Garden Pests: The Aphid and The Ant
03 Jun 2011 3 Comments
in Garden Projects, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Ant control, Aphid control, Aphid solutions, DIY Organic Pesticides, nadia's san diego garden blog, organic gardening
image from: www.ent.uga.edu
Once upon a time in a backyard garden that knew only harmony and abundance came two unwelcomed pests, the Aphid and the Ant…
Now what? A garden that has been invaded by Aphids and Ants is not a happy garden. Instead of using pesticides to solve the problem how about trying some organic methods for defense? I switch up my arsenal depending on the garden location and plants being attacked and the organic way has worked well.
According to gardening book expert Barbara Damrosch in The Garden Primer: “If you see a lot of ants in your rose blossoms, they are herding aphids- literally farming them so that they will secrete a honey-like substance the ants love to eat. Wipe out the ants by wiping out the aphids.”
* Spray Roses with strong blasts of water daily until the aphids are flushed out. Sometimes using the most simple method first will take care of the problem.
* Citrus fruit works as a natural pesticide to keep ants away by steeping a peel from 1 orange in 2 Cups of Hot Water. Let it steep for 24 hours, discard the peels and add a few drops of liquid dish detergent. Use as a spray.
* Diatomaceous earth works great. Purchase at your local garden store or online. This also helps with other soil pests like snails and pill bugs.
* Household Vinegar poured down an anthill.
* Companion Planting: Plant Mint, Peppermint, Sage and Chives around the garden- ants are repelled by these plants. 
* Sprinkle Baking Soda around plants in a thin line
* Spray Bottle Mixture with Vinegar: 1 part Vinegar + 1 Part Water
* Coffee Grounds on an ant hill or around affected area
* Cornmeal sprinkles in a line or problem areas
* Spray Mixture with Soap : 2 Parts water to 1 Part Dish Soap
* Spray Mixture with Oil: 1 Cup Vegetable Oil + 1 1/2 Cup Water + 2 teaspoons of Dish Soap
* Use Garlic: Crush a garlic bulb and 1 minced onion and add to 1 Quart of water. Now add 1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper and let it sit for an hour. Strain into a sprayer. (Tip from Soil Mates)
* Ladybugs: Purchase in containers and release in the evening to affected area. This works very well for Rose Bushes.
* Worm castings and worm tea. Use often as a garden bed base.
Note: Use these methods continuously for best results.
Happy Gardening!
DIY “Do it Yourself” Garden Labels-Plant Tags-Garden Signs
09 May 2011 1 Comment
in Garden Design, Garden Projects, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Creative Garden Tags, Do it Yourself Plant Markers, nadia's san diego garden blog, plant labels, Recycled Plant Tags, vegetable gardening
Plant Labels, Plant Tags, Plant Markers, Garden Signs:
Latin and Common Name Labels
Do It Yourself- Look around and see if you can find rocks, bottles, flagstone pieces, bricks and anything else that can be used to recycle for creating Garden Plant Labels. I use various colors of spray paint and glossy paint for a base coat and then top it off with clear furniture varnish to protect them from sun and water exposure. The Latin names of plants are fun too as a mix in-between the regular “tomato” and “pea” signs.
Metal Alphabet Stamps
Alphabet metal stamps are a great tool for stamping out garden labels. Painting over it makes the letters easier to read.
Previously used as a salad dressing bottle: now a tomato label.
Typical Plant Marker painted over with Bright Green Paint.
Painted Rock
A previously used Paint-Stir-Stick from Home Depot repainted and labeled.
Recycled Brick with Red Spray Paint and Hand Painted White Labeling.
