Beautiful Ferns | Your Kitchen Gardener

Thought you would like to see my fern. It is almost 4 feet tall! Picture taken by my kitchen gardener

Got to thinking why it is so happy.  Well my underground water seepers have been very generous to the roots of this gorgeous specimen and also I have been using sheep manure fertilizer for the past few years. This baby is only three weeks old ... obviously very happy in my garden.

You will see other ferns starting to grow just to the left of the geraniums. We had a very dry winter with little snow and not much cold weather. The plants are all showing the result of the lack of moisture with some of them dying as a result. My prize climbing rose simply gave up and had to be pruned back to the ground. Looks like I have lost it.

The ferns will continue to sprout and grow at their own pace. The roots travel every direction from the mother plant. So the babies pop up everywhere ... and keep doing so for another month usually in my  garden.

I transplanted a couple from the wild a few years ago and at times simply have to pull them out when the appearance gets too cluttered. My home is in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

This Valley runs north and south from our area right down into Washington. A wonderful place to live!

No matter what happens each year, it is so wonderful to cultivate and encourage in "my garden"

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Tomatoes and Your Kitchen Gardener

So, what do you think of my tomato plants? This picture was taken today, 19th of May 2010 by my kitchen gardener.

After so many years of dreaming of juicy, delicious tomatoes off my own plants, the last few years it has become a reality!

Now I purchase plants in pots from a nursery.

Our growing season is not long enough to wait 90 days for the fruit to ripen.  These plants have blossoms and within a month of setting them outside, beautiful servings or stealings of the fruit is right on my kitchen counter.

Of interest to others, I do not transplant them any more. The process is difficult for the plants to handle and sets the time of harvest back quite a bit.

The bottom is cut off the container and lots of bone-meal and fertilizer is added ... carefully I may add.

Purchased in the beginning or so of April, then kept inside during the nights and chilly weather, set outside in the warmer periods for the sunlight until the second week of May.

Try it if you like. Then maybe you would appreciate some very popular and helpful advice here.

My Garden and the Kitchen Gardener

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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