Garden Tips

by Emily B.
from Virtuous Daughters, July 2010~Volume 10, Number 4

• Tomato cages aren’t just for tomatoes! Use them for cucumbers and squash, too! These vine-like plants will climb right up them—you’ll get a bigger harvest, the fruits will be straighter, and the slugs can’t eat them! The cages are also great for supporting tall or large plants such as hibiscus and peonies. Place the cage over the dormant plant and let it grow right up into it. Our hibiscus grew over six feet tall when we did this!
• To speed up germination, soak hard-shelled seeds (such as morning glories) in a cup of water overnight, or knick them with a sharp knife.
• Store leftover seeds from this year in a jar in the refrigerator! This will keep them viable for longer. If that is not practical, store in a cool, dry place, where mice or other rodents cannot get into it!
• Are slugs eating your plants? Sprinkle crushed eggshells around the plants and the slugs should leave them alone, as they won’t crawl across the sharp pieces.
• To save a potted plant that is so dried up you think it’s dead: soak it in a bucket of water for about 30 minutes to an hour. And just maybe, it will revive. At least it’s worth a try! :)
• African Violets don’t like wet leaves! Water them from their saucers about once a week.
• If you’re growing seedlings inside, place the pots/seed tray on your dryer when it’s on. The extra heat will help with germination. After the seeds sprout, you may want to move the plants to a sunny window, for at least part of the time. When to start vegetable or flower seeds for planting outdoors varies with where you live... 
• To improve the soil in your vegetable garden: in the fall, winter, or early spring, spread dead leaves, wood ashes (in moderation) and fairly weed-free grass clippings over your garden. Till it before you plant in the spring.
• Harvesting and using herbs: Herbs are best harvested right before they bloom. This is when their flavor has reached its peak. Of course, you can make small harvestings from them as you need the herbs. For bushier plants, pinch back the stems occasionally. This happens naturally when you harvest them. To dry herbs, carefully rinse them, and then hang them upside down in a well ventilated area, not in direct sunlight. Currently, I use a clothes drying rack in our cool, mostly dark basement. When the herbs are dried, you can crush them and store them in clean glass jars. Preferably, store them in the dark or use a dark container. Herbs can also be frozen. You can just freeze them in baggies or chop them up and put them in ice cube trays with water. When making a soup or stew, just add an ice cube with herbs and it will melt right in.
• When arranging plants in a new garden, remember this simple rule: If the garden is against a house or fence, and will mostly be viewed from the front, place the taller plants near the back. If the garden is more of an “island” in the yard, place the tallest plants in the middle.