After a long flight from South America, a bird could use a juicy meal and a place to rest, right? For purple martins, these delicious insects and summer accommodations could be in your garden if you provide a decent home for these attractive and melodious birds. With the exception of …
Read More »Fight plant pathogens with the biofungicide Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus subtilis is a type of bacteria that can survive in the soil for a long time. Many strains are highly effective in colonizing plant roots and fighting plant pathogens. They can work directly against other microbes by producing a variety of antibiotics that infect fungi or bacteria. They can …
Read More »Growing broccoli: when to plant, where to plant and when to harvest
Broccoli belongs to the Brassicas plant family. This vegetable grows best in the cool season and in spring and autumn two plants can be grown in your garden. Broccoli and other Brassica vegetables do not normally tolerate high heat and moisture. The head from the middle of the broccoli plant …
Read More »Christmas decorations from the garden
The garden is a treasure trove of opportunities for Christmas decorations. Pyracantha berries alternating with popcorn make attractive garlands. Oranges, lemons or apples sprinkled with cinnamon or cardamom and coated with whole cloves are wonderfully fragrant pomander balls. Rose hips give green wreaths bright red and orange colors. Grapes, honeysuckle, …
Read More »Vegetable seeds: which ones to sow outdoors or indoors?
You have your seed packs, you have the seeds you need, and you have a garden plan – it sounds like you’re ready to plant and grow a garden! But are you sure that you know which seeds can go straight into your garden floor and which ones better when …
Read More »How to identify and prevent Southern Blight on apple trees
Sclerotium rolfsii What is the name of a fungus that can infect hundreds of plant species and live on organic matter in the soil for years? A gardener’s nightmare! In this case, the nightmare is called the southern plague or southern tribe. An insidious mushroom called Sclerotium rolfsii (also known …
Read More »Should I still grow carrying vegetables or switch to winter lovers?
Beet seedlings and seeds at the bottom, then Tatsoi, Swiss chard and Lacinata kale seedlings. The bed is covered with a fruit tree net and staked out every 3 feet to keep away skunks and other diggers (they don’t want their claws to get caught in the net; it works …
Read More »Gardening with cats: social distancing at home in the garden
We Everyone is at a social distance in the middle of the virus outbreak, and things can gets boring. The good news is that spring arrived early in the north Hemisphere this year (2020), an unusual event that has something to do with leap years and earth orbit. I leave …
Read More »TOMATO QUESTIONS … BUT MANY BEANS AND CUKES AND SQUASH
Delicious bounty every night! Catfacing Rotting of flower ends Nibble Three-lobed tomato Duck tomato Sunburn bleach on green zebra fruits. The lower leaves have finished their work in favor of the younger foliage and are dying back. The Sungold plant is still lush, but without new flowers – most likely …
Read More »Life lessons, greenhouse construction and those under 3 years old
Life is all about learning. For example, this weekend I learned the following: 1. When you dismantle a greenhouse, it is worth marking it all the pieces rather than just a small and elite selection. This way, you can easily put it back together instead of holding your head in …
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