You want to start container gardening, but there is one thing that’s stopping you? What is it? I’ve been asking for your feedback over the last few weeks through surveys and on the Urban Organic Gardener Facebook page. The reason for asking is because I’m starting to develop an online vegetable container gardening training course for you that will empower you to easily start growing your own food. Based on what you have told me, the hardest part about starting…is just that. It’s starting. Reasons why you...
What’s the difference between an heirloom and hybrid tomato? Are open-pollinated seeds good or bad? These are all questions that you have asked me. You already have reputable sources to buy your seeds. Here’s a simple explanation of the different types of seeds. Here’s a simple explanation of the different types of seeds. — Tweet This Different...
You were all happy to start your herb garden. You picked out your location and determined how much sunlight it gets. Your happiness turned to sadness when you realized that you only get 3-4 hours of sun. Those dreams of an herb garden were dashed. At least you thought so. In that shaded space, you can still grow your herb garden. Common herbs that grow well in the shade There are a few dozen herbs...
You’ve scoped out your garden space… …and determined how much direct sunlight it gets. Your garden gets less than 6 hours and you feel hopeless. Sorry to break it to you, but that means you can’t grow tomatoes. Don’t worry there are other vegetables you can successfully grow in that space. Shade loving vegetables The following vegetables will do just well in containers and the shade: The following vegetables will grow in small/medium sized containers — and — they like being in the shade. –...
We’ve talked about indoor seed starting and it’s advantages. While it may be advantageous to start some seeds indoors, it’s not wise to do so with all seeds. The general rule of thumb is if it grows underground, plant it directly. Stick with that and you should be good. Save yourself the hassle and plant these seeds directly in your containers. Save yourself the hassle and plant these seeds directly in your containers. — Tweet This Beans Beets Carrots Dill Garlic Onions Peas Radishes [vimeo clip_id=”39030373″...
You are getting ready to start your seeds. Or you might be making your wish list of seeds to buy… 3 sources to buy your vegetable seeds. …but you’re not sure how many can fit into a container. That’s exactly what some of you told me that you were going through. You don’t want to have a tray filled with 30 nicely labeled kale seedlings and only three containers to put them in. That would be a waste of your time and money. To help you out, I created a simple to follow chart. Know how many plants per container From...
This post was written by SaferBrand. Not all ‘Organic’ Products are created the same… With the rise of organic gardening, comes the rise of products claiming to be the ‘best’ organic gardening solution. The retail landscape in organic gardening is daunting… …there are countless products all claiming to be organic or natural and solve the problem you are experiencing in your organic garden. It seems that every chemical company has a set of organic products they are trying to convince you to buy. How are you to know...
You want to start your seeds… …but you aren’t into the diy seed starting projects. It’s all good and I understand. If you want to buy a seed starting tray, but not sure what to look for, then read this. I want to help you to get a quality seed starting tray and provide you with the information that will help you to buy one. If you want to buy a seed starting tray, but not sure what to look for, then read this. — Tweet This. 5 things to look for in a quality seed tray Good Drainage Make sure your seedling...
You have insects in your urban garden… …and are looking for practical advice and a non-chemical way to treat them. I’m with you on that. Some of the worst advice that I’ve received about controlling insects is to buy beneficial insects and release them into the garden. Really? Ladybugs have better things to do then what our urban gardens have to offer. Instead of buying beneficial insects, grow herbs and veggies that will attract them. Instead of buying beneficial insects, grow herbs and veggies that will attract...
Noticing tiny green bugs on your plants… ..But not sure what they are? Those annoying little bastids are aphids. There a billion different varieties of them, but what’s that matter to you? You just need to know what the are. In the rest of this post, I’ll share some characteristics, pictures and ways to get rid of them. Here we go… Those annoying...
By Michelle Moore Owner of The Greenhouse Catalog There is nothing like new life in spring… …and starting seeds is one of the best ways to enjoy the start of the season. Unlike transplants, seedlings are fragile and require newborn-like attention: The right media, temperature, light, water and food. To a new gardener, meeting these needs may seem like a challenge. But with a little knowledge and the right equipment, success is easy and just a few short days or weeks away. With a little knowledge and the right equipment,...
You’ve scouted out the location for your garden… Figured out how much sunlight your space gets… And have decided what you are going to grow. Now it’s time to finally get your seeds started and aren’t sure what to use. That’s why, I wanted to share 5 items that you can start your seeds in. Strawberry containers. If you are growing...
You’ve started your seeds (3 sources to buy your vegetable seeds), and didn’t label them… …there’s no need to because you know you’ll remember. Wrong. We all tell ourselves that and sure enough we always forget what we planted and when we started them. Label your seedlings. You think you are going to remember what you planted where, but you won’t. — Tweet This That’s why this is one of my basic seed starting tips for beginners. On the labels you can write as little or as much information...
Today I am going to share basic indoor seed starting tips… …along with common mistakes and how to avoid them. It will be a good starting point if it’s your first time, and reminder for those of you who have done this before. The main reason that you are going to want to start your seeds indoors is so that you can get a jumpstart on the season and to the harvest quicker. I’ll say that again — Start your seeds indoors, so you can get to the harvest quicker. — Tweet This 4 Basic Tips for Starting Your...
You are growing your own food because it’s best for your health and the environment. When you are first starting out, knowing where to buy your seeds from can be intimidating. It’s difficult to tell the difference between the companies, types of seeds and who is owned by which company. My goal is to not only help you maximize your space when growing,...
GMOs are feeding the world… GMOs are destroying our health and environment. With all of the conflicting information out there about GMOs, it’s hard to understand. That’s why I am going to break down the basics of GMOs for you and tell you why you should care. What are GMOs? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism and is most often referred to when it comes to our food. The DNA from other plants, viruses, animals and bacteria are injected into the cells of existing species. This is supposed to make them more resistant...
How can that title not grab your attention? Grotesque? Foul? Maybe, but it’s also possible to compost your dog’s poop. I came across the post on Rainbow Worms’ blog. Here is an excerpt: I thought I would share some Photos of my Doggie Poo Compost. I have two dogs which have no concept of moderation. LOL. I use recycled wine barrels each barrel is in a different stage of composting. I don’t use this compost on my vegetable Garden, but rather in my flower beds , and Lawn. I mix shredded Paper with the doggie Poo....
You know what you can compost… …But you don’t know where to store it before you compost it. It’s too much of a hassle to bring it to your compost bin each time. I hear you on that. This is why it’s important to have a kitchen compost pail readily accessible. 6 Features Your Kitchen Compost Pail Should Have A lid that fits tightly. Enough space to fit your food scraps. Style – which is debatable. Easily washable. Easily transportable. Preferably with a handle. Fits on your kitchen counter...
Can I add meat to my compost pile? Is stale bread OK to compost? Or, more importantly, what can you compost? The answer to that is in your home… …and to help you get started with indoor composting, I am going to share things that you have in your home that you can compost. What You Can Compost at Home This is by no means an exhaustive list of every single...
Michelle Moore Not all light is the same. Plants respond differently to different colors of light. Light on either end of the spectrum, blue light or red light, have the greatest impact on photosynthesis. Kinds of Light Blue light, referred to as cool light, encourages compact bushy growth. Red light, on the opposite end of the spectrum, triggers a hormone response...
