Tips On Growing Your Very Own
Victory Garden!
I hope everyone is doing well. I know these are stressed times and there are a lot of people at home. That's why now is the perfect time to put in your Victory Garden! Even if you're in an apartment you can have plants in pots. The trick is to plant the right species for your environment. If you don't have a yard or you want to start small with some kind of potted plant, you can't go wrong a nice Spider Plant or succulent. They are easy to care for inside your home and don't require much direct light. They just need some well draining soil and a water every now and then. Spider plants do great in the bathroom. Succulents do great near windowsills or front patios. I bought all those succulents when they were in small pots and found an old larger pt and boom! Instant smiles.
If you are leaning more towards growing some food, you can't go wrong with Leaf Lettuce, Tomatoes and Cucumbers. The lettuce don't mind a little cold as long as you don't over water them. The Tomato and Cucumber on the other hand like the warm weather. Be sure your last frost is past before you sow your seeds for those two.
You can also start them indoors if you want to, in smaller pots or seed trays. The lettuce you just spread your seeds and add a light cover of potting soil, then water. They don't need a lot of water after this, so be careful not to over water. Now, with Tomatoes and Cucumbers you can use your finger tip or a pencil to poke your hole and seed. Then water and let your soil get dry on top before watering again. May I also suggest that you bottom water your seeds. They seem to like it and you don't disturb the soil on top, so there is no chance of damaging your seedlings that way.
When you're seedlings get a couple of True Leaves; which are the leaves that come after your seeds initially pop up; you will want to pot them up in a bigger container. They won't be ready for outside until the weather is warmer at night, about 50 degrees or more nights is a good time to plant them outside. Your lettuce doesn't mind colder nights so as long as there is no frost you can acclimate them first then put those guys into the ground.
Acclimation is something you want to do to any plants you started inside. You pick a day with mild to no wind, sunny or overcast, without harsh conditions. Take your plants outside and let them bask for and hour or two, then bring them back inside to their usual spot. Do this everyday for about a week, each time letting them go a little longer outside and by the end of the week they should be acclimated and ready for planting.
I do like to mix up some gentle fertilizer when I put them in the ground to give them a good start. The taste and quality of the food from your own garden can't be beat! So I encourage all of you to grow your own Victory Garden this year! There is no time like the present to get growing!
You can also start them indoors if you want to, in smaller pots or seed trays. The lettuce you just spread your seeds and add a light cover of potting soil, then water. They don't need a lot of water after this, so be careful not to over water. Now, with Tomatoes and Cucumbers you can use your finger tip or a pencil to poke your hole and seed. Then water and let your soil get dry on top before watering again. May I also suggest that you bottom water your seeds. They seem to like it and you don't disturb the soil on top, so there is no chance of damaging your seedlings that way.
When you're seedlings get a couple of True Leaves; which are the leaves that come after your seeds initially pop up; you will want to pot them up in a bigger container. They won't be ready for outside until the weather is warmer at night, about 50 degrees or more nights is a good time to plant them outside. Your lettuce doesn't mind colder nights so as long as there is no frost you can acclimate them first then put those guys into the ground.
Acclimation is something you want to do to any plants you started inside. You pick a day with mild to no wind, sunny or overcast, without harsh conditions. Take your plants outside and let them bask for and hour or two, then bring them back inside to their usual spot. Do this everyday for about a week, each time letting them go a little longer outside and by the end of the week they should be acclimated and ready for planting.
I do like to mix up some gentle fertilizer when I put them in the ground to give them a good start. The taste and quality of the food from your own garden can't be beat! So I encourage all of you to grow your own Victory Garden this year! There is no time like the present to get growing!
Don't Throw Away Your Onion Bulbs!
Buying onions from the store? Great! Instead of throwing away the unused portion from your green onions, plant them. No need to go spend money on onion bulbs if you have them anyway.
There are still farmers that grow vegetables and fruits that you can plant at home. Organic growers don't mess around with trying to keep their type of veggies secret.
There are still farmers that grow vegetables and fruits that you can plant at home. Organic growers don't mess around with trying to keep their type of veggies secret.