10. Grow Cucumbers Vertically in Your Small Urban Garden

When You have little space for growing, you have to be inventive. Cucumbers love to climb, they were made for it. As cucumbers grow they send little tendrils that wrap around anything that they come into contact with. This is what helps them climb.

Watch the video on You Tube

My cucumber patch in June

This is my cucumber patch. It is 12x3 feet in area. I found a bunch of bamboo stakes at the dollar store. Each tee-pee has five or six poles. I tied them together about 8 inches from the top, then i spread the bottom out so that the base is about 4 feet in diameter. Push the poles a few inches into the ground to anchor them.

Plant two or three cucumber plants on either side of each pole. I like to use a combination of seeds and transplants. The transplants produce fruit before the plants started from seeds. By using both seeds and transplants you can extend the amount of time that your plants will produce fruit.

Another thing that I like to do to stretch my cucumber season out is to plant a few different varieties.

This year I planted three different varieties. From left to right the varieties are 'sweet slice', 'cool breeze and 'slice master' . They are three different sizes and each have different qualities. Do your research for your area. Call a local university, ask a neighbour who is a gardener, or consult with a horticulturalist who is experienced with vegetable gardening. Choose what works best for your area. Certain varieties will have characteristics that will be best suited specifically for your area.

Having said that, all varieties of cucumbers will be most happy with very warm daytime temperatures and warmish night time temperatures, and even moisture. They do not like to be cold.

Why did I choose to grow theses varieties?

Sweet Slice- Sweet slice is great because no matter how hot it gets and how many dry spells there are they never become bitter. Most cucumber varieties will become very bitter if they have prolonged dry periods. If you live in an area that is dry, you must provide them with water in between rains. I live in the Canadian Prairies. We see some very hot dry weather in the summer. I have never had a bitter cucumber from a sweet slice plant. The peel is thick and inedible you must peel this cucumber. This is about as close to an English cucumber that I can grow in my area.

Cool Breeze-I like to grow cool breeze because they are small, only growing about 3-4 inches. My kids love them. Cool breeze has a very thin skin that you can eat which means more vitamins and minerals. They are covered in prickles which are easily removed with a vegetable brush and water. They also produce 100% female flowers. More about this later on.

Slice master- I have not grown slice master before. They jury is still out. They are not as big as sweet slice but are bigger than cool breeze. So far they have been good, no bitter ones as of yet. I always like to try something different, you never know what you might stumble upon. Many of my favourite varieties were discovered because I took a chance and tried them.

More About Male and Female Flowers

Above, is a female flower. Notice the miniature cucumber attached to the flower. This flower will produce a mature cucumber.

Above, is a male flower. Notice the absence of a miniature cucumber.This flower will not produce a mature cucumber.

Above is a 'cool breeze' cucumber vine. This cucumber produces all female flowers, which means that every flower that it has, a cucumber will be produced. This type of information can be found on the seed packet. This quality makes this cucumber a heavy and early producer. Also notice the light green tendrils that allow this plant to climb. They will wrap around anything that they touch. They will need to be gently guided to wrap around the poles. Every couple of days I check the vines to make sure that they are growing where I want them to grow. Just twist the end of the vine around the pole as they grow. You will be rewarded with delicious, perfect cucumbers.

The first photo in this post was taken four weeks before this photo. See how much they have grown. I have applied an all purpose vegetable fertilizer every three weeks throughout the summer. 

Notice the grass clippings placed on top of the soil. For more information about this technique refer to the post  Six Reasons Why You Should Mulch With Newspaper and Grass Clippings

5 Reasons To Grow Cucumbers Vertically

1. Efficient utilization of space.
2. They are designed to climb.
3. The fruit stays straight and clean.
4. Less chance of diseases because the leaves and fruit do not sit on the soil.
5. Easy to pick. No need to bend over.

