Gardening Adventures
Why Gardening is Good for Your Health
The mental and physical benefits of gardening have long been known by those who spend time outside nurturing and tending their vegetable plants. The opportunity to get your hands dirty and watch plants go from seed to maturity touches many elements in our nature that need nurturing themselves. Gardening for Physical Health It can be a struggle to find time to exercise for the sake of exercising. After all, we have chores to do, errands to run, kids to run after, work to attend to, and a whole host of other claims on our time. Gardening, however, is not just physical exertion for the sake of exertion. There is a reward at the end. An excellent reward at that. Fresh vegetables grown with your own sweat and hard work are an amazing motivator. Gardening requires a wide variety of physical movements which get the blood moving and improve overall health. Most of it is low-impact as well, which makes it an accessible choice for people of all abilities. Digging, planting, and weeding are mostly repetitive tasks but one of the great things about gardening is the variety of work. The activities are rarely tedious which can be an obstacle with other types of exercise. Additionally, eating all those vegetables you are growing is awesome for your health. Home-grown vegetables are infinitely better in quality and taste than store bought ones. Kids may turn their noses up at broccoli from the store but when it is broccoli they have watched grow from seed to crown, it is suddenly personal and much more interesting. People who grow their own vegetables tend to eat healthier. Gardening for Mental Health Studies recently have linked gardening with a lower risk for developing dementia. The main reason being that when a person is in a garden, they are surrounded by sights, smells, and sounds that are relaxing on a deep inner level. Gardens are known to reduce stress and improve relaxation. The act of creating something, literally from the dirt, tending it, watching it, and reaping its rewards is something we don't often experience in our everyday lives. How often do we get to see every step in a process as well as enjoy the end result? Watching a seed grow to a mature plant through our own efforts is a great way to boost confidence, improve overall morale, and show accomplishment, which increases self-confidence. Gardening is a fantastic activity for kids and adults of all ages who struggle with depression or self-confidence issues. Gardening provides a balance in our lives between work and play that we are sorely missing in this modern fast-paced world. Gardens force us to slow down and take our time; they give us an outlet to express ourselves creatively and in return, they reward us with bounties of fresh, healthy foods – something that can also be hard to find in this modern world. Maintaining a garden gives a person a sense of purpose, a goal to strive towards that has a physical identifiable reward, and a reason to be outside getting much needed fresh air. To learn more about gardening and to get inspired, follow us on Facebook.
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How To Attract Beneficial Insects
Butterflies, bees, and bugs need your garden and your garden needs all these beneficial insects too. Creating an environment that is appealing to these insects will greatly enhance the success of your garden. There are many places insects can make their home and so the key is to make your space the most attractive option. Why Do We Need Beneficial Insects? The main reason is for pollination. When bees fly from one flower to another, they are passing on pollen and this pollen is what causes a plant to mature and grow fruit. Sure, you could do a lot of pollination on your own by hand but it is so much easier to let the bees do the work! The second reason is that there are many good bugs that will eat the pesky bugs and therefore save your garden from being eaten up and destroyed. This reduces the need for pesticides and also reduces the work you need to do in the garden because, given the right circumstances, the bugs will happily do it for you. What Do Beneficial Insects Want? Like most creatures on this earth, the basic needs of beneficial insects are quite simple yet particular. They need food, water, and shelter. They are looking for a safe space to live and raise a family. Food A plant flowers and produces nectar to attract insects to it. Each plant produces unique nectar meant to appeal to a certain type of insect. Not all insects want the same dish at the buffet! Plus, many like a buffet with a wide variety to choose from. Plant a wide variety of vegetables and flowers and you will have a wide variety of beneficial insects showing up to enjoy them. To encourage a specific insect, it is important to research what plants or flowers they enjoy most and plant for them. There are around 4,000 types of bees in North America and each one has its' preferred food choice. It has been observed that bees tend to prefer native plants over exotic ones and they also prefer large patches of flowers. Water All creatures need water and insects are no different. Butterflies, in particular, like to gather together and have a social drinking time. Installing a bird bath or a basin for catching rainwater will encourage these insects to stay awhile. Shelter Insects need shelter to protect them from predators, to give them a safe place away from the elements, and to raise their young. Most insects like small hideaway type places, like bushes and hedges. They also like piles of wood or bunches of twigs, as well as hollow branches. Provide a variety of spots around your garden that will appeal to the insects and they will come. Ditch the Pesticides Pesticides don't differentiate between beneficial bugs and pesky, destructive bugs. Using any type of pesticide will get rid of all the insects. When the beneficial ones are gone, it is bad for the health of your garden and it is more likely that the garden will develop other issues. It also creates more work because now there are no good bugs to maintain the space and pesky ones can sneak back in and wreak havoc. When it comes to planning and planting your garden, don't forget about our insect friends who do so much of the work for us and allow us to have fresh vegetables and flowers each and every year. For more ideas and inspiration, follow us on Facebook.
