TLC Mini Farm Podcast Tahnee Phan

Mike from Grow Happy Gardening joins our podcast to talk about the Kratky Method. Here are the 6 things that you will need to try this method:



container/reservoir (you can use any container from a 5 gallon bucket to a 32 ounce mason jar)

plastic cup with holes that will hold the plant and allow the roots to dip into the water (Mike uses 3” inch net cups with a wide-mouth mason jar.)

seedling

inert substrate to anchor the plant in the cup (clay pebbles, gravel or perlite)

water

nutrients (Mike uses Blue Planet Nutrients)



 

If you would like more information about the Kratky Method, check out this book.

 

You can connect with Mike on Instagram @growhappygardening.

 

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Amanda joins us to share her ideas on how to get kids interested in gardening. Allowing children to participate in all aspects of gardening will help them learn where their food comes from and expose them to more varieties of herbs, vegetables, fruit and flowers. It can be as simple as a countertop herb garden or a small container outside where they can grow a few simple plants like strawberries, green beans or cherry tomatoes.

 

You can connect with Amanda on Instagram @grateful_gardener.

 

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Ruth from @colorfulworldacreage shares her experience with growing melons as well as her new adventure selling her home grown flowers, fruit and vegetables in her community.

 

Here are a few tips that we discuss during the episode:



Plant melons when the soil is at least 65 degrees, whether you direct sow your seeds or you are transplanting seedling.

Plant in an area that gets full sun throughout the day.

When plants are young, keep them well watered and provide them with a lot of nitrogen. One source of nitrogen to help your vines grow lush and green is fish emulsion.

You can amend the soil with bone meal to help prevent blossom end rot.

Hand pollinate or grow flowers nearby to attract pollinators.

When watering, avoiding wetting the leaves and water deep.

Once the melon has formed and you notice it has stopped getting bigger, stop watering to allow the sugars to concentrate so you get a sweeter fruit. Only water if you see the leaves wilting.



 

Ruth’s Top 5 muskmelon/cantaloupe



Charentais

Kazakh melon

Papaya Dew

Honey Melon (Rajasthan)

Petit gris de Rennes



 

Ruth’s Top 5 Watermelons



Orangeglo

Jubilee

Crimson Sweet

Strawberry

Moon & Stars



 

New varieties that Ruth will be trying in 2021



Leelanau Sweetglo

Kurobe

Orange Flesh Melon

Golden Honeydew

Royal Golden Watermelon



 

Winter Melons



Santa Claus Melon

Valencia

Navajo Winter Melon



 

If you are like me and have limited space for watermelons, here is a short list of a few varieties for “personal sized” watermelons:



Doll Babies

Rainbow Sherbet

Petite Yellow

Golden Midget



 

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Most people think of chickens when they want fresh backyard eggs. However, quail are a great alternative to keeping chickens, especially in an urban setting. This episode will compare chicken keeping to quail keeping. We will also give you some basic information about quail keeping should you want to learn more.

 

During this episode, we mentioned that you can use a rabbit hutch to keep a small quail covey. The design and dimensions should work just fine for keeping about 4-5 quail if you want an “off the ground” enclosure. We would modify it though to have a solid wood floor that can hold pine shavings.

 

One of their favorite treats to supplement their food is dried black soldier fly larvae.

 

As far as providing clean water, we like using waterers that have a nipple or a small watering cup. 

 

And to create a happy living space for them, we include places for them to hide such as a twig tunnel or a small wood house within their enclosure.  

 

We have a lot more quail keeping information on our Instagram account.

 

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Brian joins me to chat about his gardening journey, his urban garden space, being purpose minded and his kitchen garden “must haves”. You can connect with Brian on Instagram @neverenoughdirt. He also has a website and YouTube channel.

 

During the episode, we chatted briefly about seed starting. There are many different ways to start your seeds from repurposing containers from around your home to buying seed starting materials and supplies. On our mini farm, we use a variety of supplies including square 3.5 inch pots, seed starting coconut coir pellets and non-woven seed starting bags. We also use heavy duty 10X20 growing trays to hold everything. Heavy duty is a must when it comes time to move them around and harden off the seedlings. Don’t forget to label your seeds as you go. Happy seed starting!

 

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Jen and I chat about her plans for the upcoming season, gardening in Zone 6A and bee keeping.

You can connect with Jen on Instagram and Tik Tok @jensjuicyveggies. She also has a website with a shop where she offers some of her homegrown and homemade products.

www.jensjuicyveggies.com

Insect hotels are a great way to support the beneficial insects in your garden ecosystem. They are designed to provide a nest, habitat or temporary shelter for bees, butterflies and ladybugs.

 

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