Well, hopefully the last of the cold fronts have blown through. The ground seems still a little cool to plant too much. And these late spring cold fronts sure aint helping.
Its past time to get the potatoes in the ground, but I have been neglecting to do so.
Its still too early to plant the okra. That needs to be planted around Mat, or when the ground temperature gets around 70 degrees or higher. Okra is originally from Africa, so its a hot weather crop.
I guess its time to go ahead and plant the peas and snap beans.
Showing posts with label home garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home garden. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Dealing with a spring frost
Just when you get your garden in the ground, a late spring frost comes through and kills all your plants. Its pretty disheartening to see fresh sprouts killed off. Its on of those "oh man" moments.
Save a few 2 liter bottles and 1 gallon milk jugs with the bottom cut out. Keep the jugs stored in a box of some kind out in the shed. When a frost comes through, take the jugs and put them over the plant the night before.
A year ago I remember hearing someone talk about leaving the caps on or taking them off the jugs. But I can not remember which one was best. Taking the caps off will let the plant breath. But could also let cold air into the jug.
Besides the jugs, have a few light duty plastic tarps or old sheets on hand. But, try not to let the plastic of cloth of the sheet touch the plant.
If the plants get a frost on them, wash them off with a water hose. I heard that it was better to wash the frost off, then to let it thaw. That when the frost thaws on its own, that is when the frost bite occurs on the plant.
Save a few 2 liter bottles and 1 gallon milk jugs with the bottom cut out. Keep the jugs stored in a box of some kind out in the shed. When a frost comes through, take the jugs and put them over the plant the night before.
A year ago I remember hearing someone talk about leaving the caps on or taking them off the jugs. But I can not remember which one was best. Taking the caps off will let the plant breath. But could also let cold air into the jug.
Besides the jugs, have a few light duty plastic tarps or old sheets on hand. But, try not to let the plastic of cloth of the sheet touch the plant.
If the plants get a frost on them, wash them off with a water hose. I heard that it was better to wash the frost off, then to let it thaw. That when the frost thaws on its own, that is when the frost bite occurs on the plant.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Food prices for 2009
While looking at the prices of fertilizer, I noticed something. Even though the price of fuel may have gone down, the price of fertilizer is still high. I wonder if that is because the fertilizer that is being sold this spring was made last year? That means that the fertilizer was made when the price of fuel was still sky high.
Regardless of what fuel cost "right now", merchants have to recover the cost of making a product. And in this case, its fertilizer. Because the fertilizer is still expensive, that means that the high price of the fertilizer will be passed down to the consumer. In an already strapped economy, this is not going to help.
While looking over the Lowes website, a 40 pound bag of nitrogen fertilzier was 11.97 - more then twice what it was 2 - 3 years ago. The current prices that I am seeing on 13-13-13 is $12 and $13 for a 40 pound bag. That is twice what it cost 2 - 3 years ago.
We may not see a break in food prices until fall of 2009 or spring of 2010. And by that time the price of fuel will have gone back up. Meaning that expensive food is here to stay.
There is one group of people that high food prices hits the hardest, and that is the poor. The poor have less money to put into expensive food. Unlike the rich that have extra cash, and the flux in food prices will barley be noticed.
On a personal note - I recommend that everyone plant some kind of home garden.
Regardless of what fuel cost "right now", merchants have to recover the cost of making a product. And in this case, its fertilizer. Because the fertilizer is still expensive, that means that the high price of the fertilizer will be passed down to the consumer. In an already strapped economy, this is not going to help.
While looking over the Lowes website, a 40 pound bag of nitrogen fertilzier was 11.97 - more then twice what it was 2 - 3 years ago. The current prices that I am seeing on 13-13-13 is $12 and $13 for a 40 pound bag. That is twice what it cost 2 - 3 years ago.
We may not see a break in food prices until fall of 2009 or spring of 2010. And by that time the price of fuel will have gone back up. Meaning that expensive food is here to stay.
There is one group of people that high food prices hits the hardest, and that is the poor. The poor have less money to put into expensive food. Unlike the rich that have extra cash, and the flux in food prices will barley be noticed.
On a personal note - I recommend that everyone plant some kind of home garden.
Jalapeno peppers
Jalapeno peppers are one of the easiest peppers and spices to grow. Just work up the soil, add a little 13-13-13 commercial fertilizer, or some organic fertilizer, such as mulch or manure and plant.
The peppers can be grown from either seeds or bought as sprouts from a local store. As long as the peppers are picked from the plant, it will continue to produce. If the plant slows down production, make sure its getting plenty of water and add a little more fertilizer.
Jalapeno peppers require a steady supply of water. If the plant is allowed to wilt, its growth might be stunted. So never let the plant wilt from lack of water. The plants seem to be pretty disease and pest resistant. Except for the tomato worm - it will crawl up onto the plant and eat the leaves. If you find a horned tomato worm, there are probably more then one. So inspect your plants very good.
After several handfuls of peppers have been picked, they can be saved by putting them into a water and vinegar solution.
To save the seeds for planting next year, allow some of the peppers to turn red and dry up while still on the vine. I usually let the last few peppers of the season stay on the plant, and then harvest the seeds from those peppers after they have dried. Those seeds can then be replanted the following spring.
