Organic Gardening
ame vanorio
Is Peat Moss Environmentally Evil?

Peat moss is a common material used in gardening. It’s found in many mixes for seed starting and potted plants. Gardeners use it to improve their soil, start seeds, or fill raised beds. It is valued because it holds water well and improves soil structure. It prevents soil compaction and lowers pH which is good for acid loving plants like hydrangeas and blueberries.

Sounds great? However, there is a down side. Peat moss is not environmentally friendly for several reasons. The primary concern unsustainable harvesting and the environmental impact of peatlands, which are critical ecosystems.

Lets look at what peat moss is, how its harvested and some good replacements.

Is Peat Moss Environmentally Evil?
Indoor gardening
ame vanorio
Forcing Bulbs For Indoor Winter Color
Forcing Bulbs For Indoor Winter Color
Organic Gardening
ame vanorio
Is Fennel An Herb Or A Vegetable

If you have grown fennel before you may know that their are two main types. Florence fennel or finocchio like this one make a bulb and is used as a vegetable. Regular fennel is an herb grown primarily for its leaves and seeds. It is also a great pollinating plant and medicinal herb.

Is Fennel An Herb Or A Vegetable
Organic Gardening, Urban Gardening
ame vanorio
Egyptian Walking Onions: Perennial Onions

Perennial onions are great because they need little care and are great for flavoring dishes. This article will teach you how to grow and use Egyptian Walking Onions.

Egyptian Walking Onions: Perennial Onions
Organic Gardening
ame vanorio
How To Grow Bulbs in Pots for Urban Gardens

Gardening in urban areas and on patios means less space. Using pots and containers can help keep your garden organized while giving you more room to grow.

How To Grow Bulbs in Pots for Urban Gardens

Is Peat Moss Environmentally Evil?

Is Peat Moss Environmentally Evil?

Peat moss is a common material used in gardening. It’s found in many mixes for seed starting and potted plants. Gardeners use it to improve their soil, start seeds, or fill raised beds. It is valued because it holds water well and improves soil structure. It prevents soil compaction and lowers pH which is good for acid loving plants like hydrangeas and blueberries.

Sounds great? However, there is a down side. Peat moss is not environmentally friendly for several reasons. The primary concern unsustainable harvesting and the environmental impact of peatlands, which are critical ecosystems.

Lets look at what peat moss is, how its harvested and some good replacements.

Forcing Bulbs For Indoor Winter Color

Forcing bulbs is a simple and satisfying way to enjoy spring flowers ahead of time. By simulating the conditions of winter, you can "trick" your bulbs into thinking it's time to bloom, allowing you to bring nature's beauty into your home while it’s still cold outside.

Prepare and Chill Bulbs

Forcing spring bulbs begins with a cooling period that mimics winter. You should start the process in the fall, around October or November, depending on when you want them to bloom. It takes about 12-14 weeks of chilling. Place the bulbs in a paper bag or breathable container and store them in a cool, dark place, ideally at temperatures between 35-48°F (2-9°C). A refrigerator or unheated garage works well. Avoid storing them near fruits, especially apples, as they emit ethylene gas, which can harm the bulbs.

Planting Bulbs indoors

Forcing bulbs don't require deep planting because we are growing them inside. Shallow bowls are ideal for crocuses, while tulips prefer deeper pots. Winter air can be dry, so try to keep the humidity up around your plants by placing a tray of water nearby or misting them lightly.

Forcing hyacinths

A potting mix designed for bulbs or a well-draining mix of garden soil, sand, and compost works great.

Bulbs love light, so place them where they can get at least six hours of indirect sunlight a day. Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to rot.

The flowers will typically last for a couple of weeks. Once they’ve finished blooming, it’s best to discard the bulbs, as forced bulbs rarely bloom again.

Forced hyacinths do well in shallow containers in an area with plenty of light

Forcing Hyacinths Indoors

Hyacinths can be a bit picky. Start by picking large, heavy, and firm untreated hyacinth bulbs in late September - October.

To force hyacinths, plant the bulbs in a pot and keep them in a cool, dark place (around 40-50°F or 4-10°C) for about 10-12 weeks. If you have an unheated garage that’s good.

If you place them in a paper bag inside the refrigerator. Keep them away from ripening fruits like apples, which emit ethylene gas that hurts the bulb.

You can put the bulbs in soil as described above or in water. Place pebbles in a glass container or set the bulb on top of a special hyacinth forcing vase. Fill with water so it sits just below the base of the bulb without touching it directly.Once shoots appear, move the pots to a sunny spot indoors, and they should bloom in a few weeks.

