There has been a budding interest in growing hydroponically around the country, and reading about it led me to review a study that had been done by BiOWiSH™ Technologies at a lettuce farm.  The outcome of using  BiOWiSH™ Crop was dramatic in plant growth results.  The farm in the study had seven greenhouses in which grow a variety of lettuces, all grown on Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) tables.

In the study, the lettuce farm used BiOWiSH™ Crop to treat water that flowed through the dripper lines, micro-tubes and NFT gulley floors. BiOWiSH™ Crop was a natural additive for these purposes, since it increases the nutrient availability in water flowing to the plants' root systems.  More nutrients mean better absorption, and more nutrients absorbed means bigger, healthier plants.  And that is, in fact, what happened.  In the six-week growth cycle, the farmer had lettuces that were double the usual size, all other factors being equal.  This is the goal of all gardeners!  Especially when growing space is limited...you want your gardening to result in as large and healthy a crop as possible in the space available. 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is 100% natural, biodegradable and safe for use in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial situations.  With over 18 years of research and development, BiOWiSH™ products accelerate enzymatic reactions over a thousand times faster than normal speed.  These enzymes breakdown all non-living organic matter, so in addition to increasing the hydroponics’ grows water nutrient availability, it also prevents sludge build-up and scaling in the water lines!

 

 

 

 

With a good 1 to 2 inch layer of organic compost over your garden bed, and a cover crop of green manure planted from seed in the fall, you will be on your way to improving your garden soil for next year's planting. Sown from seed, cover crops germinate very quickly and will grow all winter long. Then simply till the cover crop in once it flowers in spring. The cover crop's foliage will help protect the soil from getting compacted, which can happen in constant winter rain or from blanketing of snow.  And when you till it in, the foliage adds organic material that will improve soil structure, increase nutrients and help your soil retain moisture.

 

Plants in the the legume family, commonly known as the pea family, bean family or pulse family, include soybean, alfalfa, vetch or fava beans. These are some of the best cover crops available (check online seed companies and nurseries). Legume plants are special in that they will retain nutrients that will then be returned to the soil when tilled in, thereby providing nutrients for your spring and summer crops next year. These crops have assertive root systems, which are helpful in breaking up hard soils.  They are also very hardy and frost tolerant.

 

Cover crop seeds can be broadcast in mid-October right over that one to two inch layer of compost and all around the fall crops that are currently growing in your garden.  Fall cover crops will grow quickly and reduce weed problems, but won't grow tall enough to overwhelm existing plantings.

 

Making organic compost for your fall cover crop is easy with tumbling composters.  Look for models with more than one section inside: one for new compostible materials and one section for completed compost.  If you live where there are temperature extremes, consider one of Jora tumbling composting machines.  They are manufactured in Sweden, and insulated to withstand temperature extremes.

Happy Composting!

Two weeks ago the tops of my Purple Bearded Iris were cut back to about 4 inches above the ground.  They were ready, I was ready...they were overcrowded and not producing flowers like they used to. Also, the rhizomes were snaking out of the ground.  The root systems were so bunched up that the roots were pushing the rhizomes to the surface.  So today was the day for thinning and transplanting them.  One large bunch had been planted in river rocks, thus all the rocks needed to be moved first (and continuously, since many seemed to have burrowed their way into the ground).  Using a garden fork, I loosened the soil around the rhizomes, then removed the clumps of rhizomes in as large a bunch as I could handle.  I carefully brushed the excess dirt off of the roots so they could be inspected, and placed the rhizomes in my folding cart. 

It's important that you check the iris rhizomes for root borers or for softness and throw away any that are diseased or bug damaged. Luckily all my rhizomes were healthy, and I have enough to share with neighbors and co-workers.

I kept rhizomes with leaf fans that were each in pieces about 3 -5 inches long for replanting. Four spots in my garden were selected that had the right combination of room and light.  Holes deep and wide enough for groupings of 3-5 rhizomes were dug, then the rhizomes were placed just below ground level and facing away from each other with the roots spreading out. Next came a covering of organic compost over around the roots and over all in a mound that covers the leaves. Finally the mound was watered well, and will be watered with my garden drip until first frost.  They'll get some moisture throughout the winter with snowmelt and some BiOWiSH™ Crop to promote good absorption of the nutrients in the compost.  My Purple Bearded Iris are set for roots to re-establish themselves in preparation of a glorious springtime bloom across the expanse of my back fence.  Happy Composting!

