Recent content by Branching Out

I collected asparagus seeds last winter, and sowed them in tall pots outdoors about six weeks ago. What a nice surprise to find several miniature asparagus stalks in the container yesterday. They're so cute! We also saw an adorable frog splashing in the water at the edge of the hoop house...

That's a very beautiful and contemporary looking greenhouse within a greenhouse!

Just think of how much love, care, and attention you have given these little lambs over the past few weeks Baymule. Your herculean efforts have given them a good start in life! I hope things settle down soon, so you can get some rest in between managing your growing flock. 🐑

I had no idea that you could peel back the bark from a mature cedar tree. This is quite an education! I can imagine that you will have beautiful and long lasting edges on those raised beds this summer. 🌲

Every time I sow pea seeds I think of Pulsegleaner, who suggested that birds like to peck in soil that has been disturbed. So each time I poke pea seeds in the ground I carefully smooth out the soil so nothing looks messed up, and then I carefully firm the dirt in. I also try to cover the...

There is a very early peony in my garden that appears to be rather disease prone. Some of the blossoms are open at the top of the bud, allowing moisture to enter and cause trouble. I think this one is spectacular when in bloom, so I may have to try something different with it next winter to...

I have so many 1 1/2" soil blocks on the go-- I'm running out of trays to put them on. There are lettuce, peas, sunflowers, lots of perennial flowers, and several types of beans. The lettuce and flowers will be in the blocks for 3-4 weeks, and just a couple of weeks for the legumes because...

We have lift off! 😂 Update: starting bean seeds in short toilet rolls seemed to work well. After two weeks about half of them had green sprouts visible on the surface of the soil, so we carefully unrolled the cardboard and planted the the tubes of soil in the garden. These soil 'blocks' were...

Calendula produces lots of seeds for saving, and while I tend to save and sow the largest ones I have often wondered if the little tiny seeds are viable. About six weeks ago I planted some in a deep pot and they are sprouting just fine. I will plant them in a spot away from the others, so I...

flowerbug, do you typically plant peas and beans as soon as the last frost is behind you?

I feel your pain Dirtmechanic. Hiring is not something that I have ever been tasked with, but over the course of the past few years even a simple dinner party invitation has become fraught with peril. Between those with allergies, those who don't eat meat, those who can't tolerate gluten...

You have a lot of interesting seeds and cuttings on the go there!

Stripping logs sounds like a lot of work--- but very worthwhile if you can manage it. Good luck with this mammoth project! :)

There is something endearing about growing chickpeas. I can't quite put my finger on it, but for some reason I just love growing them. 😍

A few years ago my friend came up with this great invention for supporting tall peas. It's made of two bicycle wheels and a piece of pipe, with pea netting stretched around it. The bottom wheel sits flush with the ground offering stability, and it works like a charm to support tall shelling...