Unique gardening tips for the

potting shed.

photo credit: Nadya Peek

Here are a few ideas for gardening tips and tools that I have not seen before and they look like ideas I should use in my gardening.

I also don’t have a potting shed but after seeing this shed I think it’s a must add to my backyard and garden area.

I don’t think it will be quite as neat and tidy though!

Technorati Tags: gardening tips, potting shed

My gardening season is just beginning but for many of you the season has been underway. I am finalizing my recession garden plans and moving onto my square foot garden designs.
photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

The one thing I like about square foot gardening is that you can always add a garden later in the season if you find you have more plants to plant or want to add an additional mini garden. This season a have a small curved straw bale garden, tiered straw bale garden and a straw bale square garden, which is perfect for heavy feeding crops.

But one question I am asked a lot is about roots crops. Normally you do not plant root crops in straw bales. But I do have a straw planting technique for potatoes that is perfect for me. It saves space, time and the backache from digging up potatoes. I love gardening – but I do not like digging root crops!

Planting Potatoes in Straw.

Get your potatoes seeds ready. I cut the potatoes, leaving several eyes on each piece and let them dry for about two days before I plant them. During this time find some decent soil, and a container. I often use a bushel basket for my first crop.

Note: your container can be as large as you want. I usually go for a bushel basket or smaller garbage can. I have used old wood crates (check for stains that could be toxic). Also make sure the container has drainage holes.

Once you have your container place it in the spot you plan to leave it during the growing season. The location you choose should get six to eight hours of sun. Add 6 inches of dirt to the bottom of the container; place the potato seeds in the soil and cover. Water well and go plant more of your garden.

In about a week you will see new growth coming out of the ground. When the growth is about 6 inches tall, cover with straw. Repeat this process during the summer.

The potatoes will set out new roots in the straw and in turn will produce more potatoes. I save time, space and digging using this method. There are two other added benefits. Since the potatoes grow in straw they are dirt free and very clean. The other benefit is that I don’t get potato bugs using this method.

The only problem I had was one year I grow them in the garden with no container and used hay. It was a big mistake. The hay attracted mice looking for seeds and I lost most of the crop.

One other plus to growing potatoes using straw and a container, you always have small potatoes to use and they are very easy to harvest, just pull the straw back and pick them. I also grow a new crop of potatoes mid summer.

Try growing potatoes in straw. I think you will enjoy it. This growing process really saves space and makes growing potatoes fun.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, grow potatoes in straw, potatoes, recession gardening, straw bale gardening, vegetables

As summer is approaching for many of use, we are planning our gardens and deciding what type of vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees to add to our backyard. Today as I was planning I went through my vines and started several varieties that take a longer growing season so benefit from being grown indoors.
photo credit: deb roby

Vines are in many ways an overlooked plant in the yard and gardens. I must admit for many years I avoided them, but then I was given seeds for the hyacinth vine and scarlet runner bean. After growing both of these and seeing the wonderful color it added to the garden areas, I was hooked on vines. Vines will also add shade and privacy to your yard.

Annual vines are fast growing and very lush, while perennial vines often take one to two years to fill out and develop. I grow both in my gardens and yards. Annual vines are usually started outdoors, unless I want earlier blooms and vines are started indoors four to six weeks before I plan to set them out.

Vine tips:

• Grow vines on bar walls or privacy fences to soften their look and add flair to the backyard
• Disguise those cold looking chain link fences with an evergreen vine such as ivy. And add an annual vine to add color among the greenery.
• Arbors and trellises are wonderful for vines to climb on. And if you have a bare wall that you would like to add a vine to but its too smooth, tack up plastic mesh for the vine to grow to.
• There are many vines to choose from. Some flower all season and some peak at certain times so do better if mixed with another vine.
  photo credit: mscaprikell

When selecting your seeds or plants for this year consider adding the versatile vine to you garden areas. You will find it blends into different areas of the backyard and enhances your plantings. One of my favorite mixes is the evening moonflower for stunning nighttime color and the scarlet runner bean for bright color during the day. The possibilities of vine arrangements are endless.