I’d like to introduce MasterGardening.com as a sponsor of Urban Organic Gardener. I spoke with their Social Media Coordinator, Jessica, to learn more about the company. Here’s the Q&A.
What does your company specialize in?
MasterGardening.com specializes in products to help you get better results in the garden. As a leading supplier of garden tools, composters, supplements and other garden essentials, we are committed to making your garden grow bigger and better than ever.
Which of your products do you think is a must have and why
Smart Pots are a great new way to grow your favorite plants. These unique planters air prune the roots of the plants as they grow eliminating root circling and creating larger, better root systems. They are perfect for growing almost anything, but we recommend trying to grow some above ground potatoes or strawberries.
What do sustainable and organic gardening mean to you?
For me sustainable and organic gardening just means being more aware of how your actions impact the earth. Taking a moment to think of a better more earth friendly way of getting the same results. I think people are finally realizing that doing the right thing doesn’t have to be harder or more expensive, just different from what they are used to. Compost is one of the simplest ways to grow more organically. You are saving waste from ending up in a landfill and in return the waste is giving your soil a great nutrient boost allowing you to skip the harsh chemicals.
What herb or veggie do you recommend for first-timers?
Tomatoes are always a popular choice for first-time growers but mine has to be peppers, especially jalapenos. They look great and grow excellent in containers. If you’re not a fan of the heat, try Carnival sweet peppers, they are mild and grow in a range of bright colors.
What is your funniest gardening story?
Sadly I have no funny tales of gardening, but I did hear a good gardening joke the other day:
Two older ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress.
One leaned over and said, “Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I’d take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!”
“You’re on!” said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.
As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.
Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd.
“What happened?” asked her waiting friend.
“Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement.”
What’s the one piece of advice that you wish someone gave you when you first started to grow your own?
Don’t get discouraged, stick with it. You will have failures, the birds will eat all your berries, a storm will knock over your tomato plants, and that neighbor who was going to water while you were on vacation will forget. But the delight and sense of accomplishment you get from serving a meal made with herbs and vegetables that you grew is worth it ten times over.
Also, to utilize intercropping or companion planting, which is planting two plants close together that will assist each other. This is a natural method of pest prevention and a way to get more yield from a smaller space. For example, plant catnip with your potatoes to ward off potato beetles or with squash to keep the aphids away. Marigolds are a great addition to just about any planter or bed warding off a variety of insects.
Be sure to check out MasterGardening.com on Facebook and Twitter and their blog.
Find out more about becoming an Urban Organic Gardener sponsor.
Love the advice! Thanks!
Simple and to the point.