Showing posts with label future ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label future ideas. Show all posts
How to Grow a Pear Tree Against a Wall
I don't yet have my dream garden space, so instructions like this are great finds I like to share with others who don't have a seemingly endless amount of garden space either: How to Grow a Pear Tree Against a Wall by HGTV Gardens. (steps 1-4 included with pictures even)
Are onions truly easy to grow?
Onions are for everything from hamburgers to soups, sandwiches to omelets, so many ways to use them! With a vast variety of onion types: sweet, hot, pearl, red, yellow, white... there's a type of onion for nearly any use! But are onions honestly easy to grow? So says Bonnie Plants:
"If you can poke a hole into the ground, you can grow an onion from a little plant."
Space for Fruit Trees
If I had it to do all over again, I'd have planted a new fruit or nut tree (or at least bush) every year. By now I'd have a fabulous collection of yummy things (and healthy) from which to choose simply by walking outside my house. Now I have 2 cherry trees, 2 blueberry bushes (that are debating whether to hang on through the winter or be pulled out in the spring) and 1 extremely slow growing apple tree. And now I have a supreme desire for more than 6 hours of sunlight in as much of my garden as possible. Yet I still wish for fruit trees, but they sure do create shady areas. Enter the solution: Apples and pears: growing and training as cordons by the Royal Horticultural Society.
I was searching of course for something completely different at the time I happened upon the images of these apple cordons, but I was hooked as soon as I saw them. They're basically apple trees (and pear, as well as other fruit trees) that are trained to grow in a particular fashion, such as up against a fence, along a wire trellis - more 2D than 3D and definitely space saving! And the fruit can be full size, too, it's not like a bonsai tree. There are even books (with good reviews, too) see cordon fruit tree books at Amazon.com
& a lot of them have sneak-peaks inside, too for even more ideas!
I was searching of course for something completely different at the time I happened upon the images of these apple cordons, but I was hooked as soon as I saw them. They're basically apple trees (and pear, as well as other fruit trees) that are trained to grow in a particular fashion, such as up against a fence, along a wire trellis - more 2D than 3D and definitely space saving! And the fruit can be full size, too, it's not like a bonsai tree. There are even books (with good reviews, too) see cordon fruit tree books at Amazon.com
& a lot of them have sneak-peaks inside, too for even more ideas!
Companion Planting Guides
From reducing or eliminating the need for garden pest treatments, to adding color and texture to an otherwise mundane space in a garden, companion planting is a win-win technique for improving a garden space. Here's my most recent find at Burpee.com in their growing tips section: Companion Planting Guide
Seed Starting Tips
Have you been starting seeds indoors this week? I have because it is the 1st week of Spring! Here's a handy little article for sharing ( Seed Starting Tips – Learn About The Best Time To Start Seeds ), especially this part:
" The plants that should be started the earliest are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and head lettuce. Sow seeds for these indoors 10 weeks before the date of the last frost. "
I have about 100 different seed types this year and while it's fun to look through them all to pick & choose what I want to try in the different soil types, it's important to remember what should be started earliest. I didn't plant any of those types of seeds yet because I was working on getting the companion herbs & flowers started first. So I'm thankful for the reminder & now thinking about organizing seeds not only by type: companion, herb, root, etc. but also by when to start the seedlings!
" The plants that should be started the earliest are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and head lettuce. Sow seeds for these indoors 10 weeks before the date of the last frost. "
I have about 100 different seed types this year and while it's fun to look through them all to pick & choose what I want to try in the different soil types, it's important to remember what should be started earliest. I didn't plant any of those types of seeds yet because I was working on getting the companion herbs & flowers started first. So I'm thankful for the reminder & now thinking about organizing seeds not only by type: companion, herb, root, etc. but also by when to start the seedlings!
Cold Frame VS. Hot Bed
Know the difference? I didn't! I thought I've been wanting a cold frame, as it turns out I need a hot bed. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Cold Frame, Hot Bed Construction And Use (and here's a handy PDF from Purdue University)
Greenhouse Flooring
Reading about what to put, if anything, down on the ground as a floor for a greenhouse: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg0120455927119.html
On craigslist there were free bricks from an old chimney. The bricks have lots of mortar on them, but since it's just for a greenhouse floor, who cares? Not lil' ol' me!
