Daddy Long Leggin' in the Garden

Many people do not like spiders whatsoever. They can be creepy, gross, and some may even bite! Daddy Long Legs are quite the exception to this. First off, did you know that these little creatures are a very special kind of arachnid? They actually belong to the Opiliones, which are more commonly known as harvestmen. It has been said that the Daddy Long Legs is the most venomous spider in the world, but its mouth is so small that it cannot poison a human. Contrary to popular belief, these little guys actually do not have venom glands at all, and their tiny teeth are not strong enough to break human skin.

So what does that make them good for? Your garden of course! While these fellas won't be dropping humans any time soon, they will take care of droppings. The Opiliones feed primarily on animal waste and also dead plant matter. This means that they will help you rid your garden of any clippings that are laying around. These little guys are also good for eating small, invasive bugs that can be damaging to your plants.

So next time you see one of these eight-legged crawlers running around your garden, think twice before shooing it away!

Garden Drainage

Did you know that water drainage is extremely important to the health of your garden? If more water pools in your gardens than your actual pool, your plants will drown. If the water leaks out of the planter faster than you can put it in, your vegetables will be dryer than the Sahara desert. There is definitely a happy medium to both though.

What your are looking for is water retention but not too much. You'll want the soil to remain moist long after you have watered your garden, but keep in mind that you'll want to ensure that your soil level is the appropriate depth so that even if water sits on the bottom of the planter, the roots will not be submerged in the water.

There are risks when the roots of a plant are fully submerged in water. Because plants need not only water, but oxygen to live, roots fully submerged in water will not bring in the required amount of oxygen for the plant to thrive, and it will suffer. As well, sitting water is a hot bed for fungus and bacteria which can feed on the roots of your veggies and kill them.

By ensuring proper drainage in your garden, your plants will have a long and healthy life!

Herb Gardens Grow Delicious Meals

Many of the herbs that we buy in the supermarket are covered in pesticides and we as consumers cannot be sure of how they were grown. Herbs are a delicious way to spice up any meal prepared for you and your family, so why not grow your own to ensure a delicious AND healthy meal is prepared.

Herbs are very easy to grow as long as some conditions are met. Thyme is very simple to grow and extremely good for you. Thyme has been know to aid in digestion and help with stomach ulcers. When growing thyme, make sure that it is planted in light soil, and that there is excellent drainage for the plant. Thyme likes to have dry soil between watering. As for usage, thyme is delicious on a number of dishes such as meat dishes and in casseroles.

Basil is another fantastic herb to grow. Known to have a sort of spicy/sweet taste, basil has the ability to lower blood pressure and have an all around calming effect. While growing, basil should be brought inside during chilly nights as it can easily be damaged in the cold. Basil is excellent in almost all Italian dishes, especially pasta sauces.

One herb that is a big hit with me is cilantro. With its very sharp taste, cilantro is extremely tasty in a variety of dishes such a Mexican and Caribbean meals. Not only is this herb full of flavor, but it also carries important health benefits. Cilantro is known to lower bad cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and aid in digestion. Make sure to grow this herb during the cooler seasons, as the hot weather will excel the growth of cilantro and cause it to flower prematurely.

Herbs do not take a lot of effort to grow, and with a little care, you and your family can enjoy the benefits of fresh and healthy herbs with all meals!

The Benefits of Square Foot Gardening

If you haven't noticed, there is method behind our madness when it comes to the design of our boxes we used for our gardens. Our planters are created to maximize the method of square foot gardening. What is that you might ask? Well, read on and you shall be enlightened!

Square foot gardening is a concept that was popularized by a man named Mel Bartholomew, who understood the benefits of having a garden that was easily accessible from all angles, while ensure that the soil was safe from individuals walking through it. As well, he understood that a garden could maximize its growth potential if the total area was used efficiently. By allowing the maximum amount of alike plants to grow in one square foot, you are able to maximize the gardens output. For example, you can plant 16 radish plants per square foot, but only 4 strawberry plants per square foot.

What is great about these planters is that it does not take a lot to be successful in your growing. Because you do not have to grow straight from the ground, and instead are able to control the variable in your garden (such as soil mixture and invasive plants), you are able to produce much more than with traditional methods.

Another issue that the square foot planters alleviate is the lack of access to the elderly and handicap. Originally, vegetable gardens would be in rows, and in order to tend to each plant individually, you would need to walk through your garden, get down on your hands and knees, and work. With raised square foot gardens, this is not an issue. The gardens can be as high as the individual needs them, making bending over or crawling around a thing of the past. As well, there is no trudging through the dirt anymore in order to reach your plants; they are a mere arms length away.

Mel is a great inspiration to the work we do at Green Gourmet Gardens, and through his teachings, we have been able to modify our gardens to ensure the most durable and healthy product. For example, the corners of our gardens are built with an overlapping design to ensure that there is minimal flex when the the garden is filled with soil. As well, we use western red cedar to build our planters. You can read all about the benefits of this wood here.

So what are you waiting for? Let us build you the raised planter of your dreams and take advantage of this amazing way to grow fresh veggies for you and your family!