GenAcres Homestead

     Pruning Hostas Hostas are well known to be one of the easiest perennials to grow.  And while pruning hosta leaves isn't necessary to maintain your hostas' shape or size, you can keep them looking beautiful as long as possible during the season with some easy seasonal pruning.

  Winter Sow your Vegetable Seeds! First off, if you are unfamiliar with the basics of winter sowing, you may want to start with the Winter Sowing 101 article, then come back for the vegetable sowing specifics.

  Winter Sowing Failures and Reasons Winter sowing has become one of my favorite ways to grow plants.  It's also becoming more and more popular because it's easy and it works! But, if you’ve read the Winter Sowing 101 guide and tried the winter sowing method but had some failures, the reasons for your lackluster results are probably listed below, along with ways to help ensure future success. Further Reading:  Winter Sowing 101 Seeds Didn't Germinate A common reason is bad seeds. Simple enough, right? If you had very little or no germination at all, it could be as simple as old seeds. Different types of seeds have different shelf lives. For instance, onion seeds are only viable for one to two years and should be used the year after they’re harvested, ifpossible; whereas seeds of collards and cucumbers can be viable for up to and even after five years when stored properly in cool, dry conditions. A Little Bit About Traded Seeds For years I tried to save money by trading se

  GROWING SAGE Perennial Zones 4 – 8 (Hardiness Varies) Sage is a shrubby perennial that’s an obvious choice for the kitchen.  From spring through mid-summer, Sage displays blue to lavender flowers which are very attractive to birds.  It has an earthy, rich, spicy flavor and it is part of the mint family. The most popular types of culinary Sage are   Garden Sage, Golden Garden Sage, Berggarten Garden Sage, Dwarf Garden Sage, Tricolor Garden Sage, and Window Box Sage. Starting Sage from Seed Seed Longevity:                                            2 years. Seed Sowing Depth:                                     Surface, cover lightly. Best Soil Temp for Germination:                   65 – 70 degrees. Days to Germination:                                    15-21 days. Spring Sowing :                                              Sow Indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost.   Transplant out after the last frost date. Fall:    Not recommended.

  Tulle Fabric  Ten Uses in the Garden! If you've never used Tulle fabric in your garden, you're missing out on a great opportunity! First, what is Tulle fabric? Tulle is a soft, fine silk, rayon or nylon material commonly used to make wedding veils and dresses.

One o f the world's most popular spices with a zesty, citrus flavor. It’s a fast-growing and easy-to-grow tender herb from the carrot family. Cilantro is the actual leaves of the plant, while Coriander refers to the two Cilantro seeds that are actually encased in the husk. Cilantro has a short life cycle and bolts quickly to produce its seeds in hot weather, so succession sowing of 2-3 weeks is recommended for a continued supply.    Starting Cilantro from Seed Seed Longevity:                               Five years. Seed Sowing Depth:                        1/4” to 1/2” deep. Best Soil Temp for Germination:      55 – 65 degrees. Days to Germination                        7-10. Seed Spacing:                                 At 2-3” tall thin to 5” apart. Spring Sowing Start seeds indoors 2 weeks before the last frost date to plant out after the danger of frost has passed. Direct Sowing After the threat of frost has passed and every three weeks until

  Seasonal Calendar of Care for Hostas One of the reasons that hostas continue to be so popular is the fact that they're a very low maintenance perennial.  That being said, if you follow a few basic steps to care for them, you can keep your hostas looking healthy and beautiful throughout the season, whether they're snug in the ground or in pots.