How Many Worm Bins Do I Need?
Most greenhouse gardeners agree, the more worm bins, the better! Since most red worms can consume half their weight in food each day, you will need to figure out how many worm bins you can support. Estimate how much food waste you create each day in pounds, multiply by two, and that will determine how many pounds of red worms you can support. You should place about one half pound of red worms in each worm bin. Just keep in mind that your worm will multiply as time goes on so once your worm population gets established in one bin, you can take worms from that bin to start another.

What to Feed Your Worm Bins
While worms are not particularly picky eaters, there are some food items that they abhor. Do not place milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat drippings, trimmed fat, grease, or meat into your worm bins.

Worms are mostly vegetarians, and love all breads, grains, cereals (minus the milk), banana peels, eggshells, vegetables, fruits, and even teabags, and coffee grounds (including the paper filter). They love to feast on moist cardboard, paper, and newspaper, but avoid anything with plastic coatings or chemical treatments.

Tips for Keeping Your Worm Bins Healthy
Maintaining your worm bins is not likely to rival the upkeep on a four-star hotel, but there are some basic worm bin tips that will help keep your worms happy and healthy.

• Keep plenty of fresh, moist bedding in the worm bins (like moistened, shredded newspaper)

• Make sure your ventilation holes are free from obstruction and adequate to keep your bin smelling fresh

• Harvest your worm castings regularly

• Bury your worm’s food in the bedding to avoid attracting insects

Worm bins make a natural and easy to care for gardening companion. They don’t require extensive care, attention, or nurturing like farm animals, and still produce plentiful fertilizers that will make your crops thrive.

Read more about vermicomposting

How to Make Your Own Upside Down Tomato Planters
Materials you will need:
1. Container, such as plastic pots, empty (and clean and sterilized) milk jugs or 2 liter soda bottles
2. Hanging apparatus, such as an eye bolt or heavy hook
3. Paint, duct tape, or sleeve covering made from heavy paper or fabric if you are using an opaque or clear container
4. Netting (like landscape weed control netting) if you are using a plastic pot
5. Moisture retaining potting soil mixture of your choice (like 2 parts CocoLite Bricks, 1 part perlite, and 1 part Groden granulates)
6. Seedlings

Constructing Your Tomato Planters
1. Be sure to wash and sterilize all your gardening tools containers, and soil (if you are reusing potting soil) before you begin to keep your tomato plants healthy

2. Prepare your container by drilling or cutting a 2 to 3 inch hole in the side (for soda and milk containers) or bottom (for plastic pots) for the placement of your plant.

3. Next, drill a small hole for the eye hook to attach in the bottom of the soda container. For milk jugs, you can craft a hanging harness out of twine to hang your container in addition to using an eye hook as the jug will be heavier and the plastic is less sturdy than the bottom of a 2 liter bottle, and selecting a plastic pot with a built in hanger is best.

4. If you are using an opaque or clear soda or milk container, you will need to cover the outside with paint, duct tape, or a paper or fabric sleeve to protect the plant’s roots from sunlight.

5. If you are using a plastic pot, cover the hole with netting to keep the soil from washing out during waterings. The weight of the soil should be enough to keep it secure if you cut a circle that fills the bottom of the pot instead of just large enough to cover the opening. Cut an “X” into the netting to allow you to feed the roots of the tomato plant through the opening and into the soil.

6. Fill your container with moisture retaining potting soil.

7. Place your seedling through the spout of the soda or milk container, or through the center of the netting in the bottom of the plastic pot. Make sure you bury the root ball, and even up to ¾ of the tomato plant into the dirt, leaving just the last quarter of the plant exposed through the opening.

8. If you are using a plastic pot, you can plant herbs, flowers, or other plants with shallow root systems in the top to make your tomato planter even more attractive.

9. Hang, and water well.

Be sure to water, water, water those tomato planters often, and monitor your plants for problems. While these planters eliminate some common problems like frost danger, soil drainage issues, and some insect problems, they are prone to over heating, overexposure to sunlight, and dehydration.

