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Growing Joy with Maria – Episode 91 Blog: 10 Tips For Beginning Gardeners And Edible Landscapers

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Edible landscaping is a fun way to add beauty and flavor to your garden. You can enjoy the beauty of plants and gorgeous curb appeal, while also harvesting delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It can add flavor, nutrition, and beauty to your garden, and provide food for your family. Here are 10 tips to get started.

This blog is inspired by Episode 91 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed her mom, lovingly referred to as “Mama Failla” to share her top 10 tips for Edible Landscaping and Gardening.

Start Small

Take the time to familiarize yourself with your land and start with a small section or specific edible plants that you love to eat. This approach allows you to learn and adapt as you go. Maria and her Mom suggest starting with herbs, as they are easy to grow and provide a variety of flavors and colors. Basil is their favorite!

Understand your light and water

Keep an eye on your garden’s light and water needs. During the warmer months, track the sunlight patterns in your garden to ensure adequate exposure. For convenient watering, plan your garden near a hose or irrigation system. If you’re hand-watering, make sure your garden is a manageable size and within your ability to water effectively. When planting, you can use Espoma Organic Bio-Tone Starter Plus to promote strong root development. This will enhance water absorption for your plants.

Understand your soil 

Know your soil by getting a local soil test. Then get it ready for planting season by adding a healthy dose of compost and organic matter. Compost is like a multivitamin for your soil, providing essential nutrients and improving soil health. Choose soil and compost that you can transport easily such as Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost.

Check out this fun compost bag hack, Maria’s plant friend Melody taught her. 

Pick what you can do, what you want to do, and what you can afford to do

Choose plants that suit your taste, capabilities, and wallet. Divide and reuse perennials to keep costs down and select plants that grow joy. Consider a blend of annuals and perennials for season-long blooms, and boost the soil with Espoma Organic Bulb-Tone when planting bulbs like daffodils and tulips.

Get family and friends involved 

Turn gardening into a bonding experience by involving your loved ones in composting and gardening tasks. Assign different garden tasks to family members and share cuttings and plants with neighbors. Teach children in your neighborhood about how plants grow.

Get your gardener involved 

If you’re a novice or unsure about your soil, bring in a gardener to give you a hand. They can help pick the right plants and assist with composting and waste disposal. Espoma Organic Garden Lime can adjust your soil’s pH, creating the perfect environment for your plants under the guidance of your gardener.

Plan your seasons 

Strategize your garden layout with the seasons in mind. Plant bulbs in the fall for a burst of springtime flowers and add annuals for a summer color party. Plan for winter too with sturdy plants like cabbage and nourish your plants throughout the year with Espoma Organic Plant-tone and Garden-tone.

Start with annual color

Brighten up your garden with vibrant annuals like impatiens, begonias, and coleus. Play with textures for extra visual appeal, unless you’re aiming for a specific plant variety. Improve the growth and vitality of your flowers with Espoma Organic Flower-Tone, a premium flower food that promotes abundant blooms and vibrant colors.

Choose a time to devote to your garden

Gardening loves regular care, so it’s important to set aside specific time to tend to your garden. Three times a week should do the trick, preferably in the cooler mornings. Regular maintenance, like weeding,  keeps your garden looking tidy. Use Espoma Organic Weed Preventer to naturally control weeds and create a barrier that saves you time and effort.

Mama Failla’s rules for protecting yourself in the garden

Enjoy gardening but remember to stay safe. Dress in closed-toed shoes, long pants tucked into socks, and a long-sleeved shirt with cuffs that cover your hands. Double-glove to keep your hands clean. Top it off with a hat and sunglasses to protect your skin from the sun, and consider a visor to shield the back of your neck.

By following these tips and putting in the necessary time and effort, your edible landscape will flourish, providing you with a source of joy, beauty, and fresh, homegrown produce. Enjoy your gardening journey and reap the rewards of your efforts!

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VIDEO: Planting JAPANESE MAPLES 🍁 || Flock Finger Lakes

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Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes  @FlockFingerLakes  shows you how to Plant a Japanese Maple tree in the landscape.

