Gardening Tips 123

Valkaria Tropical Gardens

Kate — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:47:19 GMT

    I recently made a trip to Valkaria Tropical Gardens in Malabra, Florida. It has been rated by the National Home Gardening Association as one of the top 500 gardens nationwide, the Valkaria Tropical Gardens is a self-guided trail through 5 acres with more than 15,000 species of plants. The gardens are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the first weekend of each month from May to December and the first weekend of each month from April to December.

    The interesting thing about this garden is that the owner, Dr. B. Frank Brown  actually lives on the premises. It is his home. More can be found on these gardens here:

    The hanging plants pictured above are staghorn ferns. When we generally think about staghorn ferns, we picture the little strange looking fern that is mounted on a board.

Isn't this a place where you would like to have in your backyard?

    Tropical paradise for sure! I can certainly say that whenever I walk through these five acres I feel such a sense of peace and tranquility.

My daughter in law Lisa, is standing by a tree that is sporting quite a lovely coat of bromeliads, split leaf philodendron's etc. All these plants are considered house plants.

    My son Jamie, standing next to various overgrown houseplants. Yes, this is really what these plants do when they are in their natural setting.

    Now maybe you can understand why I feel so peaceful as I stroll through this tropical garden.

Musings

Kate — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:29:44 GMT

    Gardening is a fantastic opportunity for both developing and expressing your personal style and taste. Personal style, mixed with time, is the recipe for an incredible expression of who you were, and now, who you have become.

    Time gives us the opportunity to learn. As we learn, our gardening styles and tastes change. Much like a caterpillar as it 'morphs' into a butterfly.  Think back upon the time when you first began gardening. Now compare it to your gardening today. Different isn't it?

    In gardening, there are so many variations and possibilities that sometimes it is hard to choose what style you are. Often, we are a combination of several different styles. This is true in our personal lives too. When we are young we often experiment with a wide variety of styles and tastes. Then as a mature we begin to weed out the styles that we have determined are not part of who we are.

    Gardening is an outward expression of who we are on the inside. In gardening we get to experience peace of mind, a sense of accomplishment, and practicality. Yet what would gardening be without the huge numbers of variations of plants, flowers, trees and vegetables? A garden would be boring with just one or two types of plants.

    I relate this to people too. What would the world be like without the many varieties of people ? Wouldn't it be rather boring if we were all alike? Sure all people are humans, but there are so many possibilities and varieties. Sometimes I will meet a person who is a 'take charge - in control' type personality that it needs very little care and nurturing.

    It's easy to take this type of person for granted, just as we take for granted that huge oak trees and those palm trees. Yet on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have those people who are very needy. Some of us have the compassion to love these people, while others of us have no patience with this type personality. Yet just as we would care for and nurture the little plant that is not doing well, we should also be nurturing this little needy person.

    If we tended to people as we do our plants, our world would be a much happier place.

Easy Composting

Kate — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:33:48 GMT

    If you want to use your kitchen scraps to benefit the soil but don't want the hassle of actually having and maintaining a compost pile or a worm composting system there is an easy way to do this.

    Simply dig a hole in the ground, at least 6 - 10 inches down and drop your kitchen wastes in the hole. Then cover it back up. Over time your kitchen scraps will break down and provide nutrients for roots that grow near it.

    It is advisable though, not to bury the waste right next to plants, or near the drip line of larger shrubs, bushes, and trees. As those plants grow, their roots will extend outward toward your burial spot. By that time, the food you buried will have decomposed to a degree that the plants can use the nutrients.

    Using this method of burial, your kitchen waste generally decomposes within a month or so, during the warm seasons.
    Worried about pests? Burying your kitchen scraps at least 6 - 10 inches down discourages pests and animals.

S.A.D. Lights

Kate — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:14:30 GMT

    When I grew up in Massachusetts I used to experience S.A.D., but back then they simply called it "cabin fever" or a variety of other names. I didn't understand what was happening to me, and there certainly was no one that could explain my emotions to me. It just wasn't a known disorder at that time.

    All I knew is that I gained weight every winter, became more irritable and depressed. I used to joke about my weight saying that I was like a bear. Bears gain weight before they hibernate for the winter. Then come summer the weight would slowly slide off until I reached my desired weight, then fall and winter came again. Thus beginning the entire process again.

    This happened to me when I lived in Colorado, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. It affects my oldest daughter who now lives in North Carolina. But during my time in Florida, it only happens about one month out of the year. Now I recognize what is happening to me because of the research into S.A.D.