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The 6 Fastest Growing Vegetables for Your Garden
Gardening takes time but not all vegetables need a lot of time to grow. There is a large variance in maturity rates between different types of vegetables. Planting types that mature quickly mean the sooner you get to enjoy the rewards of your hard work. Additionally, the vegetables in this list are all easy to grow which make them great options for beginning gardeners. Lettuce Ready in as little as 30 days, lettuce should be planted early and often. It can be planted all season long with successive plantings. There are many types of lettuce to choose from which makes this a great choice just for the sake of variety. Some grow better in cooler weather and some are designed for the hotter days of summer. The garden will never get boring when there are multiple types of lettuce coming ready for harvest throughout the season. Radishes This spicy, crunchy, garden gem is a super fast grower. Depending on the type, it can be ready to harvest in 25 days. They prefer cooler weather, so plant them in early in the Spring and you will be enjoying the fruits of your labors while you're still getting other plants in the garden. In late summer, another few rounds of radishes can be planted to be harvested in early fall and into the winter. Zucchini Everyone knows already how prolific zucchini can be but another great thing about this vegetable is that it grows quite quickly as well. Maturity rates for zucchini range from 40-50 days. Once the plant flowers, the fruit is ready for harvesting in as little as 4-8 days. Beets A great vegetable to have in the garden not only because it grows fast but because all parts of the beet are edible and highly nutritious. Beet greens are ready to be harvested 30 days after planting while the beetroot takes a little bit longer, up to 60 days. The greens should be trimmed off the top in small amounts, a few leaves off of each one so as not to hinder the root growing below. Bush Beans These are a great choice because they are very low maintenance and high producers. A one-square-foot bean patch yields around 1 quart of beans. The average days to maturity for bush beans is 50 days. To increase the yield, do consecutive plantings spaced two weeks apart and you will be enjoying bush beans all season long. Kale Besides being a powerhouse vegetable nutritionally, kale is also a powerhouse grower. It grows fast, strong, all season long, and it doesn't die off easily. One plant, treated with the right care, can produce all season long starting from when it is just 2" tall. This means you can be harvesting kale in as little as 30 days. Cut off the leaves as they mature and watch the plant keep producing more. If you are new to gardening or short on time, this list of vegetables is the perfect place to start. Not only will you be enjoying fresh vegetables just a month after you start your garden, but you may also have some to share with the neighbors. Happy Gardening! For more ideas, tips, and inspiration follow us on Facebook.
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Fertilizers for Container Gardens
Now that you have your plants all set up in their new homes, it is time to tend them and help them thrive. Fertilizers are a necessary part of container gardening because the plants don't have access to the minerals and nutrients found in soil. Potting soil provides nutrients in the beginning but over time it depletes. The plants need supplements to ensure that they grow and flourish. Types of Fertilizer Slow-release, or timed-release, fertilizers contain a water soluble fertilizer that is sheathed in a ball of permeable resin coating. Nutrients are released in small amounts when the fertilizer comes in contact with water. When you use this type of fertilizer, every time you water the container plants, they are being fertilized. This type of fertilizer is mixed into the potting soil and can last up to 3-4 months. The benefit to using this type of fertilizer is that it only has to be applied once or twice during a growing season and you don't have to worry about forgetting to fertilize. The downside is that it is difficult to manage how much the plants are getting at any one time. If you have a self-watering planter, slow-release fertilizers are not a good option. Liquid fertilizers are pre-mixed liquids that are then added to water and given to your plants during their regular watering time. They are generally applied every 2 weeks. The upside to this type of fertilizer is that it can be adjusted easily based on how the plants are doing. Adding more or less or skipping an application is easy. The main drawback is that it requires a person to remember to do it on a regular schedule. For the time-crunched or forgetful gardener, this may not be the best option. When to Apply Fertilizer and How Much? There is no set answer to this question because every plant and situation varies. How much to use depends on the type of plant, what stage of the growing season you are in, and how long it has been since the last application. A good rule of thumb is to follow what the fertilizer label says and then adjust it as needed based on how the plants react. It is better to under-fertilize a plant as opposed to over-fertilizing, so