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Renovating a Tired Lawn      September 30, 2002

Fall is the best time of the year to renovate a tired and patchy looking lawn.  The temperatures are cooler and hopefully autumn rains will assist you in keeping the new seed moist.  New grass seedlings will appreciate the cooler weather over the hot summer weather.

First check the situation out and decide what is causing the grass to grow poorly or in some cases not at all.  Is the soil compacted, does the area become waterlogged, have weeds taken over (usually a sign that the soil condition is poor), to mention some possibilities?

Correct the problem before you waste your time and money on new grass seed.  If the soil is compacted loosen it with a hard rake or proper garden tool.  Add some good topsoil or compost to the loosened soil.  Remove stones or other debris.  If the area is too low you will need to re-contour the grade.  If weeds have taken over then you will need to kill them but also remember that weeds will move into an area that has poor soil.  Some soil experts can tell you the condition of your soil just by identifying the weeds present.  One of our preferred methods of killing weeds is flaming.  It is quick and non-toxic.  Just pass over the weeds with a large propane torch (available at some hardware or farm stores), you don't need to burn them completely.  You will see dead weeds the next day.  Since it is non-toxic the soil will be suitable for new seed.  A soil test would be a good investment if you can't figure out the reason you have a poor lawn.

Once the soil has been prepared spread grass seed (pick one that matches the surrounding grass) and cover with straw.  The straw is a very important step that shouldn't be overlooked.  It keeps the soil moist while the seed is germinating.  It will save you time (you won't need to water several times a day) and possibly save you from buying more seed.  Straw will also keep the seed from washing away if you have a heavy rain.  You can also use the lawn patches so common these days in garden centers.  Be sure to water the area with a fine spray, don't flood it or the seed may wash away.

Another method of fixing small patches of dead grass is to 'plug' the spot with sod or grass from another spot.  I like to take clumps of grass that I am weeding out of places they don't belong and put the clumps in bare spots.  Just loosen the soil, dig a hole to the proper depth, plant the 'plug' and water.  Most of the time I never have to do anything more, not even water.  The grass will fill in from all directions and soon no more bare spot and it is free!  John used to laugh at me when he would see me doing this but doesn't anymore because the results are so good.

If your lawn is in fair condition but not as lush as you would like one of the best and easiest corrections would be to add a layer of compost directly on top.  Sift the compost first with a screen so it will pass through a spreader.  Spread the sifted compost over the entire area and water so it settles into the grass.  This will feed the existing grass and improve the condition of the soil.  Sprinkle good quality grass seed over the area to help it fill in quicker.

Mow your new grass once it is at least 3 inches high making sure the blade on the mower is sharp so it won't damage the tender grass.  Keep fallen leaves from collecting and matting on the grass for any length of time; they could easily kill it.

Fall is a perfect time to fertilize your lawn.  Read descriptions on the bags; certain fertilizers are better at preparing your lawn for winter.

Cold Weather on Our Doorsteps   September 23, 2002

Some of us are expecting frosts in the near future, especially our subscribers who live in the north.  It is important to be prepared for the cold weather so when you hear of a frost advisory you won't be scrambling to get plants protected.

Often the first frost is only for two or three nights and then Indian summer visits for two to four weeks.  If you can get your tender plants through that first cold snap you may have the joy of another month of blossoms and possibly some veggies.

Be scouting around for old sheets for the larger plants and pots.  They make excellent covers for those frosty nights.  Garage sales are a good source for old sheets.

If a day seems chilly try to catch an earlier weather report.  It is a real bummer when it is almost bedtime and you find out you need to cover plants.  You can also go to www.weather.com to check a local report for your area whenever it fits your schedule.

Water the pots on your porch, patio and in your garden thoroughly when frosty temps are in the air.  Plants that are watered well will survive a cold night better than thirsty ones.  Cover anything you want saved with sheets, buckets or whatever you can find that fits.  Plastic sheeting doesn't work well but is better than nothing at all.  If you use plastic sheeting try to form a tent over the plant with some kind of frame to keep the plastic from touching the plant. 

Bringing Potted Plants Indoors:

For potted plants you want to bring indoors for the winter you need to prepare them for the move.  Just as they need to acclimate for the move outdoors in the spring they need to acclimate to inside your home where light intensity is less and temperatures can be warmer.  First get them out of the full sun and put them into a low light area.  Leave them there for at least a week.  You could even bring them indoors for several hours a day.  Once inside find a bright sunny window for them if they were accustomed to full sunlight during the summer.  

