Supplies for our 2012 Fall Garden

I have made a list of the things we will need for our fall Garden:

1. Compost or Top Soil
2. Mulch
3. Seeds of the cold season crops
4. burlap

Love and Gardening will start with these seeds:

1. Lettuce
2. Radishes
3. Carrots
4. beets

Please try selecting veggies that is fast in maturing this way we can get the most of our crops before the winter comes.

Did you pick your fall garden spot?



Fall Season Spot



I finally removed all of my onions for this season. Most which I am giving away since lately we have not been cooking as much as we like too. That is actually the best thing to do instead of throwing away all of your crops. Share your excess crops with family, friends, neighbors, & the community if possible. My parents love it too since its organic & they know when it’s time to harvest well before me.



Red & White Onions



So now that I have said my goodbyes to my onions (picture to the left) & hope my family and friends enjoy the healthy harvest. This spot (picture above) will be 1 of my spots for this fall's garden. I have yet to till the soil & amend it with compost. It’s important to amend your soil if you have used the space for other crops. You want to put back nutrients so your new crops thrive as well as your first set of crops. I kept the scallions in the front since they grow all season long. I may move the leeks to this spot as well.

So if you haven't picked a spot yet. Start planning because this is the prime time to plan & start our fall garden.

HOE HOE HOE those crops away!!!!

Tomato Hornworm







The tomato hornworm is 3 to 4 inches longs. They are green & blend right in with your plants making them hard to find until it's too late. It's one of the biggest caterpillars out there. They feed on your tomato plant until they change into a moth. Once you have found one its almost guarantee that there are others in your garden. They have quiet the appetite & will ruin your garden in a matter of days.

Damage Control:

• Remove the hornworm & put in soapy water
• Check daily for additional hornworms
• You can add hot pepper flakes which deters them from getting close
• You can also plant marigolds around the garden which will also deters most bugs
• Once the season is over you will need to till the soil to ensure you don't get them again the following year

Let us know if your have questions or need more information to try to save your tomato plant.

It's time to plan for a fall garden

L.A.G. Fall Garden

While my garden is still thriving and the season isn't over just yet. In the next few weeks I have to start planning a Fall Garden. I take this time to plan what veggies I want for the fall. I start to calculate how much time I have before the first frost. And which veggies & herbs can survive in the fall months.

I have grown during the fall:

• Lettuce
• potatoes
• spinach
• garlic
• onions
• radishes
• carrots

There are plenty of other veggies out there that will do well in a Fall Garden. I will be posting my step by step Fall Garden 2012 if you wish to follow. You will get to ask questions on the progress of your garden. As a beginner it will be suggested not to start from seed but from seedlings. Also, if there are veggies that you have in mind let me know so I can try to incorporate it in the garden & we can grow together.

Fall is also the time to start a Fruit Garden. You want to start planning all of your berries. They will need to be planted well before the first frost to be able to grow a good root system so come spring they will be thriving with berries.

Additional tools for your start up garden

Found this awesome link that actually gave me images for the rest of the tools you would need for your garden. You don't need to buy all of them at one time. This also depends on the size of your garden. The important tools you need for your small garden are on my previous blog:

http://loveandgardening.blogspot.com/2012/07/garden-tools-for-your-first-garden.html

My dad had most of these tools before I even thought I would like to garden. But they did have much wear and tear. So I have been replacing the old ones with new ones little by little. Now some of the old tools I can use as garden decor or even as a stake or create a tipi for my veggies with vines. If you do get a sprayer remember we're orangic so I use it by making my homemade garlic & soap spray. More on the garlic spray on another blog.

http://m.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/fundamentals/tools.cfm

2010 Facebook Album

Check out our Facebook album where it all started. And don't forget to like the page.

http://www.facebook.com/loveandgardening

Vacation Proof Your Garden

                                      My Litte Garden Helpers watering the front Garden!!!

Going on vacation is always very exciting until you realize that you don't have anyone to help you with your garden while you are gone. A veggie & herb garden needs special attention before any vacation.

I have been fortunate enough to have my mother to water my garden while on vacation. But that doesn't mean that there were no casualties....LOL. I have come back to see that seedlings were over watered and stakes fallen over. But you still have to appreciate the person to be willing to look after your garden. After all they did do you a favor.

Here are the things to do to vacation proof your garden:

1. Remove all ripe & almost ripe veggies to avoid any pest problem
2. Check the garden for any diseased plants and pest problems. That will need to be taken care of and/or removed.
3. Mulch your garden to help keep the moisture in.
4. Water the garden well the day before you leave.
5. Try to move containers to the shade but can still get rain.
6. Remove all weeds.
7. Add any additional support like stakes to ensure that nothing loose gets knocked over.
8. Look at the forecast to see if there will be rain the week your gone. And cross you finger that it's at least an inch of rain. This way you're covered on the watering.

If you don't have anyone to look after your garden & give you updates. Here are a few ways to make sure that your garden does get watered:

• Set up a soaker hose & timer to fit your garden needs.
• Or use a homemade irrigation system. I have added a picture below so you can make it.