On craigslist there were free bricks from an old chimney. The bricks have lots of mortar on them, but since it's just for a greenhouse floor, who cares? Not lil' ol' me!
Oh to have green talent!
Prettiest plant & flower pics I've seen in a long time! Blog at bwisegardening -- Very inspirational :)
Wishing for less time?
Wouldn't it be nice to spend less time planting each year yet still get to enjoy the fruits of your labor? That's what I've been thinking and it's led me to search out edible perennials while planning my garden. I'm starting with healthy blueberries. They'll live for years, provide a little shade for surrounding plants, but not take up too much space in my yard.
Squirrels
I think squirrels are cute anywhere but in my garden. Tips to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden by Redbeacon offers some unique tips for how to discourage those very pesky squirrels.
Evergreens In Containers
by Dirt Simple
Here is is, next to the 1st day of Spring, and I'm desperately still searching for evergreens that like (or don't mind) containers for Zone 8. It's not looking good, I'm afraid I'll have to re-do the garden each year after all. Maybe it's just the rainy storm getting my mood settled into pessimistic. Time will tell.
I started re-doing the front yard edges yesterday in the cool 50 degree temperatures and that lead me to remember I really don't like re-doing plantings. There must be a way to have and keep evergreens here.
Here is is, next to the 1st day of Spring, and I'm desperately still searching for evergreens that like (or don't mind) containers for Zone 8. It's not looking good, I'm afraid I'll have to re-do the garden each year after all. Maybe it's just the rainy storm getting my mood settled into pessimistic. Time will tell.
I started re-doing the front yard edges yesterday in the cool 50 degree temperatures and that lead me to remember I really don't like re-doing plantings. There must be a way to have and keep evergreens here.
Scents of Clematis
Clematis, Golden - Clematis tangutica
They smell like coconut... and they're $12 cheaper than at the local store. I'm definitely ordering these so sharing my excitement!
I had seen some clematis in the local store's gardening center and was astonished they were asking $19.95 a piece! Granted, they were about 2' tall already, but there's no way in the world I'd pay $20 for a plant that may or may not survive where I plant it. That lead me to searching online & finding this most wonderful option.
They smell like coconut... and they're $12 cheaper than at the local store. I'm definitely ordering these so sharing my excitement!
I had seen some clematis in the local store's gardening center and was astonished they were asking $19.95 a piece! Granted, they were about 2' tall already, but there's no way in the world I'd pay $20 for a plant that may or may not survive where I plant it. That lead me to searching online & finding this most wonderful option.
So Many Worms!
I saw so many worms in the dirt where the beans grew last year. I wasn't sure if it was a problem or not - there were about 3 worms for every scoop of dirt. So then I searched & found this and sharing just in case you find an extraordinary number of worms in your dirt, too. People have started worm bins, too, in case you want more worms than you already have.
Organic Compost -Yes!
I was reading today about farmers' soil in this Food and Extreme Weather: It's the Soil, Stupid article. The differences between the 2 types of dirt - dirt vs soil - in the picture is obvious even without knowing much.
I live in a very tiny house, with a yard that's sadly small, but I do try to grow pretty flowers, tomatoes and strawberries successfully. A couple of years ago I bought dirt (called soil) - yes, paid money for dirt. But it's GOOD dirt: a mix of compost and topsoil. The dirt that came with the house sucks. Really. It's full of rocks and clay, so I had to buy dirt (oops, soil) to have something for roots to be happy growing in.
One problem I have is a huge shortage of money and dreams bigger than the days of summer, so buying more good dirt every time I want to grow more is simply not an option. So why not "make" good dirt (actual garden soil)? Enter the search for compost, is it worth it? How do I do it? and last but not least, how long does it take? It's not actually called dirt though, it's soil. Yet another word difference I need to remember is important.
With all the pages, stories, and guides online I like this one the most. So next I have to pick a spot and get going! Ugh... waiting for winter to end can be so frustrating! It's awfully cold to be working outside still. So planning is all I can do for now. Will update with pics as soon as the thermometer goes up a bit :)
Oh, and by the way, there's a big difference not only between dirt & soil, but also differences between potting soil and potting mix.
