Tag Archives: organic gardening

Book Review:The Vegetable Garden Pest Book by Susan Mulvihill

Let me start off by saying I really like this book. Although the info sheet that accompanies The Vegetable Garden Pest Bookby Susan Mulvihill talks about climate change and newly invasive pests that attack edibles, most of what’s inside are the same pests and the same problems I’ve been dealing with in my Mid-Atlantic vegetable garden for decades. But that’s a quibble with the info sheet rather than the book itself, which is a terrific tool for almost anyone who works to produce food from their little bit of earth. 

Planting Garlic in Faith

Two days ago, I planted half of the hardneck garlic I intend to put in this year. I had chosen a bed that hadn’t held any last season and yanked out the desiccated tomato plants (we picked our last green ones, which are turning red on the porch as I write, about five days ago)Continue reading “Planting Garlic in Faith”

WHY Would You Graft Tomatoes?!

     When I first heard of grafted tomato plants, I thought: Grafting? Of annuals? Really? Grafting woody perennials, yes. The time, attention and effort required to produce a successful graft rewards us with years of fruit (trees) and/or beauty (think: roses). But all that work for the tender stems of tomato plants that only lastContinue reading “WHY Would You Graft Tomatoes?!”

Blanching the Leeks

Well, looks like we finally have spring – or maybe early summer – so I’m hauling the cool weather greens that I started in the greenhouse in and out every day to both harden them and keep them from frying as the heat inside ramps up. (So far, the tomato seedlings are loving the heat).  ManagedContinue reading “Blanching the Leeks”

Planting Hardneck Garlic on an Indian Summer Day

The past three days were gorgeous, like a return to spring, so my mind naturally returned to the garden — which I  confess I had left pretty much to its own devices the past several weeks.  I had planned to plant hardneck garlic this year as usual, but had left it kinda late. Came the hurricane, andContinue reading “Planting Hardneck Garlic on an Indian Summer Day”

Building Soils Naturally

I’m not an agronomist, and I have a feeling you’d really need to be one to properly assess this book. But I’m totally on board with the notion that you need to feed the soil and all its critters before it can feed the plants that grow in it. That’s the premise of the just-publishedContinue reading “Building Soils Naturally”