GARDEN 5-22
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“How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and gardening.”
Well, I wasted 3 hours to see the winner of ‘’American Idol” only to not get my pick for the winner. John Foster has a long road ahead even though he didn’t win #1. He already has recording offers from several recording companies and has gotten the attention of so many in the music business. Besides he is already going to college to be a Dr. John has a huge fan club and we will see a lot more of him. God Bless you John.
So I guess we better get back to gardening. The weather has sure been a coaster ride. We have had one very hot day last week that nearly caused us to want to turn on the AC. Then we had two days of horrific wind. Then a very cool week end. My iris had been so pretty this year but the wind sure did mess them up. I have a new one here at the back door and when the wind got done with it, it looked like somebody had taken an egg beater to it. I posted a picture of it on FB and a lady replied that when they got home that day that her iris looked like that and she blamed the dog for tearing up her iris. Thanks for the laugh, as I felt sorry for the dog. In the past few years I have been noticing how the old fashioned iris with stand the wind. There is a page on FB for Historical Iris. They have some good information and will help to find the name of an old favorite. After the wind tangled all of my tall iris in a mess, I took a look at my old ones and they were standing with their head in the air and being all proud. Some of the blooms were a bit tattered, but the stalk was not bent. So the old ladies are sure getting my vote for endurance.
It is the season for Farmers Markets to get started. Lancaster is trying to get one going. It will be on Monday evenings from 4-7 at the Christian Church parking lot. Check it out as we want it to be a success. It is a little early for garden produce unless you have a hoop house and got an early start, but I am sure the scene will change with each week.
If you want to have some garden produce, but don’t have room for a garden, or you only want a single tomato plant, then planting is containers is a great solution. Almost any vegetable has varieties that can grow in a container with great results, and culinary herbs are the proper choice for a beginner or anyone who wants fresh produce. When selecting a container, remember that bigger is better as far as maintenance and size of harvest. Think a half whisky barrel or even a mineral tub that a farmer has used for his farm animals. They are large enough to accommodate vegetables as large tomatoes and squash with room to plant smaller choices such as carrots and lettuce. A five gallon container can hold dwarf tomatoes, peppers, beans and many leafy greens. Anything smaller could be used for growing radishes and arugula. Be sure to have proper drainage in your container. You will need holes in the bottom of the container. If your container holds water, make more holes. Also use only quality sterilized potting soil. Garden soil from your yard may contain diseases which will kill your plant and may not drain well due to compacted soil. Make sure your container is not sitting flat on the ground. A little height off the ground is needed to allow drainage. You can use a stand or pot feet or some bricks to raise you container off the ground. Watering your container will be your biggest challenge. Container gardens need a lot of water, especially if vegetables are large like tomatoes. Take caution not to over water. You need to keep the soil evenly moist. In the heat of the summer, you may have to water 1-2 times per day. Fertilize your containers every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer for vegetables or use controlled release fertilizer a planting time. For a large contain, you can add straw or bark to conserve moisture and keep your plants from drying out. It is rewarding to walk outside and pick a nice rip tomato from your on back yard. Give it a try.
A friend sent me an interesting article about how gardening can help you live better and live longer. Well most of us gardeners have already learned that playing in the dirt does wonders for a bad attitude. Research shows gardening preserves cognitive function, helping you live well for longer. Now, dementia patients are reaping benefits with “care farms” prescriptions. These farms are being tried in Norway and show great results. “Nature prescriptions can increase physical activity and social connection while reducing stress. which help lower blood pressure, blood sugar control and healthy weight, which in turn, reducing the risk of diseases that can lead to dementia. In a world of so much a problem with dementia and Alzheimer disease, maybe we need to take a look at something like this for here in America. The old saying “use it or loose it” applies to us all. We all need to stay busy using our hands and our mind to stay in touch with every day life. For anyone that has a chance to play in the dirt, go for it as long as you can. Besides remember ‘’that dirt is good for you.”
This is short, but the midnight oil has run out. As always, I suggest that you get outside and enjoy all the beauty that we are having. It soon will be too hot and flowers will fade, but we can still give God the thanks for all that we have. It is a beautiful world out there right now, so take in as much as you can.
