An Irish farmer is reviving a potato that hasn’t been around since the Irish famine. Get the dirt on what this farmer’s up to.

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up we have all things Irish on the brain. When you think of what to serve on this favorite Irish holiday, chances are potatoes are one of the first things to come to mind (err, behind the green beer that is).

The Lumper potato, a spud that hasn’t been seen in Ireland since the Great Famine, is being grown once more.

As reported by BBC News, farmer Michael McKillop, who runs Glens of Antrim Potatoes, is reviving the Lumper potato for commercial use.

The Lumper was introduced to the area around 1810 and peaked in popularity in the 19th century because it grew well in the poor soil conditions that plagued Ireland.

For poorer families, the Lumper was an opportunity to get a more nutritious diet since the potato is loaded with protein, vitamins and complex carbohydrates.

The potato helped transform the Irish. Until the famine hit.

In 1845, potato crops in Western Europe were hit by a unique fungus that caused mildew to takeover the entire plant, essentially rotting the crop from stalk to root (Post-Gazette.com).

It’s estimated that about one million people died in Ireland during the 1840s after the potato crops failed.

The Lumper potato essentially disappeared after the famine — until McKillop decided to bring it back about six years ago.

Starting with one potato, McKillop grew 28 more. He liked the unique taste of the Lumper and decided to grow them commercially.

Although the Lumper potato has a dark history behind it, McKillop says that it actually tastes quite good.

This week, as we head into St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Lumper potatoes are being sold in select stores in Ireland.

Spring is almost here and it’s finally time to get ready for planting season! Figuring out your average last frost date can save you unnecessary headaches down the road. Here’s how:

Unless you’re a die-hard gardener or farmer, you probably don’t know the average last frost date off the top of your head. Having this information can save you disappointment down the road if you plant to early.

We know, you have spring fever and are itching to start planting now. Trust us though, you’ll want to do a little bit of research before putting a round of pretty spring flowers in the ground.

What’s the big deal?

If you plant seeds or seedlings too early, they can die if it frosts overnight from that unexpected late-winter storm. They can also rot from being too wet or take a long time to germinate and grow.

If your plants are already in the ground there are still ways to protect them from frost damage. Just make sure to keep an eye on the weather news for the next few months and be on the lookout for frost advisories.

Since frost dates listed tend to be averages, you’ll probably see slightly different dates depending on which resource you look at.

Finding your last frost date

Perhaps the most popular resource for determining the average frost date in your area is the National Climatic Date Center (NCDC). You simply choose your state and a list of cities will pop up in a PDF. Locate the city closest to you and you’ll find the average last frost date for spring and first frost date for fall.

The frost dates are listed in terms of probability of frost after a given date — 90/50/10. If you want to be on the safe side, look at the number in the 10 column since it means there is only a 10 percent chance of frost after that date.

The chart also provides three different temperature options. Most hobby gardeners will want to reference the date listed for 32 degrees farenheit.

Other resources for finding your frost date

• Call your local cooperative extension office for the average date.
• Take a note from your grandparents and reference The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
• Enter your zip code on Dave’s Garden for a range of last frost dates.
• For an easy reference list of major cities, check out USA Gardener.

Mom, we totally have a legit excuse to play with our food. Check out this video of J. Viewz, a Brooklyn-based artist who made music using fruits and vegetables. It’s totally bananas.

With what most people use as fixings for dinner, songwriter-producer-artist J. Viewz, also known as Jonathan Dagan, turned into a crazy cool song.

Using eggplants, carrots, grapes, strawberries, kiwis, and mushrooms, Dagan played a tasty rendition of Massive Attack’s 1998 song “Teardrop.”

Dagan used a circuit board called MaKey MaKey  (pronounced may-kee may-kee) which allows you to hook up almost anything to a computer keyboard.

As explained on NPR, “By touching the object, you close the circuit, and a signal is sent to the MaKey Makey. The circuit board then translates this electronic signal into a keyboard signal which is sent to your computer.” The circuit keyboard allows you to transform any object into a keyboard key.

Dagan kicked things up a notch when he rewired the circuit board to connect with an electronic piano keyboard instead of the standard computer keyboard to create his music.

“When I did it, I didn’t really have any thoughts behind it,” Dagan told the Toronto Star. “It seemed like a fun thing to try out.”

The video quickly went viral and currently has close to 600,000 views.

Dagan’s not letting the attention go to his head though. He admits he doesn’t want to be known as “That guy with the vegetables.”

“It’s awesome just to honor a temporary inspiration that you had and not cling to it, because it becomes the only thing. I am just moving forward, I am not going to continue with the vegetables.”

