GenAcres Homestead

Growing and Using Comfrey A great organic idea for your veggie garden! One of the most popular plants to grow in an organic vegetable garden is the Russian Variety of Comfrey specifically Bocking 14. 

A hardy perennial in Zones 5 – 10 gardens, Oregano is a pungently aromatic plant that is one of the most important herbs in Italian, Greek and Mexican cooking.  It has a bold flavor and a hardy constitution.  It is also called Wild Marjoram. The flavor of Oregano can vary greatly from variety to variety.  Greek Oregano is the spiciest.  Starting Oregano From Seed Seed Longevity:                                   One Year. Seed Sowing Depth:                            Just cover.  Needs light to germinate. Best Soil Temp for Germination:          60 degrees. Days to Germination:                           7 - 14. Spring Sowing:                                    Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost.                                                                 Direct sow 2 weeks before last frost. Fall:                                                      Not recommended. Winter Sowing If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in

Epsom Salt for Rose and Bloomers You may have heard that Epsom Salt is a great, safe, effective and economical garden amendment for use on your flowering plants. But what is  Epsom Salt  and why is it so popular among rose gardeners?

Reasons for Loss of Liquid in Pressure Canning or Siphoning First, if you've lost liquid during the pressure canning process, you're certainly not alone, b ut it's important to learn the reasons for liquid loss so it doesn't happen more often than you'd like.

Mint is a hardy perennial commonly associated with sweets.  Mint lends a cool, peppery bite to plenty of dishes.  It’s very fragrant, fast-growing but it can be invasive. Starting from Mint Seed Mint is very difficult to grow from seed and most plants grown from seed will be different than the parent plant.  This is because they are hybrid varieties that don't come true to form when grown from seed.  Growing Mint from seed is not recommended, but here are the details. Growing Mint Plant size:                                 Height 12”–18” height  Spreading. Spacing:                                    8-24”. Container Size:                         2 seedlings in a 12” container. Soil:                                           Avoid very heavy soil. Watering:                                  Loves moist soil. Light/Sun:                                 morning sun and part afternoon shade. Fertilizer:                                  Fertile soil.  Dil

GROWING  ARUGULA aka  Rocket Roquette  Cool-season annual plant Height:  6-12"       Width 8-10" The leaves of Arugula provide a spicy zing when added to salads.  It will grow a rosette about a foot wide and equally as tall.  It's a cut-and-come-again plant.  It boasts several health benefits.  It is an excellent source of fiber, rich in Vitamins A, C, and K as well as a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Types: Wild Arugula.  Grows up to 2' tall with jagged leaves and a yellow flower. Rocket Salad.  A weaker peppery flavor.  The plant grows up to 3' tall.  It has lobed leaves and a white flower.     Starting Seeds of Arugula Seed Depth:                    1/8" on the soil surface and tamp down. Seed Spacing:                 3-4"  Thin to 4-6". Days to Germinate:          7-14 days. Days to Harvest:              3 weeks/baby leaves,  45 days mature. Seed Longevity:              

Spinach is a cool-weather quick-growing annual related to Beets and Swiss Chard. Spinach has high amounts of carotenoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium. It is one of the healthiest salad choices you can make. The Basics Annual Height: 6" to 3' Width: 3" to 15" Types: Savory Spinach. Dark green crinkled leaves. It grows flatter compared to other Spinach. It tends to be more cold-hardy and becomes sweet and crispy after a frost. Flat-Leaf Spinach. Grows more upright and easier to wash. Semi-Savory. A hybrid between the two. Leaves aren't as crinkled or as smooth.   Starting Seeds of Spinach Seed Depth: 1/2" deep Seed Spacing: 2" apart, thin seedlings to 4-5" apart. Mature 10-12". Days to Germinate: 1 week at 60 degrees. Days to Harvest: 20-30 days for baby greens. 35-45 days mature leaves. Seed Longevity: 1-3 year