April Garden To-Do's

Get Busy!

April is really the beginning of gardening season here in Augusta. Masters guests are arriving & "The Garden City" looks like a fairyland. We could still have some cool weather, but warm temps are around the corner. Check posts here daily for garden updates.

Garden To-Do's for April

Veggie Time

okra (seeds are easy)

southern peas- blackeye, pinkeye, cream, crowder, zipper

bell peppers (transplants best)

hot peppers/hot sweet peppers(transplants)

sweet potatoes (mid April) (slips in garden stores now)

tomatoes (heirloom & hybrid transplants in garden stores now)

watermelon (seeds)

canteloupe (seeds)

corn (seeds)

pole, bush & lima beans (seeds)

cucumber (seeds)

eggplant (transplants best & in garden stores now)

Culinary Herbs

basil

rosemary

parsley

chives

mint

fennel 

dill

Tips

keep tall & vertical growing plants toward back of your garden space

buy zinnia seeds & plant...zinnia is National Garden Bureau's flower for 2011

be creative! plant some veggies among your front yard landscape plants

use containers!

Refer to UGA's Vegetable Planting Chart for varieties specific to our area!

Blessings from the Garden. 

ML

Help Wanted

My goal is to help you become more confident both as a gardener and beginning floral designer. 

I need your help.  

Leave a comment here about what challenges you as a gardener/designer and your comment will be placed in the flower pot to win the Bucket Bouquet...a bucket with a handful of seed packets from Renee's Garden, an original MLCHgarden apron, and 2 passes to the Backyard Chicken Keeping & Tour de Coops...doesn't matter where you live...

This info will help me do a better job and you'll provide me with info for my handy gardening guidebook...

Nasturtiums

I've soaked 3 packets of nasturtium seeds and they are ready for planting.

Nasturtiums are my favorite flowering herb. Not sure if you can eat the roots, but for the most part, you can consume the entire plant. The large round wrinkly seeds are similar in taste to that of the herb Capers (also my maiden name!).

In Augusta and similar planting zones, you can plant nasturtiums in late summer and very early spring. Now is a great time for planting. I have one group peeking out of the ground after planting about a week ago. A bit of water and sun will drive the nasturtiums up quickly.

Order seeds online for a variety of color choices or pick up a couple of packets at your garden center. There are vine types too.

Before planting in containers or the ground, I prefer to soak the seeds in water over night. This speeds up the germination process. I plant nasturtiums in part sun. Last spring's planting lasted through the summer. Like most herbs, water when dry, provide adequate drainage, and give them some sun. Harvest the flowers and leaves in the morning or late evening when moisture content is at its peak.

The flowers have a delicate sweet scent, but definitely not over powering. I've not developed a "taste" for them. I suppose my appreciation for the lovely flower is too great.

Good Luck with your nasturtiums.
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

January To Do's

Yes, it's cold (or is it? today?), but there are plenty of things to do in the
garden and in preparation for the upcoming growing season...









Here are a few things to keep you busy:

• feed the birds!
  
• dream. dream of what you'll be doing in the garden Feb/Mar.
• make a list of veggies, herbs and flowers you did not plant in 2010.
• prepare your garden beds now to be ready for planting in late Feb/March
  
• start a garden diary or blog. Make a sketch of your garden spot now, and add in what you'd like to plant this spring.
• plant fruit trees when available.
• buy seeds: beets, carrots, lettuce, english peas, radishes, spinach for planting late this month, early Feb. Get seed trays ready for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to be started indoors.
  
• keep your pansies, snaps, and ornamental kale watered!
• don't massacre your shrubs yet unless you want to look at it until warm weather arrives!
• send me some of your garden goals for 2011.
• join us for "TheDirt" video chat on Thursday, January 20th at noon.

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Garden Goals

It's time for goals and resolutions!

I just directed Robert and the kids to formulate 5 goals each for 2011 then email them back to me. Having resolutions, goals, and lists to review intermittently helps keep me focused rather than aimlessly spinning through life!

The focus for my 2011 goals (both gardening and personal) will be on purpose.

I will focus my energy on accomplishments with meaning and mission.

Garden goals from 2010 included sharing my passion for gardening with children, growing more food, joining a Community Supported Agriculture, designing 2 lasagna beds, and preparing for the 2010 Sacred Heart Garden Tour. I look back at these goals satisfied that I completed 3 of them and worked toward the other two.

