Container Gardening

It is possible to have fresh herbs all year. Most herbs are simple to grow in a sunny south facing window. And a fluorescent grow light is a must for extra brightness it will prevent the plants from getting spindly.

Whether to start from seeds or plants is a decision you will have to make. I personally grow all my herbs from seed. When starting from seeds the soil you use should be loose and well drained. I recommend a mix of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite.

Herbs do not require high fertility and you should not fertilize them as much as your house plants. As well, avoid over-watering when growing herbs indoors because the roots will rot.

Parsley is my number #1 herb. Parsley is a nutritious herb, high in vitamins A and C and good for many things, as well as being a nice garnish. I use parsley in salads, soups, and herb mixtures. It comes in either curly or flat leaf varieties.

Basil is another must have. It is ideal for making pesto, or for use in pasta sauces and it will go well with any dish that contains tomatoes.

Oregano is another herb that goes well with tomatoes. Oregano has a strong flavour. When using fresh leaves make sure to strip the leaves from the stem.

Mint is delicious in tea and it can be used in desserts. Mint should stay in a container even outside because it will spread everywhere if not contained.

Sage is another herb that I use frequently. The leaves are perfect with poultry.

Herbs require little care and space and have very few insect and disease problems. These traits, in addition to being tasty makes them ideal plants for the beginner gardener.

Tip: When reusing pots make sure to wash them thoroughly and rinse in a bleach solution before use.

Lori

I am so looking forward to spring! A week ago, I was in Vancouver and the snowdrops were out. Here in the Okanagan, the snow is still on the ground and it will be awhile before the first signs of spring. In the mean time we can make some Tufa containers.

Tufa is formed when water evaporates from lime rich waters. It is a relatively soft rock that is porous and creates the ideal growing condition for plants that like an all or nothing water supply.

Tufa is available in the Rocky Mountains, but not easily accessible. So, instead, I will be using hypertufa which is a man made tufa. It is lightweight and retains moisture but drains well. You can use any mould but make sure you apply oil (I used a baking spray) or smear the surface with grease so your finished project will release when it sets. When making my first container I failed to grease the mould well enough and the hypertufa was stuck in the mould. Also, make sure the top of the mould container is larger than the bottom, otherwise the finished product will not pop out.

The recipe is not an exact science. The following recipe is creative and experimental but this one works the best for me.

One part portland cement. Make sure it is portland cement. This is a type of cement that is made of limestone, clay and gypsum. I also tried to make the container using premixed which had portland in it but it never hardened and the container fell apart.

One part peat moss with one part vermiculite or perlite and then add water slowly and mix well. It should hold together but not be too wet. If it is too wet you will not be able to put it in a form because the mixture will all run to the bottom of your mould. Therefore, add water until the mixture resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mould and let it cure slowly. Have fun and let me know how your container turns out.

2008 is under way and in the Okanagan we’re enjoying everything about January — the snow, the crisp air, as well as the new beginnings that this time of year signals.

At this time of year, our gardening is focused on indoor plants. Caring for houseplants makes for a great hobby during the long winter months. Many gardeners refuse to twiddle their green thumbs when winter keeps them indoors. Along with keeping gardeners busy, indoor plants brighten the home by providing a cheerful sight for those grey and dreary winter days.

Indoor plants are also an important part of decor in our homes and offices. There is nothing more lovely and cheery than a room filled with beautiful green plants.

A more important reason plants are being brought indoors today, are to do with health. We spend a lot of our time indoors and we don’t get enough “fresh air”. We all breath in air taking in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide and with living in airtight houses, especially in the winter, we create pollution.

Plants operate differently, although they also breathe , they absorb carbon dioxide, mostly during the day, and release oxygen. One potted plant per 100 square feet will clean the air in an average home or office.

With house plants you have beauty and clean air. Give indoor gardening a try and breath easier.

Only a few more weeks till Christmas and most of you will be busy shopping and buying a poinsettia. If you have the room cluster some pots together to make it look like a small garden.

Some Poinsettia Facts:
Poinsettias are native to Mexico.  The showy coloured parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually coloured bracts (modified leaves).  Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family.  Poinsettias are not poisonous.  Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap. Some people may have skin irritation from the milky sap.  Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsettia.

Selecting A Poinsettia
1.  Choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line. Choose bracts (modified leaves) that are completely coloured.
2.  Do not purchase poinsettias with a lot of green around the bract edges. Do not choose plants with fallen or yellowed leaves.
3.  Do not purchase plants that are displayed in paper or plastic sleeves. Plants held in sleeves will deteriorate quickly.

Poinsettia Care
1.  Make sure the poinsettia is wrapped properly when leaving the store. Exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the  bracts and leaves.
2.  Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal.
3.  Keep the plant from touching cold windows.
4.  Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts coming from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.
5.  Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 17 to 21 Celsius and night time temperatures around 15 Celsius.
6.  High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life so move the plant to a cooler room at night.
7.  Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer.
8.  Water when soil is dry and allow water to drain into the saucer and discard the excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.

Enjoy your poinsettia!

We received the first snowfall and it is time to take out the snow shovel.

I would rather be gardening but instead I am putting the garden tools in the shed, draining the water from the garden hoses and coiling them up. Remember to gather up and clean your spade, hoe, rake and don’t forget the little ones such as pruners, scissors and trowels and store them in a dry place. Also, gather all the solar lights, remove the batteries, and store them in a place where they don’t freeze.

