Grow Pumpkins Vertically Project Done

My vertical pumpkin growing project has been a success! Even though I should NOT have used string for my support, it didn't slow the pumpkins down one bit, so I am glad I experimented using string.

I grew and harvested 30 pumpkins in area 2 feet (.61 m) wide by 4 feet (1.22 m) long.

If you ever want to grow cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, etc., but don't feel you have the space, all will grow great on a trellis or stake system.

For more gardening tips and ideas, go to: http://www.weekendgardener.net

Try Something New! Grow A Medlar - Mespilus germanica

Some people are always looking for something new to grow and eat. This week I have the perfect fruit for just those folks.

The common Medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a slow growing, large deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 26 feet (8 m) tall. The leaves are dark green and 2 to 6 inches (6 to 15 cm) long and 1 to 1.5 inches (3 to 4 cm) wide.

The leaves turn a spectacular red in the fall, and the plant has beautiful white flowers in late spring. The fruit is a pome, and is about 1 inch (3 cm) in diameter, with wide-spreading persistent sepals giving a "hollow" appearance to the fruit.

Medlars are eaten very much the same way as persimmons. Initially the fruit are very hard and acidic, but they become edible after being softened ("bletted") by frost, or naturally in storage given sufficient time. Once softening begins, the skin rapidly takes a wrinkled texture and turns dark brown, and the inside reduces to a consistency and flavour reminiscent of apple sauce.

Medlars are hard to start froom seed, so most varieties are grafted onto pear root stock. They are self-fertile so they don't need another tree for pollination and they produce fruit by the second year.

They are slow growing, like full sun, but need a temperate climate, well-drained soil, and shelter from any strong winds. They don't like to dry out, but kept moist.

They are hardy to USDA Zone: 4-9 which means -30 to -20 degrees F and -34.2 to 28.9 degrees C.

So if you're looking for something new, try a Medlar!

For more gardening tips and ideas go to: www.weekendgardener.net

Grow A Carrot Top!

Fall is here, but that doesn't mean an end to having fun with gardening! A good way to keep kids (or just yourself) interested in gardening is to have some fun indoor plant projects throughout the year.

One project that people of all ages enjoy is growing a "Carrot Top Plant."

There are 2 ways to go about doing this. One way is using a dish, another way is to create a hanging basket of sorts, and we'll go over both.

Now carrot tops will sprout and grow into bushy plants, but will not grow another carrot - but it's still fun to do, here's how:

Method 1 - In A Dish

1. Cut off the top about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the crown. If there is any green on your carrot, cut it off

2. Fill a shallow bowl with sand, small pebbles or marbles

3. Push the carrot top into the sand, pebbles, or marbles so that the carrot end will be in the water, and fill the bowl with lukewarm water

4. Place the bowl near a sunny window and in a few days you will see the fern-like sprouts of the carrot

5. Keep the water topped off so that the carrot doesn't dry out

6. Your carrot plant will last until it out grows it's container. It also makes a fun table decoration


Method 2 - Make A Hanging Basket

1. Cut off the top about 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the crown. If there is any green on your carrot, cut it off

2. Carefully hollow out the cut end of the carrot about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) creating a "bowl" and leaving the other 1/2 inch solid that is near the carrot top

3. Tie a string around base of the carrot so you can hang it near a sunny window, tie the string so that the "bowl you have created is facing upwards

4. Once hanging near a sunny window, fill the "bowl" you hollowed out with water

5. Always keep the bowl full of water

6. In a few days you will see the top growing again

7. It will continue to grow as long as you want to let it grow. Now you have a hanging carrot plant!


For other tips and fun gardening ideas - visit www.weekendgardener.net