Summer is transplanting a Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) ‘Cherries Jubilee’. It’s important to use a good starter fertilizer to help reduce transplant shock. Summer uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to give this new tree the nutrients it needs to become established in the landscape.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

Instagram – @homesteadbrooklyn

YouTube – Summer Rayne Oakes

Twitter – @sroakes

Facebook – Summer Rayne Oakes

 

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VIDEO: Fill Raised Beds for Cheap || Epic Gardening

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Filling raised beds with the perfect soil can get pretty expensive. Kevin Espiritu from @Epicgardening is here to help you do it for cheap using Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix and a variation of the hugelkultur method

While filling raised beds can be expensive, there is a way to fill a garden bed on the cheap. Make use of any existing organic matter on your property (sticks, logs, brush, grass clippings, unfinished compost, etc.) to fill the bottom half of your bed, then fill the remainder with a high-quality soil mix like Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix.

This method is particularly useful when growing in TALL (18″+) beds, as you don’t need the perfect soil mix all the way down. Over time, the fill material will break down and become food for bacteria, fungi, and other soil life and turn into high-quality soil for your garden over the years.

As always we recommend planting with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and feeding your established raised beds with Espoma Organic Plant-tone or Garden-tone.

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Growing Joy with Maria – Episode 120 Blog: Raised Bed Gardening

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Raised bed gardening is quickly gaining popularity among homeowners who are keen on growing their vegetables and flowers. In this article, we will discuss raised bed gardening, its benefits, designing a garden plot, plant propagation, and other gardening techniques you may find useful.

This blog is inspired by Episode 120 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed Nicole Burke from Gardenary to get personalized garden coaching, enriched with insightful perspectives on self-care, nature connection, and life overall.

Benefits of Raised Beds

Raised beds offer several benefits, making them an excellent choice for urban gardening enthusiasts. Here are some great reasons why raised beds might be just what you need for your garden:

  • Improved Soil Quality: With raised beds, you get to choose the soil, which means it can drain well, have a great structure, and be full of nutrients. A high-quality soil mix like Espoma Raised Bed Mix makes a big difference in your plants’ growth and health.
  • Easier to Manage: Since they’re up off the ground, raised beds are kinder to your back and easier to keep moist and weed-free. Less bending means it’s a great option for anyone with mobility issues, and the contained space makes it easier to manage.
  • Bigger Harvests: You can fit more plants in a raised bed, which means more tasty veggies for you to share! With increased planting density, you can optimize your growing space for a bountiful harvest.
  • Fewer Pests and Weeds: Being elevated helps keep pests and weeds at bay, and controlling them in a compact space is easier. The height can deter some pests, and the smaller area makes it more manageable to control weeds.
  • Creative Design Opportunities: Raised beds let you unleash your inner garden designer, and there are loads of possibilities to create something beautiful and functional! They offer flexible design options and can be adapted to fit even the tightest of spaces.

Designing Your Raised Bed Garden

When you’re planning your raised bed garden, here are things that you should think about:

Deciding the Size (because size matters!)

The minimum recommended size for a raised bed is 4×4 or 2×8 feet. It’s important to have a wide enough bed that can accommodate a trellis in the center to support vining plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and squashes.

Choosing the Material

You can make raised beds from wood, bricks, or concrete blocks. Wood is popular because it’s cheap, easy to work with, and looks great in the garden! Consider using untreated wood to prevent chemicals from leaching into your soil.

Creating the Soil

Good-quality soil is a must for your raised bed! The right soil blend will support your plants’ growth and provide the necessary nutrients. Espoma Organic’s Raised Bed Mix is the perfect option. 

 

Choosing the Plants

Choose plants based on your overall garden plan, and consider their size, growth habits, and needs. Make sure to select varieties that will thrive in your climate and the specific conditions of your garden.

Gardening Techniques for Raised Beds

Plant with Purpose:

It’s crucial to plant mindfully to ensure a bountiful harvest. To get the most out of your garden, plant smart! Know the ins and outs of different plant families and their growth patterns, and be sure to plant them in the right season. Companion planting can also help plants grow better together.

