‘horticultural how-to and woo-woo’
the source for organic gardening inspiration
margaret roach, head gardener
SO WHAT CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION most of all in 2012, among the 1,200-ish stories on A Way to Garden so far? Well, apparently these were the top 50 stories, the topics you clicked on most during the year, A Way to Garden’s fifth online.
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1May 1, 2013may can be mayhem!MAYDAY–OR SHOULD I SAY ‘MAYHEM,’ as in: Somebody rescue me by helping with the edging, weeding, mulching required to get ready for the first Open Days of the season (May 11 this year—you coming?). Most important, though, of course, is not to get too swept away by the to-do list, since May is also one of the garden’s most extraordinary months here in Zone 5B and elsewhere, with lots to sit back and savor. | 2May 2, 2013make a raised bed naturallyMAKING NEW BEDS? A nature-inspired method for raised-bed building, using fallen branches and logs, is called hugelkultur—and it’s fascinating, and effective, if you’re expanding your growing area. | 3 | 4 | 5May 5, 2013direct-sow vegetablesCONTINUE SOWING CARROTS, beets, radishes, salad greens, dill. With salad greens, select heat-resistant varieties now for best results. Direct-sow more kale and chard, too. IF YOU LIKE CILANTRO, plant a short row every couple of weeks for a constant supply because most varieties bolt pretty fast (eventually yielding coriander seeds). Or try one of the substitutes in this story. DIRECT-SOW BEANS at mid-month and beyond; sow a short row every two weeks, and also sow pole beans. |
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| 6 | 7May 7, 2013keep picking asparagusKEEP ASPARAGUS PICKED to keep it producing; don’t harvest from new plantings the first year or two in the ground. Need some asparagus recipes? (Current favorite here: Easy Asparagus-Parmesan Bake.) Another food-garden early-bird: Rhubarb is nicest when tender stems are used. | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11May 11, 2013prep beds, feed and mulchPREPARE NEW BEDS by smothering grass or weeds with recycled corrugated cardboard or layers of newspaper, then put mulch on top. ONCE EXISTING BEDS ARE CLEANED UP, topdress with an all-natural organic fertilizer and a layer of finished compost. Wait to apply mulch until the soil warms thoroughly. ORDER MULCH in bulk this year from a local source that ages it properly first; forget the bagged stuff for use on beds. My mulch mantra. | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15May 15, 2013heat-loving vegetable tipsHOW ARE THE MELONS? Follow these tips. WHEN SHOPPING FOR SEEDLINGS of tomatoes (or really anything), pick stocky young plants about 4 inches high and wide. Having trouble with homegrown transplants? Why seedlings stretch out and get spindly. HEAT-LOVERS LIKE tomatoes and basil, eggplants and peppers go out after frost danger. Use my tomato tips and tricks, and follow these tomato-hygiene steps for best disease prevention. | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19May 19, 2013nothing like a clean edge!EDGE BEDS to make a clean line and define them. A clean edge makes a real difference, along with an inch and a half or two of good, fine- to medium-textured organic mulch. No baked-potato-sized chips, please, and no orange-dyed mulch. My Mulch FAQs. |
20May, 20 2013garlic careWATER GARLIC during dry spells for biggest bulbs (and did you feed it?). Though many people wonder all spring about when to harvest, typically that’s in high summer sometime, around July here. Not now! | 21May 21, 2013care of hardy flower bulbsDEADHEAD SPRING BULBS as blooms fade, but leave foliage intact to wither and ripen the bulbs naturally. I mow my daffodil drifts around July 4th, for example. Deadhead spring-flowering perennials unless they have showy seedheads, or you want to collect seed later (non-hybrids only). DAFFODILS NOT BLOOMING? Here’s why bulbs fail to flower well. | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26May 26, 2013container-garden timeCONTAINER GARDENS can provide seasonal color, but don’t just use annuals. Hosta pot? Why not? All my container-garden ideas are here. WITH FLOWER SEEDLINGS in 6-packs, I like to “buy green,” as in not worrying if I’m buying annuals that aren’t flowering madly in their tiny cells. Younger, fresher plants are less stressed. WORRIED ABOUT IMPATIENS DISEASE? Here’s the lowdown on downy mildew risk this year. |
| 27 | 28May 28, 2013compost careDON’T LET THE HEAP DRY out completely, or it will not “cook.” If it wasn’t turned to aerate earlier this season, do so now to hasten decomposition. Pre-shredding with your mower can also speed things along. Use finished, screened material to topdress beds. | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Welcome! I’m Margaret Roach, a leading garden writer for 25 years—at "Martha Stewart Living," "Newsday," and in 3 books. I host a public-radio show; lecture and hold tours, and always say no to chemicals and yes to great plants.
Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but
cabbage with a college education.
‘never stop wanting more plants, my garden mentor instilled in me 20-plus years ago, regularly reminding me of another gardener, past 90, who still lusts for every new thing he can get a cutting of. I promise not to, until I myself am back in the soil.’
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I hope you know by now that I love this blog. When I first found it, I spent a rainy weekend reading every post since its inception, and haven’t missed one since. I have also bought all of your books, not because of pleading requests to do so on the blog, or testimonial after testimonial hitting me in the face as soon as the page loads, or even the many (did I say many?) “it’s coming”, or “it’s almost here”, then “it can be preordered now”, and ” it’s finally here!”, followed by “PLEASE buy my book”, and “if you want to do something for me, order my book NOW” highlighted sections on the blog’s front page.
Margaret, I love you to death, and if I had my own blog and had the talent to write my own book, I’d probably be hyping it like crazy too…but sweet Jesus….please…let up a little. You’re wearing us out!
Please don’t post this…I’m not trying to give this feedback publically, just to you. I love this blog, appreciate all commercial enterprises and buy your books because I want them, not in some repayment for reading your blog for free. So hate me, but I’ll still love you. Just suggest you put your marketing chops in time out for a while. :)
I’m not sure what exactly to comment on after reading the first comment :-) Both subjects are quite sweet :-) On the gardening note, I’m glad to see the topic of garlic won out.
Hi, Nadia. I think garlic is my favorite thing to grow. Always rewards me, always feels special. Speaking of which…I should roast up some and enjoy it this weekend.
Hi Margaret, I love garlic and use tons and tons of it in cooking. My husband also uses it to make a natural cholesterol medicine which works better than any conventional prescription. This year is the first year I will be growing it myself. I’ve inter-planted it with my roses. I’m super excited! I will have to check out that post again come harvest time. Thanks again for the info!
Joy to my world, thanks to you and “A Way to Garden”. Looking forward to reviewing your top 50 list for those posts I missed before learning of you late last summer.
I am also a supporter of all you do. Love your blog and books and recipes and gardening tips. I have purchased plants for my gardens based on your suggestions and have never gone wrong. Particularly love my rosa gura! (Hope that’s the right spelling. No probably with marketing! Keep up the great work.
I am a relative newcomer to your blog, Margaret but I look forward to every post.
Thank you. Happy holidays!
I love everything about your newsletter and all the wonderful resources that you have brought to my attention. I know our vegetable garden would not have produced as much or been as diverse if it hadn’t been for you advice.
I went to the favorite conifers at least 20 times . Along with other good examples, your photo of Chamaecyparis ‘Crispii’ is the best I’ve found. Was worth the proverbial 1000 words, in trying to explain what it does, and how best to grow it . Thank you. :)
Margaret, I love you, your blog, and books. I want to say “thank you” to you, for all the continuous inspiration of all kinds. Have a wonderful Christmas, and may 2013 bring you continued health, happiness, and success.
Hey, Margaret. Wanted to wish you a great Christmas and an equally great new year! I know I don’t comment too much these days but I always check-in with you and listen to your podcast on Mondays. It seems your (not so) new life is a great success and I hope the new year brings nothing but the same. I can’t wait to read the new book. Best to you (and Jack, of course).
Brian
Merry Christmas, Margaret, and peace on earth to all men (and women!) of goodwill.