I love this technique. I hope it works for you. Happy gardening. Watch the video with meow tips on YouTube

9. Growing Fruit Trees in Your Small Urban Yard. Yes, You Can! Espalier!

When I moved into my home 20 years ago, I really wanted to have my own fruit trees but thought that I did not have the space for them. After researching different growing techniques, I learned how they grow fruit in Europe. Europeans have much smaller urban spaces than North Americans. Yet they manage to efficiently utilizes their small spaces. The pruning technique, espalier, has been practised in Europe for centuries but is practically unheard of in North America. I consulted with a horticulturist from my local university to make sure that this was something that I could manage. And it is.           Let me just say, for the record, that I am not an arborist and have not been trained in espalier pruning technics.

If I can do this so can you, you have the space. All you  need to do is prune your tree. Let me show you how.

This is my mature apple tree. It was planted about 10 years ago. It grows in a raised bed that is 2 1/2 feet wide and about 12 feet long. There is a lattice behind the tree. I used the lattice to train the branches of the tree to grow horizontally. It's time for it to be pruned.








As you can see. The tree is growing  in a very small area and takes up virtually no space in my yard.

This is a plum tree that is one year old. I selected the is tree because it was small and had branches that I could train to grow horizontally.

After planting the tree, the first step is to cut the top of the tree off.
Every time you cut the main trunk the tree is going to produce tree new branches. One central leading branch and two lateral branches.
 I selected branches that where in pairs to the left and right of the main trunk. I pruned all the other branches off.
I then gently bent the branches so that they were positioned at right angles to the central trunk. Bend the branches very gently or slowing bend them over a few weeks until they are where you want them to be. Be careful not to brake the branches off. Tie the branches to you fence or wires using wrapped wire (available at gardening    centres) This plum tree will grow no taller than my fence.

Wait until your tree has flowers and set its fruit. You do not want to remove the fruit as you prune.



Select branches that are new growth. Prune them off at the main horizontal branch, getting as close the the main branch as you can.

Half of the tree is pruned. You can see that a great deal of foliage has been removed.
That's exactly what you want.

Almost done. All of the branches and all of the fruit can be reached with a six foot step ladder.

Pruning is completed. I prune this tree two or three times per growing season as I have a very limited space for it to grow in. If you can afford a little bit more room, then you could get away with pruning a bit less.

I think that it looks beautiful and it definitely is a conversation piece, everyone wants to know about this unusual looking tree.

By removing a lot of the foliage the thought is that the tree will put more energy into growing fruit, producing larger, better quality fruit. Allowing the sunlight to penetrate to the middle of the tree makes for a healthier tree as well.


I can have my apple and eat it too.

Watch me do  it on Youtube.

8. Six Reasons Why You Should Mulch With Newspaper and Grass Clippings

Mulching with newspaper and grass clippings. Six reasons why you should.

1. reduces the evaporation of water from the soil
2. inhibits the growth of weeds
3. keeps your produce cleaner
4. keeps grass clippings out of the landfill
5. recycles newspapers
6. it's free

One of the challenges of urban farming is finding the time to tend to the food that you are growing. A balance between work, family, kids, husband, garden can be next to impossible to attain.

I like to use my grass clippings as a mulch to inhibit weed growth.
By taking a few minutes each time the grass is cut, I can free up time otherwise spent pulling weeds.

Here's how to do it.

These are my tomato plants. The ground is fairly moist from recent rains. If your soil is dry, water it well before applying mulch.

Lay a double layer of newspaper right on to the soil in between the plants. The newspaper provides a barrier for weed growth and slows down the evaporation of water as well. Make sure to use non glossy news print.

Cover the surface of the newspaper with grass clippings(make sure that you grass has not been sprayed with any pesticides).

Make sure to leave a space around the stem of the plant. Cover the entire surface of the soil with a two to three inch layer of grass clippings.

Even though both grass clippings and news print are biodegradable, I remove them from my garden at the end of the growing season. In my part of the world newspaper takes a long time to break down. I add the 'old' grass clippings to the compost pile at the end of the growing season.