Starting Plants from Seeds

Starting plants from seeds can be intimidating, but it’s cheaper than buying seedlings, and fun! Just use high-quality seeds, clean containers, and good potting soil, and you’ll be good to go. We recommend using Espoma’s Organic Seed Starter to ensure successful germination. Be patient and provide the right conditions for germination.

 

Growing Plants on a Trellis

Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and beans love growing on trellises, which can save space and look fantastic. Planting vining plants on opposite sides of the trellis can make your garden even more gorgeous. Trellises also improve airflow, which can help prevent diseases.

 

Pest Control

Planting marigolds and basil can help keep pests away from your tomatoes. Plus, keeping your garden tidy, not over-fertilizing, and using organic pest control methods can help keep your raised bed garden pest-free. To help your plants grow strong and healthy, consider using Espoma’s Garden Tone as a natural, organic fertilizer.

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Raised bed gardening is an excellent option for urban gardeners with limited space and mobility and can provide bountiful harvests with creative design options. Learning about the benefits, principles, and techniques of raised bed gardening can make your gardening more enjoyable and give you a chance to get back in touch with nature!

 

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VIDEO: Planting Hanging Pots with Mom🪴🌿 || Wyse Guide

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Want a Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving? Consider planting for Mom or anyone special in your life. Or maybe you just like to decorate with hanging plants? Watch Kaleb from @WyseGuide demonstrate how to properly plant your own hanging potted plants.

Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix and adds some extra nutrients to the soil with Espoma Organic Plant-tone.

 

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Want some other ideas for Mom? Check out these other ideas:

Grow A Garden Spa for Mother’s Day

DIY Mother’s Day Planter with Garden Answer

Mother’s Day Container Garden

 

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VIDEO: Planting Asparagus in Raised Beds 🌱☀️ || Flock Finger Lakes

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Adding raised beds into your garden space doesn’t need to be complicated. Watch Summer from @flockfingerlakes assemble raised beds and fill them for planting some perennial crops. She plants asparagus and sunchokes using our Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix and our Espoma Organic Vegetable & Flower Garden Soil.

Perennial crops don’t need to be replanted each year. After harvest, they automatically grow back. Many fruit, forage, and some vegetable crops, including fruit trees, alfalfa, grapes, asparagus, and olive trees, are perennial crops.

Sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes, are root vegetables that are members of the sunflower family. Sunchokes can grow to be 5 to 10 feet tall and produce beautiful yellow flowers and edible tubers that have a nutty flavor.

Asparagus plants can take three to five years to mature fully, but once they start producing you will be harvesting asparagus spears for more than a month every spring.

We recommend planting crops using Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and then feeding perennial crops with either Espoma Organic Garden-tone or Plant-tone.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

YouTube –Flock Finger Lakes

Twitter – @flockny

Facebook –Flock Finger Lakes

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VIDEO: Planting Roses 🌹 // Garden Answer

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Are you adding roses to your garden this season? 

 Follow along with Laura @Garden Answer as she helps her mom beautify her garden by planting a variety of bare root roses. Laura demonstrates a clear approach to handling bare root roses, from hydrating the roots prior to planting, proper spacing and planting depth as well as the importance of using a good starter fertilizer to help mitigate transplant shock as well as provide the proper nutrients for the plant to mature successfully. Laura uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to enrich the soil and create an ideal growing environment for all her new plantings. 

 

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/gardenanswer 

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

https://www.instagram.com/gardenanswer/

 

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BAGR 118 Blog: Understanding Hardiness Zones, Frost Dates and Microclimates in the Garden

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As a beginner gardener, it can be overwhelming to navigate the various factors that can affect the success of your plants. One of the most important aspects to consider is your garden’s hardiness zone, frost dates, and microclimates.

This blog is inspired by Episode 118 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed Rochelle Greayer of the renowned garden design website Pith & Vigor.

 

What are Hardiness Zones?

Hardiness zones are a way to categorize regions based on average annual extreme minimum temperatures. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has divided the country into 13 zones, with each zone representing a range of temperatures. The lower the zone number, the colder the region.

Knowing your hardiness zone is crucial because it determines which plants are most likely to thrive in your area.

