-Patrick Metz- I am getting ready to start a new garden plot. For years I have employed a technique known as double-digging to get started. The concept is simple and effective. The goal: create a deep bed of loose, well-amended soil without harming and undoing the work of the biology already in the soil - earthworms, microbes, fungi. This technique creates a beautifully cultivated plot and an excellent rooting zone for your future plants. So what's the catch? It is labor intensive and … [Read more...] about Raised-Bed Gardening
organic garden
Growing Fruit at Home
-Luis Guerra- Ahhhh! There’s nothing like eating a fresh-picked piece of fruit or a handful of berries, warmed by the sun and perfectly ripe. Especially if it’s in the comfort of your own yard. The nice cool temperatures of spring offer the perfect opportunity to get started planting some edible perennials on your property so you can enjoy the delicious bounty these plants offer. A number of fruit-bearing plants grow very well in our area in small spaces and with little effort, … [Read more...] about Growing Fruit at Home
Container Gardening
-Gabrial House- Spring is right around the corner, and what does that mean? The joy of planning your outdoor garden! But what if you don’t have a raised bed or the time to make one? Well, why not start a container garden? They are fast and easy to set up anywhere. You can have all the fun of gardening without needing a dedicated space that is permanently set up for one. Here at Fifth Season Gardening Co. we have everything you need to have a bountiful, easy-to-manage container garden! Let’s … [Read more...] about Container Gardening
Bring ’em In!
-Chris Amaya- This summer has given our houseplants a huge boost of energy, but now it's time to start getting them ready to move back inside for the winter before freezing temperatures decide their fate. Because environmental conditions differ widely between the inside and outside of a home, a gradual reintroduction to the indoors is best for your plants. Sudden changes in temperature, light, and humidity can be stressful to plants, resulting in yellowed leaves, dieback, wilting, and even … [Read more...] about Bring ’em In!
Growing Bountiful Brassicas
-Pam Scott- The shorter, cooler days of September are upon us. You may have thought all of your gardening fun was over for the year, but.... not so fast! You could have two more months of outdoor dirt digging delight ahead of you. Our average fall frost date here in zone 7 is October 31. With the use of frost covers, hoop houses or cold frames we can extend our growing season for cool weather loving crops well into the colder months. For some crops such as spinach, kale, cilantro and parsley … [Read more...] about Growing Bountiful Brassicas
A Guide to Simple Composting
-Gabrial House- Compost is one of the most nourishing and critical elements to a good organic garden. Compost not only feeds the plant in the garden it also feeds all of the wonderful creatures and bacteria that make living soil so vital and rich. Compost aids in aeration, water retention, as well as keeping the soil’s PH at a level the plants most prefer. Lots of good compost can even keep your plants disease- and pest-free! Let’s take a look at what it takes to make good compost from … [Read more...] about A Guide to Simple Composting
Dealing with Pests in the Garden
-Chris Amaya- It’s mid year and the garden is blooming, the sun is ablaze, and the pests are rampant. I get several questions every week in the shop about infestations and what to do about them. The term “pest” can range anywhere from your neighborhood deer to tiny little specs in the dirt that are too small for the naked eye to see. For many people, the damage has taken a huge toll already that can set back the due date for fruits and vegetables. In this blog I specifically want to cover … [Read more...] about Dealing with Pests in the Garden
Organic vs. Non-Organic Approaches
As popular interest in organic gardening continues to grow, the way in which we approach our system of food production is slowly beginning to shift. Industrial farming appears to create an abundance of food, but at what cost? It largely bypasses soil biology, it is puffed up with fertilizers that are artificially high in NPK’s (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) which are derived from petroleum and hence, are unsustainable requiring ever greater input. Even more troubling, excess nitrogen and … [Read more...] about Organic vs. Non-Organic Approaches
