Beginner Gardening Series: September Edition
September is the month where you can look at your garden and take stock of what worked and what didn’t, harvest the remaining produce growing in the garden (except for a few frost loving plants, will talk about that later) and put your garden to bed for the winter. If you live in some of the warmer climates, you can now restart your garden! For the plants that like the heat (like tomatoes and peppers), start the seeds indoors or buy starter plants. I, however, live in zone 5-6, so no replanting of the garden here. I will be taking the steps to put my garden to bed and do what I can to get it ready for next Spring.
T A K E N O T E
Get yourself a cute little notebook (don’t we all buy one everytime we go into Target?!) and take note of your garden. What grew well in the garden this season? Did your tomatoes get enough sun? Did your squash plant succumb to mildew? These are observations that will help you in planning your garden for next year! Your placement of plants may change based on your observations. For me, I need to move where I planted my squash because it was affected by mildew. So…I need to find a place that gets more sunshine to prevent this from happening again.
W H E N T O H A R V E S T
Are you daily looking at your peppers wondering if they are ever going to turn red?? While it is ideal to let peppers, like tomatoes, ripen on the vine, there does come a time when all the peppers and tomatoes need to be harvested from the garden and left to ripen indoors, out of direct sunlight. So yep, harvest your tomatoes and peppers, even if they aren’t perfectly ripe and let chemistry do it’s thing indoors. Now with this said, if you have planted some “cool crops” you can leave them in the garden until after the first frost. Some cool crops are Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Spouts, Spinach, Collard, Asparagus. A quick Google search of “cool crops” will provide a great resource if you are wondering if any crops you have planted are considered a “cool crop”.
TIP: you can leave carrots in the ground through the Winter (they may actually get sweeter as the carrot holds on to it’s sugar to combat the cold), however, you will need to harvest them before Spring as they will go to seed and not be edible.
P U T T I N G the G A R D E N to B E D
One thing I always need when going to bed is a blanket, your garden likes one too! There are a couple of ways you can create a “blanket” for your garden. You can grow a cover crop. Stay with me here, this sounds much more complicated than it really is. A cover crop is as simple as tossing some seeds on your cleaned out garden bed. This helps create a barrier between the Winter elements and your garden soil. Cover crops also give back vital nutrients that were taken from the soil to produce all your yummy veggies! A seed that I recommend is Cereal Rye. Sprinkle the seed ideally 4 weeks before the first hard frost, or as soon as you can after cleaning your beds. Literally let nature do the work and watch it grow. If planting another crop has you rubbing your temples, then a nice layer of straw or some other type of mulch will also provide a sufficient barrier for your garden soil against the harsh winter elements.
3 Ways Gardening Can Reduce Stress
Does Gardening Reduce Stress?
Yes, it does. Class dismissed. There will be a test on Tuesday.
You have likely heard that gardening can reduce stress, and you thought:
Yeah, I buy that.
But, how does it work, and how much does it really help?
There are 3 ways gardening can reduce stress:
- Lowers cortisol and boosts mood
- Lowers blood pressure
- Increases sense of well-being
But first, let’s first take a closer look at stress and how it affects the body.
How Stress Works
Stress includes acute, isolated events and prolonged periods of tension. When confronted with a stressful situation, the brain sends commands to the autonomic nervous system which controls body functions such as breathing, heart rate, metabolism, and digestion.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system is a yin-yang-like network composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
- Sympathetic
The sympathetic nervous system generates the well-known “fight-or-flight” reaction which delivers high levels of hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) to the body through the bloodstream. This speeds heart rate, slows digestion, and raises blood pressure.
- Parasympathetic
The lesser-known parasympathetic nervous system stimulates the “rest and digest” functions. It slows heart rate, speeds digestion, and lowers blood pressure. Adrenaline and cortisol decrease when the parasympathetic system engages.
The body’s reaction to stress helps people navigate threatening situations, which is good, but too much yin-energy without enough yang-recovery can lead to dangerous health complications.
Effects of Chronic Stress on the Body
Chronic stress can interfere with immune, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, and sleep functions. For example, the long term use of adrenaline wears on the circulatory system, which increases blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Like a car, delaying general maintenance for a short time is fine, but extended delays cause major, expensive, and often irreparable issues. Your entire body needs regular maintenance, or, restorative periods.
Gardening Reduces Stress
Relaxing hobbies, exercise, and socializing all help engage the parasympathetic system. Gardening is a relaxing hobby that frequently involves exercise and socializing, so one could assume that gardening lowers stress, but how much?
