Olden Oasis Homestead

Build a High-Yield Vegetable Garden Planner for Next Year Frost coats the ground in January, and seed catalogs arrive in your mailbox. You flip through glossy pages of red tomatoes and crisp sugar snap peas, feeling the urge to grow something amazing. But when May arrives with a rush of weeds and warm soil, excitement turns into panic. Seeds get scattered in random beds, plants crowd each other out, and half your crops fail before they fruit. Winter is the time to build a solid vegetable garden planner for next year so you skip the spring scramble. Why Timing Your Garden Strategy Now Prevents Mid-Season Crop Failure When you rush to plant in spring, you miss critical details. You end up buying random plants at the nursery just because they look green and healthy. Then you get home and realize you have no space for them. The Hidden Cost of Winging It in the Vegetable Patch Planting without a map leads to overcrowded beds that block sunlight and trap moisture. Pests move easily through d...

Backyard berry picking Several years ago, I planted numerous mulberry trees, because I absolutely love the berries. The trees are one of the easiest and fastest to grow, but they can be a bit of a nuisance to some homeowners. Once the berries begin to fall, they leave a purple stain on whatever they land on. If you have ever picked mulberries, then you know if you don't wear gloves while doing so, you'll end up with stained purple fingers and as you pop the berries into your mouth your lips also become stained by the berries' delectable juices. While working outside over the weekend, I was amazed to see that my mulberries were already turning and many were already ripe for picking. So today I'm venturing outdoors to pick multitudes of mulberries. I will end up making mulberry cobbler, mulberry jello pies, freezing, canning, and dehydrating the rest of the berries before the growing season is over. My trees will bear fruit up until July. Well, that's how they normall...

Growing organic Methley plums in Arkansas Living in the south, Japanese plum trees are one of the best options when considering planting plum trees. Although European plum trees will do well in both northern and southern states. Self-pollinating plum trees  My favorite type of self-pollinating plum tree is Methley. However, Au-Roadside, Beauty, Damson, Green Gage, Mount Royal, Persian Green, Plum Burgundy, Santa Rosa, and Stanley are also some other worthy choices of self-pollinating plum trees. I prefer growing self-pollinating trees when possible. Self-pollinating means that planting two different varieties of trees isn't required to bear fruit. Varieties of plum trees that require planting two different types of plum trees are referred to as being self-unfruitful. These types have to be planted with another type of plum tree to bear fruit. The Ozark plum tree is one example of a self-unfruitful tree.  However, there's still a tiny catch. Even though you don't need two se...

Growing Chick Grass Seed Mix Although I call this chick grass mix, it can also be fed to wild birds, goats, and sheep. The chick grass is simply a mixture of tetraploid ryegrass, flax, alfalfa, and red and white clover seeds. The chick grass mix can be grown in planters, chicken runs, or wherever else that you might want to grow it in your yard. The seeds will generally sprout within 7 to 14 days. When it's fed to chickens, it will help increase the level of omega-3 in their eggs. So, that's a win-win for both you and your hens. The mix that I prepare will make one 12-pound bag of chick grass mix. I plant this mix in planters and grow it indoors. You can plant as much or as little of the seed mix as you need. The chick grass can be planted inside your chicken run, chicken coop, outdoor plot area, greenhouse, and greenroom. The chick grass seed mix will germinate fairly quickly. Keeping the seed mix on hand makes it simple to continue growing a supply of healthy food for your ch...

Using Apple Cider Vinegar as a Natural Rooting Hormone Propagating plant clippings is one thing most gardeners like doing because it saves us money and also keeps our plants true. What do I mean by keeping the plants true? When you propagate a plant, it means that the plant that you've taken the clipping from will stay true to the original plant. With stem cuttings, each new plant will duplicate its parent plant. So if you have a favorite plant, it's nice to take several clippings from it and propagate it.  My favorite part about propagating plants is that you can also do this with vegetable plants. Tomatoes and peppers are just a few of the plants in your vegetable garden that can be propagated from cuttings. Starting a vegetable plant from an existing stem is also much faster than growing it from seed.  Apple cider rooting hormone Three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed into a gallon of water is all it takes to make enough rooting hormone to use for several plant stem c...

Planting onion bulb sets Onions are quite possibly one of the easiest vegetables to grow inside containers or outside in the garden. They do not require much of anything after the bulbs have been planted in good soil. As their green tops grow, I use them as needed when cooking by cutting the tops off with kitchen shears. I grow the majority of my onions in containers in my greenhouse. Prior to planting, add compost to your soil. Loosen up the soil by adding sand to it (if needed). If you're planting your onion sets in containers, add loose gravel to the bottom of them. Then fill the containers with your fertilized soil. Having good drainage is so important. It will keep the onion bulbs from rotting and getting diseased. Next, plant the onion bulbs in the fertilized soil. Make sure that the pointed end is placed in an upward position and the root end is placed downward.  The onion bulbs need to be placed about an inch and a half deep. Then water the bulbs and cover the tops of them ...

