Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Saturday November 14, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Saturday November 14, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Saturday November 14, 2009

Bugloss, Siberian (Brunnera macrophylla)
Q&A: Vegetables in 5-Gallon Buckets
Q&A: Freezing Herbs
Tip: Ditch Your Yard
New Healthy Life Daily Videos
Reader Photos

Bugloss, Siberian (Brunnera macrophylla)

Today's Featured Plant
Bugloss, Siberian (Brunnera macrophylla)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

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Q&A: Vegetables in 5-Gallon Buckets

Question: What kind of vegetables can I grow in 5 gallon buckets? IOd like to try tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers?

Answer: Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers will readily adapt to growing in containers. Use a good commercial potting soil rather than garden soil, and place the containers in full sunshine. Punch several drainage holes into the bottoms or at the lowest points of the sides to make sure water doesn't collect and cause root rot. Since the roots of the plants will be confined, be sure to water the plants as often as necessary to keep the soil from drying out. Pepper plants are well behaved and should grow without staking or support, but tomato plants and cucumbers will need to be supported. Choose determinate-type tomato plants rather than indeterminate ones. Determinate tomatoes will reach 3 to 5 feet high, where indeterminates will continue putting on new growth all summer. You can use a tomato cage to support both tomatoes and cucumbers that are growing in containers. Place the wire cage over the plant as soon as you transplant it into your container. With the proper care, your containerized veggies should be just as productive as those grown directly in the ground.

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Q&A: Freezing Herbs

Question: What is the best way to freeze herbs? Do I have to blanch them first?

Answer: Herbs can be frozen, but the process depends upon the herb, and what you'll be doing with it after it's frozen. Tough-stemmed herbs like basil, tarragon and sage should have their leaves removed prior to freezing. Just pack the clean leaves into plastic baggies or into freezer containers and place them in the freezer. Basil should be blanched before freezing, or it will turn black. Simply put basil leaves into a strainer and pour boiling water over them. Drain and freeze in the size portions you think you'll need. Other herbs, like dill or parsley freeze well if they're separated into sprigs and frozen individually, then packed into one large container. You can also freeze chopped herbs in ice cube trays. Place a teaspoon of herb in each section, then fill with water. Once they're frozen, the herb cubes can be removed and stored in plastic freezer bags in the freezer. They're great for popping into winter soups!

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Tip: Ditch Your Yard

If your yard floods in spring, find the low area where water puddles, then dig a 12-inch-deep drainage ditch from the low area to the perimeter of your property. Place a drainage pipe in the ditch and cover with gravel.

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors