Wednesday, November 12, 2008

My Mother Jeans Red Devil Food Cake

 Friends

Here is a great cake recipe that my mother always made for her family when we were growing up
and everyone was at home. The recipe is Red Devil Food Cake.     
Hope you try it and enjoy!

RED DEVILS FOOD CAKE RECIPE

3/4 cup of Crisco (Cream real well)
21/4 cup of Sugar
3 Eggs
4tbsp. Cocoa
3tbsp. Red food coloring
Dash of Salt
11/2 cup of Buttermilk
3 cups of Flour
11/2 tbsp. of vinegar
11/2 tsp of soda
1tsp. of vanilla
Blend shortening plus sugar,add eggs.
Mix red food coloring with cocoa plus add to mixture.
Add flour plus milk
Add vinegar to soda plus mix.
Stirring very little.
Bake at 355 degrees for 48 minutes, Divide mixture into two 9 inch layer cake pans.
I hope you try this cake recipe and let me know if you like it?
                                                  Gardener Den

How to grow Broccoli Plants from seed

Friday, March 7, 2008

How to start Annuals from seed.

Hi Gardening Friends
Here is some information that can help my Gardening Friends in starting annuals
from seed. As always you need to have clean flats to start your seeds in. Fill your
seeds flats half full with germination mix. Then soak the flats with water and set aside and let drain. Now pick out the seeds that you would like to plant in your flats. Maybe you would like to start Begonias or Geraniums from seed. What ever
annuals that you would like to start you should read the back of the packet before you start the seeds should you cover the seeds with germination mix or should you
let them uncovered and let the seed get light? You have to know something about the seed that you are planting. So most often the back of the seed packet is were you go to get this information. I hope all my gardening friends will try to start annuals
from seed and be successfull with them. If you try this I hope you contact me and tell me if you are successfull? Well time to go.
Have fun Gardening!
Gardener Den

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

How to start Perennials from seed

Hi Gardening Friends
Here is a way to start perennials from seed. First of all as always you need to have
clean sterilized seed flats. After you clean them and let them dry. Then you take
your germination soil mix and fill the flat half full of mixture after that you should be able to sow your seeds. First read the back of the packet to see if you should cover the seeds with germination mix or not? Then after you do that you should mist you seed flat and mark the flat with what you just planted.
Then place the flat on the greenhouse bench or if you don't have a greenhouse
you can put them in your house on a propagating mat with a grow light.
It usually takes about 10 to 14 days for them to germinate. This can be for
almost every kind of perennial in starting them from seed.
I hope this helps my gardening friends
Gardening Friends

Monday, March 3, 2008

How to start Herbs from seed.

Hi Gardening Friends
Here is some information that can help you in growing herbs from seed.
First of all as always sit down and go through your seed catalogs and pick
the Herb seeds that you want to order. Then when you receive the Herb seeds
in the mail You can go through them and pick out the ones that you would like to
plant first. This is the beginning of March 2008. You can plant many of the Herbs
seeds now at this time of the year from seed in your own home. First as always start with clean flats to start your seeds. That is to have sterilized flats and use proper soil to start your seeds in. You should use a sterilized germination mix
to start your seeds in. Now go and fill the flat with half full of germination mix
Then you go and soak the entire flat with water. Set aside and let drain.
Then you can broadcast your seeds in the flat and if you have a greenhouse you
can set them on the greenhouse bench. You can read the back of the Herb seed packet
to see if you have to cover the Herb seed that you are covering. I hope you try to grow Herbs from seed you will find that this is a very rewarding experience.
I hope this helps all of my gardening friends who want to grow Herbs from seed.
Well Time to go.
Gardener Den

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Friday, February 22, 2008

Guess what Cabbage is good for?

Hi Gardening Friends
Well guess what Cabbage is good for. Cabbage is high in vitamin K, as well as cancer-
fighting indoles. It is excellent for alleviating stomach ailments,especially when combined with confrey.
You can juice cabbage and if you add beets with the cabbage and your drink will tatse better.
Beets Drink beet juice to nourish the liver, one of the most important organs
of the body,as it has hundreds of different functions. If your liver is functioning well,most likely everything else in your body is,too.