Check out my video on growing bulbs in containers

Organic Gardening Blog
How To Grow Bulbs in Pots for Urban Gardens
How To Grow Bulbs in Pots for Urban Gardens

Gardening in urban areas and on patios means less space. Using pots and containers can help keep your garden organized while giving you more room to grow.

Read more →
Planting Fall Bulbs in Zone 5 & 6: Complete Guide
Planting Fall Bulbs in Zone 5 & 6: Complete Guide

Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring. I love watching crocuses pop up through the snow. It energizes me. Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring.

In USDA Zones 5 & 6, the timing and selection of bulbs are crucial to achieving the best results. Let’s talk about when to plant some common bulbs, growing conditions, and some of the different options. Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, and tulips.

Read more →
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Planting Fall Bulbs in Zone 5 & 6: Complete Guide

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Planting Fall Bulbs in Zone 5 & 6: Complete Guide

Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring. I love watching crocuses pop up through the snow. It energizes me. Planting bulb flowers in the fall is an excellent way to ensure a vibrant and colorful garden come spring.

In USDA Zones 5 & 6, the timing and selection of bulbs are crucial to achieving the best results. Let’s talk about when to plant some common bulbs, growing conditions, and some of the different options. Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, and tulips.

Medicinal Benefits From Common Kitchen Herbs

Medicinal Benefits From Common Kitchen Herbs

Many herbs add flavor to food. but thats not all. Herbs have natural compounds that have antioxidant, anti inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. All those cool things that benefit our health and help us fight off germs.

Another health benefits of culinary herbs is that they help add flavor without relying heavily on salt, sugar, or processed sauces.

In this article we look at the health benefits of 7 common cooking herbs, how to use them medicinally, and growing tips.

Parsnips: Grow and Cook This Hardy Vegetable

Parsnips: Grow and Cook This Hardy Vegetable

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) are a root crop, related to carrots and parsley. They are very cold hardy and do well for fall or overwintering. In fact they need a few weeks of cold weather to make them sweeter.

They are very under appreciated and have a sweet nutty flavor. Parsnips take longer then carrots to grow and can be a bit persnickety but I'm going to help you have a great crop.

Apple Pests and Diseases: Organic Prevention and Control

Apple Pests and Diseases: Organic Prevention and Control

Apple trees are one of the most rewarding fruit trees to grow in a home garden. They also attract a wide range of pests and diseases. Knowing what to watch for, and how to respond early, makes a big difference.

I have been told by many farmers and that you cant raise apples organically. That is simply not true. In this article I am teaching about three apple pests, codling moth, apple maggot, and gypsy moth, and two fungal diseases, powdery mildew and apple scab. And how to prevent and control them.

Plum Curculio: Prevention & Control

Plum Curculio: Prevention & Control

If you grow apples, peaches, or plums in the eastern United States, you will likely deal with plum curculio at some point. The plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) is a native snout beetle that attacks tree fruit. It is small, but it can ruin a crop quickly if ignored.

As organic growers, we do not panic. We learn the life cycle and interrupt it at the right time. That is the key.

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Cold Hardy Vegetables For Winter Harvests in Zone 5 & 6

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Cold Hardy Vegetables For Winter Harvests in Zone 5 & 6

In the winter I crave fresh vegetables. My gardening goal is to extend my harvest as far as I can to provide food for my family all year. Today we are talking about hardy vegetables that are powerhouses in cold weather. Not only do these plants tolerate cold they are easy to grow and will thrive in many soil types.

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Indoor Food Gardening: Growing Vegetables and Fruits In An Apartment

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Indoor Food Gardening: Growing Vegetables and Fruits In An Apartment

Living in an apartment has taught me many new ways to grow vegetables and fruits indoors. I have discovered that gardening is not limited to a plot of soil.

For many people living in an urban apartment or condominium means they can’t garden in the traditional sense. When I left rural Kentucky for urban Wisconsin, I was very anxious that it meant the end of my ability to have food security. Not to mention that I just loved getting my hands dirty and playing in the dirt.

Strawberries Zone 6 Growing and Using

Strawberries Zone 6 Growing and Using

What is the best thing about June? Fresh strawberries, of course! Strawberries are easy to grow and provide an excellent yield for the amount of space.

In addition to the fantastic taste, strawberries have many great qualities. They are the first fruit of the season and the quickest fruit to produce from planting to eating. Strawberries are also very nutritious and are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants.