Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Thursday, August 03, 2023

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My July Garden | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

My garden has officially entered the wild zone! After carefully trying to contain my tomato vines as much as possible, I finally gave up & let them go!


I'm working on sprucing up the garden area with some aged mulch I had. It's been a slow process, but I'm getting there.


I stumbled upon some sad-looking lavender plants at Walmart & Home Depot on sale and couldn't resist bringing them home. Lavender is a perennial, so I'm looking forward to harvesting it year after year. I already got a small harvest this year that I plan to make into oils.


I also discovered some wild mint on our property, so I'm slowly transplanting some in another garden box. 


I'm currently obsessed with perennial herbs. Secretly, I love anything I only have to plant once!


My tomatoes are almost ripe, so it will be harvest time for them. Because I have so much going on, I'm planning on just freezing them & then figuring out what to do with them later.


I also have a few peppers coming along.

My July Garden | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

My July Garden | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

My July Garden | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

My July Garden | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

The garden takes quite a bit of upkeep, but I love it so much.



Wednesday, June 28, 2023

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Here's a peek at my garden in June 2023!

The beginning of June was super dry & hot here. We went for an absurd amount of time without rain. Even though I was watering twice daily, the ground was still dry.

Finally, we got some rain & my plants took off! The scorching heat subsided, providing some much-needed relief for my thirsty plants.

This year, I planted tomatoes, peppers, corn & herbs.

I chose varieties with a short growing season for the tomatoes & corn. I want two determinate tomatoes growing "seasons" this year, so we'll see.

You may be surprised that I have tomatoes & peppers coming already. That's what happens when I can't wait & start seeds in January/February!

I'm still hoping to get in some pumpkins. I saved pumpkin seeds last year & I want to see if they'll grow this year.

It's so funny to look back on my gardening journey. I've been doing this for 7 years now & it's incredible how far I've come. I started with tiny garden boxes with plants I bought & almost killed. Now, I start my own plants from seeds & have thriving gardens!

Monday, June 19, 2023

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my plant food essentials | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com


The plant food essentials I use to grow vigorous plants.

I'm about to share all my secrets regarding my plant food routine!

Before I share my plant food essentials, there are probably a million different ways to grow plants & apply plant food. This is my little routine that works for me & my garden.

Along with using super great composted soil, here are the three plant foods I use:

- SUPERthrive: I use this in the seed starting stage to give my plants a jumpstart in the growing process & sporadically throughout the season to revive dying plants.

- Earthworm castings: After hearing about the benefits of using worm castings, I tried them in my garden this year. I applied the castings directly around the plant & worked it into the soil

- Blood Meal: You may already know about my obsession with blood meal, but I always use it in my garden. I'm pretty sure it healed my dead tomatoes that were all but dead from a late-season frost.

Now let's do a deep dive on the pros & cons of each of these plant foods:

SUPERthrive is a kelp-based vitamin for plants that offers numerous benefits. 

- It promotes healthy and vigorous growth, strengthening stems, thicker foliage, and abundant flowers. 

- It helps plants to recover from stress caused by transplanting, pests, or disease. 

- SUPERthrive also enhances the plant's ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, ensuring they receive all the necessary nutrients for optimal growth. 

- It can increase the plant's resistance to environmental stressors such as drought, heat, and cold. 

Some of the drawbacks of SUPERthrive include: 

- It is relatively expensive compared to other plant supplements.

- It may not be suitable for all plants or soil types and can even be harmful in some instances.

- Overuse of SUPERthrive can lead to fertilizer burn or other adverse effects on plant growth.

- Its robust and distinct smell may be unpleasant for some users.

- Some people have reported allergic reactions or other health issues after handling or using SUPERthrive.

plant food cheat sheet -- The plant food essentials I use to grow strong plants. | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

Worm castings are an excellent source of nutrients for many plants. 

Here are some benefits of using worm castings for your plants:

- They improve soil structure and aeration, making it easier for roots to grow and absorb water and nutrients

- They increase soil microbial activity, which can help reduce plant diseases and pests

- They contain high levels of microorganisms, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria that help break down organic matter and release plant nutrients.

