Nadia Knows Gardens

I KNOW THAT CREATING + GROWING = INSPIRED LIVING!

March into Planting! March 5, 2010

Filed under: Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 9:29 AM
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Here is the Southern California planting guide for March.

Southern California in March has just the right amount of rainfall to water our gardens for free, the evenings are warming up and getting ready for those squash and bean seeds and the days are sunny and beautiful. Now go plant!

VEGETABLES:

Planting Seeds

Asparagus – (last month to plant asparagus until October).

BEANS : Bush and Pole beans

Beets – (plant all year)

Broccoli – (last month to plant until September).

Brussel Sprouts  -  Cabbage -

Carrots : Plant these all year-long, every month!

Chives- Collards  - Lettuce: Endive -

Swiss Chard – (all year-long) – Spinach  -

Radish- (another all year long vegetable)

Potatoes  -   Peas – Parsley – Spinach

Squash- Summer and Winter –   Turnips –

Tomatoes – Start indoors this month!

* FLOWERS: Some of my favorite  flowers that I have planted in my garden this month are: Carnation, Nasturtium, Sweet Peas, Sage and lavender.

“The trouble with gardening is that is does not remain an avocation. It becomes an obsession.” — Phyllis McGinley

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

 

Gardening with Gnomes March 3, 2010

Filed under: Garden Design, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 6:40 AM
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Mushroom Garden Gnome

Does your garden grow better with gnomes? Garden gnomes originated in European folklore depicted wearing red hats, tunics and holding garden tools. In the 1800’s German potters made them from clay stoneware and sold them as lawn and garden ornamentation said to bring good luck, humor, wisdom and prosperity to the owner. They are whimsical little creatures that for some add character to a garden, but for others only create an eyesore. Several large garden clubs in the U.K. have banned garden gnomes from elite flower and garden shows stating they decrease the sophistication of garden landscapes.  Other groups such as the “Garden Gnome Liberationists” direct their energies towards “borrowing” gnomes out of gardens and photographing them all over the world at popular travel locations, some say this was the start of the now popular Travelocity Gnome.  

Blogs such as Gnome Frenzy are dedicated to collecting photographs of these traveling gnomes at famous places around the world and posting them on the web. It seems more people are inclined to like the Travelocity gnome with its updated appearance and reference to good times over the more traditional European ceramic gnomes with mythical powers of fortune and luck.

The mushroom gnome photographed above standing in-between my basil and oregano was only “borrowed” for a few weeks for blogging purposes, soon to be returned to its rightful owner.

I think the garden gnome craze is in the same genre as the plastic pink flamingos – love them or leave them!

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Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

♥  Create – Grow – Enjoy   ♥

 

Rainbow Radishes February 27, 2010

Filed under: Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 1:45 PM
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Growing Fun and Easy Vegetables:

For a fast growing vegetable try growing radishes, a great vegetable for the impatient gardener and ready to eat 28 days after sowing. Growing vegetables such as radishes and carrots are simple to grow and surprisingly rewarding at harvest time. “Rainbow Radishes” pictured below are unique in the assortment of colors- white, pink, purple and red purchased online from Renee’s seeds.

Rainbow Radishes

These seeds grew perfectly and delivered a tasty, juicy and spicy little treat today. I like Renee’s seeds for the quality and seemingly 100% seed germination, accurate harvest time and final product just as the package promises. My winter crop has been fed completely by rainwater these past few months and I want to believe that everything tastes better when water comes from the sky and not from the faucet.

Radishes remind me of my parents and how my mom used to cut them up at dinner time in the shape of a roses and how much my dad always enjoyed them. I planted this garden bed with my parents in mind and for my Dad’s birthday I plan to surprise him with a basket of colorful radishes.

Tips for planting:

* Grow in a raised bed or container with organic planting mix.

Simple low framed garden bed with Turnips and Radishes

* 6-8 Hours of sun is required for good growth.

* Consistent watering and weeding is needed.

* Plant at depth and distance according to package directions.

WEB SITE PHOTOS FROM RENEE’S SEEDS: RAINBOW RADISH SEED PACKET

. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY GARDEN BLOG: www.nadiaknows.com

Plant – Grow – Enjoy

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Gardening Dogs February 24, 2010

Filed under: Chihuahuas and Pets, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 5:08 PM
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Our mom thinks we like to garden, but we really just like to pose for photos and keep her company when she’s in the garden. We are not too excited about the turnips and radishes that are shown growing in this photo, we prefer broccoli. Contrary to popular opinion concerning the chihuahua breed being “un-trainable” we actually passed obedience class and will sit and stay on command, with one exception being UPS deliveries which we still run out to the truck if we can sneak by the adults.

Chihuahuas and Turnips

Roxy is the Golden Retriever that our parents adopted from the Golden Retriever Rescue of San Diego about 7 months ago, she was used for 7 years as a breeding mill mommy in very bad conditions (see this website on puppy mills) and is adjusting to a happier life with us now.  It took us a little while to get used to her because she is so much bigger than we are, but Roxy is a gentle giant. We all like to chew on carrots and smell all the vegetables growing in the garden. Mom calls us “her gardening dogs”.

Roxy

When we get tired out from helping mom we like run around in the backyard, or take long naps relaxing in the sun. It’s a good life being a dog and living in a warm climate.

Thanks for stopping by to meet us. Happy gardening!

