Epsom Salt in the Organic Garden

The popularity of organic gardening is increasing day by day. Organic gardeners have a philosophy that supports the health of the whole system of gardening, especially when it comes to dealing with the soil. As organic gardeners look for alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, Epsom Salt has risen in popularity as an effective organic soil amendment for garden use.

You know you're a serious gardener when...

Growing Lettuce - Homesteading 101

No homesteading garden is complete without growing the foundation of your salad garden, lettuce! 

Growing lettuce is easy, takes up little space so you can easily tuck it between and under taller vegetables and even flowers.

Lettuce grows for many weeks in the mild weather of spring and fall, and it can be planted several times every season for a continual supply. 

The Basics -- Lettuce

Annual Height:  9-12:      Width:  6"

Lettuce comes in many different varieties including leaf lettuces, crispheads, summer crisps, icebergs, romaine, butterheads, and bibbs.  Here's a  short description of each.

Leaf lettuce.  Forms a loose rosette of tender, sweet-tasting leaves in 4-6 weeks.

Summer Crisps.  Loosehead of large, crisp leaves with good flavor.

Crispheads.  A combination of romaine and iceberg types.  Crunchy texture.

Romaines.  Oblong leaves that form fairly loose, upright heads.

Butterhead and Bibb.  Broad rosettes of tender, wavy leaves with a delicate flavor and creamy texture.

 

There are early varieties for spring planting and heat-tolerant varieties for Fall planting.

Starting Seeds of Lettuce

Seed Depth: 1/4" - 1/2". Need light to germinate.

Seed Spacing: Thin to 6-8" apart.

Days to Germinate: 7-14 days.

Days to Harvest: Leaf Lettuce 30-50 days.

Head Lettuce 100 days.

Seed Longevity: 2 Years

Sowing Indoors:

Start Romaine, iceberg and other head lettuces indoors 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date, making three small sowings at weekly intervals.

Sowing Outdoors:

Spring: Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked.

Fall: Direct sow 4-8 weeks before your average first frost date.

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 our separate article with details about Winter Sowing, click here.


Salad Tongs

Growing Lettuce Plants

Growing Temperature: 55-60 degrees during the growing season. Will survive light frosts.

Plant Spacing: Leaf Lettuce - 1" for continuous harvest.

Head Lettuce - 8"
Summer Crisps - 8-12"
Iceberg - 8-12"
Romaine - 10"
Butterhead - 8-10"
Bibb - 6-8"

Container Size: Shallow Roots. 6" deep.

Sun/Shade: Full sun for best yields. Tolerates part shade.

Soil: Plenty of compost will encourage fast growth.

Watering: Consistent water for the best flavor.
Lack of moisture causes bitterness.

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Fertilizing

Since greens are such a  fast-growing crop, as long as they are grown in rich soil there may be little need for further fertilization.    

That said, a liquid balanced fertilizer when the seedlings are 4" tall will give your greens a boost and carry them through their short season.  After the temperatures warm, though, the leaves of Lettuce will turn bitter and no amount of fertilizer will help at that point.

Growing Tips

Extending the Growing Season:

Start romaine, iceberg and other head lettuce indoors 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date, making three small sowings at weekly intervals.

Set out the seedlings and direct sow leaf lettuce outdoors at 2-week intervals.  If you plan to harvest only leaves, sow entire loose-leaf crop at once.

Harvesting Lettuce

Leaf Lettuces.  Harvest outer leaves as soon as they're a usable size.

Harvest entire plant at 2" above soil level for cut-and-come-again.

Head Lettuces.  Cut the head away from the stalk when the head is still firm.  Head lettuce will be freshest when harvested in the morning.

Salad/Food Crispers

Storing Lettuce For Later Use

Tendergreen leaves, like Lettuce, can't be preserved well.

FreshLoose leafed lettuce will store 7-10 days in a crisper.

Head lettuce will store 1-3 weeks in the crisper

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To read the other articles in our Homesteading 101 Growing Your Greens series, click on the name below:

Arugula

Endive

Kale

Mustard Greens

Radicchio

Spinach

Swiss Chard

Where to go next!

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Best Hostas for Beginners

 

Best Hosta Choices for Beginners

One of the reasons that hostas have remained so popular in the perennial garden is the beauty of their leaves. For the first-time hosta grower, though, there are some hostas that are easier to grow and care for than others.

Best Soil for Hostas

 

 

Best Soil for Hosta Plants

If you've heard that hostas can grow in any soil type, even poor soil, that's not exactly true. While established hostas tend to become comfortable in any soil over time, they certainly won't thrive and retain the beautiful leaves that you grow them for. Young hostas planted in poor soil will eventually succumb to disease and die.

If you want your hostas to thrive, the key is soil that is rich. The ideal soil pH for hostas ranges from 6.5 to 7.5, which actually means it's slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. 

Care of your TerraCotta Pots

How to Clean Terracotta Pots

A big advantage of terracotta is its ability to absorb water from the soil. But because it will also absorb chemical fertilizers and salts found in tap water, that buildup of a crusty residue needs to be removed for the pot to be safely reused the next garden season. 

Although that aged terracotta look is pleasant to some, dirty pots can harbor fungus, mold, diseases, and pests. Regular maintenance of cleaning and disinfecting them is a good garden habit to get into.

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 Hostas in the Fall

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.

Growing Radicchio - Homesteading 101

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

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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

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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.