Organic Gardening Diary

May 10, A Dark and Desert Land

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:50:40 -0400

You may have heard the poem about England's Green and Pleasant Land by William Blake. Sadly this vision of living beauty is no more than a memory of our elders. Nowadays our people grow up knowing nothing of that beauty. Of course they can still look out and see fields. But the singing, vibrant, living nature of our countryside has all but gone. Even in my lifetime I have witnessed this decline. Gone are the small song birds I once heard like: Yellow Hammer, Sky Larks, Linnets, Redpoll, Buntings and Cuckoo, while Greenfinch, Goldfinch even Chaffinch are following in the same decline. A silent spring seems to be a real prospect for our land in the coming years. Here's a few links that may be of interest on this subject. For more on what YOU can do about it read my section below...
Britain's best-loved species in terminal decline
Green and Pleasant Land: hard times for Britain's trees The above reports were preceded this week by a grim account of the prospects for amphibians like frogs and toads. I heard from conservationists who are currently spending their evenings at roadsides to rescue hundreds of toads from being squashed. A death toll of this magnitude is not something these creatures can tolerate. As a result, and like our hedgehogs, these creatures are in decline. Does it matter? Yes, it is vandalism to destroy an amphibian species that could hold a medical key to curing human disabilities. And in the same week we have also heard again about the decline of honey bees. My week was completely spoiled after visiting a farm in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. I couldn't believe my eyes, but the landscape that I saw was merely a blade of grass from being a desert landscape. There were virtually no hedges from horizon to horizon. This exposed place of fields for rearing animals will surely be silent too. I did see some crows. So what can you and I do about it? Look at your organic garden. Are you one of the growing number of home owners who have turned to low maintenance gardening by removing plants but topping it with gravel? Are you merely growing a few highly bred attractive but expensive horticultural specimen plants instead of masses of native flowers? There's really no need to worry about the effect of neonicotinoids if you are not helping the bees and butterflies and other important pollinators by providing their natural food and a place to live. A pond for example will bring frogs, newts and toads to your patch and they will feed on pests such as slugs. Please take a look at this page on natural flowers and the link below will help you plan a better garden.

May 4, Organic Gardening Diary - Spring Flowers

Sat, 4 May 2013 19:24:23 -0400

A slow start to the year, but just look at the garden now. Here's what's bright and blooming in my garden.

My Shrubs In Flower:

Forsythia - yellow flowers.
Flowering Quince Chaenomeles red flowers.
Mountain Witch Alder Fothergilla major.
Red Currants, Blueberries, Gooseberries are flowering now.
Plum Prunus avium pretty white flower stars are promising.

Early Herbaceous Flowers

Heathers are covered in red, pink and white flowers.
Lenten Rose Helleborus 'Ivory Prince' - very handsome early flower no sign of fading.
Violas, Primroses and Primula veris or Cowslip from tiny blue, sun-tanned, red and yellow faces, to neat clumps of small twinkling flowers these look lovely in groups in semi-shaded glades.
Leopard's Bane Doronicum - attractive large yellow star flowers.
Daffodils - Narcissus.

Flowers On The Wild Side

Blue Forget-me-not Myosotis swathes of blue like a ribbon winding through my garden.
Lesser Celandine Calendula escaped from woodland this weed has taken over larger areas at the edges but is very attractive now.
Corn Salad Valerianella locusta is slightly fragrant and Hairy Bitter Cress Cardamine hirsuta - I'm picking both these to eat in salads or stews.
Saxifrages and Arabis are showing tiny white star flowers in the rock garden.
Common Daisies Bellis perennis I planted a triangle of these common plants and now it's covered in pretty white and yellow stars - spectacular!
Taraxicum I leave a few Dandelions to show off their pretty yellow flowers then try to catch them before they spread seed.
Ajuga is pushing up small blue flower pyramids too. - But I haven't seen any Anemone flowers yet.

