Rabbit Control

Yesterday, I went to my garden and much to my surprise I  found several bites taken out of low hanging pea pods. Last year our first line of defense was adding wire mesh on top of our existing fence and digging it 6 inches into the ground. We thought it was a sufficient barrier, but pesky rabbits seem to make it in no matter what. My assumption had also been that after our dog brutally murdered one unsuspecting Cotton tail, no others would dare enter the yard. Apparently, I was wrong. Because I try to keep my yard as organic as possible I'm on the hunt for some biodegradable eco-friendly pest control sprays that will make rabbits look elsewhere for dinner.

Liquid Fence

I've used liquid fence in our front yard when my Tulips were devoured and it worked well. The good people at Liquid Fence suggest that you apply once a week for two weeks and then once a month, unless you have a serious buffet going on. If rabbits (and deer) are chowing down at a rate only matched at Old Country Buffet on a Sunday, then spray once a week for three weeks and only once a month thereafter. If you try Liquid Fence you might want to wear something over your mouth and nose while spraying. It mentions on the label that while applying you may notice an odor, but I would worry more if you don't smell it. Just writing this has brought back smell memories that I'd like to forget. The odor is that of rotten eggs and oh, there's just like the faintest soupçon of garlic. Coincidentally, the main ingredients are egg solids and garlic so you may never enjoy the smell of garlic bread every again. It is environmentally friendly and biodegradable which is a definite plus. Liquid Fence is the closest thing to a home remedy on the market. I'd say that Liquid Fence keeps rabbits away but the smell also kept us indoors for the day. I'm not sure I want to put rotten eggs and garlic on my pea plants, though.

Hot Pepper Wax

I've heard a lot about Hot Pepper Wax but haven't tried it yet. You can use Hot Pepper Wax on edibles so it could do the trick with my peas. Hot Pepper Wax is just like what it sounds, it is a mixture of hot pepper extract and paraffin wax. It goes on as a spray and hardens to a thin layer of wax, that once bitten, packs the punch of a hundred hot peppers. Hot Pepper Wax is also effective on aphids, spider mites, and other soft bodied insects. I am seriously considering this wax for my peas. Per the lovely people at Hot Pepper Wax, you can harvest fruits and veggies same day, an ideal situation for a gardener like myself. The rain can't wash it off, it doesn't get absorbed into the goods, and it isn't going to make me retreat because of the odor. 

Now,  I know what you are thinking," But I eat the stuff right off the vine?!" and so do I. And although I enjoy a hot pepper now and again, I am not sure that I would enjoy Hot Pepper Wax as a condiment. I've scoured their website to find out how to get the wax OFF the fruits and veggies but have been unsuccessful. The wax is water resistant so my best guess would be adding soap to your washing. There is also a caution on the label that Hot Pepper Wax should not be used on Parsley and Basil.  My bottom line is, if I wanted to eat hot peppers with everything, I would, and on some occasions I do. So I might pick up some Hot Pepper Wax next time I see it at the Depot.

The internet is filled with DIY pest repellents, but I don't want to fill my house with gross smelling stuff that might not even work. Like, seriously how long would it take to make eggs rotten? by that time my whole lettuce patch would be gone! Lucky for me, the pests stay away pretty well with my raised bed, buried chicken wire, and my assassin dog. The two products above are tested and proven to be eco-friendly alternatives and made out of natural ingredients. I've personally used the liquid fence and found it to live up to the hype (though I am again having smell flashbacks). I'm seriously considering the Hot Pepper Wax for my peas and I could always use it for my roses, which will probably be the topic of my next blog (or rambling whichever way you look at it). 

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt

Cold Crops and the Shade

Sometimes, I take for granted that I have a garden. I forget that not everyone's climate or yard can accommodate fruits and veggies. My dear friends came to visit and as we were out picking and eating peas with their 22 month old daughter (who can spot a perfect pea pod) the questions started rolling in.   Today, I am tackling my dear friend’s question on what he can grow- not only in his cool climate of Vermont but also-in his shady yard.  I’ve sorted through my seed packets and gardening books to select some cool weather crops that can survive on 3-6 hours of sunlight. Although these plants can survive on short exposures it is important to note that they cannot survive in pure shade. 

