A fun way to enjoy and share your cucumber abundance is to make homemade pickles! Here is a simple recipe I’ve pulled together after reviewing pickling methods and recipes online. I choose to make all my recipes sugar and preservative free. Note, these pickles must be stored in the refrigerator because they are not put in […]
Archive | 2014
Farm Fresh Produce For Sale Every Weekend
Beginning May 24, a farm stand operated by the Plant It Forward farmers will be open for business every weekend at the Westbury Community Garden pavilion. Fresh, organic produce is for sale every Saturday and Sunday. The pavilion is also the place to pick up your Farm Share, if you are a participant in the Plant […]
Inspiration From Our Gardeners
I like to talk to other gardeners. I find it very helpful, interesting and educational. One tip I learned from Bert (E13) was about pine needles. I told Bert I rake up my pine needles then dump them on my azaleas and fertilize. The results have been amazing. Bert told me there was a better […]
Harlequin Bugs
The first week of May, 2014, many gardeners reported seeing this bug on broccoli that had bolted and other plants in the brassica family. This pest is Murgantia histrionica, also known as the Harlequin Bug or Cabbage Bug. Harlequin bugs come because there are plants that are past their prime. They especially like all the brassica […]
Where is the Westbury Community Garden located?
The Westbury Community Garden is located near Hillcroft and South Main (US 90A) in zipcode 77035. The address is 12581 Dunlap. Be sure to put the zip code 77035 in your GPS navigator. (There is another 12581 Dunlap in zip code 77096.) The intersection of Greencraig and Hillcroft is the intersection closest to the railroad […]
Support For Plants
Some plants must be supported to be at maximum production. These plants are tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, long beans, pole beans, bitter melon, Malabar spinach. Tools: The garden’s two handled fence post driver is in the small shed. (See photo.) Trellises are for cucumbers, long beans, pole beans, bitter melon, Malabar spinach. Trellises can be […]
2014 Spring Seed Set
The set may be purchased for $10. It includes 18 vegetable/herb/flower varieties. Edamame will be arriving later. Arugula — Sylvetta Basil — Genovese Beans — Carson Yellow Bush Bean and Jade Bush Bean Cucumber – Armenian and Suyo Long Edamame — Midori Giant (not yet available) Eggplant — Kermit Green and Orient Express Flowers — […]
Planting Seeds
How deep to plant seeds Plant seeds 3 times the width of the seed. If it is a very little seed like carrot or lettuce, plant it very close to the surface and water often until the seed germinates. These seeds need light to germinate, so plant them just under the surface of the soil. […]
Personal Gardening Equipment
These personal garden tools are recommended. Gloves: Invest in a pair of gloves you like and which can be washed. Better still, have two pairs. Hand tools: trowel, hand cultivator, watering wand or fan nozzle (plus your Faucet Key), weeding tool (there are many), garden scissors or pruning shears Long handled tools: Cultivator or hoe, […]
Crop Rotation
Rotating your planting scheme is one of the things that hasn’t really gotten a lot of discussion yet, but everyone should give it some serious consideration this year. Different plant families use up different things from the soil, are attractive to different pests, harbor different diseases, etc. Crop rotation helps address these issues and keep […]