Will's Place

04/10/2022

How to Grow Hydrangea from Cuttings ~ Works like a charm...every time. If you want beautiful Hydrangeas for cheap, this method of rooting cutting will be your new favorite gardening pastime.

03/27/2022

A WAY TO MAKE YOUR OWN DANDELION TEA

It's March 24th, and Spring is here.......WooHoo. It may not look like Spring in some parts of the Country, but here in NW Arkansas, I can see the dandelions starting to pop up. I thought I would post this info on making Dandelion Tea.

I have had these bitter leaves and flowers in salads and other recipes, but I am all about learning new ways to preserve foods. I tried the dandelion tea using fresh dandelion leaves and decided to try dehydrating dandelion leaves to make tea. It is delicious and perfect for storing long term.

I heard the flowers don’t dry so well (They turn to fluff.) but it is the easiest, least bitter tea from the dandelion plant, so I made it fresh. Yum!

There are many ways to make dandelion tea, but here are the methods I used.

*Use only dandelions that have not been sprayed with chemicals, such as herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers.
Dandelion Leaf Tea can be made from fresh dandelion leaves or leaves that have been dried. It is a little bitter, but tasty with honey. Because of the medicinal properties of this tea, drink only 1-3 cups per day, according to University of Maryland Medical Center.

Gather dandelion leaves that are young and tender. Wash and dry them. I use a salad spinner or pat them dry with paper towels.

To make one cup of dandelion tea, take about six fresh dandelion leaves and cut them into small pieces. Place them in your tea cup, cover with boiling water, and steep for 5-10 minutes. Sweeten and enjoy.

To make about a quart of dandelion tea, fill a kettle with 1 quart of water and ½ quart of fresh, chopped dandelion leaves. Bring water to a boil; boil for 5-10 minutes. Strain dandelion leaves from water, sweeten, and serve hot or allow to cool, refrigerate, and serve cold.

DEHYDRATING DANDELION LEAVES

Place clean, dry dandelion leaves in your food dehydrator at 135 degrees F until leaves are crispy. Remove leaves and rub between your hands or use a mortar and pestle to crush. Remove larger stems.

To make tea made from dried dandelion leaves, place 1-2 teaspoons of dried, crushed dandelion leaves in a tea ball or tea bag, place in tea cup, add 1 cup of boiling water, and steep for 5-10 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

DANDELION FLOWER TEA

Grab a handful of dandelion flowers (about 8-10 heads).

Wash and remove the green bottoms. Place flower petals in a tea ball. Place tea ball in a teacup and add one cup of boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes, sweeten with your favorite sweetener (mine is honey), and enjoy.

Disclosure: This information is not intended to be a replacement for advice from a licensed medical professional. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Info from Mama's Homestead

Please leave some dandelions in your yards, as that is one of the first foods the bees eat when they venture forth from the hives in early Spring. I always let the dandelions grow, and not cut for a little while for them.

When you get the chance, please visit our SEED GUY website. We have the best pricing on our 9 Non GMO Heirloom Seed Packages in the Country, and they are Fresh from the New 2021 Harvest --) https://theseedguy.net/15-seed-packages

You can also call us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm every night, at 918-352-8800 to ask questions or place an Order.

***FYI--We had so many orders come in, that Linda had to shut off sales until Monday March 28th at 9:00 am. We have good stock of our Heirloom Seeds. We just need to catch up on packaging and getting them out the door. We apologize for the inconvenience.***

If you LIKE US on our page https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy then you will be able to see more of our great Gardening articles, New Seed Specials, and Healthy Juice Recipes. Thank you For Supporting Small Farms, and God Bless You and Your Family.

03/17/2022

03/13/2022

PLANT DEFICIENCIES AND WAYS TO FIX

If you have had issues with your vegetables in past seasons, you might want to check on how to spot mineral deficiencies your plants might get. Fruit and vegetables and plants grown in containers are all vulnerable. Yellow or reddish colored leaves, stunted growth and poor flowering are all common symptoms of nitrogen, magnesium or potassium deficiency. This information might be good to think about now during off season.

NITROGEN DEFICIENCY
You will notice spindly yellow plants or yellow leaves, sometimes with pink tints. Nitrogen promotes green, leafy growth and deficiency results in yellowing and stunted growth. Nitrogen is very soluble, and is easily washed out of the soil in winter rains. leaving the soil deficient in spring. Nitrogen deficiency is a common cause of yellow leaves in spring.