Growing interest in hydroponics led me to review a study that had been done by BiOWiSH™ Technologies and a lettuce farm.  The consequence of using  BiOWiSH™ Crop was dramatic in plant growth results.  The farm in question had seven greenhouses with a variety of lettuces, all grown on Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) tables. 

The lettuce farm used BiOWiSH™ Crop to treat the water that was flowing through the dripper lines, micro-tubes and NFT gulley floors. BiOWiSH™ Crop was a no-brainer for these purposes, since it increases the nutrient availability in water flowing to the plants' root systems.  More nutrients mean better absorption, and more nutrients absorbed means bigger, healthier plants.  That is, in fact, what happened.  In the six week growth cycle, the farmer had lettuces that were double the usual size, all other factors being equal.  And don't we all love bigger, healthier plants?!  Especially when growing space is limited...you want to as large a crop as possible in the space available. 

 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is 100% natural, biodegradable and safe for use in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial situations.  With over 18 years of research and development, BiOWiSH™ products accelerate enzymatic reactions over a thousand times faster than normal speed.  These enzymes breakdown all non-living organic matter, so in addition to increasing the hydroponic grows water nutrient availability, it also prevents sludge build-up and scaling in the water lines!

 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is now available on our  BiOWiSH™ Products page.   It should definitely be part of your hydroponic grow!

There seems to be a lot of 'talk' on gardening websites about this common problem, but not many folks have a sure fire answer about what to do when your zucchini, yellow squash and cucumber plants develop a white, powdery mildew on their leaves.  Some gardeners have said that it's a natural occurrence as temperatures begin to drop.  Others say not to plant too closely together, as overcrowding can lead to the fungus.  Still others have said their plants just develop this at the end of the season, so they do nothing.

Here in the Denver area we've had pretty steady high temps...fortunately for my veggies, but unfortunately for me!  And I certainly hope that mid-August isn't to be considered close to the end of the growing season!  Can't do anything about overcrowding at this point, unless I just want to get rid of otherwise healthy and productive plants.  So my husband and I decided to try a product from BiOWiSH™ that is newly available in the US: BiOWiSH™ Crop.  As always, we strive to make our gardening 100% organic, and so we're happy to be able to use BiOWiSH™ products because they're all 100% organic and environmentally safe.

Some of the benefits of Crop include:

•Increases nutrient availability

•Reduces habitat for fungal spores

•Improves yields

•Improves plant health

•Increases total number of crops per annum

•100% natural and biodegradable

•Non-toxic and chemical-free

We saw a huge difference within 24 hours!  The Powdery Mildew was almost completely gone.  And we've got lots of lovely flowers on the plants, which I hope will turn into even lovelier zucchini and yellow squash...since I haven't made a single batch of zucchini bread yet!

Happy Composting! 

I took some time off from blogging to attend to chores and a project that took many more hours than I'd planned for.  But it's done and I'm back to write about the second planting!
Our lettuces did splendidly and we've been enjoying them with our meals.  I wish that I could plant more at this time, but the heat of summer isn't conducive to new lettuce sprouts.  Instead I planted more snap peas,green beans, spinach and beets.  (The first planting of beets are doing well, and I am so tempted to pick and eat the greens!  But you know how it is with greens...it takes a lot to make a meal, so I'll wait a while and build anticipation.)  We've tried an experiment which I will duly note in my garden journal.  Hubby suggested that I lay the seeds on top of the soil and cover them with compost.  I'm confident that the rich, warm organic compost that we've been making will provide an excellent medium for seedlings to prosper.
And speaking of compost, it is NOT too late to get a batch started for your fall planting!  Our Jora composters can turn your table scraps and yard waste into usable compost all year long.  These composters are fully insulated and enclosed, allowing the microorganisms to break down your composting materials into a rich soil amendment that will nourish your plants continually.  Compost is useful worked into the soil and as a mulch.  My roses and clematis seem to have appreciated the compost mulch and started blooming like crazy!
So there is no reason to wait on that tumbling composter purchase.  Take a look at all the different sizes and models of Jora Composters and order yours today.   Happy Composting!

