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marion stewart

Marion stewart's Blog (69)

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Easy & Attractive Indoor Planter

Just looking for something to add color to your indoor décor this winter, Kalanchoe is one of the most popular potted plants. It is easy to find in garden centers and nurseries, and provides brilliant color together with bright green leaves. It is fairly hardy and requires little water, regular watering however will ensure regular blooming.

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Added by marion stewart on October 21, 2009 at 8:25am — No Comments

Large Bloom Containers

Why did those large garden planters look so good this past season, one reason is the incorporation of Controlled Release Fertilizer or Time Release Fertilizer. It comes in pellets and is an improved version of Slow Release Fertilizer in that it is released based on soil temperature itself, more exact than Slow Release Fertilizer.

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Added by marion stewart on October 19, 2009 at 8:46am — No Comments

Keep Planters Looking Good

One way to keep your planters looking good for a longer period is, of course, to prune and pinch back as required during the season. Protect them from the heavy Fall winds by moving them closer to walls and buildings for added protection. They will look better longer. Continue

Added by marion stewart on October 9, 2009 at 8:46am — No Comments

Garden Planter Trio

Use three garden pots or planters to create a beautiful display or just use one container for all – both suggestions work so well. If you don’t have any very large planters or urns three small pots will do. Plant Superbells (calibrachoa) in one pot, with Heuchera or coral bells in the second one and complete with Diascia.

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Added by marion stewart on September 21, 2009 at 10:40am — No Comments

Container Foliage Combination

It is always fun to try a couple of new container combinations in the Fall – here is one that is very attractive and adds interest to any setting. In your 14” pot, plant a Black Scallop Ajuga together with Helen’s Blush Euphorbia and Key Lime Pie Heuchera. Simple and unique.

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Added by marion stewart on September 16, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

Over Wintering Mandevilla

Yes, we are now talking about over wintering – time to think about getting the containers and planters ready for a cooler (cold) season. For the Mandevilla, just cut off the vines to a manageable length. Keep the plant in its pot and water sparingly for the winter, don’t fertilize until ready to place outdoors in the Spring again.

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Added by marion stewart on September 10, 2009 at 7:25am — No Comments

Garden Planters with Gaura

Now that summer is fading, the Gaura in our garden planters is going strong. The slender stems float over the garden container and extend out like wands in the breeze. It thrives in full sun and adds movement and grace to those garden pots, urns and window boxes.

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Added by marion stewart on September 8, 2009 at 8:43am — No Comments

Fresh Fall Container Additions

To keep garden planters and containers fresh looking into the Fall season, just add a branch of bittersweet to the pot, or perhaps a cluster of red maple leaves or even a tall corn stock . You are now up to date and in keeping with the changing seasons. Continue

Added by marion stewart on September 2, 2009 at 8:04am — No Comments

Herb Cubes the Answer

What to do with all those herbs that we have grown so successfully over the summer – you can only make so much bruchetta and mint tea! Just take a few minutes and chop up the herbs, place in cube containers and fill with water with touch of oil. Then freeze, place the cubes in storage bags. They will be ready and easily accessible when needed.

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Added by marion stewart on September 1, 2009 at 8:42am — 5 Comments

Fall Container Plant Ideas

Fall color schemes usually include vibrant oranges, deep golds and rich reds. Mums are always the usual standby, however carex grasses, pansies, ornamental kales, snapdragons, heuchera (Coral Bells) and veggies such as beets and Swiss chard make great Fall containers.

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Added by marion stewart on August 31, 2009 at 8:16am — No Comments

Harvesting Your Container Bounty

For the greatest amount of enjoyment from a container garden, harvest the vegetables at their peak of maturity when a vegetable’s full flavor has developed. This will yield the most pleasure for all that hard work – excellent taste of vine-ripened tomatoes, tender green beans and of course flavorful lettuce.

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Added by marion stewart on August 26, 2009 at 8:51am — No Comments

New Idea – Growing Peas in a Container

Peas are a great crop to grow in containers but not usually recommended because of the amount of space they take up. Now anyone can grow a delectable crop of garden peas, no matter where you live or how much space you have. Burpee’s Petite Pea plants are only 10"" tall, produce as many full-sized 3"" pods as a larger plant and can be grown in a space as small as an 8"" diameter pot with no support. Here is a great idea for next year’s vegetable garden.

