I’d like to say that I am an excellent backyard gardener. I’d like to say that, but it wouldn’t be true. Sometimes the stuff I plant grows, and sometimes it doesn’t. One of the problems I’ve always had – because my soil is very claylike – is simply getting the seeds to sprout. The poor things find themselves under a big clod of clay and can’t make it through the soil. This year, … [Read more...]

  I always plant my little backyard garden too early. After a long winter – and desperate for the coming spring – I put my unsuspecting seeds and seedlings into the cold soil – and nothing happens. Many of my experienced garden friends don’t make a move until May 1. This year, I did better. I managed to get some spring onions, lettuce and beets in the ground in mid-March, then waited … [Read more...]

Bet you thought I wouldn’t write any more about creasy greens, but you would be wrong. I’m sure hundreds and hundreds are out there dying for a creasy greens update, so here it is. The creasy greens saga began last spring. My wife Nancy had received a large bag of creasy greens seeds from her cousin, Billy, as he remembered his father and Nancy’s mother cutting and eating the succulent greens … [Read more...]

  I am chomping at the bit to get in my garden and stick something in the ground. Seeing that first little green shoot erupting from the earth is one of the most amazing sights of all. In preparation for the big day – which is I hope comes this week when the ground dries a bit – I have purchased a pack of Frosty Peas. Not Frosty the Snowman’s peas, but a variety called Early Frosty … [Read more...]

  Lots of backyard gardeners like to get started with their early plantings around the first of March. Some say, “Plant potatoes by March 15 and harvest on the Fourth of July.” Wild onions will soon be peeking through the grass and spring onions can go in the ground as soon as you’re ready. Trouble is: When will the ground be ready? The soil is unbelievably wet. My back yard has the … [Read more...]

This is a time of year I love and hate. I love it because it’s the time to plan the spring garden and buy seeds. I hate it because I have to make tough choices and I almost always buy twice as many seeds as I need and end up with way too many. I probably have more extra packs of seeds in my shed than Burpee has in their Harrisonburg warehouse. I have a small garden, which is probably a blessing … [Read more...]

  I planted some creasy green seeds last spring and they mostly sat in the finely tilled soil and sulked. Nancy had received a big pack of seeds from her cousin, Billy, and I spread the extras at the top end of my garden where not much grows anyway. Not enough sun. I also remember scattering them just about the time we had a little dry spell, so they didn’t do anything. But I didn’t … [Read more...]

  Like the Lorax, I speak for the trees, and this Lorax says don’t waste your Christmas tree – recycle it! Christmas is over. It’s time to un-decorate the tree, drag it out to the curb and let the trash guys do their thing. But not so fast! A Christmas tree has many uses after the holiday season is over. For one, it makes ideal cover for small birds as they face the coming winter. On … [Read more...]

My Daddy always said that it didn’t matter when you planted tomatoes in your garden, they all came in at the same time. Meaning….. for a few short weeks in the summer, you’ll have tomatoes coming out of the wazoo, and then it’s back to eating plastic tomatoes from the grocery store. But I believe I’ve solved the tomato glut problem, This spring, my Nancy started a patio garden at the top of … [Read more...]