-Patrick Metz- People start gardening for a bunch of different reasons: the joy of creating and growing something; the deliciousness of home-grown vegetables and fruits; knowing where your food comes from and how it has been grown; concern for our environment and the impact of industrial food systems; the sheer delight of a beautiful landscape, and more. Here at Fifth Season we advocate gardening in harmony with, not in opposition to, natural rhythms and processes. It’s not only good … [Read more...] about Tips for Growing a More Sustainable Garden
gardening
Bucket Gardening!
-Chris Amaya- Hydroponic systems come in all shapes and sizes, but the few things they have in common tend to be the most important. Deep water culture in 3-5 gallon buckets generally proves to be the most exciting method for new hydroponic gardeners because it is easy to maintain and easy on the wallet. This will be a quick and easy rundown of how you can get started growing inside today! Before I talk equipment, it is important to think about location of your set up. First, you’ll … [Read more...] about Bucket Gardening!
Hey Gardeners? No Need to Be Bored During Winter!
-Naomi Austin- This time of year, as the leaves fall, and the wind’s chill stings our cheeks, a lot of us don’t think about gardening. However, this time of year is ideal for maintenance, planning, and preparations that will pay great dividends come spring planting time! Tool Care Your gardening tools get a lot of abuse during planting season! They need care during the winter months to keep them sharp and rust free, especially if you own any of our DeWit heirloom tools or Felco pruners. … [Read more...] about Hey Gardeners? No Need to Be Bored During Winter!
Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
This time of year, we get asked a lot to recommend gifts for gardeners. We talked with our staff, and here are some of their favorites for people on your list who like to dig in the dirt: A tool they wouldn’t necessarily get for themselves, but will keep forever – A really nice quality garden tool will last for generations and makes working in the garden more enjoyable. We carry a few lines of truly high-quality tools that any gardener would love. Rogue Hoes are made from recycled … [Read more...] about Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
Companion Planting Guide
Everybody knows that tomatoes and basil make a great combination on the plate, but they also make a great combination in the garden, enhancing each others’ flavors during the growing process. There are a lot of plants that have beneficial effects when planted together, from improving flavor to deterring pests and diseases. There are also combinations of plants that aren’t so great and that you should try to avoid. To help you plan out your spring and summer vegetable gardens, we put together … [Read more...] about Companion Planting Guide
Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting
Here’s a great primer on planting bulbs in containers from our bulb supplier, Netherland Bulb Company: Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Planting bulbs in containers offers a solution to gardeners who lack the space to create a full garden. Spring blooming bulbs can be grown in decorative pots to add accents to patios, decks, and entryways. Bulbs planted in beds outside require little maintenance, however, with a few guidelines and commitment, container bulbs can prove equally as … [Read more...] about Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting
Adding Vitamins to your Regimen
One great way of upgrading your crop insurance is the introduction of vitamins as part your feeding schedule. Now I know what you’re thinking: plants naturally produce their own vitamins on demand, why would I need to add more? This is true, however…… Most of us prefer little to NO interruptions in a grow cycle. When plants get stressed, however, they go into a hibernation mode to conserve energy and recover. This recovery time is important in order to save your harvest, but can cost you up … [Read more...] about Adding Vitamins to your Regimen
Know What Your Soil Wants, Not What You Want
At Fifth Season Gardening, we sell pretty much every amendment your soil needs to improve its health. But many customers purchase soil amendments to add to their soil without knowing what the soil needs first. This may be not only a waste of money, but also a waste of time. If plants already have enough of a particular nutrient, they either won’t absorb any extra added to their soil (which is a waste), or, what’s worse, they’ll overdose on the nutrient to the plant’s detriment. Too much … [Read more...] about Know What Your Soil Wants, Not What You Want
(Re)Intruducing BioChar
BioChar is an ancient technology that is having a renaissance, and for good reason. The production process can serve as a green energy source; the product is under investigation as a source of carbon sequestration to help reduce greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere; and BioChar is an amazing soil enhancer that gets great results in plant health and productivity. So what is BioChar? Basically, BioChar is charcoal used as a soil amendment. The charcoal is created from biomass (discarded … [Read more...] about (Re)Intruducing BioChar
The Fungal Internet: Mycorrhizal Fungi & More
Just like humans, plants have a social network, or web, that they use to communicate with each other. There is literally a fungal internet in which information-carrying chemicals travel through the network to other plants. The information sent is used to help the other plants connected to the network cope with insect attacks, pathogens, and drought stress. The source of this underground network of communication is mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizae is a thread-like fungus that grows … [Read more...] about The Fungal Internet: Mycorrhizal Fungi & More
