photo credit: ZeePack

One use for Vinegar that many people do not know is that it will help fresh cut flowers last longer. So if you have fresh cut flowers in your home or have a cutting garden and use flowers or sell them this is a wonderful tip. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water. Shake well and change the water every day. Also make sure your vase is clean.

Clay Pots are pretty, add to garden décor themes and have certain benefits over plastic pots. But they can be difficult to clean. If you use vinegar the white salt buildup on old clay pots cleans easily. Simply soak the affected areas in full strength vinegar.

I don’t mind if a clay pot has an old vintage look but you don’t want the pot to be able to harbor disease. Vinegar will disinfect the pot at the same time as it cleans it.

Ants are a pest in gardens, homes, porches and many other areas. Some of these places you do not want to use a strong insect spray, especially if you have pets or small children. Plus, ants are beneficial – in the right areas. Just not in your home or garden areas.

If you spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather the vinegar will keep them away.

Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don’t want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching. And many people know how much of a pest cats can be in a garden. Just spray around the garden edge to help keep any cats out of the gardens or shrubs.

Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks. This is much more environmentally friendly than premixed weed killers. Simply spray the vinegar on weeds where needed.

Spraying full strength vinegar on weeds will kill them – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too. If you use a bottle with a fine spray adjustment you can pick out certain weeds to kill and avoid the grass or flowers.

I like using vinegar over strong chemical mixes. It’s not harmful to the soil or other insects. I don’t have to worry about how it may affect the water table, pets or people. And one bottle of vinegar goes a long way so I save money.

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photo credit: Dermot Keigher

Unfortunately I have too many favorites but I always like any tomato seeds and hot pepper seeds. The ornamental pepper plants are beautiful and make great indoor plants.

I prefer heirloom seeds to hybrid seeds. I like the older variety of vegetables and flowers and feel heirloom seeds are better for the environment. But I do understand why some people prefer hybrid seeds.

I like the Malabar spinach because it’s edible and beautiful. It makes a great patio or balcony plant. Being a warm climate plant I start this seed indoors.

The rattail radish makes a great ornamental plant and keeps squash bugs out of the garden. The radishes grow skinny and long – like a bean. It also grows on the plant instead of in the ground. The radish is ok for eating if you use it when its small, but I really like using the seeds for a ground mustard. This radish is a bit warm to the taste.

And I like any and all gourd seeds. Gourds are fascinating to grow, cure and decorate. It’s a plant that adds variety and interest to the garden areas.

I guess that’s why I like different seeds. It add fun to the garden while you are waiting to see what the plant looks like and if it’s really as interesting as it sounded on the seed packet or in the garden catalog.

If you haven’t ordered you seeds yet for your gardens, do it now so that you will get the seeds you want.

And here is a link for free seeds - Free seeds. I use the “grow a row for the poor” seed offer every year. The seeds grow well and its for a good case.

So what’s your favorite seed?

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Here are three  garden trends for 2010

1.  Main Street is in. Wall Street is out.

There’s a shift of priorities between balancing practicality with comfort and fulfillment. You will see more interaction in neighborhoods with a shift back to enjoying the backyard and turning back to gardening for produce, not just gardening for a pretty yard.

For those with limited space or time there is a move towards sharing resources, skills, space, tools and time. Mini community gardens or permission of turning a vacant lot into a street garden lot is popping up in many states.  The slogans “go local” and growing your own produce is bringing neighborhoods together.

This is a smaller more relaxed version of victory gardens form the WW1 and WW11 era.

2.  Mindful is in. Bling is out.

There is a feeling in many towns of giving, creating and collaborating. With the rocky economy and job loss across the nation sharing a passion and receiving recognition has replaced “taking” as the new status symbol.

Volunteering and a shift from “me” to “we” are showing in the choice for gardens and low maintenance shrubs and plants in the yard. There is a shift towards natural plants and drought resistant plants to reduce water usage.

There is also a demand for products made from recycled materials. Environmental issues and reusing materials to save money and waste will affect garden décor and landscaping.

According to the National Marketing Institute, four out of five people say they’re still buying green products and services today, which sometimes cost more, even in the midst of a U.S. recession. More than two-thirds say they will select green over traditional “if it works.”

3.  Eco-boosting is in.

Chemical dependent gardens are out. There is a movement towards organic pest control and naturalizing plants, which do not suffer as much from insect and disease problems. Naturalizing plants are replacing the more finicky shrubs and trees in many backyards and gardens.

Many of this years garden trends are based on preservation of the environment and a more relaxed, less expensive lifestyle.

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Seaweed Spray

Seaweed spray is rich in nutrients and minerals. It provides protection from many fungal diseases and can be used to prevent damping-off.

How to make Seaweed spray:

Use 2/3 cup of kelp or seaweed concentrate to 1 gallon of water, spray. You can get kelp or seaweed and many gardening centers or a health store. And if you live near a lake you can harvest your own.

Chamomile Spray

Chamomile tea is an excellent preventative for damping-off. This is my most important spray in the spring when I am starting seedlings. Use the chamomile spray on seed starting soil, seedlings and in any humid planting area. Chamomile is a concentrated source of calcium, potash and sulfur. The sulfur is a fungus fighter. This can also be used as a seed soak prior to planting.

How to make a Chamomile spray:

Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1/4-cup chamomile blossoms. Let steep until cool and strain into a spray bottle. Use as needed. This keeps for about a week before going rancid. Spray to prevent damping off and anytime you see any fuzzy white growth on the soil. Chamomile blossoms can be purchased at health food stores and usually grocery stores. Tip: If you don’t have access to Chamomile blossoms, Chamomile tea will work just as well.

Apple Cider Vinegar Spray

This works well for leafspot, mildew, and scab.

How to make Apple Cider Vinegar Spray:

Mix 3 tablespoons of cider vinegar (5% acidity) with one-gallon warm water and spray in the morning on infested plants. Spraying in the morning gives the plant and soil a chance to dry during sunlight hours.

I use a diluted cider vinegar mix to clean my plant leaves. I also rinse my pots in cider vinegar after I have washed them.

I prefer homemade sprays to most store bought sprays. They have fewer chemicals and when I need a spray, I just mix up what I need. This way I have lees bottles of garden and plant sprays sitting around.

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Most people have read that gardening benefits the mind, body and soul. So the purpose of the Resolution Garden is to inspire positive changes in nearly every area of one’s life.

A New Year’s Resolution Garden will bring your family closer together while helping you relax, make better food choices, save money, increase exercise and become a better steward of the environment. 7 varieties of plants, one packet each, will create an ample kitchen garden.

The New Year’s Resolution Garden provides solutions for many of your resolutions:

BETTER FOOD CHOICES – Carrots. Carrots have many valuable vitamins and make an excellent snack. There are the small finger carrots to the longer carrot varieties. This is another crop I prefer to grow in a container. They are easier to harvest from a container. Just tip it when ready to harvest.

EXERCISE – Pole Beans. Blue Lake is a very easy and heavy producer. I also like the scarlet runner bean. It is color and edible. I like to mix it in containers for a vertical garden. Staking and harvesting make it more of a vegetable where you get exercise.

LOSE WEIGHT – Lettuce or any greens. Spinach, bibb, leaf lettuce or the gourmet varieties are just a few ideas
.
REDUCE STRESS – Mixed Cutting Flowers. Flowers add color and atmosphere to the yard, garden areas, and containers and as cut flowers in the home. A packet of mixed cutting flowers will produce bouquets all summer long. One other flower suggestion would be nasturtiums. They are easy to grow, pretty and edible!

SAVE MONEY – Tomatoes. Tomatoes are often one of the more expensive vegetables to buy. Grow several varieties, including cherry tomatoes.

photo credit: Kyle McCluer

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY – Sunflowers. Sunflowers add color and charm to any yard. They grow anywhere form 18 inches to ten foot depending on the variety. They can be used for bouquets, for crafting and for snacks. They also make great bird food and will attract birds into your garden area.

