The snow cover has cleared from the garden but not completely off of the landscape, leaving us with glimpses of both the past winter and the coming spring!

Mild weather that we haven’t seen for months made today a perfect time to venture out into the backyard. With temperatures close to sixty degrees I wasn’t the only one outside attempting to bid farewell to winter.

Upcoming Garden Events and Free Tickets if You Act Fast

A recent article here previewed some of the local garden shows that are arriving in the area. I made my way out to the Pennsylvania Garden Expo last week and participated in a workshop this weekend at “The Plant Place” that focused on attracting beneficial insects to the garden, heirloom seeds, and ideas for seed starting.

The next events on the calendar are the Maryland Home and Garden Show on March 12 – 14, a Biochar workshop on March 20th at the Organic Mechanic headquarters, and a fruit grafting workshop on March 27th conducted by the Pennsylvania Backyard Fruit Growers at the Landis Valley Museum near Lancaster PA.

If there is anyone interested in attending the garden show next weekend at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, I have a couple of sets of tickets to give away. A pair of tickets will go to the first two people who request them in the comment section below (leave your comment requesting the tickets and I will contact you by email to get the address to mail the tickets to).

Spring is Coming – Hot House Growing System (Plus) Promotion

OpenSky is offering a special promotion on select items to help you celebrate the arrival of spring from now through March 11, 2010. At the Veggie Gardening Tips store the selected item is the Hot House Growing System Plus that includes growing medium and will help you get those seedlings off to a fast start. Enter the coupon code: HOTHOUSE25 and you’ll be able to buy this grow system for 25% off the regular price.

Or you can get 10% off any of the other special products featured in OpenSky’s Spring is Coming promotion by visiting this promotion page to request your coupon code. Spring promotions from other shopkeepers include an EarthBox from Kylee of Our Little Garden or the WeedPharm organic weed control being offered by Genevieve of North Coast Gardening.

Additional items up for the spring promotion include items of interest to the golfer, selected fitness equipment, and some fishing gear. But remember, the Spring is Coming promotion is only available through March 11, 2010.

Fall Vegetable Gardening Videos… Just in Time for Spring

Before you run off to embrace springtime take a minute to check out the video that I shot way back in November of the fall vegetable garden. This is the first clip from the latest batch of videos that are finally available and will be released over the next few weeks.

Future videos will feature composting worm bins, cold tunnels, indoor sprouting ideas, garlic planting techniques, cold frames, and rain barrels. Subscribe to the Veggie Gardening Tips YouTube Channel to make sure that you catch every episode coming your way this spring season.

Yesterday Marcy Tate joined us to cover the benefits of using mulch in the garden. Today she returns to follow up with details on some of the specific mulches available to the home gardener.

First up are some of the common organic mulches that are more natural and will decompose and add organic matter to the soil as they break down:

Wood Chips or Shavings
Wood chips are one of the most commonly used types of mulch. It is best to choose older, decomposed wood mulch. Wood mulch that has not properly aged can contain toxins that are harmful to young plants. Some disadvantages include the quick decomposition of wood shavings and the possible attraction of termites.

Bark
Bark is another popular type of organic mulch. It is one of the most attractive mulch materials. Common types of bark mulch include pine, cedar and cypress. Bark mulch is available as nuggets, shredded, or in chunks. The nuggets provide the best level of weed prevention. High quality cedar mulch is one of the most expensive types of mulch.

Pine Needles
Pine needles are one of the less expensive types of mulch. They are long lasting and attractive. Pine needles allow water to get to the soil easily.

Stone, Gravel, Pebbles and Crushed Stone
One of the best benefits of stone mulch is that it is long lasting. Colored stones can add additional color to your landscape. A 1-inch layer of small rocks will provide good weed control. Be aware that light shades of stone will reflect heat back up towards plants, which may be harmful.

Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabric is also known as geotextile. The fabric is better than plastic because it allows air and moisture to penetrate into the soil. It is considered the best non-living mulch for long-term use. Landscape fabric is very effective at controlling weeds. Some grass may grow through the tiny holes in the fabric.

Recycled Rubber
Recycled rubber is used for many outdoor products, from patio tiles to mulch. Recycled rubber is often used in playgrounds as it provides a soft alternative to wood chips. Recycled rubber has many of the same benefits as organic mulch, including helping to retain moisture, moderating soil temperature and adding beauty to your landscape. It is available in many colors and won’t fade.

Many thanks to Marcy for sharing her landscaping tips. This is just a partial list of potential garden mulches, and don’t pass on the homegrown sources right in your own neighborhood such as shredded leaves, grass clippings, utility limb chippings, and mulch produced at municipal recycling centers.

Marcy Tate is a passionate gardener and home improvement diva who works her magic armed with nothing but a hammer, screwdriver, and crazy glue! She recently relocated to Wyoming, has worked with landscaping contractors for over a decade, and can be found blogging at Networx.com.

This article on the carefree benefits of using mulch in the garden and around the landscape is a guest post by Marcy Tate:

Garden mulch can enhance the look of your garden and help keep your garden healthy. Placing mulch in your garden can also save you time by decreasing the need for watering, applying herbicides and pulling weeds. A healthy vegetable and fruit garden always begins with healthy soil, and a healthy soil can be encouraged through mulching.

Enjoy these Great Advantages of Mulch in the Landscape:

• Helps moderate the soil temperature
• Enhances the growth of fruit and vegetables planted
• Retains moisture during dry weather, reducing the need for watering
• Reduces excessive weed growth
• Natural mulches can improve the structure of the soil
• As mulch decays it becomes topsoil adding nutrients to the soil
• Enhances the beauty of your home by adding color and uniformity
• Mulch helps prevent damage to trees and shrubs by lawn equipment

There are two general categories of mulch; organic and inorganic. Organic mulch is made from natural matter, such as bark, wood chips, leaves, pine needles, or grass clippings. Inorganic mulch includes gravel, pebbles, black plastic and landscape fabrics.

Making Comparisons between Organic and Inorganic Mulches

Organic mulch is the most beneficial to your garden. Unlike manufactured mulches, organic mulch helps improve soil by adding organic matter as it decomposes. According to the United States Department of Agriculture; “Mulch may also encourage the growth of worms and other beneficial soil organisms that can help improve soil structure and the availability of nutrients for plants.”

Organic mulch also costs less than inorganic mulches. Many local Park and Recreation Departments give away woodchips and bark at no charge. A small disadvantage is that because organic mulch decomposes over time, it needs to be replaced after several years.

While inorganic mulch (also known as man-made mulch) doesn’t benefit your garden as much as organic mulches, it is easier to maintain. The various types of inorganic mulch do not attract pests and do not decompose. Inorganic mulch is an especially good weed barrier.

