back yard – gardenerscardiff.co.uk

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 13:05:01 +0000

Lisa asks…

If everyone grew at least a few veges in their garden, would it make a difference to the environment?

I grow all of my own herbs and leafy green (spinach, lettuce, bok choi, rocket, silverbeet) – i find them easy to grow, easy to pick what I need, and that store bought greens don’t last long in the fridge.
Apart from the convenience to me – does this help the environment?
My back yard is inner city – measures 5m x 5m.

GardenersCardiff answers:

This helps the environment because, no one is driving your produce to or from a store, no gas is being used to transport them.. So no cars are giving off polution in the air or carbons.
No plastic bags, or cartons etc.. Are being used to sell them in… Which uses less oil. And makes for less trash in our land fills.
You can grow without using harmful herbicides or pesticides, which run off into the environment.
So, by growing at home you do all that! 😀
Keep on growing stuff at home. Good job!

Lizzie asks…

What veggies and herbs grows well in central Illinois?

Now that it’s warm, I’m getting excited to start planting some things in my new back yard. I know NOTHING about growing ANYTHING. I can’t keep a cactus alive. However, I’d really like to start growing my own vegetables and herbs this season. Any ideas on what I can grow, when to start, and how to keep it alive?
Thanks!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Square Foot Gardening…get the book at the library. Makes gardening simple.

While you are there, ask the librarian for any resources they may have for gardening in your area. I just left my library with a few brochures.

Ruth asks…

How much attention do growing fresh herbs need?

We live in a small unit, without a window sill but with a balcony. I’ve always avoided recipes with many herbs, but I don’t mind just buying one (expensive) bunch, and make good use of it. Growing your own herbs seem like too much work and I don’t even know how. So what exactly do I do??

GardenersCardiff answers:

I have basil, oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary growing in inside window boxes. And frankly don't pay much attention to them. They might get watered twice a week or not. Point is once you get them going, mine were started from greenhouse sprouts, the damn things grow like weeds.

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:05:06 +0000

Maria asks…

What gardening zone is the state of Michigan in?

GardenersCardiff answers:

Zone 6 if you live in the southern half. Zone 5 if you live in the top half. (roughly)

But when buying plants, it’s best to go with plants that will survive one zone NORTH of you, just to make sure they survive the occasional nasty winter. Or, if you’re in Zone 5, and you plant something that only goes to zone 5 – put in in a spot that is somewhat protected from the prevailing winter winds. (which usually come from the north and west in michigan)

Mark asks…

Gardening question about hardiness zone and high altitude?

I am having trouble determining my zone for where I live…

I live near Crater Lake, OR at about 5600′- this is my first Spring up here and I want to plant some…

So any tips? What’s my zone? (I think its maybe a 6?)
The resort I live/work at is smack dab in a forest…. haha

GardenersCardiff answers:

According to the Arbor Day Foundation you should be in zones 6-7.

Http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=97604&submit=Look+it+up%21

Do you have any nurseries near by that can tell you what would work for your local area? They would be your best source of information.

Thomas asks…

how do i create a garden with plants from various zones and have it work?

OK, i live in phoenix, Arizona and I’m from Salem, Oregon….. i hate living here but honestly my finances say oh well, but i have a small back yard and want to beautify it. my problem is that now i live in a dessert i have to do things that i never had to do before. like for example major pH balancing. my major problem is that I’m good with plants but i never really had to follow the zone rule because i could grow just about anything in Salem. in phoenix……..not much and it has been quite a kick in the ego when it comes to my plants. i live in downtown phoenix and have a very small back yard (approx 15′ X 25′ ) and i want GREEN! i cant build a green house enclosure over the back yard because i unfortunately am limited by a home owner association (which by the way is some thing I’ve never experienced) but i still want beautiful plants that i used to have. any help would be appreciated and if you need further detail in regards to my plant selection please, just ask. i have many more questions regarding this subject and also with pH balancing because it is something i have never had to do in such a drastic amount. thanks, Cameron.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Going to be difficult to reproduce a Salem garden in Phoenix. One can usually fudge a bit with the hardiness zone recommendations, but the Oregon and Arizona climates are significantly different in soils, temperatures, humidity, heat units, and just about everything else.

But you can probably get your green garden using plant species adapted for your new area. Below are some Master Gardener sites in the Phoenix area which can give you ideas, plant recommendations, and sources for further information.

I have my soil tested through the University of Massachusetts, which do it for $13 a sample, are fast, easy, and give great soil conditioning recommendations. See the link below.

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:05:02 +0000

Steven asks…

Can we change what we teach our young?

Because the Earth and it’s inhabitants are dying don’t you think a good step would be to alter the school curriculum to tech a few generations of children how to be more self sufficient and less reliant on outside sources. maybe we could teach medicine making, growing your own foods, building Earth friendly housing, solar and wind energy. Seems like everything we need we buy from Walmart and it falls aprt in no time at all. We buy medicines that do not work or are harmful to us. Why not make your own from the weeds growing in your back yard. Who said we all have to have perfectly manicured golf course looking lawns? The same companies that are selling us weed killers are selling us pills for our ills made from things out of the very plants (weeds) we are using their products to destroy. Let’s change the curriculum. Maybe our children can save the planet if we do. And save themselves. Teach alchemy, teach coping skills, teach self sufficient housing and farming.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Some teachers are teaching some of this, but most have a strict curriculum to teach required to get the students to score well on standardized tests.
We must teach our own children and maybe a group like girl scouts could teach some of the skills you mention. Volunteer with children and start teaching!! (With parents’ approval)
Also, we need new people on school boards and at even higher levels. People who are open to new things and new ideas, not trying to make all schools just like the one they went to 30-50 years ago, are needed to start making real changes.
I’d like them to teach more practical stuff too. What you mentioned plus how to pay bills, budget, be responsible, stay out of debt, how to deal with advertising–that would be a good one. . .
Much of our education system is a dinosaur and much of what we’ve done is to just continue what was done in the past. It is cheating the kids.
Don’t wait for someone to do it, YOU ARE SOMEONE.
Live well and do good.

Donald asks…

What are your views on Marijuana?

do you think that marijuana should be legalized?

do you think that home-grown weed, on your own land, is okay and poses less of a health risk?

do you think that weed is really a drug or just a strong herb?

just curious to here your input

i personally think that if taken responsibly, and grown yourself, weed is just another little pleasure in life.

GardenersCardiff answers:

1. Yeah definitely,
2. Home grown tastes so much better and you can train it to grow more buds, get different hybrids. It’s awesome
3. Just a plant, man.

Cannabis is a beautiful plant, with so much benefits for mankind; and most people don’t know anything about it.

Peace

Mark asks…

Can we alter what we teach our young in order to save the world?

GardenersCardiff answers:

Or maybe we can teach children not to listen to the hysteria about the Earth dying…