Thursday, April 7, 2011

A Few Garden Tips From The Almanac...!


In places that have Texas type weather this time of year, I have a few gardening tips straight from the pages of the Almanac!

As you know, I dearly love this book and find so many tips and tricks in it, that I find it almost a necessity!

With the garden season on us, I figured we could all use a refresher in companion planting! More is better when it comes to knowledge, don't you think?

Tips for Your Vegetable Garden

Some plants, especially herbs, act as repellents, confusing insects with their strong odors that mask the scent of the intended host plants.

Dill and basil planted among tomatoes protect the tomatoes from hornworms, and sage scattered about the cabbage patch reduces injury from cabbage moths.

Marigolds are as good as gold when grown with just about any garden plant, repelling beetles, nematodes, and even animal pests.

Some companions act as trap plants, luring insects to themselves. Nasturtiums, for example, are so favored by aphids that the devastating insects will flock to them instead of other plants.

Carrots, dill, parsley, and parsnip attract garden heroes -- praying mantises, ladybugs, and spiders -- that dine on insect pests.

Much of companion planting is common sense: Lettuce, radishes, and other quick-growing plants sown between hills of melons or winter squash will mature and be harvested long before these vines need more leg room.

Leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard grown in the shadow of corn

Sunflowers appreciate the dapple shade that corn casts and, since their roots occupy different levels in the soil, don't compete for water and nutrients.

Incompatible Plants (Combatants)

While white garlic and onions repel a plethora of pests and make excellent neighbors for most garden plants, the growth of beans and peas is stunted in their presence.

Potatoes and beans grow poorly in the company of sunflowers, and although cabbage and cauliflower are closely related, they don't like each other at all.

I hope this reminds us a little of how smart planning can make a difference in how successful our gardens can be! Here's to a happy growing season!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside on the patio. We can talk about all the garden fresh salads coming our way! OK?

13 comments:

Barney, The Old Fat Man said...

Oh my I did enjoy the gardening in my previous life. Roses and vegetables became my main trophies.

HermitJim said...

Hey Barney...
I do love the roses! Can't eat them, but man...do they smell great!

I'm lucky enough to have some really beautiful roses in my yard and I enjoy them almost as much as the butterflies do!

Wouldn't be Spring without them!

Hey, thanks for coming by today!

tffnguy said...

Good info HJ. I hope to use some of that before long.

HermitJim said...

Hey Tffnguy...
Just now starting to feel like Springtime 100%! Glad I have most of my garden already in!

Good luck with your gardening plans, buddy!

Thanks for coming by today!

Ben in Texas said...

And a tomato growing tip, Get the biggest steel nail you can find. Stick in the ground at at the base of the tomato plant. Cut worms will NOT bother that plant!! It really does work.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Got wild pigs, thus no garden.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
Now that's a tip I've never heard before! Thanks for sharing it!

See, you really do learn something new every day! At least, I do!

I appreciate you coming by today, buddy!


Hey Dizzy...
I can see where those wild hogs would tear up a garden pretty quick! I've seen what they can do when I lived in East Texas!

I really thank you for coming by today!

Momlady said...

With J's help this year I may just have a deerless garden. We'll see just how effective the deer fencing is (once it's installed that is).

HermitJim said...

Hey Momlady...
Sure hope that you get the chance to grow some veggies this year! Nothing beats the taste!

Only reason I'm putting one in is because Mom wants one!

I'd rather be gone, but that's not going to happen any time soon!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One,
I'm sure once you start getting your veggies out of the garden you will enjoy it more. I know how bad you want to go, you will some when the time is right.
Thanks for the info on the garden tips. Maybe once I get to Lakeside I will have some plants in pots.

HermitJim said...

Hey JoJo...
In your case, I think some container plants would be good!

A few tomatoes and peppers would get you started, that's for sure!

You have a great day, sweetie, and thanks for coming by today!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hey HJ, luky you for having your garden in already. Grenville has put in a few things, but our planting is still a couple of weeks away on the VA eastern shore. Keep us all posted on your success this season.

HermitJim said...

Hey Beatrice...
I saw the post on Grenville tilling up the garden, and you have a lot more room than I do!

You should have a great garden this year. The only thing I know for sure will grow without fail is the okra! Last two times I've planted it, it got taller than the house!

Hoping to get some good tomatoes this year! I LOVE 'em!

I'll put some pictures on as soon as I get the plants tall enough!

Thanks for coming by today!