Winter Project One: Milk Carton Hot-House for Frost Protection

There is a bit of time to kill between now and next season. If you are like me, you want to get things into the garden as fast as possible. When you plant in spring, you often need something to protect plants from frost. Why not recycle your milk containers now? If you start making these in December you will have at least a dozen of them come spring. They are not only good for frost protection but they will heat up the ground and plant that is under them. More heat means better growth.

The steps are in pictures. The biggest thing... rinse them thoroughly. Nothing worse than the smell of sour milk.

Milk Container Frost Protection - The Rusted Garden Blog

Cut Off the Bottom to Create the Hot-House - The Rusted Garden Blog

My milk containers have a line about 1 inch from the bottom. I suggest poking a hole in it with and knife and finishing the cut all the way around with scissors. You end up with a 1 inch cut bottom piece and the rest of the container that will be used to drop over your plants.

Two Hot-House Caps - The Rusted Garden Blog

Mini Hot-House Caps from Milk Cartons - The Rusted Garden Blog

You actually get to items for your garden. The bottom of the milk container can be inverted and pressed over seeds. It will warm the area, protect them from hard rains and create a mirco-environment for the seeds to sprout more quickly. The large part of the container can go right over transplants. It should be pushed into the ground so the edges go about an inch into the earth. It will make a seal for heat and prevent the wind from blowing it over.

Notice one picture has the cap on and the other has the cap off. Save the cap! It comes off when the days get warmer. All you have to do is remove and replace the cap as needed to makes sure the transplant stays warm or to make sure it doesn't cook on hotter sunny days.

Inverted Bottom Becomes Seed & Seedling Warmer - The Rusted Garden Blog

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Creative Gardeners Wanted: A Poem about Simplicity

Now I am not saying creativity breeds anything more than well... something creative. One of the reason I enjoy gardening is because I am creating. I view it as a form of art. All our effort and energy, as gardeners, gets transformed and carried into something living. That is very cool when you think about it.

I believe gardeners hold a common theme that binds us together in life philosophy and points of view. So yeah, I am saying we are a creative bunch. What we create is done through enjoying the process and not worrying about the outcomes and critics (snails and slugs). In short, we do what we do because we enjoy creating in our plot of earth..

There is a beauty and an innate pleasure in turning the earth and planting a seed that you only get if  you get it.

I also know gardener's creativity extend beyond the garden. I hope to give you a forum to display your creative sides. I enjoy writing poetry, taking pictures and creating garden videos. I also paint abstractly.

The new Rusted Vegetable Garden Discussion Forum will hold a place for any gardener to show off their creative side. Feel free to show off your garden or other sides of your creativity. The link is below.

Here is a poem I wrote about simplicity.

You can find more about this poem in the discussion forum. I break down what each stanza means. Why not visit the link and post some of your creativity? The Rusted Vegetable Garden Forum: Creative Gardeners

A Worn Shovel

Of old and new
Against modern colors
I’ll take the taint of black
Edges so dull
Rusted blades
Carvings in solid stone

Breath of sunlight
In sightless shades
I’ll take mine pure and deep
Choking weeds
Unturned ground
Growing slowly tangled

Of showers and storms
Drowning with benevolence
I’ll take the purest fall
Soaking earth
Swelling seeds
A purpose to be enjoyed 

Copyright September 2006 Gary Pilarchik


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Introducing The Rusted Vegetable Garden Discussion Forum

I apologize for the 2nd entry about the discussion forum. I am linking up multiple pieces of the blog and need to run tests. December is the beta test for the discussion forum. I now have a link attached to each blog entry. I have created the sub forums to organize questions and answers and added a Daily Gardener section just for discussion.

Please help me beta test it and check it out. Feel free to post anything as this is a test. Real questions or pretend questions.

You don't have to register or supply any information. You can just test run the fourm.

Thanks and Have a Great Holiday

Gary

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The Rusted Garden Blog Now Has a Garden Forum to Talk

One of the changes I am making for the new year is that I am adding a FORUM to the BLOG. So the Rusted Vegetable Garden Blog now has a Gardening Forum at the bottom of the page.

It works like all other forums. It has topics and places to ask questions, share information, show off your garden pictures and help other gardener's in need.

Please help me test it out and iron out the wrinkle by visiting the forum. I really need help beta testing it for December.



