Garden a Growin'

I got really excited about starting a garden this year. Before I had moved to the new house in Maryland in March, I had gardening books shipped to the house awaiting my arrival. As a house warming gift, my mom gave me a gift certificate to Home Depot, some cute new gloves and a couple of gardening magazines because I had been talking about it so much. I couldn't wait to get my hands in the dirt- the day after I got to Maryland, we went to the store and I raided the seed packet display and potted herbs.

I went a little bit overboard on the seeds. Once I started looking at them, I couldn't help but grab for most of them. I mean, they were only a buck- why not?! And if I didn't plant them this year, there was always next. So, here's what I ended up with:

1. Tarragon
2. Zucchini
3. Broccoli Raab
4. Watermelon Radish
5. Okra
6. Lavender
7. Fennel
8. Habanero Peppers
9. Cherry Peppers
10. Eggplant
11. Garden Beans
12. Kaleidoscope Carrots
13. Roma Tomatoes
14. Jalepeno Peppers 
15. Cabbage
16. Arugula
17. French Breakfast Radish
18. Carrot
19. Scallion
20. Cucumber
21. Watermelon
22. Big Boy Tomato
23. Sweet Red Pepper
24. Dill

Yes, I know. A bit much for someone's first garden. 

So to start out, I had to figure out which of the seeds I could start indoors (I had already done some research about when to start seeds and when to transplants). For that, I consulted The Vegetable Gardener's Bible. In self-watering seed-starting pallets, I started the zucchini, lavender, habaneros, cherry peppers, eggplant, roma tomatoes, jalepenos, cucumbers, watermelon, big boy tomatoes, and sweet red peppers. 

I didn't get fancy with the labeling- a strip of duct tape labeled with numbers let me know what seed was in each row. 

For the seeds that have a long time to harvest, I used some tricks I picked up in Starting from Seed from Fine Gardening which you can find here. For the larger seeds, I took a fingernail clipper and made a slight nick in their coating that helps moisture penetrate and get the seed germinating. I didn't even think about trying it with the little seeds, but they have a trick for those, too.  I also soaked the seeds overnight (just not longer than 24 hours) to jumpstart their sprouting. 

Within a few days, I had little sprouts popping up all over the place and they just kept growing!

Per the know-it-all book, I transplanted the tomatoes, eggplants and peppers to larger pots as soon as their true leaves (the second set) appeared. 

Now that the threat of frost has finally passed, I'm looking forward to getting some of these babies in the ground! I'm going to have all of the tomatoes, peppers and the eggplant in pots on the deck and then everything else will go into our plot at the community garden. Well, not everything else! We'll see what fits. 

What's going in your garden this year? 

Link Up

Not Just a Housewife- Show Me What Ya Got

Cozy Home Scenes- Your Cozy Home Party 

Read more »

Get Started Gardening!

It's not too late to get started growing your own produce! I have been dreaming about getting to start a garden in the new house in Maryland and I didn't waste any time. The day after I got here it was off to the home improvement store to pick out loads of seed packets and seed starting trays!

If you've never gardened before, like myself, you may be wondering where to start. Start doing some reading! Not only do you need to know where to begin but also what is in store for you the rest of the growing season. As always, Martha Stewart is always a great reference- check out her Vegetable Garden Guide as a starting point. I also picked up a couple of great books that I highly recommend.

The Vegetable Gardener's Bible tells you everything you need to know to start gardening, including an index of every plant you can think of and how to make it grow happily. A great reference!

I also picked up the Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook because I am a person who needs step by step lists! All you need to know to use this book is your date of last frost, then open up the book to the right week and see what you need to be doing. To find the average date of last spring frost for your area, check out this chart.

Another vital piece of information for any type of gardening is learning your hardiness zone. Your zone  will let you know what kind of plants will do best from year to year, taking into account your region's high and low temperatures. You can input your zipcode into this website to easily find out! You might be surprised to know that Tulsa and Frederick, Maryland are actually in the same zone- 6B. I'm thankful that it doesn't get much colder than it did back in Oklahoma!

To make it really easy on yourself, you can use this tool from the Farmer's Almanac to input your zipcode and find out when to start your seeds indoors and outdoors. It even tells you moon-favorable dates to plant! I wonder if that makes a difference... at this point I will do anything that might help! If you've started seeds indoors, this tool will tell you when to put those babies in the ground.

I hope this post will help you be motivated to start your own garden- it's easier than you think! I've already picked up 23 seed packets- I got a little carried away! Next post I'll show you how I planted my seeds and what is already growing, in the mean time check out my collection of gardening pictures and articles on my Pinterest board- Gardening.

Read more »

Avocado Tree: Day 57

I have foliage! Well, it's at least going to be foliage. After two months of faithful watering, this little bugger has done as promised. And only a couple weeks off schedule.

See that little green bit poking out the top? Some day that will be a big, strong fruit-bearing tree. At least in my dreams. If I get one full leaf out of it I will count this as a success!

And check out this pig tail it's growing! It gets longer and longer ever day. I may have to get a bigger bowl.

Here are the links to my other posts with more details into growing your own avocado tree:

• (Trying to) Grow an Avocado Tree
• Avocado Tree: Day 36

Read more »

Avocado Tree: Day 36

I realize I have been apologizing for my absence a lot lately... will you forgive me?

Between my Costa Rican getaway, shopping for a friend's wedding dress and D's family reunion I haven't had much time to be inspired. And then I had to have my appendix out. There is nothing fun about a week of bed rest!

The avocado is alive! Turns out I have a green thumb- at least chartreuse at this point. Despite leaving it with my mother over vacation, it sprouted a root! And all within the 6 weeks that the website promised.

I'm still lacking any foliage on the top side. I'm trying to be patient and not peel of the seed's skin- it's very tempting. I hope it comes soon- photosynthesis and all is pretty important.

And in a few short years it will produce an actual avocado! Gardening is good for patience. Things happen whenever they happen... it's a trait I need to learn!

Any of you try to start growing an avocado? I've been told you can do this with a mango seed too! Click here to read the first post about getting started!

Read more »

(Trying to) Grow an Avocado Tree

Yes, I am still alive. Spring time has been keeping me very busy. Which is also the reason I had to make time to do nothing. Doing nothing is very good sometimes.

In the mean time, I've been on an avocado kick- they're so delicious! I've been putting them on sandwiches, in wraps, making guacamole and eating them salted, straight out of their peel. As fun as I find it to whack its big seed with my knife to ease it from the fruit, I feel bad throwing it away. So I decided to find out how to grow my own avocado plant.

I found this website that told me everything I needed to know- and it couldn't be easier! Carefully remove the avocado pit (minus the hack marks) and wash any residue off under the sink. Then, take three toothpicks and wiggle them into the thickest part of the seed. Suspend the pit over a glass of water, making sure to keep the base covered and the top dry. Place it in a sunny spot and in 3-6 weeks the top will begin to sprout and the bottom will grow roots. I think I can handle this!

And yes, I put mine in a crystal bowl. I figure it can't hurt. It will grow to be a very sophisticated avocado.

If you want to know what to do when your little avocado grows up, be sure to read the rest of the article. Right now I'm just hoping I don't kill a plant that hasn't even sprouted yet. I will keep you updated!

Read more »

What's in Your Garden?

Oh, how I love spring. The days get longer, things are green again, and you can grow delicious things right in your back yard. This is what's growing on my back deck:

From Garden Trug I picked up some sweet basil, and lavender...

And some thyme and dill...

Also cilantro, Italian parsley and mint from Urban Garden...

Let's not forget the tarragon I got at the farmers' market:

  Little did I know, some of the herbs I planted last year were perennials!

The sage and chives came back in abundance, both bearing flowers. Did you know sage flowered?

And slowly, but surely the rosemary and oregano are making a comeback.

I'm debating also planting some meyer lemon trees. I never seem to have a lemon when I need one!

What's growing in your garden? Do you have any green thumb tips?

Read more »