Garden decoration from Ikea that I bought for $1.00 a few summers ago made a unique label for my Plumerias
Flower Label with left over paint from a previous garden project
Soil Mates- Book Review
29 Apr 2011 1 Comment
in Books, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: companion planting, horticulture matchmaking, nadia's garden blog, san diego gardening, Soil Mates book review, vegetable garden
Book Review: Soil Mates: Companion Planting for Your Garden by Sara Alway
Author: Sara Alway
Length: 128 pages
Price: $16.96
Online- Amazon.com (Save $5.00 of the cover price)
Soil Mates is a creative and fun gardening book for companion planting (symbiotic relationships of plants in the vegetable garden). Author Sara Alway makes learning about companion planting simple by using humor and charm in her examples. Alway says that plants are in search of the “perfect companion” and just as people find the best condition for a relationship to grow, so do plants. Each section of the book has Turn ons and Turn offs for plants and also Needy Alerts such as warnings on plants that are high maintenance. The Stalker Alerts give good advise on what pesty animals and insects will devour your plants. The Love Triangle gives a list of plant groupings that grow well together. Some of (Twenty) Soil Mates listed are: Sweet Potato & Summer Savory, Carrot & Onion, Tomato & Basil and Eggplant & Marigold.
After reading about companion planting, the second half of the book is devoted to understanding Garden Preparation, Planning and Care. Even for the practiced gardener there is great advise on Laying the Groundwork with crop rotation and making garden beds, or as author Alway puts it, “making the bed.” Another section in the book named Foreplay describes seed starting and the section on Aphrodisiacs covers the basics in fertilizers and composting. One of my favorite parts about this book are the many garden recipes included that I think most people would actually try out. You will also find a list of Botanical names and their “Quirks and Eccentricities”. There is yet so much more included in this book and I highly recommend it as a gift and as an addition to your library of garden references.
Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com
Planting Guide for April
04 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: April Vegetable Planting Guide, gardening blog nadia, organic gardening, Southern California Planting Guide
APRIL PLANTING GUIDE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
“A garden is a friend you can visit any time.”- anonymous
April is the beginning of spring and the perfect time to really get out in the garden and do some serious planting. Seeds sprout more quickly with the night-time temperatures warming up and the sun is not too hot to scorch those new plants emerging. Try planting a combination of seeds and small plant starters from the nursery to keep an instant and continuous garden growing. Happy planting!
* PUMPKIN *
* CARROT *
* CORN *
* BUSH AND POLE BEANS *
* RADISH *
* BEETS *
* CANTALOUPE
* CUCUMBER *
* EGGPLANT *
* JICAMA * OKRA * PEPPERS *
* SUMMER AND WINTER SQUASH *
* SUNFLOWERS *
* TOMATO * 
* WATERMELON *
Encinitas nursery online coupon: SUNSHINE GARDEN
♥ Plant – Grow – Enjoy ♥
Do it Yourself Raised Garden Planter-
27 Mar 2011 5 Comments
in Garden Design, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: backyard garden, build a raised planter, do it yourself garden, nadia's san diego garden blog, Raised garden bed, Starting a garden
♥ If you’re always on the lookout for more space to grow vegetables like I am then here’s an easy way to create it. I decided to add a 4 x 4 x 18″ H raised bed to the very last possible open area available in my garden. I chose the easy method and had the wood planks and posts pre-cut to the exact measurements needed at Home Depot. The planter sits right on top of the designated area “without the posts going into the ground” eliminating the need for digging post holes. For the remainder of the supplies I bought L-brackets, outdoor wood screws, water based paint (with primer included in the paint by Behr)- Color :“Fig Leaf” and wood specific clear-caulking. Using a caulking in between the wood slats and around the posts keeps the planter looking cleaner from water and dirt stains. Apply the caulking to the inside of the planter before painting.
The total cost for the planter was $96.01 including all the supplies needed to finish the project, not a bad addition! Total Time: 2.5 hours- completed in a weekend.
Pre Cut wood, L-brackets, wood screws and paint supplies
Prep screw holes for the L-Brackets. Change out the drill bit for a screw driver bit to make adding screws easy and fast.
Assemble on a flat surface.
Planter is placed in designated area and painting begins
Finished Project: Thank you to my neighbor who helped me plant yesterday and find worms around the yard to add to the new raised garden planter!