There are so many ways that our bodies are bombarded with pollutants every day.  The air we breathe into our lungs and that is absorbed through our skin includes industrial air pollutants, automobile emissions, and household cleaning agents.  The water we drink has trace chemicals in it from rain water, fertilizers and pesticides.  And let's not forget to mention the chemicals we ingest on our foods.  It's extremely difficult to combat the effects pollutants have on us...shall we live on a mountain top or in the middle of a rain forest?  Instead, why not choose to increase your intake of antioxidants by growing and eating your own organic vegetables?  In a study by Newcastle University in England, researchers found that "organic food has a higher nutritional value than ordinary produce" with "up to 40% more antioxidants in organic fruit and vegetables than in non-organic."  Those antioxidants combat the effects of pollution, slowing aging and reducing risks of disease.

An effective and easy way to start an organic garden is by cutting out chemical fertilizers and replacing them with compost.  Mix it into your soil as an enhancement and/or use it as a top mulch...it will provide nutrients for your plants and encourage earthworms to keep your soil healthy.  I love our tumbling composter because it's so easy to use, keeps pests out because of it's tight seal, and keeps the heat in which helps the breakdown process work more quickly.  Take a look at our full range of tumbling composters suitable to households of two adults to families of 4 or 5.  You might also want to include some of our BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to make the process really easy!  You won't have to worry about getting the proper mix of nitrogen and carbon into your compost bin, or the odors that can be associated with an improper mix.  100% organic BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost will enhance the output of your compost bin in multiple ways, while keeping with your goal of going and growing organic.

Happy composting!

If you want to learn about gardening while enjoying fresh air and a community spirit, check out the gardening festivals that may be available to you locally.  We attended our first gardening festival as exhibitors this past weekend in the beautiful city of Fort Collins, Colorado.  The town has plenty of gardens to enjoy, and lots of folks interested in gardening.  There was a plethora of information to be gathered at the various booths and lots of gorgeous flowers and vegetable plants.  One thing that I particularly loved was how many people came out with their children, to help them learn how to garden, how important honey bees are to gardens, and best of all - about composting!  We had examples of things that we use in our composting on our table: grass clippings, coffee grounds, straw and alfalfa, dried leaves, drier lint, pet hair and vacuum bag contents.  Since we, like most composting folks, have plenty of greens (nitrogen) to contribute to the compost pile, but struggle to keep the mix of browns (carbons) high enough, we add the drier lint and animal hair.  Still usually not enough, we add BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to keep the organisms activated and breaking down that compostable material.  This ensures that we have a new batch of compost to add to our garden every 4-6 weeks.  Our garden loves it!  And we love the produce that we are getting from our garden.  And thinking of the zucchini to come, I always keep an eye out for new ways to use zucchini.  Here is a recipe I found for Chilled Zucchini and Green-Bean Soup with Pesto Swirl:

(Start to finish: 1 hour.  Servings: 6)

Ingredients

2 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil

1 small sweet onion, chopped

1 lb zucchini, ends trimmed and thinly sliced

4 cups chicken broth (reduced sodium works great)

10 oz package frozen shelled edamame

1/2 lb green beans, ends trimmed

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

1/4 cup store bought basil pesto

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream or plain greek yogurt(optional)

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, heat the oil.  Add the onion and zucchini and saute' until very soft, about 10 minutes.  Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Stir in edamame and green beans and simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes.

Transfer the soup, in batches if necessary, to a blender or food processor.  Puree', then season with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup chilled or at room temperature.  When serving, divide the soup among 6 bowls and swirl a spoonful of pesto into each.  Top with sour cream or yogurt, if desired.  Enjoy this low calorie (135), refreshing soup, and build up your intake of healthy vegetables!  Happy Composting!

This time of year is so exciting with all the new growth going on in my garden!  I enjoy checking it every day - ok, sometimes two or three times a day - to watch for the first leaves of the beet plants, see how the peas are almost tall enough to start reaching for the bean poles set out for them to climb, and the flowers as they appear on the tomato plants.  Glorious birth! 