How to start Cabbage from seed.
First as always what you have to do is have clean sterilized flats then after that you fill your flats half full with germinating mix then soak the mixture very well.
After you let the flats sit and drain. You can start to sow your seeds.
You broadcast the seeds across the flat evenly. After you do that you cover the seeds with about 1/4 inch of germinating mix. And then you mist the entirer flat
After that you can put the seed flat in a greenhouse bench or under a grow light
with a propagating mat under the flat. The seed will germinate in about 10 to 14 days. Here are some Cabbage varieties that you can get and grow for yourself.

Early Cabbage
a. Stonehead
b.Golden Acre

Mid Season
a.Platinum Dynasty

Late Cabbage
a. Flat Head Dutch

Savoy type.
a. Savoy Ace
b. Atantis

Red Cabbge Type
a. Red Acre

I hope all my gardening friends try to grow cabbage and see how it easy it is to grow this vegetable. I hope all my gardening friends enjoy this blog.
Happy Gardening
Gardener Den

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Hi Gardening Friends planted pansies today.

Hi Gardening Friends
Well did some transplanting of pansies today. Have to do alot more tommorrow of
pansies. I was transplanting them in six packs. The variety that I was transplanting was happy flower mix. This is a very early variety from stokes seeds in canada.
I always grow this variety in a mixture and my customers really enjoy it.
Email me if you would like more information about this pansy.

Now for some more informatio that my Bloggers can look into. Here is another site that I write on. and it www.hubpages.com Lookup Gardener Den.
Come Back Soon!
Gardener Den

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cleaning up in the greenhouse today.

Hi Gardening Friends
Today did alot of cleaning up in the greenhouse. Getting ready to do alot of transplanting making hanging baskets and transplanting flats of cabbage,broccoli,
and cauliflower. So that is what I am doing in the greenhouse today.
Talk to you again
Gardener Den

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Growing Chrysanthemums by seed or cutting?

Hi Gardening Friends
Here is some information about growing Chrysanthemum from seed like the Perennial Painted Daisy or any of the Shasta Daisy types.You can grow any of theses in your house by using a propagation mat and grow lights for starting seeds indoor were you don't have sunlight. For starting any seeds you have to have clean flats or trays to start your plants from seed in. Then you get soil that is a germination mix
and you fill the flat or flats 1/2 full with the mixture and soak then and let sit until the excess water drains out of the flats. Then you can pick the seeds you want
to grow in the flats. The next step is to open the seed packet and sow the seeds.
How you do this is to take the packet and hold it in your hand and slowly shake the packet back and forth until the seeds start to come out of the packet. You do this slowly so that your seeds are broadcast evenly over the flat. These seeds are small so you don't cover them with germination mix. They germinate in about 20 days
also these seeds need to be evenly moist so you should mist them every day.
Never let then dry out before they germinate. Wait until they get a set of true leaves before you transplant them into jiffy pots or small plastic containers.
I think you will have fun growing these kind of Chrysanthemum.
You can get these seeds from different seed companies that deal in selling seeds.
a. Stokes Seeds Inc.
Box 548
Buffalo,NY 14240-0548
Tel: 1-800-263-7233

b. Park Seed Company
2 Parkton Avenue
Greenwood,SC 29647-0002
Tel: 1-800-845-3366

c. W.Atlee Burpee & Co.
300 Park Avenue,
Warminster, Pa 18991 -0001
Tel: 1-800-888-1447
web site www.burpee.com

Chrysanthemums from cutting
These are the fall blooming Mums that you can buy in the end of summer or early fall
well you can grow your own by buying rooted cuttings and planting in the spring after all dangers of frost is over. Then you plant your rooted cutting of you Mums
there are all kinds of colors of Chrysanthemums that you can plant for fall blooms.
But in the end of July or the beginning of August you can take cutting of your favorite Mums and when you take them you will take the cutting about 4 inches long and you take off the bottom leaves and you can start them in germination mix that you use for the starting of seeds. You can start your cutting under glass in a cool frame. Takes about 6 to 8 weeks for them to root. Keep the cutting out of the hot sun and keep the cutting misted about twice a day. After the cutting are rooted than you can pot them up in a 3 or 4 inch pot and you would use a potting soil for growing your plants in. After you transplant your rooted cutting in pots you
will water them well and keep them in the shade until they are well establish.

