Home Gardening Inspiration & Education

Who else loves garlic?  It's easy to grow.  It stores well.  It's a natural rodent & pest repellent.  It has natural antibiotic & antifungal properties.  And it's amazingly versatile in its culinary uses!  Think whole roasted bulbs spread on fresh bread.  Not to mention garlic scape pesto!

Garlic planting in Kentucky runs from October to mid November.  It is a 9 month grower with several steps to consider for a successful experience.   Let's get started!

Step One: Soil Preparation.  Garlic likes loose soil with good drainage.  If the bulb sits in wet conditions too long it can lead to root rot.  Grow them in a raised bed or directly in the ground.  Be sure to amend your soil with a plant or animal derived fertilizer rather than a synthetic.  This will feed the microbial life in the soil increasing nutrient availability to YOU!   Measure your square footage to determine the proper...

I love your ambition. You are a go-getter! But just because the Derby horses are running in Kentucky doesn't mean you have to rush to plant your home garden. 

A common mistake beginning gardeners make is planting without planning. This isn't you, is it?

You know how much space you have, you bought a ton of seeds and plants, and now the weather is right but, what now?

Here are some helpful tips on creating a Planting Plans:

First, get an idea as to how much space your plants need, especially if your garden area is small. If you have unlimited space you may place your plants further apart and add in more aisle space.

Grab some graph paper, create a veggie key, and sketch out your bed dimensions. Start penciling in your plant selections by size.

Here is a good rule of thumb... 

Nine to 16 small-sized plants like radish, carrots, and lettuces can be packed into a square foot.

Four to six medium-sized plants like garlic, Swiss chard, beets, and cilantro can fit into a...

It’s OK to remove old strawberry plants from your garden! Every plant has its lifespan, even perennials only produce so long. Strawberries are considered a biannual. Some plants will produce for three years while others may produce for 7 years. "June Bearing" berries are typically in this category. That means, if not properly managed the berries will reduce in size and production. It's all about management and knowing when to replant. Strawberry patches require fertilization, plant renovation, and covering with straw in Kentucky winters. Renovating is a three step process that includes: mowing down the foliage directly after the harvest season; fertilization after harvest; and cultivating out the original plants to make space for the new growth (runners/new shoots/new plants). THIS IS SO HARD for gardeners but overcrowded plants won't produce as long. Fertilizers are needed for continued plant health especially ones containing...

Tiny tips on taters: Buy seed potatoes from a local nursery May cut into 3-4 pieces but be sure there is an eye on each piece plant eye side up Plant 1 potato piece per square foot Plant 2-3 inches below the soil

Don't have deep soil? Plant in a pot OR on the ground underneath 2" of straw.

How to know when they are ready to harvest?

When the plants flower, the tubers are developed. If you harvest now, the skins will be soft so you must eat them right away.

When the plants "die back" and turn brown, the potato has cured underground and will store better. Harvest!

ENJOY!

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I don't know about you, but I'm always searching for a way to extend my joy for home gardening into the off-season. So what can we do with the end-of-season harvests? I've found that most people enjoy consumable gifts!

So here are 5 Gift Ideas you can pull together to create a killer Garden Gift Basket!

1) Seeds! If you let your plants go to seed this year, try packing them in tiny ziplocks (from a craft store) and giving to a friend! It's okay if you didn't. If you need to shop for seeds go HERE!

2) Herbs! Everyone loves dried herbs in the pantry! If yours haven't froze yet - clip some stems and bring in to hang dry. Or if you have some that is completely dry you are in luck. Go ahead and crumble them off the stem into a mason jar. Pack them tight! Tie a red bow around the jar just below the lid. Viola! Super cute gift.

3) Herb Wreaths! I like using garden sage, rosemary or thyme the best! Use what you still have alive in the garden. Lots of herbs are cold...

The first step in gardening is the germination of seeds. Many might be hearing of seed germination, but only a few know the meaning of seed germination. 

Before we go into how to Germinate seeds, let's first go into what seed germination is.

Seed germination is the process of growing seeds into plants. In gardening, seed germination is the process of taking seeds into a sprout. Below is a planting guide on how to Germinate seeds.

You need to prepare the soil

The first step to take when you want to germinate is to prepare the soil to revive the seed. This means the soil should be tilled appropriately and loose to enable the seedling to establish a root system as the seed emerges quickly. After putting the seed into the soil, you will have to amend your soil to ensure the seedling gets all the nutrients needed for it to thrive well.

Adding water

Ensure the soil is moist and not soaked because moist soil softens the seeds and promotes germination. A lot of seed starting kits...

Dandelions, pansies, and chives oh my! 

Let’s talk about the edible flowers of the midwest! 

Below is a list of the fall edible flowers you can grow in Kentucky and the midwest as well as some ways to use edible flowers. Some add strong flavor, others are used in herbal remedies, and all of them look beautiful taking any dish from good to gorgeous! I always encourage gardeners to plant fruits, vegetables, and flowers to increase their food security through their garden. The flowers help attract more beneficial bugs and pollinators and if you use the flowers listed in the blog you can eat them all too so no space in the garden goes to waste.

Keep in mind when growing these treat them just like fruits and veggies, avoid using pesticides and herbicide on the plants especially the flower and try to only use natural fertilizers. Give me a call if you want to fertilize your beds because I’ve got a great all natural soil booster I can come and...

Growing your own vegetables at home is a great way to save money and get closer to nature. For example, one tomato plant can give you 10 pounds of tomatoes over the course of the season. A Local Gardener can buy plants or start tomatoes and other favorite vegetables or herbs from seeds. See our Seed-Starting Blog for those details!

You'll also find that the taste and texture of garden-grown food are usually better than that of food from the grocery store. Also, taking care of your vegetable garden is a form of exercise! Learn how to grow the best vegetable garden with a professional Garden Consultation.

Size Matters

Start small if you're a beginner. It's better to be happy with what you get out of a small garden than to be frustrated by managing a large one. Also, you should learn the basics of gardening before expecting a miraculous harvest. Every loss will be a lesson. Every experience will bring you to a set of new choices. Grow well, then grow big.

Location, Location, Location

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