I live in a very tiny house, with a yard that's sadly small, but I do try to grow pretty flowers, tomatoes and strawberries successfully. A couple of years ago I bought dirt (called soil) - yes, paid money for dirt. But it's GOOD dirt: a mix of compost and topsoil. The dirt that came with the house sucks. Really. It's full of rocks and clay, so I had to buy dirt (oops, soil) to have something for roots to be happy growing in.
One problem I have is a huge shortage of money and dreams bigger than the days of summer, so buying more good dirt every time I want to grow more is simply not an option. So why not "make" good dirt (actual garden soil)? Enter the search for compost, is it worth it? How do I do it? and last but not least, how long does it take? It's not actually called dirt though, it's soil. Yet another word difference I need to remember is important.
With all the pages, stories, and guides online I like this one the most. So next I have to pick a spot and get going! Ugh... waiting for winter to end can be so frustrating! It's awfully cold to be working outside still. So planning is all I can do for now. Will update with pics as soon as the thermometer goes up a bit :)
Oh, and by the way, there's a big difference not only between dirt & soil, but also differences between potting soil and potting mix.
Inspiration from Rosemary Verey
Sometimes plans change. Priorities change. That happened to me yet again this week. With the days getting longer, and the break in the Winter weather, my lovely neighbors took it upon themselves to build a carport this last weekend. I understand the near need for one for their children to have a dryer place to play outside during the long rainy seasons here, however, I'm utterly disappointed. The shear ugliness of it instantly sent me in to depression. Instead of the clear view I had over the fence seeing their house in the distance and majestic pine trees nearby, I now see the edge of carport lumber with metal and plastic ridged sheeting nailed haphazardly as a light substitute for a roof. I've lost the feeling of distance between yards & lost open space, and am now faced with glaring construction only a few feet away from and over the top of the fence line. Encroached upon, that's how I feel, even though it's certainly their right to build such a thing, I'm still negatively affected. So I did as usual for me: I panicked, felt anger then guilt for feeling angry, then started searching for solutions.
After all the work done last year, right up until the Fall rains began, I had finally achieved a good-looking and functional side yard. Countless bricks laid in my own unique pattern, 2 sitting chairs flanking my huge family room window, 2 nicely sized cedar planter boxes I had carefully built and placed just-so. I even arranged planters perfectly around the front door section inviting visitors to stop and smell the flowers, sit and chat a while, and just for me to sit and enjoy the cool evening breezes during summer. I thought I had perfectly utilized the 7' x 25' fenced area between the short fence at the front of the house and the 6' fence leading to my private back garden. Now I must think vertically, with only a 7' width to use to hide the edge of the new carport, 1' over the 6' fence. If I could make the fence taller - that would be the quick and easy way, I would - but a 6' height is the legal maximum, so now I have a new vertical gardening adventure.
I started by double-checking my measurements, and sneaking right up to and over the fence line with a measuring tape to find out exactly how high I need for new plants such as bushes, vines, or miniature trees to grow. A foot over the 6' fence would probably suffice, but 18" over would surely do the trick. Using Google's image search for hours upon hours I looked out & bookmarked dozens of vines growing on trellises, arbors with crosspieces to hang plants from, evergreens that don't grow too wide, endless styles of lattice - all focusing on tall and narrow.
Then realizing that I don't have to just plant right next to the fence, I braved the cool weather to pound some galvanized nails into the eaves on the west side of my house which now faces this new carport. I then quickly hung 7 plastic planters of various sizes in a random fashion, imagining all the types of flowering plants I will enjoy seeing trailing over the edges in a few months time. For now they're mostly empty, with only a few having some "good" dirt in them, waiting for something, anything to be planted. Fuchsias are my most favorite hanging plant, though they're not available just yet, and I may not fill all the pots with the same thing, I can imagine them in full bloom providing a beautiful view looking out from the biggest window in my house blocking the neighbors creation. Of course this won't make the view to the west any nicer while standing or sitting outside, it will help with blocking the unsightly construction from view when I open the curtains inside the family room.