Tomorrow Marcy will return to identify specific types of mulch and their application as useful elements in the garden or around the home landscape.

Marcy Tate is a passionate gardener and home improvement diva who works her magic armed with nothing but a hammer, screwdriver, and crazy glue! She recently relocated to Wyoming, has worked with landscaping contractors for over a decade, and can be found blogging at Networx.com.

I’m usually excited to see the local garden shows roll into town and thrilled when I can finally rip February’s page off of the calendar, but this year just isn’t the same and I really can’t explain it.

Maybe it’s the blanket of snow that feels like it has covered the ground all winter. Or the constant threat of additional snow that the weatherman has left hanging over our heads. And it doesn’t help that our temperatures have stubbornly refused to rise much above freezing.

All Bets are Off for an Early Spring

Then there are all of the Farmer’s Almanac devotees who keep insisting that forty more inches of snow are a sure thing to strike precisely on March 7th in this area! I’m not buying that one, but then again I wouldn’t place any wagers against it either, especially after my sorry prediction last month that the worst of winter was already behind us.

I’m sure it will sink in any day now that spring really is just around the corner, and maybe the weather will finally offer some evidence to confirm that. In the meantime here’s a list of the local garden shows and expos to help convince us that we really should be starting seeds indoors now, in spite of what’s going on outdoors.

Pennsylvania Garden Expo

Back after a year off, the Pennsylvania Garden Expo takes place in Harrisburg at the Farm Show Complex and will run from February 26 through February 28. Seminars include sessions on; “Container Vegetables: You can grow fantastic vegetables in pots,” “Home Greenhouses and Cold Frames: build one and grow more,” and “Dynamic Bonsai Design.”

Roger Swain, one of my favorite garden speakers will be on hand to present three separate lectures; “If You Can Eat It, Grow It,” “Planting Villages: How Gardens Make Good Neighbors,” and “Perennially Yours; what to plant, where to plant it and how to care for it and you.”

Mid-Atlantic Garden Show

The Mid-Atlantic Garden Show will be held in York, PA and runs from March 4th through the 7th on the York Fairgrounds. P. Allen Smith will be the keynote speaker and he’ll be joined by a line up of regional experts conducting a variety of garden related workshops and seminars.

There will also be plenty of green vendors offering a range of flower, garden, and outdoor living accessories. The landscape display gardens will take your mind off of winter and make it difficult to believe that you are actually indoors as you gather ideas to use in your own backyard.

Philadelphia Flower Show

Without a doubt the largest gardening show in the region is the Philadelphia Flower Show, which takes place from February 28th through March 7th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

A sample of the lectures and demonstrations ti be offered include:
•    Flower Power: Flower Arranging for Wellness
•    Pots are Hot: Growing Vegetables in Containers
•    The Future of Plant Collecting
•    Starting the Herb Garden Naturally
•    Healing through Horticulture, the Value of Horticulture as Therapy
•    Flower Design Techniques on a Dime

Maryland Home and Garden Show

A little further south is the Maryland Home & Garden Show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium that will be held on March 6th – 7th and also from the 12th – 14th. The show includes landscape gardens, home improvement exhibits, and a plant and craft marketplace.

Seminars will cover topics such as; Growing herbs and vegetables in containers, Beekeeping for beginners, Bonsai from your backyard, Terrariums and dish gardens, and Growing vegetables in an urban setting. The “Mole Hunter” will also be on hand to show you how to triumph over those destructive underground pests.

If you are outside of the Central Pennsylvania region, don’t let that stop you from finding similar green events right in your own neighborhood. It may not feel like it but just a little bit longer and we’ll be able to exchange those snow shovels for garden spades!

Those potted fig trees that are moved into a garage or unheated area to spend the winter don’t need much care but they do require an occasional watering even during their dormant rest periods.

Today I wanted to share a technique to water those containers that has been just too convenient with all the snow that we have received this winter. Rather than hauling water to the fig trees, you can simply pack a bit of snow onto the top of the planters wherever you are storing them for the winter.

Using Snow to Supply Moisture to Potted Fruit Trees

The snow will gradually melt and supply the fig tree containers with just the right amount of moisture at opportune times. It’s easier for the soil to slowly absorb the melted snow and you’ll have less water simply running through a frozen pot.

I learned this trick from a bonsai plant grower but it works great with my fig trees and other dormant fruit trees that are over wintered in unheated sheltered locations where they don’t receive any normal precipitation.

Just a Little Water Goes a Long Way with Dormant Plants

Be careful not to go overboard because these plants are dormant and don’t require routine watering, you just want to provide enough moisture to keep the soil from completely drying out. But don’t allow the soil to become the least bit water logged.

A light watering once every five or six weeks works out well for me with these dormant potted fruits and trees. They are low maintenance, have shed all their leaves, and are perfectly comfortable spending the entire winter cooped up in tight quarters with no light, no fertilizer, and very little water.

Other Plants are a Lot More Demanding during the Winter Months

Tropicals, herbs, and other patio plants that are still active and retain their leaves after being moved into a heated living area are a completely different matter and require much more attention and moisture to get them through the winter months.

But for those dormant plants a little snow may be all that you need to create the perfect self watering set up.

Yesterday Stephen Scott of Underwood Gardens shared some concepts related to the importance of good soil both in and out of the garden. Today he returns to discuss some changes in the way that we think about and manage our gardens that can go a long way towards improving soil quality in our backyards:

Building or growing living and naturally healthy soil often begins with some mindset changes.

Maximum Quantity vs. Quality in the Home Garden

Most of these are easy for the home gardener, such as quality over quantity. Maximum yield growing is not a normal concept for the home gardener, but is forefront for the industrial producer.

Eliminating chemical use that destroys the living organisms that create the soil and its nutrients is sometimes hard to accept, but all bugs are not bad in the garden. Most bugs go for weakened or nutritionally deficient plants, so they are the symptom, not the true problem.

Addressing the Real Garden Problems rather than Symptoms

Getting rid of the bugs doesn’t solve the underlying nutrient deficiency, only the appearance of the plants. When you dig into the soil and see lots of worms, pill bugs, and other little crawly things, along with some white mold, this is great!

This is exactly what you want to see, as all of these factors combine to break down the compost and other matter into nutrients and minerals that can be used by the plants. When this is happening, the soil has its very own completely operational ecosystem. This is healthy soil.

The Ultimate Benefits of Maintaining a Living Soil Community

There are many really good reference books on what is and how to grow healthy soil, but the premise is easy. Soil must be fed, kept away from chemicals and allowed to develop its multiple layers of living communities that enrich the soil.

