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The KGE Blog

The KGE Blog

Welcome to our corner of the internet!

We are passionate about all things green and growing! Check out the latest, as we dig into the world of gardening, sharing tips, tricks, and inspiration for cultivating your

own slice of paradise.

Welcome to our corner of the internet!

We are passionate about all things green and growing! Check out the latest, as we dig into the world of gardening, sharing tips, tricks, and inspiration for cultivating your

own slice of paradise.

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KGE

KGE

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Welcome Spring!

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Isn’t it incredible that spring is already here?! I’m not complaining in the least... time seems to be flying, lately! Now that the season is upon us, I wanted to share some information that is pertinent to the springtime season.

Steps to “Get Ready”

  • PLAN YOUR GARDEN - Decide what you want to grow and where to grow it. Important factors to consider are your growing zone, sunlight, and the size of your garden.
  • PREPARE SOIL - Test the soil and amend with compost if needed. General pH for most plants is between 6.0 and 7.0. It is super important to know what pH your plants thrive in!
  • START SEEDS INDOORS - Spring is the best time to get those seedlings started! Current seed packets, seedling starter soil mix, and proper supplies will ensure success!
  • CLEAN UP GARDEN BEDS - If you didn’t clean up the beds in the fall, now is the time to remove leaves, debris, and weeds. It’s always great to start from a clean slate!
  • PLANT COOL SEASON CROPS - Spring is the season for cool season crops like spinach, lettuce, and peas!
  • MULCH GARDEN BEDS - Apply a layer of mulch to regulate soil temperature and prevent weeds.
  • MONITOR WATER AND TEMPERATURE - Spring can be a crazy time with inconsistent rain as well as temperatures all over the place! Make it a habit to check the daily weather as well as your garden soil to make sure your plants have what they need!

Welcome Spring!

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COMPANION PLANTING

What Is It?

Benefits

Drawbacks

Companion planting is when you plant different types of plants together (vegetables, herbs, and flowers) to help all the plants to grow!

  • Improved Growth
  • Efficient Use of Space
  • Pest Control
  • Disease Prevention


  • Competitive Growth
  • Incompatible
  • Misinformation about Companions
  • Complexity in Planning

Check Out My FREE eBook:

“Companion Planting Quick Guide”

Ebooks

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Knowing Seasonal Changes:

Gardening is tied to seasons.Reflecting on the past season will help you understand the nuances of each season, from planting times to weather patterns and plant behavior. This understanding will create better planning and decision-making for the upcoming seasons.

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KGE

KGE

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DEC ~ 2023

Year-End Reflections: Cultivating for the New Year

Year-End Reflections: Cultivating for the New Year

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In my many years of gardening, I’ve often found that reflection on the past gardening season ALWAYS helps with my gardening of the future!

Here are the benefits of reflection:

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Learning Through Success and Failure:

Taking a moment to look back, whether at successes or shortcomings, offers a valuable learning lesson. There is definitely a high level of satisfaction and achievement when you grow something… you remember it! Similarly, assessing challenges or failures grants an opportunity to steer clear of repeating those same mistakes in the following year.

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Adapt and Improve:

Previous gardening experiences can help in refining gardening techniques. You can adjust your approach to your garden’s specific conditions by refining techniques that address climate, soil quality, or soil exposure to name a few.

CELEBRATE!

CELEBRATE!

CELEBRATE!

Appreciate the progress you have made, no matter how small! It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the time and effort as well as the accomplishment of the whole gardening experience!

Setting Realistic Goals

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Reflection assists in setting realistic and achievable goals for the future. By assessing what was accomplished and what fell short in the past, you can set more informed and targeted goals for the upcoming season.

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

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KGE

KGE

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

From our home to yours!!!

Dr. Laura Christine and Family

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NOV ~ 2023

How to Protect Your Plants from Frost
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As I write this blog, we’ve just experienced our first overnight cooler weather. We didn’t get down to freezing but we were close! Close enough for me! Whether you have a fall garden growing, like me, or you have a perennial garden, it is important to prepare and protect

your plants from frost.