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Sandy Soil for Great Radishes: Winter Planning for 2013

The words 'sandy loam' come up over and over again when researching radishes. One thing to do during the winter, before the new season starts, is to review what went well and what went poorly or could have gone better in your garden. I think I can get more out my radishes. So winter time, is research and planning time. A radish plan of attack next year is being created.

I've done fairly well at growing radishes but not nearly as great as I want. What is radish greatness? Every radish, when given the right spacing, develops a root size that would challenge the Guinness Book of  World Records. Too often I have too many small or distorted radish roots. The problem... my clay soil (I think). Though it has been amended over the last 10 years, I believe it is not sandy enough for my root crops. I plan to make a raised bed that is sandy, sandy and more sandy. A good mix of my soil, bags of sand and organic matter should do the trick.

Looking forward to 2013, I plan to make a super sandy loam that won't clump when squeezed in my hand. If what I have read is true, I should have huge radishes and bigger root crops. I found this information at an extension on-line. I cover 2 of  the 3 bold topics when planting radishes. I need some of that Utah light soil to hit the 3rd topic.

How to Grow  Radishes

Soils: Radishes prefer fertile, well-drained, deep, sandy soils rich in organic matter for best growth. Most light soils in Utah are well suited for radish production. Heavy soils need to be amended with plenty of compost to allow good root development.
 
Soil Preparation: Before planting, incorporate up to 2-4 inches of well composted organic matter and apply 2-4 cups of all-purpose fertilizer (16-16-8 or 10-10-10) per 100 square feet. Work this into the top 6 inches of soil.

Plants: Radishes are always grown from seed. Radishes can be sown after soils reach 40ºF. Seeds germinate best at 55-75ºF and require 5-10 days to emerge. Seeds should be planted ½-1 inch deep. Maintain a uniform and moist soil surface to ensure good plant stands.Thin closely spaced plants to encourage good root size. Radishes should be thinned to 1-2 inches.



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Free Tomato and Vegetable Seed Catalogs: Part Four

Here is the final blog entry for free seed catalogs. I will be reviewing the catalogs as the come in. It can be a bit overwhelming having 1000's of seeds to chose from. It is important to know the size of your garden and as well as the size of your budget. First thing first... enjoy the catalogs and imagine. I will be discussing budgets and garden plot planning later in the winter. Enjoy!


Richters Herb Plant and Seed Catalog
Seed Savers Exchange Heirloom Seed Catalog
Seeds of Change Organic Seed Catalog
Select Seeds Seed Catalog
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Catalog
The Online Greenhouse Seed Catalog
Thompson and Morgan Seed Catalog
Urban Farmer Seed and Plant Catalog

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Garden Seed Catalog Review: Dixondale Farms - ONIONS

Reviewing the Dixon Dale Onion Catalog - The Rusted Garden Blog

What I love about this catalog is they have 100 years of experience growing onions and that is all they focus on, aside from leeks.  They break everything down as if they have a 100 years of specialty experience. Which of course they do. They tell you when to order based on your zip code and break the USA into 3 planting zones: Long-Day, Intermediate-Day, Short-Day. Each zone gets its own varieties of onions for your growing pleasure. You can order without being overwhelmed and get exactly the onions you need for your area.

They sell their onion in bunches, not bulbs, and you get 50-75 onion per bunch. The prices are the same for all onion types. They are expensive for 1 bunch at $11 but you quickly get discounts for ordering more than 1 bunch that makes the price reasonable. Plus the shipping is free. If you order multiple bunches, I consider the price extremely fair.

Here are some pictures of the catalog pages. I highly recommended getting the catalog, if not to order, to get some really great information on growing and planting onions.  I will be ordering my onion bunches from them this year.

Dixondale Farms Seed Catalog (Onions) - The Rusted Garden Blog

Onion Planting Zones

I learned more information from this catalog in 10 minutes than I learned over last 5 years trying to read about onion planting and harvesting on-line. They also give you a bunch of growing tips. You can also find more information at their web-site to help you grow onions perfectly.

Onion Growing Tips - The Rusted Garden Blog

The catalog also sells products to maintain your onions which include fertilizers, disease products and storing stockings. I really recommend ordering the catalog. You can find link on my Free Catalog Blog entries for Nov 2013. I can check onions off my 2013 vegetable garden planning list.

Happy Holiday!

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