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Growing a Late Summer Garden

By on Aug 20, 2017 in Blog, Container Gardening, Summer Garden, Warm Weather Veggies | 16 comments

Many gardeners think that because summer is winding down its too late to start warm weather veggies. In this blog post I am going share why a late summer garden with warm weather veggies may work for you, and how to know if you have time in the season to start one.  I’ll also share what, how, and where to plant to get your late summer garden off to a quick start. Why a late summer garden? Many of the tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and other warm weather veggies you planted in the spring might be winding down and past their peak.  They might be looking a bit worn by the heat of summer or diseases that have crept in to your garden.  However, as gardeners, we have a constant itch to grow something and have fresh, tasty, healthy food to eat Planting a late summer crop of new, strong plants will give you veggies to harvest into the fall and even into the winter months, if you live in a warm...

Watering Your Garden in the Summer to Beat the Heat

By on Aug 4, 2017 in Blog, Summer Garden, Watering Your Garden | 6 comments

It’s been long, hot summer – now are the dog days when the garden starts to look a bit done in by the heat.  Many times we as gardeners don’t know  how to water our gardens.  Keep reading for some tips on when to water, how to water and how often to water our gardens to beat the heat. When should you water? Don’t water in the heat of the day. Water in the morning or water in the evening in the cool of the day.   Watering when it is cool reduces evaporation and makes the water available for your plant when it needs it the most – during the hottest part of the day. Where should you water? Water at the base of your plant with drip irrigation or a nozzle, because overhead watering can splash water on the leaves of your plant and cause diseases. Keeping your plant leaves as dry as possible helps control common garden diseases such as powdery mildew, blight, leaf spot and many...

Growing Lettuce in Extreme Summer Heat?  Yes, You Can – In a Vegepod! 

By on Jul 19, 2017 in Blog, growing lettuce | 7 comments

Growing Lettuce in Extreme Summer Heat – In a Vegepod! There is nothing I love more than heading out to my garden to pick fresh, crisp greens and bringing it indoors to make a salad.  However, lettuce loves the cool weather (80 degrees F or less) and is challenging to grow in the extreme summer heat.  How many times have you been excited to pick some lettuce – head out to the garden only to discover it’s bolted, turned bitter, and it’s just not good for eating?  This has happened to me – many times! Seed to salad in three weeks I’m growing lettuce this summer in a Vegepod and having unbelievable results. I planted lettuce seeds in my Vegepod and harvested fresh, crisp salad greens just THREE weeks later.  I’ve never seen lettuce grow this fast – even during the cool months. Hugely popular in Australia Vegepod, an Australian based company, is hugely popular...

How to Save Lettuce Seeds (FREE and EASY) – Two Ways

By on Jul 12, 2017 in Blog, Seed Saving, Summer Garden | 6 comments

Saving Lettuce Seeds – Two Easy Ways It’s that time of year – the days are long, the weather is hot, the dog days of summer are upon us.  If you are growing lettuce in your garden, you might notice the flavor turning bitter and see the plants start to shoot up towards the sky.  Don’t pull your lettuce plants out yet, save some seeds!  It only takes a few minutes – in fact, it’s so simple, if you’ve never done it, you’ll wonder why not.  Once you start, you’ll do it every year, and will love have free seeds for the next time you plant. Lettuce loves cool weather.  (Tips for growing lettuce in hot weather will be shared in a blog post very soon – stay tuned! ) Once temperatures climb above 75-80 degrees, lettuce doesn’t like it. It starts to grow tall stalks (called bolting), develops flower heads, and eventually produces seed. One lettuce plant can produce...

Growing Zucchini Containers & Controlling Blossom End Rot and Powdery Mildew

By on Jun 16, 2017 in Blog, Container Gardening, Summer Garden | 15 comments

Growing a large veggie like a zucchini in a small growing space CAN be done when you follow a few simple tips!  It’s very important to choose a container that is large enough to accommodate the plant’s extensive root system so that you get the abundant harvest that zucchini is famous for.   My favorite container for growing a large veggie like zucchini is a 20 gallon fabric Smart Pots container.  Smart Pots containers work beautifully for a large plant like zucchini because the containers are made from durable, aerated fabric.  When the roots hit the sides of the pot, they “air prune”.  Instead of encircling the bottom of the pot, and becoming root bound, they prune themselves and form a fibrous root ball that is able to effectively take up water and nutrients, feeding the plant and helping it grow large and be productive, even in a container. The aerated fabric also provides the...

Growing Watermelon in a Container – 3 Tips for Success

By on Jun 8, 2017 in Blog, Container Gardening | 8 comments

Nothing says summer quite like a red, juicy watermelon – I can taste it now!  If you are growing in a small space, like a patio or deck, you might think that you can’t grow a large plant such as watermelon.  Not so – grow it in a container!  With a few quick and simple tips on caring for your container watermelon, you’ll be harvesting and eating you own sweet juicy watermelon in no time!   Compact varieties of watermelon work best for containers.  I’m growing Black Tail Mountain and Sugar Baby watermelon in 20 gallon Smart Pots containers.  The Smart Pots containers work beautifully for a large plant like watermelon because they are made from a durable, aerated fabric.  When the roots hit the aerated sides of the pot, they “air prune”.  Instead of encircling the bottom of the pot, and becoming rot bound, they form a fibrous root ball that is able to take up water and...