Volume 1, Number 2, February 2, 2006
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Welcome to our second issue, hope you enjoy it! If there are any particular plants you would like to see us post Growing Guides for, be sure to let us know and we will try to put them together. Also, when you see a growing guide for a plant that you are familar with, please post your comments about it in the feedback forum.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips and Articles:
New Requests:
Growing Guides:
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Today's Tips and Articles
| Saving Money on Garden Supplies and Equipment
Q: I'd like to learn more about what others are doing to save money on
gardening equipment and supplies.
Rose B, mother of three, in NC
A: Rose,
Here are some money saving tips for gardeners:
Cheap or Free Seeds, Plants and Shrubs:
The easiest and most inexpensive way to acquire seeds, plants and shrubs for your garden is to swap with fellow gardeners. If you're just getting started with gardening, consider offering to trade recipes, home-made baked goods, craft items or services like weeding, dog walking or baby-sitting, in exchange for garden goodies. Another great option is online garden forums. Many gardeners have extra seeds that they are willing to share. Again, if you're just starting out and you don't have anything to offer in exchange, offer to pay the postage. Send a pre-paid envelope and enclose you're favorite recipe as a gesture of thanks.
Fertilizer and Soil Amendments:
Start composting-indoors or out. Nothing is better for your plants and your throwing out the waste anyway.
Tools & Other Supplies:
Flea markets are good places to scour for used garden equipment. These are especially fun in August and September during small town harvest festivals. You can find piles of old farm and garden tools and other useful tidbits that even if a bit rusty, can be resurrected into service with a bit of oil and elbow grease. Also scout out estate sales and yard sales. If you need to use larger tools, like a roto-tiller or trimmer, consider renting them for a day or a weekend and splitting the cost with a friend or neighbor. Good tool maintenance practices will extend their life.
Many odds and ends around the house can be recycled into useful implements for the garden. For example, nylon stockings can be used to secure bending plants, to store spring bulbs or slipped over ripening tomatoes to prevent chipmunk damage. Broken blind slats make great plant markers. Plastic cat litter containers can be cut in half and used as growing containers or seedling cages. Store seeds in glass jars, plastic food container with lids or paper bags. Before you toss things out, try to think of ways to use them in the garden.
Pesticides and Herbicides:
Organic weed and pest control is cheaper for you and better for the environment. There are hundreds of books and websites (including this one) offering recipes and tips for controlling weeds and pests using common products that most of keep around the house.
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| Drying Hydrangeas
 Q: I am interested in drying hydrangeas from my tree and bush, but don't know the proper procedure to preserve the blooms, but still get rid of the bugs and spiders inside the flower. I have tried dipping them in water, but the spiders seem to be able to outlast the dip. If I spray them with bug spray, they turn brown. Can anyone advise me the right way to do this?
Thanks.
A:
To dry hydrangeas, pick them when they just barely start to lose some of their color, but still haven't dried on the bush. Before you cut them from the bush, give them a good spray from the garden hose to dislodge and bugs and debris. After you cut them, hold them upside down by the stems and shake off the excess water before you take them indoors. Then simply cut them to the desired length and put them directly into a vase without any water. After the blossoms are completely dry from being sprayed by the garden hose, a light misting of hairspray will help prevent them from dropping their petals as they dry. As they dry, it is normal for them to fade to a light tan and then eventually to a lovely brown color.
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| Drying Herbs
Q: I have lots of herbs growing. When is the best time to harvest them for drying and storage?
Aggie
A: Aggie,
Each herb is different, but here are a few general rules for drying and storing herbs:
- Herbs used for their foliage (leaves) should be harvested before they flower. If grown primarily for their essential oils (flavor and aroma), they will have the greatest concentration of oils after they produce flower buds, but before the buds open.
- If you're harvesting herbs for their seeds, collect the seed pods as they start to turn brown or gray, but before they open.
- Herbs collected for their flowers should be harvested just prior to peak flowering.
- Herbs grown for their roots should be harvested late in the season after the foliage turns brown.
As a general rule, you can start harvesting when the plant has enough foliage to sustain growth. Harvest in the early part of the day and harvest no more than 2/3 of the plant at one time. Perennial herbs should not be harvested later than one month prior to the first frost to ensure they have time to store resources for winter.
