Gardening at the Crossroads Blog

The Gardening-at-the-Crossroads blog is our way of keeping our readers informed about the ever changing seasons of the garden.

This'll get you juices flowing

Now you know why you love to garden and miss it so much in the winter.

Click for more info

USDA Hardiness Zones

Enter your ZIP code and look up your USDA hardiness zone.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "USDA Hardiness Zones"

USDA updates hardiness zones

The USDA released a new hardiness zone map of the United States. What this means to gardeners is that everyone generally skipped to a zone warmer than in the past.

Personally, we will take a wait and see approach to this new map and not run out and buy some tropical plants for the yard.

The new map is based on temps for the last thirty years, and it puts us in Zone 6a : -10 to -5 (F) but in our neck of the woods it's been colder than that 15 times in the last 50 years with a record low of -20 (F).

As always these maps are not meant to be anything more than a guideline, so if you do decide to push it with your plantings, be prepared to take steps to protect them the next time the temps drop below "normal".

Click for more info

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a natural extension of your garden and it also helps the environment.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Beekeeping"

Dividing Hostas

Dividing hostas can be done easily, here are our tips!

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Dividing Hostas"

Season Extenders

Season extenders such as row covers and hoop houses can add weeks if not months to your gardening season.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Season Extenders"

Greenhouses

Cold frames and greenhouses can help you extend the gardening seasons.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Greenhouses"

Sweet Peet

Sweet Peet is a remarkable product that's sold as a mulch, but works wonders as a soil amendment.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Sweet Peet"

Affiliate Relationships

Affiliate Relationships Disclosure

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Affiliate Relationships"

Self-watering Seed Starting System

If you are like us, the place where you start your seeds is a little out of the way (ours is in the basement).

And as the old saying goes- "Out of sight, out of mind." So there's probably been a time that you've forgotton to water your little babies. Well here's a solution for you- Burpee's new Eco-friendly self-watering seed-starting kits available at Burpee.com.

This kit comes with everything you need to get your seedlings off to a great start, you just add the seeds. The self-watering feature insures that the seedlings have an even supply of moisture- no more remembering to water the plants when they've already wilted!

Also, you can save $5.00 on all of your seed-starting supplies if you act now by taking $5.00 off $30.00 or more with code AJAN5, thru 1/20 at Burpee.com

Plant Names

Plant Names can be confusing- they are often called by different names from vendor to vendor.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Plant Names"

Soil Drainage

Without good soil drainage, your garden won't be able to live up to it's potential.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Soil Drainage"

DIY Heat Mat

Every once in a while, we come across a great idea. This is one of them. Our only caution is that whenever you mix electricity and water there's the potential for bad things to happen. Make sure that ant electrical devices are plugged into a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) protected outlet.

Click for more info

PLU Codes

Seems like there are codes for everything these days- UPC codes, QR codes and one that's not new but may have snuck in under your radar, PLU codes.

Plus codes are those numbers that are on the little stickers that are affixed to produce these days. These codes help consumers, and store clerks, properly identify produce at the check-out. These are the things that separate the Fuji's from the Gala's and the Parsley's from the Cilantro's. They are also used to differentiate different sizes of the same fruit or vegetable.

These codes are assigned by the International Federation for Produce Standards. You can find out more that you ever wanted to know about the coding system here.

The numbers are usually four digits, but it turns out that some have five digits and that fifth digit (which is actually the first) can tell you a lot about what you are buying.

As it turns out that fifth, leading digit can tell you if the produce was grown organically or if it's a genetically modified (GMO) product.

For example-

• A conventionally grown banana has a PLU code of 4011
• An organically grown banana has a PLU code of 94011
• A GMO banana would have a PLU code of 84011

This should be a great help to those who are concerned about how their produce, was in fact, produced.

And, it makes an even stronger case for growing as much of what your family needs yourself.

Dracaenas

Dracaenas are easy to care for tropicals that will make a welcome addition to your home.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Dracaenas"

Phalaenopsis orchids

Phalaenopsis orchids have brought the beauty of orchids to the average household.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Phalaenopsis orchids "

New Basic Gardening Course

We have developed a new "Basic Gardening" course.

For those of you who are long time fans of Gardening at the Crossroads, this info might be repetitive, but in accordance with our policy of offering new things to all of our fans, we will be sending this to everyone. If it's old hat, feel free to share it with your gardening friends who may need some help.

Look for this course in your inbox starting next Wednesday, January 18th and continuing weekly for 8 or 10 weeks.

Winter Houseplant Care

Winter houseplant care changes from the summertime routine.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Winter Houseplant Care"

Tomato grafting

Tomato grafting can give you the best of both worlds, heirloom taste and hybrid vigor and disease resistance.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Tomato grafting"

Indoor gardening allows you to bring nature indoors

You can bring nauture indoors with indoor gardening. From the window sill pot to an advanced hydroponics system there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Indoor gardening allows you to bring nature indoors"

Pollinators

Pollinators are an important part of your garden's ecosystem.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Pollinators"

Crotons

Crotons are a diverse family of plants that have something for everyone.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Crotons"

Upcoming products from Proven Winners

Here is a preview of some exciting new products from Proven Winners

African Violets

African violets are a common houseplant that is relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to care for.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "African Violets"

Forcing Bulbs

Forcing bulbs such as Tulips can be a quick and easy way to bring color to your home in late winter.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Forcing Bulbs"

Houseplants

Houseplants add another dimension to your gardening experience, brightening the indoors.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Houseplants"

Tulips

Tulips are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Tulips"

Window Farming

This is an interesting website. It utilizes simple concepts with rudimentary tools and supplies to create a workable hydroponic system. The website itself is a work in progress, so don't be too critical! Instead, embrace the concept if it's something that interests you.

Click for more info

Books for Gardeners

Our book-shelf has books for gardeners that we own and recommend.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Books for Gardeners"

Poinsettia

A christmas staple, the Poinsettia is a beautiful addition to your holiday decorations.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Poinsettia"