Encouragement of all the living things that make up the soil such as worms, pillbugs, fungi, molds, beneficial nematodes and bacteria will keep the soil vibrant and fertile. Once this process is ongoing, the production, flavor and nutrition of the garden will be amazing!

Cindy Scott has a degree in greenhouse management, and is the resident grower in the family. She has been collecting articles on soils, seed saving, and general growing for over 10 years. She developed a Grow Native! Plant Sale and Educational Festival that educates gardeners in the Central Arizona Highlands, that is now in its fourth year.

Stephen Scott has a business background and is an acknowledged chili-head who loves the hotter side of things and loves to cook. The appeal of the garden and growing is to supply the freshest ingredients for the meals! He has a large interest in self sustainability- being able to do and produce most of what one needs. They have built a greenhouse from recycled materials that provides year round produce and plants for the garden.

Today’s article is a guest post written by Stephen Scott from Terroir Seeds, home of Underwood Gardens and Grandma’s Garden Catalog. Stephen examines the complex relationships between our soil and the food that we eat:

Heirloom seeds and plants, whether they are vegetables, herbs or flowers are more popular than ever now, as more people learn about the amazing taste and scent differences between the supermarket vegetables and home grown ones.

Rising Demand for Local and Home Grown Produce

People are also realizing there is much more selection and choice in starting plants from seeds than buying seedlings and starts from their local garden centers. On top of this the local food movement is gaining traction and has been growing in double digits for the past 7 to 9 years.

Local food sources include Farmer’s Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s), neighborhood food swaps and buying directly from the farmer at on-farm stands. All of this is great news for people eating healthier and tastier foods than ever before.

One important link in the food chain that is missing, however, is soil and the understanding of creating or growing fertile soil; with all of the benefits that come with healthy soil.

Healthy Soil is Important Far beyond the Confines of the Garden

The best heirloom seeds can only grow to their full potential in healthy, living fertile soil. So what exactly is healthy soil? It is much more than just dirt with some compost and fertilizers mixed in. It is truly living- host to thousands of organisms in many communities that all do different things to provide the most available nutrients and minerals to the plant roots in the soil.

It is in the soil where everything begins. Everything that we need to grow and remain in good health starts with the health of the soil. Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner stated, “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.”

Minerals are the most basic building blocks for nutrition, both in the plants and humans. Without the proper minerals, every other part of the nutritional chain is compromised- nothing else works. Amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients are all dependent on minerals.

“Soil Life” is Essential to All Growth and Nutrition

This starts in the plants that we eat, and continues in our bodies. If we want the best benefits from our gardening efforts, we need to build and grow the best, most alive and healthy soil possible. Only then will we be able to grow the best gardens that will in turn give us the best taste and nutrition possible.

The health and vitality of the soil directly affects what the plant can take in, and this impacts what nutrition we receive. For example, a tomato grown in natural, healthy soil will take up 56 minerals! That same tomato can be chemically grown with as few as 7 to 12 minerals, and its taste and nutrition will match.

The interesting thing is that the chemically grown tomato will look good, until it is compared with the naturally grown one. Most fruits and vegetables in the supermarket are commercially grown, which means chemically grown. The true nutrition of the plant depends entirely on the mineral content of the soil.

Plants use the minerals in soil to create vitamins and phytonutrients, or plant created nutrients. What is frightening is that most vegetables that we eat from the supermarket are nutritionally deficient, due to the lack of minerals in the soil where they were grown. This is what industrial chemical agriculture has brought us.

Tomorrow Stephen will return to share a simple shift of mindset that will help immensely to add life and improve your garden’s soil.

Cindy Scott has a degree in greenhouse management, and is the resident grower in the family. She has been collecting articles on soils, seed saving, and general growing for over 10 years. She developed a Grow Native! Plant Sale and Educational Festival that educates gardeners in the Central Arizona Highlands, that is now in its fourth year.

Stephen Scott has a business background and is an acknowledged chili-head who loves the hotter side of things and loves to cook. The appeal of the garden and growing is to supply the freshest ingredients for the meals! He has a large interest in self sustainability- being able to do and produce most of what one needs. They have built a greenhouse from recycled materials that provides year round produce and plants for the garden.

It looks like the powers that be in India have decided to turn a big thumbs down to permitting the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt Brinjal! Brinjal or aubergines, are more commonly known as eggplants here in the U.S. and we can only pray that our government officials will take a closer look at whether we should be so quick to allow the use of genetically modified crops in our own domestic food supply.

The decision to impose a moratorium on Bt Brinjal in India was made as a result of public opposition and health concerns over the safety of consuming genetically engineered plants that contain gene material from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium that has long served as an effective organic pest control. While Bt is generally considered safe as used in traditional organic agriculture, there are concerns over heavy applications and debate regarding the safety of consuming Bt in the diet.

In organic farming or gardening Bt pesticides are typically diluted with water and sprayed onto the foliage of plants to control caterpillar type insects. Used in this manner the bacteria is applied only when targeted insects are present, and the residue wears off over time and with exposure to rain, sunlight, and other elements. By making the Bt gene a part of the plant itself it seems unlikely the active components would diminish over time or through exposure to the elements.

There are also concerns about insects developing increased resistance to Bt as a result of overuse and through the introduction of various genetically modified Bt crops. Another fear is that the GM plant varieties will cross pollinate and contaminate the traditional and heirloom varieties of eggplants that are under cultivation.

In addition to eggplants Bt genetically modified varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton, and potatoes have also been developed. Currently GM food products in the U.S. do not require any form of labeling to notify consumers of their presence. The majority of commercially grown genetically modified crops are raised in the U.S., with corn and soybeans being the most commonly produced GM foods.

Here are links to a few articles related to the battle over Bt Brinjal in India:

• India Defers GM food crop on Safety Grounds
• India Divided over Plans for GM aubergine
• Bt Brinjal Controversy Divides India

A final irony in the matter is that one of the reasons being used to justify the need for Bt Brinjal is; to reduce the expense of chemical pesticides and the “harmful residue” and pollution that those chemicals leave behind (as stated by a researcher in the second article). In other words chemical pesticides that were described as safe and always downplayed in the past when making arguments against the benefits of organic agriculture are now being emphasized as a reason to accept a GM plant engineered with Bt! What’s next?

It’s the rare and seasoned “vintage” gardeners that I love to corner, sit down with, and absorb every last morsel of the wisdom, history, experience, and storytelling that they gladly share with anyone who is willing to listen.

I took advantage of just that kind of opportunity recently when I met Tom Burford at the Backyard Fruit Growers winter meeting and intently listened as he spoke on “All Things Fruit.”

