Katherine's blog

It's not too late to start planning your garden plot!

If you haven't planned out what you're going to plant and when, try the online planning game on the Gardener's Supply website called the Kitchen Garden Planner! This is really great for kids too!

I've been working on planning my garden plot, so I'm really excited about this fun tool!!

Check it out and start planning your plot today!!

Monoculture is the practice of planting one single crop over a large area. The same crop is often grown in the same soil year after year. This is a commonly used modern industrial agricultural practice. This technique is used in order to produce as much food as possible for the least amount of labor. However, there are many disadvantages to monoculture. Pathogens spread more quickly, so your crop is more likely to fail.

One way to save space in your plot is interplanting crops that mature at different rates.

For instance, try planting radishes and carrots in the same row. The radishes sprout very quickly, marking the row, and helping to remind you to water. The radishes then mature quickly so that they will be picked and eaten before the carrots get big enough to need more space. As you're pulling the radishes, you're thinning the carrots so they have room to grow!

What a great way to save room so you can get even more veggies out of your plot!!

When starting seedlings indoors, blow on them to make them grow stronger. This increases the carbon dioxide exchange, which helps to stimulate plant growth. It also helps to stimulate natural winds. The plants cells respond to the pressure from the wind, building more cells and stronger cell walls at the stress points. (This is why trees at the edges of a forest are thicker and stronger than those in the middle!) Be sure to blow at them from all different angles, so that your plants grow up to be strong and well rounded, rather than lopsided.

I was asked about which plants to start indoors by someone who is trying to plan this season's garden.

Here in Northern Nevada, our high desert climate can make gardening a little confusing for a midwestern girl like me. I'm from Missouri, where the average last frost date is April 15th and temperatures very rarely swing more than 20 degree in a day. So, being used to that climate, I'm chomping at the bit to get get started in the garden, especially when daytime feels like spring.

In honor of National Gardening Month, I will be posting blogs on organic gardening all month long!

Stay tuned to my blog for organic gardening tips that will hopefully be useful to you as you plan your garden for this season!

And remember:

"There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments." - Janet Kilburn Phillips

Happy Gardening!

Want to help beautify the Garden?

Join us for one (or more!) of our upcoming Garden Work Parties, listed below!

You bring sun protection, work gloves (if you have them), and a cup or mug to help reduce waste.

We'll provide food, beverages, and fun people!

See you there!!

Upcoming Work Parties:

Today we got a huge shipment of seeds from America the Beautiful Fund!

They are free for anyone in the community who would like to grow their own food.

There are also flower seeds for people who would like to help beautify our community!

Please come by the Garden Office at 640 Melarkey Street, Suite 2, to pick some up!