STEWARD OF THE ENVIRONMENT – Monarda Bergamo. This variety of bee balm will attract birds and beneficial insects but not suffer from the damp like many of the bee balm plants do. This is both a flower and herb with many useful purposes.

This garden can be set up in a very small area and will actually make an excellent patio or container garden. And the colors and height of the different plants will add to your garden décor but not be an overwhelming task.

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photo credit: Hair Squared

For 2010 recession gardening and perennial gardening will become a more important part of my garden plans.

Community gardening has always been an interest to me and recently Recession Gardens their benefits for our health, environment and economy have become a focus of my garden plans for the future.

This year I plan to document my recession garden plans and start early. As a matter of fact I have a winter recession garden ready to start. It’s amazing what you can plant in the winter in the house or a small hoop house or greenhouse. I plan to push the limits of what can be grown and see if I can get more than salad greens, mini tomatoes, herbs and strawberries to produce.

Last years Recession Garden.

Last year I planned a 20-dollar Recession Garden. My goal was to start a garden using only $20 for any seeds or garden tools. I grew 20 plus vegetables, most from seed but some vegetable do better from transplants so I bought a few plants. I easily managed to stay within $20.00, using a few frugal gardening techniques.

Overall the garden was successful. I saved over $2000.00 in grocery bills and still have some of the garden harvest frozen or canned. And I know what chemicals were used on my produce – none!

My biggest changes in gardening last year were the use of small space gardening techniques, more use of container gardening and growing more crops under cover. Our summer was so wet and cold at night I moved most of the garden under cover and plan to garden this way from now on.

photo credit: Gardener_24

Why garden under cover?

• Less insects
• it solved the small animal destruction I have had for years
• more control over climate and moisture issues
• tomato blight can be controlled easier
• it leads to time and back saving ideas.
• extended gardening season
• your garden location is usually closer to you home, or attached.

But gardening under cover meant I had to learn to water differently, control the climate if I had hot days and make and recycle soil and planters. It was a learning experience and I must admit I lost a few plants.

So this next week is “order any seeds I want” and start my winter recession garden.

Technorati Tags: 20 dollar recession garden, garden planning, recession garden, small space gardening, winter recession garden

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There are two main concerns to consider when adding a potting table to your garden area, location and if it’s sturdy enough for how you intend to use it. Ideal potting tables will also have enough shelves and trays to store gloves and tools with sufficient workspace left for potting and planting.

Potting tables are also used for sorting seeds, mixing soil, and fertilizers.  When working with soils its best to have storage nearby and water for cleaning.

Another advantage of a potting table is for weather related problems. You can still plants and use the table in the winter, with additional heat and lighting. And if you have a cold and wet summer like my last summer you can have the table under cover and play in soil to you hearts content.

And if you want to interest children in gardening and plants, a potting table will give them a place to plants and play under supervision.

Types of potting table and potting benches

Cedar and Teak potting tables are lightweight and unlikely to crack.  They are also resistant to weather and insect attack.  Normally these potting tables are three feet high with strong storage compartments.  Cedar and teak have a look that will fit into a patio or balcony area and add to the atmosphere.

Aluminum potting tables are favored by many horticultural enthusiasts because they clean up well and being aluminum do not seem to have as many cleaning or disinfecting problems. Just spray and wipe down and its ready to go.  These tables are available with two sections or three sections. My potting bench is wood but the sinks, which are located under a worktop, are aluminum.

Tip: Sinks in a potting table speed up cleaning garden vegetable, watering plants and cleaning garden pots.

There are also plastic potting tables. These tend to be the most reasonably priced. I can honestly say I know very little about them.

Wood potting tables are also widely used. My potting bench is handmade from rustic wood and sealed for water. It has aluminum sinks and a water source that is two foot away. It is very durable and cleans up well. And being made from rustic wood it matches my patio area. Its also has wheels on the legs so that it can be used indoors in the winter or outdoors.

My potting bench is my gardener’s play station where I can spend hours enjoying my plants and planning my garden areas.

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This is also the area where I plan the garden activities and garden and backyard design.

