Growing Veggies

How to Grow Kale from Seed

March 19, 2023 Leave a Comment

Kale is an extremely popular vegetable. It is easy to grow, and there are hundreds of ways eat this tasty leafy veggie. Keep reading to learn how you can grow Kale in your home garden

This blog post may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase you will be helping me continue my love and passion for gardening.

Before you begin you will need to source out Kale seeds. There are so many retailers that will have many types of kale seeds in stores starting in January and sometimes earlier. If you want more variety than what’s in store I suggest ordering online. Here are some of my favorite places to shop for seeds online.

Now that you’ve got your Kale seeds it’s time to decide when and how you want to plant them. The easiest way to grow kale from seed is to plant them directly in the garden after your first frost date. Kale can tolerate a light frost so you may be able to get away with planting it outside a week or two before your last frost date if you want to harvest sooner! You will follow the depth requirements on the seed packet then once planted, water them in and let nature do the rest! Kidding, well not entirely. You will need to keep watch for birds and other critters that would love to dig up and eat your seeds / seedlings.

Inside or Out?

gardener planting seeds on a tray of soil

Outside

Whether you grow your Kale seeds inside or out is up to you. Both options are wonderful depending on your situation. Starting your Kale seeds outside will be the easiest by far but you will have to deal with pest pressure much sooner.

Follow the planting guide on the seed packet for planting outside in ground. You will likely need to plant your seeds about 2 inches apart and and inch or less down in the soil.

If you also love Zinnias you can learn how to grow them here!

Inside

To grow indoors you are going to need patience and space. Here’s what you need to get your Kale started.

Seed Starting Supplies

You can get high tech/ expensive with seed starting if you want, but you can totally do it low cost. All you need is what’s listed above. Using seed starting mix when starting seeds indoors is important because seed starting soil is sterile. Potting soil can have bacteria that can aid in seedling death called damping off. So you need to keep clean tools, pots and soil for the best germination rates.

How to grow Kale From Seed

Fill your pots with seed starting mix then depending on the size of your pots plant your seeds 1/8 – 1/2 inch down, cover with soil and water them. Be prepared to keep your seed mix consistently moist. Dry soil can be the death of young seedlings

Aside from overhead lighting you will want to keep your seedlings in a warm area of your home. Kale seeds don’t need to much heat to germinate so anywhere in your home will probably be fine.

Kale Sprouts

Once your Kale seeds sprout you will want to make sure to keep the soil moist, light consistent and the space warm. Seedlings need at least 13 hours of daylight. This is made easier by the use of artificial lights. You can leave your grow lights on for at max 16 hours a day to keep your seedlings happy.

When you begin seeing roots growing from the bottom of your pots it’s time to repot your plants. If your outdoor temps are warm enough ( Above 46 degrees at night) you can transition your seedlings into your garden.

To learn how to transition your seeds I recommend you read this post!

If it’s not yet time to plant your seedlings outside then continue with regular care until the weather is right. You may have to repot your seedlings several times before transitioning them out into the garden.

green kale
vegetables in close up photography

Planting Outside

Once you’ve transitioned your seedlings it’s time to plant. You can plant your seedlings in containers, raised beds or in ground. When you plant be sure to use an organic fertilizer to feed your plant. Annuals grow quite fast and are very heavy feeders so make sure to provide them with fertilizer all season long.

Growing Kale from seed is such a great way to have healthy and delicious greens all spring, summer and fall what’s amazing is that if you leave your plants in all season they will flower and you can collect seeds from your own plants to grow from your own stock year after year!

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

How to Grow Cucumber from Seed

March 10, 2023 Leave a Comment

Cucumbers are great for pickling, eating fresh and even chickens love them. The Cucumber plant is a fast growing vine that needs a lot of care throughout the growing season. Here’s how to grow your best Cucumber!

This blog post may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase you will be helping me continue my love and passion for gardening.

