Happy Garden - June 14, 2007

This week we have some great tips from the ThriftyFun community. If you have a gardening tip to share, feel free to submit it here.

We are starting something new this week. Every week will have a new gardening brainstorm. This week we are brainstorming about preventing plan disease.

Minimizing Diseases in Vegetable Gardens

Diseases from bacteria, viruses and fungi can lead to the early demise of your plants. What are some tips for minimizing diseases in vegetable gardens?

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Easy Brick Herb Garden
• Plant Columbine For Spring Surprises
• Saving Money Running a Motel
• Large Clematis

Tips and Articles:

• Kid's Stepping Stones
• Reuse Meat Packaging For Making Bird Suet
• Laundry Basket Planters
• Preserving Herbs
• Harvest Pears Before They're Ripe
• Unusual Garden Decorations
• Less Lawn, More Garden
• Protecting Plants from Storms
• Plant Seedlings in Cracked and Chipped Tea Cups
• Black Plastic Weed Deterrent
• Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control

New Requests:

• Plants Not Bearing Fruit
• Growing Herbs in Vermiculite
• Struggling Aloe Plant
• Struggling Bamboo Plant
• Germinating a Parlor Palm Tree
• Rooting Plants
• Struggling Petunias
• Growing Berries in Thailand
• Rock Salt vs. Salt
• Flowers to Match My Wedding Colors
• Birds Eating My Marigolds
• Small Leaves on a Crepe Myrtle
• Squirrels Eating Plants
• Dealing With Ant Hills
• Getting Rid Of Grubs
• Minimizing Diseases in Vegetable Gardens

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Easy Brick Herb Garden

Tip: This craft makes use of old bricks. They needn't be perfect; actually the more character the better!

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Plant Columbine For Spring Surprises

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Saving Money Running a Motel

One way is when I'm watering the yards and the hose has a leak. Instead of letting the leak just waste away on the ground, I put a large watering can under the leak and use the water from that to water the plants the sprinklers don't reach. Other times, I put it on a tree or in a planter box and water them that way. No water is wasted that way.

Also, we have a planter box that is always in the sun and nothing wants to grow in it because it's so hot and dry. What I did is planted some pansies in the box then put some big fluffy fake flowers over them to act as umbrellas to shade them during the hottest times of the day. It's working quite well.

During the fall, I rake all the leaves onto the trees and other plants to preserve them from the cold. Best free compost we have and I've saved plants I never thought would grow again.

KellysArk from Bend, OR

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Large Clematis

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Kid's Stepping Stones

Materials

• Bag of cement (buy at hardware or home store, about $3.00 for a big bag, get the kind that says premixed - just add water. Nothing fancy, just the end line stuff)
• Small, durable mementos to place in cement (I've used rubber frogs and bugs on one, a pacifier and a rattle in one, and hot wheels cars in one, in the past)
• Round 9 inch disposable cake pans (check to make sure children's feet fit in these, if not, use a larger size)

Directions This project is easier than it sounds :) Do it outside, because it gets messy! Mix cement with water according to directions on bag. Pour in tins. Let it sit until it is firm enough to hold a print. Place child's foot in center of tin and smoosh :) Try to not go all the way to the bottom! Place small knick knacks around foot print like a toy, etc., as listed above. Cement is hard to write in, but we were able to do initials with aquarium rocks. Let set. Cover with water to cure according to package directions. Let these set for a few days before removing from the tins. These can be buried in the garden as stepping stones, left out on the deck, or anywhere outside. Once hard, they are quite durable!

By Barbara from West Union, OH

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Reuse Meat Packaging For Making Bird Suet

When making my bird suet, I've started using the meat containers that you get when you purchase meat. I shop a lot at Walmart, their meat trays are also dishwasher safe.

