tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:02:36 +0000compostlandscapingFruit FliesFall PlantingMulchnight skySoil Conditioningtrees and shrubsgarden planningGarlicvegetablesFertilizergardeningToolstrellisPestnaturePlantingTipswinterblueberriessafetycontainer gardenWildlifeItems on seed saving and germinating with tips and tricks for growing organic vegetables. Sustainable vegetable gardens using heirloom vegetable plants and seeds. Based in Northern Ontario, short season/cold climate varieties are my main focus though the techniques and tips can be used anywhere. Along with tales of animal encounters, successes and incredible failures join me on my journey to connect with nature and the natural soil.http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Sue)Blogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-2672344096288139980Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-08-06T14:00:05.832-04:00compostCorn cobs are wonderful in the composter but they take a very long time to break down. The smaller the materials you place in the composter the faster it will become usable for your garden. Many items like apple or melon peal can be easily chopped nice and small. Some even use an old blender to liquefy as much as possible, a good item to look for at yard sale. Cobs can be sliced but it is not http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/08/composting-corn-cobs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-3109787673315976368Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-06-05T14:00:03.735-04:00PlantingTipsgardeningWhat a lot of windy weather we have been having and the impact on plants can be disastrous. Newly planted seedlings can easily be damaged or snapped right off even in a stiff breeze. When plants are hardened off they are mainly acclimating to sun and a little breeze, when the wind starts to rise we bring the tender seedlings inside to protect them. Whenever a plant is transplanted to the garden http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/06/wind-plays-havoc-on-tender-young-plants.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-2400608470508996348Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-06-04T14:00:05.255-04:00gardeningThey say a festival is only as good as the people organizing it. Well the Garden Festival organized by the Sudbury Horticultural Society led by Wayne and Linda Hugli to celebrate the society’s 100th anniversary was fantastic. If you did not make it out to the Farmers Market last week-end you truly missed a great opportunity to see some wonderful gardening exhibits and outstanding speakers. http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/06/garden-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-1702843653702899228Sat, 21 May 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-05-21T14:00:00.534-04:00Tipscontainer gardengardeningPeppers do well in containers and the containers can be placed in the garden beside the other plants but when it begins to cool a little they are easily brought in overnight. Peppers hate the cool and will stop growing or not fruit if they get chilled, but they can fruit through November if brought to a sunny location inside.http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/05/pepper-tip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-4189062638665845074Sat, 14 May 2011 17:00:00 +00002011-05-14T13:00:01.867-04:00TipsWatering plants that are long season varieties like tomatoes and peppers, mound up the soil in a circle around them creating a dam under the plant. This will hold the water allowing it to seep deep down instead of running away. Another idea is to take a plastic bottle and cut the bottom off, take the cap and pierce or drill a few little holes in it and place it back on the bottle. Stick the cap http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-conservation-and-vegetable-plants.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-3797730895507346491Sat, 07 May 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-05-07T14:00:02.284-04:00natureEach spring I look forward to the spring peepers, little frogs that belt out a lot of noise in early spring evenings. When I hear the peepers I know spring is here at last. I like to keep track of first sightings and compare them to last year.Each year 5 starlings arrive in my yard, in 2010 they were here March 14th and this year March 17th. The butterfly that flitted by March 15th 2010 did not http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/05/springtime-arrivals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6219191692452561488Sun, 01 May 2011 19:02:00 +00002011-05-01T17:10:11.060-04:00TipsgardeningThe weather is finally turning and this is a great time to get a first step into the garden. I like this time of year to start weeding the beds and preparing for the upcoming season. In the fall the ground gets damp then it freezes over expanding in the soil as ice crystals do, in the spring the ice melts and leaves air spaces in the soil that makes it nothing short of fluffy. This is the perfecthttp://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/05/early-weeding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-3947366167443801428Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-04-30T14:00:03.662-04:00TipscompostSoil ConditioningTea and coffee have long been acknowledged as beneficial for the garden.There is an old flower garden here which was long neglected, the