Your garden potting table can be on the patio, garage, storage shed or in a utility section of your garden area. The table or bench size and accessories will be based on the requirements of the garden.  By using a potting area you can better utilize you small space garden areas.

Some potting tables have two or three shelves to store small garden tools in the lower shelf and garden supplies in slightly higher shelves.  If you have small children it’s best if the shelves have doors and locks. Pets are also a concern and any chemicals need to be put away from inquisitive noses.

The Potting area will also help the gardener to keep garden supplies away from rain, mud or insects.

Many lower shelves on the potting bench or table will also serve as incubating place to grow small seedlings. Temperatures and lighting can be controlled here to help produce healthy plants.  You will even be able to extend you gardening season with seedlings if you can enclose the lower shelving area with glass or plastic and create a mini greenhouse effect.

My potting bench is made from rustic wood with an aluminum table top and hidden sink area. I have two shelving areas below the bench and the back of the bench has two shelves and a pole up above where I can hang hanging baskets. This arrangement makes to most out of my available space.

I also have wheels on the bench so that it can be moved for cleaning or indoors in the winter to use for my winter plants.

There are many potting tables and bench from a rustic look to beautifully hand crafted cedar or teak potting tables. Your home design, use and budget will determine what style you choose.

Technorati Tags: garden planning, garden work area, potting bench, potting table, simplify gardening, small space gardening

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photo credit: Joshua Kaufman
How to start a perennial gardening business has been covered before but a more detailed plan and blogging results will follow. With times being tough for many the added income of growing your own plants, trees and shrubs will be helpful plus you may be able to add a little additional income from selling plants to friends or the neighborhood.

An herb garden or herb business is rather easy and easy to start with only a few plants. You may be able to trade herbs with someone else for a larger plant variety plus the benefits of herbs for cooking, crafting and your health are invaluable.

Fast and easy hand built greenhouse plans will be covered. I know they are easy. I put one up myself and it’s still standing. It’s made of old recycled windows and heated by solar heat. I picked up most of the windows for free so my main cost was for a fan and a door.

Plans and sharing ideas for a recession or community garden will also be covered more in-depth. By studying victory gardens from the past you can learn secrets from experienced gardeners.

Information on indoor plants, outdoor plants, fruits and vegetables will be covered. The information will either be covered here or links will be provided for the information you need to plant and harvest a successful garden.

There will be the addition of a forum to ask your gardening questions.

Gardening makes a great hobby, provides fresh air and exercise, it’s a time families can spend together and most importantly, its save money and at the same time provides healthy fresh food.

Technorati Tags: handmade greenhouse, money saving garden ideas, perennial gardening business, recession garden, the gardeners rake

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Many gardeners get very upset by the large amount of time spent on gardens maintenance, but they should rather work more cleverly than harder. Each season brings its own tasks and this should be done timely.
photo credit: Mike Babcock

Raking leaves in Autumn is a very good example of this, as gardeners spend days trying to get rid of all the fallen leaves. Your best option is to let the tree drop all of its leaves before you start clearing them up. Rather enjoy the beautiful carpet this scene creates. Leaves should not be thrown away, but rather use them as ground coverings to protect the soil from the freezing Winter that follows.

Pruning your roses during winter is another maintenance monster that can see you bending over for hours. Rather create a measuring stick of about 90cm, stick it ten centimeters into the soil next to a rose bush and cut the rose at the top length.

photo credit: fesoj

Now take your cuttings from the rose bushes and put the rest through a shredder, this will carve the remnants into splinters that you throw over the rooting area of your roses to protect the roots from the cold.

Lawns should be cut by following a moon calendar. Certain days will see your lawn grow a lot more after cutting, but other days on the calendar can be selected to slow down the lawn. This could save you lots of time as the weekly mowing could be reduced to bi weekly by doing this simple technique.

Do small maintenance tasks as they pop up. Like dead-heading flowers as you are enjoying your daily garden walk. Weeds that pop up can be pulled on the spot as you notice them. Doing small bits, you never have to spend your weekends working in the garden only.

photo credit: jeffedoe

A small amount of maintenance will see you enjoy a beautiful garden all year long.

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