    I have found one thing that has helped me immensely and that is a Sunlight Bulb. This Sunlight Bulb imitates the sun. The basic advertising for this light bulb is true. After a couple of days of using this bulb, my energy returned, and my spirits lifted. They also carry Compact Fluorescent Sunlight Bulbs which I haven't tried yet.

Preparing the Worm Bin

Kate — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 08:47:29 GMT

     Preparing the worm bin is important to the success or failure of your vermicomposting (composting with worms).   Basically what you need to do is mimic the environment that the worms would be in naturally. Think about their homes, as it were. They live in the ground yes, but where I tend to find the most worms is in places where there are a lot of damp, decomposing leaves. So this is the environment we need to supply for our worms.

     The bedding material can be a variety of things. Leaves, grass, shredded newspaper, Coir Worm Bedding, etc. I take one, two or even three of those different items, dampen it well, and line the worm bin with it. This gives the worms a place where they can get adjusted to their new home. Now when I say dampen, I mean just that. Imagine a washcloth that you have just wrung out - that's dampened.

     Add approximately 8 inches of bedding material. When you first introduce your Red Wiggler Worms (also known as red earthworms), they will burrow down into the bedding prior to consuming it. Once they have worked their way down, you can add kitchen scraps, and cover them with more bedding.  Just about anything that came from the earth you can return to the earth including earth itself. Since worms live in the ground, it would be wise to add some top soil or composted manure to your worm bin so your worms will feel "at home".

     Keep your worm bin in temperatures roughly between 55 degrees and 75 degrees.

    If your worm bin is large enough, try to work one side at a time. In about 3-4 months, add fresh bedding to the empty side. It will take the worms about a month to move over to the fresh bedding and you will be able to retrieve and use the compost on the first side.

Here is a pre-made worm bin for you Worm Chalet.

How to Build a Worm Bin

Kate — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:55:23 GMT

    Lately there has been a lot of discussion about composting with worms, also called vermicomposting. Using worms to compost your kitchen and yard waste is a relatively clean method of getting free compost.

    But in order for the worms to do their job, they need a home. Here I will give you instructions to construct your own vermicomposter.

List of materials:

One 16' - 2" X 4"
One 12' - 2" X 4"
One 1/2" thick 4' X 8" exterior plywood.
2 lbs. of 6d galvanized nails
1/2 lb of 16d galvanized nails
2 galvanized door hinges
Bedding for worms: brown leaves, shredded newspaper, peat moss etc..

Tools Needed:

Hammer
Screwdriver
Tape measure
Skill or hand saw
Sawhorse
Drill
1/2" drill bit

Are you giving up already ? We've only just begun! OK - for those of you who just changed your mind about this, here is a pre-made Worm Chalet.

For the rest of you, let's begin:

Measure and cut the plywood so you have two 24" X 42" pieces. One for the top, one for the bottom, and two pieces for the ends that measure 16" X 24", and two side pieces measuring 16" X 42" each.
Now cut the 12' length of 2" X 4" into five (5) pieces. One 20" piece, two 39" pieces, and two 23" pieces.
Lay those same five (5) pieces on edge on a flat surface to form a rectangle as shown in fig c. Nail the pieces together with 2 6d nails at each joint.
Next, set one of the 24" X 42" pieces of plywood on top of the frame and nail at 3" intervals using the 6d nails.
Using the 16' length of 2" X 4", cut four (4) 1' lengths. Set the remaining 12' aside.
Make the sides using the two (2) pieces of 16" X 42" and the four (4) 1' lengths of 2" X 4". Line up a 1' length of 2" X 4" with the 1' length of a 16" X 42", placing each piece flat against each other. The 2" X 4" should line up with 3 sides of the plywood. Nail the 2" X 4" 's into place using 6d nails. Repeat this process three (3) times until both pieces of plywood has two (2) 2" X 4"s attached to it.
Now nail the front and back pieces of plywood (the 16" X 42" pieces) to the frame base using 6d nails.
Attach the 16" X 24" plywood pieces to each end of the bin.
Drill 12-15 1/2" holes on the bottom of the bin for drainage.
Next let's build the frame for the lid. Remember the 12' section of 2" X 4" we set aside? Cut it into two (2) 45" pieces and two (2) 20" pieces.
Lay the pieces flat, with the two (2) smaller pieces being inside the longer pieces. Now lay the 24" X 42" piece of plywood on top of the frame. The plywood should be 1 1/2" inside the edges of the frame. Nail the plywood to the frame using the 6d nails.
Attach the hinges onto the 2" X 4"s on the inside of the back of the frame and to the corresponding undersides of the back edge of the lid frame.