1.     Peas

2.     Broccoli

3.     Cauliflower

4.     Spinach

5.     Beans

6.     Swiss Chard

7.     Collard greens

Location, Location, Location

Before you even go to the store to buy your seeds, you’ll need to know where to plant. It is a bit easier for me because half of my yard is always fried, but in dappled sun it may prove a bit more difficult. I suggest creating a diagram of your yard using graph paper. Map out where your house, trees, and driveway are so you know exactly where NOT to plant. Once you have your diagram done you can start mapping your sunshine. I suggest taking a different colored crayon and coloring in your morning, afternoon and evening sun. You may find that you get more sun than you originally thought! The vegetables I listed above do well in partial shade to full sun, but you also have to consider the general topography of your property. You don't want you perfect garden spot to be where a rushing river develops every time it rains. 

Raise your bed

Once you have determined the ideal location (or locations) for your garden, you will need to create the actual bed.  My soil is all clay so I chose to go with a raised bed. There are pro’s and con’s for raising your bed and it all depends on your likes and dislikes. I like my raised bed because I didn’t have to dig out the clay, I just put organic compost soil from my township overtop of my existing soil. Also I’ve found that I don’t get as many weeds, I don’t have to bend over so much when harvesting, and my soil stays warm a bit longer than the ground. If you are contemplating creating your garden straight on the ground, take into consideration the amount of tree roots you might encounter and if you generally trip over rocks in your yard.  You can purchase kits for a raised bed or, if you are a handman(woman) you can build your own. I used non-pressure treated wood with an “eco friendly” sealant. But, don’t let convention stand in the way of your creativity.  I’ve seen tires used as individual planters and a greenhouse made of plastic bottles, so if you are into up-cycling and repurposing don’t let me stand in your way.    

                                  But isn't it too late?

A common misconception is that you plant in the Spring and harvest in the Summer, but many cool weather plants do well even with a light frost. You can sew the seeds directly into your garden in July/August for your Fall harvest. I am an advocate of starting inside on a windowsill but it isn't that easy for everyone. In Vermont you might not get the debilitating heat I get in PA, and the garden will be in part sun which will offer more relief. If you do start plants indoors, start them inside in July/August placing them outdoors for a few hours at a time in the morning or late afternoon/early evening. You want to keep your cold crop babies from being fried in the sun. I made this terrible mistake with my Spinach this year. I waited a bit too long to plant my Spinach and they withered away to nothing in a matter of days. I'm going to try for a Fall harvest, though. Last year I planted Broccoli in late August. We had an early frost in September which I thought would surely had killed them, but they actually tasted BETTER! 

Put a lid on it!

Another great idea for a raised bed is fashioning a removable or prop-able lid. This is called a Cold Frame. You could easily repurpose an old door or window to cover the raised bed in order to prolong your grow season. 

 Of course you would have to offer enough room for your plants to grow.

Cold frames are great for growing lettuces and spinach, which can be grown from seed to maturity in the cold frame. My grandmother had a cold frame box right outside the kitchen door, and she kept her herbs growing through the Fall by insulating around the cold frame with leaves. The lid was hinged and made out of a corrugated clear plastic. Cold frames can be used for starting plants for transplanting into the garden, or using it as a garden to extend the availability of fresh veggies through the Fall and even into Winter. 

 I hope this proves useful for more than just my Vermonters. I plan on doing a Fall harvest for my spinach and the advice above can accommodate most climates. If you'd like to know more about the cold weather crops above just let me know :) I'd be more than thrilled to give a detailed account of my trials and trellises with Peas. 

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt 

How do I make my garden grow?

Gardening has become one of my favorite relaxing activities. I zen out when I search for ripened veggies or fruits, and I have been known to pirouette to my herbs in the middle of making dinner. But gardening doesn't come naturally to everyone. I frequently am asked, "How do I get this stupid stuff to GROW" to which my first thought is, "DON'T THINK OF IT AS STUPID!" But seriously, plants need three things- sun, water, soil. The balance of those three things is much like making a dirty martini-I take my martini's a little dry and very dirty, but everyone likes their martini differently.  Some plants like more sun, some plants like to be dry, and different types of soils are needed to grow specific types of plants. 

I'm tackling Noelle's question on how to grow Basil today. 

Basil can be grown indoors during the winter and outdoors in the summer in our Pennsylvania region. I have two sweet basil plants in 1/2 whiskey barrels in my garden that I planted on May 28th. You can purchase basil at your local garden store (sometimes even in the grocery store) or you can start from seeds. Pick a healthy looking plant, make sure there aren't broken stems and you want the leaves to look a nice pure shade of green. Stay away from plants that have flies or bugs all over them or that have yellowing/browning of the leaves. This is a good indication that the plant is sick. Also, smell the plant. Especially with basil, if the herb you are buying doesn't smell like itself, you might be purchasing a weak plant that doesn't have enough strength to survive a week in the sun. 

Where do you put it now?

Basil does best with 6-8 hours of sun. Mine get an entire day of direct sunlight. If you have more than one it is a good idea to plant them about 4 inches a part. They like a nutrient rich soil which is great if you have a compost pile or can get freshly churned compost rich soil at your local Organic Recycling center. That's right Organic Recycling Center. Check your local township for a yard waste dump. We have a few in our area that let residents cart away as much soil and mulch as they want. We've stocked our garden with Emmaus Township compost soil and it makes all the difference. If you don't have a place locally you could start your own compost pile or purchase soil at your local garden supply store. I also have a little trick to cutting down on transplant shock. That's when you buy a great healthy looking plant, you go home, plant it in your garden, and a few hours later it looks like it's knocking on heaven's door. I plant later in the day and I water right after. I also give my plants one day to adjust to the sun cycle in my yard because I get a lot of sun. Many plants are grown in greenhouses and get shocked when they are planted outdoors for good. Plus, you won't get a farmer's tan when you plant at sundown.

But it is so hot outside!

Yes, I know it gets hot in the sun. Basil should be watered once a day to keep the soil moist. Don't over water and try not to beat the plant with water. One of the hardest things is figuring out if you over water. A trick I've started is limiting my watering's to 15 minutes in the evening. I then scrape at the dirt and if it is wet 1/2 inch down I know it is just right. Don't be tempted to water until pools form at the base of the plant, or watering in the middle of the day. I also use grass clippings from cutting the grass all around the garden to lock in water. If all you have is a little pot of basil water once a day at night, but water until the soil is moist, not soggy.

If you just can't get the hang of it- don't worry someone has a solution for you. Watering globes takes the guesswork out of watering by distributing water only when your plants need it.

Blasphemy! you might exclaim. But really, do you want Basil or not?!

Get in my Belly!

Depending on the size of the basil plant you buy, you can start using your fresh basil leaves a few days after planting. I tend to buy smaller plants so I wait until there is new growth at the top so I know the plant can survive without the leaves I am about to pinch off. If you start your plants from seed you can wait until they are about 5 inches tall. But don't pinch off all the leaves. Remember that the leaves are needed by the plant too so only pinch off as much as you need. I take a few leaves from each plant instead of picking them all from one stem.  Avoid cutting the stem because once you go there it isn't coming back. Basil flowers are cute white flowers that form on spears at the top of the basil stem. This is also called "bolting" because the plant wants to create seeds. Bolting usually occurs later in the summer but can happen at any time there is a long heat spell. If you see basil  flowers forming cut just below the flowering portion. Also at this time you want to pinch off a few of the top leaves every day. This will cause the plant to want to use its energy to grow more leaves, not more flowers. 

Hope that helps!!