- They improve plant growth, yield, overall plant health, and vigor.

- They are a natural and organic alternative to chemical fertilizers, making them safe for the environment and non-toxic for plants and animals.

Worm castings can benefit many plants, including vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and fruits such as strawberries and melons. Furthermore, flowering plants like roses, marigolds, and petunias can also benefit from worm castings, as can herbs like basil, parsley, and thyme. Worm castings can benefit trees and shrubs such as citrus, apple, and avocado.

While worm castings are an excellent natural fertilizer and soil amendment, they have potential drawbacks. One limitation is that they can be expensive, especially if you have a large garden or farm. Additionally, if the worms used to create the castings were fed a diet of contaminated materials, the resulting castings could contain harmful pathogens or chemicals. Another consideration is that worm castings may not provide enough nutrients for specific plants or crops and may need to be supplemented with additional fertilizers. Finally, worm castings can attract pests or develop an unpleasant odor if not stored properly.

plant food cheat sheet -- The plant food essentials I use to grow strong plants. | on the creek blog // www.onthecreekblog.com

Blood meal is a beneficial fertilizer for plants. Some of the benefits of using blood meal include:

- High nitrogen content: Blood meal is rich in nitrogen, essential for plant growth and development.

- Organic source: Blood meal is an organic fertilizer, which means it is derived from natural sources and is safe to use in gardens and farms.

- Improves soil fertility: Blood meal helps improve soil fertility by increasing the nutrient content of the soil.

- Promotes healthy plant growth: The high nitrogen content of blood meal promotes healthy plant growth, resulting in stronger stems, larger leaves, and more abundant blooms and fruits.

Repels pests: Blood meal has a strong odor that repels pests such as rabbits and deer, helping to protect plants from damage.

- Easy to apply: Blood meal is easy to use and can be mixed with water or other fertilizers to create a nutrient-rich plant solution.

While blood meal is a popular fertilizer for plants, its use has several potential drawbacks. Firstly, it can attract unwanted pests such as rodents and flies. Additionally, it can have a strong odor that may be unpleasant for some people. Blood meal can also be high in nitrogen, leading to over-fertilization and burning the plants if used in excess. Finally, blood meal is not a sustainable fertilizer option, as it is typically made from animal byproducts and may contribute to the environmental impact of the meat industry.

Please share your plant food essentials in the comments! I'd love to see what others are using in their gardens!

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Friday, October 14, 2022

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My seed purchases for the 2023 gardening season! | On The Creek Blog // www.onthecreekblog.com
My seed purchases for the 2023 gardening season!

It might be a little early to talk about the 2023 gardening season (especially since I still need to clear garden beds from the 2022 season!), but here I am.

I got an email this morning from my friends at Burpee & all of their seeds are currently buy one get one free! I couldn't pass that up, so I loaded my cart with everything!

I'd like to do a huge garden next year. I want to try all the varieties of everything!

I'm currently really into small-space gardening, so I got a lot of plants that can be grown in containers.

My current favorite pastime is watching gardening videos on YouTube. There are so many great ideas! 

Here's what I bought during the Burpee sale:


Monday, May 09, 2022

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What I seed started in 2022 | On The Creek Blog // www.onthecreekblog.com
The plant crew of 2022!

The plant crew of 2022 is finally coming together!

It was so funny; we were at our local greenhouse last weekend & I admired their beautiful veggie plants.  I told my son, "This is what happens when you don't wait until April 15 to start your seeds!" 

My plant crew seedlings are still super tiny, but they're coming along.  I have been taking them out of the greenhouse every day to get a little sun.  The temperatures here have been fantastic & they're only getting warmer this week.  We're also going to have a stretch where it will not rain for 5 days! I'm looking forward to that!

In other planting news, the little greenhouse that could is coming along nicely.  I dug some supplies out from the basement & moved some plastic shelving out to the greenhouse for storage.  I need to do a greenhouse tour because it's just the cutest.  It's such a small space, but it works really well for me.

Seedling mode is in full swing over here.  I'm slowly 'leveling up' some plants--moving them into bigger containers as they grow.  I love coming out & looking at the little ' glow-ups' of the plants every morning!

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