if you are concerned, always use a smaller amount. Plants need different types and amounts of fertilizer for different growth stages. To understand better what your plants need, it is important to understand how fertilizer is compiled. Fertilizer is always rated using 3 numbers that are written like 10-2-2. This is the NPK value. The numbers will vary but the order in which they are presented are always the same. The first number is the amount of nitrogen, the second is the amount of phosphorous, and the third is the amount of potassium. Organic and Non-Organic Fertilizer Options There are ups and downs to both types and what you use is dependent on your preferences. You may find that a combination of the two works best for your plants. Organic fertilizers include fish meal emulsions, liquid kelp, alfalfa meal, fresh worm castings, and feather meal. Each one has a specific purpose and it is often necessary to keep a wide variety on hand to supplement the soil properly. Additionally, it is often hard to know exactly the amount of nutrients and minerals in each one. An organic fertilizer takes more time to show results than a synthetic one, however, the results are generally more long term. Synthetic fertilizers are water-soluble and highly specific. The nutrients and minerals are in exact amounts and you know explicitly what the plants are receiving. It is easier to find exact nutrient blends for your particular situation and the mixes are generally less expensive than organic options. Plants benefit quickly from synthetic fertilizers, however, they usually need to be applied more often. Types of Organic Fertilizers When selecting an organic fertilizer, it is important to pay attention to the NPK(nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) values. Not all organic fertilizers contain all three. A good organic fertilizer will list its NPK value and whether it is plant-based, manure-based, or a blend of the two. Organic Fertilizers are more expensive than synthetic, however, their effects are longer lasting and improve the overall quality of the soil. Worm Castings – A great choice for the entire growing season. There are quick-release and slow-release nutrients that will help with all growing stages and beneficial bacteria to assist the plants in absorbing the nutrients. They are high in iron, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and trace minerals. Alfalfa Meal – Inexpensive and generally widely available, this fertilizer gives a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season. Feather Meal – This is best added as a supplement during the mid-growth stage and provides a good source of nitrogen to the plants. Kelp Meal & Seaweed – Amend the soil in the beginning with this to add trace minerals which will help plants get started and thrive. Seaweed can also be used for some insect control. Oyster Shell Flour/Crushed Dried Eggshells – These add calcium. Compost – High in nutrients and microorganisms, this is something that should be added to any organic garden. The exact nutrients will vary depending on what was in the compost. Manure – Not all manures are created equal. A lot depends on the health of the animals, the quality of their food, and how the manure was handled. If it is possible to get manure from a local source, that is best. It is an excellent source of NPK and has been used for millennia with success. Most manures should be composted before being added to vegetable gardens to kill pathogens and weed seeds. The exceptions to this are rabbit, alpaca, and llama manure. Blends – The market today is brimming with organic fertilizer options which contain some combination of the mediums listed above. A few good ones are Dr. Earth Organics, Neptune's Harvest, and Unco Industries Earthworm Castings. Synthetic Fertilizers Simpler, by far, because they are designed to be an all-in-one and simple to use. They will need to be applied more often and on a regular schedule. They are easier to work with and provide the plants with the nutrients they need, however, they don't do much to improve the overall quality of the soil. Synthetic fertilizers are widely available and usually less expensive but since they need to be added more often, it may work out to be similar in overall cost. There are a plethora of synthetic fertilizers on the market. Some popular ones include Miracle-Gro, Scotts, and Pennington. All container plants need fertilizer in order to prosper. The one that is best for your plants depends entirely on where you are and what you are growing. Look through all the options and find the best one for your plants. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit and test the different types for yourself. Your plants are depending on you! For more information about container gardening and to learn some gardening tricks and tips, follow us on Facebook.
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Gardening in Urban or Limited Spaces
If space is an issue, don't be discouraged! There are many ways to utilize balconies, porches, and tiny lawn spaces to support a garden. A garden doesn't have to be the traditional patch of dirt in the backyard. There are lots of options for growing fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers regardless of how much area is available.