Quick addition to the planter with purchased plants: Thyme, Onion, Rosemary, Sweet Pea Flowers, Parsley and Oregano and plans to sow seeds in-between next weekend.
Thank you for visiting my blog:
www.nadiaknows.com
♥ Plant – Create – Enjoy - ♥
Rainwater in the Garden
10 Mar 2011 3 Comments
in Flowers, Garden Design, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden, water wise garden Tags: benefits of rainwater, nadia's san diego garden blog, organic gardening, rain barrel water, rain water harvesting, vegetable gardening
San Diego Rainbow
It’s not raining this week in San Diego but we may still see some drops in the next month. The garden responds much better to water from the sky as opposed to the water from the faucet. When water comes from the sky it’s free! What a great benefit to harness free water when it rains. Here are some links on the benefits of rain water and rain water harvesting. Education is the first step in conservation and finding ways to be more efficient with using saved water.
Link: Benefits of Rain Water:
Link: Rain Barrel Water
Link: Purchasing Rain Barrels Online
Link: How to Build a Rain Garden
Link: Green Alternatives: Why rainwater is good for plants
Anna Apple Tree after a morning rain.
Link : Protecting Citrus Trees from cold weather.
Rainwater on blooming potted citrus tree.
♥ Thanks for the blog visit…. www.nadiaknows.com ♥
“Romeo” Baby Carrots in the Garden
18 Jan 2011 2 Comments
in Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: companion planting, growing carrots, nadia's san diego garden blog, organic carrots, pat welsh tips
♥ Growing carrots year-round gives me a chance to sample every variety I can get my green thumbs on, so when I say ‘try these out’ I mean it! Round Baby Carrots “Romeo” to be exact from Renee’s Seeds. These little orange gems are sweet and crunchy with an almost undetectable core and packed with a sweet carrot flavor. Don’t confuse these with the shaved down baby carrots that are found in the produce section of the grocery store, those are just machine-shaped whittled down carrots with so-so flavor.
The Romeo carrot is about the size of a Nasturtium flower.
Carrots patch in a raised planter bed.
Planting several rows of carrots each month offers year round harvest in Southern California. I like to grow them in raised planter beds where the soil in not too compacted making it easier for the roots to grow freely downward. For companion planting with carrots try Bush and Pole Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Onion and Radishes. Rotate crops continuously to prevent disease and optimize soil vitality and mulch the top layer for pest prevention and moisture retention when the carrot tops reach about 2 inches high.
Thin carrots several times when they are about 1-2 inches high and when ready to harvest pull them out with a twist. Grow in a sunny location or partial shade with consistent moisture. Carrots do not grow well in extreme heat so in the warmer months grow them in partial shade. One of the best bits of advice I have gotten for growing carrots is from master gardener Pat Welsh, she advises pouring hot to almost boiling water over the seeds after sowing them and just before covering them with soil to help speed up germination. She also suggests using potting soil to cover the seeds and a gentle water spray the first few weeks after planting. Pat Welsh book on gardening LINK.
Another successful way to grow carrots is by using Planting Strips/Seed Tape which makes sowing the seeds super easy, especially with children. The seeds are perfectly spaced in-between thin layers of paper that are rolled out to any desired length.
Ferry Morse 'Seed Tape' Planting Strips
LINK: Renee’s Seeds: Romeo Round Carrots. Seed Packet Photos from Renee’s Website:
Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and Chihuahuas
11 Jan 2011 5 Comments
in chihuahua, Garden Design, Living Healthy, organic gardening, pets, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: broccoli, brussel sprouts, Garden Chihuahuas, january planting guide, nadia's san diego garden blog, raised planters, winter gardening
Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and Chihuahuas were the eclectic mix in my garden yesterday.
January Garden: Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts in a raised planter bed with a few Leeks planted in-between.
