Gardening post. #1
::How to Build a Raised Bed
::Step 1: Mark it Off
Start by determining how big you want your raised bed to be. If you're not sure, start with a 4x4-foot square, a distance most people can reach the middle from both sides of. Then rake and level the ground so that your raised bed will lie flat.
::Step 2: Create Your Walls
Start with four, 1-foot-long 4x4s for the corner posts; four 4-foot-long 2x6s for the side rails; and four 2-foot-long 2x2s for the center stakes.
Position your 4x4s on each corner of your square. Then pick a wall to start with and screw your first 2x6 to connect the corners. Stack a second 2x6 on top of the first. The ends of the 2x6 boards should be even with the sides of the post. Use an angle-square to make sure the rails and posts are lined up at right angles.
:;Step 6: Fill it with Soil
Once you've built your raised bed, fill it with topsoil. If you wish, amend the soil with lots of organic matter, such as compost or peat moss. Then water it well and you're ready to plant.
::Laying flagstone patios in sand, as opposed to mortar or concrete, is known as "dry construction." Dry construction is easier for do-it-yourselfers than wet consruction. Not having to worry about finishing your stone placement before a layer of mortar hardens makes for a much more happy-go-lucky project. You can make adjustments as you go, on your own time-table.
# Choose a sunny site. Vegetable plants need at least six hours of sun per day. Don't plant the garden in an area that's shaded by buildings or trees. Without sufficient sunlight, the plants will grow spindly and won't produce well.
# Start small, and build on your success.
# Follow the directions on the back of the seed packet for optimum planting times and spacing requirements.
# To achieve perfect drainage and to enable planting earlier, consider installing raised beds. The soil in raised beds drains and warms faster in the spring. The down side is that raised beds typically need more water.
# Dig the soil 6 to 8 inches deep, loosening and turning it over, and remove any rocks or debris that may be in the way.
# Then spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or other organic material over the bed and work it into the soil.
# Fertilize the garden with natural fertilizer, paying special attention to the proper proportions indicated on the package.
# For pest problems, apply an organic pest control spray directly to the leaves.
# When watering, remember that too much or too little can ultimately kill a plant.
# Don't wait until the soil is completely dry before watering, and don't depend on the rain as a water source.
# Use a sprinkler or - if a more advanced approach is desired - a drip system.
# Insert a finger about 1 inch into the soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water.
# Pull weeds weekly to prevent them from becoming a major problem.
# If desired, use a bark or wood-chip mulch to help keep plants healthy and reduce weeds. (Be sure to leave enough free space for walking between plants.) Different mulches work better in different zones, so ask a local expert for a specific recommendation.
# Harvest vegetables when they're ripe. They should pull off the vine easily.
# If winter (or the first frost) is approaching, try protecting plants with a blanket or cold frame, or harvest what's available and allow it to ripen on the kitchen windowsill.
:: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), hawthorn (Crataegus), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), American holly (Ilex opaca) and apples (Malus) all are hardy here.
JJS::Tomato Frenzy April 13th Through 25th.
Get ready for J&J's annual Tomato Frenzy Sale April 13 through 25! It might still be cold, snowy, and yucky right now, but spring is coming and we're planting tomatoes until our eyeballs fall out. You'll be able to choose from over 50,000 freshly-grown tomatoes in 1 gallon containers for just$1.75 each.
::Step 1: Mark it Off
Start by determining how big you want your raised bed to be. If you're not sure, start with a 4x4-foot square, a distance most people can reach the middle from both sides of. Then rake and level the ground so that your raised bed will lie flat.
::Step 2: Create Your Walls
Start with four, 1-foot-long 4x4s for the corner posts; four 4-foot-long 2x6s for the side rails; and four 2-foot-long 2x2s for the center stakes.
Position your 4x4s on each corner of your square. Then pick a wall to start with and screw your first 2x6 to connect the corners. Stack a second 2x6 on top of the first. The ends of the 2x6 boards should be even with the sides of the post. Use an angle-square to make sure the rails and posts are lined up at right angles.
:;Step 6: Fill it with Soil
Once you've built your raised bed, fill it with topsoil. If you wish, amend the soil with lots of organic matter, such as compost or peat moss. Then water it well and you're ready to plant.
::Laying flagstone patios in sand, as opposed to mortar or concrete, is known as "dry construction." Dry construction is easier for do-it-yourselfers than wet consruction. Not having to worry about finishing your stone placement before a layer of mortar hardens makes for a much more happy-go-lucky project. You can make adjustments as you go, on your own time-table.
# Choose a sunny site. Vegetable plants need at least six hours of sun per day. Don't plant the garden in an area that's shaded by buildings or trees. Without sufficient sunlight, the plants will grow spindly and won't produce well.
# Start small, and build on your success.
# Follow the directions on the back of the seed packet for optimum planting times and spacing requirements.
# To achieve perfect drainage and to enable planting earlier, consider installing raised beds. The soil in raised beds drains and warms faster in the spring. The down side is that raised beds typically need more water.
# Dig the soil 6 to 8 inches deep, loosening and turning it over, and remove any rocks or debris that may be in the way.
# Then spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or other organic material over the bed and work it into the soil.
# Fertilize the garden with natural fertilizer, paying special attention to the proper proportions indicated on the package.
# For pest problems, apply an organic pest control spray directly to the leaves.
# When watering, remember that too much or too little can ultimately kill a plant.
# Don't wait until the soil is completely dry before watering, and don't depend on the rain as a water source.
# Use a sprinkler or - if a more advanced approach is desired - a drip system.
# Insert a finger about 1 inch into the soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water.
# Pull weeds weekly to prevent them from becoming a major problem.
# If desired, use a bark or wood-chip mulch to help keep plants healthy and reduce weeds. (Be sure to leave enough free space for walking between plants.) Different mulches work better in different zones, so ask a local expert for a specific recommendation.
# Harvest vegetables when they're ripe. They should pull off the vine easily.
# If winter (or the first frost) is approaching, try protecting plants with a blanket or cold frame, or harvest what's available and allow it to ripen on the kitchen windowsill.
:: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), hawthorn (Crataegus), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), American holly (Ilex opaca) and apples (Malus) all are hardy here.
JJS::Tomato Frenzy April 13th Through 25th.
Get ready for J&J's annual Tomato Frenzy Sale April 13 through 25! It might still be cold, snowy, and yucky right now, but spring is coming and we're planting tomatoes until our eyeballs fall out. You'll be able to choose from over 50,000 freshly-grown tomatoes in 1 gallon containers for just$1.75 each.