And the Expert’s Secret All-Time Favorite Apple Variety is…

Tom is an orchardist, writer, lecturer, and apple historian who also conducts hands-on workshops over at Vintage Virginia Apples. He has personally grown over 500 different varieties of apples and is on a mission to rediscover, preserve, and share the best of apples. Tom didn’t hesitate to reveal that without a doubt his all-time favorite apple is… “the last one that I ate!”

Here are my comments and notes from Tom’s lecture a couple weeks ago:

• Commercial orchards have historically dictated what fruit would be made available but recently consumers have become a driving force in demanding better fruit. From a high of 17,000 varieties in the early 1900’s, we are now down to a total of 2000 – 3000 different apples.

• The only way to preserve the diversity and tradition of many heirloom apple varieties will be for home gardeners to adopt them and begin to raise them right in their own backyards.

• Cider is the big story in the apple world with increasing interest and awareness of high quality, crafted heirloom ciders that can’t even be compared to the cheap commercial products made from imported concentrate that passes for apple cider at the grocery store.

• Apple cider was once a booming industry in the U.S. and is now regaining attention as a business opportunity. It has even raised concerns as a threat within the carbonated soft drink industry in part because of the increasing health consciousness.

• Heirloom apples shine the brightest when used in specified roles; not all of them best serve as desert apples. An heirloom that’s unsuited to fresh eating could turn out be the finest baking, sauce, cider, butter, or drying apple you ever tasted!

• Apple grafting workshops are becoming more popular among backyard gardeners looking to raise their own apple trees… Tom rationalizes that planting as few as two trees qualifies as an orchard. And if the two trees die you still qualify as an orchardist because your intentions were in the right place.

• Apples were prized by early settlers to the U.S. and much effort went into the introduction of the fruits and spreading apple seedlings westward. Even before the days of refrigeration apples stored well and could be transported rather easily.

• Old-school orchardists would dig young trees out of their nurseries and then replant them, taking extreme care to ensure that the seedlings limbs were facing in the same direction as they were when growing in the nursery bed.

• It can be a challenge to locate and confirm specific apple varieties. There is also a need to look out for elaboration and misinformation when it comes to heirlooms. Always keep track of the original sources and lineage of all your fruit trees.

• Variety selection is the critical factor for organic and backyard apple growers. Be diligent about planting trees that are suitable for your climate and growing conditions rather than choosing varieties that may have more sex appeal but will never survive or thrive in your growing region!

Highly Recommended Fruit Varieties, Books, and Workshops

Tom did pass along a couple of variety recommendations for the home gardener to consider. First there was the Pomme Gris apple touted as a care-free variety that you could plant today and simply return in five years to harvest tasty fruit. For a fine pear the nod went to the Burford pear as a good, all-purpose choice.

You can find several great books authored by Tom Burford including “The Best Apples to Buy and Grow” which is published by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

And don’t hesitate if you have an opportunity schedule one of his workshops or lectures, despite Tom’s joke that; “I’m already booking through 2013, but for all I know I may be dead by then.” I certainly hope to share in more of Tom’s humor and incredible wealth of apple and fruit knowledge well beyond those scheduled appointments!

Many of you took me up on the green ideas for chasing away winter blues, and some like Tee over at Veggie Gardener even commented on actually getting out into the garden to take in the milder temperatures that we enjoyed last weekend.

For me, the latest thoughts of warmer days and backyard gardening were inspired by the Backyard Fruit Growers Winter meeting that I attended. Great speakers, fellow gardeners, and the opportunity exchange new ideas always make it a worthwhile event.

Native Pollinators and Vintage Fruits

The main focus of this year’s winter meeting was on native pollinating insects and apples. Alex Surcica a researcher from the Franklin County Extension spent the morning talking about native pollinators with an emphasis on bumblebees and some of the solitary pollinators.

The afternoon session was a discussion of “All Things Fruit” with much of the conversation devoted to heirloom and antique apples. Tom Burford of Vintage Virginia Apples was the guest speaker and shared a wealth of information related to the culture, history, and future of the apple in America.

Interesting Facts about Bees, Wasps, and other Pollinators

Here are a few fascinating tidbits that were picked up during BYFG Winter Meeting:

• Bees are our most important pollinator but butterflies play an important role in maintaining genetic diversity because of the way that they flutter here and there spreading pollen to individual plants in scattered areas.

• Wasps are carnivores, while honeybees follow a strict vegetarian diet. A worker bee’s stinger is a modified egg laying appendage.

• There are native pollinators such as squash bees that will visit a single family of plants. Solitary squash bees pollinate and feed on pumpkin, gourds, and squash flowers and are much more efficient with them than honeybees.

• 80 % of the world’s almonds are produced in a single California valley and there are not enough honeybees in the entire country to pollinate them all. Over a million colonies of domestic bees are transported to California each winter, but more bees are imported from places as far away as Australia just to pollinate the almond crop!

• Honeybee workers are assigned distinct roles related to pollination, some collect nectar, others are responsible for gathering pollen, and still others serve a dual role and collect both pollen and nectar as part of their designated job assignments.

• Bees forming new colonies in the spring will have smaller sized bees early in the season because the queen has to manage all of the chores of building the hive, caring for the young, and gathering food. Subsequent generations of the bees or wasps will grow larger and healthier because there is a community of workers to help care for them.

• Bumblebees generate an electrical charge as they travel that attracts and causes pollen to jump onto them as they pass through flowers. Bees are hairy in comparison to wasps and that hair is an asset in the pollination process.

• There are many, many different types of native and solitary bees; digger bees, polyester bees, sweat bees, wood nesting bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, and cuckoo bees. Cuckoo bees will invade other hives, kill the queen, and force the workers to care for her own offspring.

• Native plants are four times more attractive to native bees. Hybrid plants are even less attractive to native bees. Plant flowers in groups or drifts to attract native bees and plan for a succession of blooms throughout the season to provide for them. Native bees also need nesting areas, access to water, and sheltered sites to overwinter.

• Pussy Willow and Crocus are two plants that can produce pollen early in the season when native bees have limited supplies of good pollen sources.

Alex also discussed various wasps that serve an important role in nature and around our gardens. These are just some of the notes that I took during the lecture. It’s clear that one could easily devote years studying just a single variety of bee or wasp. I have had an intense fascination with bees extending back to my amateurish attempts at beekeeping years ago. I hope to get back into it one day and plan to write more about bees here in the near future.

Next time, I’ll run through my notes again and share some of the information about fruit that was presented by Tom Burford during the annual BYFG’s Winter Meeting.

Has the cold, snow and ice gotten the better of you? Are you just itching to get out and do something constructive with that green but solidly frozen thumb of yours?

