Debbie's Garden

It's raining again! Which is not such a bad thing now, is it, after the drought we've had the past few years! I am saving every bucketful I can, too, for later! Guess I'll be INSIDE today.....or on the front porch if it gets too claustrophobic in here! Everyone have a great day!

The rain has cleared out for a while, and I managed to catch enough rainwater to water for a while if necessary. When the sun came out this afternoon, I knew I had to get in the garden and plant! I planted some squash seedlings (mixed varieties), and some Better Boy Tomatoes and Sweet Banana Peppers i couldn't resist buying even though i have my own seedlings! We'll see whose do better, theirs or mine! Theirs are a bit more mature, and I can never stand the wait to get a fresh tomato or banana pepper! I also planted some Kentucky Wonder pole beans, and some MORNING GLORIES to round things off. And another thing, the gloves never stay on, does anyone else have that problem?! I love the feel of the soil.....the only thing I regret is having to dig the dirt out from under the nails! LOL! More later, happy gardening!

Finally a bit of rain in Marietta! We've been needing it for a few days now, I was afraid I was going to have to pull out the water hose as i'd  used all my reserve rainwater! It's too early for that, and I am glad to see the rain! It's been raining since yesterday, first it was a slow, drizzly type rain, then a steady drip drip drip...now it has actually been a good steady rain a few times this evening! The buckets are in place, catching the rain water as it runs off the eaves. I have the makings for a rain barrel, just haven't installed the "plumbing" yet. So the mud buckets are still in place, until I get the spigot installed on the barrel.  Whatever works for now I guess. I am loathe to use a water hose again, so will be glad when I can get a few rain barrels full. The chlorine is just not good for the plants. If I do have to use water from the house, I try to put it in buckets to sit and let the chlorine dissipate, which I have heard takes 24 hours. Anyway glad to have the rain, and hoping all the growing things turn green green green! Have moved my plants from the greenhouse, got a bit too warm and I didn't want any casualties, so the babies are on my front porch and sidewalk...won't be long and some of them will be at market!  I did transplant about half of the tomatoes yesterday into bigger pots, covering them up to the first set of leaves. I have Better Boy, Early Girl, and Super Sweet 100 (cherry) tomatoes....sweet banana pepper, cayenne pepper, and  green peppers coming along as well.  Can't wait for the weekend, when I get to work non-stop Saturday with all my plants!  Here's hoping everyone has a good night!

It definitely is warming up in Marietta, GA...and I hope for good! It hit 72 today, and the plants in the greenhouse need to come out! Nothing got fried, but a few babies came close. Got to move the herbs out for sure tomorrow morning. It has steadily been warming up at night as well, it's supposed to only go to 49 tonite. As long as i keep an eye on the temps day to day, everything should be ok to move out. I had a request for tarragon today, already. I can tell i need to get some cuttings going. I only have a few tarragon plants coming up in the bed so far for the plant sale, and one is already spoken for! I should have lots more by end of May, though, if all goes well. I'm also working on getting some more East Indian lemongrass going, perhaps i should call mine "Northwest Georgia" lemongrass?  Ha!  Hmmm it's that time of year again...with so much to do, my friends usually know they won't see as much of me from now until the fall, unless they want to come over and help! Ha! Well i did get to see all my kids tonite and little Tommy, my grandson. We had a great time. I've got to run and get my beauty rest now, lots to do tomorrow! Ya'll have a good night! Happy Spring!  debbie

Spring is finally here!! A bit cool today in Marietta, GA, the high is supposed to be 64, and a bit windy....definitely spring! I've been out doing a bit of "maintenance" with the radishes, thinning....planting carrots, arugula, more radishes...transplanting brussel sprouts, checking on the broccoli....lettuces look fine, starting to fill out a bit. The strawberries are greening up and flowering, as are the lavender bushes! I will probably be out there the rest of the day, I cannot stay inside once the weather tells me it's spring! (unless it's raining on me relentlessly-then i hit the greenhouse!) Everyone have a HAPPY SPRING DAY!

Hello, all, it is overcast again here in Marietta, GA.  Rain is needed, to be sure, but more sunshine on the agenda would be great for my spirits! It was a beautiful day yesterday, however, and it was not wasted. I spent time in the greenhouse planting more herbs!  I also potted up more things for the PLANT SALE in April - so much to do in so little time (see my page for info on upcoming events)  :-) Ordered more lemongrass seed this morning, i don't think i have enough to make it through the season....lemongrass is one of the raves for indian cuisine...and you can use it for grilling too, such as with fish....anything you want to have a lemon flavor! You can also try lemon thyme or lemon basil, depending on the flavor you are going for! As an aside, I am having a tea sale this month, through the end of the month....if you visit my site and store, you will see what is available.  Buy Three, get one free of all herbal teas!  I'll update more later...everyone have an awesome day!  debbie

Wow, I don't think I have ever sold this many seed in such a short period of time! Everyone is buying seeds! There was even an article in the paper today talking about how seed companies are RUNNING OUT of seed! Incredible!! Burpee was one of the ones mentioned that had run out of certain seed, i'm not sure if it even said which seed, but the fact that they ran out floored me! People are coming back to gardening in a BIG WAY and I am glad to be a part of it....growing our own food is the best way to get fresh, good for you produce, that you know where it came from!  