TO FIX: In the long term, mulching with organic matter (such as well rotted garden compost or manure) provides a steady trickle of nitrogen to stabilize levels. In the short term, applying high nitrogen fertilizers such as sulfate of ammonia or poultry manure pellets will fix the problem.

POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY
You will notice yellow or purple leaf-tints with browning at the leaf edge and poor flowering or fruiting. Potassium is needed for controlling both water uptake and the process allowing plants to harness energy from the sun (photosynthesis). Potassium promotes flowering, fruiting and general hardiness. Shortages are more likely on light, sandy or chalky soils where potassium is easily washed away.

TO FIX: Apply high potassium fertilizers such as sulfate of potash, tomato feed or an organic potassium source derived from sugar beet processing.

PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY
You will notice slow growth and dull yellow foliage. Phosphorus is needed for healthy roots and shoot growth. Soil shortages of phosphorus are rare, but may occur in areas with high rainfall and heavy clay soil.

TO FIX: Apply fertilizers such as super phosphate or bone meal.

MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY
You will notice yellowing between the leaf veins, sometimes with reddish brown tints and early leaf fall. Magnesium deficiency is common in tomatoes, apples, grape vines, raspberries, roses and rhododendrons. Magnesium is needed for healthy leaves and for plants to harness energy from the sun (photosynthesis). Soil shortages of magnesium are more common on light, sandy soils. Over-use of high-potassium fertilizers (such as tomato feed) can cause magnesium deficiency, as plants take up potassium in preference to magnesium.

TO FIX: In the short term, apply Epsom salts as a foliar feed in summer. Dilute the salts at a rate of 20g of Epsom salts per liter of water (1/3 oz per pint) plus a few drops of liquid detergent. Apply once a week, spraying in dull weather to avoid leaf scorch. In the long term, apply to the soil around the roots either Dolomite limestone (calcium-magnesium carbonate) at 4 oz per sq yd or Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) at 1 oz per sq yd.

MANGANESE + IRON DEFICIENCIES
You will notice yellowing between the leaf veins with browning of leaf edges on acid-loving plants. Manganese and iron are important for allowing plants to harness the energy of the sun (photosynthesis). Soil shortages are rare, but manganese and iron can be unavailable to plant roots in alkaline conditions.

TO FIX: Apply chelated iron and manganese treatments, such as Sequestrene, to the soil around the plant roots.

BORON DEFICIENCY
You will notice stunted growth and tip die back on lettuce, brown cracks in celery; rotten swedes, turnips and celeriac. Boron is required for healthy plant cell formation. Soil shortages are rare, but this nutrient can be less available to plant roots in alkaline conditions.

TO FIX: Treat by applying borax (disodium tetraborate) to the soil before sowing vegetables. Soil application rates for borax are: 1 oz per 20 sq yd. Mix well with a large quantity of light sand before spreading so that the chemical is evenly distributed.

Please visit our THE SEED GUY website when you get the chance. We have Great Pricing on our 9 Non GMO Heirloom Seed Packages. They are fresh from the New 2021 harvest --) https://theseedguy.net/15- seed-packages We also have All of our Individual Heirloom Seed varieties back in stock.

You can also Call Us 7 days a week at 918-352-8800 if you would like to Order By Phone.

If you LIKE US on our page, you will be on our list for more great Gardening Articles, new Heirloom Seed Offers, and healthy Juice Recipes. https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy/ Thank you, and God Bless You and Your Family. :)

03/12/2022

UJAMAA SEEDS

03/12/2022

A WAY TO GROW A POTAGER GARDEN THIS SPRING

Fruits, vegetables, and both medicinal and edible herbs are grown together with the main incentive to feed the family. A Potager Garden translates to "For The Soup Pot". These traditional kitchen gardens date back to France nearly a thousand years ago when it was common for people to grow their own food and medicine.

Being both beautiful and practical, it is well suited for small yards. The design structure uses both accessible bed space, as well as being close to the home. The idea is that you can step into your garden, with bare toes to grab dinner's ingredients or throw the last of the dish water on the compost.