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what is frost?

Frost forms when the air s water vapor freezes into ice crystals creating a thin icy layer on surfaces like plants particularly when the temperature falls below freezing 0 or 32

Tips To Protect Plants From Frost

Tips To Protect Plants From Frost

Know Your Frost Dates

The benefit of being aware of the first frost date, for your area, will give you time to make the decisions that will put into place protective measures such as covering plants or moving sensitive plants indoors to prevent damage.

One of my favorite resources for this information is The National Gardening Association.

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Different Types of Frost

Frost comes in three main types. All of them can harm plants, from a little damage to ruining them completely. Knowing these types helps you use the right protection for

your plants.

Sudden Early Frost Damage

Be aware that when there is an early frost that is unexpected (sudden), plants haven’t had the time to adjust! The drop in temperatures shocks plants because they haven’t

gone into dormancy, yet. Plants in containers are more susceptible because of the

fluctuations in the soil temperature.

Know Your Plants

Knowing the tolerance levels of your plants enables you to protect them effectively.

Plants to Cover with a light frost;

Basil, beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, ground cherry, melons, okra, peppers potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatillos, tomatoes

Semi-Hardy Plants that can tolerate light or short term freeze (28℉-32℉)

Beets, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, garlic, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, radish, spinach, strawberries

(blooms damaged at 28 degrees and below)

Cold Hardy Plants that can withstand moderate temps of 24℉ to 28 ℉ (They get sweeter in the cold!)

Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, parsnip, turnip

What about Citrus?

Lemon and Lime are very sensitive - suffer damage at 32 ℉

Grapefruit and orange can tolerant mid 20s℉

Kumquat and mandarin are the most cold hardy and can tolerate 18℉ to 20℉



Monitor Weather Forecasts: Keep an eye on weather forecasts for your area. Frost is most likely to occur on clear, calm nights when the temperature drops significantly. Stay informed so you can take action in advance. Local news and weather apps work well!


Know Your Frost Dates: Understand the average first frost date for your region. This information can help you plan when to start preparing your garden for colder temperatures.


Choose Frost-Tolerant Plants: When selecting plants for your garden, consider choosing those that are more tolerant of cold temperatures. This will reduce the impact of frost on your garden.

Ways to Prepare for Frost

Ways to Prepare for Frost

Frost tolerant plants are those that can withstand or even thrive in cold temperatures including light frost These plants are excellent choices for fall and early spring gardening when temperatures can dip below freezing

Mulching

Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your plants. Mulch helps insulate the soil, retaining heat and protecting the roots of your plants from freezing.

Living Mulches

Living Mulches

Organic Mulches

Organic Mulches

Ground Covers: Certain ground cover plants, like clover or creeping thyme, can act as living mulch. They provide the benefits of traditional mulch while adding beauty to your landscape.

Cover Crops: In vegetable gardens, cover crops like winter rye or crimson clover can be grown to cover the soil and improve its fertility during the off-season.

Specialized Mulches:

Cocoa Hulls: Cocoa hulls have a pleasant chocolate aroma and are often used in ornamental garden beds. However, they can be toxic to pets if ingested.


    • Seaweed: Seaweed mulch is rich in nutrients and minerals and can be particularly beneficial in coastal areas.


Ground Covers: Certain ground cover plants, like clover or creeping thyme, can act as living mulch. They provide the benefits of traditional mulch while adding beauty to your landscape.

Cover Crops: In vegetable gardens, cover crops like winter rye or crimson clover can be grown to cover the soil and improve its fertility during the off-season.

Specialized Mulches:

Cocoa Hulls: Cocoa hulls have a pleasant chocolate aroma and are often used in ornamental garden beds. However, they can be toxic to pets if ingested.


    • Seaweed: Seaweed mulch is rich in nutrients and minerals and can be particularly beneficial in coastal areas.


Wood Chips: Wood chips are a popular choice, often made from tree branches and bark. They break down slowly and can add organic matter to the soil as they decompose.

Straw: Straw is a light, airy mulch that's particularly useful for insulating soil and suppressing weeds.

