not cross a chalk
line. (you can also make a 'line' using flour in your home
and they will not cross over it either)
2) Sprinkle cream of Tartar around entrance to ant nests, cracks and crevices.
3) Use a spray bottle or mister filled
with equal parts vinegar and water, spray around
doorjambs, windowsills, water pipes and foundation cracks.
**Organic potting soils;
(*Note*, it is up to you to assure that the products you use are organic to really make it 'organic'!) (Standard
soil base); Mix 1/3 mature compost or leaf mold , screened. 1/3 garden topsoil and 1/3 sharp sand.
(Styrofoam
seedling mix); 2 parts compost, 2 parts peat moss and 1 part vermiculite/pre wet.
(Sowing Mix); 5 parts compost, 4 parts
soil, 1 1/2 parts sand, 1 1/2 parts leaf mold, if you can get it, 1 part peat moss, pre wet and sifted. (For every approximate
'gallon size' amount of peat, add 2 Tablespoons of lime to offset acidity. All ingredients should also be sifted
through screen)
Make your own Tomato hangers
Simply select buckets with 'sturdy' handles and a secure lid (the handles become 'hangers'
so make sure they are strong).
Cut holes in center of bottom of bucket (I used 1 1/2 hole saw) Then cut 'slits'
in the lids, for water drainage.
Place a paper towel inside the bottom of the bucket, over the hole you just cut (this
will hold in the soil).
Fill buckets with soil, fasten lid on tightly, then turn bucket upside down (bottom
up).
Tear through the 'paper towel' in the hole you drilled and plant your tomato plant securely in the dirt.
Water well and let remain in this position for 7-12 days, (water as needed) until your plant takes root in soil.
After
your plants take root,.hang them upside down on a sturdy hanger (dirt can be heavy!)
Watch them grow!
Some people
will remove the lid once the plant is hanging, others leave it on (your option) the slits you cut in the
top will allow
for watering if you want to leave it on.
Good luck!
Barnetta
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