Organic Gardening DiaryWelcome to my organic gardening blog - where I post updates on my garden, the challenges, successes and failures
Happy gardening (-:
May 11, 2012 Garden SeedsGrow with garden seeds and bring variety, choice, & substantial cost saving to your organic home. Start here for help in growing flowers, vegetables, herbs and fruit from seed Permalink -- click for full blog post "Garden Seeds" May 10, 2012 Flower SeedsTry growing flower seeds for a mass of attractive plants. You can fill your whole garden in one year. Choose from select and unusual flower ranges, and enjoy the immense satisfaction of a splendid flower show around your home Permalink -- click for full blog post "Flower Seeds" May 5, 2012 Practical Lawn MowersFind lawn mowers that work on your kind of lawn. Practical advice on selecting machines for sloping lawns, fine lawns, rough grass, large and small areas... Check their advantages and ease of use here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Practical Lawn Mowers" May 5, 2012 Growing LawnsTry growing lawns in a variety of styles with these methods. You can compare the best greens and conventional lawns with functional lawns and wonderfully beautiful alternative lawn styles that are quiet exciting for an organic gardener to grow. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Growing Lawns" May 5, 2012 Lawn Care AdviceFind essential lawn care tips to improve your green areas. Discover the cause of problem lawns and find the answers here. You really will see the difference in the quality of your grass. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Lawn Care Advice" May 5, 2012 Lawn WeedsEradicating lawn weeds can be a difficult task. This page examines the problems of different lawn weeds and some of the organic weed control methods used on lawns. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Lawn Weeds" May 5, 2012 Lawn Fertilizer For Top GreensFind more about organic lawn fertilizer and how to improve your lawns all year around. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Lawn Fertilizer For Top Greens" May 5, 2012 Lawn Mowing PracticalLearn the essential tips & tricks of lawn mowing. You don't have to be an organic gardener. The 'straight forward' approach with various lawn mowers & lawns is described. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Lawn Mowing Practical" Apr 20, 2012 More Organic Gardening BlogsI want all my gardening friends to share their successes and failures in gardening. We have lots of gardening tips to share with each other and lots to learn. So lets join forces. To this end I've restarted my old gardening blog as another place to provide a diary of my garden. You can leave comments there too. But to really get the word out why not sign up as a friend on Home of The Organic Gardener's new facebook. It will be great to hear about your garden there and especially to see any photos that you have to share. And I'll be posting more there on my kitchen garden and cooking. This is a brand new page soon to be growing. You can also find articles on the wildlife in my garden published here and I hope to add another link to my latest article in a day or two. Plans for you to be able to publish your gardening articles and information right here on the-organic-gardener.com are still in progress. So do keep in touch and pass the word on. Happy gardening. Apr 11, 2012 Gardening Diary - time to pull weedsA few showers of rain make all the difference to your weeding technique. Although many gardeners recommend hoeing as standard, that is really a job for dry weather. Of course you should be careful not to walk on your earth when it is soft. But now you can take advantage of those early rising, possibly overwintering weeds, that are growing away with substantial roots. Because when the earth is soft, a firm grip on your weed plant will lift it out whole. You can often do this job by reaching from a firm path, otherwise put a board down on the soil. Some weeds may be spreading over the surface, producing bulbils, or underground root tubers or rhyzomes. Even stubborn tap rooted dandelions and docks are more likely to be eased out from soft earth substantially whole. There are small gardening hand tools to help you on this page. These weeds will certainly make good garden compost too that may be ready in time from mid to late summer. The soil attached to fibrous root balls can be shaken back onto the garden. You'll find many more links and tips for organic weed control on the the link below. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening Diary - time to pull weeds" Apr 10, 2012 Organic Gardening - green manure plant or seed
Well it's just about time to sow seed directly outside. But first I suggest you take a quick look at the advantages of using modules.