Before you begin you will need Cucumber seeds. There are many retailers that will have seeds in stores beginning in January and sometimes earlier. If you want more variety than what’s in store I suggest ordering online. Here are some of my favorite places to buy seeds online.

Now that you’ve got your seeds it’s time to decide when and how you want to plant them. The easiest way to grow Cucumber from seed is to plant them directly in the garden after your first frost date. You will follow the depth requirements on the seed packet then once planted water them in and let nature do the rest! Kidding, well not entirely.

Inside or Out?

Outside

Whether you start your Cucumber seeds inside or out is up to you. Both options are wonderful depending on your situation. Starting your Cucumbers outside will be the easiest by far but you will have to deal with pest pressure early on.

Birds, chipmunks, squirrels among many others will be after your seeds as soon as your plant them in the ground. Aside from watering nature will take care of them for you. You will have stronger seedlings that are adapted to the outside elements and do not need transitioning.

Follow the planting guide on the seed packet for planting outside in ground. You will likely need to plant your seeds about 2 inches apart and and inch or so down in the soil.

If you also plan to grow Tomatoes you can learn how to grow them here!

Inside

To grow indoors you are going to need patience and space because Cucumbers sprout and grow very fast! They will start throwing out tendrils that will wind and twist around anything that is nearby. Here’s what you need to get started.

Seed Starting Supplies

Seed Starting Mix

Small Pots

Grow Light

You can get high tech/expensive with seed starting if you want, but you can totally do it low cost. All you need is what’s listed above. Using seed starting mix when starting seeds indoors is important because seed starting soil is sterile. Potting soil can have bacteria that can aid in seedling death called damping off. So you need to keep clean tools, pots and soil for the best germination rates.

How to grow Cucumber From Seed

Fill your pots with seed starting mix then depending on the size of your pots plant your seeds 1/2 inch down, cover with soil and water them. Be prepared to keep your seed mix consistently moist. Dry soil can be the death of young seedlings

If you don’t have strong window light or overhead grow lights you will get leggy (stretched) seedlings. While you can grow your seeds in a window sill but I highly recommend you get a grow light or two. Leggy seedlings isn’t a big deal for Cucumber plants as it’s a vine but a lack of light will make a weaker plant overall.

Aside from overhead lighting you will want to keep your seedlings in a warm area of your home. Cucumber seeds don’t have to be on a heat mat to germinate, a warm room will do.

Cucumber Seedlings

Once your Cucumber seeds sprout you will want to continue keeping the soil moist, consistent light and the space warm. Seedlings need at least 13 hours of daylight. This is made easier by the use of artificial lights. You can leave your grow lights on for at max 16 hours a day to keep your seedlings happy.

To learn how to transition your seeds I recommend you read this post!

Planting Outside

Cucumber plants will require a trellis as they grow and mature. Provide them with something sturdy to climb on because once the plant starts to produce cucumbers it can get very heavy. If there is no support for the growing plant stems can break.

Once your plant begins to flower it wont be long after that you will begin to see tiny cucumbers begin to develop. Don’t forget to add a few flowering plants like Marigolds or petunias to your garden to bring in pollinators.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

How to Grow Tomatoes from Seed

February 16, 2023 1 Comment

There is nothing better than a homegrown sun ripened Tomato. If you do not know this yet, there is a BIG difference in flavor of store bought tomatos vs’ homegrown tomatoes and once you’ve tried homegrown you’ll never go back if you don’t have to. So here is your guide to growing your own Tomatoes in your garden.

This blog post may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase you will be helping me continue my love and passion for gardening.

Did you know that there are over 10,000 varieties of Tomatoes? Ranging in flavor from sweet to acidic. There are so many varieties and flavors to choose from!

To get started you need to source seeds. There are many retailers that will have Tomato seeds in stores starting in January and sometimes earlier. If you want more variety than what’s in store I suggest ordering online. Here are some cool places to shop online.

Now that your seeds have arrived it’s time to decide when and how you want to plant them. The easiest way to start Tomato seeds is to plant them directly in the garden after your first frost date. Its a good idea to have a space in your garden prepared prior to planting. You can prepare a bed by tilling the soil and adding in compost prior to planting.

