Protecting the Garden from Frost

Last night saw frost coming to the Celtic Ozark Garden. So, protecting the garden from frost was my top priority last night. We hit 35 degrees. That is certainly not freezing, for which I am grateful. However, it is cold enough to create frost in low lying areas (like gardens.) The temperature is not as critical as the frost setting in on the plants.

My plan includes watering, covering, and moving plants from the garden. I like to water the garden in the late afternoon, so the water helps to protect the plants. That was a good option yesterday, because it was nice and cool, and sunny. That gave leaves time to be dry, but roots wet.

Then, i covered everything vulnerable with a sheet. I keep old sheets around for just such an emergency (as Foghorn Leghorn used to say). The sheets are light enough to not damage the plants, but strong enough to keep the frost from settling on my plants, and burning them. Today, I will remove the sheets, so the plants can get sun again. Unfortunately, I will cover them again tonight, as we have one more night of cold air coming to the Ozarks.

Finally, I move everything in doors that is still in pots. I have many seedlings in small containers, that have been taking advantage of the warm weather we have had for two weeks. Those little squashes, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. get to sleep in the house.

With a little planning, you can protect your spring garden, and also your budding summer garden to be. The average last frost date in Missouri is around April 15th. WE have recorded frost dates to the end of the month in history. This time of year, you just have to pay attention to the temperature and weather.

We'll talk again soon,

Ray Province
Celtic Ozark Garden

Grow Some Carrots This Spring

If you want to add some real zip to your Celtic Ozark Garden, you might want to try to grow some carrots this Spring. They are easy to grow, and can be a real family pleaser. Here is what you will want to consider, then growing your carrots.

Carrots are one of the most frequently grown vegetables in the world. Root crops like carrots are hardy and grow best under cooler conditions. That makes them a great Springtime crop. Carrots will do well in snow, and light frosts, because the bulk of the plants grows under ground. They also do well in the Fall.

Most people only think of the carrot as long and orange. This is simply not true. You can find heirloom varieties in red, purple, and even yellow. The shapes of the carrots can also vary. Some of my favorites come from my friends at Baker Creek Seeds. You might try catalog numbers CR114, CR112, and CR113. Most of the ones I like to grow take around 75 days.

The secret for my carrots is having loose soil. I even like to add a bit of sand to my mix, so the carrots can grow deep. If the ground is hard, the carrots will be very stubby.

Start your carrots by seeding well, and thinning the small plants when they reach around 3″ in height. In a square foot of ground, I don’t like to grow more than 9-12 carrots. That should give you a good idea of how thin to get them, once they start growing. So, you get a bag of carrots per square foot you plant.

Also, carrots are root plants. Be careful not to give them too much nitrogen, as this can make them too leafy. There has been plenty of nitrogen added to gardens in the Ozarks this year from the snow. You can, though, give them a little beer! Mix a 12oz. beer of your choice in 5 gallons of water, and use that to help water your plants. It really helps the root grow.

Your Celtic Ozark Garden is going to look great this year if you grow some carrots this Spring. You’ll be glad you did.

Raymond C. Province, M.A.
The Celtic Ozark Garden
www.celticozarkgarden.blogspot.com

Celtic Garden Fall Planting

Last weekend I watched the first round of Premier League football in England and Scotland. That always triggers my thoughts of the fall vegetable garden. It is time to think about some fall planting.

In a previous article, we discussed broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. It is not too late to still add these, but you had better hurry. You need to know your growing zone, and when your first frost will be coming. In the Ozarks, I have till around October 16.

Think back to spring time crops now also. Onions, lettuce, spinach, carrots are all good possibilities at this point. You can also use a cold frame to extend the growing season. The key is finding crops that can get their business done in around 60 days.

Get yourself some straw, and have it around to help with early frost. In addition, you want to make sure your crops are well watered through the remainder of the really hot weather. For me, that means mid-September.

