SuperFood: Kale

(Kale:the green ruffly stuff cozied up with turnips and sweet potatoes)

I just read an article in Oxygen magazine compounded by a Facebook notice from Garden City Organics which sparked this post! Earlier this month, I described the 12 most common SuperFoods and their benefits.

It's time to conjoin the food we grow and eat. Kale hits the spotlight today as it is one of the top SuperFoods. The term "superfood" is such because of its nutrients and health protecting qualities. According to the CDC, Kale was brought to the US in the 17th Century, ended up in the South as a "poor man's food" because it is so cheap and easy to grow. Hear that? EASY TO GROW!

With this in mind, I purchased several beautiful & healthy kale plants from Garden City Organics on Broad Street.

Blessings from the Garden

ML

Purposeful Gardening: Herbs

Spoke to Spade & Trowel Garden Club this week about Herb Gardening. An excellent question from the audience:

"If fall is the best time to plant herbs, why aren't they in the garden stores?"

Well, if you are talking herbs used mainly for flowers, they are in the stores...however, the herbs for cooking? SCARCE...I ask that question every year about larkspur, poppies, cornflower,etc...and I see Christmas trees everywhere!








I called Bedford Greenhouses here in Augusta, and they DO have perennial herbs for you...A report from Joanne...


Three different types of parsley - flat leaf Italian, triple curl and Rialto ( a new variety with a really nice flavor). We also have cilantro which does much better in our cooler months than in the summer. Great sages - normal garden sage and also three other varieties that have variegated leaves and pretty colors during the winter. Two types of thyme - lemon and English.
And of course rosemary and chives. We have a little bronze fennel and basil left as well.

Lots of fall/winter veggies too.

So, go shop!
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Question

I entertain gardening questions almost daily & decided to post this one for readers.

From L.B., a friend on Facebook:

When is the best time to plant hydrangeas and how do you prepare the soil?

Great question especially as we anticipate cooler weather. I would plan to plant in

October, about the same time we plant pansies in Augusta. We should have cooler

weather and less stress on both plants & gardeners!

The fall is also the BEST time to prepare your soil, both for fall planting and spring

blooms! If you are really interested in the "make-up" of your soil, do a soil sample.

You can get bags from your county Extension office or most of the local garden centers.

You'll receive a detailed report on what's in the soil and what's missing!

You may want to amend the area you intend to fill with hydrangeas with compost and/or

aged manure. If you are planting a blue hydrangea & you want it to be more blue or pink, the CSRA Hydrangea Society gives a clear description!

Be sure to consider where you are going to plant your hydrangeas. For years, I planted mophead blue hydrangeas in the full shade, and never a bloom- always died. Now, much wiser,

I plant them in most sun. Read up on your variety though as to how much sun it prefers!

Please post pics !!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

find me on Facebook: mlchgarden

Get Busy!

Time has a way of slipping up on me!

According to the UGA calendar for

Vegetable Planting in our area,

we need to put some things in the ground!

(Pictured is early "fall garden" 6 toms,

3 bells, 1 eggplant, sweet potatoes)

As of today, I've not seen any veggie transplants for fall.

Go ahead, look at this list, make your

own list and you will be ready to buy when transplants come in.

Also, check out Johnny's Select Seeds, Seeds of Change,

and Kitchen Garden online. Lowe's on Peach Orchard Rd.

carries a variety of seeds--lettuce, beets, carrots,radish...

Seeds to Buy

beets

carrot

cucumber & squash(no later than 8/31)

lettuce

radish

spinach

turnips

chard

chinese cabbage

Transplants

broccoli

cauliflower

cabbage

collards

kale

mustard greens

Experiment with this list. Check the veggies you like. One source states that 6-12 broccoli plants will be enough for a family. I am starting with 6 plants.

We love beets, I've ordered "golden" beets and regular "red" beets from Johnny's. Play with different varieties of the veggies to add color to your plate this fall/winter!

Here is my list from Johnny's Select Seeds. I wait patiently by the mailbox!

golden beets, ruby red chard, easter egg radish, mokum carrot, de cicco broccoli,

bonsai pak choi, gypsy broccoli

Get Busy!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit!

There is almost nothing better than watching some big seeds just explode out of the ground right before your eyes! I planted a 6 foot row of "Yard Long" Asparagus beans and French Filet beans just 2 days ago. They are growing at the base of the new wooden privacy wall.

My Royal Knight is producing beans worthy of being added to a meal! They continue to grow well amongst the 4 o'clocks!
Here are the "Red Noodle" beans growing vigorously up the rebar arbor. No beans yet...

Need instant gratification? Plant some beans!

see you .

ML