You will follow the depth requirements on the seed packet then once planted, water them in and let nature do the rest! Kidding, well not entirely. You will need to keep watch for birds and other critters that would love to dig up and eat your seeds. While also keeping the soil moist by hand watering or drip irrigation.

Inside or Out?

Outside

Whether you start your seeds inside or out is up to you. Both options are wonderful depending on your situation. Starting your seeds outside will be the easiest by far but you will have to deal with pest pressure from the start.

Follow the planting guide on the seed packet for planting outside in ground. You will likely need to plant your seeds about 2 inches apart and and inch or so down in the soil.

Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

Determinate Tomatoes grow to a certain height and stop. Determinate Tomatoes are perfect for growing in containers and for small space gardens. Different determinate varieties will grow to different heights based on variety but top out at a certain height. Tomato cages are nice but not always necessary depending on the variety.

Indeterminate tomatoes grow to an indeterminate height meaning that they can grow as tall as they please. If you choose to grow Indeterminate tomatoes, be ready to provide a trellising system for them. Simple tomato cages will only be enough if you “Top” your tomatoes at the same height of the cage. If you let them grow taller than your trellising system you are asking for a mess. They will flop over and grow all over the place.

To real an awesome book about tomatoes click here!

Inside

To grow tomatoes indoors you are going to need patience and space because tomatoes sprout and grow very fast! Here’s what you need to grow your own tomatoes.

Seed Starting Supplies

Seed Starting Mix

Small Pots

Grow Light

How to grow Tomatoes From Seed

Aside from overhead lighting you will want to keep your seedlings in a warm area of your home. Sunflower seeds don’t need to much heat to germinate but do best in a warm room.

Should your Tomato seedlings get leggy there is a fix! You can bury tomato plants deeper into soil and the stem will root. It’s amazing!

Tomato Seedlings

Once your seeds have sprouted you will want to make sure to keep the soil moist, overhead light consistent and your space warm. Seedlings need at least 13 hours of daylight. This is made easier by the use of artificial lights. You can leave your grow lights on for at max 16 hours a day to keep your Tomato seedlings happy.

When you begin seeing roots growing from the bottom of your pots it’s time to repot your plants. If your outdoor temps are warm enough ( Above 46 degrees at night) you can begin to transition your seedlings into the garden.

To learn how to transition your seeds I recommend you read this post!

If it’s not yet time to plant your tomatoes outside then continue with regular care until the weather is right. You may have to repot your seedlings several times before transitioning them out into the garden.

Planting Outside

Once you’ve transitioned your seedlings it’s time to plant. You can plant your seedlings in containers, raised beds or in ground making sure your plant is in full sun. Full sun is at least 6 hours of direct sun oh the foliage.

Fertilizing

When you plant be sure to use a fertilizer to feed your plant. Tomato plants grow quite fast and are very heavy feeders so make sure to provide them with fertilizer all season long. You can use a tomato specific fertilizer to feed them all season long.

Watering

Tomatoes love moist soil as much as they love being fertilized regularly. Keep your tomatoes consistently moist especially if you plant them in pots. You can water them by hand daily or install drip irrigation so that you don’t have to water daily.

Once you grow your own tomatoes you will never look at store bought tomatoes the same. There are so many types of tomatoes that there’s always new tomatoes to try.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

The Full Guide to Growing Garlic! It’s Easy!

September 24, 2022 Leave a Comment

Growing garlic is so rewarding and easy. Home-grown garlic tastes so much better than store bought garlic hands down. Not only does garlic taste better home-grown, but you can try so many different varieties which offer many different flavors. Once you grow garlic for the first time, you will always grow your own garlic.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Growing Garlic

You can buy garlic from just about anywhere. There are many websites, big box stores, and plant nurseries that sell garlic bulbs for fall planting. You can even grow the garlic you buy from the grocery store! Before you pick out your garlic, you will want to know your growing zone. There are many varieties of garlic and they all grow differently in different zones. If you want garlic that you know will grow well for you, it’s best to shop with a garlic grower within your state or similar growing zone. I grow garlic in Ohio, so I order my garlic from a garlic seller right here in the Buckeye state. I know that the garlic I order from them should do well for me.