Not Just for Tomatoes

Upside down tomato planters can be modified for other heat-loving plants, like banana peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers. Just be sure to monitor your plants closely, especially for dehydration. Some plants will require extra waterings to keep them healthy and happy.

Don’t’ be afraid to experiment with your tomato planters and keep us informed of your successes and not-so-successful endeavors!

Fairy Garden

Adding fairies to your garden could bring a bit of luck and whimsy to your greenhouse. Fairy statues, plaques, and plant markers add decoration and can be very useful as well.
 
Woodland Spirits

Adding a few woodland spirits to your garden will make you smile. These woodland faces are added to walk ways, trees, shrubs, and posts. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and expressions, and you can even opt to give your favorite tree arms if the mood strikes.
 
Glitter, Sparkle, and Shine

Gardeners know that adding a little sparkle to your garden helps keep the birds away. Glitter tape, old CDs, disco balls, and wind chimes can be combined into an eclectic collection that doubles as a bird deterrent.  In addition, you can use CDs and music themed decorations to create a rockin’ theme, or add a few disco balls to celebrate your love of the 70s.

Sun, Moon, and Stars

The sun, moon, and stars theme is very popular and with a few well-placed garden accessories, you can brig this theme into your outdoor oasis as well.
 
Castles and Knights

If you’ve always dreamed of being King Arthur or the princess of a castle, a castle and knights theme may be just what you are looking for! You can grow roses up a castle wall, water your plants from dragon shaped watering can, or create a moat complete with a drawbridge around your garden.
 
Asian Influence

An Asian inspired garden is a very popular theme. Zen rock gardens, bonsai trees, pagodas, water fountains, and coy ponds all make terrific Asian-inspired garden accessories.
 
Colors, Colors Everywhere

If you have a favorite color, why not bring your favorite hue into the garden with more than just flowers? You can add garden accessory accents in your favorite color, or select a color palate to coordinate with your garden furniture or home decor. You can even go for a rainbow effect and create a color paradise in your own backyard.
 
Sunflowers Galore

Sunflowers are an extremely popular garden and greenhouse theme. These brightly colored yellow petals offset nicely with the natural green of your plants. Or, you can add a few blue accents to contrast with your sunflower garden accessories.
Creating a garden or greenhouse theme with coordinating garden accessories is a great way to add some fun and personality to your gardening paradise.

1. Live flowers. Any greenhouse gardener will be delighted to receive live flowers to add to their greenhouse plant collection.

2. Quality pitch fork for turning compost. Many gardeners prefer a wooden handle, but any quality material will do.

3. Ergonomic Garden Tools. If your favorite greenhouse gardener has had the same old hand tools for years, they will appreciate the comfort of Radius garden tools.

4. Birdfeeders. Many greenhouse gardeners enjoy having birds visit their gardening area. Bird watching adds to the enjoyment of greenhouse gardening and many birds will eat pesky insects that may migrate into the greenhouse otherwise. Consider including a hummingbird feeder to your gift list as well!

5. Relaxation kit. For the more adventurous shopper, you can assemble your own ultimate greenhouse gardening gift basket. Include items such as soft socks, cozy gardening gloves, a relaxation CD, seed packets, and even a gift certificate for a massage at the local spa! (Gardening is hard work after all!)

6. Gift certificate. If all else fails, you can always purchase a gift certificate for your gardener’s favorite greenhouse gardening supply store and present it in a flowerpot filled with candy bar flowers. Simply select a few favorite candy bars, and glue skewers to the backs of the packages. Arrange the candy in a pleasing pattern with some floral foam for anchorage in the pot.

7. Knowledge. Greenhouse gardeners always like to seek out new ways to garden. Gardening books filled with tips, tricks, and advice for making greenhouse plants flourish are always hot commodities for the avid gardener.

8. Artistic expression. Many greenhouse gardeners enjoy the simple beauty of nature. In keeping with this thought, purchasing a book filled with beautiful photographs from nature is sure to be a hit. Or a magazine subscription to some excellent publications such as Organic Gardening, Mother Earth News, Horticulture or Fine Gardening.

9. Gardeners First Aid Kit. Gardening can be rough on the gardener at times, so a thoughtful gift might be a first aid kit designed especially for greenhouse gardening. Items to include would be: Advil for sore backs and knees, antibiotic ointment and adhesive bandages for cuts and scrapes, a nail cleaning kit for good hygiene after gardening, hand lotion, a hot/cold pack for those days when everything lands on your foot!

10. Fertilizer. Yes, it is acceptable to give a bag of manure as a holiday gift, but only if the recipient is a die-hard gardener! Better yet, give them a worm bin so they can make their own!

These ten holiday gift ideas for the greenhouse gardener on your shopping list are only the start! You can spend a few minutes browsing a selection of greenhouse goodies online and create your own must-have gardening list.

How Hothouse Gardening Works
Hothouse gardening works by the scientific principle commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect. The glass or plastic covering of the greenhouse allows sunlight rays to penetrate the covering, but only certain rays of sunlight are allowed to escape back through the glass or plastic. Long wavelength infrared rays of sunlight are trapped within the hothouse, creating a warmer environment within the hothouse structure.

The temperature in the hothouse is controlled either by a climate control system or, as is more common, a ventilation system. Louvered windows and vents in the ceiling or sides of the hothouse allow heat to escape when the temperature rises. In addition, some hothouse gardeners choose to place shade cloths over the greenhouse during the hottest parts of the day to inhibit sunlight and the resulting warm temperatures. Ventilation also allows fresh air to circulate into the hothouse, which further lowers the temperature.

Timed watering devices, such as sprinklers or misters, administer water to the hothouse plants, creating a moist environment. This humidity is trapped in the hothouse unless ventilation is provided. In this manner, even hand watering creates a relative humidity inside the hothouse.

The Benefits of Hothouse Gardening
Hothouse gardening allows people who live in an otherwise barren region to enjoy the fruits produced in a hothouse environment. Hothouses also allow dedicated gardeners to extend the growing season, with some plants producing fruit well into the winter months.

Hothouse gardening also provides the opportunity to grow exotic or fragile plants in any region. Because the hothouse gardener can strictly control the growing conditions, such as temperature, heat, humidity, water levels, and amount of sunlight, it is possible to grow nearly any crop imaginable with the right knowledge, equipment, and dedication.

Hothouse gardening, also called greenhouse gardening, is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. Gardening lovers around the world sing the praises of hothouse gardening for the many benefits and advantages, the wide range of choices available to the greenhouse gardener, and the spectacular results of hothouse gardening. Even professional commercial growers love hothouses and invest time and money into constructing hothouses for business use. Hothouse gardening benefits gardeners from various backgrounds and is useful in a wide variety of applications.

Fall Canning Tips for Greenhouse Gardeners
One of the inevitable side effects of a love for gardening is hours spent in the kitchen preparing all those fruits and veggies for storage. Until a few years ago, I simply froze all of my garden veggies, but then I decided to give canning a try. Boy, am I glad I did! If you are new to canning, these time saving tips might prove to be very valuable. Give a few a try and see what a difference the extra effort can make!

1. Invest in a food processor. This is the first year I have used a food processor and I was simply amazed at how much time it saved. Veggies are ready for canning in seconds and the entire machine cleans up with a rinse in hot soapy water. My fingertips are very thankful that I won’t be scoring them repeatedly while slicing up cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and beets this year.

2. Buy a pressure cooker. I know, most pressure cooker manuals do not include any instructions for pressure canning quarts and pints, but the FDA encourages home gardeners to use pressure canning for all low-acid foods, like beans and carrots. You can find pressure canning time tables and instructions online if your pressure cooker doesn’t come with canning instructions.

3. Compost your food scraps. Those snap bean ends, tomato cores, and corncobs make great fertilizer for next year’s crops.  Mix your layers of food scraps with coffee grounds, grass clippings, and leaves to create the richest compost. Be sure to water it well and turn it over often to increase airflow for better decomposition.

4. Enlist help. Recruit your kids, spouse, or friends to help you pick, clean, prepare and can your crops. The work will go twice as fast and you can reward them a few jars of the finished products.

