Garden Tools for the Kitchen Gardener

Ever take note, how it is that with our modern times and fast-paced lives, living spaces, these days, most of us do not have full time, dedicated gardeners, so we do the next best thing. WE BECOME BACKYARD VEGETABLE GROWERS OF EXCELLENCE! We will focus in today specifically on the tools of the trade for backyard gardening and how they help us in and around our patch, in our preparation, soil-enriching, cultivating, seeding, and planting as well as care and maintenance.

Gardening and backyard vegetable patches are not to be left merely up to commercial and professionals! It is feasible and attainable for anyone and everyone! You can even get the family and kids involved.

Moving from concept to reality will require some stamina and hard work, but it will be worth its weight in produce when the crops start rolling in. You do not have to be on your knees, stooped the whole time, to participate in this rewarding activity. There are a variety of quality tools and aides available to you to assist you in these tasks. They do not have to be backbreaking or tough on your joints and knees. Various modern tools of the trade enable and facilitate our gardening today, regardless of the size, shape or scope of your veggie garden. Garden tools are also pretty affordable and of robust manufacturing that will probably end up lasting you a lifetime, getting you good value for your investment over time. It saves time, effort and labor down the line too, if you pick the best and most appropriate tools for the different tasks. Making your job/tasks at hand easier is what this is all about. You are focused on results, NOT THE MECHANICS OF the process alone or at all for that matter.

Building up you arsenal of garden tools over time is the best way to do it too, adding annually to grow your collection so to speak, will not leave a too big hole in your pocket.

Some tools have surprisingly also remained similar and true to their roots, origin and original intended purpose, withstanding time and change. The simplest tools can make the world of difference. Try to familiarize yourself with as much of the functionality of these tools that you can.

Whether the tools are for preparing the soil, feeding and cultivating the ground, planting the seed, or protecting crops from insects and disease, even picking and harvesting your crop, there are numerous utilities at your disposal, like the plans, schedules, checklists and records mentioned before, that can make your veggie gardening life a lot easier!

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Hydroponics | Laura Fox | My Kitchen Gardener

Hydroponics gardening is the growing of plants without soil, in other words, "dirtless gardening". There are many methods of Hydroponics gardening, most of which work better than regular soil gardening because it is easier to give the plant exactly what it needs when it needs it. Plants will only receive what you give them; therefore you will be able to regulate the pH, nutrients, nutrient strength, water amount, and light amount. This makes it imperative that you research the kind of plants you will be growing so you know what they need to survive.

Hydroponics gardening is only as difficult as you make it. It can be complicated if computers with sensors are used to control water cycles, nutrients, and light for the plants. However, it can also be as simple as a hand watered bucket with a single plant. The normal home Hydroponics system is usually made up of a few basic things: a growing tray, light (natural or artificial), a reservoir, a water controlled pump for watering (or some type of watering equipment), and some form of air pump to give oxygen to the nutrients.

The growing medium used in Hydroponics gardening can be any number of things, such as Rockwool, perlite, coconut fiber, gravel, sand, vermiculite, or even air. You can get instructions from a gardening store or online or buy separate parts and build your own. There are also kits already assembled for sale in gardening supply stores.

There are certain micro-nutrients that are necessary for healthy plant growth including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, cobalt, boron, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc. These nutrients are absolutely essential to plants and if missing could cause the food to not be as healthy and in some cases even cause health problems for those who eat it. It is very important that you use a quality fertilizer when Hydroponics gardening.

Another important aspect of Hydroponics gardening that must be closely regulated is the pH balance. When the pH balance varies the plants will lose the ability to absorb nutrients that it needs. The ease with which the pH in Hydroponics gardening is tested and controlled give it a huge advantage over regular dirt gardening.

Even though there are hundreds of different variations, Wick, Water Culture, Ebb and Flow, Drip, N.F.T., and Aeroponic are the six most basic types of Hydroponics gardening systems. Hydroponics gardening is easy, affordable, and you can have fresh produce, flowers, herbs & spices all year long!

