Comments on: How does your garden grow? http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/ "To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair." - Walker Percy, The Moviegoer Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:58:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Devona http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3512 Devona Sun, 08 Jul 2007 03:08:22 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3512 I've thought about getting cold frames. Maybe next year. Making a hotbed sounds intriguing, I'll have to see if my cow guy can get me manure next year... I’ve thought about getting cold frames. Maybe next year. Making a hotbed sounds intriguing, I’ll have to see if my cow guy can get me manure next year…

]]> By: kerner http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3510 kerner Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:10:15 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3510 Oh Devona! I'm probably 150 miles north of you. My lettuce is edible. my tomatoes are green. I've been eating strawberries and raspberries for breakfast since before Memorial Day. My herbs are available for cooking. Although I grant you I got my zucchinis in too late. The solution is a system of hot beds and/or cold frames. A hot bed is made by burying manure (real manure from a farmer, not store bought manure) under maybe 6 or more inches of soil. As the manure rots underground, it warms the soil. You may have accomplished this by planting so close to the house, but it pays to have a heat source underground. A cold frame is like a mini-greenhouse. I made some cheap ones by clamping 2 window-well covers together, but you can make more sturdy ones with wood and clear plastic. Put your plants or seeds in the ground a month or even more earlier than you otherwise could and put the cold frames over them (you have to remember to water, because the rain doesn't fall on them), and start getting yield a month earlier. Oh Devona! I’m probably 150 miles north of you. My lettuce is edible. my tomatoes are green. I’ve been eating strawberries and raspberries for breakfast since before Memorial Day. My herbs are available for cooking. Although I grant you I got my zucchinis in too late.

The solution is a system of hot beds and/or cold frames.

A hot bed is made by burying manure (real manure from a farmer, not store bought manure) under maybe 6 or more inches of soil. As the manure rots underground, it warms the soil. You may have accomplished this by planting so close to the house, but it pays to have a heat source underground.

A cold frame is like a mini-greenhouse. I made some cheap ones by clamping 2 window-well covers together, but you can make more sturdy ones with wood and clear plastic. Put your plants or seeds in the ground a month or even more earlier than you otherwise could and put the cold frames over them (you have to remember to water, because the rain doesn’t fall on them), and start getting yield a month earlier.

]]> By: Elle http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3507 Elle Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:25:56 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3507 All I have is one pot of flowers and in that pot of flowers I have one bloom. Someday we'll have a southern exposure! All I have is one pot of flowers and in that pot of flowers I have one bloom. Someday we’ll have a southern exposure!

]]> By: Devona http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3506 Devona Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:12:34 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3506 I'm going to be a few weeks behind you both, since I'm up here in the frigid north. :( I have had basil, oregano and peas so far. We have tomato buds, and greenbeans, but nothing worth eating yet. I love gardening, but our growing season stinks. I’m going to be a few weeks behind you both, since I’m up here in the frigid north. :(

I have had basil, oregano and peas so far. We have tomato buds, and greenbeans, but nothing worth eating yet.

I love gardening, but our growing season stinks.

]]> By: Ellie http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3505 Ellie Sat, 07 Jul 2007 01:53:15 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3505 By the way, your garden looks great, Devona By the way, your garden looks great, Devona

]]> By: Ellie http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3504 Ellie Sat, 07 Jul 2007 01:52:29 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3504 My garden grows Squash, Green Beans, Roma Tomatos, Jalapeno peppers, Big Ben Tomatos, and Tomatillo plants that want to establish their domain on the formerly mention plants... Green Salsa anyone? My garden grows Squash, Green Beans, Roma Tomatos, Jalapeno peppers, Big Ben Tomatos, and Tomatillo plants that want to establish their domain on the formerly mention plants…

Green Salsa anyone?

]]> By: kristen http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3503 kristen Sat, 07 Jul 2007 01:16:05 +0000 http://loveandblunder.com/2007/07/06/how-does-your-garden-grow/#comment-3503 We've been enjoying tomatoes and basil from the garden and are watching the peppers and cucumbers grow in eager anticipation... yum! We’ve been enjoying tomatoes and basil from the garden and are watching the peppers and cucumbers grow in eager anticipation… yum!

]]>