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Ten Mistakes New Herb Gardeners Make (and How to Avoid Them!)

May 27June 2Posted in Garden & NatureTagged avoid, cutting, feed, fresh, garden, gardening, grow, growing, herb, herbs, Home, houseplants, kinds, leaves, mistakes, nutrients, seed, soil, tips, varieties, watering, wrongLeave a comment

Originally from The Skinny Gourmet

So you’re thinking of herb gardening, or maybe you tried it last year and it was an utter disaster? Have no fear. There are a few simple mistakes that many herb newbies make (and I know, because I made most of ’em myself). Master these simple and practical tips for herb gardening and you’ll be using your own fresh herbs like Mario Batali in no time.

Fresh herbs are one of the greatest ways to increase the taste of your food healthfully. I often toss whatever leafy herbs are hand liberally into a salad to add unexpected variations in flavor (basil, oregano and dill are all great choices). Fresh herbs can add punch to sauces or create intensely flavorful crusts for roasted meats. While fresh herbs are now regularly available at grocery stores year round, growing your own herbs is a great way to build mastery over your food. Growing herbs at home can be easy whether you live in a house in the suburbs or an apartment in the city.

Let it be known that I have the blackest of thumbs. I routinely kill houseplants and whether from too much love or too much neglect I never really know. Moreover, I live in a condo in Chicago, so I only have pots on my back fire escape as my city “garden.” In fact, I’ll argue that it is my black thumb that gives me the bona fides to give beginner gardeners tips, because I have figured out how to grow herbs and am painfully aware of every lesson I learned along the way.

It surprises me how often I bump into friends who are flummoxed about some aspect of herb gardening. And strangely, I feel there are few practical guides to growing herbs on the internet for someone just starting out. Most of the advice is geared towards high end gardeners who can make sense of soil PH and whatnot. When I was starting out, what I really needed was some sort of herb gardening for dummies. So here is my quick and practical advice for growing herbs for beginners. Continue reading “Ten Mistakes New Herb Gardeners Make (and How to Avoid Them!)” →

How to Grow Garlic

May 6May 27Posted in Garden & NatureTagged containers, curing, fertilize, garden, gardening, garlic, grow, harvest, hints, Home, plant, scape, soil, space, storing, tips, waterLeave a comment

**Botanical name**: Allium sativum **Plant type**: Vegetable **Sun exposure**: Full Sun **Soil type**: Loamy **Soil pH**: Slightly Acidic to Neutral. Original image from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

You don’t need a garden to grow garlic. The bulbs grow well when planted in wide, deep containers that are set in a nice sunny spot.

Choosing a Garlic Variety

There are tons of garlic varieties to choose from and they are divided into two basic categories: hardneck types, which have a hard central stock with a single layer of cloves around it, and softneck types, which have swirling layers of cloves and no defined neck. I prefer hardneck varieties because they produce a flower bud called a scape in late spring. Scapes have a delicious mild garlicky flavor and taste amazing in pesto. In theory, you could plant garlic purchased from the grocery store, but it is often treated to prevent it from sprouting. For the best results and a more interesting array of varieties, buy garlic that was grown locally at a farmer’s market or purchase bulbs at a nursery.

Choosing Containers

Garlic has fairly shallow roots, but it is important to make sure they have plenty of room to stretch out in the soil. Choose a pot that is at least 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Half barrels and wooden crates work well, but you certainly do not need to buy a container for your garlic. The large black plastic containers that trees come in are a great choice, as are contractor buckets. Whatever container you use, make sure that it has drainage holes in the bottom. Place the container in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. Continue reading “How to Grow Garlic” →

Are #Green Roofs really good for you? [Infographic]

April 25April 28Posted in Man & Nature, Sustainable GuideTagged barrier, chickens, drainage, eco, economy, fashion, good, grass, green, guinea pigs, heavy, Home, infographic, lower your bills, moss, roof garden, roofs, soil, statement, waterproofLeave a comment

5Fridays

By Kristin Crosier on Movoto Continue reading “Are #Green Roofs really good for you? [Infographic]” →

How and When to Water

March 18March 24Posted in Garden & NatureTagged clay soil, compost, critical, garden, gardening, how much, how often, loam, sandy soil, soil, tips, type, water, water stress, whenLeave a comment

Gardeners can’t depend on Mother Nature to do all the watering, all the time. That’s why watering your garden wisely (and conserving moisture once it gets in the soil) is a fundamental skill that your crops will thank you for cultivating.

What Type Is Your Soil?

How well your garden soil retains the water it receives depends on what type of soil you have. To keep things simple, we’ll classify soils into three general types: sand, loam, and clay.

Sandy soils have lots of air spaces between the particles. This allows for good drainage—sometimes too good. Water moves through sandy soil fast, and the soil tends to dry out rapidly.

Clay soils are just the opposite. They have almost no air spaces between particles and drain very poorly. Clay absorbs water slowly but once wet, holds lots of water (often too much).

Loam is the middle ground between sand and clay. It absorbs water well and dries out at a nice moderate rate.

But no matter what type of soil you have, the key to keeping water in your garden is compost, compost, compost. Compost helps improve any soil by acting like a moisture-retaining wick. Every shovelful of that rich organic matter you add to the garden boosts your soil’s ability to hold water.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to apply more—not less—water to a garden high in organic matter to wet the soil to the depth you want. But because the soil holds more water, your garden may be able to go longer between waterings.