5. Always label your jars. You may think it’s a no-brainer that jar contains this year’s beans, but in 12 months, your memory may not be so clear. Sometimes jars get missed from year to year and labeling them with the date canned helps keep you from wasting food and getting spoiled jars.

6. Stock up. Always buy an extra set of jars and several boxes of fresh lids to keep on hand. It can be frustrating to have a hot jar of produce ready for processing and realize you are out of lids or bands.

Canning your fruits and veggies from the greenhouse can be an immensely rewarding experience. Canning takes a lot time, and the lengthy process is often daunting for many gardeners who are new to canning, but taking a few time saving tips can help make your first canning season a pleasant one.

 Working with shade cloths, earthboxes, cold frames, and greenhouses can greatly improve your chances for gardening success. Gardening can be challenging, especially for the timid novice gardener.Why are you afraid to take that next step to growing a green thumb? Is it because there is just too much sunlight or wind in your area? Perhaps you have poor soil conditions or even worse, no soil conditions. Maybe you are hesitant because you won’t be able to enjoy the fresh produce year round. Whatever your reason, there are simple answers to help you garden better and faster. Here are some solutions to the above dilemmas.

Too Much Sun or Wind

Trying to garden where there is too much sun or wind can be devastating. As soon as you see the sprout start to poke its head above the surface, it is a constant battle to keep it from drying out or being removed from the ground like a fence post in a tornado. An easy answer to this problem is the shade cloth. There are numerous different types of shade cloths, depending on how much sun and wind blockage you are looking for. Some shade cloths are made out of nylon or plastic while others are made out of a textile material such as polyester.

Choosing the right shade cloth for your application is simple, the bigger the holes, the less sunlight and wind it will block. The smaller the holes, the more sunlight and wind will be blocked. Shade cloths allow balanced UV light transmission to your plants while keeping them out of the harsher environments.

Poor Soil Conditions

If your soil is less than perfect, or if you don’t have the privilege of having your own soil in an apartment or condo, you can still garden and have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The Earthboxis a pre-designed system that is almost 300 times better than container gardening. The Earthbox is a self-contained garden, which comes with its own water reservoir so that the plants get the perfect amount of water at all times, a special gradient system to allow proper nutrients to plant root systems and also is usually made of plastic to prevent the invasion of plant-eating pests.

Year Round Gardening

If you are worried about year-round gardening, worry no more. Building a cold frame and even adding a hot bed can provide year round fruits and vegetables at your table. A cold frame is like a mini greenhouse. The box is enclosed with a glass roof that faces the South for optimum light penetration, even in the coldest of temperatures. The cold frame can help keep plants out of the external temperatures while still providing moies soil and plenty of sunlight.

Greenhouses

Of course a greenhouse will solve all of these dilemmas. A four season greenhouse lets you grow all year in most climates. Your plants are protected from snow, wind and other harsh weather conditions. It also solves the dilemma of poor soil of not having any room in your yard for a garden – a greenhouse can sit on your patio or a cement slab. You use only the perfect sterile soil from your local garden center. So no more worries about tough or nutrient depleted soil in your yard!

No matter what your reason is for not gardening, shade cloth, Earthboxes, cold frames, and greenhouses could, very well, provide a solution to your problem. You no longer have any excuses to not begin gardening, so get out there, protect your plants from the sun and light, and give them the best chance to survive and grow them year round. What are you waiting for?

Raising Their Heads Towards the Sun
I planted dwarf ‘Junior’ in the Solexx panel covered greenhouse in a plastic container on May 27, 2009. I am happy to report we have 2-3” of seedling growth 21 days into their growing cycle.

Feedback
Have you had any experience with growing sunflowers in your garden or greenhouse?
I would love to hear your experience and comments!

Garden photo taken by Dawn Hummel.
Sunflower photo provided by Renee’s Garden.

Soil tampers can be used before or after sowing seeds. They evenly push tiny seeds into soil easier than a fist or fingers. I tried sourcing pre-fabricated tampers locally and on the internet. Available from the UK, tampers range about $10 – $25 online not including shipping. I wasn’t ready to shell out funds allocated for plants and seeds, so I created yet another carpentry project for my husband.

