Kates Garden Journal » growing vegetables

America’s Home Grown Veggie Show

Kate — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:32:46 +0000

Well the show is going ahead and previews tomorrow at noon for one hour. If you are interested in listening, go to www.radiosandysprings.com.
Tomorrow we are going to wing it, and just chat about the show, what we are planning and how we are organizing this, but we will have input from Chef Brian Whitcomb (of The Roadkill Sideshow) and the Chicken Whisperer, Andy Schneider. Station owner/President/producer David Moxley will be in charge with me as the side kick and we should have a great time – so phone in if you are starting a veggie garden this year, we would love to hear about it.

Compost Heaps get Trendy

Kate — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:25:55 +0000

A few months back I was asked to do an article about compost. That was fine until it came to a photograph. Who takes photographs of compost heaps? Well this past week or two I have come across two compost heaps that are out there and in full view, and looking good.

An Elegant Compost Area

The first one, above, was an elegant compost heapwith debris contained in cedar bins. The compost would not dare to become untidy is this arrangement!

The second, below, was in a much more modest neighborhood, but still very respectable. Clearly though this lucky gardener is not harrassed by covenant police who think such things are rather unseamly. The tomatoes and other vegetables are growing close to the road, alongside lantana and sunflowers. Tomatoes in particular need lots of fertilizer. That can come in a bag with a price tag, or it can arrive by saving veggie clippings, lawn clippings, and fallen leaves. This family put the compost heap right where they needed the compost. A sensible arrangement, and, at least for me, it does not bring the neighborhood down. Rather it shows that tolerance and common sense is right up there with good gardening practices and probably some very good tomatoes.

A Fall Garden

Kate — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:12:32 +0000

These little seedling were up in just a few days

Fall is an underused season through most of the country, but especially here in the south. Yet fall is one of the best seasons to plant things. I usually plant a few lettuce and salad type greens, but this year i am trying some little green beans that should mature in about 60 days, and some carrots that will give sweet orange, but small, carrots in about 65 days.The rain this evening meant that I don’t have to water in the morning, and the rain at the end of last week helped to germinate the ones outside already. I did plant some kale inside as well, but that has not yet come up.

Some fall vegetables like kale taste better after a fros, and many will survive a light frost with just a little cover over the top of them. First frost though is still a way off – we are barely out of the 70′s for night time temperatures! I will be prepared though for when that happens – I have lots of floating row covers tucked away somewhre, and if I get short I have Walmart down the road for some garment underlay (sold in the fabric section) and this is very similar to the commercial row covers.