Hay: Similar to straw, hay can be used as mulch. However, it may contain weed seeds, so be cautious when using it.

Leaves: Shredded leaves make excellent mulch, adding nutrients to the soil as they break down. Avoid using whole leaves that might together and prevent water penetration.

Pine Needles (Pine Straw): Pine needles are long-lasting and work well in acidic soil. They don't compact easily, allowing for good water penetration.

Wood Chips: Wood chips are a popular choice, often made from tree branches and bark. They break down slowly and can add organic matter to the soil as they decompose.

Straw: Straw is a light, airy mulch that's particularly useful for insulating soil and suppressing weeds.

Hay: Similar to straw, hay can be used as mulch. However, it may contain weed seeds, so be cautious when using it.

Leaves: Shredded leaves make excellent mulch, adding nutrients to the soil as they break down. Avoid using whole leaves that might together and prevent water penetration.

Pine Needles (Pine Straw): Pine needles are long-lasting and work well in acidic soil. They don't compact easily, allowing for good water penetration.

When choosing a mulch consider factors such as the specific needs of your plants the climate in your region and the aesthetics you want to achieve Additionally be aware that some mulches like wood chips may temporarily deplete nitrogen from the soil as they decompose so consider adding nitrogen rich fertilizer if needed

Compost

Well-rotted compost can be used as a mulch, improving soil structure and fertility as it breaks down.

Watering

Water the soil thoroughly before a frost. Water before the sun goes down. Cover plants before sun down. Cover all the way down to the ground to hold in the heat. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, which can help protect plant roots from freezing. However, don't water foliage as wet leaves can be more susceptible to frost damage.

Ways to Cover Plants

Ways to Cover Plants

Protecting plants from frost involves using various coverings to create a barrier between

the plants and the cold air. Here are several types of coverings that can be used to

protect plants from frost:

Frost Blankets or Floating Row Covers: These lightweight fabric covers are specifically designed to protect plants from frost while allowing light and moisture to pass through. They can be laid directly on plants or suspended using supports like hoops. Frost blankets come in various thicknesses for different levels of protection - need to be removed during the day after a frost event


Cloches: Cloches are individual protective covers that can be placed over individual plants. They can be made of glass, plastic, or even translucent fabric. Cloches create a microclimate around the plant, trapping heat and providing protection from frost.


Old Bedsheets or Blankets: Reusing old bed sheets, blankets, or other similar fabrics can be an effective and inexpensive way to cover plants during a frost event. Secure fabric to ground to prevent blowing away and remove when sun comes up and temp is above 32℉.

Tarps or Plastic Sheets: Plastic sheets or tarps can be used to cover larger areas or rows of plants. However, it's important to ensure that the plastic doesn't come into direct contact with the plants, as it can transmit cold temperatures.


Plant Supports and Hardscape: Sometimes, using nearby structures like fences, walls, or other sturdy supports can create a protective barrier against cold winds and frost.


Cold Frames and Hoop Houses: If you have larger plants or a garden bed, cold frames or hoop houses can offer more substantial protection. These structures are designed to capture sunlight and heat during the day and retain it during the night.


Bring Potted Plants Indoors: Tender plants in containers should be brought indoors or placed in a sheltered location, like a garage or porch, during cold nights.

It is important to secure the covering properly to prevent it from blowing away and to ensure that it doesn t touch the plants directly The covering should also be removed during the day to allow sunlight and ventilation especially if temperatures rise Keep in mind that different coverings offer varying levels of protection so consider the severity of the frost and the needs of your plants when choosing the appropriate covering method

When To Take Off Cover?

When To Take Off Cover?

Best time to take off covering:

As soon as the sun comes up and the temperature rises above 32 degrees

Trapping heat during day could cause plants to come out of dormancy and cause extra damage to the plant

Covers on at sundown!

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Check Out MORE Fall Gardening Information on the KGE YouTube Channel . . .

Check Out MORE Fall Gardening Information on the KGE YouTube Channel . . .

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Until next time, have a

fantastic gardening day!

~Laura

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