Save at the Grocery Store - Grow Your Own Vegetables!

Growing your own vegetables can be a fun and economical hobby

Are rising food costs stretching your grocery budget to its limits? More and more people are deciding to grow their own vegetables than ever before. By following these easy tips, you'll be able to start a vegetable garden of your very own.

Location

Vegetables require a location with good sun. All day or at least five hours of afternoon sun is ideal. The soil should have adequate drainage, be in the neutral pH range, and be high in organic matter.

Whether your soil is sand based or clay based, the yearly addition of organic matter such as compost, manure or peat moss is a good idea for the entire garden area. If this is not possible, each row can be amended. Estabrook's also recommends the addition of organic compounds such as rock phosphate, green sand and gypsum to boost certain capabilities of your plants and soil.

Fertilizing

A balanced fertilizer should be used to get the maximum crop result and to reduce the effects of root competition. You can choose an organic, granular, or water-soluble fertilizer.

To allow the plants to process fertilizers more successfully and encourage lush growth and crop production, lime should be applied yearly. If possible, a mulch should also be applied to aid in weed control and water holding capacity. This mulch could consist of compost, straw, grass clippings or layers of newspaper.

Watering

Remember to water your established vegetable garden well, applying 1.5-2" per week. As with all plantings, if you plan to use an overhead system, you should water early in the morning to reduce the risk of disease.

Weeding

For ease in pulling and less root disturbance to the desired crop, weeding is best accomplished when the weeds are small. You can also lightly cultivate the soil with a hoe or other weeding device. The best time to weed is on hot sunny days. The newly plucked or cultivated weeds can be left on top of the soil to wilt in the sun.

We have a great selection of vegetable plants and all the supplies you need to get started!

Making an Impact with Pottery

Frame your flowers with a beautiful piece of pottery

Sometimes the plant is only part of the solution.

You'll find our pottery shelves stacked high with boldly colored glazed pots, traditional terra cotta planters, and Grecian style urns to name just a few. Ranging from demure pinks and yellows to vibrant violets, reds and even aqua, our collection comes from all corners of the globe, including Malaysia, Mexico and Italy.

If you're looking for something different, Estabrook's is also blazing trails in the world of gardening style by stocking pottery in trendy orange and lime green. If you'd like something a little more traditional though, we also offer a great selection in cobalt blues, cognac reds, browns and beiges to accent your home with a more neutral palette.

Accessorizing with Texture and Shape

By using the variety of shapes and textures that pottery offers, you can tie your plants together with the style of your home quite easily. For example, if you have a tall, columnar plant gracing your traditional style living room, accent its height by placing it in a high, narrow pot that sports a simple motif. On the other hand, if you want to add some additional style to an unusual tropical plant in your modern kitchen, choose one of the smooth, glazed asymmetrical bowls.

Don't Forget Color!

We've already mentioned the wide array of colors available in our pottery, but understanding a little color theory will go a long way in helping you make the perfect selection. By grouping appropriate colors together, you can really give your plants and decor an added punch.

Complimentary colors (those opposite on the color wheel) are all the rage these days. Pairing deep reds and bright greens together is very eye-catching, while other favorites include blue with orange or its variant, purple with orange. As an example, a cluster of bright green plants will look stunning planted in a wine red pot, while darker-leafed varieties will stand out in white pottery.

Not to be outdone, analogous colors (those next to each other on the color wheel) look amazing together too. Plant purple blooms in a blue pot or bright red annuals in an orange pot. Groupings of multiple pots of the same color make an even more beautiful display. We even have glazed bird baths that match many of the pottery colors as well.