The best way to dry herbs is to hang them and let them air dry. Clean herbs under running water if necessary. Shake off excess water and remove any dead or damaged foliage. Tie stems into small bundles and hang upside down to dry in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight. To catch seeds or petals, cover the flower end of the stems with a paper bag (with air holes). Other methods of drying include laying herbs across screens or drying them on the lowest settings of a food dehydrator or conventional oven or if you have the time and patience, drying them for short 1 to 2 minutes increments in a microwave (after a few days of air drying). When dry, leaves will be brittle and crumble easily. Store them in airtight glass or plastic containers (or bags) in a dark, dry location like a pantry or cupboard.
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| Composting Indoors
Q: I can't remember where it was at, but I have seen a place telling how to use a 2-liter bottle for making compost. Are there any other things that can be used indoors to make compost? What types of things do you put in it? I would like to make some for my house plants and for getting a garden started this spring.
Thanks,
Shanyn
A: Shanyn,
Here is a link for more information on bottle composting and some easy options for composting indoors:
Bottle Composting
http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/...
Garbage Can or Bin Composting
You can do this in the garage or basement if you have the room. All you need is a plastic garbage can (metal will rust). A 50 gallon can will give you the best results. Punch enough holes in the top and sides to allow oxygen to circulate through the compost materials. Collect "green" materials from your kitchen and store them in a gallon-sized ice cream pail or large coffee can (with lid) under your sink until full enough to add to the compost can. "Green" items include foods like coffee grounds, egg shells, vegetable and fruit peelings and other leftover food scraps. Don't compost meat or dairy leftovers as they will cause your bin to smell.
Each time you add these "green" items to your compost can, follow with a layer of "browns." Browns are the ingredients that control odor. They include things like shredded leaves, newspaper, sawdust, or peat moss. If possible, also toss in a handful or two of topsoil. Make sure the bin stays slightly moist (add water if necessary)and stir it with a pitch fork or old broom handle once every two weeks or so.
Anaerobic Composting (without air)
Another simple, but more time consuming method, is to compost using large freezer bags. Collect green ingredients the same way as above, and when the container under your sink is full, transfer scraps to a large freezer bag. Add brown ingredients until the bag is just half full and moisten everything with just a little bit of water. Double bag everything and date it before storing it in a warm location (like a heated porch or closet). In 6 months to 1 year, you should be able to use the oldest bags. You'll know the compost is ready if the contents looks and smells like soil. A bag opened too soon will stink!
Vericomposting
Another popular method of indoor composting is called vericomposting (composting with worms). If you're interested in learning more about this type of composting, there are many books and website on the subject, as well as an article about it on this site.
Vermicomposting - Indoor Worm Ranching
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf299474.tip.html
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| Lawn Mosquito Spray
Q: I have lost my Jerry Baker recipe for a spray to get rid of mosquitos. I used it last year and it was great! It used lemon dish detergent, dog flea detergent, and ammonia. Help me!
Bkoehler
A: Bkoehler, I'm don't know Jerry Baker's recipe (although I'm sure it's a good one), but if you enjoy gardening, how about trying to grow your own repellant?
Try planting Thai Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus). It performs double duty-you can use it for cooking and to repel mosquitoes. Thai Lemon Grass contains citronella oil, a natural mosquito repellant. It's the same substance used in the citronella candles you buy, only more effective. Planting stalks around your yard and garden will help naturally repel mosquitoes, but for the best control you can peel back the outer leaves on the stalks and rub the juicy insides directly onto your skin. You can compost whatever you don't use and the stalks grow back quickly. If you want to make a tincture that can be sprayed on, try combining a stalk in the blender with a little bit of alcohol (rubbing or spirits). Transfer the liquid to a spray bottle and store it in the fridge for up to a week. You can find Thai Lemon Grass at most supermarkets and garden centers. It grows in clumps about 15 inches wide and 2 feet high and makes an attractive addition to the garden that really earns its keep!
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| Mulching Tulips
Q: I just planted a small bed of tulips and mums, I plan to lay generous amounts of newspaper over the tulip and around the mums and then cover with 2-3 inches of wood bark. My question is will the tulips be able to come thru all this in the spring?
Jean
A: Jean,
Make sure you wait until after the ground freezes to mulch your tulips. If you do it before the ground freezes, the mulch can become wet and cause the bulbs to rot or keep the ground from freezing. Newspaper and woodchips will work fine for your tulips over winter, but they should be removed in the spring. Newspaper is a good insulator and will help protect your bulbs from cold damage. At the same time, once the danger of frost has passed in the spring, its insulating properties may work against new growth by causing a delay in the soil warming up. Newspaper is also great for preventing the growth of weeds. However, this also means it can prevent wanted new growth. Remove the winter mulch as soon as danger of frost has passed. Mulches other than newspaper should be removed when the shoots are 1-2 inches high. Otherwise, the stems and leaves may become weak. Be warned that rodents love tulip bulbs and newspaper can provide nice little winter homes for them to cozy up and feast on your bulbs. Covering the dirt over your plantings with a small gauge wire mesh can help with this.