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Kitchen Gardener | Heirloom Seeds

Heirloom seeds are a great way to add a personal touch to your garden. Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated, which means that they produce the same plants year after year, if the seeds are harvested and reused. The seed varieties are almost always at least 50 years old and generally have some historical or cultural story that accompanies them.

Most gardeners who choose to grow heirloom vegetables do so in order to expand the availability of crops which are no longer grown on a large scale. More commonly found today, hybrid seeds and plants are the result of genetic manipulation which takes the best features of several different plants and combines them to form a new variety. Hybrids are usually higher-yielding, as well as disease- and drought-tolerant.

Most common to gardeners are heirloom tomatoes. There are literally thousands of heirloom tomato seed varieties found throughout the world. You can grow black tomatoes, orange tomatoes, purple tomatoes, and even multi-colored tomatoes. Some examples of heirloom tomatoes are the Japanese Black Truffle, the Black Krim Tomato, the Cherokee Purple, and the Green Zebra tomato.

Other vegetables, including eggplant, watermelon, and some peppers have heirloom seed varieties available to the public. The Moon and Stars watermelon has markings that resemble the night sky on its rind, while the Rosa Bianca has a beautiful light purple coloration.

Heirloom vegetables are prized not only for their historical value, but their taste and appearance as well. Heirloom varieties are usually the cream of the crop for their taste. The seeds have been passed from generation to generation for a reason.

Some heirloom varieties are quite rare. Many older flower varieties are hard to find and may be flowers you have never seen. Adding these to your landscape create interest and great conversation pieces. Baby’s breath, delphinium, and foxglove are all available in heirloom seed varieties. Their inclusion in your garden will give it a very nostalgic feel.

Seeds are generally less expensive than full grown plants. Vegetable and flower seeds can be as inexpensive as just a few dollars and once the plants are grown, you can generally harvest the seeds and use those the following year.

Many online retailers offer both heirloom flower and vegetable seeds; www.heirloomseeds.com offers a very comprehensive selection. There are even online retailers whose sites are devoted entirely to heirloom tomato seeds, including www.tomatofest.com and www.tomatobob.com.

You may even be able to find some varieties of heirloom seeds at your local garden supply store. More commonly found in specialty garden supply stores, heirloom plants tend to be more expensive and sometimes harder to care for than their genetically altered hybrid kinfolk.

While hybrid seeds continue to be developed and dozens of new varieties are introduced every year, heirloom varieties have always been around. Think of heirloom seeds as the pure breeds of the gardening world, untainted by modern meddling. Heirloom seeds can even be handed down through the generations of your family, helping to keep alive varieties of flowers.

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Lady Bugs Yeeaaaa! (says Kitchen Gardener)

Insects can be the bane of many a gardener’s existence. Gardeners are constantly finding themselves trying to combat ordinary pests with products bought at the store or a wide variety of homemade insecticides. However, many of these insects can be quite beneficial for gardeners to have around.

Beneficial insects can be divided into roughly three categories: predators, pollinators, and parasites. Pollinators aid in the pollination of flowers in the garden; an essential task in the production of fruits and vegetables. Predators eat other insects, and parasites live on the bodies of or inside other insects or pests, eventually causing death.

The most commonly found insect, and one which some gardeners claim to be the most beneficial, is the ladybug. Ladybugs have a voracious appetite for aphids and some even go for mites and other scaled insects. Ladybugs, if not overly abundant in your garden, can be purchased, sometimes at garden supply stores or over the Internet.

Also commonly found in the garden is the praying mantis. These gardener-friendly insects lie in wait for other unsuspecting insects and grab them with their front legs. Ground beetles also prove to be very beneficial in the garden as they prey on a variety of insects, while robber flies are deadly foes to grasshoppers and wasps.

Flies, such as the tachinid fly, are parasites to other insects. They lay their eggs on the bodies of other insects. When the eggs hatch the larvae burrow inside the bodies of the insects and devour the internal organs.

Lacewings are also a predatory insect. Many gardeners use lacewings to control a variety of pestilential insects. Caterpillars, mealy bugs, aphids, spider mites, and some moths are all a very tasty treat for lacewings.

