“I love things that are indescribable, like the taste of an avocado or the smell of a gardenia. ” Barbra Streisand

Welcome to Day 18 of my Gardening 101 Part 2 on how-to create a container garden. In Part 1 I discussed how to create an herb container garden, today let’s look at how to incorporate veggies into containers.

Many of the elements will be similar, especially in the types of containers, making this post a bit shorter. If you missed Part 1, just jump on over for an informative recap!

If you are a novice gardener you may be wondering how you can grow veggies in containers. You may be an experienced gardener who is considering the option of moving your veggies from a standard tillable garden to downsize or just utilize space more effectively.

If you’ve been eyeing up container gardening lately, then you’re probably wondering what it has to offer you. After all, growing in a garden doesn’t really work like that. As you all know I am a huge advocate for container and raised bed gardening. Raised beds are in reality just another form of containers, as I showed in Part 1. You can grow herbs and vegetables in a standard tillable garden, but that type of gardening takes so much more effort and planning. With container gardening, everything becomes simpler and more accessible than it is with other methods.

If you missed my two part series on the benefits of raised bed gardening, click these links. Part 1 and Part 2.

Have you been wondering how to get started with a vegetable garden, or just want to be able to grow your own vegetables at home? Well, a vegetable container garden might be just the answer you’re looking for. A vegetable container garden is essentially an easy way to extend the space of your yard so you can grow plants more effectively.

With this guide, I’ll be showing you everything you need to know about creating successful container gardens as well as the many benefits they have to offer. After reading through the following tips, you will understand why having a container garden is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables all year round.

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For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

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Added bonus: You can go to my blog at http://www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!

Until next time remember to,
Eat fresh, shop local & have a happy day,

Jean

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I took this photo last spring of the front garden. You can see the rows of
Aspragus well into it’s late stage. The bottom left corner is a part of
one of my Rhubarb rows.

For me and I believe many others, Spring holds a promise for newness of life! It’s when I look out and dream of new flower beds, anticipate the coming springs first crops of asparagus and rhubarb…savoring the memory of their here today, gone tomorrow presence. I scan the yard and think of all the jobs that I will have to get done as soon as nicer weather affords me time in my personal Eden. I anxiously await the first buds to pop on the lilacs… those small, brave tulips and daffodils, reaching up out of a cold, hard ground to the warming sunshine ready to burst forth into simple beauty! I love to meander out to my potting shed and start cleaning out and reorganizing…strolling through The Potager scanning for baby lettuces sprouting from scattered seeds… imagining the bounty and longing for my quiet time that I am able only to have in my gardens. If you are an avid If this is your first year or the beginning of one more of many, lets look to those promises and plan on a great new gardening year! Enjoy friends!

This was my ‘new’ garden last year! It is our farms “Sausage Garden”. This
is where we grow the herbs for our sasuage blends. Like I said… I dream of
new gardens!

Be sure to check out my new Facebook page for extra recipes, links, photo’s and more. http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true

Most of my readers know that I love anything to do with organization and List Making. I could never do without lists… grocery, housework, to-do, seed inventories or packing for trips (not that I take many, LOL). Lists make our lives easier, especially for forgetful folks like me! Today we’ll focus on Spring Garden Jobs. Here is my personal list for you to save and print out if/when you would like. You have my permission to use and share it with friends for personal use. LIST IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.

Keep a journal! A journal can be your best friend if you let it. Document all the changes you make, take photographs of major projects, renovations and specific growth of particular plants that you want to watch mature over years, like trees. I stand my children beside a newly planted tree and take a photo every year. It is amazing to see how much they both grow and change!
I also go over to see what plants will need to be split, pitched and replaced if died over the winter and what spots need to be filled in. Keeping these detailed notes also allows me to remember who may have given a particular plant along with the who, what and when; no more guessing on age or variety. It also gives you the ability to see what worked and didn’t. I know as a busy wife, mother, farmer, market vendor and manger, I could never remember everything that I change, plant or didn’t like/work.

Here are a couple really good site’s to check out for gardening info!
Gardening Tips and Tricks http://www.facebook.com/GardeningTipsAndTricks?ref=stream
Weekend Gardener at http://www.weekendgardener.net/do-list.htm
Seeds Of The Month Club http://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfTheMonthClub?ref=stream

Be sure to keep posted, coming up in my next post I will touch on DRAWING UP YOUR GARDEN PLAN!

Planning a Plant Exchange is a great way to share all those ‘splits’ you will end up with this Spring after cleaning up your beds. I know for myself, I can hardly pitch a plant, it just seems mean! A plant exchange is not only rewarding and fun, it’s a great money saver in the long run. As most of you know I also love to entertain… I don’t get to do it as often as I would like, but when I do I try to make it special for my guests! I gave all the How-To’s last year on hosting a Plant Exchange (XXXXX), so today I thought I’d focus on some info on types of plants that transplant well. I have also added tips on division and transplanting.

Helpful tips to prepare for the Plant Exchange: (Taken and adapted from Country Gardens Magazine, Spring 2006, pg. 55-57).
How to divide, care for and prepare your transplants for the exchange:
*The best time to divide a plant is shortly after it emerges in spring.
*Try to divide the plants as close to the plant exchange date/time as possible.
*Loosen the soil around the plants perimeter and then use a sharp spade or knife to cut through the roots to divide. Be sure to keep a large root clump with the plant to ensure successful transplanting.
*Put your divisions in practical, temporary containers: paper cups, disposable aluminum muffin cups, tin cans, plastic containers, plastic plant pots/ terra-cotta pots or any other container you have handy. Just be sure to add drainage holes to water tight containers.
*Give a tag/label with each division including: name/variety of plant, sun/shade requirements, mature plant size- height and diameter, water/soil requirements, zone hardiness, perennial or annual. A nice description for ‘new’ gardeners will be so appreciated.
*Make sure to plant/water as soon as possible once you have the plants in their new location.