By miniduck from Indianapolis, IN

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Laundry Basket Planters

Today I was driving by someone's home and saw what I thought were pretty white "pillars" down the side of their driveway with gorgeous plant boxes sitting inside of them hanging down over the sides of the "pillars". As I got closer, I noticed that these were all just plain white laundry baskets with the decorative air holes in the sides. The planter boxes sat perfectly inside of them and hung over the sides. A neat idea! I am sure they placed stones on the bottoms to weight them down as well.

By Tawnda

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Preserving Herbs
By Rachel Paxton

Harvesting

Harvest in the morning of a hot and dry day--wait until the dew is off the plants.

Snip off the top growth--about 6 inches of stem below the flower buds.

Drying

If the leaves are clean, don't wash them--oils are lost in the washing process. If they are dusty, wash briefly under cold water.

Shake off excess water and hang the herbs, tied in small bunches, in the sun until the water evaporates.

Hang the bunches (upside down) in a warm, dry place that is well ventilated and free from strong light. To prevent dust from accumulating, put them in a brown paper bag that you've punched some holes in to increase circulation.

If you don't hang them up, remove the stems and dry them on baking sheets, window screens covered with clear sheeting or cheesecloth, or even on a towel.

You can also dry herbs in a food dryer. For the best flavor, the temperature in the dryer should stay under 105 degrees F.

Storing

Leaves may be crushed before they are stored away, but they retain their oils better if they are kept whole and crushed right before they are used.

Herbs should be stored in a cool place, out of strong light, either in dark glass jars, in tins, or behind cabinet e-mail box every Fridays. It's best to throw them out after a year and restock with new ones.

Freezing

Blanch herbs before freezing them. Hold them by their stems with tongs and dip them in boiling water briefly, swishing them around a little. When their color brightens, remove them from the water. Blot dry with towels. Remove the stems, chop if you wish, or leave the leaves whole. Lay the dried herbs out in a single layer on wax paper and roll or fold the paper so there is a layer of paper separating each layer of herbs. Then pack, paper and all, in freezer bags or wrap in freezer-rated plastic wrap. To use, break off as much as you need and use frozen. You can also thaw them out in the refrigerator--they will keep for about a week.

You can freeze individual portions of herbs by making ice cubes out of them. Prepare your herbs by removing the stems and chopping, and then pack them into ice cube trays. Cover with boiling water (to blanch them) and freeze. When frozen, remove the cubes from the trays and store in freezer bags.

By Rachel Paxton
http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Editor's Note: Do you have any tips for preserving herbs? Post them in the feedback forum below.

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Harvest Pears Before They're Ripe

Don't wait to harvest pears until they've ripened on the trees because they won't be as delicious, said a horticulturist at Kansas State University.

"Pears should not be allowed to ripen on the trees. They should be picked while still firm and allowed to ripen after harvest," said Ward Upham, horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension. "Tree-ripened fruit are of poor quality because of the development of grit cells and the browning and softening of the inner flesh."

Commercial growers determine the best time to harvest pears by measuring the decrease in the fruit's firmness as it matures, Upham said. This varies with growing conditions and variety.

Upham provided tips for home gardeners to help determine pear maturity:

• A change in the fruit ground color from a dark green to a yellowish green. The ground color is the background color of the fruit.

• Fruit should part easily from the branch when it is lifted up and twisted.

• Corking over of lenticels (breathing pores of the fruit). They start out as a white to greenish white color and turn brown due to corking as the fruit nears maturity.

• Development of the characteristic pear aroma and taste of sampled fruit.

Ripen small amounts as needed by moving them to a warmer location and holding them at 60 to 65 degrees F, Upham said. Storing at too high a temperature (75 degrees or higher) will result in the fruit breaking down without ripening.