The the last couple of weeks have held quite a few Spring like days, though we're still in mid-Winter. The thought of another month or more of Winter weather didn't dawn on me until I checked the weather forecast earlier this evening. Right at the very top of the forecast page was an alert for a storm coming this Friday, with snow down to the 1000' elevation. Usually this would be a frustrating reminder that I've got to wait at least another month before beginning planting outside, but this year, it's a silver lining. I can view it as an extra month or so to get together a plan of action for this side yard while I wait for veggie planting time in the backyard. (I'm still emotional about having to spend more time right off on this side yard instead of jumping right into the backyard, but like I said, my priorities have changed - I'm so not willing to stare at the edge of that carport any more days than absolutely necessary.)
Planting for small spaces is a much discussed topic online and in books, too. There are some dedicated to the subject, by many publishers. I have a few of those books by Better Homes & Gardens and the like, but I rather enjoy the pictures more than the words, so Google image search makes me happiest. I ended up searching English gardens for ideas, clicked on an image link - and another and another - and ended up spending much time reading an interesting article called Lessons From A Legendary Gardener. Now this is definitely not an article about small space gardening or even vertical garden planning, but it was entertaining and did give me some good direction about planning a Winter garden. Rosemary Verey loves her garden in the winter, I watched the video thinking she'd be a little ol' crazy lady but she wasn't! She honestly did have a true appreciation of plants, trees & bushes in cold & snowy circumstances. Hmm, odd, but not crazy!
Here in the Northwest, Summer is the shortest season of them all, followed and preceded by the rainy season which usually has a snow season tucked somewhere in the middle. That's how I look at it: Summer season & Rain season. I live in a wetland surrounded my rainforests - not technically, no, but figuratively yes. Why then should I focus on annual Spring or Fall flowers? It just makes sense to plan first and foremost for cold & wet. 3 months of a nice garden with 9 months of sad, or 9 months of nice with 3 months of fantastic! Rosemary Verey said she liked to focus on the evergreens in gardens first, so that's exactly what I'm going to try. Why plant pretty things to hide that hideous carport in the Summer season but then be forced to view it during the other 9 months of the year? Yay! I have gone from desperate idea gathering to at least 1 good idea. Thank you Ms. Verey. :)
After all the work done last year, right up until the Fall rains began, I had finally achieved a good-looking and functional side yard. Countless bricks laid in my own unique pattern, 2 sitting chairs flanking my huge family room window, 2 nicely sized cedar planter boxes I had carefully built and placed just-so. I even arranged planters perfectly around the front door section inviting visitors to stop and smell the flowers, sit and chat a while, and just for me to sit and enjoy the cool evening breezes during summer. I thought I had perfectly utilized the 7' x 25' fenced area between the short fence at the front of the house and the 6' fence leading to my private back garden. Now I must think vertically, with only a 7' width to use to hide the edge of the new carport, 1' over the 6' fence. If I could make the fence taller - that would be the quick and easy way, I would - but a 6' height is the legal maximum, so now I have a new vertical gardening adventure.
I started by double-checking my measurements, and sneaking right up to and over the fence line with a measuring tape to find out exactly how high I need for new plants such as bushes, vines, or miniature trees to grow. A foot over the 6' fence would probably suffice, but 18" over would surely do the trick. Using Google's image search for hours upon hours I looked out & bookmarked dozens of vines growing on trellises, arbors with crosspieces to hang plants from, evergreens that don't grow too wide, endless styles of lattice - all focusing on tall and narrow.
Then realizing that I don't have to just plant right next to the fence, I braved the cool weather to pound some galvanized nails into the eaves on the west side of my house which now faces this new carport. I then quickly hung 7 plastic planters of various sizes in a random fashion, imagining all the types of flowering plants I will enjoy seeing trailing over the edges in a few months time. For now they're mostly empty, with only a few having some "good" dirt in them, waiting for something, anything to be planted. Fuchsias are my most favorite hanging plant, though they're not available just yet, and I may not fill all the pots with the same thing, I can imagine them in full bloom providing a beautiful view looking out from the biggest window in my house blocking the neighbors creation. Of course this won't make the view to the west any nicer while standing or sitting outside, it will help with blocking the unsightly construction from view when I open the curtains inside the family room.