 

Funky Garden Finds February 12, 2010

Filed under: Garden Fruits, Succulents, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 7:15 AM
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FUNKY GARDEN FINDS

What is the quintessential fruit or vegetable? Would you classify them as perfectly shaped with no growth deviations, or speckled, oblong and skinny? They have to taste amazing if I am going to take the time to grow them in my garden, but not everything that I plant ends up looking perfect and in my opinion the funkier the shape the better. Here are some photos from my garden over the past year that I thought would make a nice blog of funky garden finds. Pulling a carrot out of the soil and being surprised by its root diversion, or asymmetry gives it that quality of  looking “home-grown” and not the super perfect produce we find at the grocery store. I called the Master Gardener Hotline  of San Diego this week to ask about my carrot with two roots, I was informed that I over-watered my orange friend which caused it to create two roots instead of one. Even though it turns out that my carrot was a gardening blunder, I liked its uniqueness and it still tasted great so I consider it a success!

* *Click on each of these photos  below to enlarge

I look forward to the next growing season with anticipation of what I might find under the soil, up in the trees and growing on vines! Watching how soil conditions, sunlight exposure, air temperatures and watering ratios can create different growth patterns and outcomes is simply amazing.

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Enjoying the process of creating, growing and planting.

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Southern California Planting Guide- FEBRUARY February 3, 2010

Filed under: Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 7:30 AM
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VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY -

Radish & Turnip Seeds

Raised planters, containers, garden beds or troughs… any size space will work if you want to start growing some vegetables of your own. Health, vitality and personal satisfaction are all the benefits of gardening and growing your own food. Eating a salad with even ONE ingredient from a home-grown garden creates tastier and fresher meals at home. Now get out there and dig!

PLANTING GUIDE :) PLANTING GUIDE :) PLANTING GUIDE :)

ASPARAGUS —– BEETS —– BROCCOLI —– BRUSSEL SPROUTS

CABBAGE —- CARROTS —– CHIVES —– COLLARDS —-CAULIFLOWER

KALE —– KOHL RABBI —- LETTUCE —–ONION

PARSLEY —– PARSNIP —– PEAS —– POTATOES —–

RADISH —–RUTABAGA —– SPINACH —– TURNIP —– SWISS CHARD

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My New Year’s Resolution was to try new vegetables with each growing season and this month I chose to plant Organic Turnips seeds.

Follow this link to Renee’s Garden Seeds for more information on ordering your own seeds online.

Some of my favorite flowers to plant this month are California Poppy, Carnation, Dahlia and Sage. Follow this link for a complete flower planting list : Flower Planting Guide by Digital Seed.

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Plant- Grow – Create

 

Gardening Friendship Card January 23, 2010

Filed under: Photography, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 1:11 AM
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My very good friend gave me this card as a “thank you” for helping organize and plant her garden. See my video blog titled “The Giving Garden” to see the results. I was able to scan and insert it on my blog today to share it with you in hopes that it will give you a good LOL like it did for me! Some cards are worth saving and this one is a keeper.

Card from Olive Sandwiches, LLC Made in the USA


* Follow this web link to Olive Sandwiches, LLC , the creator of this card and other fun cards, gifts and notepads. These cards are made in the USA… buy local!

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Create – Grow – Laugh!

 

Nantes Carrot and Chula January 16, 2010

Filed under: Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 12:19 PM
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Good morning! I read in the paper today that a storm is brewing to be here on Monday so I got out in my garden this morning to enjoy a little sunshine. This is my first carrot of the season, a Nantes Coreless that I planted from a “pre-seeded strip” about 70 days ago. It tasted sweeeet and my chihuahuas and bearded dragons enjoyed the green carrot tops too. Every seed on that planting strip germinated which verifies the seed packet printing that these Nantes are “guaranteed to grow”.

Chula and a Nantes Carrot

The first bloom from planted flower seeds and pulling out that first ripened veggie of the season is what makes gardening magic.

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Create – Grow – Inspire

 

The Best Garden Salad Dressing EVER! January 13, 2010

Filed under: Cooking, Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden — nadiaqh @ 1:11 AM
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My favorite salad dressing was passed on to me by a friend who I will forever be grateful to! It’s also great as a marinade for salmon, veggies and steak. It is in my opinion PERFECT! I use fresh garlic from my garden and the best quality balsamic and olive oil possible.  High quality ingredients in salad dressings makes all the difference in taste.

Balsamic Salad Dressing

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R E C I P E:

1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar  (I use flavored balsamic)

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 Clove Garlic- crushed

Crushed Ground Pepper as desired.

Mix all together at the same time by shaking in a closed salad bottle.

* adding fresh or dried herbs to the dressing works well too depending on the flavor desired.

* I use Oliver’s Infused Olive Oils  and specialty Balsamic Vinegars from San Clemente, CA. Available online. Check out their Website at :  http://oliversevoo.com/

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Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com              Create – Grow – Eat Well!

 

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch… January 11, 2010

Filed under: Garden Projects, Vegetable/ Herb Garden, Video Blogs — nadiaqh @ 1:11 AM
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Garden Mulch

Garden Mulch

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Sounds strange when you say it out loud a few times: mulch, mulch, mulch. But strange for the soil it is not! Placing mulch around your planter beds, base of trees and as a topsoil cover adds some incredible benefits to your garden. I use an organic coconut husk mulch which decomposes over time. Mulch absorbs and retains moisture in the soil, keeping the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, it aids in root growth and prevents the soil from getting too compacted. See this link for “The Original Mulch Block” (my favorite mulch) which is made from coconut husks, fibers and coco peat. The niftiest thing about this mulch is that it’s lightweight and packaged in a small, easy to carry cube. The mulch block expands to cover 2 cubic feet after it’s soaked in water. Who knew mulching could be so much fun?

Thanks for visiting my gardening blog: www.nadiaknows.com        - grow, create and inspire!