The scene may be bleak out in the garden, but there is still plenty to keep a northern gardener in a positive frame of mind. Here are a few events, activities, and thoughts that may help to lift that winter gloom…

Long Range Weather Forecast; Clear Skies and Short Months Ahead

We’ve had lots of snow here in Pennsylvania already, so my reasoning is that we’ve gotten it all out of the way and will see blue skies from now until the spring thaw. Sorry all you skiers and boarders out there but I’ve had my fill of snow, highlighted by a recent camping trip spent in two feet of the stuff!

One thing is certain, and that is that we’re halfway through January already and March will be rolling around before you know it! The days really are getting longer and brighter. Maybe I’m hallucinating a bit on this one, but I could swear I saw something green peeking up through the snow in the garlic bed the other day.

As strange as it may seem it is almost time to start planting some of those garden seeds like leeks that take forever to get going and need weeks of pampering indoors under lights. I’ve also been planting some seeds from tropical store bought fruits to try and cultivate them as annual ornamentals for the patio this year.

Sustainable Farming Conferences and Conventions

A local bright spot is the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture’s (PASA) annual conference which begins in just a few weeks. This year’s theme is “The Sustainable Challenge: Providing for a Livable Tomorrow” and the conference will offer the usual mix of interesting sustainable agriculture lectures, workshops, and seminars.

If you’re too far away to visit look for local conferences in your area that are sponsored by groups such as the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Here is a link to an upcoming organic conference in Saratoga Springs, New York.

March is sure to bring a flurry of Home Builder Shows, Gardening Expos, and smaller gardening workshops to nudge the gardener out of hibernation. This is a good time to scout around for the dates of annual spring gardening events to ensure that they don’t pass by unnoticed.

Cozy Up to Your Favorite Seed Catalog or Gardening Newsletter

The stack of heirloom seed catalogs trickling in through the mail is still growing but I’m set to begin sorting through them to get my orders together. A cold, windy weekend is a perfect time to sit at the computer and get that seed order placed to beat the spring rush and avoid missing out on sold out varieties.

Many of the gardening blogs go dormant during the winter months but one way to satisfy the desire for fresh green content is to subscribe to an organic gardening monthly such as the Gardening Secrets Newsletter. Speaking of which, the latest issue was all about seeds and some of my favorite seed companies.

It included links to those favorite seed suppliers and great sources for locating rare, unusual, and heirloom seeds that are ideal for the home gardener. It’s not too late to join the newsletter email list and get caught up on all the back issues that you have missed. Just follow the link to Subscribe Now; it’s FREE and your email address will never be shared!

Stay Tuned and in Touch with Veggie Gardening Tips

Things may be a tad slower, but there is no winter break here at Veggie Gardening Tips, and plans are in the works for lots of new articles on topics such as Aquaponics, Growing in Tunnels, Cultivating Micro-Greens, and other topics to chase away the Winter Blues. A couple of your favorite guest bloggers will be stopping by as well.

I’m currently working on a couple of exciting new projects that will sprout soon so stick around, or better yet sign on to the Veggie Gardening Tips RSS feed. That’s an easy way to stay updated on the latest articles, informed about what’s coming next, and motivated to hold on until Spring returns!

If you have your own prescription for curing a seasonal case of the gardening winter blues please share it with us in the comment section below.

Here’s the follow up article to finish describing the exotic Caribbean fruits that I challenged you to identify in a previous post. James managed to name them all correctly and will receive a prize in the form of a PRO digging fork that he says will come in very handy as he cultivates his raised bed garden.

There are many unusual fruits found growing in St. Croix, and I did my best to throw a slight curve by showing a different view on any common tropical fruits that were included in the photo line up.

There’s More that One Way to Serve a Breadfruit

Starting with the breadfruits, these are strange but versatile fruits that I had never seen or tasted prior to my visit to the island. The flesh inside is white to cream colored, dry, and not quite as sweet as a typical tropical fruit.

The trees are very productive, bearing grapefruit sized round fruits. Although there are different varieties of breadfruit that produce larger fruits and some that are oblong rather than round.

Breadfruit trees offer many beneficial uses from lumber, to medicines and food. I wasn’t excited about the taste initially when I tried one breadfruit that was baked and another that was made into a fruity desert. I had a change of heart and enjoyed this tropical fruit when it was grilled or fried like plantains.

Uncommon and Edible Banana Flowers from St. Croix

Next on the list is a very familiar fruit, the banana which you may not have recognized because the odd part pictured was the banana flower or blossom rather than the fruits that we are accustomed to finding in bunches at the local grocer.

Bananas grow well in St. Croix and always seemed to be in season and ripening during my visits to the Caribbean. I have a friend that grows banana plants here in Pennsylvania during the summer months, but getting them to bear fruit in our climate is a totally different matter!

It turns out that the showy banana flower pictured is actually edible itself and commonly used in Asian and Indian dishes ranging from soups and salads to stir fries. You may also stumble upon recipe ingredients such as banana blossoms or banana heart, which are just other names for the banana plant’s flower.

Tropically Refreshing and Juicy Passion Fruits

The passionfruit flower is probably more recognizable than the fruits themselves and that is unfortunate because they are tasty and can be used in a variety of ways. I’ve tasted passion fruit in tropical fruit flavored drinks but the fresh fruit was an entirely new experience.

The fruits are about the size of a large lemon and can be cut in half to reveal a juicy mix of seeds, gel like pulp, and juice. The seeds are soft enough that you can eat them along with the flesh and enjoy the slightly sweet, tart, tropical flavor.

This plant isn’t a tree but a vine that can be staked along rows in the garden, making for an attractive windbreak or divider. Passionfruit vines are very productive and the fruits turn yellow as they ripen and fall to the ground where they are easily harvested.

From Papaya Flowers to Perpetually Productive Fruits

Papaya trees are ornamental and incredibly productive with mature fruits ripening towards the bottom while new flowers continued to set and develop new fruits at the top of the tree.

Papayas are so exotic and attractive that I would love to grow one out on the patio. We did come across an annual variety that was being propagated at the University of the Virgin Islands so maybe that’s not such a far fetched idea after all.

There were fruits almost as large as coconuts ringing the tree trunks in a circular arrangement. The dark green, slightly ridged papayas quickly turn orange as they ripen to signal that they are ready for harvesting. The fruits are eaten fresh and used in a variety of cooked dishes.

Whoever Said that You Can’t Eat a Loofah?

This final fruit could easily be mistaken for some climbing variety of cucumber, but it is actually an edible loofah. The loofah is a plant that I grew to love in St. Croix and I will definitely find out how well it will grow in my garden this coming summer.

I always considered loofah to be nothing more than an oddity grown to create sponges and was surprised to learn that certain loofah varieties are not only edible, but actually very delicious.

A strong climber, loofah will need to be trellised and given plenty of room to roam. In return it will produce enormous fruits that are tasty and make a great addition to soups, stews, and stir fries.

