By Tiffany Selvey, master gardener and mama of 1

It’s been a slow, leisurely start to the gardening season this year. Many years we jump right from winter into the heat of summer, but the last few months have been cool and wet, a much needed relief from the drought last year.

Because of the slow start this year, there’s still plenty of time to start growing your own vegetables. Garden centers and farm supply stores are still well stocked with all the summer veggies we want gracing our tables this season.

Starting a garden doesn’t have to be fussy. Even a few pretty edibles in containers by the back door will provide your family with nutrients and knowledge, two things of which we rarely get enough.

Consider getting a few large planters to fill with edibles to adorn your porch or patio, at least two feet in diameter. Fill each pot with any high quality, organic potting soil, about an inch of compost, and 3 plants, one small, one medium, and one large. Here are a few ideas:

Large:

• Tomato
  

  Cherry tomatoes are a lovely and practical patio plant.

• Staked or trellised cucumber
• Sweet or hot pepper
• Okra
• Trellised green beans

Medium:

• Kale
• Dill
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Winter squashes such as acorn or spaghetti (These will vine over the outside of the planter, so add these to an area with space to spread out.)

Small:

• Leaf lettuce
• Oregano
• Thyme

Wouldn’t it be nice to step out the back door to harvest fresh herbs for your salsa? Or grab a few cherry tomatoes for a snack on the way inside from playing? Planting in containers offers the convenience of the grocery store with the peace of mind that comes from knowing from where your food was grown.

 Tiffany Selvey is a Master Gardener who writes about her passion for growing, cooking, and living naturally at www.Songbird-Gardens.com. When she’s not elbow deep in soil, she enjoys raising a very active son, laughing with her husband, and wrangling their pets. Follow Tiffany’s gardening adventures on facebook and on twitter.

By Tiffany Selvey, Master Gardener and mama of 1

We’re coming to the end of another (hopefully) successful gardening season. After the heat and drought this summer, if you managed to keep anything alive pat yourself on the back.

The first expected frost date for our area is October 31st. That doesn’t mean that frost isn’t possible before, or that we will get frost on that day, it just means that it’s the average first frost date. This is the guideline gardeners use to determine when to clean up the garden, remove frost-sensitive plants, or prepare season extending procedures. Gardeners everywhere run out to harvest as much as possible before the first frost hits. If you look carefully, you can watch us shiver as we remove green tomatoes and tiny peppers.

We have had a few cool nights, but thankfully most of us missed that first frost that was in the forecast. It is, however, inevitable. With frost looming on the horizon, what needs to be done in the garden?

1. If you want to keep your frost-sensitive blooms and veggies around as long as possible, be prepared. We typically get a few light frosts through the month of November, so keep some old sheets around for those cold nights. Watch the forecasts carefully and, when there’s a chance of frost, cover your sensitive plants. Burlap and paper will also work. But don’t use any kind of plastic because this won’t protect from frost. I like to secure my fabric to the plants with clothes pins to make sure the wind doesn’t blow away my protection.
2. There is still time to grow frost-tolerant plants. Kale, chives, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts will survive the first light frosts. In fact, I’ve grown kale and chives all through the winter with no cold damage at all. They are very hardy. Mums are my favorite frost-tolerant blooms and they’re available at all the garden centers right now.
3. This is the perfect time to prepare for next year. “Lasagna gardening”- which means layering organic materials – is the best way to prepare next spring’s garden spot. Just lay down layers of cardboard, newspaper, or paper bags on your desired garden space, then add layers of organic material. Straw, leaves, and grass clippings are perfect. Over the winter, these materials will breakdown, the paper products will suffocate weeds while the paper and mulch feed the soil. By Spring you will have moist, well-fed soil in which to plant! (To see this process in action, come to my FREE gardening class! Details here.)

Year-round gardening is possible in Northwest Arkansas with season extenders like low rows, hoop houses, and greenhouses. I admire those who work hard all year long to provide food. This year I’ll be taking advantage of the winter season to rest. My cold weather crops will be allowed to live out their natural lives and we’ll enjoy them as long as they hold out. After that, I’ll enjoy the shorter days and rest up for next spring.

Tiffany Selvey is a Master Gardener who writes about her passion for growing, cooking, and living naturally at www.20-by-20.com. When she’s not elbow deep in soil, she enjoys raising a very active son, laughing with her husband, and wrangling their five pets. Click HERE to read more in our Gardening Category.

By Tiffany Selvey, Master Gardener and mama of 1

With the intense heat we are experiencing this year, it’s hard to imagine that fall planting is just around the corner. While it’s a bit of a challenge to get things to germinate in the heat of summer, it must be done in order to have fresh veggies through the Autumn season.

Brussels sprouts grown in the summer but harvested after the first frost have the best flavor.

Lettuce, cabbage, kale, broccoli, and carrots are family-friendly veggies that can be started in August and September for the fall season. If you want late season herbs, parsley, basil, and cilantro still have time to grow for a nice late season harvest. We are fortunate here to have a long growing season, so with a little planning we can actually have three full planting seasons! (four if you have a hoop house or greenhouse)

While most seeds can be started inside using peat pots, this method requires more diligence when moving outdoors. Seedlings moved from indoors to outdoors require weathering, a time of adjustment for a few weeks while slowly getting them accustomed to being outside. Since I’m a reckless (and at times a bit lazy) gardener, I like to direct sow seeds outside as often as possible. That way they weather themselves.

The key to germinating seeds outdoors during this heat is getting the soil temperature down. Bare soil sitting in the summer sun is way too hot to start any seeds, so if you’re looking to sprout anything you need two things:

1. Water: When I’m waiting for seeds to sprout and encouraging wee little seedlings to grow I water every day. As they get older, their roots will grow deeper and watering can become less frequent. During this heat and drought I water everything from 1-2 hours every night.

2. Mulch: I plant my seeds, then cover them with a thick layer of mulch, 2-3” thick. Each day I check for sprout growth. Once the seeds sprout, I move the mulch out of the way a bit to make sure they can get some sun, making sure the soil is still covered. Eventually those tough little fellas make their way toward the sun, breaking through the mulch. Light, loose mulch such as straw or wood chips are the best options for mulching while spouting. Composted sawdust or shredded newspaper will likely be too dense for the seedlings to make it through.

Frost tolerant plants such as cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli will grow in our area through November, so a little work now will create a long season of yummy, fresh veggies. I have had kale survive the entire winter here in NWA. Looking for ways to use kale or cabbage? Try my Bacon and Kale Frittata recipe, then check out my Kimchi, which is spicy, fermented cabbage, perfect for warming up your insides on those crisp Autumn nights.

Tiffany Selvey is a Master Gardener who writes about her passion for growing, cooking, and living naturally at www.20-by-20.com. When she’s not elbow deep in soil, she enjoys raising a very active son, laughing with her husband, and wrangling their five pets. Click HERE to read more in our Gardening Category.