Listen to J. Viewz’ song:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Spring is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning your garden for next year. We have 5 tips to help make the planning process a breeze.

When planning a garden…

1. Take a walk down memory lane. If you planted a garden last year, tap into your memory and review what worked (or didn’t). Did you plant enough different varieties of vegetables? Did you find yourself wanting more flowers? Were plants from seeds or seedlings more successful for you? Any issues with rabbits or deers that created a need for pest control?

Looking at last year’s successes and failures will help you determine how to approach this year’s growing season.

2. Set your goals. It might sound cheesy, but actually sitting down and setting some gardening goals for this year can help you in the planning process. Are you planting a garden for the first time? Want to eat fresh veggies all summer long? Would you like to have fresh bouquets of flowers for your house? Looking for a low-maintence garden so you can simply enjoy outdoors?

Establishing your goals will help keep your garden realistic so you can prioritize what is important.

3. Assess your time commitment. While you’re at it, think about how much time you want (or are able) to spend in the garden. Are you a die-hard green thumb who likes to be outdoors from sun-up to sun-down or do you just have enough time to grow a few tomato plants for your summer salads?

Planting more than you can maintain can be a major bummer. Not only will it turn your gardening hobby into a dreaded chore, you’ll totally be disappointed when your first plant dies due to neglect. Save yourself the hassle by knowing your time commitment availability from the get go and avoid biting off more than you can chew.

4. Map it out. When planning a garden it’s super easy to go over-the-top and try to incorporate every favorite plant you ever spotted. Mapping out your gardening plot will help you get a better sense of the space and will your expectations realistic.

Simply grab a piece of paper and do a rough sketch of your space — don’t worry if you aren’t in touch with your inner Picasso. Make note of any existing plants and garden structures and start filling in the blank spots with what you’d like to pant in the space.

Map out your garden while it’s still winter out and you’ll be ready to plant come spring.

5. Do research…or not. In an ideal world we’d research every last plant to make sure that it is suitable for the planting zone and microclimate. We’d find out which plants are compatible in advance and plant them next to each other.

Let’s get real though. Although it would be great if we could research every last plant, gardening is supposed to be fun and sometimes all that extra work makes it, well, work. At minimum you’ll want to know the last frost date in your area and general requirements for plant care. After that, sometimes is just fun to experiment.

Happy planning!

Ever want to make your own DIY succulent wreath? These tips from Katherine Tracey of Avant Gardens demystifies the process so you can create your own chic arrangement like a pro.

There is something special about succulent wreaths that instantly seems to scream summer.

Every time I hop on Pinterest, I totally get excited to try making my own DIY succulent wreath, but truth be told, I feel like the instructions makes it sound a lot easier than it really is.

Sure, succulents are hardy plants and it could be as easy as simply tucking in a few cuttings to a soaked moss wreath form. Easy enough to do if you have a large selection of succulents in your garden and can create a wreath from cuttings and materials you already have.

If you’re like me and need to purchase succulent plants from scratch, costs can quickly add up and you want to make sure the project will actually work out before dishing out the cash.

I recently came across some tips from Katherine Tracey of Avant Gardens Nursery in Massachusetts on AWayToGarden.com that makes growing a succulent wreath seem totally doable. Plus, she offers some realistic expectations on what to expect and what will work (or won’t).

Favorite tips for making a succulent wreath:

Don’t expect it to last forever. “You get a 6-month enjoyment maybe,” Katherine says, “and then you have to do some rejuvenating.

Recycle plants to save money. Making a succulent wreath isn’t cheap. Save costs by using cuttings from your garden (or beg a friend if she has some). If purchasing all the succulents, take cuttings from the wreath when cleaning up the form after 6 months and plant them to root to use in pots or future wreaths.

Pick the right type of succulents. Upright-growing succulents are not ideal for a wreath. Instead pick hardy rosettes and filler types. Katherine recommends Echeveria, Sempervivum and Sedum.

Mix and match. Choose a variety of colors and textures to give your wreath visual interest. She recommends choosing light, medium and dark tones to give your wreath dimension and contrast.

Find a sunny spot. Make sure the succulents get plenty of light and warmth the first month after they are planted so they can get well-established.

Do not disturb. Wait until the succulents are well-rooted before feeding them or hanging the wreath.

Rotate. To allow the wreath to grow evenly, occasionally rotate the hanging wreath. You can also give it a break by placing it on a flat surface for a short period of time.

Read more of Katherine Tracey’s tips and the steps for how-to grow a succulent wreath on A Way to Grow. 

