Calhoun County Gardening: First Investment for New Gardeners: Garden Pottery for Versatility and Longevity
Calhoun County, AL –When a new gardener wants the answer to what they should invest in first? My answer is, “Garden Pottery”. Whether the gardener lives in a condo with only balcony space, or a gated community with restrictions in digging & planting, the answer is Garden Pottery. Many farmers lease large plots of land […]
Calhoun County Gardening: Unveiling the Delights of Clemson Spineless Okra – A Gardener’s Guide to Summer Bounty
Calhoun County, AL – One of my favorite summer vegetables is okra! It reaches harvest in 55-65 days. I like it breaded and fried. As a gardener I have tried many types of okra seeds. However, my most successful okra seeds are always Clemson Spineless Okra. Do not plant okra seeds deep. A depth of ¾ inch […]
Calhoun County Gardening: Marketmore 76 Cucumbers Triumph in Garden Trials
Calhoun County, AL – Marketmore 76 Cucumbers by Betty Clark 4.21.24 … I switched from straight eight cucumber seeds (which I like as a secondary option) to Marketmore 76 seeds. Why did I switch? A trial has been done on them. Which I did not realize when I randomly purchased the seeds. In my opinion […]
Unlocking the Beauty of Plum Tart Gladiolus
Calhoun County, AL – Exotic Plum Tart Gladiolus by Betty Clark 4.14.24. In 2018 my mother’s heirloom gladiolus bed became my corm possessions. Gladiolus corms can be dug up easy & transplanted easy. Many gardeners call them bulbs but they are corms. Her prized Plum Tart Gladiolus corms are a unique color hue. Their colors […]
Blooming Beauties: The Joy of Growing Double Scarlet Flame Zinnias for Pollinators
Calhoun County, AL –As an organic gardener I have always used Zinna seeds to create flowering early for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. I sow Zinna seeds near every gardening zone: raised beds, in ground, potted plants, straw bales, etc. Sow Zinna seeds after the last frost and they germinate in 7-10 days. I […]
Calhoun County: Organic Straw Bale Gardening
Calhoun County, AL – Do not let Straw Bale Gardening frighten you! If you do not like using a tiller or building raised bed garden boxes, this is perfect for you? These 16 Bale’s in the photos are my wheat straw bales. Once you place the Bale’s where you want them, … hammer some stakes/rebar […]
Calhoun County Tomato Treasures: German Queen & Bradley Heirloom Potted Plants
Calhoun County, AL –Step into a world of abundant tomato harvests with potted plants. My favorites are German Queen & Bradley Heirloom Tomato Plants. Grown organically. Each pot has yielded up to 30 giant tomatoes, some as large as a coffee cup. So? If you have a large enough pot, and vertical trellis support, you […]
Tried and True Organic Soil Recipe: A Gardening Essential Since 1998
Calhoun County, AL –New gardeners as well as seasoned gardeners are always seeking the best soil recipe! I am sharing my tried/true soil recipe since 1998 for all my raised beds, all my potted gardening, all my in ground gardening amendments. If you want a full range soil recipe here it is as follows : […]
Diva Dahlia: Cultivating the Queen of Flowers with Care and Precision
Calhoun County, AL – You cannot neglect a dahlia; she is a diva, and will not perform if neglected. If the dahlia neck breaks off the tuber you lose the eye/eyes, which keeps the tuber from producing stems. The body is the battery energy of the tuber (see photo). The body batteries store nutrients so […]