Many of these predatory insects can also help with mosquito control. These insects not only feed on the insects themselves, but the larvae as well.

Pollinators, such as bees and wasps, fly around the garden and distribute pollen. In order for fruit and vegetable as well as flower production to occur, your garden must contain some pollinators.

If planning to use some form of insect control (a chemical pesticide or home-brewed product) remember that these do not differentiate between harmful and beneficial insects.

If you wish to purchase beneficial insects for your garden, www.arbico-organics.com allows you to choose the insect you wish to control, and gives you options of insects to purchase which will help you control the unwelcome invaders. 4,500 ladybugs start at around $30.00 and can cover up to an acre, making them very cost effective.

When purchasing these insects to release into your garden there are some key points to remember. You should wait about three weeks after you have used any chemical form of insect control in your garden before releasing the insects. It is also a good idea to release the insects at night as they are more sedentary in the evening. Before you release the insects, water your plants. The insects are more likely to stick around your garden if they have something to drink. Why have them fly away and help out someone else’s garden?

http://howtokitchengardener.com     Thanks  Laura Fox

Laura's Spring Fever | Your Kitchen Gardener

Around the end of February, all gardeners suffer from a common ailment...Spring Fever. You may find them poking at the ground protected from the elements in their parkas, or raking back the mulch to see if their daffodils have started to come up through the once-frozen ground. But when is the right time to plant?

The beginning of Spring usually signals the beginning of the growing season for most gardeners. However, it is important to plant at the right time of the year, and that isn’t always Spring. Depending upon where you live, planting times for your garden can differ by as much as one to two months. In parts of the South, planting can sometimes begin as early as late February, but in the North may not be able to begin until April.

Certain plants also require that you plant them at certain times of the year. Many vegetable seeds can be planted in the Spring as well as many flower varieties. Flowering bulbs can be planted in late Fall as well as early Spring.

Trees and shrubs can generally be planted in the Fall, before it gets too cold; no later than October. Planting during the Summer is generally not recommended in many parts of the country due to the extreme heat. Your plants will not have time to establish themselves and excess care may be required to keep them from languishing.

The last practical planting date for most crops is August 1. This may seem like a late start, but if you desire a late Fall harvest, this might be the right time for you. Vegetables such as carrots, beans, and turnips can be planted this late. Other vegetables take longer to mature. Squash, cucumber, and melons all require a longer growing season and usually need to be planted no later then the end of June.

Plant hardiness zones are also important to take into consideration when planting your garden. The plant hardiness zones were developed by the USDA to aid gardeners and farmers. Some plant varieties do not survive in the extreme zones. The zones are numbered 1 through 11 and are directly correlated to the average minimum temperatures in the various zones. Extreme South Florida falls into Zone 10, while Maine and the Northeastern United States fall primarily into Zones 3 and 4. One great example is rhubarb. Rhubarb requires a cold winter to produce properly and its growth is stunted by temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting rhubarb in Miami does not make sense.

Many gardeners also rely on time-honored traditions that tell them when to plant. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is one such source for time-honored growing and planting tips. Some gardeners even use superstition as a basis for planting times, such as planting with the phases of the moon and that certain vegetables will cross pollinate and therefore should be planted separate from each other and at different times.

For the best results in your garden, make sure you know what plants will survive in the zone in which you live and when is the latest you can plant them to ensure a bountiful harvest.

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How to Water for Your Kitchen Gardener

As with all living things, plants require water to live. How much water they require, however, depends on a number of factors. Knowing when to water and how much water each plant receives is an essential part of gardening. Proper watering of your plants promotes healthy growth and better yield. Too little water and your plants may die from dehydration and too much water can lead to disease.

You should water your plants deeply, causing the water to actually reach deep down into the soil. This technique allows your plants to develop deep, healthy root systems that will allow them to survive better in drought conditions. You may want to create a well around the base of your plants by mounding soil and forming a ring where the water can go and then soak into the ground. Watering your entire garden uniformly will also promote even growth and prevent the unnecessary use of water.

