Garden, Plant, Cook!

Saturday, October 07, 2017

Living Green in The East Valley - October News - Plant Sale Links

My Sugar Pea Seedlings Coming Up.
Dear Folks,

Here is the monthly list of "Green" events in Mesa and nearby cities.  Make sure to scroll down in the link to the plant sales coming up, with links to Boyce Thompson, Desert Botanical Garden and more.

October IS a major planting time here in the desert and THE best time to get your perennials in along with cool weather loving annuals.

Also provided is information on watering, family-oriented activities, recycling and environment.

I recommend you sign up to receive the monthly email of what's going on in sustainable and water related activities.  The link for signing up to receive the email is near the end of the page.

"Living Green" is sponsored by the City of Mesa


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Wednesday, October 04, 2017

My Lecture This Saturday, October 7th

Dear Folks,

Just a reminder of my FREE lecture coming up this Saturday at the Mesa Community Urban Garden.

5 p.m.
Mesa Urban Garden
212 E. 1st Avenue,
Mesa, Arizona 85201
 
I will also have my free seed library with me.

Garden Multi-Tasking: Edible Flowers and Seed Saving!

Catherine, The Herb Lady will explain how edible flowers and seed saving creates multiple benefits in your garden. She will discuss regional adaptation for stronger plants and other benefits, and edible flowers multitasking from garden to kitchen. Catherine will also answer your gardening questions and tell you what to plant NOW!

Mesa Urban Garden is a community garden supported by volunteers. If you have limited gardening space, the garden rents beds, already set up with soil and watering access, ready to plant.


I hope to see you there. If you can't make it I am always happy to answer questions.  Easiest way maybe to go to my facebook page and message me.

Meanwhile, isn't this a handsome pumpkin flower?  Keeping my fingers crossed on a nice crop of fruit.






I hope you have a wonderful day!


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Sunday, October 01, 2017

Shade The Soil NOT the Plants! And World Vegetarian Day

Dear Folks,

I can't stress enough the challenge of believing that shading your plants in the desert garden is the right point of view.  Wrong!

Pictured is my eggplant bed, 6+ feet wide, containing 2 eggplants and a pepper plant, taken September 12, 2017.

Our edible plants need all the sunlight they can get - with only minor exceptions - to grow that herb, fruit or vegetable and give it the wonderful flavors we are looking for.

This eggplant bed is on a 7 day deep watering cycle and that is all the bed gets except for rain.  This is the bed on July 19, 2017.  Notice the mulch.  THAT is the key to successful planting here in the desert.

Because our sun is SO intense here, even in the winter, folks tend to think in terms of shade.  BUT shade can cause more problems then aid.

It minimizes air circulation which can encourage pests and diseases.

It can actually increase heat if placed too close to the plants.

And it can reduce the sunlight so much that the plants cannot get enough to grow and produce properly.

Density of planting is another factor.  When first planting/sowing you need to space out, but mulch between them and plant a bit closer together than recommended in planting/sowing directions for plants (except trees).  Cover the ground with mulch (but don't let it touch the base of the tender young plants as this can also give rise to pests getting easily to the plants.  Then allow the plants to canopy the SOIL.

My big cinder block raised bed (about 11 feet by 5 feet) looks like this now.  The tomatoes produced nicely this spring and early summer, then started to wilt some with the coming summer heat when I planted the sweet potatoes and now the tomatoes are robust to say the least, and are starting to produce fruit. 
So, my point is plan for shading the soil not the plants.  Plant / Sow a little closer together than recommended.  Mulch around seedlings or lightly mulch over seeds.  Increase mulch depth around plants, but no touching them as the grow and allow the plants to begin making their own soil-shading canopy.

My mango, started from seed is looking good. While I do have another mango tree I wanted to see how this would do in my banana bed.

In The Kitchen.

The Listarda Eggplant is not only gorgeous but so tasty with a meaty texture and robust flavor.

I like the idea of Eggplant Parmesan but I did not want to go to all that work, so I fried some up in a bit of avocado oil, and put some white cheddar cheese with some of my own dried Greek Oregano to melt over it.  SO great tasting, I made up extra to re-heat later or freeze for later!

WORLD Vegetarian Day is October 1st.

Meat eaters get a little shaky when the subject of vegetarian and vegan foods are brought up.

Vegetables as a side dish only is the beginning of a conversation we need for many reasons which could include economy and environment.  But I don't want that the focus of this post.

I want you to consider the outstanding flavor, texture and good-for-you vegetable-based options - like Eggplant Parmesan, or an outstanding Pasta Primavera with a good quality pasta (there are many great tasting, high protein pasta options).

Pick your favorite vegetables, hopefully homegrown, and decide to make it the star of a meal then add protein of choice as THE side dish.  You might find some new favorites.

Have a great day,


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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