Were can you get cutting of fall blooming Chrysanthemums from cutting?
a. k.van bourgondien & sons, inc.
P.O. Box 2000
Virginia Beach,Va 23450
Customer Service
1-800-552-9916

b. W.Atlee Burpee & Co.
300 Park Avenue,
Warminster,PA 18991-0001
1-800-888-1447

I hope this information helps people who wants to grow Chrsanthemums
If you have any questions hope to hear from you.
Until Next Time
Gardener Den

Monday, February 18, 2008

Sunday, February 17, 2008

How to start tomato plants from seeds?

Hi Gardening Friends
Well now is the time to order your Tomato Seeds from catalogs. From seed
companies like Burpee Seed Co,Parks Seeds Co,and Stokes Seeds Co. If you already ordered
your seeds then you can plant some of the early varieties for your garden
in the spring. Or you can grow some of these early tomatoes in pots and have
ripe tomatoes early than all of your gardening friends. Here are some of the
early Tomatoes that you can plant now. Like varieties of Fourth of July,Early
Girl and Ultra Sweet Tomatoes. Try one all three of these tomatoes for your garden?
First of all what you do as always is to get your seed flats sterilized and get your soil ready or go to your favorite Garden center and ask them if they have soil for germinating seeds. Like the brand Pro Mix for germinating seeds. Then you fill your flats half full of germination soil and soak it with water and let sit until it drains. After the flat drains you can get you seed packet and start to sow your seeds. Then you take some more soil and lightly cover the seeds about a half inch after this go and mist your seeds and if you have a greenhouse you can set them on
the greenhouse bench or if you don't have a greenhouse then you can put them on a table in your house which have a grow light over the table. It should take about 10 to 14 days to germinate from seed. You can also plant midseason tomatoes like Ultrasonic,Better Boys,Big Boys Tomatoes. You also go back in time with Heirloom
Tomatoes varities. Here are a few of the Heirloom Varieties like Russian Black,
Yellow Pear,Great White,Brandywine,Giant Pink Belgium,Big Rainbow,Mortgage Lifter
Tomatoes and many others this is just a few varieties of Heirlooms. Then you can plant some late season or keeper tomatoes. Late season tomatoes are like Supersteak,
Sunbrite or Sunbeam Tomatoes and Keeper or Winter Storage tomatoes are Burppees Long Keepers or Red Octobers. There are many other varieties that you can pick from
Go by the above information that I told on how to start tomato seeds.
But you can grow what ever varity of tomato you would like to grow. Good Luck!
And happy gardening.
Gardener Den

Saturday, February 16, 2008

How to start pepper plants from seed.

Hi Gardening Friends
This is how you start pepper plants from seeds. First as always you need to have sterilize seed flats. And then you have to have a good germination mix.
And then you have to fill your flat half full with germination mix.
then soak the flat and then start top sow the pepper seeds that you want to
plant. Next you can broadcast the seeds and after that cover the seeds with
about half a inch of soil. Then soak the flat or mist them.
Then you would put then on the propagating bench in the greenhouse.
Or put them under grow lights if you start them in the house.
See You
Gardener Den

Friday, February 15, 2008

Got some new plant material at the Greenhouse today.