Some plants only require water for one growing season. These types of plants usually develop deep root systems and can receive all the water they need from rainfall or from deep within the earth.

Using mulch in your landscape can also help. Mulch retains moisture and prevents your garden from drying out. If watered properly, even in the middle of summer the bottom layer of mulch near the soil should remain moist. Pine bark, grass clippings, and straw are all great mulches to use in your garden.

Efficient watering is very important, especially if your community is observing watering restrictions. If you have an irrigation system, ensure that you also have a timer. This will let you water when you want to and for a specific amount of time. Grouping plants that need the same amount of water together will make your watering more efficient. You may also want to use soaker hoses which place the water right at the soil level.

Watering in the early morning is also very important. Early watering allows the water to get into the soil before evaporation due to higher temperatures occurs. You also do not want to water in the evening, because evaporation may not occur at all and the excess moisture can lead to disease problems.

You can also help your soil retain moisture by using the appropriate soil amendments. You can use peat moss, leaves, and manure to enhance the richness of your soil. If you live in a drought-prone area, you should also choose plants that require less watering.

Keeping your garden properly weeded will also reduce the amount of watering needed. Weeds compete with your plants for water. By eliminating them regularly, the plants you want no longer have to fight the weeds.

Wind can also play an important factor in how much you need to water. Wind causes water to evaporate more quickly and doesn’t allow the water to get to the places it needs to go. If gardening in a wind-prone area, you may consider planting a row of trees or tall shrubs to act as a wind barrier to your garden.

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Composting for the Kitchen Gardener | according to Laura

Composting is usually the easiest and least expensive way to fertilize your garden. It is also a great way to garden organically. Homemade compost is generally comprised of household food waste, organic matter from your garden - such as leaves and grass clippings - and possibly recyclable paper products and no chemicals. Once these items decompose, they create compost which can then be added to your garden soil and used as a fertilizer.

Creating a compost heap at home can be anywhere from relatively simple to very involved. You should first start by building or buying a container to hold your compost. Some gardeners choose to create an area at the back of their garden comprised of simple posts and fencing, while others purchase ready-made compost bins at their local garden supply center or over the Internet.

Where you place your compost pile should also be taken into consideration. If you will be using a lot of household waste, don’t put it at the back of the shed, over the river and through the woods! You will probably also want to take your neighbors into consideration. Compost piles can be unsightly and, depending on the materials you select to use, can be very smelly.

A basic rule of thumb to use is "if it will rot, I can use it." However, some things should be avoided. Meat, fish, and cooked food rot too quickly and can cause bad enzymes to develop in your compost. It is also a good idea to avoid cat litter and dog excrement as these can contain disease.

You should be aware that all organic matter does not decompose at the same rate. To make the best compost you should use a combination of slower and faster decomposing items. Things such as grass clippings and weeds, along with chicken or bird manure are fast decomposing and are good to get your compost started. Other items, such as leaves, hedge clippings, and anything woody, decompose at a slower rate, but the result is much richer compost. Other items you can include are fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, and old flowers.

To get started you should already have the location and container selected. Collect all the material you wish to include. Spread them evenly along the bottom of the selected container, making sure to get a nice mix of quickly- and slowly-decomposing items. At this point you should add water to the mix to add moisture; this will help with decomposition.

Continue adding to the pile over time. As the bottom layers decompose, turn the mixture and begin to use this on the garden. You can continue the same compost heap for as long as you like. The more time the scraps have to decompose, the richer the compost that comes out.

If turning the compost by hand every few weeks doesn’t appeal to you, you can also use a multiple bin system and transfer the compost from bin to bin every few months. While almost as labor-intensive as turning the compost with a fork or shovel, the multi-bin method can be more efficient.