Growing Apple Trees From Seed: A Complete Guide to Cultivating Your Own Orchard If you've ever dreamed of planting your own apple orchard, there's no better place to start than from a humble seed. While growing apple trees from seed requires patience and a bit of dedication, the reward of nurturing a tree from germination to fruit-bearing maturity is truly unmatched. Whether you're a gardening novice or a seasoned horticulturist, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully grow apple trees from seed and enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own fresh apples. Why Grow Apple Trees from Seed? Growing apple trees from seed is more than just a fun gardening project; it’s an opportunity to understand the fascinating journey of plant development and genetics. While most commercial apple varieties are propagated through grafting to ensure specific fruit qualities, planting seeds allows you to explore the genetic diversity of ap...

Creating Garden Success: How Soaking Seeds Can Boost Your Germination Rates Starting a lush, productive garden from scratch can feel overwhelming—especially when faced with stubborn seeds that refuse to sprout. But did you know that a simple trick like soaking your seeds before planting can dramatically improve your germination success? Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out in your homestead journey, understanding the benefits of soaking seeds can be a game-changer. Let’s explore how this easy step can lead to a thriving garden from the very first sprout! Why Soaking Seeds Helps with Germination Seeds are nature’s little powerhouses, packed with potential, but sometimes they need a gentle nudge to wake up and start growing. Soaking seeds offers several key benefits: Softens the Seed Coat: Many seeds have a tough outer shell that can delay water absorption. Soaking softens this coat, allowing water to reach the embryo more easily. Speeds Up Germination...

Low Cost Gardening: Grow Your Own Groceries Without Breaking the Bank Whether you have a sprawling homestead or just a small balcony, growing your own vegetables can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to ensure fresh, healthy produce. If you're looking to maximize your gardening efforts without overspending — especially in areas affected by drought — this guide is packed with practical tips to help you cultivate a thriving garden on a budget. From innovative watering techniques to drought-resistant crops, let’s explore how you can turn even the tiniest space into a green oasis. Table of Contents Affordable Soil and Composting Methods Water-Conserving Gardening Tips Choosing Drought-Resistant Vegetables Creative Low-Cost Gardening Ideas Practical Tips for Success Affordable Soil and Composting Methods Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, but purchasing commercial soil amendments can quickly become expensive. Here are budget-friendly options: Composting...

Grow Your Food Indoors: A Beginner’s Guide to Hydroponic Gardening Have you ever imagined transforming a small corner of your home into a lush, productive garden, regardless of the season outside? Hydroponic gardening makes this possible—letting you grow fresh, delicious food indoors without soil. Not only is this method space-efficient and eco-friendly, but it also offers a rewarding way to connect with your food from seed to plate. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or a curious newcomer, this guide will walk you through the essentials of cultivating food using hydroponic methods inside your own home. Table of Contents What Is Hydroponic Gardening? Why Choose Hydroponics for Indoor Food Production? Basic Components and Supplies Needed Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Hydroponic System Tips for Successful Indoor Hydroponic Gardening Common Challenges and Solutions Enjoying Your Bounty & Final Thoughts What Is Hydroponic Gardening? Hydroponic gardening is a method of gr...

Spring is Coming! Build an Easy, Low-Cost Cold Frame Using Tree Limbs and Greenhouse Plastic As the days grow longer and the promise of spring fills the air, many gardeners are eager to get their soil ready for planting. If you’re looking for an affordable, sustainable way to give your plants a warm start, then building a cold frame might be just what you need.  Today at my Olden Oasis Homestead, I’m excited to share a simple, environmentally friendly design for a cold frame and low tunnel—crafted entirely from materials on your property, like downed tree limbs, with just a bit of greenhouse plastic for covering. Best of all? It’s easy on the pocketbook and minimizes waste by repurposing what nature has already provided! Table of Contents Why Build a Cold Frame? Materials Needed Step-by-Step Construction Tips for Success Conclusion Why Build a Cold Frame? A cold frame is a simple, unheated outdoor structure that traps heat and protects delicate seedlings and...

Planting sweet potatoes We are nearing the end of April, the perfect time to plant sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas) are a root vegetable that's native to Central and South America. They thrive in the heat and humidity because they are tropical plants. In actuality, sweet potatoes are not part of the potato family. They are part of the morning glory. The part of a sweet potato plant that we harvest is a tuberous root. There are several different varieties of sweet potatoes that you can grow, but today I will be planting Centennial sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes don’t start from a seed like the majority of other vegetables do. Instead, they grow from what are referred to as “slips." Slips are the green shoots that sprout from the tops of a sweet potato.  Planting your sweet potatoes to grow slips You can place a sweet potato in a glass or jar of water or lay it directly in a container of dirt (as I am doing here today). I prefer starting my sweet potatoes directly...

Why You Should Prune Flowers on Your Potato Plants Potato plant flowers pop up towards the end of the plant's life cycle to attract pollinators that help with reproduction. This is super important for the plant's survival. Sometimes, flowers can show up early if the plant has too much fertilizer or if the weather is really extreme. Why pruning is important Reason 1: Safety First It's a good idea to snip off those flowers for a couple of reasons. First, it can prevent curious kids or pets from eating parts of the plant that could make them sick. Reason 2: Better Potatoes Cutting off the flowers can actually help you get more potatoes in the end. When a plant gets energy into making flowers and seeds, it takes away from making those yummy tubers underground. By snipping off the flowers, you're telling the plant to focus on growing those potatoes instead. How to Prune To prune the flowers, grab some scissors or gardening shears and snip them off at the base of the stem. Th...