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A Straw bale garden under glass?

photo credit: cotaro70s

Our summer weather has been a disaster. Rain and cold is the definition of most days and I don’t have to tell you that doesn’t do any favor for the gardens.

When I noticed this trend didn’t seem to want to change, I covered most of my gardens with plastic or glass. I wondered at the time if I was over-reacting but from the results of my gardens and the neighboring gardens I think I made the right choice.

The hay bale garden was a little more difficult as a prepared hay bale weighs quite a lot. But I moved the hay bale with a trolley and the plants were young, so it didn’t seem to make a difference in the plants.

I also set up another 2 hay bales since growing under glass I will now have a longer growing season.

One of my first bales had a crop of lettuce growing in three stages for a longer supply of fresh greens. All stages are now done so I soaked the bale with a liquid fertilizer and added more topsoil. I plan on planting bush cucumbers in the front of the bale and a row of pole beans in the back. The back of the bale has a trellis so the beans will grow up that.
photo credit: Ross C.

I have several crops growing in a cold frame so I will add one of these to the following bale after I have treated it and few more days.

So far with my weather the hay bales sitting under glass are doing well. I had a small mini greenhouse I made of windows that were being tossed. The structure took a day to set up. The roof is a thick plastic. I don’t trust glass in a roof. Just in case it breaks I don’t want anyone injured.

Straw Bale Garden challenges

Next week we are actually going to have sun and a few dry days. It will be interesting to see how the hay bales do in a warm environment. I may have to water them more or add a little more compost to help keep the bales cool and moist.

The biggest challenge I see with the garden under glass is keeping the crops watered well if the temperatures finally decide to warm up.

How to cover your garden

If your in a situation like me, too much rain and cold days and nights, and feel your garden would do better being covered there are several ways to do this.

• Move as many of your crops or second crops into containers as possible.
• Create row covers for you beds. This is easier on raised beds or wide rows.
• Build a mini greenhouse. There are several min greenhouse that can be made of old windows or plastic pipe that can be put up in a few hours to a day.

If  it will save your garden crops the extra work is worth the time.

My covered hay bale gardens seem to be doing well. The plants are healthy and growing well. And I don’t see any insects so wee will see how the garden grows as the season progresses.

photo credit: ellievanhoutte

And if anyone has some spare sunshine, please send it my way!

Technorati Tags: straw bale gardening

Orchids are one of the most beautiful plants in the world and it is upsetting if they are not flourishing in your care.
photo credit: travlinman43

Below are three important areas of care for your orchid. Following these will not guarantee you perfect blooms, but it will keep your plant healthy so you can work on getting the flowers next.

1. Orchids And Water - It is very easy to over water an orchid, and your orchid will soon show that it is unhappy. An orchid does not need watering daily, once every five days will probably be sufficient, and they can survive for up to two weeks without water. Different orchids will however have different requirements, so make sure you know as much as possible about your plant.

When the days are shorter and darker your orchid will probably not need as much water, so expect to change your orchid care with the seasons.

2. The Sun Can Harm Your Orchid – Orchids need sun, but it’s easy for them to get too much direct sunlight. Direct sunlight may cause dark spots to appear on the leaves of the plant or it is possible that the leaf will still look healthy, but the deep green tone will start to fade.

Think bright sunlight rather than direct sunlight, the difference may seem slight to you, but to an orchid we are talking life or death.

3. Orchids And Infestations - Seeing your beautiful orchid covered in small insects is upsetting. Although they may seem to have appeared overnight the reality is that they have been around for some time. By taking good daily care of your orchid you should be able to avoid pests.

Dead leaves can be a cause of pests. The pests will breed in the leaves as they start to go damp on the soil. Maintenance of the environment of your orchid is important.
photo credit: FlowersByMeredith

Overall, if you can provide the correct environment for your orchid you will be able to help it to grow and flourish.

An orchid is like a child, once you have the right surroundings you will then be able to bring out the best in it.

Technorati Tags: flowers, gardening, gardening tips, Growing orchids indoors, orchids, plants

With the Obamas’ Kitchen Garden in Washington D.C and Recession Gardens being grown in all 50 states of America and overseas, the decision of how to store any produce is an important decision.
photo credit: Tavallai

There are several methods of preserving food, which include drying, freezing and canning.

Home canning will be covered in this article.

Home canning used to be a yearly event in most homes. But with changes in our society many people have limited knowledge or no knowledge at all of how to safely can food. Canning is work but it can also be fun and done as a family event.

It is rewarding seeing the produce from your garden properly stored for use later in the winter and spring and canning your extra produce will help stretch the income available in your home.

The you tubes below will give you an idea of the steps in home canning. Both water bath and pressure canning methods are covered in the you tubes.

Home Canning Basics – Part One

Home Canning Basics Part Two – Types of Canners

Home Canning Basics Part Three Easy – Steps to Home Canning

Types of canning methods

Home Canning Basics – Part Four – Water-bath-method

Home Canning Basics – Pressure Canning Part One

Home Canning Basics – Pressure Canning Part Two

Any additional questions about home canning can be answered through your local home extension office. Many extension agencies give away free information and pamphlets to help you safely preserve your food.

Ball canning products also gives away free information and money saving coupons. Canning recipes can also be found online. 
photo credit: PaulEisenberg

And if you have additional food in your garden you will not be using, trade with you neighbors or donate the extra to your local food pantry.

There are many people that would benefit from your help and generosity.

Technorati Tags: home canning, how to store garden produce, recession gardening