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Finer soil caused by over-tilling becomes compacted and is not able to hold enough oxygen or water. Good soil should contain about 25% air, 25% water, and 50% soil particles and organic matter. Compacted soil can be helped by adding mulch to help the soil absorb water and promote the growth of beneficial organisms in the soil by increasing and maintaining a higher soil temperature. You can also prevent soil from becoming impacted by spreading gravel over the areas in your garden that are used as pathways for machinery. The gravel helps to distribute the weight of the machinery and lessens the potential for impaction. Tilling impacted soil is certainly not the answer and may even be nearly impossible depending upon the severity.

Certain areas of the garden, however, can benefit from frequent tilling. If you are trying to control a pesky plant problem, such as poison ivy or kudzu, frequent tilling can disrupt seedlings and starve existing weeds of nutrients.

You can develop a strategy to reconcile these two ways of tilling. Areas of your garden where planting occurs should really only be tilled twice a year - before and after harvest. Other areas, such as pathways, can be tilled more frequently. You can also combat the effects of over-tilling by being sure to add plenty of organic matter to your garden. Compost that has not been completely broken down can also help add texture back into overly-tilled soil.

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Kitchen Gardener Soil Maintenance Thanks Laura

The start of spring means it's time to start your garden. Most of us begin the planting season by tilling our garden. Tilling breaks up the soil, helps eliminate weeds, and aerates the soil. The aeration caused by tilling exposes the soil to the air, which in turn activates microbes in the soils which, along with the addition of organic matter, help to make the soil fertile.

How often you should till, however, is often a frequent question. Frequent tilling - more than three or four times a year - can damage the soil’s texture. The more soil is tilled, the further it breaks down, eventually turning into the equivalent of sand. Frequent tilling can also cause the soil to become glazed. Once this happens, you should use a pitch fork or spade to break up the layer of soil that is just beyond the reach of the tines or blade of your tiller.

You should also avoid tilling the soil in your garden while it is wet. Tilling wet soil destroys the texture of the soil, which should be comprised of different sizes of dirt and matter. Once wet tilled soil has dried, clods of dirt dry and can become as hard as rocks and recovery can be hard and time consuming.

Frequent tilling has also been shown to reduce the amount of small creatures living in the soil. Creatures, such as earthworms, help to turn and rejuvenate the soil. Reducing the effects these creatures have on the soil can have long-term ecological effects.

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Start your own Plants | Kitchen Gardener Thanks - Laura Fox

Rather than buy ready to grow plants from a nursery or garden supply store, many gardeners choose to grow their own seedlings. By doing this, they can control not only the specific varieties they wish to grow but the plant quality as well.

By visiting your local garden supply center or surfing the Internet, you can find literally hundreds of flower and vegetable seed varieties. If you have done the proper research, you may even know which varieties are best suited for organic gardening.

You should first make sure you read the seed package, or if you have received the seeds from a fellow gardener, follow their recommendations. Every seed may have different soil or water requirements and may not be able to be started at the same time.

You may choose to plant them in small containers inside or in a greenhouse. Be sure to keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout and once growth appears, continue to water, being careful not to drown your new babies. After the second set of growth appears on the new plant, you may need to transplant the seedlings to a larger container until they are ready to be planted in the garden. Some plants which you wish to grow in your garden may be easier and cheaper to start from seed. Lettuce is one vegetable that is just as easy to grow from seed as it is from a plant. Most varieties of lettuce found at nurseries or garden supply stores are not really that big and spending the extra money on such small plants may not be worth it.

You may choose to purchase a seed starter kit from your garden supply store. Some of these are made from organic materials which can be planted directly in the ground when your seedling is ready to plant and will decompose and add organic matter to your soil. You can also choose to use a soil-less potting mixture to start your seedlings. These can provide better drainage than conventional soil and are usually very nutrient-rich.

If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, seedlings can even be started in late winter. This is a great way to get a jump on your gardening and by the time spring has arrived, you seedlings will be ready to plant. You can even make your own mini-greenhouse out of a box frame, a couple of hinges and an old window. The window is attached to the box frame with the hinges and soil or planting mixture is placed inside. Once placed in a nice sunny spot, or even indoors, the window can be lowered to help keep the soil warm and retain moisture. Simply use a wooden stick to prop the window open when you need to conduct maintenance.

