Garden reboot

A worn-out garden in July doesn't mean you're destined for a garden fail this year. This is the perfect time to yank out and start fresh.

Let me start with my confession: Weeds won out - big time - this summer. They thrived; my plants did not. When I returned from vacation this week, I found tons of weeds, a sad, one-strand tomato plant with two sadder tomatoes on it, wimpy bean plants that had been eaten alive. I could be discouraged; instead I looked to the future.

First, it's just the right time for fall planting. I am ripping out weeds in squares and replanting with beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, radishes and other cool-weather plants.

Second, look for those little surprises. I was shocked to find that while my tomato plants in the garden looked pathetic, there were a half-dozen tomato plants that had self-planted from my compost bin! Two of them were thriving - one of them was as tall as my bin - and I am letting them stay put. The others have been carefully moved and replanted to my garden so my husband can mow.

Third, remember that the warm-weather growing season isn't quite over yet. You may be able to still find some clearanced plants at local farm stands or farmers markets, or plant some short-term seeds (think: lettuces or radishes).

And finally, don't rush to rip out so quickly. My bok choy and lettuces that bolted are now about to seed - meaning less work for me later!

What are your favorite tips for rebooting your garden during the summer?

Second-Chance Gardening

Yes, the drought destroyed my spring garden, but I'm not giving up hope. After all we're only halfway to frost date!

Today at the Green Phone Booth, I'm sharing plans for my second-chance garden.

Herb harvest

Threats of frost kicked my preservation into high gear. Today at the Green Phone Booth, I'm sharing a few ideas for quickly using up the last of the season's herbs.

Second-chance gardening

While my neighbors have sadly ripped up their gardens and mourned a bad growing season, I'm back for more. Today at the Green Phone Booth, I'm sharing what's starting to grow in our fall-season garden.

Heirloom gardening on a budget

In not-so-sunny Indiana, we're still about two months away from our first planting of the year, but I'm tempted by the catalogs and their promises of colorful heirlooms for my garden.

Sure, gardening can be expensive. The set-up costs of starting a raised bed, of building up bad dirt, of overbuying expensive seeds. But it also can be a great investment: in your health, in your relationships with your kids (mine are digging in the dirt anyway), in the environment.

I'm partial in that we use organic practices in our garden, and we prefer to try heirloom varieties over other types of seeds. Granted, that sounds like a recipe for expensive. It doesn't have to be.

To put aside any worries, here are six tips for heirloom gardening on a budget.

1. Price shop. Heirloom doesn't have to be expensive. In one catalog, I've found prices ranging from $1.75 a packet (much what you'd pay at a garden shop) to more than $4, depending on the variety. If you're not partial to a particular type, you can try heirlooms relatively inexpensively.

2. Watch your costs. In Four-Season Harvest, Eliot Coleman recommends not buying more than two or three types of a particular produce. Most of us have small garden plots, so buy accordingly. Also, consider splitting seeds and shipping costs with another gardener.

3. Save your seeds. True, entire books have been devoted to this subject, but seed saving doesn't have to be complicated. For example, I've left bean seeds to dry on my counter to be used later in the season or the following spring.

4. Let your plants re-seed. OK, this tip is more out of laziness than anything. After accidentally seeing some lettuce bolt one summer, I let it go to seed out of curiousity. I had to do nothing to have new lettuce the following year!

5. Buy local when you can. While the price is often comparable, you'll benefit by growing plants that are more accustomed to your climate and soil.

6. Extend your seasons. Seed goes bad after a few years, so why not make the most of it? Check your area extension's garden calendar to see how long you can plant a particular plant. You could easily get a second or third batch of carrots, radishes or cool-season vegetables just by doing another planting. Extended-season gardening is something I'm relatively new at, but I love reaping the rewards!

Growing garlic: Plan now for fall

Growing garlic is about as easy as it gets. Put a bulb in the ground in the fall, wait through the winter, and in late spring or summer (depending on the type), you get fresh garlic. There's nothing that compares to it. Not the bottled kind, nor the white papery, decaying bulbs at the grocery store.

The problem is, it's not a cheap habit. If you're ordering, you need to think about it now, and prepare to spend $8.50 or more per half-pound of garlic. And if you want multiple varieties, you better have ground space and serious cash. It adds up quickly!

Or you can start shopping now. Keep an eye out at your farmers markets for garlic. (A word of note: It goes quickly, so arrive early in the day!) Store back a few bulbs for fall, and you'll be ready for planting with a more manageable bunch.

This weekend, I managed to get some early spring heirloom garlic for 50 cents a head. For three dollars, I even with my tendency to cook using lots of garlic, I'll have plenty to plant come October!

If you're thinking about using the types at the grocery store, I'd advise against it. I've had no luck with regular or organic garlic varieties sold in the shops. Good luck!

