joene's garden » You Can Grow That!

Papaloquelite–You Can Grow That!

joenesgarden — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:31:44 +0000

If you are looking to spice up your summer cooking and are a fan of cilantro, papaloquelite is an annual herb worth trying. Native to Central America, papaloquelite can be started indoors from seed or sown outdoors after danger of frost has passed in northern climates. For lovers of gardening and Mexican foods, papaloquelite is definitely a You Can Grow That! plant.

Papaloquelite (Porophyllum ruderale) will attract attention – in my zone 6 Connecticut garden it grew to 4 feet tall. It has lovely blue-green leaves that emit a cilantro-like aroma when brushed.

Because I like to observe and understand just how new-to-me plants grow, I allowed papaloquelite to grow into late summer until it began to flower. However, like many herbs, papaloquelite's flavor is best when the leaves are young. I can attest that older leaves tend toward the bitter side and are less tender. Fortunately, each plant throws out many side shoots of tender, young leaves which are best used fresh. Like cilantro, papaloquelite loses its flavor when cooked.

If left to grow to full height, papaloquelite is best planted as a background plant. It will easily reach 4 to 5 feet in height if not pruned to maintain a shorter stature and will shade other plants growing between it and the sun. Papaloquelite can also be grown in containers in full sun.

Papaloquelite does not bolt in summer heat, as cilantro does, so those who love cilantro-like flavor can use young papaloquelite leaves as fresh garnish all summer.

On the 4th of each month, C.L. Fornari at Whole Life Gardening urges garden bloggers to champion the virtues of gardening by sharing You Can Grow That! suggestions. Read the rest of the May 2013 posts, as well as previous posts, at the You Can Grow That! website. You are bound to get some ideas for trying something new in your garden.

Categories: Edibles, Herb Highlights, You Can Grow That!.
Tags: gardening in Connecticut, papaloquelite, You Can Grow That!.

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Seed to Salad in 10 Days–You Can Grow That!

joenesgarden — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:42:09 +0000

Seed to Salad in 10 Days–You Can Grow That!

Need a quick growing fix? Look no farther than a seed packet of micro greens. With minimal effort you can go from seed to salad in 10 days, making micro greens a perfect You Can Grow That! success story.

On the 4th of each month garden bloggers write You Can Grow That! posts to enlighten others of the joys and ease of gardening. I cannot think of anything much easier or more quickly rewarding than a small crop of a micro green seed blend meant to be harvested when about two inches tall.

My small crop grows in two black nursery seedling flats (hoarded for seed starting) filled to about 1/2 inch from the top edge with a container potting mix. I broadcast the seeds across the top of the potting medium then covered the seeds with a thin layer of more potting medium. My favorite method for watering freshly seeded flats is under the light spray of a kitchen sink sprayer. Then I place the flats in a water proof tray with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom. This allows the potting medium to soak up water from the bottom.

Since I have grow lights set up for spring seed starting, I reserved a spot for these flats. As with all seeds started under lights, make sure the lights are as close to the seeds as possible. Once seedlings reach the lights, raise the lights an inch until seedlings reach them again. This will keep seedlings from growing leggy. Micro greens can also be grown in a sunny window – the more sun the better to keep them from becoming too leggy.

Make sure the flats remain moist, but not soggy, and take special care to keep the top layer, where the seeds rest, moist. This micro green blend, planted on March 24, shows quite a few sprouts on March 28.

Here they are on March 30, just six days after planting.

Today, April 4, this perfect indoor gardening crop is ready for harvest. Using scissors, I'll give the micro greens a hair cut. After a good rinse and a spin in the salad spinner they will adorn tonight's salad.

Then the flats will go back under the lights to see if they will produce a second, smaller crop from the roots that remain in the planting medium. To insure a regular supply of fresh micro greens, plant a succession of flats, say every four to seven days.

The micro green blend featured here is from Botanical Interests. The 24-gram packet contains a mix of beet, Swiss chard, radish, mustard, cress, cabbage, and kohlrabi. There are easily enough seeds remaining in the packet for two or three more similar sized plantings.

Botanical Interests sent me, as a member of Garden Writers Association, complimentary packets of seeds to try. This micro green blend was part of the package. To comply with full disclosure regulations, you should know I received this packet from Botanical Interests for free, but I am not being paid to write about the company or its products. If I did not like the product I would simply say nothing. In the past I've grow micro green blends, similarly sent in a complimentary mailing, from Renee's Garden, and they were just as good.

Try growing micro greens as an ideal You Can Grow That! crop. Now head to the You Can Grow That! website managed by C.L. Fornari at Whole Life Gardening, the creative brain behind You Can Grow That! to read the diverse group of You Can Grow That! posts from other bloggers.

Categories: Gardening, Techniques, You Can Grow That!.
Tags: Botanical Interests, gardening in Connecticut, micro greens, Renee's Garden, You Can Grow That!.

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An Intimacy with Flora–You Can Grow That!

joenesgarden — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:43:08 +0000

An Intimacy with Flora–You Can Grow That!

February, the month of love and, at least in northern climes, short, cold days, is the perfect time to develop an intimacy with Flora.

Flora comes in many shapes,

and dresses in a multitude of colors and styles.

Flora might be just a passing fancy,

could become a steadfast friend,

or potentially develop into a life-long love,

but you won't know unless you take the time to cultivate an intimacy with Flora.

Flora is available to just about anyone. With aliases like Sweet William, Rose, Iris, Heather, Johnny Jump-Up, and Golden Alexander, Flora is not gender-specific. Just steer clear of Flora Brown, the neighbor lady down the street … I hear she's already taken.

It's always a good idea to do a bit of research before asking for an introduction. If you know the alias Flora is using, an Internet search is a good place to start learning your Flora's traits. If your Flora goes by many names or proves difficult to positively identify, consider tapping into the knowledge of your local garden center or do some sleuthing at the local library … both should have books filled with Flora-type line-ups to help you learn your Flora's true, botanical name.

Once you know your Flora's name then learn all you can – the good and the bad – about this object of your affection. Will your Flora take to the climate your home offers, whether inside or out, or require special protection or care that you may not be able to provide? Will your Flora get along with the rest of your family (human, animal, and plant) or cause angst, allergies or become a bully? What type of character will your Flora attract to your garden – beneficial insects, unwelcome deer or rodents, birds?

Because of the characteristics of your environment and your Flora's needs, you may have to settle with admiration from afar through botanical garden visits, or you may simply have to accept a short-term affair, relishing your Flora's fleeting beauty knowing full well you will toss it aside once it's flowers fade.

As with any relationship, you should go in with your eyes wide open, accepting the good with the bad. A low-maintenance Flora may ease into your life with little disruption, while a high-maintenance Flora could become nothing but a chore.

With such a vast selection of Flora, there's bound to be at least one you'd like to get to know better. If you are still seeking the Flora of your dreams, scroll through the You Can Grow That! posts from the 4th of each month. At the urging of C.L. Fornari, at Whole Life Gardening, garden bloggers across the world write of the benefits, the love, and the ease of gardening. So, take a vow … in February cultivate an intimacy with Flora.

Categories: Gardening, You Can Grow That!.
Tags: an intimacy with Flora, You Can Grow That!.

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