If you plan to grow a Potager garden, instead of arranging your beds in a grid, consider using the space for both beauty and function. Some beds are vertical, while others are horizontal. Use the fence line as a trellis, or a hot spot for dwarf fruit trees. However you design it, take some time to figure out the best use of your space. Keep your pathways tight, enough to fit a wheelbarrow, and consider how the sun will move in your garden. Knowing where the sun hits first is great for heat loving vegetables.

Make sure to plan a focal piece in the center of your garden. A small bird bath, or pool is both beautiful and helpful for pollinator insects needing a drink. Instead of planting herbs in one area, consider planting a bit everywhere especially on difficult to grow spaces, like the edges of beds.

Dwarf fruit trees make sense when you have a small amount of land and don't want to pick fruit on a ladder. You can plant multiple dwarf varieties and get a really great harvest in a short period of time using less space. Not only do they function perfectly in the kitchen garden, they are beautiful as well.

Both medicinal and edible herbs can be grown in the Potager garden. I like comfrey, lemon balm, mint, and onions at the base of all the fruit trees. Plant creeping thyme in your walkways for an aromatic effect.

It makes sense to grow many useful herbs that can help the process of healing. Calendula, chickw**d, and plantain are excellent for the skin. They can be combined to make healing salves. Lemon balm tea calms the nervous system and comfrey makes a skin poultice. Make sure to plant your favorite herbs you love to cook with.

A truly nourishing meal is cooked using ingredients that I have grown. The recipes that are inspired by a seasonal garden can be life changing. I have come know that oregano, roasted eggplant and oil combined is one of the very best parts about summer. And basil at the base of tomatoes is for both ease of harvest and for the aroma of the greenhouse. So when you plan a potager, most of all, grow things you love and eat.

Successive harvests and year-round eating from the garden sounds seemingly simple. Yet it is a skill we have lost. We can all re-learn these old skills through our efforts. Over time we learn the seeds and when to plant them. It becomes intuitive as we move along.

A part of traditional gardening is putting back into the earth whatever we took. Taking care of the soil, we compost. We try to keep bare soil to the minimum. Where there are no plants, instead of w**ding, we mulch or add a ground cover. We are able to grow food without chemical fertilizer.

The biggest teaching that the Potager garden teaches us is that what we consume into our body is more than just through the mouth. We feed ourselves through our eyes, our noses, and our touch. These senses are just as necessary as taste. In the Potager garden, we can grow for all senses. Written by Women Who Farm

Please visit us at THE SEED GUY for Heirloom Seeds to Build Your Potager Garden. We are a Small Family Farm that still hand counts and packages our Heirloom Seed varieties, like the old days, so you get the best germination. Check out our 9 Non GMO Heirloom Seed Packages on Sale Now and Fresh from the New 2021 Harvest.--) https://theseedguy.net/15-seed-packages

You can also call us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm Central Time every night, at 918-352-8800 if you would like to Order By Phone.

If you LIKE US on our page, https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy/ you will be able to see more of our New Seed Bargains, Gardening Articles, and Healthy Juice Recipes. Thank You and God Bless You and Your Family.

03/12/2022

A FEW NATURAL METHODS TO KEEP SQUASH BUGS AWAY

If you had problems with Squash Bugs or Borers in the last couple years, this info will be of help. The best way to treat them is by Natural (Organic) methods. I'll list a few of those methods for you. Some methods will work better than others for your specific situation, so if one method doesn't work for you, then you should try a different one. Please, also let us know what has worked well for you.

START YOUR SEEDS INDOORS--I recommend you start your Seeds at least 4 weeks early indoors, and then transplant after last frost. This will have your Squash plants larger and more vigorous by the time Squash Bugs and Borers start hatching out. You may even miss most of them by your earlier harvest.

COMPANION PLANTING--One of my favorite ways to deter them. In many cases, planting these around and among your Squash plants will keep them away. The best plants are:

1) French Marigolds
2) Catnip--Repels everything
3) Dill--Sprinkle chopped up leaves on Squash plants
4) Nasturtiums
5) Petunias

EARLY PREVENTION--In Late Spring/Early Summer, you need to be on the lookout for Squash bug eggs. They are very small, shiny, and copper colored. Squash Bugs will lay them on the undersides of leaves on your Squash plants. Check your plants frequently, wipe off eggs, and put them in a bowl of soapy water. This will wipe out many of them before they hatch and start damage.