The the last couple of weeks have held quite a few Spring like days, though we're still in mid-Winter. The thought of another month or more of Winter weather didn't dawn on me until I checked the weather forecast earlier this evening. Right at the very top of the forecast page was an alert for a storm coming this Friday, with snow down to the 1000' elevation. Usually this would be a frustrating reminder that I've got to wait at least another month before beginning planting outside, but this year, it's a silver lining. I can view it as an extra month or so to get together a plan of action for this side yard while I wait for veggie planting time in the backyard. (I'm still emotional about having to spend more time right off on this side yard instead of jumping right into the backyard, but like I said, my priorities have changed - I'm so not willing to stare at the edge of that carport any more days than absolutely necessary.)
Planting for small spaces is a much discussed topic online and in books, too. There are some dedicated to the subject, by many publishers. I have a few of those books by Better Homes & Gardens and the like, but I rather enjoy the pictures more than the words, so Google image search makes me happiest. I ended up searching English gardens for ideas, clicked on an image link - and another and another - and ended up spending much time reading an interesting article called Lessons From A Legendary Gardener. Now this is definitely not an article about small space gardening or even vertical garden planning, but it was entertaining and did give me some good direction about planning a Winter garden. Rosemary Verey loves her garden in the winter, I watched the video thinking she'd be a little ol' crazy lady but she wasn't! She honestly did have a true appreciation of plants, trees & bushes in cold & snowy circumstances. Hmm, odd, but not crazy!
Here in the Northwest, Summer is the shortest season of them all, followed and preceded by the rainy season which usually has a snow season tucked somewhere in the middle. That's how I look at it: Summer season & Rain season. I live in a wetland surrounded my rainforests - not technically, no, but figuratively yes. Why then should I focus on annual Spring or Fall flowers? It just makes sense to plan first and foremost for cold & wet. 3 months of a nice garden with 9 months of sad, or 9 months of nice with 3 months of fantastic! Rosemary Verey said she liked to focus on the evergreens in gardens first, so that's exactly what I'm going to try. Why plant pretty things to hide that hideous carport in the Summer season but then be forced to view it during the other 9 months of the year? Yay! I have gone from desperate idea gathering to at least 1 good idea. Thank you Ms. Verey. :)
More Winter Planning
I'm happily working on plans for stepping up my indoor plants this winter, focusing on edibles of course. How to grow seeds indoors is a great intro if you'd like more than just hanging ferns and window sill flowers.
The two semi-protected planter boxes I've placed outside the front door of my house were the 1st two that I made the same size. Not just for looks, they're the boxes that I'd like to make cold frames for. I haven't yet, but this is a good idea of what they will look like. There are quite a lot of cold frame ideas on YouTube, also, but I'm hoping to find the cheapest & easiest way for myself.
The two semi-protected planter boxes I've placed outside the front door of my house were the 1st two that I made the same size. Not just for looks, they're the boxes that I'd like to make cold frames for. I haven't yet, but this is a good idea of what they will look like. There are quite a lot of cold frame ideas on YouTube, also, but I'm hoping to find the cheapest & easiest way for myself.
Digging Up Beds
Today I started digging up 1 of 3 garden beds. I had planned to dig up at least 1 section of a raised garden bed where snap peas luckily successfully grew this year. Out of simple curiosity I wanted to know how far the roots "really" went down. I dug and dug carefully at first, then quickly because the rain was dropping on me and I'm afraid I might melt. The "Sugar Lace" snap pea root that was the biggest root of them all grew at least 9 inches down. It could have grown deeper, and I'm almost sure it did because the root tip looked a bit broken off. It was hard to be sure with mud on it. Oh well, at least it seemed to do okay in the 12" deep bed.
I was wanting to find out if the root went down into the poor excuse of dirt that is under the good expensive dirt the box is filled with. First of all I wanted to know because I'm planning on trying to grow snap peas in containers - and have the containers be deep enough, yet no more deep than absolutely necessary. Second of all I wanted to know because I have very horrible dirt in the backyard where I had built my 1st ever raised garden boxes this past Spring. I had been a bit worried that deeper rooting plants would be thrilled with the soil I had bought from the local nursery dirt delivery service, and then just wilt & die once the roots hit the "real" dirt underneath.