You must sterilize the recycled bottles with water & clorox before using it. And make sure you test the irrigation system and/or soakers before you go on vacation to ensure everything is working properly before you leave.

Garden Tools for your first garden

• Garden gloves are important. I have learned that without them its tough to remove the dirt from my finger nails. I have also learn that without my garden gloves my hands get extremely dry and cracked.
• Hand Trowel is another important tool to have in your garden. This helps me every season in removing weeds and putting in my new veggie & herb.
• Hand Cultivator helps me dig in the soil just enough to add new seeds.
• Twine is used for tying the tomato plants. Its also good for creating your own fence for veggies like cucumbers which will grow well when have something to grab on too.
• Pruning Saw helps me prune back unwanted branches from my fruit trees & rose bushes.
• Garden Shears have helped me with pruning my tomato plants. Harvesting my veggies and herbs when the time is right.

These are some of the tools that are needed for your first garden. I found that without them it can be twice as hard to keep up with the garden. There are a few more important tools that are needed & I will add them within the next few days.

Garden quote of the day

Won't you come into my garden? I would like my flowers to see you. ~ Richard Sheridan

Kids love to play in the garden

I get the kids to help me with my garden duties. And trust me they will love it. If you see his face he is as happy as can be harvesting our onions. But make sure you have them wear some garden gear. I have him wearing gloves, knee pads & comfortable clothing.

In this picture he is digging the holes while I put in the some corn transplants. The best part of this is that he doesn't even realized that he's helping me with the garden chores. He's loving the play time in the dirt.

I enjoy my summer weekends because I get to share these great moments with the kids. And get to do what I love which is gardening. This is a great way to entertain the kids and helps teach them about the herbs & veggies they eat. They will be more than willing to try the veggies when they know that they have worked just as hard as you to get these veggies.

Happy Gardening!!!!

Make sure to leave questions or comments.

Garden Tips:

-- Never cut any plants during the rain. Especially if its raining for days.

• Cutting veggies when it rains can cause disease to your plants.
• Same rule applies after watering.
• Rainy days are perfect for transplanting i.e. tomatoes.
• Its also a good time to seed your lawn to grow some grass
• Or my favorite take a nap.....lol

Rain Rain...don't go away....please make sure you come back another day!!!

When the rest of the world is dreading that its raining outside. I absolutely love it!!!!

I remember being a kid and having tons of fun playing in the rain (when and if my parents would allow it). You feel free and excited all at the same time. Jumping on the rain puddles made it that more exciting & I would even sing a little tune. It was fun to splash people with the water like my brothers who didn't enjoy it much. Didn't know that as an adult I was going to love the rain too. Now I love the rain for my garden.

5 Reasons I love rainwater:

-- Helps me with one of my many garden duties
-- Saves on the water bill
-- My garden thrives on the rainwater
-- Rainwater doesn't have all the chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals that tap water has.
-- And can fill up your rain barrels for the next time you need to water the garden

GARDEN DEFINITIONS:

1. Rainwater: Water that has fallen or been from the rain
2. Rain Barrel: A barrel used to hold rainwater

Garden quote of the day.

I sit in my garden, gazing upon a beauty that cannot gaze upon itself. And I find sufficient purpose for my day. ~Robert Brault

How to start a garden:

Love and Gardening is in Zone 7.

Now that you have checked your zone. And have looked into which herbs and veggies you want to grow and will grow in your zone. Here are a few garden tips:

• Start small: Try up to 6 containers or a space no bigger than 4 x 4.
• Pick your spot: A spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun & you have water access close by.
• Soil: The soil you get from your yard will need to be amended with compost or organic matter.
• Keep it manageable by starting with transplants. This will give you the best success.
• You will want to plant everything based on size from smallest to tallest based on how and where the sun rises. So everything gets sun and is not cover by another plant.
• If you must and want to start with seeds. Use easy seeds like radishes, lettuce and sunflower seeds.
• Don't forget to check the growing time for your zone.

Here is a growing calendar:

http://www.burpee.com/gygg/growingCalendarNoZipCode.jsp

GARDEN DEFINITIONS:

1. Compost: Kitchen scraps and yard waste that has been decomposed. And than can be used as a natural fertilizer.
2. Organic Matter: decaying plants & animal waste (horse, cows and chicken waste only)
3. Transplants: The plants that are garden ready. And the act of removing from one spot into a new spot.

What hardiness zone are you in?

Its very important to know what zone you live in before you start to grow your own garden. 

-- The hardiness Zone map helps you determine what plants you can grow and when.

-- This is will guide you with success in your garden.

Below is a link where you can type in your zip code so you can find out what zone you live in:

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Once you have determine your zone. You can go to the garden center and look at the back of the seed packets and make the decision of which veggies and herbs will grow.

Some plants will need to be grown from seedlings instead of seeds. Go to a garden center near you and ask about the seeds and seedlings you picked before you make your purchase; so you know you're buying the right seeds/seedlings.

GARDEN DEFINITIONS:

1. Hardiness Zone: is specific area; in which a each plant is able to grow, by its climatic conditions, and the minimum temperatures that it can withstand
2. Seedlings: a plant grown from seed and not from a cutting

Garden quote of the day

The world of gardening is huge. We can conquer it a zone at a time. ***EKG***

This map is used to determine when

to plant your veggies and herbs based on your zone.