I can really tell a difference this year in the growth and health of my garden vegetables with the addition of home grown organic compost.  It ‘s my hope to have a bumper crop this year, and I plan on filling my freezer with produce.  I've also started to think about whom else might benefit from the abundance I've planned for.  The article in yesterday's Denver Post about school children in Denver who are learning about where food comes from made me think about how many families could benefit if every school had a vegetable garden. So many kids would be empowered with the knowledge of how to feed themselves and their families, as well as the nutritional benefits that they would reap with their harvests. Surely someone at each school could find the time to sponsor a garden; if not a teacher, then a parent, volunteer from the neighborhood or an employee of nearby nursery.  I’d like to donate my time to teaching students how to compost and it’s various uses in a garden. Some schools might even find themselves being able to donate their garden produce to food banks and co-ops.  With good weather, and the good soil that I’ve laid down this year, that’s what I plan to do!

Maybe we need a grass roots movement to contact school districts and request that space be made available at each school for a classroom garden, rather than the lawns that most schools have surrounding their facilities.    Oh, how my mind does travel along a meandering pathway at times, leading me to consider ideas and dreams that crop up along the way!

And speaking of composting, I’d better get the latest batch of kitchen scraps into the composter, and put on my to-do list to shred some cardboard to mix in as well.  After all, can one have too much compost? 

Happy Composting!

I've seen lots of articles lately on square foot gardening.  It's exciting, all the interest in gardening there seems to be in the media these days, from potato boxes to roof gardens to hanging tomato planters.  But one of the things I love about gardening is basic...good soil!  So make sure you start with that.  If you're fortunate enough to have decent soil in a yard, you can start with that. If you lack decent starter soil, you'll need to purchase vermiculite and top soil from your local garden center or hardware store.  To your soil, add organic compost, about 1/2 compost, and 1/4 vermiculite, 1/4 top soil.  Please make the compost yourself with your kitchen scraps, cardboard, shredded newspaper, coffee grounds, grass clippings, etc.  The easiest way is in a tumbling composter, but you can also put toether a bin with fencing, cinderblock, an old barrel or anything that will provide plenty of air circulation!  Be prepared for pests if your compost is not enclosed, though. 
Next visit your local hardware store (again) for lumber to make each of the however many you want to build 4-foot-square boxes that will hold the garden.  If using multiples, make sure to leave room in between them for walkways.
Once you've filled the box(es) with your good soil mixture, place a grid on top of each box to make 1-foot-square sections.  You can use string for this, or dowel rods...you get the idea.
Next, the planting.  Plant each 1-foot-square section with one variety of plant, like 1 tomato plant, or 9 spinach plants, 1 squash.  Once each plant is harvested, you can add more compost and plant another kind of plant in their place for another harvest.  Yum!
Happy Composting!

The other day, I was reading the book "Grocery Gardening" (2009 Cool Springs Press) by food and garden writer Jean Ann Van Krevelen and her co-authors.  It speaks to the frugal gardeners about planting, preparing and preserving garden produce.  I believe I've said before that while I love my fresh from the garden vegies, I haven't done much in the way of preserving that produce.  So far I've left that up to my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.  They are pros at canning and freezing!  No, I really don't leave it all up to them, but volunteer to help in other ways while they're preserving.  But this year, I've vowed to at least do my own freezing, and this book has me motivated!

What really piqued my interest in “Grocery Gardening” was a discussion about vegetables and herbs that have double functionality, providing twice the benefit from growing them!  My very favorite vegetable discussed in the book is beets and beet greens.  Sometimes I think I love the greens more than I do the beet, but they're really good paired together with a little sautéed onion and just a touch of bacon grease.  Yum!  Chives are another favorite, partly because they are so easy to grow and, being perennial, come back every year to bless your garden.  Use the chives all through the growing season to flavor your recipes, but don't neglect the flowers in Spring!  Clip those lovely purple flowers young and tender, rinse and pull apart into separate florets, then toss with your favorite salad.

Some of the other plants listed as twice as nice are:

• Garlic and garlic scapes
• Cliantro and coriander
• Dill weed and dill seed

Fennel was listed as a TRIPLE duty plant since it has fronds, seeds and bulbs that can all be used and enjoyed in different ways.  You might try looking up a recipe for Braised Fennel online - look for one that includes grated Gruyere cheese for a really yummy treat.

All these vegies, and more, will benefit from a hearty dose of home grown organic compost.  Use it as a fertilizer, soil enhancer and mulch!  Composting is easy with a tumbling composter from www.BestComposters.com.  It's even easier when you add BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost: even if you don't have the exact mix of nitrogen and carbon materials, BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost will help those digestive organisms get heated up without any harmful chemicals - it's all 100% organic, from nature, for nature!  Happy Composting!

