Sunday, October 17, 2010

Putting the Vegetable Garden to Bed

I'm putting my vegetable garden to bed today. Nice day for working in the garden. From my Times Union Garden Blog.

Gardening - timesunion.com - Albany NY

Monday, May 10, 2010

Easy Way to Plant Grass Seed


The Easy Way to Plant Grass Seed -- Repetitive Overseeding technique developed by David Chinery of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County.

Gardening - timesunion.com - Albany NY

Friday, April 23, 2010

Gardening Blog on the Times Union

I have just started a new gardening blog with the Albany Times Union which is at www.timesunion.com/gardening/
I am sharing the blog with other gardeners so take a look and let me know what you think.
If I can work out the technology I will post my TU blogs here, too.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Beautiful Easy Organic Gardens: Hudson Valley Seed Library

Beautiful Easy Organic Gardens: Hudson Valley Seed Library

Hudson Valley Seed Library

Hudson Valley Seed Library is a small home grown seed company that features New York heirloom and home garden varieties that do well in the Northeast. Some of the seeds are available nowhere else including Hank's X-tra Special Baking Bean from Ghent, NY. Their online catalogue contains more than 100 varieties. I met their founder Ken Greene at his booth at the Capital District Flower show last Friday after I gave a speech there. Not only do they have a wonderful selection of seeds, they have the most beautiful seed packet art I have ever seen. I bought packets of Spotted Trout Lettuce, Costata Romanesca Zucchini and New Yorker Tomato.





Friday, January 22, 2010

Preventing Garden Pests and Predators

Preventing Garden Pests and Predators links and information from my presentation at the Northeast Organic farming Association of New York (NOFA) conference on 24January2010.

Critters

Deer - best prevention: dogs, eight foot high fencing, electric fencing, hunting where legal, deer-resistant plants, repellent sprays made from egg solids, ammonium soaps and blood.
Deer Proof Gardens
Mohonk Mountain House Plant Recommendations for Deer Infested Gardens
Reducing Deer Damage to Home Gardens and Landscape Plants

Rabbits - best prevention: dogs, destroy habitat, two foot high chicken wire fence buried six inches underground, hunting where legal, repellent sprays, traps by DEC guidelines.

Woodchucks - best prevention: dogs, hunting where legal, four foot high chicken wire fence buried 12" underground, electric fence, no EPA approved repellents.

Plant Pesticides

Best way to prevent diseases on plants is to grow disease-resistant varieties.

Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management from the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station

Bt Bacillus thuringiensis - a naturally occurring bacteria in spray or powder form used to control caterpillars and larva on plants.

Neem - plant derived botanical pesticide in spray form to kill larva and insects.

Insecticidal Soaps - potassium salts of fatty acids used to kill soft bodied insects like mites.

Horticultural Oils - petroleum or vegetable-based oils used to smother insects and diseases.

Best way to prevent diseases on plants is to grow disease-resistant varieties.

Bicarbonate -- potassium and sodium fungicide used to control powdery milder. Mix once ounce of baking soda with one gallon of water to control powdery mildew on roses.

Copper - mineral fungicide used to control diseases on plants.

Good luck out there!