Cucumbers are grown by many gardeners, but they are still a mystery, shrouded in myths. Learn more about cucumbers as I debunk some common myths.
Myths About Growing Cucumbers
Salvia Sclarea v. Turkestanica – Clary Sage
Salvia sclarea has been in my garden for over 12 years and it is always a pleasure to see it. It is very fragrant, and makes a nice showing with long lasting flowers.
Weed Tea, Fertilizer Tea – No Matter the Name, It Stinks
I read about weed tea many years ago and I made some. It stunk so bad that I never made it again.
With all the interest in natural gardening it is making a comeback and the internet is full of gardening advice that says fertilizer tea made from weeds is great for plants. Let’s have a look at the science behind this gardening practice. Is it worth making weed tea fertilizer? What kind of nutrients does it really provide? Are there better ways to use your weeds?
Just to be clear – I am talking about the weeds you pull from the garden – not the kind you smoke!
Building a Rain Garden – A Step-by-Step Guide
Rain gardens are popping up everywhere and many gardeners add them to their landscape. They are beautiful, low-maintenance, help give back to the community, and support the health of local waterways. To understand the benefits and how to design a rain garden, look at my previous post called: Rain Garden for Home Gardeners.
In this article I’ll show you a simple method for installing your rain garden, also called a bioretention garden.
Rain Gardens for Home Gardeners
Rain gardens are a relatively new type of garden that combines the beauty of a well designed landscape with environmental and social wellbeing. Rain gardens are an increasingly popular choice for public green spaces, but are also great for gardeners who want attractive, low-maintenance gardens that benefit the wider community.
Feeding Plants From the Kitchen – Which Products Actually Work?
What do you give plants to drink besides water and plant food? This question was asked on Facebook and I was surprised at the number of household kitchen products that are given to plants. What did not surprise me was that not a single person provided any evidence that any of them actually worked.
A very common expression people use to justify their actions is, “my plants love it”.
I hate that phrase. Plants do not show love – they don’t even say thank you. If you give something to a healthy plant you have no way of knowing if it is harming the plant or doing some good, unless you see huge changes in the plant, and even then the changes could be due to any number of other causes.
In this post I discuss 13 items people feed to plants.
Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting – Book Review
I have written about companion planting several times and have concluded that most recommended companions, either don’t work, or there is no scientific support for them. When the book, “Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden” was released I was definitely intrigued because all prior books on the subject are mostly myths and definitely not based on science.
Jessica Walliser, the author, was kind enough to provide a copy for review. Does this book finally provide a sound set of recommendations for companion planting?
How To Name Plants Correctly – Botanical Names vs Common Names
Knowledge of plant names is the foundation of gardening and they help gardeners select plants and determine how to grow them. Many gardeners obtain or share knowledge by communicating with other plant enthusiasts from around the world. A good grasp of plant names and how to use them, will save you significant time, effort, and money.
The proper use of plant names becomes more complicated when we consider varieties, cultivars, hybrids, and regional differences between common names.
A rose by any other name might not smell as sweet…because it’s an entirely different plant!
Will Gypsum Improve Clay Soil?
People struggle with clay soil and try all kinds of quick fixes, including gypsum, which is regularly touted as a clay buster, but does it really work? Will gypsum make clay soil easier to dig? Will it improve drainage? Should you add it to your soil?
Maybe!
There are good reasons for using gypsum, but you have to know when and when not to use it. Most gardeners should not use it. Don’t listen to marketing hype about this product – much of it is wrong.
Gentiana Angustifolia – the Blue Trumpet Gentian
Gentiana angustifolia produces huge flowers relative to the size of the plant. This is one of the best plants in my rock garden and it should be added to every garden that specializes in small plants.
Add a Japanese Zen Garden to Your Backyard
Zen gardens are some of the most famous examples of Japanese gardens. Originally invented by Japanese monks as early as the 700s, they are now iconic and popular around the world. Other names for Zen gardens include mediation gardens and Japanese rock gardens. Stones, sand and gravel are the most important features of these gardens, though they can also include bridges, water features and plants. At a glance, these gardens look simple and subdued but they are packed with meaning. The essence is a calming space for meditation that evokes natural landscapes on a small scale, which makes them a great choice for gardeners looking for a peaceful retreat in the comfort of their own home. Compared to other types of Japanese gardens, Zen gardens can be successfully created in small spaces and have low maintenance.
Know Your Green Dragon: Arisaema Dracontium vs Pinellia Pedatisecta
Who wouldn’t want a green dragon in the garden? The problem is that some green dragons are native to North America (Arisaema dracontium) and others are not (Pinellia Pedatisecta). Pinellia is commonly sold as Arisaema dracontium, and since Pinellia is much more aggressive, it can take over native areas after well-intentioned gardeners plant it.
If you grow either of these plants, make sure you know which one you have.
There is nothing wrong with growing Pinellia in North America; just make sure you label it correctly and don’t plant it in wild areas.