When selecting plants, make sure to choose the ones that are recommended for your zone. Plant tags or online descriptions will often indicate the plant’s hardiness zone.

It’s important to note that while hardiness zones provide a general guide, they are not foolproof. Other factors, such as soil type, rainfall, and elevation, can also affect a plant’s success. However, knowing your hardiness zone is a good starting point for selecting plants that are well-suited to your area.

What are Frost Dates?

Frost dates refer to the average dates of the first and last frost in your area. These dates are important because frost can damage or kill tender plants, so it’s best to avoid planting them until after the last frost in the spring.

To ensure good germination rates and healthy seedlings, consider using a soil mix specifically designed for starting seeds, such as Espoma Organic Seed Starter.

To determine your area’s frost dates, you can consult a gardening book or website, or contact your local extension office. Another great tip is to go to your local nursery and ask the workers when they plant their gardens, they are the true experts in your region!

Keep in mind that frost dates are just averages, so it’s always a good idea to stay vigilant and protect your plants during particularly cold spells. One way to protect your plants from frost is to cover them with a frost blanket or other protective covering. You can also plant tender plants in containers that can be moved indoors during cold spells.

 

What are Microclimates?

Microclimates are small areas within a garden that have slightly different growing conditions than the surrounding area. These differences can be caused by variations in temperature, humidity, sun exposure, and wind.

For example, a south-facing wall may be warmer and sunnier than the rest of the garden, making it an ideal spot for heat-loving plants. A low-lying area may be more prone to frost and moisture, making it a good spot for plants that prefer cooler and wetter conditions.

By paying attention to microclimates in your garden, you can make the most of the varying conditions and create a more diverse and successful garden.

To help improve soil health and promote plant growth, you may want to consider using a plant food like Espoma Garden-tone or Plant-tone. These products contain a blend of natural ingredients that provide essential nutrients to a wide variety of plants.

 

How to Use Hardiness Zones, Frost Dates, and Microclimates in Your Garden.

Now that you understand the basics of hardiness zones, frost dates, and microclimates, you can use this information to plan your garden more effectively.

Start by determining your hardiness zone and selecting plants that are recommended for your area. Make sure to also take into account your area’s frost dates and avoid planting tender plants until after the last frost in the spring.

Next, pay attention to the microclimates in your garden and use them to your advantage. Experiment with planting different plants in different areas to see which ones thrive best in each microclimate.

Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to local gardening experts for more specific advice on your area’s growing conditions. With a little bit of research and planning, you can create a beautiful and successful garden that thrives in your unique environment.

 

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Additional Tips

 Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of your garden’s hardiness zone, frost dates, and microclimates:

1.  Consider using raised beds or containers to create microclimates within your garden. You can fill these containers with soil that is specifically tailored to the plants you want to grow. Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix is perfect for filling raised beds.

2. Use mulch to help regulate soil temperature and moisture levels. It can also help prevent weeds from growing.

 3. Keep a gardening journal to track your successes and failures. This can help you refine your gardening techniques and learn from your mistakes.

4. Consider joining a local Garden Club or attending gardening workshops in your area. This can be a great way to learn from experienced gardeners and get advice on specific challenges you may be facing.

5. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Gardening is a constantly evolving process, and it’s okay to try new things and see what works best for you and your garden.

Understanding your garden’s hardiness zone, frost dates, and microclimates is important for successful gardening. By selecting plants that are recommended for your zone, planting after the last frost, and taking advantage of microclimates, you can create a beautiful and thriving garden!

 

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VIDEO: How to Fertilize Garlic 🧄 || Wyse Guide

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Did you plant garlic? 🧄

Watch as Kaleb @WyseGuide shows you the proper way to feed your garlic plants.

 

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VIDEO: How to Grow Tomatoes 🍅 with Kaleb Wyse! || Wyse Guide

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Do you know the best way to plant tomatoes?

Watch as Kaleb Wyse @WyseGuide takes you out to his garden and shows you the best way he knows how to plant and be successful in growing tomato plants.

Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Tomato-tone to grow healthy tomato plants in his garden.

 

 

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