Soil

A good garlic harvest starts with planting in good soil. Garlic grows best in loose soil with a PH between 6.2 – 7. Anything lower means your soil is a bit too acidic, and you will need to add in lime to get your levels up. You can use at-home soil tests that are widely available in store or online. Here’s a test you can snag from Amazon. Growing garlic will require a loose soil. Tilling your native soil will help loosen it up and if needed, you can add in compost to help keep the soil fluffy.

Fertilizing

Prior to planting, I add in my fertilizer. I also like bone meal, which is great for planting your garlic in because it helps give your cloves a little root boost prior to winter. Once spring approaches, I start fertilizing regularly with an organic fertilizer. My favorite to use is fish emulsion. When your garlic begins to produce scapes, lay off on the fertilizer so that your garlic can focus its energy into bulb production.

bunch of aglio di paceco on a surface — Photo by Fredox Carvalho on Pexels.com

Planting

Separate each bulb into cloves, making sure to leave the skin on the individual cloves. Any cloves that are small, rotted, or dried can be left out. Plant your garlic in rows and space out your bulbs 6 – 8 inches apart to leave enough room for your clove to develop into large bulbs. I plant my garlic pointy side up no matter if its hard or soft neck garlic. Planting garlic two to three weeks before your first frost is a great time because it allows the garlic time to set roots before the first frost. After planting, we place a small layer of mulch over the top.

The Garlic Flower

Beginning in May or earlier or a little later depending on your growing zone, you will begin seeing your garlic send up flower stalks also known as scapes. Scapes are delicious but take energy away from the growing garlic bulb. Most gardeners cut these off once they start to curl.

Want to know what to do with your garlic scapes? Check out this post!

Harvest Time

Harvesting time may vary depending on where you live but the rule of thumb is when the lower leaves dry and fall off. If you want to take a peek at your bulbs to see if they are big enough; feel free to pull the soil back from the bulb. If you think they need a little more time in the ground, then leave them for a week or two more. The latest I’ve harvested is mid-July. If you leave the bulbs in the ground too long, you risk the chance of them splitting and you don’t want that, as those bulb won’t store very well.

Drying and Storage

Curing your garlic can seem daunting. All you need is a space that is dry or not too humid and has good airflow. You can put your garlic in your garage or on a covered porch. Be sure if it’s not windy you keep a fan on them to aid in the drying process. I cure my garlic on wire racks in my screened in porch. The goal is for the wrappers around the individual cloves and the bulb to dry at the same pace. It takes around 3-4 weeks for the garlic bulbs to fully dry. Once they are dry you can cut the stalks back and store your garlic. Garlic shelf life depends on how you store them and the variety of garlic you grew.

For Tips on what to do with all of your garlic check out this post!

Growing garlic is one of the easier vegetables to grow. They are low maintenance and there aren’t many pest issues to deal with. Keep up with watering and fertilizing, and you will soon be harvesting your own delicious garlic straight from the garden.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Vegetables you can grow in your fall garden

August 16, 2022 1 Comment

Fall is on the horizon and it’s time to be thinking about your fall garden. It’s not too late to start your fall garden from seed. The first thing you want to do is figure out what your first frost date is. You can google that. Then the fun part is figuring out what you can plant! Once you have your first frost date you count the days between that date and today. That’s how many days you have to grow your fall vegetables before the frost sets in. Here is a list of fall vegetables you can grow and harvest before your first frost!

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my plant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Carrots

Kohlrabi

food healthy vegetables agriculture. Fall Garden — Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

If you need more seeds for your fall garden you can shop here at Park Seed Co. They have quality seeds that germinate quickly.