By Crystal Rahe
K-State Research& Extension News

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Unusual Garden Decorations

I like to decorate our yard with unusual items during the summer months and get quite a few compliments on how wonderful and "inviting" our yard looks.. We even won a beautification award from the city we live in. My most recent "thrifty" idea was:

My neighbor was throwing out one of those plastic blue/pink child's shopping carts as one of the wheels was cracked. I asked if I could have it - she gave it to me. I asked people at work to save me their plastic Folger's ground coffee containers. I had gotten some seeds from a neighbors plant for marigolds. I glued the cracked wheel on the shopping cart. Then I drilled holes in the bottom of the Folger's container and filled it with dirt and planted the marigold seeds. I put the Folger's container in the shopping cart and put the cart on our front porch. Now I have a beautiful plant growing in a colorful shopping cart and it has been quite a conversation piece and is really cute!

By Robin Zdroik

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Less Lawn, More Garden

Use the space where your lawn is growing to grow food or at least use some kind of living ground cover that you do not have to use up natural resources to water, fertilize, weed and cut.

By Roy

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Protecting Plants from Storms

I tried using strips from those overabundant plastic grocery bags, and found they work just fine for tying up plants.

When a storm is approaching, I go out to my garden and make sure that I've secured as many as possible of the long flexible stems. This seems to minimize damage if there are high winds.

If hail is predicted, I put all container plants under the porch roof, and cover other plants with anything I can put my hands on to deflect the foliage-shredding ice. I've used such things as boards, buckets, empty coffee cans, lawn furniture, and the children's yard toys. I even use the rusty ironing boards that at other times serve for temporary garden work tables.

Rose B.

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Plant Seedlings in Cracked and Chipped Tea Cups

Start seedlings in cracked and chipped cups. They are cheap, can be reused year after year and actually look pretty cool. I buy cracked tea cups for dirt cheap at garage sales so I my seedlings have a tea cup theme.

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Black Plastic Weed Deterrent

In an effort to try to keep the weeds in the vegetable garden down, we mulched our vegetable garden with a sheet of inexpensive black plastic bought from the hardware store (not the more expensive stuff from the garden center).

We cut holes for the tomato and zucchini plants, and wide slits for the rows of beans, and then punched holes in the black plastic all over with the spikes from the bottom of the tomato cages, to let more water in. We anchored the sides of the plastic with dirt/rocks.

This method has worked well; it keeps the weeds down to almost none (less labor), and keeps the moisture in the soil under the plastic (less watering). We have had our best tomato yields ever using this method, and the plastic can be reused for years.

By Ness

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Diatomaceous Earth for Bug Control

Diatomaceous Earth is a safe and effective way to get rid of bugs such as; centipedes, silverfish, spiders, etc. I sprinkle it in my closets, under sinks, in the basement, along baseboards, in the garage or any place you have had bugs.

By Christa

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Plants Not Bearing Fruit

I have planted cucumbers, zucchini and tomatoes, they do not seem to be growing at all. They do have yellowing leaves. I have fed them twice so far this season and planted them in mulch, Any ideas?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

J from Utah

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Growing Herbs in Vermiculite

I just recently planted a packet of mint seeds from Williamsburg, Virginia that I picked up there three or four years ago. I put a bunch of Vermiculite in a pot (with rocks in the bottom) and began to water it. Mostly the rain has been doing the job for me. I did what the package of Vermiculite told me to do, by simply sprinkling the seeds on top of the fake soil and then watering it.

I'm worried that it's not growing properly. It's been five or six days, I think, and I don't even see a sprout. Is there something I did wrong? Should I have used real dirt as well? The package of Vermiculite said that I could just sow the seeds on top and the plants would grow. Or am I just impatient?

Maybe the seeds are too old.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Paul from Walnutport, PA

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Struggling Aloe Plant

What is the best way to grow aloe plants?

I have one plant and I'm afraid I've over-watered it since it is a semi-desert plant. It just kept on getting browner and browner. One of the leaves has fallen off, so I immediately took it outside and put it into a bigger pot with rocks in the bottom, then sand mixed with fertile dirt, then some of that Vermiculite stuff on top. I transplanted it into that new pot and am about to put a plate or tray underneath it and keep it in the house for now.

