Edwin McLeod Organic Gardening

Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa)   Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it.   I could probably look like the Terminator if I took steroids and spent lots of time in the gym lifting weights, but I’d prefer not to have shriveled testicles.   You could have a lawn that looks like a carpet, but you probably don’t want to expose yourself, family and pets to pesticides and all the negative environmental consequences that go along with using chemicals on your lawn.   One of the worst consequences of using chemical fertilizers is water pollution.  Inorganic chemical fertilizers are very water soluble.  A large percentage of chemical fertilizer ends up washing down into streams, rivers and lakes.  The massive algae bloom that occurs almost every year in Lake Erie is primarily the result of chemical fertilizers used on lawns and farm fields.  The overgrowth of algae not only kills fish, it also caused the City of Toledo, Ohio to close...

HONEYPOT ANTS   Credit: Greg Hume  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/deed.en It’s almost spring and still cold out.   Why am I seeing ants in my bathroom?   What should I do? First, I will give you a little understanding of ant biology.   Second, I will describe how you should approach your ant incursion.   According to Gary A. Dunn, author of “Insects of the Great Lakes Region”: Ants are the most abundant form of life in the Great Lakes Region.  In 1975, eighty seven species of ants were recorded from the Edwin S. George Reserve in southeastern Michigan.   Ants are social insects living in small to large colonies, generally located in soil or wood.  The colonies are composed of individuals with specialized functions (castes). The wingless workers (sterile females) and winged reproductives (males and females) are essentially alike, except for the reproductive organs, wings and differing sizes.  The wings, four in number, a...

Growing plants from seed can be a lot of fun.   With a little knowledge, you can improve the germination rate of vegetable seed you purchase.   Excellent seed germination depends on a few factors: oxygen, water and temperature.   In general, seed germination is closely linked to the ecological conditions of a plant’s natural habitat.   All seeds need oxygen in order to germinate.  Oxygen is needed for respiration.  Respiration allows the seed to convert starch or oil into energy so the seed can open up and grow.  Do not  bury your seed too deep because you may reduce the amount of oxygen that is able to reach the seed.  Good soil structure - plenty of pore spaces between soil aggregates - aids in the transfer of oxygen to germinating seeds.  Adding compost increases soil organic matter.  More organic matter improves soil structure and increases pore spaces.   A basic rule of thumb is: Small seeds are planted shallow and bigg...

EUROPEAN ROMANESCO. (See the fractals?).   Credit: Jitze Couperus        Attribution 2.0 Generic  license.   You should eat and grow cabbage family plants.   Are you eating broccoli, cabbage, kale and cauliflower every so often?   You should since these cabbage family plants are rich in essential nutrients, including Vitamins C and K.   Consuming these vegetables have even been reported to reduce the risk of cancer.   The cabbage family is worthy of your attention.   It has a fascinating history and you should definitely include some cabbage family plants in your garden every year.   They are not difficult to grow if you have some basic knowledge of their growth requirements. The cabbage family was once called Crucifereae because all members of this family have flowers with 4 petals forming a cross and thought by medieval Europeans to form a crucifix.  Today, the new name for the group is Brassicaceae.  The word...