Growing popcorn in the garden

One of the things I would very much like to add to my gradual garden is popcorn. I just love the stuff. Doesn't everyone? When I was a kid, my Dad experimented with growing multicolored popcorn. I was fascinated. Plus, it didn't seem all that different than growing regular corn. So between watching my Dad and looking a few things up to jog my memory, I'm pretty sure I can tell you what you need to know in order to add popcorn crop to your garden.

Can you do it with ease? Yes! It's not as fussy as you might think. If regular sweet corn does well in your garden, your popcorn harvest should be successful.

There are two basic types of popcorn growing seeds. The rice type seeds come in white only. Pearl type growing seeds are usually yellow but also come in blue, black, red, brown and multicolored. Why not try several varieties?

Do remember not to plant popcorn and sweet corn together as cross pollination will effect both varieties.

Plant popcorn in rows for optimum pollination. Popcorn cannot flourish without pollination from it's neighboring popcorn friends. This rule is true of all corn. Once again, it's vital to keep growing popcorn away from sweet corn in the garden.

Popcorn will grow in just about any soil but needs nitrogen and plenty of water. Fertilize with compost, fortified with grass clippings. Another great method is to plant beans around the growing corn. Beans are part of the three sisters compatibles and provide nitrogen for the corn.

Popcorn must be planted in warm soil. Plant only when the soil is warm and no frost danger remains.

You'll know that your popcorn's ready to harvest when the kernels are hard and the husks are growing dry.

Husk and hang the cobs in mesh bags in a cool dry place until ready to pop. Use test kernels weekly to see if the popcorn is ready.

5 Ways starting seeds is better than buying seedlings

I used to always use seedlings and ready-grown plants in my garden. I thought the local greenhouses grew superior plants to those I could grow at home. Now I know better. Turns out it's less risky to grow your own seedlings for the yard and garden. Plants from big box stores, and even from reputable greenhouses can carry disease that goes undetected until they arrive in your yard. That's not the only reason to grow plants from seed, either.

Some plants prefer not to be moved.

A lot of plants do better growing where they're planted. There are many, in fact. Mostly, this is true of plants with large seeds, but some small seeded plants such as lettuce and radishes do better if started in the ground. So next time you see squash or watermelon plants at a big box store, give them a passing glance, then pass them up. You're better off planting seeds.

Seeds are cheaper than seedlings.

Well, this is obvious, isn't it? Even if you count the soil and pots, seeds are considerably less expensive than plants. The average tomato plant costs around four to six dollars. This year I planted 24 tomatoes from seed for about $3.00. That includes soil, foam cup "pots" and seeds. That's a savings of over $90.00.

Seeds provide a greater sense of accomplishment.

There's something special about planting seeds and watching them grow. You can really take pride in a job well done when you see it through from start to finish. Plus, it's just more fun to use seeds. This year, we have the grand-kids in the house. Seeing them learn from the whole process makes all the work of growing from seed worthwhile.

Using seeds offers greater variety.

Let's face it. Your local greenhouse just doesn't carry everything you want. Big box stores are even more limited in their selection. You can grow a much larger variety of vegetables and flowers from seeds. In fact, you can literally find a seed for anything you like. You might even be able to find heirloom seeds for those tomatoes your Dad used to grow.

You know what goes into your plants when you use seeds.

Let's not forget what commercial growers are famous for using. Those nasty pesticides and chemical fertilizers aren't welcome in my garden. By growing from organic seed and using organic soils, fertilizers and bug repellants, I know my family is getting the healthy food they deserve. No nasties added.

Non-toxic solutions for cabbage worms, courtesy of Mike

My brother, Mike doesn't have internet or a computer for that matter. He does things the old school way, which I happen to think is quite awesome. So, on the phone the other day, mentioned that some kind of critter was gnawing at his cabbage and broccoli on a yearly basis. Oh boy, sounds like cabbage worms, doesn't it?

I had some trouble with them a few years ago but had forgotten exactly what I did about it. Anyway, I offered to look up some natural solutions for him and sent the info to my niece in a pm. And of course, since what I do is write, I figured I'd write about it. So here you go.

When I read about using garlic juice and water, I said to myself, “Oh, right. I remember now!” I used garlic water as a pest repellent in the past and it worked quite well. I mixed a couple teaspoons of minced garlic in a water sprayer filled with water. Then I thought to myself, “The garlic is going to clog the sprayer for sure.” So, I used cheesecloth to strain it into another container, then poured it back in. My bad? I didn't even think of using garlic juice.

