7 Nutrient-Rich Brews Your Plants Will Love. Sure you can buy fertilizers and soil additives to help boost your garden’s production, but did you know you can also take advantage of waste from Mother Nature and household scraps that you’d normally toss?
These too can promote blooms and plant growth and they’re so simple to make! Here are a few recipes to try, basically all you need is one or two items, a bucket, some water and a bit of time. Allow to brew outside and voila! You have your own secret garden food that your plants will thank you for ;). Seaweed/Kelp: If you live near the ocean, lucky you! Boiled Vegetable Water: (always unsalted) After boiling vegetables, allow the water to cool then pour it on soil around your plants. Kitchen Scrap Infusion: Save vegetable peelings in a small bucket, cover with boiling water and allow to steep overnight (up to 2 days).
*Tip: Feel free to combine both the kitchen scraps and yard refuse items into one big brew pail, it’s all good! Garden Crops: Cold Storage Ideas & Root Cellar Tips. Growing your own food can be very rewarding, especially during the summer months when veggies can be washed, cooked and on the table the very same day they’re picked (nothing fresher than that!).
If you plan ahead and plant more than your family and friends can consume during the growing season, you can still enjoy your bumper crop over the long, cold winter months. First up, how much to store? Here’s a general guideline for a family of 4…(Source: mofga.org) Apples: 5 bushels Carrots: 40 to 60 pounds Cabbage: green, 20 heads; red, 10 heads Beets: 20 pounds Celeriac: (celery root, use instead of celery) 10 to 20 heads Leeks: 40 plants Potatoes: 100 pounds or more Jerusalem artichoke: 10 pounds Onions: 40 pounds Garlic: 10 to 20 pounds Winter radish: 10 Parsnip: 20 pounds Squash: 40 ‘Delicata’ and 30 pounds butternut Pumpkin: 5 to 10 Turnip and rutabaga: 10 or more Next are several projects and tips for both indoor and outdoor storage. Idahofoodbank.org windward.org earthineer.com. 25+ Clever Ideas Gardeners Won’t Want To Miss. Did you know you can make your own rooting hormone using willow twigs?
Or that geraniums can be overwintered? How about a few ideas for soil savers, pest control and fighting weeds? You’ll find all that and more in this collection! First, here’s an interesting tip I came across while reading the book “The Essential Urban Farmer”, did you know that willow trees contain a lot of natural rooting hormone that you can tap into for your own cuttings? Here’s how to make it: 15 to 20 thin twigs (any variety of willow tree) gallon of water Directions: Place the twigs in a bucket then top with water, cover with lid. To Use: Place cuttings in the water solution a day before potting. Storage: Can be refrigerated for up to one month. Ready to check out the rest of the goodies?
PS: I’ll be adding more goodies to this list as I find them so you may want to bookmark this page! Ladybirdln.com Diaper Liners: Line the bottom of baskets and pots with a disposable diaper to help retain soil moisture. hgtv.com.