There are many more flowers to come. Today blue flowering Phlox looks like it can't wait to spring into full blossom. The weedy plants mentioned above add lots of colour and variety to my spring garden. They are also important to wildlife which in turn is important for protecting and pollinating my cultivated plants. And this evening I saw a bat flying out and about - I hope it feels at home in my garden.

May 4, Hands On Organic Gardening Days - Holiday

Sat, 4 May 2013 07:41:51 -0400

It's going to be a great organic gardening weekend. Where I live the earth is just right for doing just about everything - sowing, planting, transplanting. Where I live the right amount of sun and water has made it just right - just now. If you're looking in from Australia check the 2 blog posts below... So here's how I planted my onion bulbs yesterday.

First I weeded my patch for growing onions using a new garden hand fork with round tines, and collecting weeds in a bucket to add to the compost bin.
Then I spread 3 handfuls per square metre of chicken manure pellets - but the horse manure pellets available on the above link might be better for onions.
Then I spread on top a large bucket of black homemade garden compost. I pick out any remaining tough stuff or weak filmy weedlings into the weed bucket.
Then I use a large garden fork and my Garden Claw to break up the clods and work everything into a fine soil.
Then importantly - I firm the site by treading, this also helps to crush large lumps, and remove large air pockets. I can push my fingers straight down into this.
Now I draw out the rake I'm going to plant in.
I think it's important with onions not to plant in a hollow especially if your soil is heavy.
For each onion set I make a shallow hole with a narrow trowel and push the bulb down into the loosed earth.
Then I firm down around the onion, draw in more loose soil and firm that down around the neck just leaving the tip exposed. I push a trowel in about 2 inches to one side of the bulb and lever it over to firm soil around the bulb. My garden soil was in ideal condition.

Job done - and those I planted earlier that are already coming up strong. Note that most gardeners advise adding fertilizer/manure a few weeks before hand but... This advice mainly applies to seed sowing and salty fertilizers not used in organic gardening. The manure pellets will take a little time to break down. A previously grown green manure dug in a few weeks earlier helps to grow strong organic crop plants following on. I'll be adding more practical information about hands-on organic gardening methods later - potatoes, carrots, beetroot, greens, cuttings...

May 4, Australian Organic Gardening - Save Water

Sat, 4 May 2013 07:32:03 -0400

Well it still looks balmy weather for most of my Australian garden friends while it's barely making 9^oC in London. This year the Metrological Office added a new color to their map to scale high temperatures in Australia. So I wanted to refresh an earlier post with my friends down under. Good planning is vital for good gardening in the year ahead. Can you really count on getting enough rain? Water is needed for so many things from washing to watering - the more you have to go around the better. Should we have water shortages later would you consider saving rain water into a water storage tank for later and using tap water now if necessary? Put down a seep hose before you plant. Underground water systems save lots of water. Use them in raised beds outside and in polytunnels or greenhouses. Grow your seeds in modules and plant out when the roots have developed. That will avoid watering seedling beds and encouraging weedlings. The next link is about using water wisely in your garden...

May 1, Plant & Garden Watering - the Organic System

Wed, 1 May 2013 19:08:41 -0400

Save on garden watering with the techniques described here. These organic gardening methods are becoming more critical as droughts become more frequent.

May 1, Chicken Manure's Clean Rich Plant Food

Wed, 1 May 2013 12:52:05 -0400

Chicken manure gives your garden plants a big lift and improves your garden soil. Discover this easy to handle form of the organic fertilizer, how it helps gardens, its few limitations, along with where and how to use it

Apr 21, Organic Pest Control

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:39:57 -0400

Replace poisons with organic pest control with my help. You can avoid pesticides yet build natural pest control into the design of your organic garden. Unlike industrial agriculture you really can succeed with an organic gardening approach that will keep you healthy.

Apr 19, Flower Garden Design

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:33:48 -0400

Use these essential flower garden design guidelines when you plan & develop a beautiful garden landscape. This page is a must-read guide for the creative gardener.