If you varnish the worm bin it will last longer. Just make sure to let the varnish dry thoroughly prior to placing any worms in it.
Next you need to Prepare Your Worm Bin for your worms.

Here is a good supplier of Red Wiggler Worms and Coir Worm Bedding.

Red Worms Supplier

Kate — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:34:27 GMT

Thanks for the questions about where do I get my red worms. Since I live about 10 minutes from the ocean, and 5 minutes from a couple of rivers, I used to get my red worms from my local fish & bait store. However, the quality became pretty bad, so I searched online for a reputable dealer. I have dealt with and have been very happy.

The Flying Cockroach

Kate — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:46:46 GMT

Don't know if anyone saw this today, but I thought it was interesting. So here is the article in it's entirety.

By BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press Writer Mon Mar 3, 6:57 AM ET

LUBBOCK, Texas - Loathed by homeowner and restaurateur, the lowly cockroach is gaining some respect in the agricultural community.

Researchers in South Texas are beginning to sing the praises of a flying cockroach from Asia that has shown a voracious appetite for pests that plague farmers. They concede, however, that most people would still be revolted at the sight of the helpful predator.

"It just brings out this visceral reaction in people," said Bob Pfannenstiel, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "There's too much cultural antipathy just because of the other cockroaches."

The other cockroaches include the German variety, a common breed that doesn't fly and is often seen scattering from counter tops when kitchen lights are flicked on.

The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, is almost identical in appearance to the German variety and is also active at night. But instead of leftover pizza, it feasts on insects harmful to crops.

They first appeared in Florida in 1986, and the species has expanded its range ever since. They've migrated to southern Georgia, Alabama and up the East Coast.

They ventured west into Texas in 2006, and became the most common predator of bollworm eggs in the state's Rio Grande Valley region. The bollworm threatens cotton, soybean, corn and tomato crops.

Pfannenstiel has counted as many as 100 roaches per square meter in soybean fields. In one instance, he found 14 cockroaches on a single leaf. None damaged the plants.

About 86 percent of the pests' eggs — which Pfannenstiel and colleagues placed out in fields to conduct research — were gone within 24 hours.

"I saw them feeding more than any other predator," Pfannenstiel said. "It was truly a spectacle. It was unbelievable, and I'm sure they were feeding on more than eggs."

The cockroach also eats the eggs of the beet army worm — a pest to cotton, cabbage and a variety of other crops.

South Texas cotton producer Jimmy Dodson said he's thankful the Asian cockroach is helping reduce pests in the region's cotton fields.

"The enemy of my enemy is a friend," said Dodson, whose family farms 9,000 acres of cotton. "When you have an ally in (reducing pests) you're not going to run them off. We need all the help we can get."

Scientists have studied predator insects in agriculture for years but not much research has been done at night. Pfannenstiel, who researches beneficial insects, plans a long-term study to determine whether the cockroach remains a predator all its life.

"Without studying what goes on at night, we would never have observed some of our most important predators in cotton and soybeans," he said. "It's interesting that the cockroach could be a benefit to farmers."

Solar Lighting

Kate — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:38:35 GMT

    Decorative outdoor lighting has become a key part of the homeowners landscaping plan. Designer landscape lighting often looks expensive, but it doesn't have to be.

    Not too many years ago solar lighting became all the rage. But then it's popularity dwindled because people were not happy with the light they put out. Sometimes the solar lights only lasted a couple of hours and were so dim they were almost useless.

    But now, outdoor solar lighting is much brighter and lasts much longer and come in a wide variety of decorative lighting. You can easily achieve many effects these days with solar lighting.

    There are decorative lights in flower shapes, balls, stars, cat-tails, floating pond lights, roses, pillars, flood lights, darling little hanging lights to place in bushes and trees, and solar stepping stones.

    Solar lighting might be a tad more expensive in the beginning, however, it pays for itself and more over a period of time. Now most solar lights last about 10 hours, while the LED bulbs generally last 10 years or better.

    Add a couple of solar lights in the flower shape to your flower garden, or make a path using a Solar Lighted Stepping Stone, or add a Mosaic Cascade Solar Fountain to your landscape. Place a couple of Solar Pillars in a pathway to both decorate and light your path or add a few Solar Star Lights to your garden.

    These days solar lighting is not only efficient, but can be whimisical and fun.