Check them for pests before they come inside.  If you need to spray with Insecticidal soap first read the label or test a leaf to make a sure the plant will survive it.  Even though Insecticidal Soap is an approved product for organic growers and gentle to most plants not all plants can tolerate it.  It is best to check first.

Snakes, Toads and Frogs, Oh My!  September 16, 2002

I haven't yet met a person who says they don't like hummingbirds or songbirds around their home but I sure know of those who dislike snakes, toads, bats, frogs, spiders and other so called creepy crawlers.  If you find any of these critters hanging around your gardens, count yourself blessed.  If they weren't there you might not be able to grow much; the 'bad' bugs would overrun your plants and either kill them or munch them to the ground.  (Unless you were spraying chemicals regularly but eventually this will backfire.  The 'good' guys would die also but the 'bad' guys will show up again and then there would be no 'good' guys around to eat them.)

Evidence of a Healthy Environment:

If you find an abundance of worms or frogs and toads in your gardens not only are you blessed but also you are doing things right in your yard and garden.  Frogs especially are extremely sensitive to chemicals in the environment; chemicals are easily absorbed into the frogs skin and poison them.  Experts will study a location and determine how healthy it is by the frog population.  Worms are also sensitive in this manner.  When people put Diazinon on their lawns they are signing a death warrant on the worms.

For a quick highlight of what the different 'good' guys do for your yard and gardens go to our [Kid's Garden] page  and look up [Scary Things in the Garden that shouldn't be Scary].  If you have children at home visit the site with them, it will help them understand the delicate balance of the environment and might help them have a greater respect for nature.

Stevia:

Have you heard about Stevia?  It is a plant that is fairly easy to grow and is extremely sweet.  You can cut it all summer long and it just keeps on putting out new growth.  Fresh stevia can be used to brew teas, use it in juicing mixes or make an extract by steeping it in grain alcohol, brandy or scotch; similar to how 'Martha' would make vanilla extract.

Stevia can be purchased in health food stores as a concentrated powder.  It is natural (not a chemical like most sweeteners) and calorie free.  A TINY bit goes a long way!

You can buy stevia seeds to start your own plants under proper lighting (we started stevia last spring for this year's crop) or purchase plants from a nursery.

Freezing Tomatoes, more info:

One of our subscribers wrote back to me this past week about freezing whole tomatoes.  She has been doing it for years with great success.  Here is a portion of what she had to say:

     "I've been freezing whole tomatoes with the skins on for 20 some years now, discovered how easy it was when I had bought a lug of tomatoes, and didn't have time to can them just before I went on vacation.  So in desperation, I just set the whole wooden lug full on a freezer shelf.  When I came back I was thrilled to discover they were OK, and tasted great.

     You may know this, but to remove the skins is easy--just run them under hot water from the tap for a moment, and the skins will slip off similar to if you blanch fresh tomatoes.  If you let the frozen tomatoes sit out on the counter for 5-10 minutes, they'll soften enough to chop with a chef's knife easily.  They should be chopped fairly small (one cm max), or they'll have a fibrous texture in your mouth.  They aren't good in salads, but are excellent added at the last minute to soups/stews/spaghetti sauces, to add a fresh tomato taste.

     I learned from experience that you don't have to put them in bags at all.  The skin is like plastic, keeps out the freezer taste and dehydration just fine.  If the tomato skin is split, it'll get freezer burn just along the split area, the rest will be fine.  It's amazing how good the skin works!  If you're like me and your freezer is full--you can tuck them in individually here and there, whereas a bag takes up more room.  Then it's convenient just to grab one at a time when you need it!

     I felt like I invented this idea myself, although I probably didn't.  At the time (1978) I had been under the impression from everything I read that tomatoes didn't freeze well.

     Actually, tonight I'm getting ready to "put up" tomatoes for my favorite "fresh sauce".  I blanch and skin them, core and dice them (using a mixture of red/yellow/green stripe tomatoes for interesting color), then freeze them in quart ziplock baggies with all the air squeezed out.  To use them, I thaw them awhile in a colander draining over a bowl to catch the juices.  Then I fry minced fresh garlic in olive oil till just turning golden in a large frying pan, and stop the browning by adding all the fresh tomato juice.  Boil full tilt to reduce the juice (when it thickens it'll burn if you're not careful because it's so sweet).  Last, add the chunks of thawed tomatoes, a little salt, and fresh basil or oregano if desired.  Don't cook much after adding the tomatoes, and it's like fresh tomato sauce!"

Tip of the Week  September 9, 2002

Onions:

Many years ago the only onions I knew you could grow were the types you grow from onion sets.  I didn't mind buying them because our daughters thought they were fun to plant; they are easy, children can't hurt them and they are one of the first things you can put in the ground when spring has sprung and planting is exciting.  After a long winter even planting onion sets can be exciting on a warm spring day.  But after our daughters grew up and left home, planting onion sets so I could harvest similar onions to the ones I can buy in the store didn't seem important to me. 

