Yesterday Stephen Scott of Underwood Gardens shared some concepts related to the importance of good soil both in and out of the garden. Today he returns to discuss some changes in the way that we think about and manage our gardens that can go a long way towards improving soil quality in our backyards:

Building or growing living and naturally healthy soil often begins with some mindset changes.

Maximum Quantity vs. Quality in the Home Garden

Most of these are easy for the home gardener, such as quality over quantity. Maximum yield growing is not a normal concept for the home gardener, but is forefront for the industrial producer.

Eliminating chemical use that destroys the living organisms that create the soil and its nutrients is sometimes hard to accept, but all bugs are not bad in the garden. Most bugs go for weakened or nutritionally deficient plants, so they are the symptom, not the true problem. Continue Reading About “Soil Life Builds a Healthier Veggie Garden” »

Today’s article is a guest post written by Stephen Scott from Terroir Seeds, home of Underwood Gardens and Grandma’s Garden Catalog. Stephen examines the complex relationships between our soil and the food that we eat:

Heirloom seeds and plants, whether they are vegetables, herbs or flowers are more popular than ever now, as more people learn about the amazing taste and scent differences between the supermarket vegetables and home grown ones.

Rising Demand for Local and Home Grown Produce

People are also realizing there is much more selection and choice in starting plants from seeds than buying seedlings and starts from their local garden centers. On top of this the local food movement is gaining traction and has been growing in double digits for the past 7 to 9 years.

Local food sources include Farmer’s Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s), neighborhood food swaps and buying directly from the farmer at on-farm stands. All of this is great news for people eating healthier and tastier foods than ever before. Continue Reading About “Good Soil Enhances Food Value and Flavors” »

It looks like the powers that be in India have decided to turn a big thumbs down to permitting the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt Brinjal! Brinjal or aubergines, are more commonly known as eggplants here in the U.S. and we can only pray that our government officials will take a closer look at whether we should be so quick to allow the use of genetically modified crops in our own domestic food supply.

The decision to impose a moratorium on Bt Brinjal in India was made as a result of public opposition and health concerns over the safety of consuming genetically engineered plants that contain gene material from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium that has long served as an effective organic pest control. While Bt is generally considered safe as used in traditional organic agriculture, there are concerns over heavy applications and debate regarding the safety of consuming Bt in the diet.

In organic farming or gardening Bt pesticides are typically diluted with water and sprayed onto the foliage of plants to control caterpillar type insects. Used in this manner the bacteria is applied only when targeted insects are present, and the residue wears off over time and with exposure to rain, sunlight, and other elements. By making the Bt gene a part of the plant itself it seems unlikely the active components would diminish over time or through exposure to the elements.

There are also concerns about insects developing increased resistance to Bt as a result of overuse and through the introduction of various genetically modified Bt crops. Another fear is that the GM plant varieties will cross pollinate and contaminate the traditional and heirloom varieties of eggplants that are under cultivation. Continue Reading About “India Says No Thanks to Monsanto and Bt Brinjal” »

It’s the rare and seasoned “vintage” gardeners that I love to corner, sit down with, and absorb every last morsel of the wisdom, history, experience, and storytelling that they gladly share with anyone who is willing to listen.

I took advantage of just that kind of opportunity recently when I met Tom Burford at the Backyard Fruit Growers winter meeting and intently listened as he spoke on “All Things Fruit.”

And the Expert’s Secret All-Time Favorite Apple Variety is…

Tom is an orchardist, writer, lecturer, and apple historian who also conducts hands-on workshops over at Vintage Virginia Apples. He has personally grown over 500 different varieties of apples and is on a mission to rediscover, preserve, and share the best of apples. Tom didn’t hesitate to reveal that without a doubt his all-time favorite apple is… “the last one that I ate!”

Here are my comments and notes from Tom’s lecture a couple weeks ago: Continue Reading About “Interesting Apple Facts from the Fruit Expert” »

Many of you took me up on the green ideas for chasing away winter blues, and some like Tee over at Veggie Gardener even commented on actually getting out into the garden to take in the milder temperatures that we enjoyed last weekend.