Cabbage

Kale

Collards

Collard Greens grown in the fall garden — Photo by Cats Coming on Pexels.com

Lettuces

green leaf plant — Photo by NastyaSensei on Pexels.com

Cucumbers

cucumber on plate — Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.c

Radish

Beets

Cauliflower

Swiss Chard

leaves of chard — Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA on Pexels.com

Spinach

green leaves in close up photography — Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels.com

Bok Choy

Choose vegetables that will have enough time to mature in your growing window. Growing a fall garden can seem quite scary but I promise you it’s much easier than growing in the summer. There’s less pest pressure and the weather isn’t so hot. It’s a very comfy and cozy time of the year.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

10 Tips For Small Space Gardeners

July 19, 2022 1 Comment

selective focus photography of strawberry fruit — Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

You would be surprised at how much food and flowers you can grow in a small space garden! Even if all you have is a windowsill you can grow! When you start thinking differently about the space you have you’ll begin to see all the possibilities. Once you seed the possibilities you’ll be able to grow a garden to its full potential!

Maximize Your Space

No matter the size of your outdoor space, there’s always room to grow food and flowers. Sketch out your space and what you would like for it to look like. Then make a list of what you would like to grow and what materials you’ll need. Check for container-friendly plants that won’t grow as large, but will still produce lots of fruit. Planning is the key to a good gardening season.

Install Drip Irrigation

Automating your watering will save you so much time and money. Drip irrigation waters your plants for however long you want and how often you want; it’s a garden game changer! To get you started, here is a basic drip irrigation system to reference.

Prune to Maintain Size

Because you are growing in a small space, you will want to make sure you are pruning to maintain the size of your plants. If you are growing indeterminate tomatoes or flowers like petunias, they can easily take over your garden space, so pruning is a must. Here are my favorite pruners.

To purchase reliable garden seeds and plants check out Park Seed!

Grow Vertically

Growing vegetables and flowers vertically is a great way to utilize your small space garden. Use hanging planters and trellises to grow off the ground.

dog resting in cafe garden — Photo by Thắng Lê on Pexels.com

Utilize Hanging Baskets

Using shepherd’s hooks or hooks screwed into posts, you can hang many hanging baskets and grow a multitude of plants.

Grow in Raised Beds

Raised garden beds are a great way to grow in small spaces. They come in so many configurations, or you can build your own. Here is a raised garden bed that I love and use every year!

For tip on how to grow in raised beds checkout this post!

Grow in Pots

If all you have is a patio, then pots will be your best friend. You can grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, trees, and so much more in pots.

Plant Multiple Plants Together

What could be a better way to grow more than to plant multiple plants in the same pot?! You can mix and match plants like herbs and vegetables, or petunias and hydrangeas. Dealers choice!

person digging on soil using garden shovel — Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

Leave Space for Sitting

Don’t forget to leave space to sit and enjoy! The garden shouldn’t just be about work. It’s also about the view, so nestle in a little table and chair so you can sit amongst the jungle you’ve created.

Love Your Space

No matter how big or small your garden is, you have to love it. You’ve put your time and energy creating a space that is edible and beautiful. Take pride in what you create even if you only planted one plant or harvested one tomato.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Growing Veggies

Inside or Out?

Outside

Inside

Seed Starting Supplies

How to grow Kale From Seed

Kale Sprouts

Planting Outside

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Inside or Out?

Outside

Inside

Seed Starting Supplies

How to grow Cucumber From Seed

Cucumber Seedlings

Planting Outside

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Inside or Out?

Outside

Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

Inside

Seed Starting Supplies

How to grow Tomatoes From Seed

Tomato Seedlings

Planting Outside

Fertilizing

Watering

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Growing Garlic

Soil

Fertilizing

Planting

The Garlic Flower

Harvest Time

Drying and Storage

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Carrots

Kohlrabi

Cabbage

Kale

Collards

Lettuces

Cucumbers

Radish

Beets

Cauliflower

Swiss Chard

Spinach

Bok Choy

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