Before you plant, make sure and fertilize the ground again, as summer crops will have taken needed nutrients from the soil. You can find an article on organic fertilizers in the archives of this blog. Feel free check it out. A good fish emulsion is also a favorite of mine for this time of year. Add a can or bottle of beer for the root system. Mix it all in 5 gallons of water, and add to the garden plot.

We will see you in the Celtic Ozark Garden again soon, feel free to email me with your questions about fall gardening, and I will share answers with everyone.

Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister who now works as an IT Programmer in the healthcare industry. He is also owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website that chronicles life in the Ozarks. He is an avid gardener, fly fisher, and Scottish football fan. You can reach him at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter

Get More Green Beans In

Folks,

Now is the time to get another crop of green beans into the ground. The current long term forecasts for most of the United States will allow another round of green bean planting. However, you need to get it done quick.

When looking for sytles of green beans, look for the varieties with shorter growing times. From my home in the Ozarks, we have approx 12 weeks until the average first frost. That is, then, the time frame we have to get the green beans finished.

As crops come in, try freezing them for a winter treet. Pick your green beans, remove the tip ends, and snap your beans into 2 or 3 segments. If you have any blemishes, take them out. Blanch your green beans for 2 minutes in boiling water, then drop them into an ice bath. This stops the "cooking" process.

Once your green beans have cooled, place them in freezer style baggies. I use an 8 cup measuring device, so I can divide my beans into 2 bags. You want to use quart bags. One bag will be equivalent to putting 2 cans of green beans on your table.

For those who plan ahead, plan on 52 bags for a family of 4 to have green beans once a week all year. You can thank my dad for that handy bit of info. I can still remember canning green beans to this level every summer.

slainte,
Ray Province
Celtic Ozark Garden

Ray Province is a retired minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website dedicated to life in the Ozarks. Ray is also a freelance writer on religion, gardening, and travel. You can reach him at contactus@celticozarkian.com, or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

How To Grow Turnips

I wanted to share a video on growing my personal favorite vegetable. Turnips will grow almost anywhere, which is probably why Ozarkians grow them. It is a strong tasting vegetable, that has many of the same basic uses as potatoes or colliflower. Hope you enjoy the vdeo.

How To Grow Beets.

I wanted to share another video on one of my favorite Celtic Ozark Garden veggies: the beet. They are easy to grow, and are packed with vitamins. Hope you enjoy the video.

Vertical Growing Techniques

How To Know When to Pick Green Beans

My first batch of green beans for the year are almost ready to pick. It is one of my favorite vegetables to plant in the Celtic Ozark Garden. My family loves them also. It also happens to be very easy to grow green beans.

One of the questions I am frequently asked is, "how do you know when to start expecting green beans to pick?" So, I decided to shoot a video this month of the subject. Enjoy!

Plant A Row for the Hungry

I love to garden for many reasons. The hobby has given me lots of pleasure over the years, and a lot of good food to eat. The best part of the hobby is that it is easy to do. Anyone can grow a vegetable anywhere, with a little “want to” and a little bit of supplies.

That is why is still scares me that we have so many people going hungry in the United States each day. I read a recent article written by Linda Krohne Nitchman that shares the following statistical information; 1) one in ten households in America experience hunger regularly, 2) 2.9 million children live in homes that have to skip meals, eat too little, or go without food for the whole day, 3) 25 million Americans suffer from chronic under nutrition, which can lead to serious health problems.

This year in the Ozarks, the need for food, at our local food banks, has reached a critical level. People are having to be turned away. It is a shame, considering the ease of growing vegetables.
These folks live in big cities like Springfield, and small ones like my hometown of Fair Grove, Missouri.

That is why I am going to ask for a favor. Would you consider joining the “Plant A Row for the Hungry’ campaign this year? It is a nationwide campaign that centers on growing good food for local food banks, and other food programs. I can think of no better way to make a difference this growing season.

You can get more information on this project from the Garden Writers Association Website at www.gardenwriters.org, or call the group at 877-492-2727. You’ll be glad that you did. Were it not for the grace of God, those hungry kids could be mine.