The rain and thunder working in cahoots with the setting sun forced me indoors with only 1 sugar lace snap pea unearthed. I don't know yet if I'm curious enough to dig up another one of these plants if and when the rain ever stops before Spring. Digging in mud does not appeal to any of my senses in the slightest. But I thoroughly enjoy digging in good moist dirt with every fiber of my being & soul.
I remembered a rule I found on the Interwebs about not planting peas or beans in the same dirt 2 years in a row (maintaining healthy garden soil). Granted this was the first year I attempted to grow either, but just in case I kept dirt separated as I dug it out & filled up many different types of indoor pots. The ideas I have about planting things indoors this Winter are the only things keeping me from being depressed while I practically destroy the nice little garden box areas I worked so hard on this past Spring.
It was a sad day at the end. I am already thinking more seriously of greenhouse ideas & practicalities. Temperatures are under 40 at night, the true sunshine is all but gone with the sun's changed orientation hiding the direct sunbeams behind neighbors' tall trees, peas and beans are done producing edibles, seed pods have been collected for next year, the rain has started and probably won't stop until next May, and there seems to be little chance of the last bunches of tomatoes ripening. Oh how I will miss working in the backyard. I miss it already.
I was wanting to find out if the root went down into the poor excuse of dirt that is under the good expensive dirt the box is filled with. First of all I wanted to know because I'm planning on trying to grow snap peas in containers - and have the containers be deep enough, yet no more deep than absolutely necessary. Second of all I wanted to know because I have very horrible dirt in the backyard where I had built my 1st ever raised garden boxes this past Spring. I had been a bit worried that deeper rooting plants would be thrilled with the soil I had bought from the local nursery dirt delivery service, and then just wilt & die once the roots hit the "real" dirt underneath.
The rain and thunder working in cahoots with the setting sun forced me indoors with only 1 sugar lace snap pea unearthed. I don't know yet if I'm curious enough to dig up another one of these plants if and when the rain ever stops before Spring. Digging in mud does not appeal to any of my senses in the slightest. But I thoroughly enjoy digging in good moist dirt with every fiber of my being & soul.
I remembered a rule I found on the Interwebs about not planting peas or beans in the same dirt 2 years in a row (maintaining healthy garden soil). Granted this was the first year I attempted to grow either, but just in case I kept dirt separated as I dug it out & filled up many different types of indoor pots. The ideas I have about planting things indoors this Winter are the only things keeping me from being depressed while I practically destroy the nice little garden box areas I worked so hard on this past Spring.
It was a sad day at the end. I am already thinking more seriously of greenhouse ideas & practicalities. Temperatures are under 40 at night, the true sunshine is all but gone with the sun's changed orientation hiding the direct sunbeams behind neighbors' tall trees, peas and beans are done producing edibles, seed pods have been collected for next year, the rain has started and probably won't stop until next May, and there seems to be little chance of the last bunches of tomatoes ripening. Oh how I will miss working in the backyard. I miss it already.
Storing Tools with PVC
I've been collecting more tools over the seasons and been struggling to keep them organized - where I can find them without moving a few to get to one. This is a super great cheap idea I think: http://lifehacker.com/5918917/keep-your-garden-tools-organized-with-a-pvc-storage-rack . So I felt compelled to share it!
Window Boxes Simple
I just read: "Using window sill flower pots inside of the window boxes eliminates messy plant transfers."
Funny how it never dawned on me that I don't have to fill window planters with dirt, just put pots into the boxes & nobody will know the difference - except of course me, when I don't have a mess to deal with for transplanting time.
Funny how it never dawned on me that I don't have to fill window planters with dirt, just put pots into the boxes & nobody will know the difference - except of course me, when I don't have a mess to deal with for transplanting time.
Container Sizes for All
Oh how I want to share this great resource http://greyduckgarlic.com/Container_Gardens.html since I'm always forgetting which size pots to use for which things I'm trying to grow. It seems like every time I go to transplant something, I'm back to Google to find another page showing me what to use. This is a great one to bookmark I think!
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