The internet gardening community is really something.  There are, seemingly, unlimited inventive ideas for growing things that often astonish me over and over again.  Take, for example, the following article that details how to grow potatoes in a (clean) garbage can.  Yep, you heard me, potatoes in a garbage can!  I'm excited now, because with our garden plot I never thought that I could grow potatoes, and I do so love the way those homey vegetables stretch my food budget.  So now I'm pretty confident that I can have my suburban garden plot with enough room for what I'd already planned for, AND my potatoes too! 

I happen to have an extra garbage can currently holding leaves from last fall that my hubby put through the chipper.  They’re for the next batch of compost that we make in our tumbling composter.  Anyway, we used to have it for actual garbage, but since our trash company added single stream recycling at the curb as a service, we only need one trash can.  (BTW, we've increased our recycling bins from two to four - yes!) 

That trash can is pretty groady though.  I hate to say this, but it may be that it's never been properly cleaned out.  So I'm going to take some BiOWiSH™ Bin Wash and have all those lovely enzymes do the work for me, set them loose on those germs, the mold and fungus until they've eaten it all up AND removed the odors while they were at it! - 100% organically and environmentally safe.   And when it's all cleaned up, I'll put in a good helping of the compost that we've been creating all winter with the help of BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to provide those cured tater pieces with the perfect blend of nutrients to grow and multiply in. Bam!  New potatoes for hubby and me.  I think you'll enjoy this article from ezine.com as much as I did!  Happy Composting!

How to Grow Potatoes in a Garbage Can
By GreenGardenChic
User-Submitted Article

Why in the world would anyone want to grow a crop of potatoes in a plastic garbage can? Well let me tell you, potatoes grow deep, and it's hard to dig them all out! Plus, they like soft, well-prepared soil that's easy for them to root in. Then of course, they're space hogs, eating up precious planting room in the veggie garden. Last, but not least, potatoes should never be planted in the same place year after year, because they infect their own soil and cause next years crops to get blight (anyone remember a little potato famine that knocked down the population of Ireland?).

So for those of us who don't have much space in our gardens and can't or don't like to dig giant holes looking for our food, this is a great alternative. And for the city gardener , growing potatoes in garbage cans is perfect.

Instructions
Step 1
Turn your garbage can upside down and drill several holes in the bottom of the can. Add a few around the outside wall, 3 to 6 inches up from the bottom. It's really important to have good drainage or your potatoes will rot in a hurry.
Step 2
Good soil is the key ingredient.
Dump about 2/3rds of your bag of potting soil in the can. Mix in 1 cup of your fertilizer and set aside.
Step 3
This potato could be cut into at least 4 pieces.
For your seed potatoes, small ones can be planted whole. The larger potatoes should be cut up into pieces with no less then 3 "eyes" per piece ("eyes" being those brown dimples that the roots will grow out of). Let your potatoes dry out on the cut side before you plant them.
Step 4
Once your cut potatoes have cured, plant them in your can 5 inches apart and cover with the remaining soil. You'll only need 4 starts to a can. Set the can in an area that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Step 5
Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist but not soggy during the growing season. Don't let the soil dry out or you'll end up with misshaped potatoes. On the hot summer days, your potato garbage can might even need to be watered daily (you might move the can to a slightly shadier location on the hottest days).
Step 6
As the plants start to grow in the can, mound up compost around plant stems keeping the leaves uncovered. As they grow a little more, add some more compost. You'll be able to fill up the entire can with compost by the end of the growing season. Keep it watered.
Step 7
At harvest time, you can wait for the flowers to start to fade and grow what looks like berries. Harvest a few potatoes now, by reaching into the soft soil and picking a few, then covering everything else back up with compost. These early potatoes are "new potatoes" and they spoil quickly, so eat them now. For your bigger, storing potatoes, wait to harvest after the green plants have turned brown and dried up or died back. Just dump the entire can over (onto a tarp, maybe) and pick out your potatoes. The soil can be collected and added to a flower garden. You just don't want to plant potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant in that potting soil/compost because the soil will likely harbor some insects or disease from this season's crop.