Share my passion for all things gardening!
Way back in May, I reported on my Facebook page how I’d succumbed to temptation. What did I do? I purchased a ‘Big Zac’ tomato plant while working at the Master Gardener plant sale. Even though I already had plenty of tomato plants started from seed, I just couldn’t resist. What’s so special about ‘Big Zac’? Well, when I read that […]
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I wanted to put some closure on my series of videos about getting the maximum amount of tomatoes off your plants. And primary those pesky green tomatoes to ripen. To that end, I’ve filmed my final video on the topic for this year. Here you go: Just in case you missed the previous videos, I’m including them below. That way, you […]
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I know what you’re thinking. Why would anyone want to know how to make catsup. After all, you can just buy a bottle in the grocery store? I used to think that, too. That is, until we made our own just for fun many years ago. Homemade catsup is AMAZING! It’s kind of like a gourmet steak sauce in our […]
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Every year, I grow one or two varieties of paste tomatoes for making sauce, ketchup and salsa. Why paste tomatoes? They typically are meatier types that cook down fairly quickly. That’s because they don’t have as much juice as a regular slicing tomato. For the last several years, ‘Italian Pompeii’ (center of top photo) has been my go-to paste tomato. […]
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How do you feel about slugs? If you just shuddered and if your blood pressure just went up a few notches, we’re on the same page! I despise slugs. Why? They seem to want to eat the very same veggies that I love to grow and eat. Yet they can be tricky to control, especially organically. That said, I’m willing […]
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Throughout the growing season, I enjoy profiling local gardeners. Especially those who have a spectacular garden or a special skill to share with you. In today’s column, Tracy and Alan Lewis have both! They explained how they set up a drip irrigation system as an add-on to their existing sprinkler system. Here’s a link to it: Drip system need not […]
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I know next spring seems so far off but fall is the time for planting spring-blooming bulbs. But not just any bulbs, mind you. Why not plant some of the less common specialty bulbs? That’s exactly what I wrote about for today’s garden column. Here’s a link to it: Plant bulbs this fall for a colorful display next spring. (you […]
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‘Tis the season for picking Italian plums, isn’t it? In addition to drying them, making jam or tarts, they are awesome in spiced plum butter. We made it for the first time last year and discovered a fabulous, can’t-eat-just-one appetizer to make with it. Take a pita cracker, top with some Cambozola or other creamy cheese with a bit of […]
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My husband, Bill, and I grow three kinds of grapes: ‘Canadice’, ‘Glenora’ and ‘Vanessa’. The first to ripen is ‘Glenora’. Sometimes we use the grapes for jelly and oftentimes we make grape juice. Doing the latter is very simple, especially if you have a steamer/juicer. Step by step: 1. Pick the grape clusters, leaving them on the stems. 2. Wash […]
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For years, I’ve grown geraniums in pots on my front porch. At the end of each garden season, I’d toss them in the compost pile. That seemed like a huge waste of money to me. Then I learned that overwintering geraniums is easy as can be. That’s the subject of my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review. Here’s a […]
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