previous owners were elderly and yard maintenance declined over the years. I can envision the couple stepping out on to the deck in the early morning and dropping their tea bags over the rail directly into the garden. I discovered many tea bags in that little http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/04/tea-leaves-and-coffee-grounds-in-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-9120377977200956598Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:00:00 +00002011-04-17T13:00:01.232-04:00Tipsgarden planninggardeningIf you have decided this is the year you are finally going to get a vegetable garden in, start preparing now. Start with a small garden, you can always expand your plot but you don’t want to exhaust or disappoint yourself by going too big too soon. Plant what you like. If you cook a lot of Italian dishes then go for tomatoes, oregano, sweet peppers. Try a salad garden with a variety of lettuce, http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/04/planting-your-first-vegetable-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-601320145120744173Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-03-26T14:00:03.267-04:00PlantingSoil ConditioninggardeningPlanning on digging a garden this spring? This would be a great time to check your soil composition. Whether your soil is mainly clay, sand, silt or a perfect blend will determine what you need to do to build your soil to grow the plants you would like. Here is an easy method to let you know what you are in for. Take a clean glass jar and fill about half way with your soil and then fill it with http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/03/checking-soil-composition-before.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6544574221779004046Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:00:00 +00002011-03-19T13:00:05.354-04:00compostSoil ConditioningMulchThe merits of mulch are well known but how do you know if the mulch you are using is safe? The benefit of using straw or hay as a mulch has been questioned. Unless you know the farmer and can ask what chemicals have been used in the fields how do you know the mulch you are using on your organic fruits and vegetables is pesticide free?Clopyralid and aminopyralid, of the pyralid class of pesticideshttp://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/03/check-your-mulch-or-compost-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6970614564968980539Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-03-12T13:00:03.832-05:00compostWildlifeCalcium is a beneficial nutrient in your garden, a lack of calcium can result in deformed or curling of new leaves and poor root development.Brassicas – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower…- benefit from the addition of calcium. A good source of calcium not to overlook is egg shell. Whether using egg shells direct to the soil or in the compost bin they are a benefit to the garden. Tomatoes and peppershttp://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/03/egg-shell-precautions-for-compost-and_12.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-199003752598546746Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:00:00 +00002011-03-03T14:00:03.741-05:00TipsPestgardeningTrying to control slugs and grubs that are in your garden munching your plants at night can be a tiresome Endeavour. To save you time and to save your beautiful plants try placing a few slices of cucumber in a small aluminum pie or tart tin and place it in your garden. The chemical reaction between the cucumber and aluminum gives off a scent grubs and slugs do not like. A quick and easy way to http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/03/quick-control-for-slugs-and-grubs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-1355787223156701270Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +00002011-02-12T14:00:01.593-05:00PlantingTipslandscapinggardeningA great way to stop weeds around your plants is with newspaper. Rip the newspaper into strips and soak in clean water. Dig the hole for your plant and work in any compost or nutrients you would usually incorporate into your soil and plant your plants. Once they are planted and covered with good soil take the newspaper strips and layer, overlapping them around the plant. Top off with a good mulch.http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2011/02/stop-weeds-with-newspaper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6377669813449286174Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +00002011-02-05T14:00:03.326-05:00PlantingTipslandscapinggardeningEvery gardening season I look forward to finding new ideas, shortcuts and techniques others have lovingly experimented with. Sometimes, by stumble or sheer determination, you make a grand discovery yourself, a new method that will make life so much easier in your garden scape. This year I discovered a common item which I put to a whole new use. Hair clips!!In my garden I use the tiny ones and thehttp://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-stocking-stuffer-ever-for-your.