[PDF]Organic Gardening Jun-July 2008

ORGANIC



"Gardens are where people and the land come together
in the most inspiring way." — Robert RodaU




GROW THE
BEST TASTING
TOMATOES



+

HOW TO

Make a nontoxic
bug spray

Stop weeds
all season

Cure plant diseases





FIT MORE HERBS




Pick the Right
BASIL FOR YOU



Tons o



FORN



JUNE JULY 2008 PU40OG3752




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How green are

your cleaners?



With so many new green cleaning

products on the market, it's hard to know which ones
really have a minimal impact on the environment.
Despite all the hype, there are no industry standards
defining "natural" in cleaning products. That's why
Clorox set its own high har when it developed
Green Works" household cleaners.

Ninety-nine percent of the ingredients are made
from coconut, lemon and com, the highest
amount of plant -based ingredients of any green
cleaner on the market. Every Green Works""
product is made using biodegradable cleaning
agenta and packaged In recyclable bottler MoM
of the cleaners are certified by the EPA's* Design
for the Environment program, which analyzes
ingredients and picks the greenest products.

Green Works™ products clean as well as
conventional cleaners. Pick up a bottle
next time you're at the supermarket
or drugstore. You really can clean your
home without hurting the planet*




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Sierra
Club



The maker ol Green WW
natural cleaners it a proud
iupporter of the Sierra Oub'i
effort* to pwve and
protect Ihe pfamt



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Just what the world needs,

l> » •

another cleaning product.



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e from plants, and cleans as well as traditional cleaners.




n Works'" is exactly what the world needs.



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Finally,





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SlERKA
« CLUB



Whole grains for your salad days



Warm weather is no excuse to skip out on healthy whole grains. Bob s Red Mill

has the widesr variety of whole grains anywhere to make your summertime recipes sizzle. Find hundreds of
whole grain recipes on our website like this one from nationally acclaimed Chef Pascal Sauton. So remember,
the temperature may be up outside, but there are healthy ways to cool down with Bob's Red Mill whole grain
foods for every meal of the day.





' -whole Grain-

QUINOA



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From the kitchen of : Pascal Sauton. Executive Chef and Owner

Carafe ~- Portland* Oregon



Qumoa Salad

2 cup* Boh\ Red Mill* Organic Quinoa

1/2 cup cruvhed Oregon Hazelnuts toatfed

1 '4 cup minced gree n onion*

1/4 cup dry black currants, toaltcd in warm
water then drained

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

To cook Quinoa: Boil 4 cup* ot water; add
Quinoa and o>ok on medium heat tor 10
minute*. Dram in a strainer, (hen spread
Quinoa on a cookie thect and lei cool ai
room temperature. Do not nn*e.



Halt and lre*hly ground Mack pepper to ra^tc.

As an option: Add 1/4 cup finely crumbled
Mac veined chee*e. Thi* add* another flavor
complexity.

Serve at an appetizer w ith piowiutto.
smoked duck brca« or poached Iceki,

Serve a* an entree with frevhly grilled rivh
or cold poached ultnon,

For more great whole grain
summer salad recipes, please visit

wwtu.bobsredmitl.com/og



After Quinoa haft cooled, place in a l^i^, 3pUlAUj£MWfcdtf 1
the remaining ingredient* and SCtfOfl with *ea J.5UU.J*ty.iI/J



08 VOL. 55, NO. 5



CONTENT









of Champion
Tomato Growers

Want the earliest, biggest,
best-looking, tastiest
harvest you've ever had?
We have the winning
strategies that are proven

tO SUCCeed. By Dcnisc Foley



A Bounty of Basils



Get more (and more flavorful) basil
wich lesi effort when you grow these
varieties recommended by expert
gardeners in your region.
By Ann McCormick



In Wyoming's short, dry growing
season, a passionate gardener turns
a small space into a soothing refuge
for her family and a testament for
the organic way. By Willi Evans
Galloway



64



Herbs for Beauty's Sake

Many of your favorite seasonings
arc so pretty they deserve a spot in
your flowerbeds. By Nan Stcrman

Dad's Garden

Just in time for Father's Day* a
Native American storyteller shares
treasured memories and lessons
learned from the man who taught
her how and why to garden.
By Dovic Thomason

* - COVER STORIES




S AT ORGANICGARDENING.COM



answers from Riperlencedgrow

Pest Solutions identify what's



s noting your plants and find the



ON THE COVER Sean
McCormick snot the image
of a fresh-picked tomato
Pennsylvania




yeeno



CONTENTS




In Every Issue



* = COVER STORIES



6 QN



14 ASK OG

Eliminate a nasty weed,
protect plants from pests,
and repair a broken hose.