One science journal article highlights several studies exploring community gardens and their effects on mental health. In one study, gardeners reported considerably lower stress levels than those who participated in indoor physical activity.
Scientific studies show that gardening significantly reduces stress.
1. Lowers Cortisol and Boosts Mood
In one experiment, 30 community gardeners completed a stressful task and followed it with half an hour of outdoor gardening or half an hour of indoor reading.
The gardening group experienced significantly lower cortisol levels in the recovery phase than the reading group.
Furthermore, positive mood measurements returned to pre-stress levels after gardening. The reading group experienced a decrease in positive mood throughout the recovery phase.
The increase in positive mood compared to the reading group strongly supports gardening as an effective stress-management tool.
2. Lowers Blood Pressure
The sympathetic nervous system raises blood pressure. Studies continue to show that exposure to nature and sunlight lowers blood pressure.
For example, one medical journal describes a Japanese study in which observing plants resulted in lower blood pressure, pulse rate, and muscle tension. Also, people working in computer rooms experienced lower blood pressure when plants were introduced.
Gardening involves observing plant life and sun exposure, which both decrease high blood pressure. This makes gardening an effective way to counteract the body’s stress response.
3. Community Gardening Increases Sense of Well-Being
This science journal article focusing on community gardens and mental health features a study in which community gardeners reported a much greater sense of well-being than individual gardeners and non-gardeners. They also reported higher levels of resilience and optimism than non-gardeners.
Gardening promotes mental health and reduces stress, but adding a social element to gardening appears to increase one’s sense of well-being considerably.
Well-being is different from reduced stress, but a greater sense of well-being creates resilience in stressful situations.
Gardening is a scientifically-proven way of significantly reducing the stress levels in our bodies. Even if our circumstances are beyond our control, we can choose activities like gardening that encourage our body’s recovery response.
Understanding USDA Climate Zones: Your Complete Guide
Climate zones are an extremely helpful -but slightly confusing- tool for gardeners. Seed packet diagrams and nursery stock labels often list climate zone data along with recommended planting dates.
But, what exactly do climate zones tell us, and how do we use them?
USDA climate zones are based on the average minimum temperature for the region. Gardeners can use this information to select plants that will tolerate the average winter conditions for their area.
Basically, climate zones tell us what will grow in our area.
This information is often combined with frost data to generate recommended planting dates, which has led gardeners to believe that climate zones tell us more than they actually do.
What USDA Climate Zones Can Tell You
Climate zones are divided into 13 major categories, with Zone 1a being the coldest and Zone 13b being the warmest.
Each category is separated by 10°, starting at -60° Fahrenheit annual minimum for Zone 1, and increasing to 65° Fahrenheit annual minimum for Zone 13.
Each category is divided into subcategories a and b. Subcategories are separated by 5° Fahrenheit. So, Zone 1a has an average annual minimum temperature of -60°, while Zone 1b has an average annual minimum temperature of -55°.
Here’s the cheat sheet:
Plants are categorized according to cold hardiness. However, most plants (perennials/biennials) also need a dormant period, which can only happen when temperatures decline to a certain point.
So, when a plant is rated for zones 5-9, this means it could die at -25°, but it needs to get colder than 30° over the winter to enter dormancy.
Most vegetables are annuals, so they don’t enter a dormant period.
Vegetables are loosely divided into cold-season and warm-season crops.
Cold-season crops, like most leafy greens and brassicas, should be harvested when they are in the juvenile stage before they flower/fruit. Flowering, or bolting, happens when the temperatures warm up. When cold-season crops bolt, they are no longer edible (they probably won’t kill you, but they won’t taste good).
Cold-season crops generally benefit from a light frost, which only happens near 32°.
Warm-season crops, like corn, melons, and tomatoes, should be harvested after they mature, or after they flower/fruit. Again, this happens when the temperature warms up.
Warm-season crops generally die off after a light frost, and they only begin active growth when temperatures are above 60°.
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So, cold-season crops only thrive in climates where temperatures get down to freezing during the winter, while warm-season crops must have a few months during the summer where the minimum temperatures are above 60°.
Confused?
No worries. The most important takeaway here is that climate zones tell you what you can plant.
What USDA Climate Zones Cannot Tell You
The most important pieces of information missing from climate zones are first and last frost dates.
While the climate zone determines what cold-hardy plants grow in your area, frost data will give you a planting calendar for optimum planting dates.
Frost dates also determine how long the growing season will be. The last frost is the beginning of the growing season, and the first frost is the end of the growing season.
This is the information that drives planting calendars, and this is what many gardeners think they will get from climate zone maps.