This is the time to get your tools, especially your mower, ready for the next season. With a little maintenance now of your gardening tools you’ll be ready to go to work next year when spring fever strikes.

Also, take a look around for the tools you do not have and put them on you Christmas wish list.

What are your favourite tools in the garden and cannot do without? Let us know.

“Don’t count the days, make the days count”

Lori

Had enough of raking leaves?

Raking leaves is a big part of autumn gardening. In my yard, the maple and cherry trees are bare now. With the windy weather the elms are finally losing their leaves and the yard is scattered with them. These leaves will be saved for the compost heap.

The best tool for the job of cleaning up leaves is a fan type rake made from good quality plastic. Next, pay attention to how you’re raking. Many of us tend to reach out too far causing us to over stretch our shoulders. Try moving your feet instead. Rake in an upright position, with one foot in front of the other to avoid back injury. It’s also important to switch from left to right instead of favouring your dominant hand. So, remember to keep things balanced with regular switching.

Lori

On this cold and frosty morning in the Okanagan, I am writing my first blog and I hope you will join me in this venture. If you have any questions, with the help of fellow gardeners out there, we should be able to provide you with answers.

As the fall progresses we put more of our plants to bed for the winter. Gardeners know that one of the tricks to successful gardening is a good thorough fall cleanup. You can make the basic cleanup chores happen gradually and naturally by giving your garden the once-over every week. As you spot plants that have stopped blooming or are killed by the cold, pull them up. This saves your poor aching back the huge effort later, and keeps your garden looking presentable. Doing bits of work as you spot a problem also provides you with the opportunity to see where you need some fall interest and to get any transplanting done as you clear the areas.
Plant spring bulbs and lilies, garlic and spinach before the ground freezes. Planting the spinach now will give you early spinach. Pull annuals when plants cease blooming or are dead from the frost. Clean up plant debris from beds and borders before mulching, and spread compost or other organic matter over the garden.

Garden Quote

What is a weed ? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

Lori Continue Reading »

Building you own greenhouse is an ideal way to have the greenhouse of your dreams. When you build your own greenhouse you can design the greenhouse to your own specification meaning you can make the greenhouse the exact size and shape that you require.

A greenhouse is an ideal growing location for most plants including vegetable, flowers and orchids. Greenhouses provide extra humidity and sunlight which these plants require to thrive. A greenhouse can also be a retreat from the cold weather outdoors, you can sow and plant seeds in the worst weather and still come out dry and warm.

There are a range of supplies and materials that can be bought that will help you with the building of a greenhouse.  These are generally cheap so you can still build your own greenhouse if you only have a small budget.  The size is of course one of the main things that will affect how much it will cost to make your greenhouse.  Remember, the larger the greenhouse the more plants you can grow.

Below I have provided a number of tips that should advise you on how to build your own greenhouse.

1).  You can always salvage materials to build your greenhouse; this will minimize the cost of building the greenhouse and will also recycle materials others would just throw away.  You will need to consider this when first designing your greenhouse.

2).  Consider your climate carefully along with the warmth and heat that your plants need.  An insulated greenhouse should keep the greenhouse temperature high during the winter.  In the heat of the summer some shade may be advisable, this will prevent your greenhouse getting too hot and potentially burning your plants leaves.

3). Air circulation is another thing that you should consider when designing the greenhouse.  Humidity control, ventilation and heat control are all important; you need to create an ideal location for the plants you are growing in the greenhouse.

4). Sunlight is important; you should build your greenhouse where there is enough sunlight. Try and build your greenhouse in a sunny location that gets at least eight hours of sun per day.

5). Are you going to build your greenhouse out of glass, plastic or fiberglass? Glass is ideal but is the most expensive, if you are on a low budget plastic is your best option.

6). Create solid foundations, you need the greenhouse to be safe and solid. You can build your greenhouse on the bare earth, on a stone foundation or a cement foundation.

7). A greenhouse is not just a place to grow plants.  Greenhouses are often used as a retreat to relax in.  Consider adding a bench or somewhere to sit in the greenhouse. You may also consider using things like automated watering systems, heating and ventilation equipment to make things easier.

8). Pest control is another thing that you need to think about carefully.  Pests and disease can be a real problem in a greenhouse.  I recommend using good animals to kill the bad - nature’s pest control.  Chemicals can also be used but I don’t advise using them.

9). Consider saving space to store your gardening equipment.  You may wish to store compost, tools, and selected fertilizers in your greenhouse.  Tools and equipment like this can take up a lot of room so you may consider storing these in a wooden shed.

Building your own greenhouse is the ideal way to make the greenhouse that you have always dreamed of.

When starting gardening it is common for people to think big and bit off more than they can chew. A large vegetable garden growing everything from tomatoes to sweet corn will be a lot of work, something that may be difficult if you’re just starting out.

That’s why I recommend that you first start growing in containers and slowly expand your garden as you need to. Container gardening can be so beneficial and also gives you a step up on the ladder to success.

If you start with a few pots growing your favorite vegetables and then slowly adding more containers of plants as you begin to feel more confident. Then once you have some experience and confidence you can start outside.

Start small and slowly build up to your perfect garden.

Peas are a great crop to grow in containers but not many people recommend you grow them in containers, I think this is because they take up large amounts of space in the garden.

There is a variety of peas called Burpee’s Peas ‘n-a-Pot and these are low growing so can be grown in containers. These seeds are available from a number of seed companies including Burpee.com.

I highly recommend you try growing these peas in your container garden next year!