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Container Garden Soil 101
Soil is arguably one of the most important aspects to growing a successful garden. It's the foundation of where your food and flowers come from! You can plant your garden in any container, and purchase your seeds from anywhere, but it's your soil that will make your garden grow. Container gardening is a little different than a traditional garden, and we want you to have your most successful CedarCraft garden yet. Here is a handy rundown of what you need to know about container gardening soil to have a bountiful harvest. Garden Soil Is Not Container Soil As tempting as it might be to transfer your garden topsoil to your container garden, that's a sure way to stunt your planter garden's growth. Container gardens need ample air, water, and nutrients from the soil to support your sprouting plants. By using garden soil, it will be easy to flood your garden and drown your plants, while decreasing their nutrients in the process. You should fill the containers with a "soilless" blend that will retain lots of moisture and resist compaction. Compaction is what will decrease the amount of air by the roots, and inhibiting growth by making it more difficult for the sprouts to break through the surface of the soil. Mel's Mix is a tried and true container soil that will work well in both your planter and raised garden bed! Warm Soil Advantage While your neighbors may be spending time doing soil prep work for their garden, you're ahead of schedule with your planters! Container soil will rarely freeze and is easy to maintain over the winter by covering your raised garden bed with leaf mulch or a tarp. Because the soil maintains warmth, it's less work for you and it extends your growing season! If you do find cold soil to be any problem, you can place rocks in your garden to help distribute heat from the sun. Watch Your Water One of the biggest challenges with container gardening is maintaining the moisture balance in your soil. It can be easy to over-water and flood your flowers, but it's also easy for them to dry out quickly. Vegetables need air just as much as water in the soil. You can use straw or mulch to help maintain moisture, prevent over-watering, and prohibit water splashing on the leaves and fruit, potentially causing damage. Rotate Your Soil Just like our farmer friends in the field, container soil becomes depleted over the years, especially if you're continually growing the same vegetables in it from season to season. The soil breaks down, creating compaction, drainage issues, depletion of nutrients, and can it promote the growth of disease in your plants. You can freshen up container soils by adding a fresh blend whenever you start your planting season. Just replace 25% of the mix with a new medium. Don't forget to add some air into the mix by loosening the soil in the planter, while breaking up the clumps and picking out any roots. You can stretch the life of your planter and raised garden bed soil for several seasons. After 6 to 7 years it may be time to replace your container garden soil and start fresh.
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Introduction to Container Gardening
The versatility of using containers to grow plants can't be beaten. Container gardening gives you the ability to garden all year-round regardless of your outdoor climate. Plants in containers are more accessible, grow fewer weeds, and require fewer gardening tools. They are perfect for situations where outdoor space simply isn't an option.
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Growing CedarCraft
Spring is just around the corner and we're getting ready for the 2016 gardening season! CedarCraft is growing like wildflowers and this gardening season is sure to be a bumper crop of good stuff. We have a brand new product line that includes multiple sizes for our Elevated planters, smaller tiered Cascading planters, expandable raised beds, and self-watering planters! We're really excited to see what people plant in them this year. This year you'll find us in more retail locations, including some rotations at various Costco stores across the country and in a few independent gardening centers, too! Be sure to follow us on our CedarCraft Facebook page to stay on top of those details as they grow! Along with our expanded product line, we're also expanding our blogger ambassadors. In 2015 we had four lovely bloggers gardening in a variety of different ways, helping all of our CedarCraft fans with ideas on what to plant and helpful gardening tips throughout the year. We're looking to grow our ambassadors to include 12 more! If you are a gardening blogger and interested in learning more about how to be part of our team and what it takes, please email us at socialmedia@cedarcraft.com. We're gearing up for a great gardening season with you!
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Putting Your CedarCraft Garden To Bed
The first frost is just around the corner, if not already here, for many gardeners in colder climates. Harvest season is over and winter is creeping its cold, icy fingers into garden beds. It’s time to clean up and prepare for next spring by putting your CedarCraft garden to bed. Putting in the extra cleanup effort at the end of fall will help you start your spring gardening season off on the right foot. Your planters will be clean, and filled with healthy, warm soil earlier than gardeners waiting for the ground to thaw out, which means you get a gardening head start on everyone else! Here are the simple steps that you need to do to put your gardens to bed: Pull Out The Old By this time in the season many of the vines and stalks have wilted as they have finished their production. Flowers have gone to seed, and leaves have fallen. Pull up tomato, squash, pea, and bean plants, and leave your fall plantings of cold weather vegetables like kale and lettuce to harvest throughout the remaining season. Make sure to double check if your fruits, flowers, and herbs are perennials or annuals. Annuals will get cleared out from the planters, but your perennials, like strawberries, can stay in with a bit of pruning and some mulch to keep them warmer. You can protect tender perennials with a row blanket or plant blanket as well. When clearing things our, a good rule of thumb is that if a plant is yellow or brown, cut it down, if it’s green leave it be. Turn The Soil Once you have the old and dead plants cleared out, till the soil to get some oxygen in there, break up clumps from remaining roots, and encourage bugs and pests to find new homes for the winter. Add a layer of compost to the mix and top it off with mulch or autumn leaves that will break down over the winter season and add more nutrients to your planter garden bed. Plant Spring Bulbs Now is the perfect time to get your spring bulbs in soil. They’ll even grow well in a planter! Spread out your tulip, crocus, and other spring bulbs in your planter. Make sure to add a variety of early, mid, and late spring blooms for continued variety throughout the flowering season, right before vegetable planting season begins. Make sure you plant the bulbs with the pointed tip side up, push them down a few inches into the soil, and cover with mulch to protect them from winter soil cracking. Now kick back and enjoy your gardening break during the winter!
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