Apr 19, Organic Lawn Care

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:33:48 -0400

You can up the look of your whole garden by organic lawn care. Improve your green areas, work on problem areas, learn about different lawn styles, get the right tools and help with this expert lawn care guide.

Apr 10, Lawn Fertilizer For Top Organic Greens

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:02:59 -0400

Organic lawn fertilizer can improve your lawns all year around when they include the right stuff. You'll find more about the organic fertilizers, bio-feeds and supplements that make real healthy greens right here.

Mar 17, Working Late Again - Organic Gardening Diary

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:25:40 -0400

The day has dawned - as it does every year - when I suddenly wake up and realise, that contrary to my best efforts, I am well behind on my garden tasks. The ice, cold and wet has kept me indoors all too often with excuses. Then all of a sudden spring has arrived with warm air and singing birds. Only then do I realise that I am late again with my gardening.

By the way, I should mention here that gardening fleece and tunnel cloches are valuable gardening accessories to help you avoid this problem. Use them to warm up your soil ready for sowing and planting and to protect plants from frost.

And today I noticed frogspawn in my pond. Well that's good news - the frog is up and about too and the birds are scratching in the earth. I think they will be looking for nesting material. Perhaps it's not so bad to wait for nature after all. Don't forget to put some potatoes in. It should be a good gardening year. All the best :-)

Mar 2, Avoid Gravel Garden Sterility

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 19:40:39 -0500

Nowadays it is a fashion in the UK to cover acres of garden space in gravel. My plea to you - DON'T DO IT. Such gardens leave no place for birds to dig and scratch for grubs. It is yet another eviction order on innocent wildlife. The very same creatures that will help protect your garden from pests. This style of garden reflects modern working lifestyles. Too busy to do any gardening people eradicate all trace of the living. The result is sterile. Why not instead put down a scented chammomile lawn - you hardly have to mow it. See my page on types of lawn. I will be writing more about these matters. I predict that herb lawns and scented gardens will be the fashion of tomorrow. So don't waste your time and money today on wrecking gardens with stones. By all means, grow ground cover plants to smother weeds, and learn about the beauty and wide variety of plants that are available for growing. Do aim for a living and lively garden. More later :-)

Feb 26, Flower Garden Ideas

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:31:45 -0500

Find 15 flower garden ideas here plus links to essential garden design information. From formal to informal flower borders, you'll find ideas to help you create a special look & feel to your flower garden.

Feb 17, Organic Gardening is really modern

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:38:12 -0500

Would you say that your garden and the gardening tools that you use are really modern? You see I'm always looking at gardening with a critical eye and trying to improve. Some things gardeners do nowadays are simply accepted without question. More often gardening is about following a fashion. Let's take plant pots for example. Clay pots are round because that shape is easy to make on a wheel. Also, a round shape has all-around uniform strength - no weak points. But think about it. If you could choose any shape for a pot, would you go for round? Round pots waste space on the outside when placed next to each other or against any straight edge. While the somewhat jarring color of clay is simply accepted. But there are more attractive alternative nowadays. Resin for example is a strong and light material used in some containers nowadays. And its material strength allows these containers to be made in rectangles and other more interesing shapes, as well as in harmonious and ornamental colors. That was just an example - I would actually prefer glazed ceramic in my garden. There's more on plant containers here. Another example of old versus modern that I've written about previously is evident in the round handles on garden hand tools. Easy to make no doubt. But you'll discover more egonomic and more comfortable handles on my page about Small Gardening Tools. You'll find small tools with curved handles to fit the natural posture of your hand. The reason these tools were not made before is because the materials, methods, and knowledge were unavailable. Of course we can go on with tradition, but there is no harm in embracing new methods when they harmonise better and are more comfortable. More later - happy gardening :-)

Jan 17, Please Help Save Your Bees

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:18:35 -0500

Every gardener knows how vital bees are for pollinating food plants. And they are a delight to see in your garden too. Growing an organic garden helps them enormously. But many other factors are out of our direct control. Something is wrong, as there is a widespread decline in bees over America and Europe. Please sign the appropriate petition for your country on the links below. There's a petition for Americans and a petition for the U.K. Please influence the politicians in your country to do everything they can to safeguard the Bee population.
1 - American Petition to Save Your Bees 2 - UK Petition to Save Your Bees EFSA Report The link below is about flower gardening with plants that attract beneficial insects.