Starting seedlings is also a great experience for young children. Having them help you select the plants you want to grow and showing them the proper way to plant and care for them, makes them feel invested in the garden itself. Nothing is more satisfying than being able to eat vegetables or arrange flowers that you have grown yourself, and children feel the same way.

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Kitchen Gardener and Organic Fertilizer (2)

Many organic fertilizers can be found at your local garden supply store or on the internet. But you can make it at home! Some organic fertilizer recipes require you to buy some items from garden supply or feed stores. One recipe uses 4 parts seed, 1 part lime, 1 part bone meal, and 1 part kelp meal. This mixture is then added to the soil or spread around plants.

Another great organic fertilizer recipe for houseplants mixes 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon household ammonia, 1 teaspoon Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon salt, and one gallon of water. It is recommended to use once a month.

How often you should fertilize will depend on what plants or vegetables you have in your garden. Most gardeners will fertilize their gardens once when planting and then once every month or two. Lawn fertilization is generally less frequent, occurring usually at the beginning of the growing season and once or twice throughout the growing season.

You can generally feel free to experiment with organic fertilizers to see which is best for your garden as organic fertilizers usually cause little or no harm to your plants and soil. Over time you will develop a favorite method of fertilization and even your own recipes. If you are feeling ambitious, keep a gardening journal and try experimenting on the same types of plants using different organic fertilizers. By controlling the things you put in your garden, you can control what you get out of your garden. Using organic fertilizers can satisfy your craving for getting your hands dirty and help save the environment at the same time!

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Kitchen Gardener | Organic Fertilizer (1)

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow?" She uses organic matter and fertilizers to supplement her soil, what else? Organic fertilizers, although not specifically regulated related to their composition, are essentially any organic matter that can be used as a fertilizer or soil amendment.

Organic gardeners prefer organic fertilizers to inorganic ones (those manufactured) because they are less harmful to the environment and are far less expensive. Most organic matter used to make organic fertilizer can be found in your home, thus repurposing something you would otherwise throw out.

There are almost as many recipes for making organic fertilizer as there are gardeners who use them. Many have been developed over time, and each gardener will swear by their results. One of the commonly used fertilizers is animal manure, specifically from cows or chickens. Another commonly used fertilizer is compost, which requires you to create a pile of leaves and household food scraps (like banana peels and egg shells). This pile is continually turned and mixed as it decomposes until ready to use.

People prefer organic fertilizers also because they are not adding potentially harmful chemicals to their food supply. By using materials that come from the earth naturally, they are continuing the earth’s cycle of sustaining itself.

By using organic fertilizers, you can create a better soil structure and one that has better water retention capabilities. By activating the enzymes that occur in soil naturally, nutrients from the fertilizers are absorbed more easily and your plants are better able to adapt.

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Kitchen Gardener | Testing the Soil (2)

To prepare to test your soil you will need a shovel, several non-breakable containers (a plastic bag or plastic seal-able container works great), a marker, and a bucket. Take several samples from the areas you want to be tested. Remove any debris from the soil and allow it to dry. Place the samples in the containers after they have dried and label each one with your personal information and where that particular sample came from in your garden. If you have chosen to test the soil yourself, prepare the soil samples according to soil test manufacturer’s recommendations.

Once the soil test has been performed, you should receive a report from the testing company that will let you know what the various components of your soil are and at what levels. Again, your local cooperative extension agent can help you interpret this report if the testing company does not provide any customer support. Some testing companies will even make recommendations based on their findings.

The soil test will let you know what you may need to add to your soil. Common items included in a soil test are your soil’s Ph level, nitrogen level, potassium level, and phosphorus level. These are the four most important nutrients contained in your soil and can easily be augmented or controlled based on what you add to your soil. A high Ph level means your soil is alkaline and a low Ph means it is acidic. Adding peat moss, nitrogen, or even sulfur can lower your soil’s Ph based on the results of your soil test, while adding something as simple as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is all that is needed to augment nitrogen-deprived soil.