But, here’s the thing-
Although climate zones don’t technically give you annual high temperatures, frost dates, or other crucial information like average precipitation, climate zones are relatively uniform.
So, climate zone 9a will have similar frost dates, seasons, and overall growing conditions whether you’re in Los Angeles, Houston, or Jacksonville. This is why many seed packet and nursery stock labels use climate zones as a rough guide for planting dates.
Climate zones definitely tell you what plants grow in your region.
Climate zones generally tell you when plants should be planted in your region.
Climate zones do not tell you the first/last frost dates in your region.
Once you become familiar with your regional weather patterns, climate zones and frost dates take a backseat to observable seasonal temperature changes.
The primary reason a seasoned gardener will use climate zones is to see what new plants they can plant in their landscape, orchard, or veggie garden.
And remember- if in doubt, plant it anyway!
Find your climate zone by visiting the USDA interactive climate zone map.
3 Steps To Drying Hydrangea
Hydrangea are one of the most popular summer flowers. They put on quite a show during their peek and we all want a way to enjoy them well past the summer months. Taking a lesson from P. Allen Smith, here are 3 easy steps to enjoy these beautiful blooms well past their summer prime.
- Leave the hydrangea on the stem until they have come to complete maturity. They will, most often, start to turn a pink/green shade and their leaves will become more paper-like rather than feeling like a soft petal. When this happens, it is time to cut your hydrangea from the bush. Do so at an angle with sharp clippers. Leave about 14-18″ of stem for the drying process.
2. Using a hammer, gently smash the bottom of each stem to help aid the hydrangea in absorbing the water and glycerin.
3. Mix 2 parts water to 1 part glycerin. Glycerin can be found at your local pharmacy or grocery store. As the hydrangea absorbs the glycerin, it will begin to turn a golden brown. The blooms may continue to turn a richer brown days after all the liquid has been absorbed.
It may take a week for the hydrangea to absorb all the liquid, but once it does you are left with a gorgeous bouquet of dried hydrangea with varying shades of brown, that almost look like copper!
15 Garden Gift Ideas For Her
Knowing what to get the gardener on your list can be hard! We have put together a list of 15 items that is sure to bring a smile to any garden lovers face. You may even find a thing or two to add to your own wish list.
Made with fine English lavender from the Bonny Doon farm, the Gardener’s Lavender Salve is an effective healing agent for dry elbows, knees, hands, heels, and cuticles.
– Key Ingredients: Extra-virgin olive oil, pharmaceutical grade cocoa butter, premium beeswax
4 oz.
With this stunningly photographed greenery guide, anyone can master the art of making your living room thrive. When done correctly, curating any decent houseplant can be just as effective as hanging a beautiful work of art. After all, our green companions are known to be beneficial for mental health and for general health (being oxygenators), as well as a key element of any well-balanced interior. Authors Lauren and Sophia run the wildly successful nursery and interior-design store Leaf Supply, in Sydney, Australia. They cast their plant-loving net far wider than simply fabulous Australian interiors, featuring jungle-y architecture from around the world! For each spread of beautifully verdant interiors, the duo breaks down how the foliage within is surviving (and thriving). Ablaze with jaw-dropping photography, Indoor Jungle will deserve its own prominent place in your new, improved, and jungleified living room.
– 256 pages
– Hardcover
Adorn this plant holder with a lush green or use it to store pens, paintbrushes, and so much more. Made from backstrap loomed and foot loomed cotton, featuring a dainty tassel detail, it’s the perfect unique addition to your home or workspace.
-Materials: 100% Cotton
-Measurements: 5″H, 4.5″D
4. Merino Wool Marled Navy Throw $138
Super soft and so cozy, this throw was made in Ireland from the finest quality merino wool. It’s fibers are lighter than sheep’s wool, making it incredibly soft to the skin. Woven in a contemporary marled navy design.
– Merino lambswool
– Dry cleaning recommended. Can be machine washed on a wool setting only and reshape after washing. Do not tumble dry
– Ireland
57″W, 80″L
Go with the flow in this go-to tank, made from exceptionally soft poly-viscose blend, in a flattering draped silhouette, round neck and racerback. Available in size xs-2x
Our collection with Corkcicle pairs our signature florals with their innovative, triple-insulated drinkware—so you can enjoy your favorite hot or cold beverage anytime, anywhere. This 12-ounce stemless wine cup keeps drinks chilled for 9 hours or warm for 3 hours.
Our collection with Corkcicle pairs our signature prints with their innovative, triple-insulated drinkware—so you can enjoy your favorite hot or cold beverage at home or on the go. This 16-ounce canteen keeps drinks chilled for up to 25 hours or warm for up to 12 hours.
