Vegetables

Savoy Cabbage

This cabbage type is called a savoy cabbage type. They have the puckered leaves and looser heads. It is a milder and lighter texture than the regular green and red types of cabbage.

So, what is the advantage of growing this type of cabbage? Again, it has a milder, sweeter cabbage taste for those that do not like a strong taste. It cooks quicker and in coleslaw, it does not have a hard, crunchy texture. Also, the cabbage worms tend to not be as bad with this as with other regular types.

Grown exactly as you would grow other cabbage; however, the head will not get as tight. If you can press down ¼ inch on the top of the head, let it grow a little more.

The variety I grow is “Famosa” which has a bluish color to the leaves. This is the cabbage used for wraps as the leaves will not rip.

Garden hacks, Landscaping

Ugly Areas Around the Home or Yard

Everyone has ugly areas around the home or yard. Instead of living with them, hide them. Whether garbage cans, AC units, utility boxes, or an unsightly garden shed, here are some ideas.

If you are cramped for space, there are plastic or wooden garden chest that you can quickly throw in the hoses, sprinklers, or garden tools. Larger units will hide the garbage containers so they do not blow down the street. An old antique basin is an excellent place to rolled a hose into.

For the central air units, a simple privacy screen place in front of it also will cut down on the noise. You can build a fence around it or like in my instance, plant shrubs around the unit. Better to look at spring blooms and fall foliage than the unit itself. Just make sure your air conditioner has enough air circulation area.

As for the utility meters, you can paint them the same color as your home. Place a fence or trellis up and grow a vine on it like honeysuckle or clematis.

Now for those disgusting PVC pipes or water heads, place a garden sculpture or fake rock over them. There are hollow birdbaths that will improve this problem.

If you do not want someone to notice an area of your backyard like a clothesline, create a barrier of 6 to 8-foot shrubs or a line of planter boxes. Maybe a fenced screen is a way to go.

Garden sheds are hard to hide. You can makeover the shed by putting in some annual or perennial beds. Try placing planter boxes under the windows, if no windows, put up a fake one.

Flowers (annual and perennial)

Marshmallow Plant

A new plant this year, the marshmallow plant which is related to the hollyhock. Grown as an annual reaching 4 to 5 feet with hollyhock-like blooms. The candy origin comes from this plant. The ancient Egyptians boiled the root to extract the sweet jelly. Europeans took the plant for cottage gardens. They took the sap from the roots, added eggs and sugar to make the cany marshmallow. The marshmallows you can buy now are not made of this plant, however, go can buy ground marshmallow roots.

Easy to grow if I can grow it but does like moist soil. They like full sun but are tolerant of some shade. Once growing, very little care is needed.