Well we certainly need the rain, but the cold that came with it i could do without! After last week's spring weather, today was a real bummer!! I finally went outside to the greenhouse to check on the babies. The tomatoes and peppers are doing great!! Not quite all of them are up, but the ones that are look good. I am excited! I planted sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, Early Girl, and Better boy tomatoes. Sweet banana peppers, green peppers and cayenne....i was told by my daughter that i need to plant Jalepeno as well...! Planted some veggies the other night, of course they have not had time to come up! TODAY i planted marjoram, more morning glories and gomphrena (strawberry fields), lemon basil, tulsi (holy basil) and a few other sundries i can't remember....went to the dolldar store when i was done and lucked up on finding more pots, 10 for $1...for the herb starts! Came in and took a nap...i am ready for the nice weather to come back now!! Here's wishing you all a good night and that tomorrow is a sunny day! :-)

 tomatoes and peppers

Hi everyone, it's been a few weeks so i thought i would update your all on the babies in the greenhouse! I have seedling basils(lots of varieties), chamomile, catnip, lavender, oregano, thyme, and the tomatoes and peppers are coming up and looking good! A few other stray weird plants...i like a challenge and have planted some Fenugreek just for fun, it came up right away so it wasn't much of a challenge!  Outside, in the garden, i planted onion and bibb lettuces. My radishes are up, garlic is doing well, tarragon is peeking through the soil and i have romaine and baby lettuce mix going strong. Cilantro and dill, they love the cooler weather, and are doing just fine! Of course, the ever present PARSLEY...not just for me, but for the butterflies too. I'm getting ready for our plant sale on April 18 at Point of Need Ministries, on Canton Road. We are having a festival type event, a BAND JAM, and many vendors will be present, including MOI with the plant sale! I will have irises, gardenias, butterfly bushes, coreopsis (perennial), mugwort, and a bunch of other plants, including the herbs....it will be a great sale! I was going to try to post a photo here....never done that before....of my plants "getting ready"!  Couldn't figure it out, so i'll try again later.....Ya'll have a great day, and pray the weather holds and spring is here to stay! HAPPY GARDENING!

Yea it's official, spring fever is here....LOL! I have all my little seed packs and have been in the greenhouse, and will be out there again today planting cinnamon basil, thai basil, purple basil, BRUSSELL SPROUTS, tomatoes, peppers.....yea my greenhouse will be overflowing....i rearranged to accomodate more plants, and realize i just was not using the space as wisely as i could have....it's cramped, but doable!  A good source for seed (besides me)  is Botanical Interests they are awesome! Lots of info on each packet, and reasonable priced, good selection, the whole nine yards.....so i have some new seed to plant from them. They have a website and blog too, and are a family owned company.  I can't wait to get out there and DIG IN.....!! Ya'll have an HERBY day!  debbie

The babies are up! Baby basils of the lime, genovese and lettuce leaf varieties! Also some morning glories and cyprus vines are  up....hopefully soon we'll have strawberry gomphrema and lavender as well. I've decided my greenhouse is defintely too small! I need much more room for all I need to start, or i'll just have to give it up! (yea whoever heard of a plant fiend giving  up? LOL!)  The rosemarys are doing well, seemed to have rooted (most of them). Now I need to start some moss curly parsley, oregano, dill, cilantro, to name  a few. Market will be here before I know it! I think I shall go see if i can find a bigger greenhouse....i'll let you know the outcome! Have an herby day! deb

Hello all, if you've never had LAVENDER SUGAR COOKIES, perhaps now is the time....hmmm make some for valentines day? All you have to do is pick your favorite sugar cookie recipe, (even if it's in a bag or a box) and add about 1 tbsp. ground dried lavender buds. If you are doing roll-out cookies, maybe sprinkle a little extra on top to decorate, along with your usual sugar sprinkles! Bake as usual and Voila! Something totally different and...they really taste great! Customers come back consistently looking for the lavender cookies!

ok, gotta run...ya'll stay warm...brrr....! debbie

It was too gorgeous a day in Marietta, GA to stay in the house, no matter I had a ton of things to do inside as well! Got a head start on planting some herb seeds in the greenhouse! Planted some sweet basil, lime basil, large leaf basil, then some flowers, too ...strawberry fields gomphrena and cyprus vines & morning glories....even rooted some rosemary cuttings...ok enough for one day! It is, afterall, only FEBRUARY! Temps in the greenhouse have been "tropical" the past few days so hopefully the basil will be up in a few days, as usual! NEVERMIND it's supposed to snow on Tuesday....LOL! Balmy today, freezing tomorrow...you never know in Georgia! :-) Everyone have a great day!

....Been dreaming about seeds.....can i ever have enough? And ordering more seeds.....ah those catalogs!  And everyone else has seeds on the brain, too, by the looks of my store! I still have genovese basil, lime basil, lemon basil, cinnamon basil, and many other herb and flower seeds available.  Unfortunately, I am all sold out of hyacinth bean! Those are always popular! Check out my store and see what you might be missing from your seed stash....and remember, always NO SHIPPING FEE for seeds at debbie's garden! Can't wait until spring to break ground! Think i'll head out to the greenhouse for a spell...! Ya'll have a great day and keep dreaming...spring is coming soon! :-)

Hello all, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm glad to have entered another new year with localharvest.org. The greenhouse is keeping all the baby herbs warm, and before we know it spring will be here again. Until then....I got a new seed catalog yesterday and am spending my time "daydreaming" about growing new types of basil and such! Perhaps i'll order some, and get it going in the greenhouse. Can't wait for farmer's market in May, I miss everyone! And, i'm still shelling pecans, too.  I believe in doing two things at once (at least) and i can listen to music or on-tape books and shell pecans at the same time! Got to keep those hands busy! Dreaming up new herbal tea blends, too...can't wait to savor them, hot or cold! Truly i have been blessed beyond belief, and i can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for me! I'm off now, can't sit still too long.....! Have a great day!