Make the most out of that overgrown mint plant you always seem to have plenty of. Here’s a mint Mojito pedicure recipe you can make at home for your own instant spa retreat. 

Mojito-sippin’ weather might still be a few more months away, but we have a way to get a tropical fix even while the weather outside is still dreary. Mint Mojito pedicures are all the rage in fancy high-end salons and we found a recipe that will allow you to save a buck and give yourself the luxe treatment at home.

The best part? If you grow your own mint plants you know that this is one herb that always seems to be in abundance. If your mint plant is totally out of control because you didn’t plant it in a pot and it’s taking over the rest of your gardening bed, consider throwing a mini spa party and treating your friends to a little relaxing mint aromatherapy.

Mint Mojito pedicure recipe 

Soak Recipe

1/2 cup sea salt
3 slices lime
5-10 fresh mint leaves
5 drops essential lime oil

Combine ingredients and add to a basin filled with warm water.

Scrub Recipe

3 limes
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
15 fresh mint leaves (chopped)
5 drops lime essential oil

Cut limes into quarters. Using a food processor, pulse pieces to a chunky pulp. Mix limes with remaining ingredients in a bowl.

Directions:

Soak each foot in the homemade mixture for at least 5 minutes. Apply scrub to each foot, ankle and calf using circular motions to apply the mixture. Remove the scrub with a warm damp towel. Apply a minty moisture.

If your sweetie shelled out big bucks getting a beautiful floral arrangement for you, make them last as long as possible. Here are ways to make your cut flowers last longer using common ingredients found around the house.

Floral arrangements are particularly pricey around holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day so of course you want to get the longest use and enjoyment out of fresh flowers as possible.

We spotted a few tips and tricks from Reader’s Digest for making flowers last longer. The best part about these helpful tips is that you can preserve your fresh cut flowers using stuff you probably already have around the house.

Here are a few favorites:

Aspirin

A tablet of aspirin can mimic the effects of the traditional flower food that typically comes with a bouquet of flowers. Simply crush an aspirin tablet and dissolve in water before adding flowers. Trim a little bit off of the stems every other day to help them absorb the water.

Vodka

More than just for making martinis, vodka can be used to keep flowers fresh. Scientific American says that vodka could be responsible for inhibiting ethylene production in plants which might help in slowing wilting. Don’t pour your roses a shot just yet. Just like us plants can only handle so much alcohol and the vodka should be diluted. Add a few drops of vodka to water along with 1 teaspoon of sugar. At least this use of vodka won’t give you a hangover the next day!

Copper penny

Put all of those random pennies you found underneath the couch cushions to use by placing one in the bottom of a vase along with a teaspoon of sugar. The theory is that the copper acts as a natural antibacterial agent.

Need another idea for old copper pennies? Try making a penny floor. >>

Bleach

You use it to sanitize your toilets so why wouldn’t you use it to disinfect germs that might be lurking around your flower vase? Not only can bleach sterilize a vase, it can also help keep flowers from wilting too fast and prevent mold from growing in the water and turning it to that nasty, cloudy color. Add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach per 1 quart of flower water.

Sugar

Perhaps one of the most common ingredients for making homemade flower food is sugar. The sweet stuff can help open up buds and keep them blooming longer by providing nutrients. Sugar can be mixed with white vinegar, vodka, bleach, aspirin, or fresh lemon juice to add an extra kick to the flower water.

Don’t miss our additional tips for extending the life of flowers. >>

Do you have a favorite way of keeping flowers fresh? Leave a comment below and share your tips with us!

Ready to have your heart melt? Read about the Texas woman who still receives Valentine’s Day flowers from her deceased husband. Warning: You might want to have the tissues handy for this sweet story.

Today husbands everywhere are picking up bouquets of roses and other favorite Valentine’s Day flowers, but there is one man who went the extra mile to make sure his wife receives flowers every year for the rest of her life as the ultimate romantic gesture.

Sue Johnston, 68, from Houston, Texas wrote to a magazine and explained the unexpected surprise she received 10 months after she lost her husband John. Before passing away, her husband of 46 years made a pre-paid arrangement with a florist company to continue delivering flowers every Valentine’s Day for years to come.

Her letter reads:

My sweet husband, John, and I were married for 46 years. Each Valentine’s Day, he’d send me the most beautiful flowers containing a note with five simple words: ‘My love for you grows.’ Four children, 46 bouquets and a lifetime of love were his legacy to me when he passed away two years ago.

