Great Gifts for Bird Lovers!

Whether it's a birthday gift, Mother's Day, Christmas, or just a thank you for that bird lover you know, here are some great gift ideas!

Hostas as Houseplants

If you’re looking for a houseplant to grace your windowsill from spring to fall, hostas are a perfect choice. They will need some winter care, which you’ll read about later.

Why It's So Important to Water Hosta Plants in the Fall

With fresh, cool air and fewer insects and plant diseases to worry about, Fall is a pretty great time in the garden.

But for hostas, those beautiful leaves are beginning to die back making the plant look a bit ragged. In the Fall season, the hosta plants begin to conserve their energy in order to get ready for their winter sleep where they will await warm Spring temperatures.

Radicchio

aka Red Chicory
Tender perennial grown as an annual
Height 6-12" Width 6-12"

This bitter Italian heading chicory is a salad favorite for its color alone. It has gorgeous deep garnet white-based leaves that add rich color and texture to salads. The heads are small, reaching a size between an orange and a grapefruit.

Types: Mostly heading types

Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Starting Seeds of Radicchio

Seed Depth:                  1/8th" or less.
Seed Spacing:               6" apart.
Germination Temp:        Optimum 70-75 degrees.
Days to Germinate:        7-14.
Days to Harvest:            60-65 or 120-130 days, depending on the variety.
Seed Longevity:             4 years.

Sowing Indoors:

Spring: 8-10 weeks before your average last frost date.
Plant out 4 weeks before your average last frost date.

Sowing Outdoors:

Spring: Direct Sow 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
Fall: Direct Sow mid-summer.

Salad Spinner

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat. This method is especially good for sowing herbs and greens. Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of a milk jug during the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in Spring.

For a detailed article about Winter Sowing, click here.

Salad Tongs

Growing Radicchio Plants

Growing Temperature:   45-75 degrees. Light frosts sweeten the flavor.
                                      Can survive into the low 20's.
Plant Spacing:               Space seedlings 6" apart. Mature size 8".
Container Size:              8"+ deep. Radicchio has shallow roots.
Sun/Shade:                    Mostly sunny. Likes part shade during the hottest part
                                      of the day.
Soil:                               Can grow in a variety of soils. Prefers good drainage.
Watering:                       Consistent irrigation for the best flavor.

Fertilizing:

If fertilizing is necessary, a side dressing of high nitrogen (the first number on the N-P-K scale), lower phosphate (the second number on the N-P-K-scale) is
recommended when the plant is almost a third of the way through the season.

Salad Lunch Container

Growing Tips

If the plant sends up a stalk instead of forming a head, cut off the stalk at ground level to encourage the formation of a new head.
The bitter flavor is often due to hot weather.

Harvesting Radicchio

As soon as heads are firm and compact.
Radicchio matures in approximately 3 months. It should be picked when it's mature, but not old.

Using Radicchio

Eat fresh or cook like Spinach.
Core out the small heads and remove the center to create leafy bread.
Radicchio's bitter flavor pairs well with the acidic sweetness of Balsamic Vinegar.
Salt will counteract the bitter flavor and draw out the high sugar content.

Storing Radicchio For Later Use

Although tender green-leafed plants, like lettuce, cannot be preserved well, the thicker green-leafed plants can be.

Fresh

Clean and pat dry. Bundle stems lightly, place on a paper towel (to absorb moisture) and wrap in a plastic bag. Keeps in refrigerator for 10 days.

Freezing for Later Use in Chilis, Soups, Sauces, and Casseroles.

Steam or saute' leaves, chop them and store in freezer bags.
Puree with water and freeze into ice cube trays.
Clean and dry the leaves and store in quart size freezer bags.
Frozen leaves will keep for 6 months.
Blanching the leaves for two minutes will extend freezer storage to 14 months.

To read the other articles in our Growing Your Greens series, click on the name below:

Arugula

Endive

Kale

Lettuce

Mustard Greens

Spinach

Swiss Chard

Check out our other great gardening articles: Click Here

Check out our hosta articles: Click Here

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.

Hostas in the Fairy Garden!

Hostas in the Fairy Garden

A fairy garden by design is a miniature garden complete with structure, accessories and living plants. It's a nice tiny space designed to lure in good luck through visits from fairies and pixies.

Corner of yard with Gucamole Hostas in white bloom

Fast Growing Hostas

The sheer amount of hostas available on the market today can make your head swim! And there is a special beauty in those well-established mature hostas. They are always a stand out in the perennial garden.

So how do you get your hostas to grow quickly in your garden?

Best Gifts for Senior Dogs

Who doesn't love senior dogs? They have wise eyes, those beautiful white faces and they are so thankful to just have a home where they can rest peacefully and safely.

The Beauty of Variegated Hostas!

Hostas continue to be one of the most popular perennial plants for shade and part sunny gardens, and for good reason. The sheer amount of available hosta sizes, shapes and leaf colors and designs ensures you can find one or several to fit into your garden scheme.

Great Gardening Gift Ideas for Kids

I've been gardening for many years, and one of my favorite things to do is get kids involved in gardening. It can serve as a great outside classroom.

Natural Beauty of Troughs

They're hard to find, can be expensive if you do find them, but if you're lucky enough to score one from Craigs List or a sale at a farm store, there are many advantages to picking a trough up and using it in your garden.

Hostas - Great Ground Cover Plants!

If you're looking for great, easy-care ground cover plants to add to your shady or part sunny perennial garden, there are varieties of hosta that fit the bill!