Backyard Organic Garden

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-06-16T12:49:00.000-04:00

"The fair-weather gardener, who will do nothing except when the wind and weather and everything else are favorable, is never master of his craft."-- Henry Ellacombe

The Apple Experiment Part 1

2010-06-15T12:51:00.001-04:00

Each year I add something new to our ever growing backyard garden. Last year the blueberries were added. Eight north blue bushes were planted with the hopes that within four years they would produce up to ten to twenty pounds per bush. At least that is the estimate I was told. Even if I were to get half that amount I'd be happy. They are doing wonderful. Last year I had a bit of a dilemma though. Just as the berries were maturing and nearing time to be picked they started to disappear. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I caught a robin in amongst the blueberries and watched the thief steal one berry at a time and fly off with them. It was all but too late by the time I had gotten netting to keep the robin or robins out of the bushes. This year they are covered already with fruit tree netting to keep the birds out and away from the berries.

This year I have ventured into apples. I know I have my work cut out for me as from what I have read growing apples organically are a challenge to say the least. I've planted six trees. After much deliberation on where, how, and which kind I went with a technique I found on the internet called "high density" planting. I chose three varieties; granny smith, red delicious, and honey-crisp. The honey-crisp is an early season, the red delicious is a mid-season, and the granny smith is a late-season apple. All of the trees are on dwarf stock. I'll add more detail regarding the planting technique and trees with photos in my next post.

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-06-14T13:56:00.001-04:00

"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."-- Thomas Jefferson

Raspberry Snapshots

2010-06-13T18:59:00.005-04:00

I spent an hour or so working in the garden on Saturday. Mostly weeding and trying to figure out what to do with the Strawberries which are miserable right now from all the rain. The good news is the raspberries look fantastic. Biggest crop yet. Here are a couple of snapshots I took on Saturday. Check out the one with the busy bee and lady bug. Raspberries are easy to grow and take care of and at $4.00-$5.00 a pint well worth the effort.

Garden Humor

2010-06-12T12:25:00.001-04:00

The other day it was my turn to prepare dinner so I asked my wife to go over to the local market and buy some organic vegetables. She came back rather upset. When I asked her what was wrong she said, "I don't think I like that produce guy. I went and looked around for your organic vegetables and I couldn't find any. So I asked him where the organic vegetables were. "He didn't know what I was talking about so I said, 'These vegetables are for my husband. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous chemicals?' "And he said, 'No, ma'am. You'll have to do that yourself.'"

Select Natural Organic Fertilizers When Planting

2010-06-12T12:18:00.003-04:00

Spring is here and gardeners everywhere are beginning to prepare their soil for new plantings. Thisis the best time to give young plants the nutrients they will need to bloom all season long becausegardeners can place nutrients where they are needed most - at the root zone. Therefore, gardenersshould make sure that they choose a fertilizer that is safe to use at that time.

Garden experts recommend using natural organic fertilizers when planting because they provide thehealthiest combination of benefits.

* Slow, Continuous Release of Nutrients. Unlike water soluble fertilizers that release all of their nutrients immediately upon contact with water, natural organic plant foods rely on a combination ofconditions which ensures that plants are fed the nutrients they need over time.

* Low in Salts. Fertilizers that have high concentrations of salts can dehydrate, injure, or even kill plants. Natural organic fertilizers are much lower in salt content than chemical fertilizers and, therefore, less likely to burn plants and cause damage.

* Balanced Nutrition. For optimum growth and health, plants require a combination of 15 nutrients. In addition to the three primary nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - there are a variety of secondary and trace nutrients, including iron, sulfur and magnesium, that contributeto the overall nourishment of plants. While simple chemical fertilizers often contain the threeprimary nutrients, natural organic plant foods provide a complete feeding of all 15 nutrients necessary for plant health.

* Improve Soil Structure. Only natural organic fertilizers contain organic matter that stimulates microbial activity and allow for better soil aeration and moisture retention. Since plants are most susceptible to damage at planting time, gardeners should be sure to use natural organic fertilizers to optimize soil structure at the time of planting.

Natural organic fertilizers, like Espoma Holly-tone and Plant-tone, offer all of the above benefits, with the lowest risk of plant injury. Applied at the time of planting, the Espoma Tones provide young plants the best chance for vibrant foliage and beautiful blooms.

As always, gardeners should be careful to follow the label directions because even the best plant food can cause damage if used improperly. For more gardening tips, visit www.espoma.com.

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-06-11T14:15:00.002-04:00

All gardeners know better than other gardeners.
- Chinese Proverb

2010-06-11T14:05:00.002-04:00

Working on some changes to the design of the site over the next few days.

Garden Humor

2010-06-10T08:46:00.000-04:00

What do you call a mushroom who buys everyone drinks and is the life of the party?
A fun-gi.

What insect is musical?
A humbug.

Weed Control

2010-06-09T09:04:00.002-04:00

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-06-09T08:51:00.004-04:00

It is utterly forbidden to be half-hearted about gardening. You have got to love your garden whether you like it or not. ~W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman, Garden Rubbish, 1936

Enough Rain Already!!