Because weedlings will always come up in your seed beds. But when you grow strong plants in modules they are well ahead of the weeds. There's more about modules on my page starting seeds
Do you fork in the weeds or a green manure before sowing? Here's my advice. Use this kind of land to grow onion sets, potato tubers, or larger seeds such as beans, courgettes, pumpkins..., or plant your ready grown plants from modules.
There's lots more information to be explored on my ever growing website. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening - green manure plant or seed" Apr 5, 2012 Organic Gardening - Save WaterAs Winter turned to spring my local weather has been quite dry. Last week the soil looked hard and thirsty. Surprise! the last few days we've had some rain. But will it even be enough to stimulate a burst of weed seedlings? I know the south has been critically dry over winter. So here's a few things to think about. Should we have water shortages later would you consider saving rain butt water for later and using tap water now if necessary? Put down a seep hose now before you plant. Underground water systems save lots of water. Grow your seeds in modules and plant out when the roots have developed. That will avoid watering seedling beds and encouraging weedlings. Here's my page on starting seeds in modules. The next link is about using water wisely in your garden. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening - Save Water" Mar 16, 2012 Organic Gardening Home for GrowingGrowing naturally with the organic gardening methods explained here, helps you enjoy an active healthy life, while reaping the benefits of your own-grown flowers, fruit, vegetables & herbs. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening Home for Growing" Mar 12, 2012 Warming Up To My Organic Garden
Hello again, I'm just in from my organic garden which is now really beginning to stir.
As my dad always advised, it's best to keep your eye open, grub up, and weed out as you go along. There are plenty of these caterpillars around, and killing them now between finger and thumb will probably save some trouble later. The garden's natural predators, hedghogs and frogs, are coming out of hibernation. And in the evening I hear the frogs in my small pond croaking. If you do have garden netting out I advise that you put a broad tape along the bottom so that our spiny friends don't get entangled. And no milk please, just water. This year the garden birds are busier than ever rooting through the stubble that I've left for animals to hide in. They will control many of my garden pests for free. On the warmer evening it's a good time to put out slug traps charged with beer. You can rid your garden of many slugs by this method. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Warming Up To My Organic Garden" Mar 1, 2012 Organic Gardening For Food
I still have my crop of 'Juliet' coming out of the store bag as new - firm flesh, and taking a tad longer to cook. Indeed potatoes are the most versatile crop you can grow. You can boil, chip, mash or bake them.
Don't delay - my last emailed news is still online here. This year I'm growing my onions from sets - using F1 varieties 'Hytech' and 'Hyred'. And I'll do some multi-sow with last year's onion seed. Several onion seedlings are planted together giving a bunch of small to medium sized bulbs.
Get more variety from smaller packs at special prices on this link.
Jobs to do now? I'll be getting fleece onto the soil to warm it ready for seed. Sowing trays of seeds is under way. Sweet peppers, tomatoes, and flowers are all going in. I'm starting Oregano herb seeds inside in time to plant around cabbages. I'll be updating my pages on seeds in the next few days.
Are you worried about a UK drought this summer? Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening For Food" Feb 25, 2012 Select Potato VarietiesPotato varieties to suit your cooking style & taste, season of use - earlies, mids, lates, for your garden - & with extra disease resistance. Make your choice with the help and experience offered here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Select Potato Varieties" Feb 25, 2012 Raised Bed PotatoesYou can expect raised bed potatoes to be clean & unblemished as there's no digging involved. Find more here on how to grow a clean unblemished potato delicacy even over hard surfaces Permalink -- click for full blog post "Raised Bed Potatoes" Feb 25, 2012 Planting PotatoesPlanting potatoes involves chitting or sprouting early tubers before planting. Find more here on the planting season, depth, row spacing and alternative methods Permalink -- click for full blog post "Planting Potatoes" Feb 25, 2012 Certified Seed PotatoWhat is Certified seed potato, how they are produced & why are they preferred by potato growers? The answers are here along with information on keeping your potato crop clean Permalink -- click for full blog post "Certified Seed Potato" Feb 25, 2012 Potato Plant From The Ground UpHere's how a potato plant grows, its origin, growing needs & the diseases affecting potatoes. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Potato Plant From The Ground Up" Feb 10, 2012 Pleasure and Passion For The Exotic in FlowersI wish St. Valentine's Day came a little later. You may agree with me - there's little chance of surprising your loved-one with home-grown floral treats without help from a heated greenhouse. But hay!... that simply gives me an excuse to greet my Valentine with an extraordinarily exotic gift.