Here are my garden goals for the New Year 2011:

• Re-work herb bed to include statue or fountain as focal point

• Start fresh cooking herbs from seed: basil, rosemary, chives, garlic, dill, cilantro and lovage


• Draw new sketch of garden plan for 2011 to share with garden clubs & readers. Review progress every other week.
  


• Plant 3 evergreens to hide unpleasant view!


• Continue to involve family in garden activities via Master's Table Soup Kitchen, home garden and farm garden.
  

Share your goals by commenting in the comment section below.
Blessings from the Garden.
Happy New Year!
ML

Feed Me, Seymour!

Before I go out to check what the 4" rain in Burke County did to the pumpkin patch, I want to remind you how important it is to fertilize after what my friend, Winnie, calls a "toad choker"!

The heavy, soaking rains in the CSRA mean we gardeners need to get out and fertilize. Just like diluting tea with extra water, the rain takes vital nutrients from the soil...If you have not used a Slow Release or Controlled Release fertilizer up to now, it's (Osmocote pellets) time to go ahead and work that in. Also you may consider a "water soluble" fertilizer such as "Proven Winners" water soluble fertilizer.

Full report on Burke County Gulley Washer ASAP!
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

WANTED: SQUASH VINE BORER

WANTED DEAD

SQUASH VINE BORER

A note from a garden buddy, thought I would share

since June is when this nasty critter lays it's eggs...

Hi, Mary Louise,

My modest squash crop has been wiped out by what I suspest are squash vine borers --- maddening! Emailed Sid who responded that he is having the same problem --- he suggests Liquid Sevin and/or Kay Pittman's organic tip of planting radishes around the squash (while I appreciate organic approaches, I am suspect about this one) --- am assuming you have some squash out there with all of your other bounty --- do you have any suggestions for me should I get around to re-planting??? I seem to recall having this problem every other time I have tried to grow squash, many years ago. Also remember Daddy dusting everything in sight with white powder when I was growing up - which I assume was Sevin - which probably explains a lot!!!

Help!

Here's what I know and gathered from the UGA website:

Symptoms:

** wilted plant, think you've not watered enough

** pin size hole at base, look for SVB scat

** happens to the best of us overnight

Strategy:

** remove section of vine affected and rid

yourself of those nasty worms(larvae)

** cover wounded section with moist soil

plant will heal and hopefully develop roots

** inspect your garden daily, look closely at leaves

and especially with squash, the base of

plant

Who is at risk?

Hubbard, zucchinni, pumpkins

The SVB is not as likely to bother with your

cucumbers or melons, whew.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

June List

June is a busy month for gardeners in the CSRA.

The heat is on, humidity up and growth boundless.

Here are a few things to do in June, oh, & keep July

in the back of your mind...fall planning/planting!

* Plant more peas, beans, corn, and okra from seed.

* Garden stores still have transplants ready to put

in the ground. Find more squash, peppers, eggplant

and tomatoes!

* Tie up tomatoes, peppers, cukes, and beans to keep an upward

growth habit! Use tall wood posts, stakes, bamboo.

* Fertilize your veggies. Have you tried Llama beans?

* Plant pumpkin seeds! Remember they need lots of

room & be sure to look at maturity days for length of time you'll

need before they are ready!

* Last chance to plant sweet potatoes.

* Start rooting your hydrangeas.

* Plant zinnias, celosia, sunflowers, and cosmos all from seed...

* Buy some dahlia bulbs and get them in the ground!

* Not too late to plant some annual transplants...marigolds(lots of

pretty varieties now!), impatiens, caladiums, coleus, ornamental

sweet potato vine, and periwinkle(vinca)..

Blessings from the Summer Garden.

ML

Memorial Day Weekend List

I have a country house full of teens and

lots of work to do this weekend...

* Prep work for Pumpkins ....planting date is

to be determined by the state of the garden

this weekend... possibly June 5th, but

definitely no later than June 12th...

* Determine war zones and techniques against

deer, armadillo, turkeys, etc...any suggestions

would be greatly appreciated!

* Weed, weed, weed flower beds...

* Clean up bee hive and ready for new bees!

* Plant more zinnias, sunflowers. All prep

for FlowerCamp.

In the meantime, I'll be cooking, cleaning, and

visiting the "country cannibal" in town. Will report!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

ps. take a moment or two to remember those

who are in the Garden of Heaven...

Garden Seminars!

Garden Seminars

A super opportunity to learn more about gardening with no tests, no commitment, no pressure, no prerequisites! Sponsored by the Augusta Council of Garden Clubs, you may pick the topic(s) of interest, register and learn from the most sought after speakers in Augusta! All sessions include a "hands on " garden tour component...here is the scoop...