Slainte,
Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website that chronicles life in the Ozarks. He is currently an IT programmer, and freelances in website design, SEO, and helping people and businesses make use of social media. You can contact Ray at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

The Celtic Ozark Garden-Seeds Blossoming

In my last video, I talked about the vegetables that I had planted in a 4' x 8' raised bed garden. In this video, I have taken some footage of what the Springtime garden looks like as it begins to blossom. This video was shot by request for beginning gardeners. Hope you like it.

I wanted to share a video that I recently shot at the Baker Creek Seed Company. They specialize in providing their customers with top quality heirloom seeds. Hope you enjoy the video. You can reach them at http:/rareseeds.com

Don't Forget the Birds

The Ozarks has been blessed with some great weather this February. It will be time to start the Celtic Ozark Garden again soon. So, it is easy to start to get into that “Spring is almost here’ mentality. While that may be good for our attitudes and moods, it could be bad for our feathered friends.

It is always easy to remember to throw some seed for the birds when we have snow on the ground. It is much more difficult to remember to do that when our outside temperature is 60 degrees. Even though it is warm, the food supply for birds is still low, and you may wish to consider helping them a bit.

One of the simple ways to help the birds is to put out left over baked goods, or stale bread. It provides a good source of carbs, as well as a little fat, which the birds need to help maintain body temperature. Let over fruit, that may be getting a bit old for you, is also a great treat to the birds. This is a win/win deal. You get to feed birds, and throw away trash in an ecological manner. Plus, that old doughnut may look better on the birds!

Seeds are always appreciated by the birds. I just try to stay away from mix seeds bags full of milo seed. In my experience, the birds will not eat it, so it goes bad. I like corn, sunflower seeds, and even peanuts busted up.

Suet is also a good treat for the birds. The fatty portions of the suet are good energy for the birds. If you can keep the suet thawed, that helps the birds a lot.

Love the birds now, and they will love us back in the beauty they bring!

Slainte
Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister, and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website dedicated to life in the Ozarks, from a Celtic point of view! Ray also works as an IT programmer in the healthcare industry, and freelances in SEO and website development. You can reach Ray by emailing contactus@celticozarkian.com, or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

Liquid Fertilizers for the Spring Garden

Now that spring is 60 days away in the Ozarks, it is time to start gathering some supplies to make some liquid fertilizer. I have written about my dry fertilizer in previous articles. I like a little wet fertilizer around during the growing season, because it tends to interact quickly with plants, and tends not to burn them. Apply many dry fertilizers, either directly under a plant or close to it, and you can kill your plant. Too much goodie all at once spoils the party! A liquid fertilizer is often a product that is mostly water. Hence, the plants tolerate better. The liquid recipe also makes it easier for the plant to get the nutrients, via osmosis.

I like to actually make the fertilizer in 5 gallon buckets! They are easy for me to carry. I have a stainless soup ladle that I use to put a scoop around each plant. I have enough old plastic buckets around, from home brewing, to meet my need. You can usually get a good plastic bucket, however, at any hardware store. I don’t recommend, however, using old buckets that you have used for painting!

So, here are some recipes for the 5 gallon bucket o’ garden love:

Tea Style Recipe No. 1 :
Fill your bucket half full of old grass and plant clippings. Fill bucket with water. Set it in the Sun for 2 days. Then add a cup of Fish emulsion (of some sort) to the batch. You are ready to go. Place 1 cup of the mix around each plant. You accomplish two tasks: fertilizing and watering. For new planting, where your plants are not very old yet, use ½ cup. You do not want to overwhelm the young plants.

Tea Style Recipe No. 2:
Fill your bucket half full of old grass and plant clippings, same as above. Then add one coffee can of well aged manure. (The definition of well aged is at least a year old, especially with cow and horse manure.) Fill bucket with water. Set it in the Sun for 2 days. Then add a cup of Fish emulsion (of some sort) to the batch. You are ready to go. Place 1 cup of the mix around each plant. You accomplish two tasks: fertilizing and watering. For new planting, where your plants are not very old yet, use ½ cup. You do not want to overwhelm the young plants. I like this recipe for plants that need lots of root structure, like carrots and onions! Works good on turnips as well. (What! You don’t eat turnips! Shame on you!)

