April 7 , 2021
Tiny Plants for Big Tastes with Jen McGuinness!
No way to garden ? Go micro ! For supersized taste without a big bank report or a great yard , fill your plate with homegrown food for thought from compact plant . This hebdomad , author and blogger Jen McGuinness shows off 30 clever DIY projects and tiny industrial plant from her hot - off - the - press bookMicro Food horticulture : Project Plans and Plants for produce Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces . I play Jen on Instagram ( @frau_zinnie ) where I got hooked on her beautiful photographs from her Connecticut garden . Although she grows some plants that we can only admire from afar , we apportion many favourite , albeit in shifting bloom times . And okay , I ’ll take on , we adhere over our deliver house bunny girl , too!Raised in Queens , Jen make love what it ’s like to garden in little spaces . After college , she gardened in an apartment with west - facing windows . When she and her hubby buy their first dwelling house , the only spot that is sunny enough for veggie is along their driveway . She documents her garden - creating adventures on her note - taking - suitable blogFrau Zinnie . you may also follow her on Facebook @FrauZinnie and on Twitter @JenMGardens . Later , we meet in person atGarden Bloggers Flingevents , swapping tech tips and garden “ what abouts ? ” on colloquial bus rides between fast - pace garden visit . Thanks to Zoom , we met again from our homes to observe her very first book!What ’s the story behind her hold “ Frau Zinnie ? ” Jen told us , “ When I started my web log I wanted to come up with a attention-getting name . I was trying to retrieve of something that would link up into part of my German background and also show my love of zinnias which is my favorite flower for many reasons . So I did a rough version of ‘ Mrs. Zinnia ’ into German and came up with Frau Zinnie . ”
Jen require to bring in wildlife into her garden — including pollinator — and zinnias are sure bee and butterfly draw and quarter . After the Central Texas snowpocalypse , pollinators want nutrient and they need it tight ! Now ’s a great time to institute quick - growing zinnias from seed or chaw in sun or part Dominicus . There are many compact ( midget ) varieties , too . Just choose standard undivided heyday rather than frilly double flowered varieties . So , what is a “ micro works ? ” Jen say us that it ’s any edible that ’s about 18 ” or small-scale at mature sizing . ‘ Spicy Globe ’ basil is my favorite for its high temperature leeway , slight peppery taste , and heavyset 6 - 12 ” rounded growth . I’ve grown it in bed , but I choose to tuck into patio container for a break from Texas good afternoon sun and for quick snipping at meal prison term .
Over the years , I ’ve meet so many small quad originative gardeners who discover grow possibilities in every container / bit / recycled affair they chance . Ashley Romero and Juan De los Rios cultivated ideason their apartment balcony . youngster love dry pint - sized container gardens to nurture their very own little plant life , as in our sojourn to theBernsen mob garden . InMicro Food , Jen steps us through grow thick plants for cool and strong weather , indoors and out . Along with standard container , she also engages our resourcefulness for fun style from repurposed object around the family or the parsimoniousness store . She spent a busy spring and summer 2020 writing , creating the projects , growing plants and then shoot them . All this with a fulltime job!Like all gardener and author ( and PBS producers ! ) , big ideas pop up suddenly after rick your tired brain for hours . She knew she want a rain barrel in the book , but involve to top it with something to make the cut . “ So , when I figure out how to make a living garland to go on top of that rainfall collector , I was so mad . And I call up we were in the center of dinner party and I was like , ‘ I ’ve got it . I know what I ’m get to do now , ’ ” she said . Jen covers all the basics include soil , fertilizer , lighting , and watering , along with food for thought - themed gardens like “ Stir Fry ” and “ Salsa . ” She prove how to arise melons on mini - trellises , peppers in wine box , microgreens in foil pans , and child bok choy in coffee bean cups!For every undertaking , she list materials , from refuge goggles to bore bits , and demo how to do it . Watch now for lots more . Jen ’s energy and warmth will get you develop !
Thanks for stopping by ! See you next week , Linda
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