16 NEWS*

Sunflowers save vegetables,
ladybugs thwart disease,
and aphids reproduce —
a lot.



22 SOIL*

Grow your own weed-
blocking mulch and build
the most fertile soil possible
at the same time.

26 LANDSCAPE

Plant a begonia that pops,
take houscplanrs outside,
and discover how to control
mosquitoes naturally.

32LEQQD

Grow magical beans and
serve them in a quick and
tasty summer dish. And
get more squash from
your plot.



See all you can grow
with 70 years of organic
know-how, and meet a
native-plant rescue squad.

40 GREENHOUSE

Are natural cleaners and
shampoo tainted? Plus:
Why organic eggs are
healthier.

72 ('.:■ OSFR 1 OOK

Honeysuckle blooms are a
sweet reminder of summers
past. Find out how to make
memories of your own.



1

■1

t



MaTepwan, 3ainntueHMbift aBTOpcKMM npaei



THE EDITOR'S ALMANAC





The Hardest Choices

ou'vc made 2 big choice. When you started reading this magazine — whether
this is your first issue (welcome!) or you've been a subscriber since way back
when "organic" was still a new (old) idea — you decided to learn how to
garden without toxic chemicals. Maybe you wanted to learn more about how
to bring the organic approach to other areas of your life, too.
Since you made that choicc t you've probably discovered that every day you have count-
less more to make. They start coming at you as soon as you roll out of bed in the morn-
ing. How long will you run the shower? What's for breakfast? Where will you shop? How
will you keep pests from spoiling your garden? See what I mean? You make decisions all
day long that impact the health and well-being of you, your family, and the environment.

In some cases, the choices are clear-cut. I imagine, for instance, few organic gardeners
will knowingly plant genetically modified seeds. The challenge, though, is that most
choices arc not so simple. Even basic ones. Consider, for example, shampoo. As you'll see
in our report on page 44, a recent study revealed that many shampoos sold as "organic"
or "natural" contain small amounts of 1,4-dioxanc, a probable human carcinogen. The
shampoo makers say they are working to minimize the amount of the compound. But,
they insist, products that contain it arc more effective and the risks to human health
arc very small. A couple of my colleagues, both dedicated to organic principles in every-
thing they do, told me they ttied the brands without i,4-dioxane but the results were
unsatisfactory. So they choose to keep using the brands with i,4-dioxane until they find
a shampoo that works well without it.

Here at America's original organic magazine, one of our most critical choices is about
the paper we print on. We have always used as much recycled content as possible* But as
we learn more about where and how recycled paper is produced (overseas, using lots of
bleach), we've shifted our focus instead to getting paper from sources who harvest it from
sustainably managed forests and process it with the least damage to the environment.

We now have another choice to offer you. You can save the paper and get your copy of
Organic (gardening delivered electronically.
This edition is identical in every way to
the paper edition. Each issue is archived so
you can refer to past articles, and you can
print articles to save in your own personal
archive. For a free preview, go to zJnio.com
and click on Home & Garden.

Whichever version you select, we
appreciate the choice you've made to be
an organic gardener and to read Organic
(jardening* I wish all of your other choices
will be as easy to make*

Meet you here again next time.





3 Things
I Learned
from This
Issue



Better Basil

Whenever I've seen
flowers forming on
my basil, fve snipped
them off to keep
the plant producing
tasty and tender new
leaves. I now know a
better way to encour-
age fresh leaf growth.
Discover the secret
on page 50.

Bugs Battle
Disease

Certain ladytxjgs work
to prevent powdery
mildew on cucum-
bers, melons, and
grapes. See the
helpful bug and
learn how It works
on page 19*

Bat Case
Scientists report that
brown bat colonies
are being wiped out
by a mysterious
disease. Find out why
bats are so valuable
to gardeners and
more about the
disease on page 31.



JUNE/JULY 200B



Maiepwan, samwiuenHbiw aaiopCKUM npasoM



This could be the most relaxing part of your week.



