Confession #8 The Shrine

“Why carrots?” is a question most people will never be asked, especially by medical personnel.
It started when I was a kid. I never really liked my birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the gifts well enough. I just didn’t like being the center of attention. Over the years it got worse, I basically did not look forward to my birthday at all.
It was on my 49th Birthday that my husband turned to me and asked: “So…what are you going to do about next year?”
Good question. (It is a big day, I didn’t want it to be a Big Bad Day.) I decided to have a good answer: “I’m going to make a few changes.” Five in fact. I will do five things for my 50th and on that day I will start to enjoy my birthdays.
One of the five was to do something I always wanted to do but never did. (No sky jumping for me though, scaring myself have to death isn’t high on my Things To Do list, fortunately.)
I had in fact always thought it would be fun to get a tattoo. At first I was too young, then I had no money, then I had no time…you know how it goes. Now I have the time and the money, God knows I’m old enough. Funny thing, though, they still made me wait two weeks to be sure I was certain.
The subject of the tattoo was never a question, just the particulars. I love homegrown everything, but which veggie to pick? Potatoes?…no, too drab. Tomatoes?...I’m sure it’s been done. Carrots…that’s it! Colorful, Crispy Carrots.
Now if you knew me you might never think that I would go get a tattoo. Apparently my family was a bit surprised as well. They expressed that by giving me Carrot Gifts.
Now in my kitchen, there is a lasting reminder of my 50th Birthday (which by the way was fantastic): The Carrot Shrine.

Indoor Garlic

Everything I've read on the internet tells me garlic can't be grown indoors except for the greens.
Ok, I don't need to reinvent the wheel. I planted a few garlic cloves in a planter and put it in a southeast window. I chose cloves that showed signs of sprouting, some cloves from the grocery store are treated to not sprout.
In a very short time the sprouts were up. I pinched off a little to try it. I really was shocked at how powerful the garlic taste was. Not less, like the green part of scallions, but more than a clove itself (a store bought one that is).
I used it like scallions to top off a twice-baked potato...so delicious and colorful.
My husband has been using them in cooking, he also commented that he was suprised at the strong taste.
Note that this is like pinching back a plant. The garlic that had some greens removed actually grew better than the ones we left alone, and has lived longer.
I think I'll need a new spot for my cactus. I want two planters of garlic so we never run out.

Plotting and Planning

First Time Vegetable Gardening – How Many Plants to Plant?

My husband claims that two zucchini plants are at least one too many, and perhaps he is right. Many’s the story I have heard of a kitchen filled with zucchini at the end of the growing season, or offers I have received for cucumbers in the fall. I won’t even talk about the year I threw a handful of cabbage seeds in an empty bed (that's another confession).
Knowing how many and what to plant in the vegetable garden may seem daunting to the new, or even to the more seasoned, gardener. There are many factors to consider: the type of vegetable, how much space you have, how much sun your garden receives, and more. When a first time gardener approaches me with this question, this is what I tell them.
The first decision to make is how each vegetable will be used, and of course you need to make adjustments for the size of your family. Generally 3-4 plants of most types of vegetables are good for a family of four if you do not plan on canning, drying or freezing. Some exceptions would include eggplant; the suggested guideline is one plant per eggplant-loving person (in our house that is one plant). One corn plant will usually produce two ears of corn, so plant six plants for a dozen ears. Adjust according to what your family likes and expect their tastes to change over time.
But the plants come six to a pack? Share. Find a friend that enjoys gardening and shop together. You can also plant from seeds, saving money as leftover seeds are still quite viable the next season.
Planting a small quantity of a variety of vegetables your first few years will help you to learn what you and your family needs. You may decide some vegetables are not worth the work they require and decide to give that space over to ones you prefer. Start small. If you cannot resist the temptation to plant all six cucumbers, learn to make refrigerator pickles. Use nice jars. You’ll be giving them away.

For information on companion planting: http://www.gardeningjones.com/companion_plants.htm

Confession #17 ~The Stash

While sorting through my collection of seed packets I realized I need to make another confession. I hoard seeds.
Ever since I found out that seeds only lose some viability each season (something the seed companies don’t want you to know) I have saved the leftover seeds each year.
Throwing out leftover seeds is about as difficult for me as thinning seedlings. After all, that’s a healthy growing plant, who am I to decide which ones live and which do not? I know it’s for the greater good, and I do it; but I really don’t like it.
I try to space the seeds far enough apart to reduce the need to thin, but it doesn’t always work that way. Doing that also leaves me with leftover seeds…really leftover. I found seeds packets tonight from 2002. More than one. (Talk about a confession.)
I know they are probably not viable anymore. I should just toss them out and get it over with…
I can’t do it.
I think instead I’ll mix up all the seeds that are prior to 2007. Come Spring I’ll just take one garden bed and toss them all in. I won’t be able to space them properly, not knowing what they are. I know, I’ll just thin the seedlings as needed.
Wait a minute...