Jan 16, Landscape Gardening & Building are in Season.

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:42:49 -0500

Wet, snow, cold, mist and darkness - it hardly seems like a time to think about gardening. During winter it may be hard to visualise how your new spring to autumn garden will look. So think about those plans you drew up earlier in the year. Later, when plants are actively growing all over the garden, it may be too late for major construction as then you will be too busy growing plants. Now really is the time. Think about landscaping a whole new area of your garden or repairing an old part. Think how reconstruction will add to your garden in the coming year. This might include laying steps, building a rock or wall garden, raised beds or spaces to locate new seating or plant new hedges. Landscaping may be necessary as a result of winter damage. Trees and shrubs that have been blown down or damaged by cold icy winds often need to be dug up or cut down. You may decide that it is time to replace them. These tasks begin now. As long as the soil is not actually frozen, dormant shrubs and perennials can be transplanted. Of course, some soil needs careful treatment when wet. Avoid compaction and the shear forces that turn soil to mud. So that’s why hard landscaping is high on my agenda. Check the next link for landscaping ideas.

Jan 9, Too Hot To Live

Wed, 9 Jan 2013 08:24:15 -0500

Is this story a sign of things to come? Green is really cool!

Jan 8, The Picture Postcard Garden Scavenger

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 12:25:44 -0500

This Magpie looks rather well and comfortable in summer. A relative of crows, it is a scavenger that steals from other birds' nests in spring. Yes, like every other animal it has to look after itself and survive. In spring and summer, the large size and black and white plumage attracts the attention of my eyes. Yet we wait until the cold dark days of snow and ice to see its advantages fully revealed - or perhaps I should write 'hidden'.

Imagine then - if you can't already see them outside your window - snow covered trees. (We don't often get snow where I live.) Last year was different. The top side of horizontal branches was snow laden while the bottom looked dark by contrast. This scene gives a good clue as to where the Magpie really must belong. Its white patch divided by a single dark stripe blends perfectly into the snowy twiggy scene. The advantage for a scavenger is that it can get closer to weaker animals before striking. Moreover it can remain hidden from larger predators. This tells me that Magpie plumage is matched to areas surrounding the artic alpine and a time when trees have no leaves. The bird is ideally adapted to pick off any stragglers that succumb to these harsh conditions. While on this subject let me add a thought about how very small birds survive. I heard a programme on radio mention the prey of Falcons. And they are not so much the small birds such as sparrows and blue tits. The small birds may find it tough to stay warm, but they have the real advantage of being too small to make a good meal for an active predator. And so the snow in your garden may be occasionally stained by scarlet or the flurry of feathers. But life goes on and it is wonderful to watch from a natural organic garden. Happy Gardening New Year :)

Jan 2, Secret Mushrooms - The Organic Surprise For Taste & Value

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 12:56:25 -0500

'Lepista nudum' could be the description of a person recovering from a magic mushroom trip. But actually it is a tasty 'Wood Blewit' mushroom described as 'edible and good'. At this time of year I make a special journey to pick it for cooking. Mushrooms often grow in association with living plants. This one grows not far from me among Oak, Birch and Hawthorn trees and Bracken. I don't think I am any later than usual, but alas, there was no sign of it. Perhaps I picked too much last year. The good news is that I can get kits to grow some of the best and tastiest mushrooms at home. And on this link for British gardener's you can get the prized and expensive Truffle mushrooms growing on Hazel trees in pots. They come from Europe and in 2009 Truffles fetched $14,203.50(USD) per kilogram!!

