Category Archives: Grow

Several weeks ago, Kati posted her garden plan and introduced us to Bokashi composting. I was so intrigued that I researched it right away, and decided to give it a try. My History With Composting You may notice I’ve never written about composting before. Don’t be fooled–I have tried to compost! But I keep waiting to find the method that works well before I write about it. I’ve bought two different composting bins, but have not had much success. My yard (1/5 acre) is too big–it produces more grass than the bins can hold. And yet it is not big … Continue reading →

One question that often comes up is “How do I protect my garden from . . . ?” I live in a suburban neighborhood with a fully fenced yard and relatively few trees around us. The benefit is, I don’t fight many pesky critters. The biggest threat to my garden are my two boys who want to “help” or just dig in the dirt. But I did a little research and found some examples of how you might protect your square foot garden. Fully Fenced Enclosures This basically consists of building a “top” for your garden bed made of chicken … Continue reading →

I have been dreaming of a green Christmas–one where I can go outside and harvest lettuce and spinach. This gift would make that dream come true! I’m pretty sure it would fit right over several of my garden beds. The reviews are good, it might even hold up to the wind. Spring Gardener Gable Greenhouse If that didn’t work out, I’ve also considered buying or building a cold frame. This allows you to extend your harvest in the fall and spring–I might even be able to keep some things growing all winter. The weather here is cold, but there’s often … Continue reading →

When onions grow to 6″ and again at 12″ tall, it is time to fertilize them. Avoid fertilizing within a month of harvesting. Here’s a picture of my onions at 6″ tall Application Rates Traditional gardens Apply 1/2 pound (or 1 1/4 cups) of 21-0-0 (Ammonium Sulfate) to 100 square feet Square Foot gardens Apply 1/2 cup of 21-0-0 (Ammonium Sulfate) to 12 squares My onions after applying 21-0-0 fertilizer Organic Alternatives Apply blood meal or soybean meal. Happy gardening!

NOTE: If you follow the square foot gardening method and use Mel’s Mix, I generally do not recommend testing your soil. It should be fine, and with a little added fertilizer you should have a plentiful harvest. However, if your soil contains “dirt” or if you have had problems in the past and are looking for a solution, testing your soil could be a great benefit. I wrote this article in response to many such questions/problems–I decided to come up with some easy solutions, starting with soil testing. If you want a professional, thorough soil test done, find your local … Continue reading →

When roaming down the aisle of gardening products, are you slightly baffled by the three number code that appears on the labels of the fertilizer? Wonder no more! There are three main nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (think back to high school chemistry and remember that “K” is the symbol for potassium). All commercially packaged fertilizers have a set of numbers that correspond with these elements–those numbers indicate the percentage of that nutrient. 10-10-10  contains 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium 16-16-8 contains 16% nitrogen, 16% phosphorus, and 8% potassium 21-0-0 contains … Continue reading →