Soil testing is usually recommended before you start a large planting project, such as a new lawn or large field of vegetables, especially if you have not planted there before. However, if you find that your plants and flowers in your landscaping are lackluster, performing a soil test may give you the exact information you need to have a beautiful garden.
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Kitchen Gardener and Organic Gardening (3)

Weeding your garden regularly can also protect your garden from pests by eliminating plants that may attract harmful invaders. Pulling out plants which have already been diseased or eaten by insects will prevent the spread of these to other healthy plants. You can also help prevent disease by watering your garden early in the morning and not allowing the plants to remain wet overnight.

These easy tips to vegetable gardening can also be applied to your flower and ornamental gardens as well. You may even want to incorporate some of these plants into your vegetable garden. Plants such as larkspur, marigolds, and geraniums can be used to help control pests as well as add beautiful color to an otherwise totally green garden.

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Kitchen Gardener and Organic Gardening (2)

Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable in gardens across the United States. Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, can produce a multitude of fruit, and can be used to make many different types of food. Growing tomatoes organically is very easy. Make sure that you choose a sunny spot for your new plants and that you prepare the soil with organic matter before you plant.

You should water and fertilize your new tomato plants about every week until they start to produce fruit. Once fruit production has started, you should continue to water your tomato plants throughout the growth process and even after the first harvest, as they will continue to produce for some time and continual watering will prevent the plants from going into shock.

Other vegetables can be grown organically according to much the same guidelines. Some vegetables such as squash, cucumbers, and even beans, require little or no maintenance besides regular fertilization and pest control.

From My Garden      

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (7)

7. Don't plant more than you can care for. If you don't have the time to pick your vegetables, water the garden, and fertilize the garden, don't get carried away. Start small and only grow what you need. Vegetables that aren't picked when they are ripe will rot and be a magnet for insects and disease. This goes back to the saying "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch".

 From My Garden

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (6)

6. Over fertilizing. While fertilizer is a good thing, too much of it can be a bad thing. Over fertilizing will lead to foliage growth but at the same time not increase produce output. So you will have tall stringy plants that can't support the vegetables that are growing on them. A well composted garden at the beginning of the season will surely reduce your need for fertilizers during the season.

From My Garden

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (5)

5. Planting varieties of vegetables or fruits that aren't a good match for your climate. Not all vegetables and plants grow vigorously in all climates. The best way to select the varieties that will thrive in your area is to contact your local extension agency. They will have a listing of recommended varieties. Most reputable nurseries will also only sell varieties that will thrive in the local climate. While I would love to grow citrus plants, our cool climate will not allow for this.

From My Garden

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (4)

4. Not watering properly. Both over watering and under watering are a problem. If you let the plants get too wet it is a recipe for disease. If they get too dry they will wilt. The key is frequent consistent watering. In the beginning of the season a light watering will due. But as the season progresses, deep watering is required to encourage deep root growth. Plants with deep roots will survive a dry spell much easier than plants with a shallow root system.

From My Garden  

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (3)

3. Purchasing cheap transplants. While you might save a few pennies buying transplants at a discount store, you are better off buying at a reputable nursery. Sick plants will struggle all season. It is best to get started on the right foot.

From My Garden     

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (2)

2. Planting your crops too close together. When seeds are sown, or transplants are planted everything is small, and there is a lot of open space. It is common to try to plant closer than the recommended spacing to get more output per a limited space. In fact you may decrease your output, as plants that can't get proper air circulation are more susceptible to disease. Additionally larger plants will grow taller than smaller plants and shade them out.

From   My Garden              

Kitchen Gardener Mistakes (1)

1. The most common mistake made is planting a garden in an area that doesn't receive sufficient sunlight. Most vegetable plants need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. Therefore you need to choose an area that gets both morning and afternoon sun. If you have trees nearby, it may be a good idea to remove them or prune them back if they are blocking your garden.