SOME NATURAL SPRAYS/TREATMENT--You can try these 4 sprays.
1) Basil Spray--Squeeze 2 handfuls of Basil leaves and stems, put in 1 gallon jar, add 1 gallon water, and then sit in sun for 4 - 8 hours. Strain the liquid thru mesh, add 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, mix, and then you can spray on your plants.

2) Garlic/Onion Spray--Mix Garlic, Onion, and water in a 1 gallon jar, and let sit until it smells pretty strong. You can then pour some of this mixture around the base of your plants where the bugs congregate. Make sure to reapply after a rain.

3) Liquid Soap Spray---Mix 1 - 2 Tbsp of Liquid Castile Soap, or regular dishwashing soap will also work, with 32 Ozs of water. Fill a 32 Oz spray bottle with this mixture, and then spray your affected plants in the mornings--under the leaves and base of the plants.

4) NEEM Oil Spray--To make 1 Quart of .5% dilution Neem Oil Spray, you will use these ingredients: Use 1 teaspoon Neem Oil, 1 - 2 ml Castile Soap, and 1 Quart of warm water. You can up your dilution % to 1% solution by using 2 teaspoons of Neem Oil and 2 - 4 ml of Castile soap in 1 Quart of warm water. You then spray this mixture on your plants every 2 weeks to keep the Squash Bugs away.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH--This works well if everything else fails. Only use Food Grade. Apply a light dusting to the foliage of your Squash or Zucchini plants in the morning when dew is still on plants. Don't get any on the flowers, and wear a mask so you don't breathe in.

Here at THE SEED GUY, we have a great 60 Variety Heirloom Seed package Special (34,000 Seeds) that has 49 Veggie Seed varieties, and then 11 Herb Seed varieties. Some of the Herb varieties in the package are great Companion Plants and will help you keep pests away.. Small Farm Grown, Non GMO, fresh from the New 2021 Harvest, and Sale Priced Now at $69

You can click on link to our website to see Seed varieties included in package and to Order --) https://theseedguy.net/seed-packages/50-60-variety-heirloom-seed-package.html

You can also call us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm every night, to Order by Phone at 918-352-8800.

If you LIKE US on our page https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy then you will be able to see more of our great Gardening articles, New Seed Offerings, and healthy Juice Recipes. Thank you and God Bless You and Your Family :)

03/12/2022

COMPANION PLANTING FOR PEST CONTROL

This is a great Garden layout of Companion Vegetables and Herbs that you can plant together in your Garden to make the most use of space and deter pests. If you want to stay away from harmful synthetic chemicals and pesticides, and grow Organically, the best way to do that is to select plants for your garden that will help control and repel your insect pests. Check out our 9 Heirloom Seed Packages on Sale Now from the New 2021 Harvest https://theseedguy.net/15-seed-packages Great to get your Garden up and running, or to save in the thick silver mylar bag for later. Thank you and God Bless You and Your Family. 🙂

03/12/2022

WE WILL NEED TO GROW ENOUGH FOR OUR FAMILIES

It has become more important than ever for You to be able to grow at least part of what You and Your Family eat on a yearly basis. Big factors are the many chemicals and pesticides used on vegetables and fruits in the grocery stores, the rising food prices we are all seeing, and the instability we have seen throughout the world, and in our own Country. We are in a very uncertain time in our Countries history, and we need to be prepared.

Many Families, like yours, are now growing their own Home Gardens--much like our Grandparents and Great Grandparents did with their Victory Gardens years ago. They grew their own Food, Saved their Seed, and were very Self-Sufficient.

The chart below gives you a good idea of how much of each Seed variety or plant you will need to grow per person, based on picking and eating them fresh. If you plan on Canning or freezing your Veggies to get thru the year, you will need to plant more. I would suggest you multiply the amount listed by 3 - 4.

Seeds or plants per 100-ft. row is the recommended amount or number to use for proper spacing and growth. Estimated yield per 100-ft. row is based on optimum growth, so it could be different from Family to Family. If you don't plant in 100-ft rows, then you can divide the amounts down to the size you do plant. So if you have a 5' x 4' raised bed ( 20 sq ft ), you would just divide the 100' results by 5 .

FOR OPTIMUM YIELDS, YOU WILL WANT TO:
1) Start Off with fresh viable Heirloom Seeds
2) Use a good Compost/Soil mixture
3) Maintain Fertility
4) Provide enough water
4) Use Mulch
5) Control Pests ( insects, and the furry types) Companion Plants are a good way to control and deter pests, while staying Organic.