Liquid Recipe No. 3:
This is a recipe you can use right out of the shoot! You do not have to wait for grass to grow, or animals to get their business done. Mix the following together in a 5 gallon bucket of water. 1 cup of Epsom Salts. 1 bottle of beer. 1 cup of ammonia. ½ cup of dish washing soap like Ivory (no detergent fighting power!) Again put a cup around each plant, and you get your watering done too. Also follow the rule for young plants.

Slainte from the Celtic Ozark Garden,
Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister, and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website dedicated to life in the Ozarks, from a Celtic point of view! Ray also works as an IT programmer in the healthcare industry, and freelances in SEO and website development. You can reach Ray by emailing contactus@celticozarkian.com, or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

Master Gardeners Clubs in the Ozarks

I wanted to take a moment and provide folks with a list of the Master Gardener Organizations in the Ozarks. They are worthy of consideration, if you like being part of a group. Master gardeners also provide hours of free help each year to people wanting to know more about gardening. Consider giving them a call.

Area Clubs and Organizations
Moon City Garden Club(located in Springfield's Historic Midtown district)Mary Jo Frazier, PresPh: 353-0982www.mooncitygardenclub.com
Ozarks GardensOzarksGardens.com
Springfield Area Herb Club 2630 S FR 87Republic, MO 65738 732-8391
Cherry Court Garden Club 4231 N FR 129Springfield, MO 65803 883-8278
Springfield Floral Arrangers Guild1505 E SunshineSpringfield, MO 65804881-7284Iris Society of the Ozarks 815 N MainSpringfield, MO 65802831-2548MO Organic Association, Springfield Chapter 9853 N Hwy HPleasant Hope, MO 65725759-2463
SWMO Council of Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judges 2765 E CragmontSpringfield 65804883-6793Springfield Garden Council 1505 E SunshineSpringfield 65804881-7284Botanical Society of SW Missouri 2765 E CragmontSpringfield 65804883-6793Missouri Prairie Foundation 204 E 550thWalnut Grove, MO 65770788-2308Rose Society of the Ozarks 2305 S Hilton AveSpringfield 65807887-2097Greater Ozarks Hosta Society PO Box 2131 Lebanon, MO 65536532-2349Ozark Greenways, Inc PO Box 50733Springfield 65805864-2014MO Community Forestry Council PO Box 14076Springfield 65814890-7776

Persimmon Weather

One of my favorite fall treats comes from the wild, but can easily be added to the Ozark garden. The Persimmon tree can be a wonderful addition to the landscape.

The tree produces a beautiful blossom in the Spring of the year. Typcially, the trees don't get much above 30' in height, so it's not like adding an oak to property. The tree produces a yummy fruit that does not come into play until this time of year. It takes a good, hard freeze to cause the fruit to darken and sweeten, but it is worth the wait. I have posted a recipe for persimmon jam on our Hillbilly Cookin' blog.

If you are a wildlife fan, then you will especially love this tree! It is one of the single best attractions for deer I have ever seen. This time of year, and into the rutt, deer will jump through hoops of fire for this treat! You will have a yard full of deer by planting just one of these on your property, but you will have to pay attention! The deer will get these quickly.

Slainte,

Ray Province

The Celtic Ozark Garden

Welcome to the Celtic Ozark Garden

It's pretty hard to have been raised in the Ozarks and not have your own garden. It's a great part of the Ozarkian tradition. This forum has been created to share information on raising vegetables, growing flowers, and all other things green. We will even explore related topics: canning, growing from seeds, heirloom gardening, seed preservation, etc.

The Province family has been very interested in developing a natural food supply again. So, we have explored lots of gardening methods. We invite you to share you stories of gardening in one of nature's most beautiful places: your garden! Here in the Ozarks, our rocky hills aren't good for raising much besides goats and kids! So, we will always listen to a good story!

Good Gardening,
Ray Province
The Celtic Ozark Garden
celticozarkgardens@celticozarkian.com