A Cook’s Garden

An effective garden doesn’t mean it has to be huge and hold tons of plants. Not everyone has the space for a garden like that, but they can grow thriving plants in a small area as long as there’s access to sunlight.
Gardens have grown in many places - from a small patch of ground outside […]

Most of the vegetable varieties  in this country are miracles of plant breeding-uniform in size and shape, disease resistant, and offering an exceptional yield.
That’s great for commercial growers, and the supermarkets that stock their shelves with them. That would be great for the home gardener as well, if it wasn’t for the fact that good […]

1.) Avoid a lot of digging……you want to encourage earthworms. They will aerate the soil, pull in organic matter, and create fertilizer. Topping beds with Compost, bark mulch and shredded leaves encourage worms.
2.) Don’t use insecticides if you can help it. They aren’t worm friendly and can kill off other, beneficial, insects.
3.) Seek out plants […]

Here are some ideas, based on the principles I mentioned yesterday.

 
1. Go for a looser, more natural looking garden instead of a lot of containers and plants trimmed into submission.
2. Plant a variety of plants. Lack of diversity makes it easier for bugs to prey on your garden.
3. Improve the soil. Work several inches of […]

I want to make a few posts on how to work within the natural system instead of against it. First, a few points to consider:
1. Don’t make Gardening harder than it should be. Don’t worry about the unrealistic perfect yards that you see in magazines. In the real world, that’s not gonna happen without devoting […]

Any reliable seed house can be depended upon for good seeds; but even so, there is a great risk in seeds. A seed may to all appearances be all right and yet not have within it vitality enough, or power, to produce a hardy plant.
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Before taking up the garden vegetables individually, I shall outline the general practice of cultivation, which applies to all. The purposes of cultivation are three to get rid of weeds, and to stimulate growth by (1) letting air into the soil and freeing unavailable plant food, and (2) by conserving moisture.
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One of the best parts about growing an herb garden is being able to use the herbs.  From the lemon balm leaf in a glass of tea to the sweet basil in a pot of marinara sauce, herbs can add the most wonderful flavors.
A perfect example of why you would want an herb garden is […]