For me, the latest thoughts of warmer days and backyard gardening were inspired by the Backyard Fruit Growers Winter meeting that I attended. Great speakers, fellow gardeners, and the opportunity exchange new ideas always make it a worthwhile event.

Native Pollinators and Vintage Fruits

The main focus of this year’s winter meeting was on native pollinating insects and apples. Alex Surcica a researcher from the Franklin County Extension spent the morning talking about native pollinators with an emphasis on bumblebees and some of the solitary pollinators.

The afternoon session was a discussion of “All Things Fruit” with much of the conversation devoted to heirloom and antique apples. Tom Burford of Vintage Virginia Apples was the guest speaker and shared a wealth of information related to the culture, history, and future of the apple in America. Continue Reading About “Winter Meeting Focuses on Native Bees and Fruit” »

Has the cold, snow and ice gotten the better of you? Are you just itching to get out and do something constructive with that green but solidly frozen thumb of yours?

The scene may be bleak out in the garden, but there is still plenty to keep a northern gardener in a positive frame of mind. Here are a few events, activities, and thoughts that may help to lift that winter gloom…

Long Range Weather Forecast; Clear Skies and Short Months Ahead

We’ve had lots of snow here in Pennsylvania already, so my reasoning is that we’ve gotten it all out of the way and will see blue skies from now until the spring thaw. Sorry all you skiers and boarders out there but I’ve had my fill of snow, highlighted by a recent camping trip spent in two feet of the stuff!

One thing is certain, and that is that we’re halfway through January already and March will be rolling around before you know it! The days really are getting longer and brighter. Maybe I’m hallucinating a bit on this one, but I could swear I saw something green peeking up through the snow in the garlic bed the other day. Continue Reading About “Gardening Ideas to Chase Away Winter Blues” »

Here’s the follow up article to finish describing the exotic Caribbean fruits that I challenged you to identify in a previous post. James managed to name them all correctly and will receive a prize in the form of a PRO digging fork that he says will come in very handy as he cultivates his raised bed garden.

There are many unusual fruits found growing in St. Croix, and I did my best to throw a slight curve by showing a different view on any common tropical fruits that were included in the photo line up.

There’s More that One Way to Serve a Breadfruit

Starting with the breadfruits, these are strange but versatile fruits that I had never seen or tasted prior to my visit to the island. The flesh inside is white to cream colored, dry, and not quite as sweet as a typical tropical fruit.

The trees are very productive, bearing grapefruit sized round fruits. Although there are different varieties of breadfruit that produce larger fruits and some that are oblong rather than round.

Breadfruit trees offer many beneficial uses from lumber, to medicines and food. I wasn’t excited about the taste initially when I tried one breadfruit that was baked and another that was made into a fruity desert. I had a change of heart and enjoyed this tropical fruit when it was grilled or fried like plantains. Continue Reading About “More Unusual Fruits from the Islands” »

Looks like the tropical fruit challenge that was posted last week offered much more of a test than the previous garden riddle that many found a lot easier to solve.

I have to give James credit for making short work of it and coming up with the correct identity to every single strange and unusual fruit that was presented. I didn’t moderate his comment until today but he responded on Saturday and was the first and only person to get them all right.

James admitted to taking advantage of the clues offered in the November issue of the Gardening Secrets Newsletter and Wikipedia as resources but I think that being an avid sunny California gardener may have helped as well. Read on for alternate photos and additional details on the plants that were included in the tropical fruit identification challenge.

Eggfruit a Surprising and Unusual Discovery in the Tropics

First up is the very unusual and uncommon Eggfruit. This was a new one in my book and I was a little hesitant to try it out because I wasn’t sure what to expect from this odd fruit with a strange and somewhat pasty texture.

But I have to admit that I found it rather tasty with a rich, sweet flavor that is difficult to compare to any other fruit. Eggfruits grow larger than softballs and the bright yellow fruits offer a nice contrast against the dark green and shiny leaves. Continue Reading About “Identifying Exotic Fruits of the Caribbean” »