If you’re fortunate enough to be blessed with a tropical climate you may want to try your hand at growing some of these exotic fruits in the garden. If not a visit to local market or ethnic grocer may turn up a surprise or two from the exotic fruits described in the past few articles here.

You can see more photos from St. Croix and the Virgin Island Sustainable Farm Institute posted on the Veggie Gardening Tips Facebook page.

Looks like the tropical fruit challenge that was posted last week offered much more of a test than the previous garden riddle that many found a lot easier to solve.

I have to give James credit for making short work of it and coming up with the correct identity to every single strange and unusual fruit that was presented. I didn’t moderate his comment until today but he responded on Saturday and was the first and only person to get them all right.

James admitted to taking advantage of the clues offered in the November issue of the Gardening Secrets Newsletter and Wikipedia as resources but I think that being an avid sunny California gardener may have helped as well. Read on for alternate photos and additional details on the plants that were included in the tropical fruit identification challenge.

Eggfruit a Surprising and Unusual Discovery in the Tropics

First up is the very unusual and uncommon Eggfruit. This was a new one in my book and I was a little hesitant to try it out because I wasn’t sure what to expect from this odd fruit with a strange and somewhat pasty texture.

But I have to admit that I found it rather tasty with a rich, sweet flavor that is difficult to compare to any other fruit. Eggfruits grow larger than softballs and the bright yellow fruits offer a nice contrast against the dark green and shiny leaves.

At first I couldn’t imagine what this tree or its fruit had in common with its namesake, but later realized that the fruit does have somewhat the look and texture of a cooked egg yolk. A little research turned up lots of interesting recipes for preparing eggfruits along with references of it being referred to as a “wonder fruit.”

The Uncommon and Very Cool Caribbean Style Sorrel

Ida was right when she commented on the second plant which is Sorrel and is used in the Caribbean to make a delicious fruit flavored beverage, herbal teas, and syrups. The leaves can also added to leafy green salads for extra nutrients and a bit of sweet-tart flavor.

Not to be confused with the Common Sorrel that is often found growing wild stateside, I believe this sorrel is the same plant known as Red Roselle. Sorrel requires warm temps and a long growing season to mature. The bright red calyxes resemble flowers but are actually the fleshy seed pods used in drinks and to prepare delicious sorrel syrup.

This is a very attractive plant with bushy growth that reach over five feet in height. I think it’s appealing enough that I will attempt to get a few seeds off to an early start and see if I can coax it to maturity in my northern climate.

Malabar Spinach the Heat Tolerant Warm Climate Alternative

The next plant isn’t quite as tropical as it may appear; Malabar Spinach can adapt to a temperate region garden and I’m planning to plant some in my backyard next season. This is a great substitute for spinach if the temps in your growing region are too high to cultivate the regular spinach varieties.

Malabar Spinach has a vining habit that will climb a trellis and produce loads of thick, crisp, leaves for salads. You can cut back and harvest this plant to the ground and it will quickly sprout back to produce multiple crops.

As Ida commented, the leaves do have a slimy consistency when eating but don’t let that put you off, we’re not talking okra level slime, just a bit of gel like texture when the leaves are chewed that I found to be very pleasant with no lingering aftertaste. This definitely makes a great addition in combination with other salad greens!

Dragon Fruit a Rare Find on the Island of St. Croix

Next up is a curious fruit with reddish-purple skin, white flesh, and hundreds of tiny black seeds. Dragonfruit is rare and isn’t cultivated as far as I’m aware in St. Croix, but it does grow wild in mountainous regions of the island.

I was surprised to hear James mention that Dragon Fruit is offered in Southern California markets. In St. Croix it is a specialty fruit that is foraged from wild groves and sold for a tidy profit around town by those willing to seek them out and harvest them from typically remote areas.

Dragon Fruit is exotic looking and the flesh is incredibly striking but it doesn’t come close to the top of my list of favorite tasting tropical fruits. I’d take a fresh mango, sour sop, or papaya over the dragon fruit any day. Maybe I shouldn’t judge from one try, and it was good, but I think its popularity may have more to do with its rarity or reputed health benefits more so than its taste.

The next entry will wrap up this run down of unusual tropical fruits and share more photos and additional details about breadfruit, bananas, passionfruit, papayas, and edible loofahs.

Maybe you’re a whiz when it comes to local fruits and vegetables, but how good are you if we shift the landscape to the Caribbean? Today’s post will give you a perfect opportunity to test your identification skills and take a shot at winning a prize!

All you need to do is guess the identify of the following photos that were taken during my recent trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands and a stay on the island of St. Croix. It’s such a lush environment where the vegetation is amazingly productive and exotic.

There are always exciting plant discoveries and new fruits and veggies to sample. We won’t waste time rehashing past tropical edibles like the sour sops, sugar apples, and tamarinds that I shared the last time I was in St. Croix.

Take Advantage of all the Help You can Get for this Challenge

Those were easy compared to what’s in store for you today, but guess right and you’ll be in the running to receive a nice little prize from my OpenSky storefront. If you’ve subscribed and read the latest issue of the Gardening Secrets Newsletter you will have a huge advantage because the names of all the plants in question were mentioned there!

It’s not too late to sign up for the newsletter and snag copy of the November issue from the archives if you want to improve your chances of coming up with all the correct responses. Or if you’re feeling pretty confident, just jump right in and list your answers in the comment section below.

Be sure to place the names in the same order as the photos appear. If more than one person gets them all correct a winner will be selected at random. Good luck and here is the lineup of exotic vegetation found growing in St. Croix that will challenge your plant identification skills:

Unusual and Exotic Vegetation Spotted in the U.S. Virgin Islands:

Go right ahead and give it your best shot to identify all of the plants pictured above. One final clue, which you’ve probably guessed by now if you follow this site, is that some part of each plant is edible or medicinal, but the catch is it may not be the part that is pictured in the photo.

I’ll return in a couple days to post the correct identification of these tropical plants and announce the winner of the contest and the prize that they will be receiving.

The use of zones is a practical Permaculture concept that’s worthy of incorporating into the backyard vegetable garden. The basic idea is to organize your landscape into growing zones that will make it easier and more convenient to care for your plants.

Zones are identified based on the relative location and accessibility, and then crops or gardening activities are matched to these regions depending on their allotment of time, space, labor, and other requirements. Zone 1 consists of the growing areas that are closest at hand and can be occupied by a variety of plants that are compact,  productive, and require intensive management.

Making it Easy to Keep a Close Eye on High Maintenance Plants

Examples of Zone 1 cultivation could range from a windowsill of potted herbs, to a deck or patio filled with containers of fig trees and bay laurel plants, or even a bed of edible flowers, baby cutting lettuces, and culinary herbs all growing alongside the home.