On my first Valentine’s Day alone, 10 months after I lost him, I was shocked to receive a gorgeous bouquet addressed to me…from John. Angry and heartbroken, I called the florist to say there had been a mistake. The florist replied, ‘No, ma’am, it’s not a mistake. Before he passed away, your husband prepaid for many years and asked us to guarantee that you’d continue getting bouquets every Valentine’s Day.’ With my heart in my throat, I hung up the phone and read the attached card. It said, ‘My love for you is eternal.’”

News of this sweet story and a picture of the magazine article has been making its way across Twitter. The magazine publisher has not yet been confirmed, but there is speculation that the letter came from Redbook Magazine.

One thing is for sure. This ultimate romantic gesture is causing people to take pause and re-evaluate the meaning of eternal love.

Now pass the tissues please.

Surprise the green thumb in your life with one of these Valentine’s Day gifts and watch their feelings of love blossom before your eyes.

Make a homemade seed card

Some people think Valentine’s Day is just another “Hallmark Holiday,” but nothing says “I love you” like a homemade card. Make yours extra special by making a handmade seed paper valentine (pictured above). We first recommended doing this craft as a Valentine’s Day gift for teachers, but we think that green thumbs will get an extra kick out of receiving this gift (and they’ll be excited to plant it too!).

Succulents are the new roses

Pass the standard bouquet of roses and give your valentine an arrangement that will keep on giving year-round. This adorable DIY succulent wreath ($40) from Etsy shop Succulents Plus comes in a heart shape — perfect for Cupid’s holiday! Make an activity out of it by getting your hands dirty together and creating your own custom arrangement with the starter kit.

Don’t forget the Bon Bons!

Chocolate might be the traditional treat of choice for V-Day, but for a gift that doesn’t go straight to the hips get your valentine a Garden Bon Bon Set (UncommonGoods,$15). The clever seed bombs are shaped like tasty chocolate truffles and are ready to plant. Choose from a set of Herbal Teas or Italian Herbs.

Green is the new bling

Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but for a piece of jewelry that won’t break the bank, check out this cool terrarium necklace (UncommonGoods, $80). Your valentine will love showing the necklace off and it’s a mini-me version of the latest terrarium gardening trend. Plus, the necklace is a living piece of art. How cool is that?

 Looking for a romantic way to celebrate the holiday? Try spending Valentine’s Day at a botanical garden. 

See more of our tips for Valentine’s Day. >>

]]> http://gardening.sheknows.com/2013/02/12/valentines-day-gift-ideas-for-gardeners/feed/ 0 http://gardening.sheknows.com/2013/02/07/celebrate-valentines-day-at-a-botanical-garden/ http://gardening.sheknows.com/2013/02/07/celebrate-valentines-day-at-a-botanical-garden/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:07:53 +0000 Melissa Dunlap http://gardening.sheknows.com/?p=6557

Give your sweetie a special treat this Valentine’s Day. Splurge on an evening of fun and spend this day of love at a botanical garden.

Valentine’s Day reservations book up fast, but these botanical gardens still have a few spots open. Plan your visit today!

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta, Georgia
Valentines in the garden

Date: Thursday, February 14
Price: $25 members; $30 non-members
Enjoy an elegant evening of cocktails, dancing and desserts. Take a break from the entertainment by strolling the tropical conservatories with your sweetie. A cash bar, ice bar, photo booth and perfume-making class will keep the two of you entertained for the whole night. Buy tickets in advance and make a reservation for a private appointment if interested in creating your own custom fragrance.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Houston, Texas
Tapas on the trails

Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Price: $75 for members; $85 for non-members
Take a romantic stroll throughout the garden’s softly lit trails. Gourmet food is available at various stops throughout the garden and is paired with select wines. Dress comfortably for walking on the trails. Pre-registration is required by Friday, February 8 at 3 p.m.

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona
Romance in the garden

Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013
Price: $30 for members; $35 non-members; Optional dinner ticket $35
A candlelit outdoor concert with the Chris Burton Jacome Flamenco Ensemble will be held on the Ullman Terrace. Stop by the cash bar and grab a cocktail, wine flight, or purchase a bottle of champagne. An optional gourmet dinner is available. Must be 21 or older to attend. Children not allowed.

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
Harrisonburg, VA
Valentine’s Day carriage rides

Date: Sunday, February 10, 2013, 1-4 p.m.; Thursday, February 14, 2013, 4-8 p.m.
Price: $10 per adult; $7 Children 7 and younger (children under 2 can ride on the lap for free)
Get warm and cozy under a blanket for a mile-long carriage ride that goes through the arboretum forest. Reserve tickets in advance and dress for the weather. Go the extra mile and get your Valentine a bouquet of flowers before the carriage ride.