Gardening Notes from Around the Web
Who knew winter could be so fascinating in the garden? I still can't wait for it to be over, but I've gained a greater appreciation for winter more after seeing the photos submitted in this first garden photo contest of the year. Thanks for trudging out in the snow to share your garden highlights with us. I can't wait to see what you photograph this summer.
Here are the winners of the Jan/Feb 2010 Garden Photography Challenge - Winter Interest. Congratulations! The photo here was submitted by Rebecca Huss (Rebeckia), who took 1st Place with her Leucojum vernum var. carpathicum or Snowflake.
Thanks, everyone, for posting such great shots. Don't forget to get your photos in for the next challenge - Spring Bulbs. We sure could use some signs of spring.
Photo: Rebeca Huss
Winter Interest Photo Challenge Winners originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 06:36:28.
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Gardening Question of the Week: All Tops, No Potatoes. What Happened?
Landacre wrote in with an interesting problem. He husband planted potatoes, but "...all he got was a green bush and the same potato attached at the bottom." I've had years when my potoatoes weren't very large, but I've always gotten a few from each plant. And since growing anything underground for the entire season is a leap of faith, it's got to be very disappointing to pull up nothing.
Poor potato production is usually caused by one of two things:
The temperature stayed too warm. Potatoes like to cool off in the evenings. Keep piling on the soil, as the plant grows, or at least give it a good 4" of mulch.Too much nitrogen, too little phosphorous. We always talk about wanting our plants to develop a good root system, but this is one time when it really matters. Choose a fertilzier with a low 1st number (nitrogen) and a high 2nd number (phosphorous)
Potatoes also need a lot of water, especially while they're in flower. But since the tops of the plants grew well, water probably wasn't the problem. Have any of you experienced this and do you have any advice to share with Landacre?
Growing Potatoes Landacre's QuestionPhoto: © Marie Iannotti
Gardening Question of the Week: All Tops, No Potatoes. What Happened? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 01:37:37.
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Weed Control Without Chemicals
The snow is pretty much goen around my house and the first thing that seems to be greening up is the creeping ivy. Or maybe it's the rosettes of garlic mustard. I haven't gotten close enough to check, but I'm finding it very frustrating that my two nemeses are back already. Clearly those bags of pullings I left to fry in the sun last summer didn't do the trick. Can the dandelions be far behind?
Is your idea of weed control getting down on your hands and knees and pulling? There are easier ways and they don't have to be nasty, harsh chemicals. About's Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu, gives us 5 kinder gentler ways to get rid of unwanted plants in Weed Control Without Chemicals.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Weed Control Without Chemicals originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 01:01:29.
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A change of venue
There’s been a lot of motion happening for me this year, and so it should come as no surprise that I’m adding another move to the list. This time, it’s a blog move of sorts. I’ve dug in over at http://www.theinadvertentgardener.com, which isn’t all that much of a change; after all, that URL has always brought [...]
Guest post: A garden out of control
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Chase Ledebur, my cousin Kären’s son. Chase has been gardening this summer for the first time at home, and I wanted you to hear from this wonderful and talented 12-year-old in his very own words. Hi, I’m Chase – welcome to my garden. This is the [...]
Photography shouldn’t distract from weeding
On my way out to Oakland from Iowa, I made a stop in Grand Junction, Colorado, at my cousin’s house. She and her son Chase had planted their first vegetable garden in a beautiful raised bed off one side of the house. Tomatoes, squash, basil, oregano – the garden was still filled with seedlings when [...]