Beginner Tips Part 3

Kate — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:44:49 GMT

More beginner tips:

If you are landscaping your yard, remember that curved gardens grace the garden with a relaxed atmosphere.
When you dig a hole for planting a tree or other large plant, be sure to loosen the soil along the sides of where your plant will be going. New roots like to have easy access to the soil until it is well established. This will enable your plant to develop a strong root system in a shorter amount of time, thus giving you a more established plant.
When planting new trees or even small plants, be sure to give them plenty of water for the first couple of weeks to ensure their healthiness.
Have bugs on your outside plants? Get a spray bottle and put a couple drops of dish soap in it. Then fill it with water, mix it up and spray your plants with it. Be sure not to use a anti-bacterial dish soap. A half an hour later, rinse the plants with fresh water.
Like every one else you will probably develop some weeds. Try spraying it with some household vinegar. Use the vinegar full strength.
When developing your compost pile, remember that air circulation is key. The pile settles after a while, closing the air pockets. This is why you must turn your compost pile regularly.
If you are container gardening, group the containers together with the taller ones in the back. With the right containers you can create an attractive arrangement.
Your container garden will be more pleasing to the eye if you use plant stands.
When container gardening it is important to create one focal point, then arrange your other containers around it.
Try adding some Solar Lights, 2 pack to your garden. Highlight several areas or just one main area.

Beginner Tips Part 2

Kate — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:31:11 GMT

10 More helpful tips for beginners:

Before you purchase a new plant, think about how large it will get when it is mature. While it may look "just so perfect" now, it may be too large when it is mature.
If you are buying plants for outdoors always make sure that they are well suited for your zone.
Outdoor plants generally require sun, shade, or some of both. Make sure that the plant you are buying is suited to the area you are going to plant it.
When buying your plants, pick the ones that have plenty of buds and perhaps one or two flowers on it. This way you know exactly what color it is and you can enjoy the flowers for a longer period of time.
When planting your plants in the ground, remember that the majority of the roots are in the top 6" of soil. So unless you are planting and extremely large plant you shouldn't have to work the soil much deeper that 6 or 7 inches.
Use a Moisture Master Soaker Hose as much as possible. They will provide a great deal more water to your plants roots than a sprinkler.
When watering your plants, remember to water at the 'drip line.' The drip line is generally at the outer edge of the plant's foliage. This is where the roots will absorb the most nutrients and water.
If you have a newly planted garden and want a little 'splash' until the plants are fully grown, add some annuals. They supply a lot of color immediately.
Are you planning an outside garden that you can sit in and enjoy. Then don't forget some outdoor furniture and some garden decor to spice it up a little.
Use compost in your garden. Compost is anything that is derived from the ground and then 'composted' into an acceptable form to return to your garden.

Worms and Compost Tea

Kate — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:23:15 GMT

     As many of us already know, compost tea is most beneficial for your plants because it provides the natural organic nutrients to replenish the soil. But what many people do not know is that compost tea derived from worm castings is even more beneficial for our plants. What? You don't compost with worms? Why not?

    Heck, You don't even need a large spot for composting in this manner. A regular Easy-Open Composter is plenty room enough. There are people like myself who have made their own worm bins out of old plant buckets. Not very attractive, but it certainly does the job.

    Generally what the Red Wiggler Worms do when you introduce them to a compost bin or compost pile, is to gravitate towards the bottom. Once they have finished their work at the bottom and have provided you with a little pile of worm castings, they gradually make their way up through the compost you have provided them. Their job is to eat and provide their castings for us to use. It's as simply as that.

    Once you have obtained their castings, go ahead and make a compost tea from it. Add a little more water than you would for regular compost because it is a little stronger. For example, if you generally use a quart of regular compost, then use 1/2 quart for worm compost. Use it just like you would with regular compost tea. Apply it directly to the soil, or lighting spray it onto the foliage.

    You will be surprised at your plants response to this tea. No, your plants will not grow 6 ft in a month, but they will be healthier and stronger. The end result will be that your soil will obtain the natural beneficial ingredients it needs in order to give you these healthier plants.  Then providing you with a larger crop of flowers, vegetables and greenery.

    Use it on your houseplants too! Dilute it just a tad more and spray it on.

My Poor Bamboo !

Kate — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:45:05 GMT

    My poor bamboo. I only bought this a couple of years ago. I planted it and it was doing great. Then suddenly it began to go downhill. Because I am not always able to walk very well, I couldn't go and check it out immediately. So finally, about 2 weeks later, I walked out to take a look and discovered the leach field was not working properly. A lot of the household water waste was being drained onto my bamboo.