Good Healthy HEIRLOOM SEEDS will make all the difference when you need that Big Yield at harvest time. At THE SEED GUY, we have a great Homesteaders Seed package that has 60 Heirloom Seed Varieties, 34,000 total Seeds, all Non GMO and Sale Priced Now at $69

You get 49 Veggie varieties and 11 Herb varieties. You would definitely be able to Feed Your Family with this Seed package, and you can store the Seeds you don't use right away in the 10 x 14 silver mylar bag we provide. All Heirloom Seeds are Small Farm-Grown, we hand count and package to make sure you get the best germination, and they are Fresh from the New 2021 Harvest. You will get the freshest Seeds.

You can see Seed varieties and Order this Seed package on our website at https://theseedguy.net/seed-packages/50-60-variety-heirloom-seed-package.html

***FYI--Due to the overwhelming amount of sales the last few weeks, we had to put sales on hold now until we catch up. We have good stock, and will put them back up for sale on March 14th at 9:00 am. We apologize about the inconvenience. ***

You can also call us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm each night, to ask questions or to place an Order at 918-352-8800

Click LIKE at the top of our page, and you will be able to see more of our great Gardening Articles, New Seed Offerings, and Healthy Juice Recipes. Thank you and God Bless You and Your Family. https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy

03/12/2022

A DIY WAY TO MAKE YOUR OWN SEED POTS

Making your own seed pots out of old newspapers is thrifty, and also good for the planet. Commercial seed pots usually make you choose between throw-away plastic, or expensive pressed peat moss pots that can go straight into the ground, but newspapers are biodegradable, much more economical, and provide a mulch and fertilizer for young plants. Remember not to use glossy or colored pages. Most colored inks these days are soy based inks and are safe.

The easiest thing about making your own recycled newspaper pots is that when your seeds are ready to transplant outdoors, the transplant shock is considerably lessened. All you have to do is be sure there are drainage holes poked in the bottom of the newspaper pots, dig your planting hole, and place the seedling, pot and all, straight into the hole with some water. As the seedling grows, the newspaper decays into the soil, giving the tender plant instant mulch and fertilizer.

There is a complete origami folding method that you can use. But, folding pots around a mold is perhaps the easiest and sturdiest method of making recycled newspaper pots for your seeds. These have thick bottoms and tight folds, and are very roomy for seed starting. While you can purchase pot-making wooden molds from seed and garden catalogs, it’s just as easy to form them around a tin can.

Take a whole sheet of newspaper and fold in half vertically, then cut along the crease. Each piece makes one pot. Fold it in half again, and fold an inch over horizontally to make a lip. Roll the newspaper around the can, with about two inches extending beyond the bottom of the can. Fold over these two inches to make the pot bottom. Carefully slide the newspaper off the can while holding the bottom, and fold the lip over again inside the pot to secure the folds.

Here at THE SEED GUY, we have Sale Pricing Now on our 9 Non GMO Heirloom Seed Pkgs, they are fresh from the New 2021 Harvest, and we still Hand Count and Package them, so you get the best germination.

You can go to our website to see the Seed varieties in each of the packages, and Order at --) https://theseedguy.net/15-seed-packages

You can also call us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm each night, for questions or to Order at 918-352-8800.

***FYI--We still have good stock in our Heirloom Seeds, but we got behind from so many orders, so just had to shut sales down for a few days to catch up on packaging and shipping. Linda is opening again for sales on March14th at 9:00 am. We are sorry about the inconvenience. Thank you.

If you LIKE US on our page, you will be able to see more of our New Seed Offerings, great Gardening Articles, and Healthy Juice Recipes https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy Thank you and God Bless You and Your Family.

03/11/2022

TOP 7 GARDEN PESTS--WHAT WORKED + DIDN'T

Here is some great information from a survey that Mother Earth News did to learn more about what works, and doesn't, when it comes to limiting insect damage in organic vegetable gardens. They had 1300 gardeners from across the United States respond, so is pretty good. I've included 7 of the top garden pests and info:

1) SLUGS-- took top honors as the most bothersome pest in home gardens, with 55 percent of respondents saying the slimy critters give them trouble year after year. Handpicking was highly rated as a control measure (87 percent success rate), followed by iron phosphate baits (86 percent) and diatomaceous earth (84 percent). Opinion was divided on eggshell barriers (crushed eggshells sprinkled around plants), with a 33 percent failure rate among gardeners who had tried that slug control method. An easy home remedy that received widespread support was beer traps (80 percent success rate).