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| Storing Flower Bulbs for the Winter
Have a hard time storing bulbs for the winter? Wrap each one in a paper towel, or other medium to keep them dry. Place each one in a compartment in an EGG CARTON! Easy to label and easy to keep assures the next planting season will be much easier!
By Eric from Minneapolis, MN
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| Gardening Co-op
My in-laws, parents and our family all plant gardens. We always ended up with the same things. This year, we are planting different types of tomatoes. We are planting cucumbers and Brussels sprouts. My parents are planting butternut squash and watermelon. My in-laws are planting corn and onions. Then we can all swap the extra. We will even share some with my brother who will give us back apples in the fall. This way we don't have too much of any one thing.
By BarwickJ from Ottumwa, IA
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Gardening with Kids
By Ellen BrownKids (of all ages) love to play in the dirt. That makes an activity like gardening naturally appealing to young children. It provides them with exercise, helps grow their self-esteem, and gives them an outlet for creativity. Most importantly, it offers them a chance to connect with nature and develop an appreciation for the environment they live in. If you want to plant the gardening seeds in the children in your life, follow these simple guidelines.
Keep It Simple
Children, especially very young children, have extremely short attention spans. Keep the session short (10-15 minutes), the directions easy ("cover the seeds with dirt") and the tasks manageable ("pat down the soil"). This will leave children with a sense of accomplishment when they are done, instead of feelings of discouragement or frustration. Design activities for both immediate gratification (picking and arranging flowers) and delayed gratification (planting seeds).
Set Aside Child-Specific Time
Everything involving gardening (the dirt, the bugs, the plants, the tools) has the potential to sidetrack a young child. If you only have a limited amount of time to catch up on some gardening chores before rushing off to a meeting or appointment, leave gardening with small children for another day. Chasing after bugs and digging in the dirt takes time. Rather than feeling rushed, invite children into the garden when you have time to encourage their need for exploration.
Give Them Their Own Space
Kids (of all ages) love to play in the dirt. That makes an activity like gardening naturally appealing to young children. |
If possible, set aside a tiny plot for each child you invite into the garden. Not only does having their "own garden" give them a sense of pride and ownership, it gives them something to nurture and be responsible for. Giving them their own space will also keep them from damaging other more delicate parts of the garden by giving them a place to dig to their heart's content. If your garden space is at a premium, let children grow things in pots. Kids love things that are personalized. Let them insert plant markers with their names and artwork in their plots or pots so they can show others their garden.
Use Appropriate Plants & Tools
Many seed companies now offer fun, brightly colored seed packets just for kids. Plan ahead for success by helping children plant vegetables and flowers that are easy to germinate and exciting to watch grow (e.g. radishes and sunflowers). Children should also have access to tools designed with their size and safety in mind. Most basic tools rakes, shovels, trowels) are available in lightweight durable sizes for children. Empty plastic food containers and mismatched flatware also make good gardening tools for digging and carrying.
In addition to having the right size tools, kids need to know the basics of using them safely. Make sure they know that tools with tines (like rakes) lie face down. Show them how to properly care for their tools, and designate a special space for them in the garage or shed to store them to store their tools.
Design Child Friendly Themes
Children are swept up by their imagination. Planting gardens around a theme will excite their senses and encourage their creativity. Plant a "Giants Garden" full of tall sunflowers, long beans and over-sized melons, or maybe a "Pizza Garden" with oregano, tomato and basil. Plant a red garden using red radishes, red peppers, red carrots and red snapdragons, or a scented garden with mint, lemon grass and chives.
Learn About Gardening Together
Young children love to do whatever adults are doing. If you show enthusiasm for something, they will follow suit. Work side by side with them in the garden when completing tasks like pulling weeds. Let them look through seed catalogs with you and discuss which flowers or plants they find attractive or interesting. Bring gardening into indoor activities like watching a caterpillar turn into a buttery fly, making mosaics out of old seeds, constructing fairy houses or baking muffins using vegetables from the garden.
Take trips to the library together to look for books on gardening topics like flowers or bugs or surf the Internet for gardening websites aimed at children. Organic gardening offers more opportunities for learning and provides children with an environment free of toxic chemicals.