January is a great time to get Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts into the garden plots. Create a quick and easy garden with small growing plants in containers or flats vs. seeds. These have been in my raised garden for several weeks now and were purchased at a local garden store in 4″ containers. I like buying and sowing seeds directly into the soil during the spring and summer when the soil is warmer, but with the winter months being a bit cooler I find it easier to garden with small plant starters and transplant them into a nice rich organic soil.
* Broccoli: Set transplants about 2 inches deeper into the raised planter than they were in the container purchased and space out about 18 inches. Use a good mulch to help plants retain their moisture. Broccoli needs plenty of nitrogen and calcium so planting in a rich soil/compost or adding a 10-10-10 fertilizer is helpful.
* Brussels Sprouts: This plant can survive frost so it is a great winter crop. This is a slow grower needing a sunny location and well-drained soil. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts can be planted as companion plants since they require the same soil needs. Brussels Sprouts mature from the bottom of the plant upward and are best when picked on the small side for optimum flavor.
January/February Garden Ideas: Southern California Planting Guide
VEGETABLES: ARTICHOKE, ASPARAGUS, BEETS, BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, CARROTS, CAULIFLOWER, CELERY, CHIVES, COLLARDS, FAVAS, KALE, LETTUCE, PARSLEY,PEAS, RADISH, RHUBARB, SPINACH, TURNIP.
FRUITS that Grow In January: AVOCADO, GUAVAS, KUMQUATS, LEMONS, STRAWBERRIES, NAVEL ORANGES, TANGERINES.
FLOWERS: Plant summer blooming bulbs: Canna, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Gladiolus, and Tuberose. Sweet Peas.
* Prune Roses this month.
* Plant Bare Root Berries, Fruit Trees, Grapes.
Bella (sporting a warm red sweater) out in the garden posing next to 'almost flowering' Nasturtium
Chula was clearly "Not" interested in gardening or wearing any kind of sweater. We let her sleep in.
Thanks for visiting my garden blog today
♥ Dig – Plant – Enjoy ♥
www.nadiaknows.com
HAPPY GARDENING NEW YEAR!
30 Dec 2010 5 Comments
in chihuahua, Flowers, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Photography, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Garden Blog, garden inspiration, nadia's san diego garden blog
Double Delight Heirloom Rose
WISHING YOU HAPPY GARDENING DAYS
♥ WISHING YOU PEACE ♥
WISHING YOU GROWTH
WISHING YOU LUCK
♥ WISHING YOU INSPIRATION ♥
WISHING YOU A VERY BLESSED NEW YEAR
WWW.NADIAKNOWS.COM 
…Baking Biscotti for the Holidays…
16 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Photography, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Biscotti, holiday gifts, nadia's san diego garden blog, Pimpinella anisum, Twice Baked Cookies
Anise and Eggs/ Biscotti
♥Biscotti cookies are also known as “twice baked cookies” or ‘Italian Fruit Cookies‘ in Italian cook books. This is the perfect not so sweet cookie to eat with coffee or tea. Each year I try new recipes by adding different nuts, dried fruits and flavoring to the batter. Printed below is a biscotti recipe I have used for years that I found in a 1972 Sunset Italian Cookbook purchased at a used bookstore. My favorite part about this specific recipe is that is contains the sweet and aromatic flavor of Anise. Anise, Pimpinella anisum from the Apiaceae family is a flowering annual herbaceous plant native to Eastern Mediterranean region with the flavor of liquorice or fennel.
Recipe: "Sunset Italian Cook Book 1972" Biscotti, Twice Baked, or Italian Fruit Cookies. Different names same cookie.
Biscotti Dough is thick and heavy which makes it easy to shape into logs for cooking.
Forming Biscotti into logs before baking
Remove Biscotti from oven after 30 minutes and cut diagonal slices about 1/2" thick. Re-Bake for 16-18 minutes.
Dip or spread melted chocolate on biscotti and allow to cool. Bag these up for a great holiday gift!
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
www.nadiaknows.com
♥ Merry Christmas ♥
