Archive for the ‘Garden’ Category

Companion

Tansy is planted in my garden as a companion plant. It repels  ants, Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, cabbage worms, Japanese beetles and squash  bugs.  Tansy will take some work in growth control. It is invasive.  I do not care. The yellow flowers are pretty, the bees like it, and Tansy works for me.

March 8, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Bees

I grow a lot of Thyme to encourage bees to visit my garden. They love the fragrant flowers that open in mid summer.  I can cut the Thyme at the same time the bees are on it. They never bother me and seem to know that I planted it.  Bees are my friends.

March 7, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Superfood

Planting “Superfoods” under grow lights will get a jump on the season. My  Spinach, Kale and Chard are growing well.  The green things growing under light in my basement are a beautiful thing!  My war against winter continues.

March 6, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Really Cold

It is really cold when you can scrape off ice from the INSIDE of your storm windows using only your fingernails. Sigh! Time to plant more seeds under the grow lights. My war against winter goes on and on and on.

March 3, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

“Seeds In the Dirt”

There was a song a few years ago called “Pants On The Ground”.  I am writing a better  song called “Seeds In the Dirt”.  Today, I plant cabbage seed under the grow lights and sing.  I am considering calling my musically talented Grandson to compose the music to my song. Bet we would go viral […]

February 28, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Transplants–plants and people

My Heirloom tomatoes (Brandywine and Italian Paste) will be transplanted into bigger pots today. I start the seeds in 6 packs and when the tomatoes have four leaves, they are transplanted into 4’x4″ pots. This makes for plenty of room for the roots to grow. This works the same way for people. Sometimes, they are […]

February 25, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Thyme, Sage, and Parsley

For no special reason, I am celebrating Monday by roasting a turkey.  What makes this fun is that the herbs growing under grow lights in the basement are tall enough to snip. The point being that Thyme, Sage, and Parsley, sprinkled over the top of my turkey are a beautiful thing. Celebrating Monday with fresh […]

February 24, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden, Kitchen

More about Heirloom Seeds

Today, I planted Broccoli Romanesque Italia under my grow lights. This is a super flavored Italian heirloom broccoli with spiraling Applegreen heads.  It is grown in northern Italy and favored with fine chefs everywhere. I bought my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. You can request their 124 page seed book if over 1200 […]

February 21, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Heirloom Tomatoes

In 2008, I saved seeds from my best Italian Paste tomatoes.  These tomatoes were grown from Heirloom seed in organic soil. This year, I planted a handful of these seeds under grow lights. There is almost 100% germination. There is no reason to buy seed when I can save my own. There will be plenty […]

February 20, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden

Yum

I just ate my first salad grown under grow lights in the basement. The green things were planted on January 29. 2014.  The  plants were grown from heirloom seeds. Fresh herbs, also grown under grow lights, include oregano, thyme, Italian parsley, and garlic chives. They are wonderful gently snipped and sprinkled over the salad. I […]

February 19, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden