Mike Podlesny

Gardening for Victory

"When I was a teenager, my father always had a garden," Herman said. "There was no cheaper better way to feed the family. Those were tough times. Our garden for many of those years in the was a 'Victory Garden.' "It was the government's way of encouragin... Read >

ADVENTURES IN ROTOTILLERS

As a young gardener, so many mistakes are made. Mistakes tend to cost you, whether it be time, money, your crop, life and limb, sweat, or your sanity. Sometimes your failures are to serve as Public Service Announcement warning to others, or so entertainin... Read >

To Extend the Growing Season

Typically, one plants in the spring and harvests in the summer and fall. But what you may not know is that you can extend your growing season (and your harvest) by planting crops in mid to late summer. For your late summer sowing to succeed, consider p... Read >

Growing Onions in the Summer Season

Homegrown onions can be useful in a variety of dishes, from salsas and stews to Thanksgiving stuffing and burger toppings, and with only one square foot of space needed to grow two onions, even gardeners with small plots can fit in a few. While seeds... Read >

Creative Composting

Composting can seem like a daunting task; the price of a specialized composting bin alone can deter even the most fervent gardener. And once you start considering the benefits of compost you start to wonder if that $80 bin from your local hardware store ... Read >

The Stinking Orchid

I stopped to grab some gladiolas from my old friend Herman's roadside stand. It's the thought that counts, and three stalks for $5 was a great bargain for a happy wife. There, on the table next to the stand rested fresh garlic. I had never seen such beaut... Read >

When Life Deals You Garbage, Then You Make Compost

There is an aged old saying that reads, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." Meaning to me that if you are dealt a bad situation, you and only you can make it better. Makes sense right? Home vegetable gardening is not all that different... Read >

The secret is in the soil

I first encountered Herman when I stopped to ask him about his garden in North Tonawanda, N.Y. I was working as a newspaper reporter and saw his bountiful half-acre patch as incredible. A few times I had stopped and purchased gladiolas or sunflowers fo... Read >

Gardening in any Economic Climate

Gardening can have many significant benefits; whether it is for self-gratification; off-setting grocery bills; fresh herbs for dinner; or lending a helping hand to the environment. However, in this economic climate many have had to rethink their living si... Read >

In Praise of Mulch

One of my favorite gardening strategies is using mulch. It serves so many good purposes, both short- and long-term: 1. Mulch keeps the ground moist, so that less evaporation takes place and less watering is needed. 2. Mulch breaks down, adding... Read >

Vegetable Gardening 101

I am a newbie to the vegetable gardening scene. After years and years of growing flowers I finally decided to get serious and become a "real" gardener. That said I decided to start with raised bed gardening due to the fact that then I would not have to p... Read >

How to Rid Yourself of Corn Pests

Every day I inspect my garden, only to find pests are enjoying it more than me. One especially sore spot for me is my corn. They have not grown well and I believe the lack of proper fertilizing was on my part. But what remains is being attacked by these n... Read >

Grow Kohlrabi when space in your Home Vegetable Garden Starts to Open

Kohlrabi is in the same family as cabbage and is one of those vegetables that most people neither know about nor want to grow. However, because of its tolerance to cooler temperatures and its ability to grow fairly quickly, kohlrabi can make a nice addit... Read >

Good Soil is the Foundation of your Home Vegetable Garden

Do you think you could build a skyscraper that stood four football fields tall if the foundation to that building was made from some cheap lumber and dirt? Probably not, and even if you could build it, would you want to go in it? I certainly would not. ... Read >

Understanding Manure for your Home Vegetable Garden

I love the scene in the television show Seinfeld where character George Costanza, played by actor Jason Alexander, is talking to a female named Kelly, played by actress Tracy Kolis, about his love of the word manure. The funny line is, "when you consider... Read >