Hi Gardening Friends
Well tody Fed X brought some new plant material to the greenhouse.
First of all I received some new zonal geraniums called "Blues"
transplanted them in 10 inch hanging baskets. And the next plant
that I received was Dracaena deremensis Lemon Lime. This plant is varigated
green and white a great plant for replantment of the common dracaena spikes.
That many people put in the center of their containers or planters.
These were planted in 1 gallon pots. Also made a squidoo today if you want to see
it you can go to www.squidoo.com and lookup gardener den.
Well hope you all enjoyed my blog?
See You Later
Gardener Den

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Lots of cleaning up in the greenhouse today!

Hi Gardening friends
Well did alot of cleaning up in the greenhouse today. Tomorrow will begin with alot of moving of plant material into another greenhouse. And to sow many different kinds of seeds mostly peppers. Hot and sweet peppers I will be sowing alot of them tomorrow. Also today I have started another web pages its Hub pages. The site
websites is www.hubpages.com. When you get there just lookup gardener den and you should be at my web site.
See You All
Gardener Den

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

More sowing of seeds in the Greenhouse today

Hi Gardening Friends
Well today I sowed more seeds in the greenhouse.
More stonehead cabbage planted and some other seeds that I will discuss
in a later blog. So everyone will have to come back later.
See You All
Gardener Den

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

How to start seeds successfully.

Hi Gardening Friends
Well I think this is one of my most important blogs. I am going to tell you how to
start plants from seed. First of all get your seed catalogs out and look at what you would like to grow from seed. Then take a piece of paper and write down the item numbers and the name of the variety of the seed and the price of the seed. The next
step is that you make a toll free telephone number and tell the customer service representative and tell them what you want to order. Then the next step is to receive your seeds in the US Mail. Then you would open the package to take a survey
of what you order. See if all of the seeds you ordered are in the package and not
see if there is any back orders. If so you can call customer service about what is back ordered? After that it is time to sow your seeds. First get some plastic seed
flats if they are not clean than you would have to wash them in a Laundry tub.
After that you can hang them up to dry. After they are dry you can fill the flats with germination mix soil which you can buy at your local garden center. so when you got you soil for starting seeds fill up your sterilize flats with 1/2 the flat with
germination mix. Then make sure you soaked the soil in the flat before you sow your seeds. After that you can start sowing your seeds. Get one of your flats that have germination mix in them and take it to the table. There you can sow your seeds with a professional seed sower or by using your own hand by slowly shaking the packet of seeds over the flat after you have them sowed see on the back of the packet if you need to cover the seeds with germination mix or not. Then if you don't have a greenhouse to start your seeds in? You can start them in your basement with a propagating mat and a grow light. In about a 7 to 10 days you will see your seeds
to come up. Unless it tells you on the back of the packet differently. So I think
this will help experience growers and beginners.
Hope this help all gardeners
Gardener Den

Monday, February 11, 2008

Today another busy day in the Greenhouse.

Hi Gardening Friends
Well today in the greenhouse did some more cleaning up and cutting back perennials.
Also sow more seeds of Cauliflower,Peppers and Broccoli. I also took cuttings of
geraniums and lanium Red Nancy. And the afternoon I went to the house of Donna Kepple
and good friend of my late mother Jean. I spend some time talking to her about my mother and we both had fun. Would you all let me know what you think of my blog.
I will be blogging again tomorrow
So I will be writing about gardening
again.
See You
Gardening Den

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Hi Gardening Friends today is Sunday!

Hi Gardening Friends
well today was Sunday and spent time with my nephew and his kids.
They came to see their great grandfather and wish him well.
But after they left for home I had to do work in the Greenhouse
and start some seeds in seed flats today like Early Cabbage of
Golden acre, Stonehead, and early Jersery Wakefield cabbage.
Also started flats of green peppers like Staygreen,and Big Bertha
Peppers.
So that was what I did today in the Greenhouse.
Talk to you again soon
Gardener Den

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Hi Gardening Friends just wanted to tell you about a great radio show from pittsburgh PA

Hi Gardening Friends
Well here is a great gardening show from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
The name is Jane Nugent Garden Show. The show is broadcast from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
est time. The Radio Station is WPTT 1360 AM From Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
Jane is a great host and she gives lots of gardening advice. Also you can get current and past shows on www.talkshoe.com. Look her up under Home and Garden.
And you can listen to her shows. I was on her show back in October of 2006.
Scroll down and find the show and listen to me.
Hope all my Gardening Friends listen to this radio program on the computer.
Talk to everyone again!
Gardener Den

Friday, February 8, 2008

HI Gardening friends Tomatoes are up in the Greenhouse! Spring is coming!

