Organic Gardening and Herbs

Summer 2010

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2011-02-15T15:13:00.001-05:00

2011-02-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

Oh how neglectful I have been!!!

2011-02-15T14:25:00.002-05:00

Oh my friends, it has been far too long since I have put my fingers to the keyboard on this blog. The need to write again, however has risen up within me. Perhaps because it is the middle of February and quite simply I CAN'T be outside gardening! I long for the days of Spring, heck I would be happy to see mid March so I can start my indoor seedlings. The winters in Ontario just make it soo darn impossible for a gardener to be happy. Other than starting some new indoor Basil, my green thumbs have remained sadly white.
I have not spent too much time outdoors this winter. It has been very cold and it is too sad a
reminder that all my lovely flowers, herbs and perennials are hidden under at least 3 feet of snow. I can't wait to see some greenery pop through the white blanket above it.
Due to the fact that my vegetable garden did not do well last Summer, I have every intention of
amending my soil this Spring. Though we did add some organic manure and topsoil, it clearly wasn't enough. Our vegetable garden was put in above grass three years ago using layers of paper, 4 inches of manure and 4 inches of top soil. The first two years were terrific! We
got loads of tomatoes, carrots, green peas, snow peas, turnip and prolific herbs. Last Summer,
however, it was a very sad looking garden. After talking to a few other local gardeners, including a master gardener, they too did not have good production. Perhaps it was the too many overcast days and rain, or perhaps a combination of poor weather conditions and my soil having lots most of its previous vigour....
I am determined this year that I will not waste hours and days of time on a garden that I neglect to first and foremost take care of it's soil.
How about all you other home veggie gardeners out there? How was your produce last year?
What did you do to ensure good soil?
Would love to hear from any of you on your experiences with Summer 2010.
Let's all hope for terrific Ontario garden conditions this Spring/Summer and work hard to get the most bang for our planting buck!

The Bloomin Flowers

2009-07-08T10:35:00.008-04:00

Despite the fact that our veggie garden is taking it's time this summer, our flowers seem to be thriving. The rain hasn't hurt them one bit. Our various lillies, which include lily trees and various day lillies have been thriving! I will soon post photos to show you what I mean. Our roses, though slightly infested with the tiniest of caterpillars, have been blooming for about two weeks. Wildflowers are blooming overtime! Thank goodness there is the loveliness of the flowers to carry us through the early summertime while waiting on our slow growing veggies!

Cheers!

Anyone else experiencing a slow start to their veggie garden??

2009-06-29T16:25:00.004-04:00

I am slightly disappointed so far this Summer with my vegetable garden. Though I realize we had very late frost in early June that was followed by hail and a slight snow fall, everything seems to be growing soooo slow. Perhaps it's my impatience. I wait all winter and Spring to see new life and so far my herbs are the only thing that is thriving. Anyone else gardening in Central Ontario experiencing this?? I sure hope things pick up quickly. I was sure to add lots of organic manure to our soil in early April and have already used Organic Fish Emusion fertilizer once but wish I was seeing a little more action in the veggie department.
Would love to hear from other Ontario gardeners on their experiences so far.

Spring will soon be here!

2009-02-26T11:28:00.003-05:00

Well we have endured most of this long, cold and snowy winter, and I am sure most of us gardeners are anxious to see Spring. Am I the only one itching to get planting again?? I highly doubt it.
Soon we will be able to start those indoor seeds and start planning where all those seedlings will eventually go in the garden. This Spring I will be using mostly organic seed. In the past I have used both but have planted in organic soil. I hope that I will have good success with the organic seed as it is costlier to purchase.
Has anyone out there had a more positive or negative experience using the organic seed? I would love to hear from you either way.
Until next time!

Make time for Garden Thyme

2008-11-04T05:44:00.003-05:00

Garden Thyme is an often forgotten herb to many gardeners but it is a wonderful herb to be cultivated! It originally came from northern Europe but fortunately for us arrived in North America. It can grow up to 16 inches in height in stony soils or sand. It makes an excellent potted herb.
It has been used in the treatment of loss of appetite, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, rheumatic ailments and even digestive disorders.
It can be used as a tea, a tincture, in a warm bath, in herb pillows, to gargle with and best of all for culinary purposes. Turkey stuffing would be nothing without thyme. It can also be used in sauces, meat dishes, with fish, pizza, vegetables and along with fried foods.
It is important to not use in huge amounts as it can irritate the digestive tract and lead to metabolic disorders. As with most things, moderation.

Awesome Oregano

2008-10-26T14:29:00.004-04:00

Oregano is truly a versatile Perennial herb. It can be grown just about anywhere with a little sun and water. It can grow up to 2 ft. in height outdoors from early Spring to late Fall in our climate. It is also a terrific herb to grow inside on a warm windowsill.
It is a superb culinary herb used in many Italian and Meditteranean dishes such as Bruschetta, pizza, tomato sauces etc.
It has been used also in the treatment of pain such as toothaches, loss of appetite, disgestive disorders, liver and gall bladder problems, whooping cough, sore throats, and rheumatic problems. My 80+ year old neighbour started taking 1/8 of a teaspoon of dried oregano a day and has since claimed her arthritic pain is all but gone! She has become much more active the last 2 months of use.
Oregano can be used in a tea, to gargle with, warm baths, herb pillows and even in the production of perfumes.
It is truly awesome!

Rosemary

2008-09-22T07:14:00.002-04:00

Rosemary is an amazing herb that was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has been used for the treatment of digestive problems, liver and gall bladder complaints, wounds, toothaches and depressive moods. It can be used in a tea, gargled, baths and of course is a wonderful culinary herb. I love to wrap it around a roast pork or beef when slow cooking. It is also wonderful in roasted potatoes and makes a super seasoner on any grilled meats or fish.
It is an evergreen shrub with dark green narrow leaves and can grow up to 5ft tall. It prefers nutrient rich soil and is very sensitive to frost. If you grow rosemary outdoors be sure to pot it and move it inside before the frost hits.

Many Faceted Mint

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Mint is an herb with a variety of species. It can grow up to 20 inches in height and generally has violet coloured flowers. It can be used as a tea and has been used for things such as loss of appetite, gastro-enteric disorders, nausea, colic, gas, cramps, dizziness and colds. It should not be used by infants and children or persons with serious liver or gall bladder diseases. Also, this herb should not be used during pregnancy. It is usually used as a tea or inhaled in a steam bath.
For culinary purposes, mint makes a great garnish in the drink "Mojito" and also may garnish ice tea or any other sweet drink. It can be used in sauces and desserts also.
It is easy to grow and prefers a wet to moist location. Do to it's height, it makes a better outdoor herb than indoor. It is known to spread so plant it where you don't mind it taking up space or plant it below ground in a pot to prevent it from spreading too far.

Culinary Herb Sweet Basil

2008-09-08T11:51:00.003-04:00

Sometimes called the "king of herbs", Basil is not only a great culinary herb but also has been known for its healing properties. Basil is best used in it's fresh form as drying can cause it to lose many of it's vital ingredients. Basil can grow up to 20 inches in height with busy dark green leaves. It has a musty, aromatic scent. It is an annual that must be grown in warm rich soil as it is very sensitive to cold. It's leaves have been used to treat digestive problems, gas, nausea, vomiting, skin inflammations, headaches and coughs. It can be used in a tea form or salve. For it's culinary uses it can be used fresh in salads, soups, Italian or Meditteranean cuisine and in many meat dishes. It is almost impossible to prepare a tomato dish without the use of Basil. When the outdoor season ends uproot a few plants and bring them inside to keep on the windowsill so you may have fresh basil all year long.

Must Grow Culinary Herbs

2008-09-04T22:23:00.002-04:00

If you're like me, you love the taste that fresh herbs provide in your cooking or baking. Some of the essential culinary herbs in my garden include the following: Basil, Oregano, Summer Savory, Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley, Chives, Dill and Cilantro. If you have all or most of these herbs growing in your outdoor garden or inside your home you will be well equipped to prepare some amazing dishes or wonderful teas. From time to time I will be focussing on a single culinary herb and it's various uses. I will also discuss the best way to dry this herb for future use. Stay tuned...

Best time to cut fresh herbs

2008-09-03T14:49:00.002-04:00

The best time to cut fresh herbs to dry or use in cooking, teas/infusions etc. is in the morning after the dew has dried off the plants or in the evenings. Never cut them in the midday heat. When harvesting your herbs cut them an inch or two above the soil level.

Force Ripening Tomatoes

2008-08-28T22:33:00.002-04:00

Anyone else out there concerned that their tomatoes will ripen before the frost comes?? Just pick those that are of good size and place them inside the house in a dark area inside a brown paper bag. Be sure to keep a single layer of them and not overcrowd the bag. In about 3-4 days you will have a bag of ripened tomatoes. If you want to speed the process up slightly, add a empty banana peel to the bag. It will give off a gas that will speed up the ripening even more.

Keeping Slugs away

2008-08-27T23:46:00.002-04:00

If you are having a similar problem to what I had earlier this summer with slugs eating away at your Rhubarb or Hostas try this.... place burnt wood ashes at the base of the plants. Slugs will disappear! Works like magic :-)

Keeping cats out of your potted plants

2008-08-26T11:20:00.001-04:00

Anyone else out there ever have trouble with their cat using their indoor pot for a toilet?? Get yourself a box of toothpicks and place them in the soil surrounding your potted plant with about 1/2 of their length sticking out. When the cat jumps or steps inside he will not be pleased.

Keeping Cats out of your garden

2008-08-26T11:13:00.000-04:00

If you have a problem with cats dumping in your garden there is an easy solution for it. Take a few used tea bags and spread a layer of Vicks VapoRub over both sides. Bury them just below the soil where the cats have been going poop. They will start to dig and discover the scent and won't return. I have 2 cats and found it worked great.

Welcome to my garden..

2008-08-26T10:21:00.001-04:00

Hello and welcome to my little online garden where I hope to share and learn more about this amazing hobby. I love to garden!! I currently have several floral gardens around our rural Ontario property and a 20' x 20' organic vegetable and herb garden. My vegetable/herb garden was created 2 years ago. Our floral gardens have been growing for the last 19 years we've been here but only the last 4 years have I really tended to them properly. I was too busy raising 5 children to have the time. Now however, with our youngest daughter in College I have lots of time to catch up. I hope to have a different tip each week to offer you. Please check back regularly! MsGardener