Category: Gardening
For the Love of Zinnias
There was a time in my life that I did not care much for zinnias. I have no idea why I didn’t love these easy to grow, colorful flowers. I don’t think I realized that they came in all colors, sizes, and shapes. Now I can’t wait to order new varieties and watch them grow. […]
PLANTS OF ORLANDO (Volcano Bay)
I thought Baldi Resort in Costa Rica was one of the most beautifully landscaped locations that I have ever visited and I am hard to please when it comes to landscaping. I have to say that Volcano Bay in Orlando comes close to Baldi when it comes to plant use and design. I added a […]
TROPICAL FLOWERS OF ORLANDO
I love going to Volcano Bay in Florida, not for the water rides, but for the tropical atmosphere. I spend most of my time exploring the variety of tropical plants and flowers. I use a plant app to try to identify each species and find out if they will grow in my zone 8 climate. […]
FALL ON THE FARM
The Farmer’s Almanac was correct. We made it to November here in South Arkansas (zone 8a) before the first frost. The day before the first frost was predicted, I grabbed my phone and took photos. I’m sure I am not the only person who cries the morning after a frost when everything is brown instead […]
GROWNING HABANADA (NON-SPICY HABANERO)
One of the coolest peppers I have ever grown is an orange, wrinkled looking thing called a Habanada. I saw the seeds while browsing seeds from Baker Creek and the orange color intrigued me. I read that it was the world’s first heatless habanero so I immediately put the little packet of seeds in my […]
Growing the Toothache Plant and it’s Medicinal Benefits
This is my first year to grow the Toothache Plant and to be honest, I purchased the seeds because I thought the flowers were cool looking. I thought they looked like little eyeballs so I fondly refer to them as the eyeball plant. I purchased my seeds from Baker Creek but I’m sure there are […]
GROWING GROUND CHERRIES
I am growing Aunt Molly’s ground cherries this year and have had numerous people comment on their toxicity. It is true that the leaves and unripe fruit are poisonous and even fatal if ingested, ripe fruits are not and can be made into jellies, jams, and sauces. Ground cherries (Physalis spp.), often called cape gooseberries, are […]
GROWING PEPPERS FROM STORE PRODUCE
I am sitting in a restaurant have this amazing avocado bruschetta and I get my first glimpse of these tiny red peppers that had this amazing flavor. I knew I wanted to grow some of these peppers, so I asked the waitress what they were called. I found out they were sweetie peppers. Being the […]
Starting a New Garden on a New Homestead
We purchased a new homestead in January and though we have not made a lot of progress on the inside of the house, we have made progress on the outside. Specifically, the raised beds for the garden. I plan to turn the entire fenced in area of our backyard into food production including putting in […]
PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING BLACKBERRIES
For some of us in the South, picking blackberries brings brings back childhood memories of reaching for those delicious dark purple nuggets among a thicket of thorns. Standing in the warm sun, we ate as many berries as we saved. Our hands turned purple, juice ran down our chins, and we complained out the scratches on […]
NEW TROPICAL LANDSCAPING & WHAT’S GROWING NOW
This has been an amazing spring in the garden. I was making pickles by the end of April and the peaches were large and sweet. Having a warm winter has allowed me to get plants in the ground much earlier than normal. My mother has been redoing the landscaping in her yard in an […]
How to Grow ~ PEACHES
Peach trees are not hard to grow but it does seem like it takes forever before they produce fruit. If you are reading this, it’s probably because you were looking for information on growing peaches. You have probably read several articles ( I usually read at least ten) on how to successfully grow them, planting techniques, […]
SUPER EASY DILL PICKLES
It’s not even May and I’m already canning pickles and putting peaches in the freezer. I have never had cucumbers ready this early in the year but this mild winter has been great for the plants. The first plants I put in the garden was cucumbers and I have been harvesting them for a […]
Cashews & Poison Ivy and what they have in common.
I think somewhere in my life, I have read about how we get cashews. The thing that puzzles me is why I didn’t remember this information. Seriously, this weird nut grows on the bottom of a “cashew apple.” How can you forget something so bizarre? The apple portion is actually an accessory fruit and […]
Spring Flowers from the Yard
Spring is here and the first flowers have come and gone. Now the second round of flowers are blooming including these roses in the rose garden. The greenhouse is still full of plants waiting for that last frost. Related
4 weeks – From seeds to young plants
It’s that time of the year again. Time to go to the farm store, pick out your seeds, and get them started indoors while you wait for winter to pass. I love our local farm store. Notice my fancy labeling system. Hey, it works. Once the plants get bigger, I label cups with a sharpie […]
How to Grow ~ PINEAPPLE
I never thought I would say this but growing pineapple is super easy. Yep, that fruit that you thought of as being tropical can be grown almost anywhere. You simply treat them like a houseplant during the winter and set them back out in the spring when the weather gets warm enough. A few things you […]
How to Grow ~ SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI
Squash is a seasonal vegetable. It is very susceptible to frost and heat damage, but with proper care it will produce a bumper crop with very few plants. PLANTING If you wish to start seeds indoors due to a short gardening season, sow 2 to 4 weeks before last spring frost in peat pots. However, we recommend […]
How to Grow ~ SNAP BEANS
I am planting green beans (snap beans, string beans) for the first time this year. I go out daily to see how much they have grown while I was a work. It has become a daily routine that is somehow calming to my spirit. I understand that green beans are supposed to be easy to […]
FLOWERS FROM THE YARD
The hydrangeas are beautiful this year. They range from bright pinks to blues to a beautiful variegated variety. I had to grab my camera and get some photos of some of the flowers around the farm. Here is a gorgeous double peach hibiscus. Pink hibiscus Here is one of the many colors of Cannas. And […]
How to grow Cucumbers
When to Plant Cucumbers Sow seeds directly into prepared rows or hills one to two weeks after your last spring frost, and make a second planting a month later. Where summers are short and cool, start seeds indoors under bright fluorescent lights two weeks before your last spring frost. If kept moist and warm (above […]
How to Grow ~ BELL PEPPERS
HOW TO GROW BELL PEPPERS Planting Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date. The temperature must be at least 70 degrees F for seed germination, so keep them in a warm area for the best and fastest results. Start pepper seeds three to a pot, and thin out the weakest seedling. Let the remaining […]
HOW TO GROW TOMATOES
Planting If you’re planting seeds (versus purchasing transplants), you’ll want to start your seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost date. Select a site with full sun and well-drained soil. For northern regions, is is VERY important that your site receives at least 6 hours of sun. For southern regions, […]
Vegetable Garden Layouts / Plans
I have been trying to plan my new vegetable garden. I have spent hours on Pinterest searching for the perfect layout. I never thought it would be this hard to decide on a garden plan. I have been planting in my little 4 x 8 square foot garden for years but alas, the boards decided […]