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Added by marion stewart on August 25, 2009 at 10:21am — 4 Comments

Plant Container Hedge

Garden plant containers and pots showcase plants and do enhance an area’s aesthetic appearance. A beautiful hedge can be created which includes many planters suitably spaced containing boxwood topiaries. They look wonderful along a driveway or against a privacy fence. Continue

Added by marion stewart on July 20, 2009 at 8:53am — No Comments

Another Beautiful Garden Planter

This one looks spectacular and is easy to create. Start with your Purple Grass or Sedge in the middle and place a red Verbena on either side. Then alternate with (2)Yellow and (2) Purple Calibrachoa, ending with one Sweet Potato Vine. Make sure to have a large pot or container, they will grow!

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Added by marion stewart on July 9, 2009 at 9:18am — No Comments

Hot Weather Tolerant Container Plant

The Lantana is a wonderful garden planter and container plant. It loves hot hot weather, the blooms are colorful and the butterflies just love them. The trailing lantana is excellent in planters and pots. Treat as annual in cool climates.

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Added by marion stewart on July 8, 2009 at 9:28am — 2 Comments

Reminder – Container Watering Rules

We can never remind ourselves too often to water those garden pots and planters. The hot dry weather can do havoc in such a short time. Be sure your planters have drainage holes, only water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch, water until you see water seeping out of the drainage holes and do not let the container sit in standing water. Continue

Added by marion stewart on July 7, 2009 at 8:19am — No Comments

Out of Space in Your Garden

Think about container gardening if you are running out of space in your small garden – start filling up your garden planters and pots with shade plants which can be dramatic and exciting. Think about texture, variety and color repetition with your new shade garden containers.

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Added by marion stewart on July 6, 2009 at 7:19am — No Comments

Keeping Them Beautiful

Planters and containers dry out more quickly and need frequent watering. A little mulch or stones on the top of the soil slows down the evaporation of moisture from the soil. Pinch back the growing leggy stems to maintain attractive shape and keep plants bushy. Of course deadheading will allow flowering plants to bloom faster. Continue

Added by marion stewart on July 3, 2009 at 8:25am — No Comments

Mandevilla – What a Garden Plant

This is one of the most beautiful vines with huge vivid pink or yellow blooms and bright green leaves. The Mandevilla is perfect for large garden planters and pots. Be sure to use time release fertilizer in the potting soil and you will have blooms all season long. Cut back to over winter and then fertilize again when ready to place outside in the Spring.

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Added by marion stewart on July 2, 2009 at 8:31am — 2 Comments

Beautiful Shade Plant Container

This is one of our favorites, simple yet stunning. Start with Carmen Bronze Carex or Sedge, and then add your Key Lime Pie Coral Bells and Melon Symphony Osteospermum. Use a small 12” container for tabletop planters or go grand with a large 16” for the deck or patio.

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Added by marion stewart on June 29, 2009 at 8:58am — No Comments

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2009

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Latest Activity

James R. McBride replied to PiscesGirl's discussion 'Seed Sources?'
I also recommend Seed Savers Exchange. Not only does Heritage Farm offer seeds they've grown, but you can become a member and exchange thousands of seeds with other gardeners. The beauty of seed savers is you can use heirloom seeds that you have g...
1 hour ago
Amanda Williams and Georg Strafella joined Kitchen Gardeners
6 hours ago
amna mufti commented on Salma Kamal's blog post 'Pakistan: “Home Kitchen gardening to crush hunger”.'
........So the story is that this land is under the unlawful use of big wigs.No body dares to touch them.As they are usually in govt.or are the relatives of those in power.That is why I was telling Salma,problem is not simple.It is so intricate,it...
15 hours ago
amna mufti commented on Salma Kamal's blog post 'Pakistan: “Home Kitchen gardening to crush hunger”.'
Glenn! we also have the same allotment system.In which about 550 square feet ,(if I am not mistaken) or so is alloted to a family to grow fuel wood on it .Govt. only plants the trees and then the family looks it aftern grow what everthey want alon...
15 hours ago
Mussarat Nadeem is now friends with Kathryn and amna mufti
18 hours ago
Everett H. Scott joined Chris Bocchino's group
Wild Edible Hunters
DIscussion group for people who hunt wild edibles.
18 hours ago
Everett H. Scott left a comment for amy
18 hours ago
Kathryn commented on Glenn Fletcher's blog post 'What is an Allotment'
I would love to have an allotment, there needs to be more of them.
18 hours ago
Kathryn commented on Glenn Fletcher's photo 'My Allotment'
great shot, yours seem to have the most on it.
18 hours ago
amna mufti commented on amna mufti's photo 'Flight of fancy'
Thanx!
18 hours ago
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal commented on amna mufti's photo 'Red bugs.'
Your Organic Friends...
20 hours ago
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal commented on amna mufti's photo 'Flight of fancy'
BRILLIANT...
20 hours ago
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal added 4 photos to the album 'TURKY'
20 hours ago
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal updated their profile photo
20 hours ago
Glenn Fletcher commented on Glenn Fletcher's blog post 'What is an Allotment'
I pay £50 pounds a year approximately for my allotment. This amount has doubled in the last few years as their popularity has increased. Mine is 300 square yards, although there are smaller ones. The trend nowadays is to split them in two, so they...
23 hours ago
Glenn Fletcher added a blog post
Allotments are now very popular in the UK. I used to have empty ones around mine for years. This site describes what an allotment is. The main advantage of an allotment is that it does not have to be too tidy, so is ideal for trying out different ...
23 hours ago
Glenn Fletcher commented on Salma Kamal's blog post 'Pakistan: “Home Kitchen gardening to crush hunger”.'
I believe the British allotment system was developed in the late 19th & early 20th centuries to feed the urban poor mainly in the north of the country. Areas of land in urban areas were owned by local government and small parcels [300 square yards...
23 hours ago
Glenn Fletcher added a photo
My Allotment
23 hours ago
Kathryn left a comment for Mussarat Nadeem
yesterday
Kathryn commented on Salma Kamal's blog post 'Pakistan: “Home Kitchen gardening to crush hunger”.'
I am not in Pakistan as you know but there are very many similarities. The populace is very poor with the basic wage being given to most and usually without health insurance included, even though that is illegal here. The basic wage is not enough ...
yesterday