2) SQUASH BUGS-- had sabotaged summer and winter squash for 51 percent of respondents, and even ducks couldn’t solve a serious squash bug problem. Most gardeners reported using handpicking as their primary defense, along with cleaning up infested plants at season’s end to interrupt the squash bug life cycle. The value of companion planting for squash bug management was a point of disagreement for respondents, with 21 percent saying it’s the best control method and 34 percent saying it doesn’t help.

Of the gardeners who had tried it, 79 percent said spraying neem on egg clusters and juvenile squash bugs is helpful. About 74 percent of row cover users found them useful in managing squash bugs.

3) APHIDS-- were on the watch list of 50 percent of respondents, but the success rates of various control techniques were quite high. Active interventions, including pruning off the affected plant parts and applying insecticidal soap, were reported effective, but so were more passive methods, such as attracting beneficial insects by planting flowers and herbs. Several readers noted the ability of sweet alyssum and other flowers to attract hoverflies, which eat aphids. “We attract a lot of beneficials by planting carefree flowers in the vegetable garden, including calendula, borage, zinnias, cosmos and nasturtiums” (Midwest, more than 20 years of experience).

4) SQUASH VINE BORERS-- had caused problems for 47 percent of the survey respondents. The best reported control methods were crop rotation and growing resistant varieties ofCucurbita moschata, which includes butternut squash and a few varieties of pumpkin. TheC. moschata varieties are borer-resistant because they have solid stems. Interestingly, if you’re attempting to fend off squash vine borers, lanky, long-vined, open-pollinated varieties of summer squash (zucchini and yellow crookneck, for example) may fare better than hybrids, because OP varieties are more likely to develop supplemental roots where the vines touch the ground.

Many gardeners dump soil over these places, so if squash vine borers attack a plant’s main stem, the plant can keep on growing from its backup root system.

5) JAPANESE BEETLES-- Forty-six percent of respondents reported working in the unwelcome company of Japanese beetles, with handpicking being the most popular control method. Some gardeners grow trap crops of raspberries or other fruits to keep Japanese beetles away from plants. Several commonly used interventions — garlic-pepper spray, milky spore disease, pheromone traps and row covers — had high failure rates.

6) TOMATO HORNWORMS-- were of concern to 42 percent of our survey respondents. Bt and handpicking were the preferred control methods, and several folks commented that tomato hornworms are among the easiest garden pests to handpick (probably because they’re large, easy to spot and produce a telltale, pebbly trail). Many gardeners reported seeing tomato hornworms often covered with rice-like cocoons of parasitic braconid wasps. “I had a lot of tomato hornworms this year, but the wasps took them out! Just like in the photos online and in bug books!” (Mid-Atlantic, more than 20 years of experience). Gardeners named zinnias and borage as good companion plants for reducing hornworm problems.

7) CUTWORMS-- were a concern for 41 percent of respondents, and effectiveness ratings for using rigid collars (made from plastic drinking cups or cardboard tissue rolls) to protect young seedlings from damage were amazingly high (93 percent effectiveness rating). A common practice to reduce cutworm damage is to cultivate the soil’s surface once or twice before planting and hope robins and other bug-eating birds will swoop in to gather the juicy cutworms. Big, sturdy seedlings are naturally resistant to cutworms, so many gardeners said they set out seedlings a bit late to avoid cutworm damage.

Here at THE SEED GUY, we have a great 60 Variety Heirloom Seed Package (33,000 Seeds) that has 49 Veggie Seed varieties, and 11 Herb Seed varieties. In this package, you will get several Herb varieties that are great Companion plants that will help keep Garden Pests away.. Small Farm Grown, Non GMO, and fresh from the New 2021 harvest. Sale Priced Now at $69

You can click on link to our website to see Seed varieties included in package and to Order at https://theseedguy.net/seed-packages/50-60-variety-heirloom-seed-package.html

You can also Call Us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm at night, at 918-352-8800 if you would like to Order By Phone.