Two years ago I tried onion plants for the first time and the results were amazing.  (I bought them from a seed catalog.)  We grew HUGE (up to 2 1/2 pounders!) sweet onions.  They were so sweet and good that this year I decided to grow my own plants from seed to cut down on the cost.  Once again the results were amazing, (just ask our CSA members, they love the onions!)  We grow Walla Walla, Red Burgermaster, and Candy.  We started the seeds in February and put the plants in the ground in April. 

I learned a valuable lesson this year and once again you can learn from my mistake and don't have to repeat it.  We had two patches of onions, one that was thoroughly mulched to control weeds and moisture loss and one that wasn't.  The patch that wasn't mulched needed to be weeded many times and it took a toll on the final size of the bulbs.  When onions are knocked over or their tops disturbed it slows down their growth.  The patch that wasn't mulched didn't grow any onions over 3/4 of a pound.  (Not bad for a homegrown onion but not as nice as the mulched onions.)  Never again will I grow onions without mulch, the difference was that pronounced.

Onion Storage:

Read the onion descriptions well.  If growing various types you want to pick an assortment according to storage life.  The sweetest onions don't store well and then there are short and long storage onions.

Onions should be pulled when at least half of the tops are falling over.  Cure in garden if warm sunny weather is forecasted by laying them out to dry or take to a protected area with good air circulation.

Once the soil is dry and papery skins are forming, brush off the soil but don't wash them.  Having on a pair of gloves makes this job nicer.

For the best storing onions pick those with narrow necks and no blemishes or bruises.  (Necks should have been cut to 1 inch above the bulb after the tops start to shrivel up.)  Store in low humidity with good air circulation.  Those onions with some rot starting need to be used first.  If you have too many to use quickly at least remove the papery skin, cut down to fresh clear onion and store in the fridge in a container or zipper bag. 

Nutrient Decline in Fresh Produce:

Food manufacturers don't want you to know this but here is an inside scoop; food nutrition has declined in the last 50 years.  Analyses have shown that fresh fruits and vegetables have had a steady decline in nutrients.  Most organic proponents attribute this to a decline in the fertility of the soil.  It isn't enough to just feed plants chemical fertilizers and expect them to grow the same.  The quality and amount of organic matter in the soil will affect their health and ultimately yours also.  Take broccoli, for example, the biggest loser in the studies; calcium fell by 63% and iron fell 34%.  Non-organic proponents will say that the declines are due to the more accurate sampling we have available today but when comparing industrialized produce to organic produce the organic will win in nutrition.  Maybe it won't look as pretty and perfect but once it is in your mouth what counts?

Freezing Tomatoes the Easiest Way:

I tried something new yesterday and am excited to share it with you.  I froze two whole tomatoes, thawed them, chopped them up and made salsa.  It tasted just like the fresh salsa I usually make.  I don't care for my homemade salsa after it has been processed and canning tomatoes wasn't in the time frame this weekend.  I was doing some research on Ruth Stout and came across a quote from her that this is the way she preserved her tomatoes, skin and all.  Then she would thaw them, chop them up and use them like she would fresh.  (I don't know about throwing them in my fresh salad but salsa sure worked great!)  Damaged tomatoes would still need to be cut up, puréed and canned or frozen in containers but if you have tomatoes that can be used whole try it.  I will be washing mine, popping them into large freezer bags and pulling them out as needed.  Now that is EASY!

End of Summer Harvests    September 2, 2002

Picking Ripe Melons

Growing your own melons is very rewarding.  Melons are much larger than other things we grow for food and to think you grew something so large and delicious is a pretty good feeling.  But picking a ripe melon can be difficult and very disappointing if done too early or too late.  Here are a few tips to help pick melons at the right time.

General rules:

Know the maturity date for the type you are growing by counting how many "days to maturity" from the time growth started.

Look for a dried tendril closest to the melon (if there are tendrils).  This is a little curly short vine that should turn brown when the melon is ripe.

Watermelons:

The rind will turn from shiny to dull when ripe.

Look for a yellow spot on the underside of the watermelon.  If it is still creamy (for most types) it still is not ready.  This is not a hard and fast rule.  I had one last year that refused to turn yellow on the underside even though all the other melons did.  I finally picked it and it was ripe.

You can try 'thumping' it to compare it to an unripe melon 'thump sound'.  Beware that many melons have been picked too early using this method.  This is my least used method.

Cantaloupe:

Get down and smell your melon.  It should have a strong musky scent or a ripe melon smell.  If it doesn't smell it isn't ripe.  If you are walking through your garden and smell a ripe melon don't ignore it; there is one (or more) out there ripe.

Compare your melon to the pictures on the seed packet or seed catalog.  Is it a type with a heavy web design?  Has it turned the right color?

The melon should 'give' a little from thumb pressure near the stem.

Rejuvenating Green Beans:

By this time of the year your green beans can look rather ragged with little production.  You can rejuvenate your beans and stimulate a new crop by picking (cutting) off the old brown leaves.  Shock the roots by using a garden fork to disturb them by plunging the fork into the ground and lifting slightly.  Water thoroughly and spray with a foliar spray such as compost tea, kelp or fish emulsion.  You should soon see a flush of new blossoms.  This will only work if you have several more weeks of frost free temps ahead of you.

Amazing Results for our Cucurbits!  August 26,2002

We have been battling cucurbit pests (cucumber beetles and squash bugs) all summer long.  John has been very diligent in keeping their numbers under control but even with all the hours he has spent killing them we still were loosing 4 to 6 plants a week.  Cucumber beetles spread bacterial wilt and the larvae eat plant roots.  Squash bugs suck the juices from the leaves and eventually kill the plant.  Another farmer in the area lost all his squash plants due to the pests.  At the rate we were going we would have been down to a few plants that were planted next to a compost pile; they were extremely healthy and didn't show any signs of wilt, die-off or yellowing.

Last week I wrote about our visit from Jeff Ball and his excitement over Bio-Activated Compost Tea, (BACT).  We purchased the brand SoilSoup to make our own 'BACT'.  John started spraying SoilSoup on the plants this past week and we are all ready seeing results.  It takes 24 hours to brew a new batch of SoilSoup and he sprayed it full strength everyday.  Not only have the plants stopped dying but we had a Magda squash plant that was showing signs of trouble and now it is looking much better.  I am convinced our squash, cucumbers and melons will keep producing until the cold weather kills them instead of pests killing them.

So there is 'Our Story' on SoilSoup!  I am sure we will have more to tell as we use it the remainder of the growing season and next year.  BACT has been used successfully on flower and vegetable gardens and also to improve lawns

The following information is from SoilSoup's Web site for more information:

Tip of the Week   August 19, 2002

Visit from Jeff Ball

Nationally known author and gardening expert, Jeff Ball, visited Rocky Gardens to teach Master Gardeners the newest concepts in gardening this past week.  I have used two of Jeff's books for years, 'Garden Problem Solver' and 'Landscape Problem Solver' and have found them indispensable.

Jeff stressed three points to promote healthy plants:

1. Mulching gardens with organic matter to improve soil fertility.

2. Encouraging a predator system of ground beetles, spiders, ants and wasps to control garden pests.

3. Welcoming songbirds to your yard with water, food and shelter as another predator source.

Jeff's approach to successful gardening all starts with healthy soil.  Healthy soil promotes healthy happy plants, which in turn creates an environment where the plants can fight off pests and disease.  He recommends organic gardening practices.

Mulching was the first recommendation he focused on to improve soil fertility, retain moisture, control weeds, provide a habitat for predators and to regulate soil temperatures.  He feels the home gardener should mulch with 2 to 3 inches of straw, hay or chopped leaves.  Jeff also doesn't till his gardens any longer and just leaves the mulch in place and keeps building upon the same areas year after year.  The late Ruth Stout espoused and successfully used this method for many years.  This goes against the long standing advice of fall clean-up but Jeff feels that the beneficial insects and spiders found in the mulch will eat most pests that over winter in the mulch.  Earthworms will "pull down" the organic matter deep into the soil so that the organic matter will be incorporated into the soil and not just lay on top.

Jeff is particularly impressed with a new concept of Bio-Activated Compost Tea.  The system he demonstrated is called 'Soil Soup'.  Bio-Activated Compost Tea is designed to enrich and fortify soil, increasing a plant's resistance to disease while promoting growth.  It is an excellent alternative to chemicals and fungicides.  Here at Rocky Gardens we have just started using 'Soil Soup'.  Our research has convinced us that we can improve our yields, fight off pests and diseases and improve soil fertility with the help of 'Soil Soup'.  If you would like more information on SoilSoup do a search on the Internet for " Soil Soup" or "Bio-Activated Compost Tea".