Zone 1 harbors plants nearby for easy access to the crops that you use most often; such as culinary herbs and fresh garnishes. Or it can serve as a base for plants that require frequent attention; such as container grown edibles. The close proximity means that demanding plants occupying this initial zone are much less likely to be forgotten or neglected!

Extending out into the landscape will be additional zones that are arranged according to increasing distances and decreasing access. Crops are then organized according to their needs and how often they require direct attention. Zones don’t have to be laid out in sequence and in some cases a particular zone can be omitted altogether.

The High Yield Vegetable Production Zones

The intermediate gardening zones are where most of the action takes place, and will likely be the most productive areas of an edible landscape.

Zone 2 is not as closely managed but still occupies a very convenient and readily accessible location. This is a perfect spot for the raised beds of your main vegetable garden. This second zone doesn’t require the constant, daily attention of the plants in the first zone though.

Next up, Zone 3 requires even less management, can be a bit further removed, and would make a great location for those perennial edible beds containing asparagus, rhubarb, blackberries, fruit trees, or a medicinal herb garden. Zone 3 could also be the ideal place for those special backyard gardening projects such as worm composting bins and solitary bee shelters.

Those Remote but Essential Outer Perimeter Zones

Zone 4 can be situated in a more remote or less visible section of the landscape. Crops in this area require only minimal or seasonal attention. Examples of Zone 4 crops include such low maintenance items as mushroom logs and your compost pile.

Finally, Zone 5 is located on the perimeter or most remote parts of the landscape and consist of wild or barely managed regions. Examples of zone 5 areas around the home include hedgerows, fence lines, border plantings, and areas that are left intentionally uncultivated.

Zone 5 should be a sanctuary for wildlife and a place where you can watch and learn from the lessons that Mother Nature reveals when left to her own devices. No matter how large or small your landscape may be, and regardless of where it is located, working from the perspective of zones will help you to become a more efficient and wiser gardener and to manage your entire landscape better!

Update: I just received notification that the OpenSky “Cyber Monday” promotion has come to a close, that there was overwhelming demand, and that all of the coupons have been issued. I apologize to anyone who was unable to access the storefront or take advantage of the promotion before it ended.

How would you like to receive a free Cobrahead Cultivator to help control those pesky weeds, or a Garden Shark Mulch Rake to use in your backyard? Maybe you’d prefer a new Oxo Garlic Press to prepare those home grown garlic bulbs, a Marble Mortar & Pestle set to crush your fresh herbs, or a Fiskars Soil Knife that can fill many roles around the garden.

Have you had your eye on that Rain Reserve System, an EarthBox Garden Kit, or the Can-O-Worms Composter that you’ve listened to me brag about? Well Cyber Monday may just be the perfect time to do a little shopping and save some dough thanks to this great offer from OpenSky.

Don’t Forget to Use Your Special Coupon Code

The OpenSky “Cyber Monday” promotion will allow you to obtain a FREE $25 GIFT just by shopping with any of the OpenSky Shopkeepers and mentioning the following coupon code at checkout: kenny2509. That’s $25 off of any item, there is no minimum purchase, and no shipping charges… so this really is a free gift promotion!

But don’t delay as there are only a few thousand coupons being distributed throughout the community of OpenSky Shops and once they have been issued the promotion will come to a close. The coupon code becomes active Monday morning, November 30, 2009, is limited to one use per customer, and valid only in the U.S. and Canada.

Feel free to share the details and coupon code with your friends and family also. Any questions related to this Cyber Monday promotion can be directed to OpenSky by email at customerservice@theopenskyproject.com or by telephone at (877) 734-OPEN (6736), weekdays between 8 AM and 5 PM Eastern time.

Find the Perfect Recommendation at an OpenSky Shop

So go ahead and take a good look at what the OpenSky Experts have to recommend as unique gift ideas and then cash in with your $25 coupon code: kenny2509. I think you’ll discover just how quick and easy it can be to do all your holiday shopping and locate some very interesting gifts right here at the OpenSky community.

After you score please stop back and share in the comment section below to let us know how you used your gift coupon. I’ll also post a note in the comment section if I receive notice that all the coupons have been handed out and the promotional period is over, but act quickly and you won’t have to worry about missing out on this free offer!

The popularity of this promotion has crashed some of the OpenSky servers but we are aware of the issue and working to add more resources to meet the demand. If you’re having difficulty accessing a link the problem should be resolved very shortly. Thanks for your patience.

I know that I’ve been “missing in action” lately as far as posting articles, responding to comments, and managing the other activities around here and at the Gardening Secrets Newsletter, but it hasn’t been without good reason.

You see I just returned from a second adventure at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute. Yes, that’s the same organic farm that I visited and described earlier this year; so that should give you a good indication of how much I enjoy this particular island getaway!

Lots of Organic Gardening Fun under the Sun

On this most recent trip, I had a great time, attended a Permaculture Design Certification Course, soaked up some sunshine, and took lots of pictures of organic vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and the tropical countryside. I also sampled a few new exotic fruits and took in sights that I missed on my previous visit.

It was nice to recharge my internal batteries before the winter sets in here in Pennsylvania. St. Croix was warm and pleasant despite the rainy season that delivered a little rain almost every night.

Shout Outs to Everyone at VISFI

Thanks to all my friends at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute for the usual hospitality; to Ben, Dyami, and Ethan for teaching the Permaculture Design Course; and to all the new friends that I made as we worked and studied around the farm, and played on the beaches and around town.

There will be more to share but first I have to get caught up on the email, commenting, and the November issue of the Gardening Secrets Newsletter. So have a great Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy a few of the hundreds of photos that were taken on the Island of St. Croix to whet your appetite until I can describe more of what I saw and did during my visit.

Okay, I’ll admit that this summer was a terrible one for growing tomatoes, and no, I can’t make claims that my garden was immune from the sting of Tomato Blight! But you know what, I still had more than enough homegrown tomatoes to enjoy and share with friends in spite of the widespread disease. This entry is a recap of the past season’s tomato production.

Most of the tomato transplants were started from seed but I did purchase a few seedlings to add to my home grown tomato plants. So I don’t know if the imports were the source of the contamination or if the blight found its way into my plot from neighboring gardens.

Looking Back at the Summer’s Heirloom Tomato Harvest

In total, there were about a dozen heirloom tomato varieties growing in the garden last summer, and they were all trained on a new trellising system designed to handle anything the vines could pile on. The plants looked pretty promising at first, and then slowly declined as signs of tomato blight began to appear and spread.

I allowed the disease to run its course and didn’t make any futile attempts to control or eliminate it. Some plants suffered more than others, but all of them yielded fruit regardless of how sad and pathetic their vines looked.

