Sassy Silver Sisters

🌱 Virginia (Zone 6b–7a) Average Last Frost: Mid–Late April --- 🌿 Early April (Cool-Weather Crops) Direct Sow Outdoors: Lettuce Spinach Kale Carrots Radishes Beets Peas Transplant Outdoors: Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower --- 🌼 Mid-April (Watch Frost Closely) Direct Sow: Potatoes Onion sets Swiss chard Optional (with protection): Early green beans (if soil is warming) --- 🌞 Late April (After Last Frost) Direct Sow: Green beans Corn Cucumbers Squash & zucchini Transplant Outdoors: Tomatoes Peppers Eggplant --- 🌸 Herbs & Flowers (All Month) Cilantro Parsley Basil (late April) Marigolds Sunflowers --- 📝 Garden Notes Check soil temperature before planting warm crops Use mulch to retain moisture Harden off seedlings before transplanting Keep row covers handy for unexpected frost   Keep it sassy, Cathy ***************************************************************************** Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog! We really appreciate it. We believe that our...

***UPDATED 5/31/24*** Did you know you can use household pantry items to help grow your garden and are great insect/animal repellants? Here are a few tips & tricks: BAKING SODA - S prinkle it on the surface of your soil to make your geraniums, coneflowers, daylilies, and clematis bloom like crazy. That’s because baking soda is alkaline, and those flowers thrive on alkaline soil. Also makes your tomatoes sweeter. Y ou can use it to prevent fungus because its alkalinity creates an environment hostile to fungal growth. Simply stir a teaspoon of baking soda into a liter of water and spray the leaves of your fungus-prone plants (these include tomatoes and lilacs). CREAM OF TARTAR -  makes a great ant repellant, s imply sprinkle a bit on the perimeter of the table or wherever you want to dust their trail. CAYENNE PEPPER - Repel  squirrels, these little buggers like to  dig flower bulbs. To deter them, sprinkle cayenne pepper around your bulb gardens. Reapply when yo...

****UDPATED 7/12/24**** I have a small garden and zucchini is part of that garden. I’m not sure what happened but when it started producing I only harvested 2 zucchinis. Then all of a sudden it started popping out a bunch and I’m thankful.  Did you know zucchini grows about 2” a day? Zucchini plants produce a lot of fruit and what do you do with them all? Here are some suggestions along with several of my favorite recipes. Bake Bread - I adore zucchini bread. It’s moist, sweet, and freezes well. Try this recipe: Zucchini Bread  from Dash of Sanity.  Serve It as a Side Dish - Baked Parmesan Zucchini from Damn Delicious  are crispy and super delicious.  Make Cupcakes - Sweet and delectable, especially with the caramel icing YUMM!! Zucchini Cupcakes  from Taste of Home.  Use It in Place of Pasta - Fun and a great alternative to pasta ITALIAN ZUCCHINI NOODLES RECIPE WITH GARLIC AND TOMATO   from Best Recipe Box.          ...