Two new products Jeff is testing are called 'Mycorrhizae' and 'Plant Grow Activator'.  Plant roots have beneficial fungi attached to them and the mycorrhizae stimulates the growth of more fungi to the benefit of the plant.  Mycorrhizae stimulates faster growth with earlier harvests, promotes healthier soil and higher rates of transplant survival.  Plant Growth Activator (PGA) converts soil elements so the plants can use them easily, stimulates plant and root growth, improves soil tilth and moisture retention.  They both sound similar to each other in what they do but they are different products.  If you would like to read more about them visit Gardens Alive!  and search their site for 'Root Boost' and 'BioBoost'; Gardens Alive!  brand names or search the Internet for other producers.

A point Jeff discussed, and we have seen ourselves in our gardens, is that insects are drawn to weakened plants.  As John goes out to fight the cucumber beetles and squash bugs he has found that the greatest concentration of insects are on the plants that look sickly.  Sick plants have higher sugar content and there are gases that the plants give off that attract the insects.

There is much to learn about new gardening methods and products.  But the most important thing to do for your soil is to feed it with organic matter or compost

Tip of the Week  August 12, 2002

Some flowers are beginning to look a bit ragged by this time of the year but it isn't time yet to give up on having beautiful colors surrounding your home.  Sometimes the most vivid flowerbeds are seen in September but many flowers won't have good blooms unless you give them some help.  Take geraniums for example, they can tolerate the chilly fall night temperatures but if you don't deadhead them and feed them well now your blooms won't be as colorful or full.  Many flowers will stop producing blooms once they have seed heads (dead flower blooms) because they have fulfilled their purpose in life, which is produce seeds for a new generation.

Not all flowers need deadheading but if you have plants that aren't producing the blooms they should be they might be the type that need it.  After deadheading or even shearing back the plant fertilize it.  Don't worry about cutting the plant back, you don't have anything to loose if you aren't getting blooms.  You need a water-soluble fertilizer by this time of the year; compost will take too long to make a change in the plant.  DON'T fertilize shrubs, roses, trees or woody perennials this time of the year.  That will stimulate the plant to produce new growth and there isn't enough time left for the new growth to harden before freezing temperatures arrive.  Only fertilize annuals this time of year.

If your weeds have taken over don't give up.  Now is a great time to get them pulled before they drop any more seeds into your beds.  Remember the saying, "One years seeds is worth 7 years weeds."  An added plus is when fall comes and your flowers are beautiful your beds will look fantastic.

Give your memory a boost:

Now is a great time to take your garden journal outside and walk around your yard to take notes on the things you liked, didn't like, things to change or do the same, etc.  Collect seeds of certain plants; dry them well before you put them in containers that can breathe.  For more detailed information about saving seeds go to page 3 of Tip of the Week archives and scroll down to October 1, 2001, Collecting Seeds.

Melons:

Sometimes melons (especially muskmelons) are attacked by wireworms, slugs and other creepy things while sitting on moist soil.  To prevent this from happening place melons on top of small cans, such a tuna or cat food cans.  They stay dry and clean and no more critters eating into the rind.

Zucchini Cookies:

If you grew zucchini you are probably searching for new ideas of what to do with the extras.  A friend gave me this recipe last week; I made the cookies last night and pronounce them, "Great!" Go to our "Harvest Site" page and click on "Recipes"  Or Click Here.  The cookie recipe is at the bottom of the page.

Starting Rosemary Seeds:

Someone emailed me directions for starting rosemary seeds.  I must have said something somewhere about how hard they are to start.  In fact I haven't successfully started any even with 3 attempts.  I asked permission to post his directions for Rosemary seeds and he said it was fine.  You might want to print the directions up for other 'hard to start seeds."  The directions might help for other seeds also.

Here are Neil's directions along with a Web site and email address at the end.