Materials and Time Required
Total project cost averaged $5.00 using scrap wood and materials on hand.
It took one person and two hours to build four soil tampers.

Tools Used
• Black sharpie marker
• Broom and dust pan
• Dust mask
• Ear muffs (hearing protection)
• Extension cord
• Eye goggles (eye protection)
• Jigsaw
• Metal angle
• Power drill
• Quick grip clamps
• Ruler
• Screwdriver
• Straight edge
• Tape measure
• Wood glue
• Workmate table

Materials Needed
• Container templates
• Wood screws
• Scrap 1/8” – ½” plywood

Prep Work
Step 1. Clear and clean working area.
Step 2. Prior to beginning project, charge all cordless tools.
Step 3. Pick a clear, cool and dry day to work.

Cutting Corners
Anything that can save a tremendous amount of time on repetitive tasks always catches my attention. Since I plan on using the same size containers for seed propagation repeatedly, I selected four template containers.

Square and Round Container Templates
• Copy outline of container onto plywood in pencil.
• Secure wood snuggly with quick grip clamps to stabilize template on workmate table.
• Screw blade into the jigsaw tool facing out.
• Cut ‘inside’ the template line so the tamper will fit inside the pot snuggly.
• Create a long handle out of scrap wood.
• Dab a spot of wood glue, center the long handle on wood base.
• Using a wood screw or nail, turn base upside down and attach handle.

Seed Tray Template
The seed tray template took the longest to construct, but provides the most time savings when starting large flats.
• Copy outline of tray pack cell onto plywood in pencil.
• Measure the center of each of the cells. Using a black sharpie marker and straight edge or metal angle, create crosshairs on the underside of tamper template.
• Secure wood snuggly with quick grip clamps to stabilize template on workmate table.
• Create nine small block tampers and one long handle out of scrap wood.
• Center each individual tamper onto base. Attach using a spot of wood glue for added strength.
• Using a power drill and wood screws, turn base upside down and attach each block tamper to the cross hair lines.
• Invert and attach long handle to middle of tamper.

Saving Time and Money
Martha actually had a project that was as simple and easy to create as shown on the video. Save time sowing seed flats in the greenhouse and money by using materials around the garage. Have fun and get growing!

Photos taken by Dawn Hummel.

Winter Cleanup: Chances are, when spring arrives your lawn will no longer be drenched with winter water, allowing you to better see what the cold winter weather left behind. It’s a great time to get out the rake and run it over the lawn to get rid of any dead growth, leftover leaves, and other winter debris. As an added bonus, when you allow more light and air to penetrate the soil, your grass will be encouraged to grow as the weather warms, making your lawn lush and green.

Re-seed Your Lawn: Spring is the ideal time to re-seed your lawn, preventing the spread of any bare or damaged areas of the grass harsh winter weather may have left. Be sure to run your rake over the re-seeding area before beginning. This ensures the seed will take to the area well. For best results, mix a small amount of soil with the grass seed before spreading it on the bare spots. Keep the area well-watered until the seeds germinate and new grass begins to show through.

Remove All Winter Protection: If you put any tree guards and other burlap winter protection items on young trees and shrubs before winter, it’s time to remove them. Be sure never to leave tree guards on throughout the summer months, as trees don’t need them during the warm weather. Sure, they can keep small rodents and rabbits from eating your trees but they won’t allow enough air to move around the base of the trunk for growth promotion.

Cut Back Dead Plants: If you have old perennial foliage you need to get rid of in the garden, be sure to use the warm weather as an opportunity to cut it back during your routine Spring gardening tasks. Ornamental grasses and other perennials will need to be prunned in this manner before they can fruitfully grow back. (Be sure to use the dead trimmings in your compost!)

Don’t Dig Too Early: While you may be tempted to start digging in your flower beds, don’t do it too early. If you damage the soil’s structure you may find it difficult to work with. A few weeks into Spring you can start digging and preparing your beds for compost or manure to prepare for planting.

These few early preparaions can make a world of difference in your yard and garden.