Onion set plantings

I dare say that most of the snow has melted and there is a promise of the ground warming up a bit.  I think the onion sets can go in the garden over the weekend.  Onions are a cool season vegetable but remember that exposure to cold-either a period of several days below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or a day or two below 30 degrees Fahrenheit can cause sets of any size to bolt.  So, as winter has continued on for a longer period this year, plant cautiously if it is still cold out.

There are so many different types of onions to plant, sets or seeds.  You have a variety of choices.  For myself, I prefer sets but many love the regular green onions.  Plant them in full sun well-drained soil.  Onions compete poorly with weeds so keep them weeded and watered.  When they are fully matured, the onion tops will fall over and turn brown and they are ready to harvest.  But let them dry out a bit before storing them.

If you are looking for a vegetable that has a long history, you will find it in the onion.  It is thought to have been around for thousands of  years and used by almost all countries.  It has great therapeutic, antibacterial, antifungal properties.  Both cooked and raw onions are known to have anti-platelet adhesiveness which helps prevent clotting.   They help reduce inflammation and are rich in flavonoids.   Onions contain sulfides that can help in lowering cholesterol.   The list of benefits of both raw and cooked onions is long.  I invite you to research their benefits.  And I must say they bring a great flavor to anything I cook.  Onions are the vegetable that I grab first when I am cooking.  They are so much a part of my cooking experience.

What is your experience with onions in your life? Any growing secrets?

Greetings on this new day.  Still some snow on the ground but so much has melted.  Today I wanted to introduce you to Alex, a young woman who recently graduated from a local college with four years of education in the dietetic school, now having a wonderful knowledge about nutrition.  Alex is going to help complete the second part of "the gardener's gardener" goals and that is to provide nutritional information about the vegetables we grow.  It just seems very important that we know what we are growing, what we are eating and how it helps the body mind and spirit.  I wrote a little yesterday about the nutritional value of spinach.  Alex will be actively providing all of us important information on nutrition and perhaps some recipes that we can use.  So look for that nutrition piece as it weaves throughout the importance of growing, harvesting, eating and preserving your own food.

Welcome Alex!!

consulting

"the gardener's gardener" is now available to provide consultation and education to individuals wanting help starting their own backyard gardens.  This includes apartment/balcony gardens and small space gardens.  This is an ON-SITE consultation where I come to you and help you decide what you want to do, what is the best approach, what types of gardening approaches are best in relationship to what you want.  I assist and educate you on starting seeds inside,  the best soil preparation according to the gardening approach you choose.  Also help with information that helps you decide on plant selection, planting, when to plant, fertilizing, pest, disease and critter control, harvesting, seed saving and herb gardening.  Raised bed construction is available through the business...........and much more.  Contact "the gardener's gardener" at ggardener@earthlink.net or 612-270-7584.  My website is under construction at this time www.thegardenersgardener.com

I would love to help the parents of the children, especially those who are gifted and have special needs children.  Our children in general would benefit from the joy of planting their own vegetables, watching it grow, helping with the cooking and learn new tastes in the vibrancy of fresh vegetables.

I wish I could say that we could all get out there and plant our cool weather crops and start thinking about our warm weather crops such as tomatoes.  My mouth is watering for fresh tomatoes.  As we always have to take our cues from mother nature, the cue this season is "wait" my winter season is going to be longer than usual.

Tomorrow though when the snow is off my 4 by 4 raised beds on legs I plan to start my spinach.  It is right outside my dining area and I can keep a good eye on it.  Spinach loves the cool weather and grows best from March to May.  This year it might be May to June, you never know.
Spinach "bolts" (flowers) in heat and does not tolerate heat well.  so, if you want home grown spinach on your table, get it planted soon if there is no predictions of snow in the near future.  Spinach needs rich well-drained soil so make sure you have added compost to your soil before planting.

Spinach is a powerhouse of nutrients...especially eaten raw and as soon as it is picked. Spinach is one of the most beneficial and healthy vegetables. It is filled with lots of vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants that support your overall health and well being and is essential in good eye health.  Use it in juicing.  If I don't want to juice,  I'll place spinach in the blender with some water, broccoli, kale or chard (cut up of course) and a little yogurt or juice for sweetness and blend them. With blending I get the fiber which floats to the top, using a spoon to scoop it up and eat it and drink the remaining juice.   The remaining juice is great and I always feel more vibrant after drinking these powerhouses of vibrant nutrient packed vegetables.  Try it.  If you don't have a juicer, you can blend it all together using your creativity of many choices.

letting go of expectations

I realize that most of us have had expectations about when we could be starting our gardening and be out in the sun getting our natural Vitamin D.  And yesterday as it snowed so softly and continuously until it reached over a foot with the snow hanging on the trees creating a winter land, I was reminded that we are never really in charge and that there are lessons and gifts in these situations.... stop expecting and just live in the moment and enjoy.  Otherwise we get frustrated and don't see the joy and opportunities in those moments.  I too have struggled with this cold, damp snowy winter and have been known to mumble and complain.  I decided to stop that and just be with what is there and continue my preparations for spring gardening.

So, that is what I am going to do.  And in those quiet moments of winter I have been led to bring my focus to the children, childrens' nutritional needs for today and for everyday forward to help them and their parents and families to provide themselves the nutritious foods for fuel for the body and brain to move freely and energetically in their lives.  So,  I will be adding a nutrition piece to my business "the gardener's gardener" and how different foods provide certain vitamins, minerals, protein, fats and enzymes for our body supporting our everyday sense of well-being.  So plan on seeing this aspect of health on my website, blogs and communications.

See what happens when you just live in the moment and let go of expectations.  What can happen for you if you do the same.