2010-06-08T13:00:00.004-04:00

Is this a repeat of last year already? We've had too much rain. I'm sitting here with a swamped garden again for the third time since I've planted. It's the reason I actually became so frustrated last year that I quit writing and updating the blog. It's the beginning of June and the garden is swamped just like last year. Way too much rain to date. I'm in a clay bowl and it takes days and days to dry out. The garden is all raised beds, but the paths between the beds become literally flooded to the extent of three to four inches of water sitting for up to two days after the rain has ceased. I'm hoping for some hot, dry, dry, dry weather. Until then, UUUUUGHHHHH!!!

Garden Humor

2010-06-08T08:44:00.002-04:00

The best way to garden is to put on a wide brimmed straw hat and some old clothes. And with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig.

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-06-07T19:46:00.001-04:00

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

Seed Sources for Spring Planting

2010-05-05T10:56:00.002-04:00

Breck's
Bulbs - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs

Gurney's
Seed & Nursery Co. - Save $20 on Gurney's Internet Specials

Spring
Hill Nursery - Save $20 on $50 order

Garden's
Alive - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive!

Henry
Fields Seed & Nursery - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry
Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Michigan
Bulb - $20 off your first order of $50 or more at Michigan Bulb!

Dutch
Gardens...The Freshest Bulbs - The Finest Plants - Direct from Holland

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-05-05T10:52:00.002-04:00

Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing: -"Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade.
~Rudyard Kipling, "The Glory of the Garden"

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-05-03T10:42:00.000-04:00

No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden. ~Hugh Johnson

Planting Fruit Trees...

2010-05-02T19:48:00.001-04:00

Garden Quote of the Day

2010-05-02T19:38:00.002-04:00

One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Spring is Here.

2010-05-02T19:33:00.002-04:00

In the upcoming months I hope to revive the backyard garden blog. This year we're planting five apple trees. Two honeycrisp, one red delicious, and two granny smith. It's an ongoing process of developing the most of our small piece of property into a vigorous ongoing producer of fruits and vegetables.

Garden Quote of the Day

2009-06-24T09:30:00.000-04:00

Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw.

-Henry David Thoreau

Trellising Squash and other Vine Plants

2009-06-24T09:20:00.003-04:00

If you're short on space then growing vine plants can become challenging. Here is a simple option. Usea trellis and an old cotton t-shirt to train the vines up and on the trellis. Once there attached you'll be gardening vertical vs. horizontal. You'll be amazed at the space savings and the many options you'll have when you grow plants up. I'll continue to post pictures of our trellis' plants. This photo is of an amber cup squash and it already has 6 squash on there way. Once the vegetable or fruit begins to mature you have to support their weight on the trellis.

How to Compost

2009-06-23T20:03:00.008-04:00

You can find directions on how to build the compost bin featured in this video here.

Garden Quote of the Day

2009-06-23T17:26:00.000-04:00

"All my hurts my garden spade can heal."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Natural Way to Control Insects in Your Garden

2009-06-23T17:11:00.006-04:00

By now you may feel like you are one with your garden. You put time and effort into your little piece of heaven so why should you allow insects to enjoy a free meal? Aphids, earwigs, mealy-bugs, thrips, whiteflies, sawfly larva and mites are just a few that could be causing problems in your garden. So how do you control these pests without using harmful chemicals?

The key is to be perceptive and see the warning signs of early infestation. Check around roses, soft vegetables, ripening fruits, young seedlings as well as houseplants for problems. Curled leaves, flowers that won’t open, yellowing leaves, or leaves with dark, dirty patches can all be signs infestation. If you’re not sure if you have a problem, talk with your local garden center.

Insecticidal sprays are very popular and widely available at most garden centers. Most of the sprays are very effective at controlling problems with adult insects. However what these sprays usually don’t do is control the eggs and larva that are hidden underneath leaves. This is the source of a future infestation and needs to be treated too. Well there is a unique spray formula in town that might be just what you need to battle those freeloading pests. The highly effective patented natural formula, known as Espoma Earth-tone® Insect Control, combines the activity of natural pyrethrins (extracted from chrysanthemum flowers) and canola oil. This alternative, botanical insecticide kills all stages of insects on contact and is as effective as other traditional insect sprays. What sets it apart from the rest is that it kills all stages of insects, including the eggs and larva. That means insects can be controlled before they can mature and reproduce. This helps against repeat infestation. This novel formula is effective and ideal for roses, flowers, vegetables, and even houseplants.

This insecticidal formula from plants for plants is ideal if you are already having insect problems in your garden. Earth-tone® Insect Control quickly and effectively kills adult insects on contact by affecting the insects’ nervous system. However it is safe enough to use on edible plants up to the day of harvest. It will also help protect your garden from future infestation because it acts as a repellent in addition to killing the eggs and larva. To use, thoroughly spray all parts of the pests and plants. It effectively controls all stages of insects in gardens, greenhouses, outdoor ornamentals, vegetable gardens, fruits, berries, citrus and crop plants.

Its time to take back control over your garden by removing harmful insects and their eggs with a spray that will help stop them from coming back!

Article provided by Espoma.