Tis the Season

If you ask a gardener in this zone 5/6 area when the growing season starts, they will probably answer Memorial Day Weekend. This is generally considered to be the time of year that is safe from frost.
If you ask a die-hard gardener, they might answer March. That is the earliest you can plant snow peas around here; that is if your garden isn’t covered in the white stuff. (I probably shouldn’t admit this, but there was a time I would shovel the snow off an area large enough to plant the snow peas. I have since recovered from that urge.)
If you ask a gardening addict when the season starts, they will answer November. This is the time of year that seed catalogs begin to arrive. Oh, the excitement of opening your mailbox and finding the first of the season, much like eating your first homegrown tomato each summer. Some days I get as many as three!
I love looking at seed catalogs. Some are beautifully illustrated. All offer the biggest, best, and most abundant. I especially look forward to the new hybrids of the season. Bizarre and beautiful are the pictures of these vegetables, enticing me to try something new.
Look out stomach…this year I’m planting Burning Bush ™ Hybrid Peppers!

Digging Holes

A WWII Vet I know grows great vegetables. Really really great vegetables. His wife told me their secret: in the fall he digs holes around the vegetable bed. Then, instead of using a fancy-schmancy composter, they simply put their kitchen scraps etc. into the holes. Until the ground freezes they cover them up with dirt. Come Spring they lightly till in the compost.
Now I know this goes against the recommended method of composting: layering the right balance of brown and green materials and turning regularly to aid the breakdown. I'm not saying I'm not going to continue to do this method over the winter.
But for today, I'm also digging holes.

Planting Garlic

I know, I'm late. Garlic is supposed to be planted by Columbus Day in this area. I have put it in as late as December and still harvested a good crop. So it's better late than never again! This year I am also planting some in containers to see how that compares to in-ground grown. I know enough to keep the planters close to the house so they get sufficient water during the growing season. I think I'll also make another garden at the front of the house...yeah, why not? Maybe it will end up as a huge garlic bed! After all, you can never have too much garlic, right? Then again, I use to think the same thing about chocolate.

Gardening Tips

~The best way to plant peppers is too close together
~My favorite plants are always the ones that nature grows herself.
~Don’t handle Beans when they are wet.
~The peak time to pick Herbs is first thing in the morning.
~The best way to eat Cherry Tomatoes is straight from the garden while they are still warm. Yum! However, never eat any vegetable before washing it first, even organically grown veggies can have dangerous unseen critters lurking about.
~One of the best tips I’ve heard was about staking Tomatoes. Whereas wire can burn the stems, and twine can also cause damage, using pieces of old pantyhose is ideal. The hose ‘gives’ with the plant just enough, and heck the price is right! I have also tried it on pole beans and cucumbers and it works well there too.
~Ever hear of the Three Sisters of the fields? They are corn, squash and beans growing together. The beans grow up the corn and the squash grows at the base of the corn, providing each other with necessary nutrients as well as discouraging little varmints (raccoons in particular) from nibblin’ the corn.
~Basil plants do well when planted among tomatoes. They are slower to bolt because the tomatoes give them some shade, and the basil adds a nice flavor to the tomatoes..
~Think twice before planting…or plant out of the way of the rest of your garden: Horseradish, Mint (any kind), Oregano/Sweet Marjoram. I have them all and I love them, but I have them contained so as not to take over the rest of the garden. Also consider where you want Chives, Strawberries, Jerusalem Artichokes and Asparagus.
~Got Seeds? If you have them left over from last year you can still use them. Seeds do lose some of their potency over time, so the germination rate will drop a bit, but toss ‘em in anyway. You may be surprised at the results!
~Compost: The ultimate recycling! Don’t throw any meat products into your compost, and Heaven forbid! don’t throw in any Horseradish, Mint (any kind) or Oregano/Sweet Marjoram seeds, leaves or especially roots. Also, when adding food waste to the pile, be sure to cover it with ‘Green Manure’ (leaves/grass/etc.) and turn frequently. Otherwise you may be attracting flies and a few of the local wildlife.
Do throw a few earthworms into your compost heap every so often. They love it and you will benefit. We use the lucky few that survive our fishing excursions.
~I see my hints are all about vegetable gardening and I should probably say something about flowers for those of you so inclined. A few flowers in the vegetable garden helps attract bees which promote fertilization of your plants (hehe). Nasturtiums are especially good for attracting bees, plus they are edible. They are really cool (no pun intended) frozen in ice cubes and tossed in a punch or glass of lemonade.
~If you wish to go the other way, and plant a few vegetables in the flower garden, I’d recommend squashes and gourds. This family of vegetables gets beautiful flowers (mostly also edible) and is comparatively easy to grow. There are also some peas and beans that do well and are quite pretty when trellised, Purple Bean Hyacinth comes to mind, though I don’t think it is edible. Scarlet Runner Bean has pretty red flowers.
~The well-rounded garden will want to sport at least a showing of herbs. Lavender and Sage are easy to contain perennials and quite prolific… Chamomile and Dill are tall, delicate annuals with nice fragrances…for those that like cooking, Sage and Oregano are very easy to grow…there are as many suggestions as there are garden personalities. Just be careful, they ‘grow like weeds’.