If you LIKE US on our page https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy then you will be able to see more of our great Gardening articles, New Seed Offerings, and healthy Juice Recipes. Thank you and God Bless You and Your Family. :)

02/23/2022

EVERYONE CAN GROW IN CONTAINERS

It's the 3rd week of February, and I'm sure thinking about Spring. Some Families like to start their vegetables in containers, and then they have a good jump on the growing season when Spring rolls around, or they start them in containers in the heat of Summer, and then put them out there for their Fall Gardens. Everyone can grow in containers, even if you live in an apartment or condo. You can also grow vegetables and herbs in containers indoors during the Winter, and have those fresh salads you always crave.

Please Plant a Garden. If you don't have a big yard, or any yard at all, you can still plant in containers. I feel now more than ever that we will need to grow Home Gardens, and be able to help Feed our Families. We are heading into a very uncertain time in our Countries history, and we need to be prepared.

There are several types of containers that can be used for growing vegetables including polyethylene plastic bags, clay pots, plastic pots, metallic pots, milk jugs, ice cream containers, bushel baskets, barrels, and planter boxes. It is important to use containers that can accommodate roots of the vegetables you want to grow as the vegetables vary in sizes and rooting depths.

The container needs to have good drainage, and should not contain chemicals that are toxic to plants and human beings. Most vegetables grown in backyard gardens can be grown in containers, although a container's diameter and depth needs to be considered when selecting what vegetables to grow. The plant density (number of vegetable plants per container) depends on individual plant space requirements, and rooting depth.

It's best to use one of the potting mixes in vegetable container gardening as they are light, disease-free, w**d seed-free, and have good drainage. Some potting mixes have pre-mixed plant nutrients, so read the information on the label about how long the pre-mix will feed your plants before you start applying fertilizers. You can also make your own two bushels of potting mix using the following recipe: Shredded sphagnum peat moss (1 bushel), Vermiculite (1 bushel), Ground limestone (1¼ cups), Phosphate fertilizer either 0-20-0 (½ cup) or 0-45-0 (¼ cup), Slow release granular fertilizer such as 5-10-5 (1 cup).

Container-grown plants require more frequent fertilization than field-grown plants because of the limited space within the container for drawing nutrients. Fertilizers can be mixed with the soil mix before filling the container and can also be applied as a nutrient solution. Nutrient solutions can be made by dissolving soluble fertilizer such as 10-20-10, 12-24-12 or 8-16-8 in water following label directions. The nutrient solution is applied once a day when the plants are watered. How often you water may vary with vegetables, but once a day is adequate.

Leach the unused fertilizer nutrients from the potting mix once a week by applying tap water only. It is also very important to water occasionally with a nutrient solution containing micro nutrients such as copper, zinc, boron, manganese, and iron and follow label directions in order to give plants the right amounts.

Plants grown in containers need frequent watering as the containers dry fast. Watering on a daily basis is necessary to provide adequate moisture for plant growth. Apply enough water to reach the bottom of the container. Allow the excess to drain out through drainage holes. Avoid wetting the leaves when watering as this will encourage development of foliar disease. Try not to allow the containers to dry out completely between watering as this will lead to flower and fruit drop. Do not over water the plants as the container will be waterlogged and the roots will lack oxygen leading to poor growth and eventually, perhaps, the plant's death.

The size of the containers needed will depend a lot on the vegetable or herbs you are planting. Most Herbs can be planted in 1/2 - 1 gallon containers. Cabbages, Cucumbers, Green Beans, Leaf Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Cherry Tomatoes can be planted in 1 gallon containers. Beets, Carrots, Eggplants, Peppers and Radishes need 2 gallon containers. Your regular tomatoes will need 3 gallon containers. (great info from the University of Illinois Extension)

When you need some great Non GMO Heirloom Seeds for your containers, please visit our THE SEED GUY website. We have a great 60 Variety Heirloom Seed package, 34,000 Seeds, and fresh from the New 2021 Harvest--) https://theseedguy.net/seed-packages/50-60-variety-heirloom-seed-package.html and we still hand count and package our Seed varieties, like the old days, so you get the best germination.

We also have 8 other Seed packages, and All of our Individual Heirloom Seed varieties are in Stock Now.

You can also CALL US 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm each night, at 918-352-8800 if you would rather Order By Phone.

If you LIKE US on our page, you will be on our list for more great Gardening Articles, new Heirloom Seed Offers, and healthy Juice Recipes. https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy/ Thank you, and God Bless You and Your Family. :)