Hi Gardening Friends
Well I have about forty seedling of the tomato July the Fourth that haves come up in the Greenhouse. So its looks like spring is on its way. This variety of Tomato is from Burpee seed company it is a very early tomato. I think it is the earliest tomato
yet. The size of this tomato is about the size of a golf ball 21/2 inches across.
Weight 4 oz and is Indeterminate. I usually have ripe tomatoes from 2 plants that
I grow in the greenhouse around Mother's Day in May each year. Also This is about the last tomato to produce in the fall so it produces all season. I feel this is one of the best tomatoes for all of the growing season.
Happy Gardening to All!
Gardener Den

Thursday, February 7, 2008

This is what I will be selling this up and coming spring season it is Stevia the sweet herb.

Hi Gardening friends
Here is what I ordered to grow from seed. The herb Stevia the sweet herb that is 300
times sweeter than sugar and no calories. This is a very popular herb for a replacement for an alternative to sugar and other artifical sweeteners. I will be planting seeds of Stevia when I receive them. They will be sold in 4 inch pots.
Grow Stevia in bright light in light soil with good drainage. Don't over water.
Grows to 1 foot tall and 11/2 feet wide. I hope all of you would try this herb.
Have fun gardening
Gardener Den

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Put all my Christmas ornaments away from my Christmas Open House today

Hi Gardening Friends
Today I was busy putting away all of my Christmas Ornaments from my Christmas Open House. Hope you were busy today to. I will post a new blog tomorrow. So let me know what you think. Thank You for reading my Blog
Gardensr Den

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Hi Gardening Friends

Hi Gardening Friends
Didn't do to much today in the greenhouse just sow some seeds in flats today.
It rained most of the day. So not much done today. So better days ahead.

See You all tommorow
Gardener Den

Monday, February 4, 2008

Hi Gardening Friends

Hi Gardening Friends
Well today was a busy day in the greenhouse. Got alot of work done for getting the
greenhouse open for the coming spring season. Today I did alot of cleaning up in
the greenhouse. And started seeds in seed flats of many perennials and more
vegetables. These will be really for sale in the spring. Also started hanging baskets
of fuchsia,geraniums,wandering jew and spider plants. Well this was what was done
in the greenhouse today. Thank You
For reading my blog.
Gardener Den

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Happy Groundhog Day!

Happy Goundhog Day to everyone.
Well today is February 02, 2008. Its Groundhog Day!
And Punxsutawney Phil haves seen his shadow so there will be six more weeks of winter weather. But all of us gardeners will just keep on going getting really for spring and the new planting season. So I hope everyone had a good time today.
Thank You for reading my blog.
Gardener Den

Friday, February 1, 2008

This is the first of February 2008!

Hi Gardening Friends
Today brings a new month were us gardening people are going to be busy sowing many different kinds of seeds for the up coming spring season. So now is the time to get your seeds flats ready for sowing seeds. You can start a early crop of peppers,
lettuce,and many different kinds of annuals and perennials seeds. Also don't forget early sowing of early cabbage,broccoli,cauliflower,brussel sprouts and kale.
Well this is some of the things that us gardeners can start to do now for the up and coming gardening season. Well Thank You for reading my blog
Have fun Gardening
From Gardener Den

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Do you have this planted in January

Hi Gardening Friends
This is Gardening Den. Just wanted to let you know if you have these seeds planted
yet for the upcoming season? Begonias,Perennial Seeds,Early Cabbage,Broccoli,Cauliflower and all other cole crops. Also get ready to start peppers this next moths and lots of other flowering annuals. Remember Groundhog
Day is February 02,2008. Thank You All for reading my Blog.
Gardener Den

