Planting in Early Spring!

The days are longer, the air is warmer, and the April rains are upon us.  Here are some 'rules of thumb' for planting this month:

1. Planting directly into the garden: beets, carrots, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsnips, kale, peas, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, potatoes
2. Transplant into the garden: beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, onions, strawberries
3. Start seelings indoors: cucumbers, eggplants, melons, new zealand spinach, okra, onions, peppers, squash, tomatoes

Happy planting!

Online Resources

The information on the internet is limitless, and there is an abundance of food gardening advice out there.  If you are like me, I am so busy I rely on a few trustworthy sources.  Here are my favorites:

1. For planning your garden try the Garden Planner at http://www.gardeners.com/Kitchen-Garden-Planner/kgp_home,default,pg.html which provides 'maps' of ways to maximize your harvest.  Also, http://www.plangarden.com/ offers a unique program that not only helps you plan the layout of your garden, but also track your harvest, seed planting times etc.

2. For a source that helps rate seed catalogs and garden providers, as well as support an active community of gardeners within discussion boards, check out http://www.davesgarden.com/

3. For an overall good source for home gardening information, I really like http://www.kitchengardeners.com/.  KGI is a community of over 20,000 people from 100 countries who are growing some of their own food and helping others to do the same, both near and far. Their mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve greater levels of food self-reliance through the promotion of kitchen gardening, home-cooking, and sustainable local food systems. In doing so, KGI seeks to connect, serve, and expand the global community of people who grow some of their own food.

So enjoy! If you have additional sources you love, please let me know in the comments section!

Chart of some Common Bugs in our Vegetable Gardens

This complements the previous post - got any of these bugs?

Organic Homemade Bug Repellants

At one point or another, we all encounter issues with bugs in our garden inflicting casualties on our vegetables, FIGHT BACK!  Here are some 'recipes' for some organic bug remedies:

1. All Purpose Bug-off Spray (works on all types of pests such as slugs and Japanese Beetles)

Ingredients: 1 garlic bulb, 1 small onion, 1 teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper, 1 quart water, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap

Instructions:  Chop the garlic and onion and place in a blender.  Add the cayenne pepper and water.  Steep for one hour.  Strain through cheesecloth.  Add liquid dish soap so the spray sticks to plant leaves (test a leaf a day beforehand as some plants are very sensitive to soap).  Mix well.  Spray the mixture on both sides of the leaves.  Store remaining spray in a cool place such as the refrigerator.

     2.  Hot Pepper Bug-off  Spray (repels insects and animals like cats and dogs.  Wear rubber bloves when preparing and using the mixture)

Ingredients:  1/2 cup hot peppers, 2 cups water

Instructions:  Puree peppers and water in a blender.  Strain the liquid through cheesecloth.  Apply every 5 to 7 days until the pests are gone.

     3.  Tomato Leaf Spray (a general insect repellant. Especially good on soft bodies pests such as aphids.

Ingredients: 2 cups tomato leaves, 1 tablespoon corn starch, 4 cups water

Instructions: Blend the liquid in a blender, let steep overnight, strain with cheesecloth, dilute liquid with 2 more cups water, adn spray on affected leaves.