From the KGI Main Site

Gardeners Have the Power!

Braised brussels sprouts with pine nuts

Garden Q & A: extending the salad season

New White House kitchen garden videos

KGI is going to the White House (and we want to take you with us)

Optimal timing for your garlic harvest

Garden Q & A: Harvesting tomatoloons

Roasted potatoes with basil vinaigrette

Garden Q & A: Organic pest controls

Paella with tomatoes

Notes

HOW TO - ADD A LINK

Several people have experienced difficulty putting working links into comments and blogs etc and I know it is clumsy.... so here is how you do it.....

First type the text you want to appear....  ie  IAN'S PAGE

Then go back and highlight the link text.

Then hit the hyperlink button...a pictogram of a chain link.

Your browser may intervene and request permission to allow temporary scripting or some similar message.   Allow it and go back and highlight the text again

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Created by Ian Jun 7, 2009 at 7:28pm. Last updated by Ian Jun 8.

Forum Policy

Hi, I'm starting to put together a few guidlines on using the discussion forum on here.

I would be happy to hear any comments you may have.  This is very much a work in progress so plese feel free to ask me to add anything you think is needed.

I don't want to make our community hide bound by rules and regulations but I think that, as the community has grown, some explanation of what is expected is needed.

Administration

You can refer any que

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Created by Ian May 23, 2009 at 1:55am. Last updated by Ian May 25.

Climate maps

Hi following recent discussion I have put climate maps of the USA, Australia and Europe on here for reference..

 Climate map of the USA

Climate map of Australia

Climate map of Europe

 

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Created by Ian Sep 12, 2008 at 6:20pm. Last updated by Ian Apr 14.

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes

Hi Everyone,  I've started to collect together recipes from various posts on the site and put them all together here.

If you have a recipe you want to add on here, just post it on the site and leave a comment on my page telling me where it is and I'll go and fetch it back here.

They are organised in Contributor Order but I'm open to better suggestions!

BEVA'S RECIPES

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Created by Ian Jun 2, 2008 at 9:54am. Last updated by Ian Apr 13.

US STATES ABBREVIATIONS

 

US STATE ABBREVIATIONS

AK - Alaska               AL - Alabama              AR - Arkansas
AZ - Arizona              CA - California           CO - Colorado
CT - Connecticut          DC - Dist of Columbia *   DE - Delaware
FL - Florida              GA - Georgia              GU

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Created by Ian Jan 27, 2009 at 4:27pm. Last updated by Ian Jan 27.

HOW TO - MAKE COMPOST

Recently there was an excellent discussion about composting. I’ve pulled together all the various comments here. You can also watch KGI's video on composting here.

 

 

KATE’S ADVICE

I used to have a tumbler that we made from a wine-barrel but

1 you have to fill it up all at once

2. it seemed mostly

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Created by Ian May 30, 2008 at 5:29am. Last updated by Roger Jan 15.

Notes Home

Welcome to Notes.

To view notes that are in the system hit the "all notes" button above.

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Created by Ian May 28, 2008 at 12:10pm. Last updated by Ian May. 30, 2008.

A Note about Notes

I have just written this note so that I can see what we can achieve by using this new feature.

If you read this and have any suggestions then please leave a comment on my page or email me.

Ian

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Created by Ian May 28, 2008 at 6:19pm. Last updated by Ian May. 28, 2008.

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