How to harvest seedlings:
*Be sure that the seedlings are at least 3-5 inches tall with at least 2 sets of true leaves.
*Get all the plants roots.
*Replant the seedling into a small container with appropriate drainage holes and gently water immediately.

Red Oak Leaf lettuce seedling in one of the raised beds along side spinach.

Plants that divide easily and transplant well include:
*Hosta’s
*Day Lilies
*Bleeding Heart
*Peony
*Bee’s Balm (Monarda)
*Black Eye Susan, Shasta Daisy’s and any Coneflowers
*Columbine
*Sedum
*perennial Geraniums
*Hellianthus
*Purple Bellflower
*any early blooming bulbs that have bloomed and died back at least half way- Snow Drops, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips
~I always say, if in doubt, do without… so if you are not sure about one of your plants, ASK! Or look up in a good garden guild any special tricks that certain plants may have before you divide if you are not sure.

I took this photo of my Bistro Garden two years ago in mid Spring when all the hosta’s were fully open. In the back you can see my front arbor, which is now completely covered by a Sweet Autumn Clematis… see photo of it on my Dragonfly Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true

Here is the same location but taken last year in early summer. Notice the arbor now covered in Clematis… she is stunning when in full bloom… and oh the aroma she gives off. This is an example of taking shots of the same location but at different times and years can give you.

Last summer I bought a yellow climbing rose bush to give to my son as a token of ‘our friendship” He planted it and then I took the phot of him and it… in a few years it will cascade and cover this side of the picket beside the front arbor.

This is a very favorite recipe in our home. It was Neil’s mothers recipe that she had made and over the years I have adjusted it a bit to serve our large family. It is super yummy and worth the efforts in making!

Chicken Paprika

1 Whole Chicken, cut into pieces with or without skin/bones
1/2 cup Safflower Oil
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 large onion, diced
8 cups water
2 Tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 bag Spaetzel dumpling noodles

1. Put flour in a large bowl; coat each piece of chicken and place in a large skillet with hot oil, reserve left over flour; fry chicken pieces in hot oil until browned all all sides; remove chicken to plate. Put remaining flour and diced onions in pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add to skillet and onions: water, paprika, salt and pepper and cooked chicken; cover and simmer for 1 hour. The water will thicken as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
3. While chicken is simmering, cook Spaetzel dumpling noodles according to package directions so they will be ready when chicken/gravy are done; about 1/2 hour before.
4. When chicken is done, remove from gravy into a bowl; cover to keep warm; add sour cream to gravy and blend in until dissolved.
5. When dumplings are done put them in a bowl and ladle 1/2 of the gravy over top and the rest over the chicken.
Serve immediately.

Happy Day,
Jean

Spring Garden Job To Do List, by Jean Smith
May be copied and used for personal use only.

Date	Task			Comleted Y N	Notes
	Front Porch/Patio Areas

	sweep/ blow/ rake
	put out furniture
	repot planters/ window boxes
	repairs if any- make note is so
	touch up painting-		pots
			furniture
			structures
	correct any patio stones
	new project
	new project
	new project


	Flower Bed Clean/Prep
	clean any debres left over
	check for dead plants
		remove and replace
		make note of what
	amend soil/add fertilizer
		make note of what
	Divide plants
		make note of what
	Plant	trees
		shrubs
		list what & when
	Direct seed any spring flowering annuals
		Forget me not
		dianthus
		English daisy
		sweet William
		viola
	Transplant	before leaf buds open
		roses
		shrubs
		ornamental trees
	Fertilize Peonies when 2-3 inches tall
	Divide and transfer any flowering bulbs after they have died back	and divide flowering bulbs after they have died back


	Clean ponds/fountains/water featues
		repairs- make notes
	other
	other
	other


Date	Task			Comleted Y N	Notes

	Vegetable Garden/ Raised Beds
	amend soil
		make note of what
		make note of when
	clean any debris
	plant spring crops when soil is ready
	EARLY	peas		greens	spinach	chard
		radishes		lettuce	kale	parsley
	LATE	potatoes		carrots
		onions		beets
	check trelises/ posts/ fences
	repair raised beds if loose
		add soil if needed

	Potting Shed/ Storage Shed
	General Tidy after winter
	sweep out
	re-organize pots/ labels
	repair any tools that need
	oil/ sharpen tools
	inventory items:
		dirt
		seeds
		flats/trays/pots
		ferilizer/herbicides/
		insecticides
		labels/
	other
	other
	other
	check hoses/sprinklers
	make a list of what you need as you go
	check mower- plugs
		sharpen blades/replc.
	check tiller(s)
	have supply of gas/oil for machines
	other
	other
	other
	other


	Pruning/ Propogation
	evergreen shrubs before growthj		re growth
	spring flowering shrubs after flowering
	propagate deciduous shrubs
		forsythia
		winter jasmine


Date	Task			Comleted Y N	Notes

	Weed/Pest Control
	make sure debris is cleaned up to avoid snails and slugs
	as soon as roses start to leaf out, dust with an organic powder
		repeat once a month all summer!
	watch for Tent Worms in your trees, webs in trees
		as soon as visiable, spray with organic spray
	**use burn technique* please research this before you do it.
		on sidewalks
		driveways
		garden