Here are some links to convenient Mushroom growing kits for American Gardeners and Mushroom growing kits for British Gardeners. You'll also discover books on these links with more information on how to find and identify these mysterious plants. Fungi are of course essential to organic recycling. Later I'll be writing more on how they can be used to make your plants more productive in an organic garden. Happy new year for organic gardening :-)

Dec 28, flower bouquet

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:28:53 -0500

Make a flower bouquet to brighten your home, your garden and make life simply wonderful. There's more here about preparing flowers to give and to display in your home. Plus links to everything you need to make special floral gifts.

Dec 26, Presents For Me & My Organic Garden

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:37:14 -0500

My neigbhour and customer kindly sent me 2 nice presents for Christmas. The first was chocolates for me to eat. The second was a fruit feeder for the wild birds. Here it is - you can see more on these links. Fruit Feeder For American Birds
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Fruit Feeder for British Birds

I may have one or two apples in store that are going bad, so these will go into the feeder. They can also be used for fruit drops. But winter seems a good time for this. I want to add a further observation. Wild birds usually discover the fruit by chance, whether it is on the ground or in the feeder. When they learn that the fruit is food this will become a feeding habit. So if you are a fruit grower I would suggest not using these when the fruit are swelling up on the bushes. Of course the feeder may also distract birds from your growing fruit crop. Winter seems a good time to feed apples, and the birds may have forgotten this behaviour by the time the apple season arrives.

Dec 3, Organic Gardening Comment - Aliens, Pests & Diseases

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 09:05:27 -0500

Do we really value our flora and fauna? How long will it remain so if we don't take care? Nature has no way to defend itself from commercial pressures, or the priority that is given to busy lives and fashions. We risk loosing what we simply take for granted. I want to highlight two threats in the British news:- the fungal disease affecting our native British Ash trees and the pox disease affecting our native small birds. In recent times the human aided movement of plants has reached an industrial scale. Commercial horticulturalists continue to introduce all kinds of plants from foreign countries. These are not the introductions of plant hunters like Forrest, but mass movement of alien plants. Indeed there is a massive risk of introducing problems that affect gardens and our natural landscape. Japaneese Knot Weed is a famous example. As the outbreak of a destructive fungal disease of Ash trees has been confirmed in recent weeks a horticultural industry spokesmen opened by blaming the government. He claimed - they had been warned. How responsible is that claim? It is merely a sound bight in the game of media recrimination played out while the guilty get off. A vital message is lost. Our quality of life suffers. Native Ash trees are a major component of our UK woodland flora. They easily grow from cuttings. How on earth can anyone defend importing species to this country from European stocks? Importing Ash trees is a clear example of environmental vandalism. Commercial pressures are the cause. The horticultural industry should own up. How can anyone not conclude that more regulation is urgently needed. But don't worry, few people have the stomach for that. Monitoring plant disease is a lonely job. Small Birds Threatened
Great tits and other popular birds are suffering from a pox disease that could decimate their numbers. What can we do about that? Well, dare I say? Feeding birds on bird tables is not such a great idea. The birds come together in an unnatural fashion. This increases the chances of passing on disease. While the Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds has long been advocating bird feeds for winter survival, there is a risk. A major problem results from British gardens having become sterile and lacking in natural bird food. Bird loving gardeners should be encouraged to grow wild flowers with seeds and berries that remain over winter. A rich natural flora supports many grubs that the birds eat. Then the antics of garden birds are truly remarkable to watch. Current garden fashion has acres of space covered in stones. These boring spaces leave no place for birds to scratch for their natural food. Bare soil or soil covered with a layer moss or leaves has abundant food. So no excuses please! And yes this is another fashion of convenience. One that impacts on our native flora and fauna. I fear that commercial pressure won't allow this message to be told.

Dec 2, Growing potatoes in lawn clippings....