Do you plan your gardening year as a couple together? For Veg lovers, Seed potatoes are the main thing to choose now before prize varieties sell out and to get them chitting. It was a downer to hear that chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's kitchen burned down while he was away the other day. But here's a thing for my UK gardening friends. I found the skills of traditional growing, kitchen herbs and cooking plus flower arranging and home crafts all available for you to learn on this link. Why not treat yourself to a course or indulge in expert reading? Well I'd love to send you the flowers that I have in mind, but this page has the links to flower sellers in your part of the world - including Canada.
Come back here soon - Happy gardening -:) Permalink -- click for full blog post "Pleasure and Passion For The Exotic in Flowers" Jan 1, 2012 Organic Gardening BookFind a gardening book from successful organic gardeners. Pioneering authors explain innovative ground breaking methods. Specialised gardening techniques: pruning, propagating, compost, flowers... illustrated by gardening experts. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening Book" Dec 27, 2011 Organic Gardening Blog On The Windowsill
But what if pests also take advantage of warmer indoor conditions? What can you do about an infestation of something such as Whitefly? Using pesticides on your fresh herbs is out of the question. Regular finger and thumb may prove convenient. And a strong jet of water is particularly effective. But in my kitchen I have an 8 legged companion to help with organic gardening. Indeed 2 big garden spiders around my windowsills have been trapping whiteflies in their webs. If you don't mind leaving a bit of dust lying around, these mini beasts will help control some windowsill pests for you. One of my spiders moved to a spot on another windowsill where there are plants. Now however I have cleared them outside into my organic garden. They are so big and fat after munching through flies that they'll probably survive a cold hibernation that much better. Do you find that your plants grow long and leggy on the windowsill? Or perhaps they suffer from drafts. The new season is upon us and my page on starting seeds is here to help you. It's great to get an early start with plants so do consider Grow Lights and propagators. The link below is on selecting flowers for a winter garden. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening Blog On The Windowsill" Dec 9, 2011 Select Winter FlowersSelect and grow winter flowers. You'll find what you need to get outside and make your home and garden pretty even in the darkest days. See how you can extend the season with this choice for your winter garden. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Select Winter Flowers" Dec 3, 2011 Organic Gardening Gift BasketHere's an organic gardening gift basket for earth friendly people. You'll find gift ideas from the Gardener for friends with a healthy organic home & a passion for gardening. Make your gift earth friendly here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening Gift Basket" Oct 25, 2011 Organic Weed ControlDos and donts of organic weed control. Discover how to control weeds and grow plants organically. Know why garden weeds succeed and how you can prevent them. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Weed Control" Oct 24, 2011 Comparing fruit and veg growingGrowing fruit and veg? Which is the easiest and most productive by far? Find out here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Comparing fruit and veg growing " Oct 8, 2011 Organic FlowersGive these attractive organic flowers a place in your garden. Many can be used as cut flowers, some as herbs, and most importantly they protect your garden from pests. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Flowers" Oct 8, 2011 Buy FlowersDo you need to buy flowers when you can grow them? This page shows you some of the plants that make nice arrangements for your home. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Buy Flowers" Oct 8, 2011 Patio GardeningPatio gardening improves your social life. And your patio is an important space to relax in the surrounds of your lovely garden. Get some ideas here on design and growing flowers, and learn how to enjoy your garden. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Patio Gardening" Oct 8, 2011 FlowersFlowers brighten your home, your garden and make life simply wonderful. There's more here about keeping flowers to give and to display in your home. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Flowers" Oct 8, 2011 Buy Plants On OfferCheck here before you buy plants. The organic gardener outlines a few essentials of buying plants and includes regular wholesale value plus offers from top horticultural brands Permalink -- click for full blog post "Buy Plants On Offer" Oct 8, 2011 Flower GardeningFind your flower gardening mix here with the help of 8 illustrations. You'll discover how to make your own selection from beautiful flowers. This page considers how to combine plant shapes, sizes, textures... for your landscaping. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Flower Gardening" Oct 8, 2011 More Flower GardeningFind plants for flower gardening with the second 4 of 8 illustrations. You'll discover how to blend your own selection of beautiful flowers. You'll create a distinctive and impressive flower garden with help from these tips on floral garden design. Permalink -- click for full blog post "More Flower Gardening" Oct 2, 2011 Helping A Community GardenI do my best to help in a community garden. The blog on the link below reveals a snapshot of local interests and activities around our community garden. Oct 2, 2011 Potato Harvest - What is it?I grow potatoes every year, but this year I found a surprise. On the end of a couple of potato plants are these little round fruits or vegies. I have Permalink -- click for full blog post "Potato Harvest - What is it?" Sep 19, 2011 Perfect Potatoes from the Organic GardenThe day of reckoning has arrived. Later than usual my 2011 second early potato crop 'Juliet' is in. Below I list the tubers by increasing size order.
Average tuber weight a respectable 70grams (2.5 ounces). Each potato plant produced 10 tubers and 700 grms of potato. Grown in a raised bed they're all high quality tubers (pictured) virtually scab free - believe me you wouldn't notice it. Note: the small sized residual makes the grand total even larger.
Permalink -- click for full blog post "Perfect Potatoes from the Organic Garden" Sep 13, 2011 Clean Healthy Carrots Fresh From My Garden Plus...Perfect carrots are coming up. After my first-up carrots looked half ruined I'm now delighted.
The potato harvest from a raised bed is looking great too. More later... Permalink -- click for full blog post "Clean Healthy Carrots Fresh From My Garden Plus..." Aug 28, 2011 Onion Garden & Torrential RainHeavy rain over the last two days has got me worried about my onions. They need to be ripening in the sun. More heavy rain and I fear they will begin to rot. At least they will be hard to dry and then more likely to spoil in store.
Today, I weeded out the onions to let every bit of sunlight in and for air to circulate. Now I need some baking hot days - But more likely I'll have to lift the onions into a bright, warm dry place - my greenhouse shelf - to thoroughly dry them before storage. Links to The Gardening Sales are here.
Upcoming Webpages Indeed a whole new page devoted to gardening pictures is planned. And if you want to send me your garden pictures and experiences I'll soon be providing a facility for you to do that here as well. My section on flower gardening is badly out of date. The whole section is soon to be updated. Here's a sneek preview. About flowers to grow for cutting.
A page on how to prepare and keep a flower display. I look forward to posting your comments too. Don't forget, you can contact me here and sign up for my newsletter. Happy gardening :) Permalink -- click for full blog post "Onion Garden & Torrential Rain" Aug 22, 2011 Plan Your Future With Gardening
For me that means advanced machinery or garden furniture. Plan for your future in the garden - See this link to get money off your garden. And take advantage of the gardening sales Happy Gardening :-) Permalink -- click for full blog post "Plan Your Future With Gardening" |
One of the joys of a garden is to see wild animals thriving. But there are a few pests too. And look what I found hiding in warm protective cover in my greenhouse. << 
For American gardeners I find 
My selection for 
Many of you will grow a selection of fresh herbs on your windowsill and cut them straight into your cooking pot.
10 seed potatoes produced 100 tubers totalling about 7 kilograms (over 15 pounds).