My name is Neil and I am the Owner/Grower of Creative Earth Herb & Perennial Farm LLC located in Southeastern, Idaho. Currently we grow about 135 different herbs including several types of Rosemary. First, Rosemary can be a problem depending on the type that you are growing and the quality of seed that you are using.  I recommend Rosemary officinalis 'Arp' this will survive outdoors in Zone 6 without winter protection and to Zone 4 with protection. It is a fast upright growing strain. Seeds can be costly, so look around before buying. Once you have your seeds, use a standard 1020 flat or a box about 10 x 20 inches. Fill half of the box or flat with vermiculite; do not use potting soil or perlite. Vermiculite comes in three grades, Course, Medium, Fine. We use Medium, Fine, if we can find it. Sprinkle your seeds on top of the vermiculite and mist the seeds until the seeds and vermiculite are soaked. Now cover the seeds with about 1/8 to 1/4-inch of dry vermiculite. Do not mist again, the moisture from the bottom-wet vermiculite will be pulled to the top by the dry vermiculite. Now cover your flat of box with 1 mil plastic. You can buy 1 mil plastic at any hardware or paint store. Painters use it to cover the floors and furniture. It comes in a 8 x 12-foot piece and costs lest than $2.00. Or you can use plastic wrap like you use for covering leftovers. Both work great, but the 1-mil holds together better and is easier to work with. When the flat or box is covered put it in an area where it will remain about 75-degrees 24-hours a day. If you don't have a germination room put it on top of your fridge. A fridge top will maintain a constant 72-76 degrees. Do not uncover the flat or box for at least three days and keep an eye out for germination. After three days pick up the box or flat and check the weight of the vermiculite. If the flat or box is light, take off the plastic; place the flat or box on a large cook sheet and water from the bottom. Just pour the water on the cookie sheet and the Vermiculite will suck up the water it needs; usually about ten minutes and recover. If the flat or box is still heavy do not uncover or water. When you start to get sprouts, uncover and place in shaded-warm area. Each night, recover the flat or box with plastic and put it back up on top of the fridge. Do this daily until all plants are up about an inch tall. Plants are now ready for transplanting. One of the biggest tricks with Rosemary is watering. Do not over water Rosemary, keep it dry. Also, water from the bottom and let the water be sucked up, do not mist or overhead water. That's the fastest way to kill Rosemary starts. We start about 1500 plants every year with this method and it seems to work pretty good. Should you have any problems or it I can be of help to you, just give a yell. You can E. mail me at Creativearth@cs.com. Happy planting, Neil

Berries     August 5, 2002

June Bearing Strawberries

Sooner or later the old adage of "better late than never" is going to pop into the 'Tip of the Week'.  If you haven't all ready renovated your June bearing strawberries now is the time to hop to it.  (I must confess that this past week I finally got around to cutting down my June bearers, the everbearing don't get this treatment.)  July is the more appropriate time for renovating strawberries but maybe your summer jobs have gotten away from you also, like they have around here.

Mow down your plants leaving 1 inch of stem above the crowns or cut them down by hand.  Set your mower so the blade won't scalp the crowns but close enough to leave short stems.  Till between rows, weed the beds and thin the plants to approximately 3 to 4 inches apart leaving the most vigorous crowns.

Fertilizing is important at this time to get your plants healthy and strong for next year's crop.  I prefer to add good compost to the beds because not only is it good for the plants and improves the soil but compost has disease fighting properties that are important to crops.  I sure don't want to spray chemicals next year on my berries to get rid of a disease so preventative medicine (compost) is recommended. 

Everbearing strawberries don't need renovation but weeding and fertilizing are important.  Thinning is performed on them in the fall after harvest or early spring before they begin to grow.

Raspberries

Prune back the canes that produced berries this summer; they are easy to identify, they will have yellowing leaves, the canes will be turning brown and look unhealthy.  Canes that will produce the late summer/fall crop will be dark green in color and healthy looking with berries starting to form.  These directions are for raspberries that produce two crops of berries; a summer crop and again in the late summer/fall.  Raspberries need approximately 1 inch of water a week so if rainfall has been lacking be sure to supplement with watering

Blackberries

These large berries are now ripening so be sure to check them and keep them picked.  They also need 1 inch of water a week. 

Mulberry Trees (a helpful way to deter bird damage)

I'm looking forward to making a multi fruit jam as soon as I get enough blackberries to add to the raspberries, blueberries and rhubarb I have frozen.  The birds were hard on our blueberries this year so I bought extra for jam.  Next year I will get nets around the blueberries BEFORE the birds get them.  We didn't have any mulberries this year (a late frost killed them) so the birds were very hard on our different berries.  Mulberry trees help cut back on bird damage to berry crops, but before you plant one in your yard be warned they are messy so locate them away from walks or driveways.

Bug Wars and other Veggie Adventures     July 29, 2002

If one could only grow veggies without pests what a glorious day that would be!!!  But reality is that pests come with the territory and since we use organic means of control it isn't always easy to battle them.

Colorado Potato Beetle:

Last year we saw many Colorado potato beetles on our potato plants but this year not a one on the potatoes.  I have found three on a tomato plant.  We used straw around the potato plants as mulch (we had heard they don't like the straw and find other plants to bother) and it seems to have worked.  Keep the straw piled up around the plants; this also helps with not having to keep pulling soil up around the plants to keep the potatoes covered.

Cucurbit Pests:

Our big problems are squash bugs and cucumber beetles.  Thankfully John has taken on the squash bugs and cucumber beetles as his own personal war.  If it weren't for him out there regularly fighting these pests our plants would be overrun with them.  We have over 150 cucurbits growing for our CSA and I have my hands full with all the other veggies we grow (over 35 types) so John's assistance is a blessing.