Sun, 2 Dec 2012 04:44:13 -0500

Over the three years we have been living in our home, the corner of our backyard was assigned to the lawn clippings. I have a taro (elephant ears) patch

Oct 18, Organic Gardening Diary Busy To End Of Year

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:47:45 -0400

My new page on flower garden design is published along with some supporting pages - more coming. So I have just a moment to post this near end of season reminder for organic gardening. For organic gardeners the lawn is central to nutrient re-cycling. 1 - Do you cut grass or mow a lawn?
First, at this time of year, I advise that you recycle all cuttings to the compost heap. Why? 2 - Grass growth is slowing down with shorter colder days. You need to raise the cutting height and put down a fall lawn fertilizer. The latter will toughen your organic lawn up for winter while keeping it strong and healthy. 2 - Mowing less often leaves you time to plant up bulbs and shrubs before the soil becomes ice bound. Of course there may be more cutting back and dead heading to do as well. But there may not be much time left to get new plants into the soil. Are you planning next year's organic gardening? Why not take a look at my new page on garden design. This page links to a related page on flower garden themes that may help you choose plants. I'm working to publish yet more information on the special styles used in organic gardens. And I hope to reveal news of my practical gardening efforts to support permaculture. Come back soon.
Happy Gardening :-)

Oct 16, Patio Gardening

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:30:34 -0400

Patio 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.

Oct 14, Container Gardening

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:15:54 -0400

Use container gardening to grow plants everywhere. Discover your garden style with containers and learn the methods used to grow plants - choice of container, container compost, water conservation, fertilizer & more...

Sep 17, The World's Heaviest Onion

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:35:07 -0400

Here it is. Not untypically Peter Glazebrook wins again with a whopping big 18lb 1oz onion. Check out this link to hear how he does it. And whether you want to grow a prize winner or just have some nice garden onions for the cooking pot - now's the time for sowing and planting. Start now for a sequence of onion crops to harvest fresh or from store just about all year around. Seeds sown now benefit from a little heat. Don't let them dry out or become cold and damp. August sown Japanese onions are available to buy as onion sets for planting now. Also plant 30 Garlic cloves and you could get a crop yield of 300 cloves. Garlic can be made into a useful slug repellant for organic gardening. All the best in your garden.

Aug 23, Garden Hand Tool

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:07:47 -0400

Make your garden hand tool work for you. Discover good technique & posture, for gardening with less effort & strain. You'll also find here the hoes, rakes, & cultivators that work efficiently & easily.

Jun 28, Distinguish Bird Pests from Slug Pests

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:34:45 -0400

I'm sometimes asked about the signs that reveal bird damage compared to slug and snail damage. Witness these photo's. Up top is my pristine beautiful cabbage "Spring Hero". Holes in leaves that are often seen with slime trails are caused by slug and snail damage. The soil around these plants has been topped with a layer of shells and beach sand. If nothing else it slows down the critters and they may avoid it. Then something quite dramatic occurs. Deep cuts, like a knife, cutting across the leaf pattern and down through several leaves. You see jagged edges as opposed to holes. This damage is caused by those perhaps heavenly looking doves but actually voracious pigeons. And it is really my fault. I didn't get the plants covered by netting. And when I did cover them with netting I made a flimsy construction. The bird simply landed on the top to bring down the netting and was able to peck through. These attacks have concentrated on only two plants so far. Never mind I still have plenty of weighty cabbage remaining.
As for slugs, my organic garden makes me feel like Dr. Doolittle. So far not too bad in a damp year that should have found them out in force. The reason for that - my organic garden provides natural pest control from the frogs, toads, newts, hedgehogs and birds that feel at home here. They really will save me a lot. But you'll find a graphic link to a supplier of robust garden cages a few blogs down.
Wishing you all happy and productive gardening from the Home of The Organic Gardener.