How long do you think I should let it go without water? It was dying, but when I cut open the paper planter-cup that it came in the dirt seemed bone-dry. What shall I do? To water, or not to water?

What about taking it outside? Right now it is still getting down into the 60s at night. Is it safe outside or should I keep it in a windowsill?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Paul from Walnutport, PA

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Struggling Bamboo Plant

I have indoor bamboo, it is in a porcelain pot, with small rocks. As I said I have in indoors on a mantle that really does not get any sunlight, it is close to a window but does not get any sun. The leaves were light green. I was giving it a combination of tap water and bottled water, some times miracle grow. The water got moldy and the stalks got some black and gray spots on them, the water also had film. This is when I would put the water all the way up at the top. I decided to put the bamboo outside, I drained the water and put fresh water in with miracle grow. It is on a porch where it gets good sunlight for half the day, I usually alternate the side it is on to get sun all day. My leaves were a little brown and crispy, now they are totally yellow and whitish, please help me what should I do?

Steve from NY

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Germinating a Parlor Palm Tree

How do I germinate parlor palm tree seeds?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Marlene from Philadelphia, PA

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Rooting Plants

I am putting my home place on the market. I have several plants and flowers that I would like to root. Gardenia, snowball bush, sweet shrub, Camilla's and butterfly bush. Any idea on how to do this?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks,
Suzi from Middle Georgia

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Struggling Petunias

I have a couple of hanging baskets, they have pretty petunias. They have been in shade lately (whoopsie) and now they are very tall and sparse. (I assume from trying to get sun?) I have put them back out in a sunnier location, but how do I get them to fill out? Do I need to clip the tops off, or what? Thanks so much?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Shirley from Michigan

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Growing Berries in Thailand

I come from Canada but now live in Thailand and really miss berries - blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc. I cannot find berry seeds here, but am traveling to the UK next month. Would I be able to grow berries here? Could I grow them in a controlled situation? Thanks so much for any help!

Hardiness Zone: 11

Leah from Chonburi, Thailand

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Rock Salt vs. Salt

I would like to know if "rock salt" will work in the homemade weed killer recipes that call for salt. Or is table salt the best choice?

Thanks for your time!
Becky from Reno, NV

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Flowers to Match My Wedding Colors

What color and type of flowers should I choose to go with wedding colors turquoise, raspberry and ivory?

Theressa from Seattle, WA

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Birds Eating My Marigolds

Every year I plant marigolds around my vegetable garden. This year the birds have eaten the flowers off the plants just before they fully bloom. We have a fairly dry spring this year. The years before they have consumed only a few flowers, not all of them. I don't get it. Does someone have an answer please?

Len from Baltimore, MD

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Small Leaves on a Crepe Myrtle

I have a problem with a well established Crepe Myrtle. The leaves have come out small and turn golden and bronze like in the fall. The leaves are also much smaller than they should be. The tree is 18 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Others on the property planted at the same time are doing great. This started last year. The tree has never been trimmed, I want it completely natural in shape.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Rick from Whittier, CA

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Squirrels Eating Plants

Is there a home remedy I can use to keep squirrels from eating the plants in my garden?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

MARIE from Garden City, NY

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Dealing With Ant Hills

I have a couple of ant hills in my backyard and I was wondering if anyone had a natural way to get rid of them?

Thanks for your help,
Jenn from Canada

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Getting Rid Of Grubs

I have trouble with moles in my yard "off and on". Then, this year I noticed also that I have grub worms. I have never had the grub worms (that I have known of). Between the grub worms and the moles; they are destroying my yard. Any suggestions has to how to rid of these pests?

Thanks!
Judy from Collierville, TN

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Minimizing Diseases in Vegetable Gardens

Diseases from bacteria, viruses and fungi can lead to the early demise of your plants. What are some tips for minimizing diseases in vegetable gardens? Please post your ideas below.

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