Harvesting Potatoes:

Whether you have your potatoes growing in containers, bags, a raised bed or the ground. You've been waiting patiently and trying to figure out when to harvest those potatoes!!!!

-- The potato plant starts to die back turning yellow and brown. That is when you know your tubers are ready to harvest.

-- When the plant is flowering than that means that there are a few tubers ready. These tubers are good for cooking and not for storing. If the plant is dying back they have matured and can be stored.

-- You want to dig a few inches away from the plant. This way you can reach the tubers that are the furthest in the ground. And you won't damage the plant or your tubers in the process.

-- The tubers that are closest to the plant can be left for harvesting at a later date. These are usually very tiny and not ready for harvesting.

-- Ensure to water your plants well after harvest time. This will minimize stress on the plants. Also, ensure to hill the plants again so no tubers are exposed to the sun.

-- Any tubers that have been exposed to the sun will become green. These potatoes can be thrown in the compost bin. DO NOT EAT for they can be poisonous. Shortly after harvesting ensure to bring your potatoes indoor to ensure that they don't turn green either.

-- To store the mature tubers you will want them in a loose sack and placed them some where dark & cool. You can use these for cooking or replanting as cold weather crops during the fall.

GARDEN DEFINITIONS:

1. Harvest: A time or season of such gathering
2. Tuber: A fleshy underground stem such as a potato

The Rose of Sharon bush

The Rose of Sharon bush is very pretty and low maintenance. Their colors vary during the season and can grow about 8 ft to 12 ft tall. They can handle droughts and can be dwarfed if you wish to keep them small. 

My favorite part of this bush is that I use their spent flowers which have fallen to the ground as mulch for the rest of the garden. Many may get upset because of the daily task of having to rake or sweep them off the ground. I just sweep it right into my garden and let nature take care of the rest for me. 

But if you must throw it away and don't want to use it as mulch. Dump it into your black gold bin and COMPOST IT!!!!!

This wonderful bush also goes back to biblical times (Solomon 2:1). The rose itself is considered to be "perfect" of all the flowers. The rose of sharon bush is used as a symbol in the bible to represent Jesus because He is considered to be "perfect" just like the rose.

Rose of Sharon Bush

Spent flowers

Garden quote of the day

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

Cooking with your kitchen garden:

While getting my daily dose of Burpee Home Garden. I found this awesome article on how to make an herb basting brush. Try out it let me know your thoughts. Hopefully I will try it myself soon and keep you posted. Below is the link for you to look at:

http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/05/09/how-make-herb-basting-brush

Garden quote of the day

Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. ~ Author Unknown

Watering and Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

-- Do not water your garden with the sun still out.  Especially when the sun is directly hitting the garden.  This will help the ground to stay cool and your garden doesn't stress from the heat. 


--If you mulch, you won't have to water the garden as much.  Saving you time and your water bill.


--Do not mulch after sowing seeds because without sunlight most seeds won't germinate. The seeds may not be able to push through the mulch.  Mulching does prevent weeds from sprouting but it prevents your seeds too. Mulch after seedlings have grown a few inches tall. 


--This is not the case with bulbs.  After putting bulbs in the garden it is best to mulch there after.


--When you use mulch in your garden this helps it stay moist until the next time you water. The mulch has stored the water and will than evaporate slowly.  


--Compost can also be used as mulch.  It might be the best resource of mulch because it will also provide nutrients your garden will need.  It will release the nutrients slowly and provide you with the best harvest. 


--It is important that your garden gets 1 inch of water per week.  When we have drought spells it should be watered more often.  Having a rain gauge in your garden can help you keep track.  


Happy Mulching! 

Thyme to make up your mind?

You do not need to feel pressure to start your own garden right away. Getting your hands dirty is not for everyone. So volunteering is the best way to test the waters...or the soil. There are many places you can go to volunteer.  Try it out and let us know how it goes!

Queens County Farm Museum 

73-50 Little Neck Pky, Little Neck

tel:7183473276

Garden quote of the day

In every gardener there is a child who believes in the seed fairy. - Robert Brault

Get to Gno Me ;)

Gnomes, Gnomes, Gnomes.  You either love them or hate them.  I personally love these cute little mystical people.  There are so many to choose from. Whether you want a hip hop gnome or a Dr. Gnome in your garden you are sure to find one.  Some gardeners have created enormous gnome villages.  They have little houses, ponds, trees and hammocks.  Pretty much anything you can think of. There are tons of sites that sell them and you can spend $1 or even $200.  It all depends on how gnome obsessed you are.  Maybe you can go to a local flea market or yard sale and see what you can find. I usually find mine at target in the dollar section.  But you can purchase really nice gnomes at Target or Walmarts garden section.  You can also check out my favorites here at  www.collectionsetc.com

If you have a photo that you would like to share with us send it to loveandgarden@gmail.com.
We would love to see where your gnomes live.

Garden quote of the day

My green thumb came only as a result
of the mistakes I made while learning
to see things from the plant's point of view.  -saying by H. Fred Ale