Presto, no more weeds. Such a great thing to do. And its free!
The veggies are way cleaner too because the soil is covered. The vegetables will sit on the grass instead of the soil.
Happy growing.

1. water your garden well
2. lay a double layer of non glossy newspaper in between the plants
3. put 2-3 inches of untreated grass clippings on top of newspaper
4. leave a space around the stem of the plants
5. every time that you cut your grass, add more mulch to your garden

7. It's Time To Plant. How To Plant Raised Beds

 After a long cold winter, the soil has dried out and warmed up sufficiently to plant seeds. It will not be time to put plants into the garden for some time but seeds will be safe under the soil. Every zone has a different recommended  time for planting. In my area this is usual around the end of April or beginning of May. The time of planting can vary as some years have earlier springs and warmer temperatures than other years. So rather than going by a specific date, it is better to plant when your soil has dried out enough and warmed up enough.
I usually grab a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball then I drop the ball on to the soil. If the ball breaks apart when it hits the dirt then I know that the dirt has sufficiently dried out and is ready to be turned. Cultivating soil that is still too wet will result in a lumpy hard soil. Slightly moist is what you want. The dirt will be cool but not freezing. So seeds, like carrots, will germinate well in cooler soils. Other seeds, like beans, like warmer soil temperatures.

Many Advantages For Raised Beds

• Raised beds are easier to maintain than having a more traditional garden. 
• The soil warms up faster
• Weeds are easier to control
• It is easier on your back when seeding or weeding 
• Plants and seeds can be planted close together. So as to efficiently make use of smaller urban spaces
•  The soil does not get compacted because it never gets walked on

raised garden beds

Raised beds can be made from many materials. There are many web site with good instructions if you want to DIY. Ready-made beds are also available. I am lucky enough to live with a DIY guy. My husband designed and built my raised beds. With my guidance, of course.
My garden beds are made from untreated, 2x10 inch pine boards. It is important not to use treated wood in your garden as the chemicals used to treat the wood will eventually leach into the soil and potentially contaminate the food that you
grow. So, although the wood will eventually decompose because of the contact with the soil, it is a natural material that will not contaminate my food. As the wood breaks down it is easily removed and replaced with another piece of wood. This decomposition will take many years depending on the level of moisture in your area.

Tips on Planting

• Make a plan. Choose the plants you will grow this year.
• Choose vegetables that your family loves. Don't plant ten zucchini plants if you know that no one is going to eat them.
• Some vegetables are more labour intensive than others. For instance, peas and beans need to be picked daily when they are at the peak of their production whereas carrots are harvested as needed and then once in the fall. Choose veggies that you have time for.
• Make notes of what you planted and where. Add notes throughout the summer about how your vegetable varieties performed. 
• Keep your notes from year to year to refer back to when deciding which varieties to choose for the next growing season.
• Start small. Don't plan a huge garden right away. You can always add on. 
• Involve your children. Teach them how to do it. Let them see how wonderful a freshly picked tomato can taste. Tell them about how important it is to eat organic food. 

I use a garden fork to turn my dirt.

Then, using the backside of a rake, I smooth the soil and break up any large lumps.

This is the tool that I like to use to make shallow furrows for the seeds.

The distance between the furrows depends on the seeds that you are planting. The photo shows me planting carrots using my homemade seed tape. The furrows are about four to six inches apart. Large plants, like potatoes will need more space to grow.

I like rows. It appeals to my inner control freak. There are different methods to sow seeds like square foot gardening or the broadcast seeding method (demonstrated by Martha Stewart,thanks Martha)








Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Pat the soil down and water generously.

Plant seeds like peas about two inches apart. With rows about 6 inches apart.

Follow the guidelines on the back of the seed package, but remember that you can generally plant things closer together when planting in raised beds.