    With the help of my daughter, and some boots, we managed to get the bamboo out of the ground. We thoroughly rinsed off the roots and then put it into a pot. It now sits in the back end of the yard until I can nurture it back to health.

    I had looked for this bamboo vulgaris for a couple of years, so it is important to me. It does seem to be springing, well, maybe not springing, but coming back to life.   The poor thing is almost bare, yet I do see a couple of signs of life. I had to totally trim off several stalks, but I would rather lose them than lose the entire plant.

A couple of 'Must Have' Plants

Kate — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:23:48 GMT

     At least for me these are a 'must have'. As you can probably tell by the main photo on this blog, I absolutely love lilacs. The bigger, the bushier the better, that is until

    I saw this S. Meyer in a standard form. I have turned bougainvillea, hibiscus and more into standards instead of bushes simply because it adds variety and interest to the landscape. Although I am moving soon I am not ordering this just yet, but I intend to add it to my collection of interesting plants.

    And this Coconut Lime Echinacea is stunning with it's double flowering and bi-colored blooms. But this one too has to wait.

    They are both available at Wayside Gardens which has a sale right now. So feel free to use the code below for a discount.

Receive $15 off all orders of $75 or more at Waysidegardens.com. Use code 15OFF75 at checkout. Offer expires 3-31-08.

After March 31, 2008, you can use this code. Unfortunately, I will miss out on the discount they are offering, but it would be foolish to add to my collection just to have to move them. Although I did cheat yesterday and bought another orchid. Oops! Can't take me any where near a place that sells plants.

Customer Favorites - Our Most Popular Plant Selections!

Tips for Beginners Part 1

Kate — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:34:01 GMT

Recently I have come across a few people who want to have their own garden but don't know where to start. So over the next several months I will add to this list of tips for beginners. If anyone would like to add to it, just let me know in the comment section and I will publish your tips for beginners.

So here we go:

Start small. Whether you want to dig in the dirt outside, or plant in containers, always start small.
Plants have different needs. Do they need a lot of sun, or more shade. Do they like their soil dry, or damp. Take the time to read and follow the instructions on the seed packet, or the little plastic identifier that comes with a plant.
Start a compost pile. There are articles here on composting. A compost pile will provide you with natural organic fertilizer to feed your soil.
When you are re-planting a container plant, keep the depth of the soil at the same level as it is in the pot. Some plants will die if you cover the stem with too much soil.
Water well after you have first planted a new plant.
Mulch. Mulch keeps the soil cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter. Mulch also retains water for the plant to draw from.
Water the ground thoroughly before and after mulching.
Prepare bare roots for planting by soaking the roots in water for several hours before planting. This re hydrates the roots.
When buying container plants, remember that they are generally grown in peat moss or another lightweight soil so they will dry out quickly. So check them often.
Remember that less than 2% of the world's bugs are dangerous.

MANTIS® TILLER - America’s Favorite Tiller Weighs just 20 pounds. Now with Free Shipping. One-year no-hassle money-back guarantee.

Thanks for Your Help on the Mystery Plant.

Kate — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:58:54 GMT

Thank you for helping me with the mystery plant. I received a few emails also saying that it is a hollyhock. It will be exciting to see what develops.

Bat Guano

Kate — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:04:46 GMT

    Several years ago I met a man in Alabama name George Perkins who removed bats from homes as a living. He is known in that area as the 'Batman".   A name he proudly lives up to.

    People from far and wide called him to come and remove the bats from their attics, garages, businesses and sometimes from inside their homes. I was fortunate enough to go to several jobs with him and help out. Fortunate you say? Yes, well, it is a dirty, dirty job, but what I learned, in my humble opinion, far outweighed anything else.

    Some of what I learned is that, although no one wants bats in their homes or businesses, the benefits of bats are many. Without bats we would be swarming in mosquitoes for one thing. Bats eat roughly 1000 - 5000 mosquitoes each night. Now just imagine what life would be like without bats !

    My most important 'perk' is that I received free organic fertilizer. Bat guano is some of the most potent organic fertilizer available today. I rank it right up there with worm castings. Bat guano is rich in both slow release, and quick release nutrients to the soil, thereby conditioning the soil in a most efficient way.

    Some people who garden using hydroponics are adding guano directly to the water as a natural alternative to chemical solution, and producing better end results.