John has been experimenting with several forms of control to the point of actually raising squash bug eggs in different containers!  He found that if he 'paints' canola oil and dish liquid on the eggs that they won't hatch.

How to 'Paint' Squash Bug Eggs:

Make a solution of 3 parts canola oil- to 1 part dish liquid; make a small amount, a little goes a long way.  Using a small brush 'paint' this solution on the eggs while they are still attached to the leaves.  The eggs can be found attached to the cucurbit leaves.  Look closely to the undersides of the leaves, which is their favorite place to lay them.  This solution does a small amount of damage to the leaves but he was damaging more with other methods, such as cutting the piece of leaf out with the eggs attached or smashing the eggs on the leaves.  The eggs are round and metallic in appearance with a coppery color.  The adult squash bugs are brown with a 'shield' shape back and nymphs are whitish gray with black legs.  Keeping the eggs from hatching has paid off in a BIG way; the squash bug numbers are much lower this year as opposed to other years.

Cucumber beetles are yellow with black stripes or spots and they also multiply rapidly.  They lay eggs in the soil and the larvae eat the roots of plants and the adults carry diseases that can kill cucurbits rapidly along with eating different parts of the plants.  This week we lost 5 cucurbit plants that were growing well one day and the next day were wilted and died.  When I pulled the plants out there weren't many roots so I assume the larvae were doing their dirty work.

Our Newest Weapon:

Our handheld vacuum (ours is a DustBuster) has become the newest weapon in the warfare on the cucumber beetles.  When we go out to the gardens in the morning the cucurbit blossoms are full of cucumber beetles that are sitting ducks.  But we can't spray them with Insecticidal Soap to kill them because the bees are also out in full force.  So John tried our DustBuster with a small attachment that came with it and viola!!  It works like a charm.  We estimate he got over 1,000 beetles in two days.  At this rate we will finally start putting a dent in their population.

Bees sometimes get sucked up in the vacuum along with the beetles so he empties the DustBuster on cement and stomps on the beetles as fast as he can.  The bees fly away when he opens the vacuum up.  You could also try emptying the vacuum into a bucket of soapy water; hopefully the bees will fly away before they end up in the bucket.

Bad News for our Tomatoes:

I had to take out 14 tomato plants, one pepper and one tomatillo this week and severely cut back 20 more tomatoes.  We aren't sure what was spreading through the garden but here is a description: stunted yellowish and curling top leaves, leaves feel leathery.  We thought it was a condition called Curly Top but there are a few things about Curly Top that don't match our situation such as death of the plant (Curly Top causes the plant to die which ours did not) and purple coloring on the leaves (ours weren't) so we are confused.  I took some samples into the County Extension Office and they had never seen this condition before but also thought it was Curly Top.  When I found a pepper and tomatillo plant infected I knew I had to take the drastic measure of removal.  It was a sad day for me.  If any of you have had similar conditions on your plants, please write to us and tell us about it.

Homemade Teas:

I have been making great tea from Chocolate Mint or Lemon Balm along with the herb Stevia.  Stevia is sweet like sugar but reported to be 300 times sweeter than sugar.  It is easy to grow.  I either take individual leaves off or pinch off a few inches of the tops.  I got my Stevia seeds from Park Seeds, (Tip of the Week January 21, 2002).  I have heard reports of it being hard to start from seed; I had about a 50% germination rate.  If you don't have means to start seeds (for next growing season) and give them proper lighting, look for Stevia plants in a nursery.  Check out the recipe to brew your mints into tea on our [Harvest Site], click on the 'recipes' button towards the top of the page.  It is the last thing to load so be patient.

Insect Bites and Rough Garden Hands    July 22, 2002

Insect Bites:

The summertime is great and most gardeners love to be outdoors but along with spending time outdoors comes some not so pleasant aftereffects; insect bites and rough hands.  For insect bites I have three recommendations: ammonia, bite pens and Preparation H.

Ammonia is the main ingredient in many of the commercial bite pens.  The bite pens (found in drug stores) are more expensive than a bottle of ammonia for the quantity but are handier to use.  Lugging a quart bottle of ammonia around because you have an itchy bite could become a nuisance.  Either way, just dab it on and you soon have relief.

My sister has tried all three remedies and claims Preparation H to be superior for bites.  I have only used the other two but only because she recently told me about the Preparation H and I have not needed to purchase any.  No matter which one you use I can say they help more than Calamine, Caladryl or the similar products.