From    My Garden

Kitchen Gardener | Testing the Soil (1)

If you find that your plants just aren’t producing, maybe you should test your soil to see what it needs. Poor soil is usually lacking in sufficient levels of nutrients to sustain plant development. By knowing what your soil lacks, you can amend the soil and in turn have a garden that is the envy of the neighborhood!

Testing your soil is relatively easy. Basic soil test kits can be purchased either online or at a garden supply store. If you have different soil conditions throughout your garden, you may need to test each area. For example, a flower garden, a vegetable garden, and a field will all have different needs and the soil usually has a different composition.

You can also use your local cooperative extension agency to assist you in a soil test. Although most cooperative extension offices don’t perform the tests themselves, they can refer you to someone who does. These soil tests are generally more detailed and can even make recommendations on how to improve your soil.

From    http://howtokitchengardener.com   

Kitchen Gardener and Organic Gardening (1)

Many people who choose organic gardening do so to supply their own vegetables. Vegetables are usually easy to grow, but to enhance your garden’s bounty, you should know which vegetables work the best for organic gardening. Answer: all of them!

Growing organic vegetables is also a great way to get your children involved in gardening and teach them about the environment. By passing on your knowledge and working with them in the garden, they can grow up to become organic gardeners and help create a more sustainable food supply.

From   My Garden

Asparagus and Your Kitchen Gardener

THIS IS AN ARTICLE THAT CAME TO ME WITHOUT CREDITS

My reason for passing this on as requested, is that my study of the positive effects of Glutathione is outstanding. Glutathione is our own natural built in antioxidant. Everyone needs more replenishment of this on a regular basis.

Glutathione pills do not work because our digestive system neutralizes it before it reaches our Liver.

Asparagus - Who Knew?????

> My Mom had been taking the full-stalk canned style asparagus that she

> pureed and she took 4 tablespoons in the morning and 4 tablespoons

> later in the day. She did this for over a month. She is on chemo pills

> for Stage 3 lung cancer in the pleural area and her cancer cell count

> went from 386 down to 125 as of this past week. Her oncologist said she

> does not need to see him for 3 months.

>

> THE ARTICLE:

>

> Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had

> cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled,

> "Asparagus For Cancer" printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979..

> I will share it here, just as it was shared with me:

>

> 'I am a biochemist, and have specialized in the relation of diet to

> health or over 50 years.  Several years ago, I learned of the discovery

> of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since

> then, I have worked with him on his project We have accumulated a

> number of favorable case histories. Here are a few examples:

>

> Case No. 1, A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease

> (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1

> year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to

> detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous

> exercise.

>

> Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from

> cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments,

> including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3

> months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared

> and that his kidneys were normal.

>

> Case No. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971, he was put on

> the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that

> it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case

> hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the Asparagus therapy and

> immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that

> all signs of the cancer had disappeared.. He is back at his regular

> business routine.

>

> Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin

> cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were

> diagnosed by the acting specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after

> starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked

> fine and no more skin lesions. This woman

> reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease,

> which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones,

> and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable,

> terminal, kidney condition.. She attributes the cure of this kidney

> trouble entirely to the asparagus.

>

> I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of material

> medical', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of

> Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for

> kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power

> of asparagus in dissolving stones. Note the dates!

>

> We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has

> interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore

> appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a

> large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics

> about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.

>

> For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and

> therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh.  I have

> corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant and

> Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or

> preservatives. Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to

> make a puree, and store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full

> tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show

> some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and

> used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present

> experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be

> needed in some cases.

>

> As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can

> prevent.' Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus

> puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in

> water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot

> and my wife prefers hers cold. For years we have made it a practice to

> have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last

> blood survey,

> taken by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach

> to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the

> last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the

> asparagus drink... As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of

> all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am

> convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about

> cancer. Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called his tones,

> which are believed to be active in controlling

> cell growth...For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to

> contain a substance that I call cell growth

> normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a

> general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used

> as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from

> using it and it may do you much good. It has been reported by the

> US National Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food

> containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most

> potent anti-carcinogens and antioxidants.

>

> Please spread the news...the most unselfish act one can ever do is

> paying forward all the kindness one has received.

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