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6794897420088090293Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:39:00 +00002010-08-12T19:44:33.114-04:00naturenight skyTonight we plunge through the thickest part of the Swift-Tuttle dust cloud giving us a better than usual night sky show. The crescent moon will slip below the horizon around midnight leaving us with a clear field of view so start watching the show as soon as it gets dark with it peaking between 2 and 4am. The build up to tonight has been great with last night’s show giving about 20-30 per hour. http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/08/watch-meteor-shower-or-listen-to-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-4087496842429556679Thu, 13 May 2010 23:47:00 +00002010-05-13T19:52:16.977-04:00natureThis morning an anticipated visitor arrived, a Luna Moth was clinging to my kitchen window frame. This marvelous creature has captured my attention since the first one I saw in 2005 fluttering in the dark at my living room window drawn by the flickering late night television. This mornings visitor was at the end of a hard journey. Not pristine as those previously enticed by light in the darkness,http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/05/luna-glory.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-1438202539044353199Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:10:00 +00002010-04-22T21:12:11.046-04:00natureApril 22nd 2010, the 40th Earth Day, do something for yourself and the Earth.Eco shows and fairs abound last weekend and this coming weekend with many projects and earth friendly activities today. The choices are many and the information is easily found to green your home, your work and your life. Simple activities are the best to start and implement on a regular basis.Being aware of your http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-5776822629673470288Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:39:00 +00002010-04-17T16:41:33.622-04:00vegetablesPlantinggarden planninggardeningHaving a hard time deciding what to plant this year? Open up your cookbook!Go over your favourite recipes, look for the common ingredients and write your growing wish list like you would your shopping list. If you like to cook Italian recipes plant tomatoes, peppers, oregano, parsley, onion and chives. If stir-fries are big part of your meal planning grow snow peas, peppers, onions, carrots, http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-decide-what-to-plant.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-8586009462642580547Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-04-10T09:00:02.521-04:00ToolsTipsWhile preparing tools and equipment for spring use don’t neglect the water sprinkler. If it is getting clogged with mineral deposits simply soak it in overnight in white vinegar. Place head down to make sure the holes are well covered. The next day give it a good scrub with a brush to loosen any hard buildup and rinse in clean water. An easy and inexpensive way to get the most out of a sprinkler.http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/04/maintain-equipment-and-save-money.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-6108573571522558639Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-04-03T09:00:05.999-04:00Soil ConditioningFertilizergardeningTake your fresh kitchen scraps- carrot peel, potato peel, apple peel, eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, lettuce leaves and place in a blender with enough water to cover them and puree. In the garden poke holes with the handle of a trowel or rake near the plants, pour liquid in and cover with soil. This is a great boost for plants or as a soil preparation before planting in an empty http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/04/garden-vitamin-boost.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-1012673499660480669Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-27T09:00:00.174-04:00MulchgardeningMulching has many benefits to plants and soil, from conserving moisture, encouraging earthworms to stopping mud splashing on leafy plants during rainstorms. Mulch also keeps the soil cool during the summer, this is not advantageous in the springtime to a northern gardener anxiously awaiting the soil warming up for the transplants. Early in the spring season rake the mulch back in the areas you http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/03/mulching-in-northern-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-513529065723054580Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:15:00 +00002010-03-25T14:15:00.556-04:00naturegarden planninggardeningMy website, www.naturesgardenheirlooms.com, is being updated with some exciting new varieties and should be ready to view in the next week or two. I am expanding the tomato, pea, bean, lettuce, cucumber and pepper varieties with many more great choices for us northern gardeners. The starlings are back and picking through my gardens for newly emerging bugs. Moths are gaining in nighttime http://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-vegetable-varieties-and-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244752545640264162.post-2537739851599739789Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +00002010-03-22T13:00:02.879-04:00garden planninggardeningPlanning on starting a new garden this spring? A little preparation now will make the digging and turning so much easier.Mark out the area you want to turn into your new garden site then cover it with black plastic. Garbage bags work well for this held in place with a few rocks. Three or four weeks later all the plants under the plastic will die and the soil will be soft, moist and easy to dig. Ahttp://ngheirlooms.blogspot.com/2010/03/easy-way-to-dig-new-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sue)0