Tip of the Day

“He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.”

Proverbs 12:11

We eat rotisserie chicken at least twice a week. They’re pretty cheap and tasty. Better still, you can plant in them. Fill them with a little dirt and a few seeds. Pop the clear lid back on for an instant greenhouse! 

The conditions under which seeds are stored determine how well the seeds will germinate and sprout in the garden or in your indoor greenhouse. The national suppliers have perfected those storage conditions that give their customers the best possible seeds. Otherwise they wouldn’t be in the business for very long. And if you’re looking for Non-GMO seeds, now might be the year to sprout those! 

Off season, when I can’t grow my own veggies, I have to buy them at the grocery store. When plucking my own produce, I tend to pick vegetables like cucumbers, beans, peas and squash in half-grown stages because they taste better this way. Keep in mind, when buying from the store, you are paying by the pound. Why is this so significant? Because you’re paying the same price whether you buy one big honking zucchini or several, smaller zucchini that will actually taste much better. I know which one I’d choose! Plus, with the smaller ones, you’re wasting less as the seeds will be smaller. 

I take a lot of vitamins and minerals. When the bottle is empty, I fill it with water, give it a good shake and use it to water my plants. I figure, hey, if it’s good for me, it’s good for the plants. And if my plants start wilting and turning brown….then maybe I’ll go ahead and switch companies! All I can say? My coffee plant is thriving since I started fertilizing it with my minerals. It’s never looked better. 

I know I said this yesterday, but it’s worth repeating. Paperwhites are for the indoor gardener. Or that person who just can’t wait for Spring. Stagger your planting, as in, plant one or two bulbs once a week and enjoy fresh, flowering blooms until Spring arrives! No need to splurge big bucks at the florist or even be tempted to purchase those pricy blooming bulbs at the grocery store. Grow your own in small pots or vases. Post coming soon! [As a side note: see the pine cones to the right, don’t they look great?!) Pine cones makes awesome decor indoors!! 

It’s time to think about planting a few Paperwhites indoors if you’re considering doing a little gardening this winter. They’re striking and smell wonderful. Spoiler alert: I’m doing a whole post on this so stay tuned! 

All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents like the dry humidity and warm conditions found in most homes, and while they like direct light, they can adapt to lower light. They all prefer a fast-draining potting medium that’s not watered too often. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Plant markers. Quality plant markers. So this year surprise the gardener in your life (and that person just might be yourself) plant markers; they will love them! C’mon, you don’t want to disappoint them again this year with candles, soap, picture frames and socks (remember last year?!) Plant markers, I’m telling’ ya, that’s what they want!

What does every gardener want? A good pair of gloves. Waterproof is nice too. And pink if at all humanly possible (not so much if that gardener in your life is a man……camo maybe?) And they shouldn’t be too thick or they won’t have the flexibility they need to move their hands.