The peppers can be grown from either seeds or bought as sprouts from a local store. As long as the peppers are picked from the plant, it will continue to produce. If the plant slows down production, make sure its getting plenty of water and add a little more fertilizer.
Jalapeno peppers require a steady supply of water. If the plant is allowed to wilt, its growth might be stunted. So never let the plant wilt from lack of water. The plants seem to be pretty disease and pest resistant. Except for the tomato worm - it will crawl up onto the plant and eat the leaves. If you find a horned tomato worm, there are probably more then one. So inspect your plants very good.
After several handfuls of peppers have been picked, they can be saved by putting them into a water and vinegar solution.
To save the seeds for planting next year, allow some of the peppers to turn red and dry up while still on the vine. I usually let the last few peppers of the season stay on the plant, and then harvest the seeds from those peppers after they have dried. Those seeds can then be replanted the following spring.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Survivalist seed stocks
Its time to stock on your seeds. Spring is here and a lot of the big retail chain stores are getting their seeds in. If the big outlet stores are not your thing, then check with the local mom and pop feed and fertilizer stores.
Personally, I like buying my seeds by the pound, instead of the 1 or 2 ounce packages. The price seems better when buying in bulk, instead of the little single packages. But I still buy some of the little packages, especially when I see them on sale for a reduced price.
survivalist seed stocks
Some of the seeds that survivalist should stock on are snap beans, radishes, cucumbers, turnips, squash and zucchini.
Radishes are an excellent choice for a survival garden. Radishes usually mature 30 days after planting (with good rain fall) - this makes them a quick crop. The seeds can be planted close together, and thinned out. The radish sprouts that are pulled up to thin out the row, can be added to a salad.
All survivalist should have a ready supply of radish seed on hand. In the event of a disaster, plant your radishes and within 30 days your family should have fresh greens. If you plant radishes every 2 weeks, your family could have a steady supply of greens for a long time.
The entire radish plant is edible, so nothing goes to waste.
Personally, I like buying my seeds by the pound, instead of the 1 or 2 ounce packages. The price seems better when buying in bulk, instead of the little single packages. But I still buy some of the little packages, especially when I see them on sale for a reduced price.
survivalist seed stocks
Some of the seeds that survivalist should stock on are snap beans, radishes, cucumbers, turnips, squash and zucchini.
Radishes are an excellent choice for a survival garden. Radishes usually mature 30 days after planting (with good rain fall) - this makes them a quick crop. The seeds can be planted close together, and thinned out. The radish sprouts that are pulled up to thin out the row, can be added to a salad.
All survivalist should have a ready supply of radish seed on hand. In the event of a disaster, plant your radishes and within 30 days your family should have fresh greens. If you plant radishes every 2 weeks, your family could have a steady supply of greens for a long time.
The entire radish plant is edible, so nothing goes to waste.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The birds are back
One of the main signs of spring that I look for, is the birds. This morning when I walked outside, the trees were full of singing birds. This means is just about time to plant the home garden.
I usually start my garden on the weekend of the Ides of March, and plant from that weekend all the way into April. But a strong cold front that brought lots of rain with it stopped me from planting on my regular weekend.
The ground is also very cold, maybe too cold for the seeds to sprout. So the garden might have to wait another week.
But either way, its almost time to get those gardens planted.
I usually start my garden on the weekend of the Ides of March, and plant from that weekend all the way into April. But a strong cold front that brought lots of rain with it stopped me from planting on my regular weekend.
The ground is also very cold, maybe too cold for the seeds to sprout. So the garden might have to wait another week.
But either way, its almost time to get those gardens planted.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Are you worried about food?
These days people are not only worried about this house note, or their electric bill, they are also worried about something much more basic - food.
An economic report from last month said that between 700,000 - 800,000 people lost their jobs in one month. Less people have jobs, so less bills get paid. But the one thing that must be bought is food. But what if someone told you that you do not have to buy food? That you can grow your own.
Its true. Regardless of what people have been told for the past 30, 40 or 50 years, food does not come from a grocery store - it comes from the ground. At first I did not believe it. I honestly thought that the grocery stores used some kind of magic to make the food appear out of thin air.
Could you imagine the money that a family could save if they planted some onions, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, bell peppers, or anything else. Instead of having to "buy" the food, people could just go into their back yards and pick what they wanted. Why didn't someone think of this before? Familes could have been saving untold amounts of money all this time.
People, its time to step up and take care of your family. If these economic times are hitting you hard, its time to plant a garden - just like what our grand parents used to do.
An economic report from last month said that between 700,000 - 800,000 people lost their jobs in one month. Less people have jobs, so less bills get paid. But the one thing that must be bought is food. But what if someone told you that you do not have to buy food? That you can grow your own.
Its true. Regardless of what people have been told for the past 30, 40 or 50 years, food does not come from a grocery store - it comes from the ground. At first I did not believe it. I honestly thought that the grocery stores used some kind of magic to make the food appear out of thin air.
Could you imagine the money that a family could save if they planted some onions, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, bell peppers, or anything else. Instead of having to "buy" the food, people could just go into their back yards and pick what they wanted. Why didn't someone think of this before? Familes could have been saving untold amounts of money all this time.
People, its time to step up and take care of your family. If these economic times are hitting you hard, its time to plant a garden - just like what our grand parents used to do.
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