Jun 23, Modern Horticulture Grows a Sterile Garden

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:52:20 -0400

I'm disappointed with many suburban gardens in my neighbourhood. Why? There is a modern horticultural style that is sterilising the garden landscape. You know what I mean. It started with TV gardening and the use of sheet mulch to suppress weeds. But as both tradesman gardeners and home owners look for quick ways to maintain a garden they develop more sterile gardens that are somewhat boring. These gardens seem to shout out "the owners are busy people!" Indeed their job has totally disconnected them from the natural environment around their home. What is the result? Gardens that are beginning to look like dead spaces. They range from geological waste lands to relatively vast areas of bare ground surrounding a few prize specimen plants. Here today gone tomorrow, they look attractive but lonely. This wasteland usually keeps weeds out. But also prevents worms, birds, insects, and many other animals. It is a sterile garden that gives no natural protection to the prize horticultural specimens that are showcased. Add to that a scattering of poisonous blue slug pellets. All too often the 'gardeners' that do maintenance have no idea about plants and don't know how to develop gardens at all. For plant care, sheet mulch will become an obstacle to feeding your plants. Maintenance gardeners know about machinery, and doing quick easy work. They vacuum your garden and keep it in trim like you do a room in your house. I knew a maintenance gardener who was actually afraid of frogs! So much for my frustration. You'll be able to discover more on the-organic-gardener.com soon. I will be publishing a new section of pages to help you improve and develop your flower garden. I will include a page on horticultural specimen plant gardens too. And whether you garden organically or not, I will outline some great flower gardening ideas to help you with design, maintenance and to enable you to use your garden socially or to relax in, and for good health, - that will be in a few weeks. Do come back and check my navigation bar for the update of the flower gardening section. Happy gardening to you all :-)

Jun 3, Potato Plant From The Ground Up

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:40 -0400

Here's how a potato plant grows, its origin, growing needs & the diseases affecting potatoes.

Jun 3, Planting Potatoes

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:37 -0400

Planting potatoes involves chitting or sprouting early tubers before planting. Find more here on the planting season, depth, row spacing and alternative methods

Jun 3, Harvesting Potatoes

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:34 -0400

What you need to know about harvesting potatoes - 'new', 'maincrop', 'lates', from the garden, potato bags, tubs or potato barrels. You'll find when to harvest and how to store your potatoes in good condition & disease free.

Jun 3, Certified Seed Potato

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:31 -0400

What 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

Jun 3, Potato Planter

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:24 -0400

Your potato planter, bag or container, will grow potatoes over hard surfaces such as patios or paved yards. Discover the advantages here, & learn how to grow the earliest show quality potatoes.

Jun 3, Raised Bed Potatoes

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:22:21 -0400

You 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

May 29, Organic Gardening - wet & dry with weeds & pests

Tue, 29 May 2012 06:01:14 -0400

Today I want to pass on 6 small tips for dealing with garden pests and weeds. Although differences in climate zones can affect planting times and survival around the world there are many universal gardening tips that you can adapt to your seasonal conditions.

Simple when explained but often, forgotten - so try these. Weeds & Pests 1: April was a very wet month for my garden. During wet conditions water live nematodes around your seedlings. They are effective against slugs. Slug Control for UK Gardeners
Nemaslug is here
Find Slug Deterrant here Weeds & Pests 2: Now May is bringing long days of sun and already the garden is drying up. This can make your plants even more attractive to some pests. I've been using dry dust swept from my garden path to cover seedling stems and the ground around seedlings. Weeds & Pests 3: A seep hose laid under greenhouse beds and raised beds is ideal to inhibit molluscs and reduce weed seed germination. It keeps the surface dry and you can water when plants need it most. Weeds & Pests 4: Fruit drop is a natural event in June, but during dry conditions this can become excessive. Fruit on the ground are discovered by thirsty birds which will attract them to the main crop. So keep your fruit bushes well mulched, watered and netted. Weeds & Pests 5: Last month weeds could be forked out of the soft soil whole. Now they are sliced off with a sharp hoe and left to whither. However, the dry soil makes it easier to dig up tap rooted weeds whole, like dandelions, docks and thistles. Because the soil is hard it all comes up in one piece with the majority of the root. Weeds & Pests 6: But in lawns with dry conditions the flat spreading Dandelions are brittle and can be sliced off at the surface head and all. There is no need to dig down. As long as there are not too many, slicing off can be easily repeated in subsequent dry periods. In addition a small mound of salt placed on top of the moistened cut root should prevent it regenerating. Don't over do it as salt can harm the grass too.
Gardening tools are here and there's more organic weed control methods on the link below.