The Roo Apron is perfect in assisting you with harvesting your vegetables, weeding and deadheading your garden or collecting anything that needs to be put away. Simply release the ropes and everything you have collected funnels out the bottom. O/S fits all. Machine washable.
Elevate your backyard veggie patch into a work of sophisticated and stylish art. Kitchen Garden Revival guides you through every aspect of kitchen gardening, from design to harvesting—with expert advice from author Nicole Johnsey Burke, founder of Rooted Garden, one of the leading US culinary landscape companies, and Gardenary, an online kitchen gardening education and resource company.
The Joey Apron is perfect in assisting you with harvesting your vegetables, weeding and deadheading your garden or collecting anything that needs to be put away. Simply release the ropes and everything you have collected funnels out the bottom. O/S fits most. Machine washable.
Express your inner Plant Lady with the Roo Apron’s newest hat! Made from a quality poly/cotton blend, this low profile hat can be worn and enjoyed by any gardener on your list.
Plastic Adjustable Snap
Size: OSFM – Adult (58cm/22.8″)
Express your love for living the garden life with our Garden LIfe git set. Includes a Roo or Joey apron in any choice of color, a Garden LIfe t-shirt and Garden LIfe hat. Our aprons are one size fits all, t-shirts are unisex size xs-xl and hats are one size fits all.
Fall in love with a new houseplant variety every month. We curate more than cute collections of containers & accessories, we lovingly pack everything you need to easily assemble and care for your own living decor. During the cold season, we even winterize boxes.
This handy journal keeps track of everything a passionate gardener needs to know—all in one spot!
Individual plant history pages allow you to keep a yearly log of how you’re doing with each crop. Set annual goals, keep a record of your work, track your performance, and note what you’ve learned over each season. Chart garden design and plan next year’s layout. Keep a record of plantings, soil chemistry, fertilizing, compost rotation, pest issues, weather, watering needs and more. With a convenient 6×8 size that fits easily in a tool bag, My Gardening Journal is the perfect gift for the beginner gardener—or the gardener who has everything!
15. Ceramic Fern Mug $24
Hand-painted in Italy using a cut sponge to create a natural, organic effect, this fern mug is crafted with earthenware, making it a durable addition to your kitchen.
– Earthenware
– Hand wash recommended
– Microwave safe (may get hot)
– Do not place in oven or freezer
– Handmade using natural materials; variance may occur
– 15 oz
– Italy
5.7″H, 5″ diameter
4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Mums
If you have purchased a mum (or several 😉) for your front porch, you are not alone! Mums are a fall staple and we have some tips to keep your blooms looking pretty all season long.
- Repot your mum when you get home. Mums tend to be rootbound (their roots take up the whole pot) and will last longer if you plant them in a larger pot. Break apart the bound roots before placing in the new pot. It is essential that the new pot has excellent drainage, as mums are susceptible to rot.
2. Place your mums in a spot that will get plenty of sunshine! They love the sun, and you will get a longer bloom if you can find a sunny spot.
3. Make sure to keep the soil moist. Again, mums need to be planted in well-draining soil, however, the soil needs to stay moist, as mums do not like to dry out, and may not recover well if they do.
4. Pruning your mums may help extend the life of the plant and give you more blooms to enjoy. When the bloom starts to droop or looks spent, get some pruning shears (or scissors) and cut at an angle just able the nest set of leaves.
Hopefully these tips will help you keep those mums looking full and vibrant all season long! Now to choose which pumpkins to add to the front porch…
How to incorporate smaller mums into your fall pots.
3 Outdoor Plants To Keep The Flies Away
If you have ever grown mint, you know that it will take over whatever space it is occupying, so best to plant it alone in a pot. Pick a couple of decorative pots, plant some mint and place in your outdoor space. Not only will mint help repel the flies, you have the perfect garnish on hand for those summer night mojitos!
Lavender is a perennial plant that not only smells amazing and is beautiful to look at, it can also help repel those pesky flies! Again, I would recommend planting in a pot (if planting for the purpose of a fly repellent) and placing near your outdoor seating and entertaining space. Planting in a pot gives you the flexibility of moving the pot to different locations as well as moving the lavender into a protected space if you experience cold harsh winters.
Basil is another natural way to help repel those unwanted flies during the warmer months. The oil that puts off the sent form the basil plant is what the flies do not like, and this can be even more effective when the basil plant is moved around to different spots within your outdoor space; another reason a pot is a great idea!
So keep the flies away with mint, lavender and basil, while at the same time having all you need to make your favorite summer cocktails. Sounds like a win-win to me!
