Testing The Soil And Applying Fertilizers

Testing The Soil And Applying Fertilizers

By Pete on June 25, 2011

Fertilizer application rates and timing depend on what you’re growing and how fertile your soil is. Test your soil to determine its fertility. In the fall, take several cups of soil from different parts of your garden, and mix them in a bucket.
Take your samples from 2 to 5 inches below the surface, as surface [...]

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Feeding Your Vegetables

Feeding Your Vegetables

By Pete on July 19, 2010

Every time you pick a cucumber, you remove nutrients that came from the soil. Unless you use fertilizers to replace those nutrients, your soil will gradually become depleted and your garden less productive.
All materials that supply nutrients to growing plants are fertilizers, though they may differ in the amounts of nutrients they carry. Fertilizers are [...]

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Long Lasting Perennials – Catmint, Fumewort, Fringed Bleeding Heart, Coneflower

Long Lasting Perennials – Catmint, Fumewort, Fringed Bleeding Heart, Coneflower

By Pete on August 11, 2011

Catmint (Nepeta)
Zones: 3-9
Bloom Span: Two to three months
Growing Conditions: Very drought tolerant, an excellent substitute for lavender if you cannot get it to grow in your garden as most varieties of gray foliage and flowers that are blue-lavender in color.
Care: Nepata is not the same as catnip, which is somewhat weedy in appearance. Cats are, [...]

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Long Lasting Perennials – Bellflower, Black-eyed Susan, Blanket Flower

Long Lasting Perennials – Bellflower, Black-eyed Susan, Blanket Flower

By Pete on July 16, 2011

As you plan your flower garden, you will most likely want to plant plenty of perennials. Unlike annuals, which only bloom for one season, perennial flowers return year after year. When choosing perennials for your garden, you will need to know the USDA Zone for your area. You can check with your local Extension Office [...]

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Easy To Grow Perennials – Peony, Russian Sage, Sea Thrift, Siberian Iris, Turtlehead

Easy To Grow Perennials – Peony, Russian Sage, Sea Thrift, Siberian Iris, Turtlehead

By Pete on July 16, 2010

Peony (Paeonia)
Zones: 2-9
Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer
Growing Conditions: Requires a bit of sun and will grow in most soil conditions.
Care: Peonies come in reds, pinks, whites, and yellows and is an old fashioned garden favorite. It prefers to be left alone once established and does not adjust very quickly when divided. Peony varieties [...]

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Easy To Grow Perennials – Allegheny Foam Flower, Blazing Star, Globe Thistle, Hosta

Easy To Grow Perennials – Allegheny Foam Flower, Blazing Star, Globe Thistle, Hosta

By Pete on July 16, 2010

If you are looking to fill your garden with perennials that are easy to grow and require very little maintenance, you do have several lovely plants to choose from.
Allegheny Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Zones: 3-9
Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer
Growing Conditions: Prefers shady, woodland settings
Care: These plants, which contain white or pink flowers that look [...]

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