May 24, Protect your organic garden assets

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:20:20 -0400

Problems with pests are always a challenge, and not just for organic gardeners. A big difference comes in how you deal with this problem.

Here’s a short list of pests that I’ve had in my organic garden recently along with the actions I take to solve them. Courgettes: these plants are loved by slugs. Even the seedlings I have indoors are being eaten by slugs that are buried somewhere in the compost by day. At night they come out. In the morning I see a wilting leaf, sometimes a whole stem chewed off, and a slime trail. Slug problem solved 1: I water on live nematodes. These infect the slugs in the soil and they die. The effects last some time too. No harm done.
Slug Control for UK Gardeners
Nemaslug is here Find Slug Deterrant here Slug problem solved 2: Another great way to reduce slug pests is to encourage pest predators: birds, frogs, hedgehogs. My garden pond has made a big difference as more birds are feeding everywhere all day. I’ll build another pond for another frog as soon as possible. Slug problem solved 3: Out in the garden beer traps are excellent at killing slugs. This method is even more low cost if you can share the beer you would buy for yourself with the critters. They won’t be coming back for more. Bird protection is essential in my garden. The young blackbirds will soon grow and they’ll find my gooseberries laden with fruit. But they’ll wait until the fruit are ripe. Pigeons are a nuisance too. The predatory sparrow hark is a good deterrent. So keep it organic and build a deep food web to encourage natural predators. Bird Problem solved: My garden netting will be going up soon. More later - happy gardening.

May 11, Garden Seeds

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:56:28 -0400

Grow 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

May 10, Flower Seeds

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:14:34 -0400

Try 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

May 5, Lawn Care Advice

Sat, 5 May 2012 17:22:51 -0400

Find 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.

May 5, Lawn Weeds

Sat, 5 May 2012 17:22:48 -0400

Eradicating 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.

Apr 20, More Organic Gardening Blogs

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:47:13 -0400

I 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, Gardening Diary - time to pull weeds

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:56:55 -0400

A 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.

Apr 10, Organic Gardening - green manure plant or seed

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:03:08 -0400

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.
Here they are again.

Your plants are protected from pests,
You're seeds are saved from the vagaries in outdoor weather conditions - chill winds and snap frosts,
You get more consistent results and strong plants,

And I want to add one more important advantage to 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?
Did you know that it is best to waite about a month after turning in green manure before sowing small seeds? 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.
Find more about:-
About Green Manure
Seed Mats and Seeds Tapes
Crop Rotation ...
... ... on these links for example.
And the best organic gardening books are reviewed here.

Apr 5, Organic Gardening - Save Water

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 11:20:54 -0400

As 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 water into a water storage tank 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.

Mar 12, Warming Up To My Organic Garden

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:41:14 -0400

Hello again, I'm just in from my organic garden which is now really beginning to stir.
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. << 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.

Mar 1, Organic Gardening For Food

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 17:22:03 -0500

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. For American gardeners I find the best value for growing is on this link. My selection for UK Allotment gardeners comes from this link. Get more variety from smaller packs at special prices on this link. Jobs to do now?
Dig in overwintered green manure a month ahead of sowing small seeds like carrots and lettuce. 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?
If we don't see a big weather change water will be tankered to the southern counties later this year. Could this be a good time to buy a water butt? The winter sale is still on at the link above.

Feb 10, Pleasure and Passion For The Exotic in Flowers

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:07:08 -0500

I 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.

And that's a surprise when your garden is under ice and snow. Do you plan your gardening year as a couple together?
Are your plants a passion that you share? Then why not make this year's garden plans over a delicious herby meal to get you in the mood for growing. Let your taste buds and fragrant flowers inspire you to realise the next development in your garden. 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 -:)

Jan 1, Organic Gardening Book

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 13:36:22 -0500

Find 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.