A number of the tomato plants seemed to rebound slightly as the summer progressed, and others like Matt’s Wild Cherry barely seemed to notice that the blight had come calling. Overall, I’m sure the production was reduced but I was still handing out plenty of tomatoes to grateful coworkers.

Looks can be Deliciously Deceiving with Heirloom Tomatoes

It didn’t take family and friends long to realize that the saying about beauty being skin deep applies quite nicely to heirloom tomatoes. Those very strange looking, dark-colored tomatoes with the rough green shoulders were passed over initially in favor of the normal looking bright red fruits.

But those “ugly” tomatoes that looked like they weren’t even fully ripened quickly became the most sought after of all the varieties that I grew last summer. I’ve always liked the dark heirlooms such as Black Krim and Carbon, but the Amazon Chocolate tomato has just moved towards the top of my personal favorite’s list.

Matt’s Wild Cherry was the small fruited tomato variety that I raised in the garden this summer, it was extremely productive, and stood up well to the tomato blight, but I’m still searching for a cherry tomato variety that compares favorably to Sungold!

Those New “Cage-Free” Tomatoes were a Huge Success

The tomato trellising system was a big success and I’ll definitely be setting it up again next summer. The only improvement that I may toy with is using a slightly lighter gauge wire that is a bit easier to stretch tightly from one end to the other.

If you missed the details about this trellis and the video that I created about its simple set up, you can catch up by visiting the post titled; “New Tomato Trellising and Training System.” If you’re tired of the cages, towers, and other support devices, this trellising system comes highly recommended.

It hasn’t been that long since I picked the last juicy, vine-ripened, heirloom tomato, but I’m already looking forward to next season and making plans to grow an even better crop. I’ll be fine tuning the list of varieties and searching for new tomatoes to trial in the garden.

And hopefully the next time around that tomato blight will be nowhere to be found!

Everything was so going well out in the vegetable garden and I was taking full advantage of the cool weather, abundant rain, a frost free start, and the ideal conditions for growing lush fall vegetable crops.

That is until yesterday evening as I ventured out into the backyard to take some photos. Then I noticed what looked like something had been digging in a couple of places in one of the raised beds, but I thought nothing of it until it finally hit me… “those are DEER TRACKS!”

A Disastrous Discovery in the Fall Vegetable Garden

From that moment everywhere I turned there were obvious signs that what looked like an entire herd of deer had been partying in the garden all night long! So much for my ideal growing conditions; deer have a quick way of ruining all that.

It wasn’t a dream, but I can still hope it was a fluke and that these deer were simply lost, got turned around and decided to check out the garden before returning to their usual feeding grounds. After all I am smack dab in the midst of a residential neighborhood!

Guess I’ll count my blessings that the damage wasn’t major and they even spared me the effort of pulling up a couple of beet roots. Seems like they were only interested in the beet leaves, Swiss Chard, and the pepper plants, but didn’t bother with much of anything else. Hopefully they won’t be returning anytime soon.

A Look at the Brighter Side of What’s Growing in the Fall Garden

It’s not all bad news in the garden as the following photos will show you that things are still green and growing in spite of the fact that the calendar shows November is only a few days away.

A few straggling blackberries continue to ripen despite the season and cool temperatures that have arrived in the fall garden.

A colorful and attractive mix of marigolds, nasturtiums, kale, parsnips, and Mexican Sage creates a nice backdrop between the raised beds and a perennial herb garden.

Ornamental kale and cabbage plants get better with age and as colder temps brighten their colors.

As hard as they tried, the deer were unable to eat all of the Swiss Chard, which continues to yield plenty of fresh, leafy greens.

Frost has spared the eggplants and peppers just long enough for me to collect one final harvest from an assortment of heirloom varieties.

I’ll wrap things up by saying once again that if you love veggie gardening but have never tried growing a fall vegetable garden; you are missing out on one of the absolute best times of the year to enjoy your garden!

The following message arrived via my Facebook Page from a gardener in Israel who is fervently searching for new edible plants to raise in the veggie garden. The difficulty revolves around a very limited water supply and tough growing conditions that can quickly turn a productive garden into a barren plot.

Here is Trish’s account along with a special request for crop recommendations from any experienced gardeners out there; particularly if you have grown vegetables in an arid climate:

Vegetable Gardening Successes and Challenges in the Mediterranean

As a fledgling veggie gardener, I love your gardening secrets newletters! They’re great and give me a host of information. Our Mediterranean climate is perfect for growing almost everything but I’ve not been able to grow anything for years – a total failure.

Now, with your help, I have tomatoes and eggplants in raised beds and I’m planning asparagus and blackberries although I have to take sun and heat and very limited water into consideration.

Our latest challenge is the newly issued water limitation for every household to 2.5 cubic meters of water per person per month. And that includes showers, toilets, gardens, washing machines – the lot! SO I have to find edible, drought resistant – nay drought loving plants. Now there’s a challenge!

Do you know anyone who might be able to help? I do use mulch and drip irrigation. However, winter is on its way (lowest temperatures 8 degrees centigrade) and hopefully, rain. So the pressure will only be on next summer and until then I might be able to prepare myself. Thank you and shalom.

Embracing Wild Edibles to Tame Unfriendly Climates and Conditions

Shalom to you Trish! Have you considered introducing some edible weeds and native plants into your landscape? I would bet there are edible plants that grow wild in your climate and that they are capable of producing routine harvests with no assistance from any gardener.

Here in the Northeastern U.S. there are fruits like blueberries and blackberries that grow wild but can also be cultivated in the backyard garden. Likewise for edible weeds like lambsquarters, purslane, and dandelion; each of which is available in cultivated varieties that are even better served and enjoyed at the dining table.

If a plant grows wild in a particular region, it’s guaranteed to have the growth characteristics, hardiness, and some natural resistance to the localized pests and weather conditions. Those features would make it even easier for these wild edibles to flourish in the comfort of a garden in spite of a harsh growing environment.

Recommendations for Cooperative Veggies that will Grow Well in Israel

Are you aware of any wild edible plants in your region that could also be raised as garden crops? If so, you could include them in the veggie garden to supplement your other crops and to provide some insurance anytime the less hardy cultivated plantings fail.

Trish just followed up with me to add the following… “I do have rosemary, lavender, shiba (artemisia) and sweet geranium (we put in tea) none of which require a lot of water and when pruned during the summer spring back in the winter like crazy. But there must be other plants and I’ll ask around.”

Can anyone recommend drought loving edible plants that would be suitable for growing in a Mediterranean climate? If you have any suggestions or ideas that may be useful to Trish please leave them in the comment section located below. Thanks!