Birthday blessings

Yesterday I marked the moment where my husband says lovingly I became "halfway to 70." Talk about a heavy moment, when you put it into those terms.

I wish I could say I had a fantastic party - friends together over a good meal and a better glass of wine or two. But I'm just fine with the way it turned out.

Our day was spent in the nuttiness involved with getting ready for guests, chasing two kids and harvesting what was left in our garden before it all froze. Sure, it makes you feel tired just reading that!

Sure, I had a stressful morning. My husband had class and then work - but then, at least the next two weeks he has work. The visit to the grocery store unnerved me. But at the point of becoming broken, my toddler looked up at me, with a huge grin, and proudly announced: "Birthday."

When my brother arrived first from Chicago, the kids clung happily to their uncle, which afforded me the opportunity for a quiet moment cutting herbs, pulling two purple carrots that made it and enjoying the silence until it was broken by a little girl wanting to color with her chalk. I was able to relax somewhat while I worked on washing my oregano and drying them in the oven. I had a great conversation with my brother as we washed and chopped apples from my babysitter - the bags of which will come in handy for some much less stressful apple streudel making for our Christmas gathering.

And after my parents arrived, they joined us for a huge bowl of pasta carbonara - which I was thrilled to have all of the ingredients for without making a second trip to the store (and some of which I'd just grabbed from the backyard) - and a comforting slice of pumpkin pie a friend of mine had made just because.

So it wasn't a wild way to celebrate #35. But, surrounded by the people who love me in their own strange way, it was fine with me.

Oh, and here's the recipe for the pasta. It was found in a friend's magazine, and everyone in the family enjoyed it - it's definitely a keeper!

Carbonara Pasta
1 box spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 oz. bacon
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
4 cloves garlic (or more), diced
1/2 c. sherry
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 eggs
1 c. Parmesan
1/4 c. fresh parsley

Cook spaghetti according to directions. Meanwhile, in large skillet heat the oil. Brown the bacon until crisp. Add walnuts, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring often. Add the wine and cook 2-3 minutes more. Drain the pasta and add to the skillet.

In a small bowl, whisk eggs with 1/2 c. Parmesan. Remove skillet from heat. Pour egg mixture into the spaghetti and mix. Top with rest of cheese, parsley and black pepper.

Fall gardening - where to get seeds

This month, I've attended a virtual fall gardening class led by Sharon Astyk. I've learned a lot and feel humbled by the amount of information I'm trying to digest.

If you're considering fall gardening, Sharon has posted a resource guide to places to get seeds. As most places I see seem to focus on spring plantings, this is a great resource.

So here's the plan

Last week I alluded to the fact that I was actually going to attempt a fall vegetable garden. Well, here's the plan. For now.

As the tomatoes, summer squash and beans die off, I'll start replanting my small beds with new rounds of spinach, carrots, garlic, etc. I realize this is very much a work in progress - I don't think, for instance, that melon transplants or potatoes may make it after all.

I'm heartened to know that I haven't missed my window of opportunity. According to the Purdue University Extension, I'll still have time after my unexpected absence to get some planting for this year. According to its calendar, I have a few more weeks for fall planting - and even into September for radishes. So maybe I can pull this off after all!

Fall gardening? It’s not even summer yet.

Yes, I realize the calendar says late July. Tell that to my garden.

While I’ve been pleasantly surprised by our wet, cool summer – I think the warmest it’s been all month is 85 degrees – it’s not done much for my garden, other than the unauthorized additions. The weeds are thriving.

So when my fall gardening class began a deep discussion of plans for not only fall plantings but also plans for the winter, I was floored. Fall planting? It’s not September (when I drop in the garlic). And winter? Isn’t that five months away?

I started reading a book on four-season gardening, which hit the point home. Yes, you can have your seasons of gardening tasks: planting in the spring, weeding all summer, staring sadly at the remains in the fall. Or you can take a more ongoing approach. It’s more “do” and a little less do-or-die as far as planting and maintenance goes. And it means that you could be working – and reaping the rewards – for weeks and months beyond your neighbors.

’ll admit it’s taken a major shift in attitudes for me. After a decade of working in publications and the media, I’m comfortable in thinking seasons ahead for my day job. And I’ll be the first to confess I typically wrap up Christmas shopping by Labor Day. But planning for cool-season crops before the tomatoes turn red? It feels strange.

Still, I am slowly getting into the groove of thinking fall. I’ve flipped through a few Web sites and ordered a few fall garden catalogs, a few of which I’ve already had to steal back from my 4 year old. I’ve started marking up my garden plan, which I’ll post next week when I feel it’s a little more final.

In the meantime, if you have suggestions of things to start in my garden for fall, I’d love to hear them!