Rough Hands:

Even though I wear garden gloves most of the time while working outdoors my hands become a rough mess.  I have tried to moisturize them with good hand lotions but I was disappointed with the results.  Since my hands get wet often I tried to find something I remember years ago that went on like a lotion but was waterproof, it was specially made for people who work in water all day.

I didn't find the product I was looking for but found something else that has greatly improved my hands.  It is called Zim's Crack Crème.  I found it in the first-aid section and it comes in a liquid or crème formula.  I highly recommend it.  My hands are feeling normal again.  For more information or to locate a store near you that sells Zim's Crack Crème call 800-319-2225

For the brown green stains that remain on your fingers even after scrubbing try full strength lemon juice, (Tip of the Week June 3, 2002).  Just dip your fingers into some juice and the stains are gone, even those hard to clean fingernail stains.  I leave a small margarine tub with a cover on my counter with lemon juice in it because I need to dip my fingers in it several times a day.  The only thing that comes close to removing the stains as well in chlorine and that is just too harsh.

Gardening with an open wound:

Sometimes it can be difficult gardening when you have an open wound on your hand.  Bandages get wet and dirty quickly and that is no environment for an open wound.  I am recovering from a third degree burn on my hand and was having a hard time keeping it clean and dry.  I purchased 'New-Skin' (also found in the first-aid section) and was able to keeping working.  It stings when applied but I discovered if you do it in front of a fan the stinging is minimal.  I had to reapply it frequently because my hands are constantly getting wet from watering the gardens but it sure helped get me through the first week when the wound was raw.

Seeds, Seeds, Everywhere!!!   July 15, 2002

As the summer wears on seeds start to mature and drop to the ground.  This can be good or bad depending on the plant and your conditions.  For example I have an area that I have allowed several types of poppies to reproduce to their heart's content.  I also have some flowerbeds that I don't want populated with certain plants so I put the brakes on the seed production.  Some plants that come to mind are Lady's Mantle, Pink Mallow, Perennial Geranium and Balsam.  (There are many more but you will know the ones in your own beds that are troublemakers.)

Cut back the mature flower heads on prolific plants before they overtake your beds.  The idea is to get to the seeds before they drop to the ground.  You can cut each flower head individually or just take a hand full of stems and give them a rough 'hair cut'.

I also have some favorite plants that I never cut back their maturing seed heads because they reproduce sporadically and any babies I find in the spring are more than welcome and often favorites to give away.  Palace Purple, Bleeding Heart, and Pulmonaria are some examples.

You can collect mature seeds for new beds or for giving away.  Make sure they have fully matured on the plant before collection and dry completely before storage.  I like to save envelopes for this purpose.  Keeping seeds in a paper envelope is better than plastic.  Seeds need to dry thoroughly and plastic prevents this.  Store seeds in a cool dry place.  Also write on your envelope information about the seeds inside, don't count on your memory.

Certain plants might have a specific color that you want to keep separate.  If this is the case, label the plant while you still know which one is which.  The easiest way to do this is to use a permanent marker on a plastic tab (like a bread bag closure tab) to write the information you need.  Just slip the tab over a stem and wait for the seeds to mature.  You can also use this method for labeling something you want to move in the fall while it is fresh in your mind.

Some hybrid plants will not produce seed true to the parent but you can be adventurous and see what you can get.  You can read more information about saving seeds by going back in our archives (More helpful Tips page 3) and scrolling down to October 1st, 2001 and look for Collecting Seeds. 

Garden Journal:

Speaking of "fresh in your mind"... there is a saying, "A short pencil is better than a long memory."  Are you keeping your garden journal current?  It will help you so much come next year to make changes or try new ideas.  List plants that performed well, those not to repeat, combinations to grow again or to try, changes to make, names of plants you saw this year you liked, etc.  As you read gardening articles in magazines or books make notes of things in your journal.  Every year we discover something to fix, change or make sure to repeat and every year I forget something.  Every once in a while take your journal outside and walk around your yard to spark ideas of what needs to be written down.

Powdery Mildew   July 8, 2002

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that causes leaves, stems, and blossoms to be covered with a grayish white mold that can affect all kinds of plants from ornamentals to vegetables.  It can cause moderate to severe damage if left unchecked.  Fruit and blossoms can become so damaged that the quality is affected and sometimes inedible.

Last year I read about using milk to control powdery mildew.  I forgot all about it until I came across another article about it again this year.  You use a milk spray to control the powdery mildew; can't get much more 'non-toxic' than that!  One study on powdery mildew reported that milk offered better control than even some of the high priced fungicides.

The following is an article written by Arzeena Hamir, an agronomist and writer for Organic Living Newsletter.

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