Apparently, there's been some study on the effectiveness of using garlic as a repellent on cabbage worms. It seems to yield better results than common, commercial insecticide. Who knew? Anyway, if you want to try it, the article I read suggest using just a small amount of garlic juice in a spray bottle filled with water. Their recommendation was 99 parts water to one part garlic.

If you already have cabbage worms, try using diatomaceous earth. You can find it in major garden supply stores, retail greenhouses and home improvement stores with garden centers. Sprinkle it on and around infested plants. The fossilized shells it contains are extremely sharp, at least for cabbage worms. Incidentally, “DE” is also a great tool for ridding your home and garden of other pesky critters. It's non-toxic for humans.

I have to add that when battling cabbage worms, you should also make sure your plants are very well fertilized and cared for as healthier plants always fare better when it comes to infestation and disease. Space cabbage and other head veggies at least a foot apart. This cuts down on the moisture that worms love and slows the migration of pests from one plant to another.

Where to buy the best tomato plants in Denver. Plus helpful related tips

Denver gardeners love growing tomatoes! These versatile veggies are the main ingredient in regional salsa. There's just something special about a nice red juicy homegrown tomato. No wonder tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in Denver gardens.
Tomato plants can be planted as late as July to take advantage of local sales. However, tomatoes planted in June have the advantage of a longer growing season. I've often picked up until the first snow from well maintained tomato plants.

The optimum planting time for tomatoes is the first week of June. All danger of frost has passed at this time and the ground is warm enough for these heat loving plants. Purchasing plants should be done as close to planting time as possible. If you're growing tomatoes from seed, it's wise to plant them indoors by March at the latest, then transplant them outside in June.
Tomatoes should be planted in a sunny location that receives good drainage. Do not plant tomatoes in low lying areas as they are susceptible to root rot. Tomatoes need nitrogen and plenty of organic matter to grow properly.

Bonus planting tips:

Be sure to bury your tomato plants ¾ of the way, leaving only the top above ground when planting. This provides a more stable root system. Add calcium to the soil, following package directions before planting and once a month thereafter.

If you decide to buy plants, rather than growing them from seed:

There are plenty of Denver big box stores selling tomatoes each year. I don't recommend buying plants from these stores. The people caring for the plants are often not experienced gardeners. Rather than watering plants when they need it, they water them all at once, whether they need it or not. This can promote fungus growth and root rot. The more stress plants incur before they are sold, the less likely they are to produce viable fruit.

The Denver metro area has many fine greenhouses selling healthy tomato plants. Two of the best are Nicks Garden Center and Tagawa Gardens. Both have a wide variety of plants and any other gardening supplies you might need. They even carry bulk landscaping supplies such as mulch, gravel and soils.

Create your own gourmet “fresh diet” from the garden

A few years ago, when the “fresh diet” craze first became popular, all I could thing was, “Oh boy another new diet trend to confuse us all.” What is the fresh diet? Well this was another of those diets where your food was prepared and delivered to you. The difference being, that all the food was certified to be fresh, healthy and prepared by chefs. The average cost of the fresh diet was said to be 50.00 – 60.00 a day.

You heard me right. That's 50.00 – 60.00 a day per person. Celebrities were raving about this diet and no wonder. They were the only ones who could afford it. Now, I don't know if this plan still exists. But don't fear, I can show you how to come up with a fresh diet of your own for much less. Nothing is fresher than just picked garden produce. You don't need to be a chef to toss together a nice fresh diet salad from the garden.

Salad is not the only fresh diet food you can make from the garden either. How about some sauces made from fresh herbs and your own just picked tomatoes? Or what about some fried green tomatoes? Fresh organic spaghetti sauce? Soups? Veggie casseroles? When you are ready for dessert, how about some fresh cut fruit and berries from the garden?

Eating fresh is nothing new to gardeners. We've been doing it for centuries. The fresh diet trend was/is nothing more than another money making scheme. If you want some truly fresh food, home cooking with organic garden produce will blow that “fresh food diet” right out of the water.

The best part about customizing your own diet with fresh foods from the garden is that you know what you like and how you like it. For instance, my pet peeve with fancy chefs is that darn balsamic vinegar crap. Do they have to put it on everything? I'll take my own fresh apple cider vinegar any day of the week. It's better for you too!

Fellow gardeners, I implore you, stop wasting your money on these silly fad diets and gourmet foods. Get back to eating closer to nature. Use your own organic garden produce to create your own fresh diet. I guarantee it will be easier to stick to than the trend of the moment, which has likely been replaced by now anyway. It's also much less complicated, and most likely better for you. After all, isn't that why you're growing a garden in the first place?