Blessings from the Garden

ML

The Augusta Council of Garden Clubs will hold a monthly series of gardening seminars

starting June 19 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3185 Wheeler Road.

Sessions are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch included.

Cost is $25 per session.

For information call Judy Kirkland at (706) 556-3417,

or e-mail jukirkland@charter.net.

Here are the topics:

June 19 Soil Prep & Composting, vegetable gardening

and companion planting

July 24 Herbs: Floral and Culinary

August 21 Perennials, Bulbs & Annuals

September 25 New Cultivars

October 16 Native Plants

Novemer 13 Indoor Plants

January 15 Trees & Shrubs

Twine

There are several items I keep handy in the

garden. Twine is one of them, especially now

that growth is exponential.

The primary function of twine or jute during

spring/summer(in my garden) is to tie tomatoes to posts.

My toms have grown as high as 8 feet, so I just keep

tying the stems to the posts for upward persuasion.

Jute, which is actually a plant, is much heavier. I used

jute to tie the "teepee" posts together...Jute is too

harsh for the delicate tomato branches/stems.

Here(below) is another way I use twine. An upside down tomato

cage with twine working its way up the cage. My first blooming

sweet peas are appreciating the support! Next up will be

Blackeyed Susan vine. Topped off by small garden pot!

Also, the twine comes in handy to provide support for peas

& beans...Here are English peas growing rampant up a trellis

I concocted...

Buy some twine at your local garden store or big box

home store.

Well,I just counted 30 tomato plants in the Home garden! WOW.

I had 9 plants last year. A LOT of twine!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Tour Update

(Weigela, variegated)
Sacred Heart Garden Festival 2010

April 23-25..

Private Garden Tours

Fri & Sat 11-5

Sun 12-5

Having my garden on tour is kind of like

having company or getting ready for Master's

rental! I decided to go ahead & have our Supper

Club over next weekend...what the heck! The yard

will be perfect and the party will be outside...

The tour next week is sure to be fun especially

for the explosion of new gardeners. You can

buy tickets at the private gardens or at Sacred

Heart Cultural Center.

Details at

www.sacredheartgardenfestival.com

I am posting a few pictures of some of my favorites

right now as they might not be in full show

for the tour...

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

ps. hope to see you next week!

Cross Vine

Spanish Bluebells

Pink Charm daffodils

Chinese Snowball

April's to Do's

Get Busy This Month!
April To Do's...

The month of April is about to get away
with me. We are escaping
the Master's Golf Tournament for the week. ...

This is a whirlwind time for planting/gardening,
so check posts daily!

Here's what we need to be doing...

#1. Buy Sam Swedish Chocolates (Put on Bed)
sorry my son is accustomed to fancier
hotels...

#2 Veggies...take a peek at this list
decide what you like to eat and get busy!
refer to UGA planting calendar
okra
southern peas(blackeye, pinkeye, cream, crowder, zipper)
bell peppers
hot peppers/hot sweet peppers
sweet potatoes (mid month)
all tomatoes
watermelon
pole, bush and lima beans
butterpeas
canteloupe
corn
cucumber
eggplant
basil, rosemary, parsley, chives, mint
any herbs you use for cooking..

#3. PLANT!

* keep tall and vertical growing
plants toward back of garden spot

* buy some zinnia seeds and plant.

* 2-3 weeks after planting corn and beans,
plant more, keep planting every few weeks
til may.

* BE CREATIVE! My corn will go in front yard
this year!

Fill me in on what you are up to, send pics too!
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Garden City February To-Do's

Spring fever is imminent, so get ready.

We will probably freeze again, so be careful!

Tomato plants are in the stores, but they

don't like cold weather...

Here are some things to do this month:

* plan your veggie garden...count on planting

foods you buy at the store...create a mini farm

in your back yard

* buy seeds from some of the catalogs I listed on

January 1st blog post.

http://www.mlchgarden.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

* add compost/mulch to your garden,

get your bed(s) ready for veggies in march!

if no bed, make one!

* cut liriope or "monkey grass" back before

new growth

* check out the "cool season" veggies available

now at your local garden stores--broccoli, lettuce,

chard, brussel sprouts, spinach.

* begin planting fruit trees, bushes. blueberries,

peaches, pears

* plant sweet peas from seed, be ready with supports

for these delightfully fragrant plants.

* wack your butterfly bushes back by 1/2...

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