Bat guano is also a nematocide which destroys the primary stage of nematodes.
Bat guano is a fungicide that competes with disease causing microbes.
Bat guano contains a wide range of organic mineral compounds.

People have just recently begun to discover the high organic value of bat guano which makes it difficult to find. Unfortunately, I no longer have my free supply so I must begin to purchase it. I have only been able to find a couple of places that sell it. LandscapeUSA.com is one of the places that I have found to be reliable.

Topiaries

Kate — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:53:26 GMT

     Adding a topiary or two to your landscaping can add years of enjoyment for you, your family and your neighbors.    I do not take very good pictures, but here is a picture of my rabbit topiary. He has just been planted with ivy and will take a little time to fill out.   I have another topiary.   It is an elephant that I completed a few years ago, but after leaving him with friends for almost a year, I now have to redo him. He has totally fallen apart.

     Some topiaries need more maintenance than others. Because I like the animal topiaries around my yard, I have of course, chosen the type of topiary that needs the most maintenance.

     Because most animal topiaries begin with a frame, they will need to be stuffed. Long fiber sphagnum moss is an excellent stuffing material to use. What you will need is:

A topiary frame.
Long fiber sphagnum moss.
Scissors
Plants
Hair pins
20 or 30lb fishing line.
Can of clear spray paint.

     To begin, take the spray paint and spray 2-3 coats of spray paint outside and inside the topiary frame. Pay special attention to the joints. Because the frame is made of metal it will rust. The clear spray paint will give it some added protection against the rust.  Let the paint dry for a couple of days in the sunlight.

     A few hours prior to stuffing the topiary frame, take the spaghnum moss and soak it in a bucket of water. This will allow the moss to absorb water and become easier to work with.

     Once everything is finally ready, begin stuffing the frame in the smaller areas first. As you get a section stuffed, wrap it thoroughly with the fishing line to keep everything both inside the frame and the same shape as the frame. Using 2-3 ft of fishing line at a time is easier to work with. When you finish with one length of fishing line, tie it off securely and begin with another piece. I don't worry too much about being very neat in this process because any long pieces of moss that are sticking out can easily be trimmed off.  Be sure to wrap the fishing line tightly because as time goes on, fishing line will stretch.

     Have you decided yet what plants to use? This is a choice that is governed by your personal choice and the plant hardiness zone you live in.  Viny plants are best because they will grow and cover the topiary.  But you can also have fun with your topiary by planting some shorter grasses to give it a longer tail, or plant some pansies on top of its head thus giving it a fancy hat. The ideas are endless.

     Whatever plants you choose to use, plant either smallest plants you can find, or just seed it like you would one of those chia pets.

     If you don't know where to get the topiary frames, here is where you can get a Jack Russell Topiary plus many others.

Onions

Kate — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:19:02 GMT

     Growing onions from sets is probably the easiest way to grow them. Transplants generally come in bundles of 60-80 young onion bulbs, and are usually pre-selected for us. The pre-selection is done by the location in which the onions will be grown. Here in the south, what is called the 'short day' varieties are good because of the heat. The 'long day' varieties are best for northern gardeners.

     Onions can be planted as soon as the garden can be prepared in the spring. For Florida gardener's sometimes the onion planting can begin in December or January. The cool temperatures will help the development of the onion.

     If you want the dry onions, like the ones pictured below, plant the transplants about 4 - 5" apart and approximately 1 - 1 1/2" deep. The closer you plant them together, the smaller the bulb size. And the more weeds you have, the less healthy onion you will get.

     The bulb onions require about 4 months to mature, and it is recommended that you pull them in the morning. Did you know that dry onions can sunburn? That's why morning harvesting is recommended.

    Harvesting of the bulb onion should be done after the tops have fallen over. And no, I don't mean if you get a windstorm and then all the tops are fallen over! When bulb onions are mature and ready for harvesting, the green tops wither, begin to turn brown, then fall over. Then they can be harvested by grabbing onto the top of the onion and the base of the stems and pulling them upward.   A hoe can be used but it is not recommended because it is too easy to bruise the onions.

     After harvesting, the onions you should allow complete air circulation for about 3 weeks. Doing this completes the curing and drying process.   An old European method for drying onions is to braid the tops of the onions together then hang them on a string.

Mystery Plant

Kate — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:36:29 GMT

Hey ya'll ! I have a plant that was given to me and I am not sure what it is. Someone told me a hollyhock, but it has been some 30 years since I have seen one so I don't know.

Is there anyone out there that can help me?