Gardening Across the Miles
If you're separated from the children in your life by distance, there are still ways you can garden together. Today's technology makes it easy to share gardening experiences across the miles. If you have access to a computer, consider investing in a digital camera or setting up an inexpensive web camera to share gardening pictures and progress. Share seeds and growing instructions in the mail, visit arboretums or botanical gardens when you're together or send pictures of trees you've planted in honor of the important milestones in each child's life.
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| Snails Hate Caffeine
To prevent snails from eating a new seedling you've just planted outdoors, put a ring of new, unused coffee grounds down around the plant. I dampen the grounds just a little to keep them from blowing away. Make sure it's UNused grounds; it's the caffeine that the snails hate.
By Lynn from Calif. from Chico, CA
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New Requests
| Grub Worm Problem
We have a grub worm problem that we would like to get rid of. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Hardiness Zone: 8a
Jodi from Gary, Texas
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| Growing Recommendations for Zone 5b
Thank you! I am constantly wondering what "zone" I am in. With your request came Hardiness Zone and a drop down menu and voilà, Columbia, MO (10 minutes from here) was actually on list.
I would like to know what trees, plants and flowers would do best here (Zone 5b). We have a new home and need trees, plants and flowers that I can take care of. I do well with tulips, daffodils, crocus and the summer salvia types. Thank you for your help.
Hardiness Zone: 5b
Annie Hill from Hallsville, MO
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| Pest Control With Horticultural Oil
We bought a house several years ago with a huge, full-grown elm tree in the yard. It has aphids, I believe (little hard bumps on the leaves). We have heard of using a ring of Horticultural Oil around the tree, but need more informoation. How far up the tree? How wide a swath? How often? What time of year? Does anyone have a little more information for us?
Thank you,
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Cee from Roscoe, Illinois
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| Dealing With Ant Hills
We are starting to have an ant problem again this year. I am looking for something that will get rid for them, maybe something that can be made from items in the kitchen. There seems to be thousands of tiny ones in each hill. We do have animals and don't want anything that will be harmful to them.
Hardiness Zone: 8a
Jodi from Gary, Texas
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Growing Guides
Growing: Amaranth
By Ellen Brown
| Botanical Name: | Gomphrena globosa |
| Interesting Facts: | Globe Amaranth is native to Panama and Guatemala in Central America. It was once a favorite of English gardens and also attracts butterflies.
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More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Amaryllis
By Ellen Brown
| Botanical Name: | Amaryllis |
| Growing Hints: | Amaryllis couldn't be easier to grow. Most garden and home centers offer them for sale during the winter season when they are commonly grown to bloom for the holidays. Although not necessary, soaking the root end of the bulb in water the night before planting will give it a faster start. Place the potted bulbs in a sunny window sill and keep soil moist (not wet) until blooming. Tall plants may need staking. Continue to water until the leaves start to turn yellow and die back. Cut them down and cease watering for 12 weeks. The plant can be brought out of dormancy again after this rest period, but cheaper bulbs may fail to flower a second time or flower less successfully. High quality amaryllis bulbs can produce many flowers at a time for as long as 75 years. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Alternanthera
By Ellen Brown
| Botanical Name: | Alternanthera |
| Growing Hints: | Alternanthera make excellent fillers for container displays due to their compact growth. Space four inches apart for a carpet effect and pinch back occasionally to keep plants bushy. Pot plants and bring indoors as a house plant for winter. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Anemone (Greek Wind Flower, Poppy Anemone)
| Botanical Name: | Anemone |
| Growing Hints: | Plant Greek Wind Flower bulbs in zones 4-8 in the spring. They grow to a height of 4" to 6" and prefer rich, well-drained soil and sun to partial shade. Plant Poppy Anemone bulbs in zones 8-11 in the spring. They grow to heights of 12" to 18" and prefer light sandy soil and full sun. Both species are attractive to mice and squirrels and can be protected by laying chicken wire over soil after planting. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Cherries (Cherry Trees)
By Ellen Brown
| Planting Tips: | Cherry trees grow well in most zones. Although if you want to get more technical, tart cherries thrive best in zones 4-9, and sweet cherries grow best in zones 5-9. Bush cherries (somewhat sweet) are hardy enough for zone 3. Thanks to modern plant breeding, there are now self-pollinating cultivars and dwarf root-stocks of both tart and sweet cherry trees. Whether your preference is tart or sweet, select a healthy, disease-resistant tree cultivated for your zone. Expect standard-sized trees to start bearing fruit in their fourth year (30 to 50 quarts), and dwarf-sized trees to produce fruit in their third year (10 to 15 quarts). |
More Growing Information: Click Here |
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