Friday, January 25, 2008

Steeler Christmas Tree

Hi Gardening Friends
In the near future I will be posting pictures of my steeler tree
that I taken at a open house that I had last November.
Well I will be doing this soon.
See You
Gardener Den

Steelers Christmas Tree

Hi Gardening Friends
Well I will in the near future be putting pictures on my blog.
The pictures that I will be posting on my blog is that of my
Steeler tree that I had for sell in my shop. Also I have pictures
that will be included on the blog site. So come back and see what
is new on my blog.
See You all
Gardener Den

Sunday, January 20, 2008

This is the middle of January. How to keep your holiday plants

Hi to all my gardening friends.
Well now that the Holidays are over you are now wondering what to do with your
Holiday plants. Well for the Poinsettia you want the plant after flowering to dry out and start to go dormant. The plant should be cut back and kept dry with a temperature of 50-55 degrees for several weeks. Then in May they are pruned to
within 6-8 inches of the soil and are started into growth again by being watered and kept in a warm, sunny greenhouse. Tried this and send me a email to my blog and let me know how you are doing with taking care of your Poinsettias after they bloom.
Take care and happy gardening
Gardener Den

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Somethings to do in the month of January.

Hi Gardening Friends
January is time for homeowners to gather all their seed catalogs in from the mailbox.
And sit down figure out what they would like to order from the seed catalogs.
Here are some of the retail seed companys that I use. Stokes Seeds, Burpee Seeds,
Parks seeds. You can fine alot of different varieties of Perennials, Annuals, and Vegetables.
Here are some of the perennials that you can grow from seeds.

Achilla (Yarrow) Summer Pastels Mixed ( 24 inch)
The flowers look like Queen Anne's Lace a mixture of pink,rose,apricot,cream,red,tan,purple
and white.

Anemone (Pasque or Windflower)
Pulsatilla Dwarf (8 inch)
Early Spring dwarf star shape voilet rock garden flowers with yellow centers. Blooms in 6-7 months. Anemone likes partial shade, and well drain soil.

Aquilegia (Columbine)
Mckana Giants (3 ft)
Large long spurred blooms are born in profusion on the unually strong plants.
Colors: White, cream, rose, yellow,red

Armeria (Thrift)
Maritima Splendens Rose (8inch)

Centaurea
Montana (2ft)
Large blue cornflower - like blooms.

Coreopsis
Early Sunrise (18 inch)
Bright yellow, fully double, 2 in/5 cm flowers. Blooms in 85 days from sowing
All American Winner.

Echinacea (Rudbeckia)
Bright Star (18 inch)
Lavender pink , Single flowers.

Delphinium
Magic Fountain ( 24 inch)
Dwarf,wind tolerant, For cutting or containers.

Clear Springs (36 inch)
Dwarf Pacific Giants brand, wind tolerant (elatum) type with heavier stems than Magic Fountains. Strong clear colors have white bees. Blooms first year.

Foxglove (Digitalis) (5 ft)
Excelsior Hybrids Mix of cream,purple,pink,white, horizontal florets with bicolor
spotted throats. Self sowing Flowers the second year.

Geum
Lady Stratheden (24 inch)
Double golden yellow.

Mrs. Bradshaw Improved (2 ft)
Brillant scarlet double flowers. twice the size of the old strain.

Hollyhock (Althaea)
Chaters Double mixed (7 ft)
Fully double in rose,salom,red,buff,yellow,maroon,white,scarlet.

Annuals that you can sow from seeds in January

Begonias Fibrous Begonias
Ambassadors Series
Deep Rose,Red,White,Coral

Cocktail Series
Brandy - Pink
Gin - Rose pink
Vodka - Scarlet
Whiskey - White

Snapdragons
Rocket Series
Tall snapdragons from seed.

Floral Flowers
Extra dwarf series.

Vegetables
Tomatoes that you can start early Fourth of July tomates you can start them early from seed.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ENJOY THIS BLOG?