Jacqueline Cross's Blog

Posted by Jacqueline Cross

Wrapping up April in the vegetable patch with sampling of the articles found here at Suite101. As always, this is not a complete list, there are many more great articles here in the Vegetable Gardening section as well as hundreds of other topics.

Garden Tasks for May

Garden Tasks for May in Hot to Warm Climates

Garden Tasks for May in Cold to Moderate Climates

Vegetable Gardens

There is nothing like fresh vegetables straight from the garden to the table and here we will share information on the best ways to accomplish this with these and other articles; Transplanting Seedlings into the Garden: Relocate Young Vegetable Plants to Raised Beds or Garden after Frost Sebastian Albu, Vegetable Gardening in Florida: Grow Vegetables Year Round in South, Central and North Florida by Christy Swift, Start Tomato Seeds From Scratch: Sprout Tomatoes Indoors for Transplant by Beth Taylor and Beets from the Garden: Roots, Greens and Juice for Table or Canning by Stephen Allen Christensen. Our resident feature writer for the flower gardens section, Christine Eirschele, visited us in the vegetable patch with this article; Asian Greens for Cool Season Growing: Mache Mizuna and Pak Choi for Growing in Vegetable Gardens.

Fruit Gardens

Looking for information on fruit gardening? Following is a taste of what you’ll find at Suite101.

Choosing Tart Cherry Trees by Jacqueline Cross and Grape Grow Tubes: Using Plastic Grape Shelters by Linnea Heinrichs.

Herb Gardens

Need a closer look at herb gardens with focus put on individual plants of all kinds? Check out a some of these articles; Growing Catnip, Cat Mint or Nepeta: A Treat That is Fun to Grow and Cats Love by Heather Grant, 5 Herbs Grown for Both Their Leaves and Seeds: Herbs that Do Double Duty by Deborah Aldridge and Herb Gardening in the Shade by Jacqueline Cross. Be sure not to miss the Editor’s Choice article Arlene Marturano added in the herb garden; On Mother's Day Give Culinary Bay Laurus Nobilis: 2009 Herb of the Year.

Gardening with Children, Compost and Community Gardens

Delores Baugher wrote a nice article about gardening with children - How to Create a Child's Garden. Troy Coverdale teaches us about composting and as most vegetable gardeners know, compost is king! The Best Guide to Complete Home Composting: Everything you Need to Know about Composting. Susan Morris looks at safety for gardeners in this article found in Community Gardens; Safety in Community Gardens: Horticultural Activities in Gardens and Greenhouses Safety Review.

Posted by Jacqueline Cross

Posted by Jacqueline Cross

Our writers have been busy here in the vegetable patch this month. Below is some of what you will find in vegetables, herbs, container and community gardens since the 9th of this month.

While scanning through looking for information about Victory Gardens, I found this great article by Stephen Allen Christensen “Reviving the Victory Garden: Freedom Gardening in Response to the Current Economic Downturn.”

Potatoes and Growbags

If potatoes are on your mind Tony Allen has covered them quite well, especially for the small space gardener in these articles; “Growing Potatoes in a Barrel or Bag: Home Grown Potatoes from Your Patio - and No Digging or Mess,” “Grow Your Own New Potatoes for Christmas: Home Grown Early Potatoes Give Christmas Dinner an Extra Flavour” and “Growing Your Own New Potatoes in a Small Garden: Early Potatoes are a Rewarding Crop for Vegetable Gardeners.” Also see Tony’s article covering Growbags for those short of space, these bags are a wonderful way to have a nice bunch of fresh produce for the kitchen table. “The Advantages of Growbags and How to Use Them: Growbags Give High Crop Yields in a Small Space and Save Work.”

Herbs

I’d like to Welcome Jackie Patrickto our little vegetable garden here at Suite 101. She has contributed a nice article over in the herb patch titled, “Growing and Using Herbs: Herbs in an English Garden or Smallholding.”

While in the herb garden, read all about growing fenugreek in the article “The Facts About Fenugreek: Growing and Using Fenugreek” by S. Elliott. Sara Elliot is an expertwhen it comes to herbs as all that visit her blog, The Herb Gardener, already know. Welcome Sara.

Community Gardens

Although not new to Suite 101, Barbara Shemahas a new article here in the community gardens section, “Community Gardens Thrive in Urban Neighborhoods: Vacant Lots in Cities Produce Locally Grown Vegetables for Residents.” Welcome Barbara.

This month, we have in our midst the novelist Linnea Heinrichsjoining us with tips to grow asparagus from seed, “How to Grow Asparagus from Seed: Tips on Growing Your Own Asparagus.” Welcome Linnea.

Succession Planting and Container Gardens

I (Jacqueline Cross) wrote the first two articles below which cover succession planting and the latter two which take a look at growing vegetables in containers.

Posted by Jacqueline Cross

Posted by Jacqueline Cross

Here in Florida it is cold outside. We do have some pretty cold weather in Florida, especially in the northern part of the state. Even with the temperature falling below freezing, I think about the spring garden. Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a head start on the spring vegetable garden. In my zone, I can plant two crops (and even three some years).

The need to start seeds early is probably more of an obsession for me than it is a need. I simply like to get a jump on the season and so my home will be full of little soil-filled containers and seedlings before long. I've already started a few.

I use anything I can get my hands on to plant seeds in. Glass, plastic, paper, baskets made from reeds or straw, metal and even wood. I believe gardening at all stages should be simple and enjoyable. If you are stressing over doing each little thing perfectly, then you are more than likely not enjoying the act of gardening. This defeats the purpose. Gardening should be enjoyable even the tough parts!

These two articles cover seed starting - simple and inexpensive.

"Simple Seed Starting" by J. Cross (for a list of supplies needed)

"Vegetable Seedling Success" by J. Cross (tips for successful seed starting)

Below are articles covering heirloom beans.

"Heirloom Beans of Note" by J. Cross

"Bean Diseases" by J. Cross

"Bean Pests" by J. Cross

"More Bean Pests" by J. Cross

For other January articles of interest, you may want to have a look at the ones listed below.

"Brassicas Bring in the New Year" by Arlene Marturano

"Grow Basil in Your Backyard" by Deborah Harding

"Build a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden" by Kelly Smith

Grab a cup of coffee, tea, cocoa or what ever drink warms your insides, sit and read a while. We are all glad you've stopped by.