Use your vertical space. I purchased these inexpensive bamboo poles from dollarama. I tied the tops together and stuck the ends into the soil. When it is warmer, I will plant cucumber plants around the poles. They will need a bit of help to climb, but they love it. My family LOVES cucumbers. I will plant 30 plants(or more) in this 3x9 foot space.

Don't forget to feed your plants. I add compost annually in the spring or fall. Watch your plants, if they are looking pale or not producing or blooming the way that they should, try some fertilizer. 20-20-20 is safe. Follow the directions on the package, it is possible to 'burn' your plants with fertilizer that is too strong.

I'm excited. Spring is here again. I can finally play in the dirt. I hope that some of my advice is helpful. Stay tuned to watch my garden grow.

Happy gardening!

MY APPLE TREE. ESPALIER PRUNING TECHNIQUE(TUTORIAL FOUND HERE )

6. Micro Greens

Basil, watercress, kale, romaine, and cilantro. All have been growing in my basement under florescent lights for about six weeks. They tender, small leaves are just right for the picking. Still too cold to plant outside, they thrive in the basement.

All of these plants don't mind having a few leaves pinched off. In fact it makes them grow stronger.

So fresh, so delicious.

Roasted beet and feta salad with balsamic vinaigrette. 
This was my supper. It was divine. Check out the recipe.

5. Choose The Best One

tomato seedlings 26 days after planting

                                                                                    It's been about 30 days since we have planted the seeds. The seedlings look very healthy. If you recall, I put two seeds in each little pot. Some of the time both seeds have germinated, sometimes only one has germinated.

It it becoming crowded in the pots where there are two plants.

 Using a small cuticle scissors select the weakest plant and cut the stem. Leave the strongest plants undisturbed. There is no need to remove the roots of the undesirable plant, they will eventually break down.

Thats all for now. They need to grow a bit more. Remember to water them and check on them daily. After a few more weeks in the little pots the plants will need to be moved into a larger pot to grow some more as we wait for spring to arrive

Winter is taking its time to leave. In the Canadian prairies our growing season can be rather short. It is safe to plant your tomatoes in your garden when all risk of frost has passed. Tomatoes are a tropical plant and do not like temperatures below freezing. Other plants, like cabbage and kale can tolerate colder temperatures. More about this to come.

4. D.I.Y. Seed Tape

Seed tape is readily available wherever seeds are sold. The problem is that it is only available with a few selective varieties. It is not available in the varieties that I like to grow. So, using packages of seeds that I have purchased and a few things that I have around the house I can make my own seed tape.

 Seed tape is a useful tool when planting very small seeds like carrots and lettuce. It is difficult to space these small seeds when planting them in the garden. Using seed tape makes the spacing of these seeds very easy.






Start with a length of 2 ply toilet tissue. My garden beds are about 3 feet in width so I chose to make the tapes 34 inches long.

Separate the tissue into two pieces.

Mix about 1/4 cup all purpose flour with a bit of water to make a paste.

Using a small paint brush or skewer, dab the paste onto the paper.
Look on the back of the seed package. There will be information about how far apart the seeds should be placed. Different plants have different space requirements. Follow the directions provided.

Place the seeds onto the dabs of flour paste. I used tweezers.

Using a spray bottle. Gently mist the tissue. Do not make it too wet or the tissue will tear.

Fold the dampened tissue in thirds

Press tissue with your hands to firmly adhere the seeds  to the damp paper. Let the tissue dry. Gently fold and store in a dry container. Make sure to mark the container with the variety name.

.

Keep your seeds in a safe place until planting day. I still have a few weeks to wait. Some seeds like warm soil in which to germinate like beans, corn, tomatoes and cucumbers. Other seeds tolerate colder soil like lettuce, carrots, and kale.

I made seed tape with lettuce, carrot and kale seeds. More to come at planting time. Stay tuned.

Watch me make them on You Tube.
This is what happens when carrots have space to grow