T Series

Tlw new Kubota T Series makes mowing so simple it's
actually enjoyable. Willi powerful single- cylinder 18 HP
or 20/23 HP V-Twin gasoline engines, you can tackle any
turf with ease. CXir innovative 3-in-I Infinity mowing deck
allows you to change cutting modes without changing
blades. With the smooth hydrostatic transmission and
Kubota Cushion Ride Seat you feel like you'a* gliding
across the grass. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.





EYEKVTHING VOl VALUE



Financing available to qualified customers through Kubota Credit Corporation, USA.
For product and dealer information, call 1 -888-4-KUBOTA. ext 105
or go to wmv.kubotaT3.com




SAFETY



m



mm




cover



THE POWER OF
ACTIVE NATURALS'



4P% ORGANIC | ■

Gardening



EDITOR Scott Mover PUBLISHER Christopher L*mbia&e, 212-B06-G?9a



Did you know that a year of




exposure is like
a week at the beach



een? New





EDITORIAL AND Of SIGN

ART OlHECTGR Gav*\ Robtnaoo

SENIOR EDITORS TNinia* Cfeilntki, Zazaf Loven

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Chrlata Neu

WEST COAST CONTRIBUTING EDITOR W* Evana Oalfcnvav

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Nancv ftutman

RESEARCH EDITOR/TEST GARDEN UAMAOCR Pvmia Ruch

DESIGNER Tara Long

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bath Muxta

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER. ORQAfilCSMDEMhG.COM

Abigail Pnulatta

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Olnjar HomrVd

GRAND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Ell* Prewnt
EDITORIAL INTERN Carina? Connafly

OG TEST HARDENERS

Don Bo^hm, Chtriott*. HC Ann V. Caffev, Walaanbun*.
CO; Andraa Ray Chandlar. Olatfua. KS Unda Crago, Waaand-
port. OriCanada: L*«lie Doyle, Lis Va#a», NV; Carta jairra
Qllrnont. CtbooL MO; John GutkowthL Mo*^a. "L Macau*
Kuachnar, E™ut PA: Dabbia Lav** Olyn-ciia. WA- Bill

Munaa, Qvatln*. CA, N*n jtcman. EnClntiaa, CA 5t*pharvo

Man Pary-a. Oacatur. OA. M
ROOALE GARDEN STAFF

LANDSCAPE COORDINATORS
Joan Bnjmar. Uu Q*borv, Apnl Johnson

OnWc fli^fWi »a »v attabl* at a discount to retail
iii«t outlata Contact Direct Gala* at

opbon 2. and oak nx Andrsa DaFanti .

Org*n>c GanJawtf/ 4o«a not accept advartlfng for

cnom*caJ-Oa»«C* posticus or fort i:arn. ti la crtr^mi L *

m the United Sum on procaaa chAorinaHra* papar y ■
containing 75 parcam rocvOod fibar with a minimum f
10 par can! porrt&onaianar waata< Prtnrad fn tna USA ^



SALES AND MARKETING

NATIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jatf Tkacn. 61f>fl67-B5a3

MARKETING MANAGER Tammy Hobar, 6>0-967-7iU3

MIDWEST REPRESENTATIVE Chary! Kogut

WEST COAST REPRESENTATIVES Nicholas Fraadman,
707-775-3376 David McRofaio. 707-77^2406

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE AahAav l*cE*an, Matte PaopLa

lnc tt 312-779-7172; a*t* 232

DETROIT REPRE SENTATTVE Susan Hunvor. 2*8-637-1367
PROOUCT10N

MAGAZINE PRODUCTION MANAGER Kara* 1 Stlrmar
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Lynn Laudans



CIRCULATION

SENIOR GROUP CONSUMER MARKETING DIRECTOR
John Phatan

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PRODUCT MARKETING

Kgtnna C^itKowaa

SUBSCRIPTION DIRECTOR Lort Banavton

SENIOR CONSUMER MARKETING MANAGER Klmbertv Dravao

CONSUMER MARKETING MANAGER Suianna Smith

ASSISTANT CONSUMER MARKETING MANAGER Joan Movar
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES MANAGER Joyoa Smith

SUBSCRIPTIONS

For ooaaoona about your aubacnor ion* vwi Orgmmc
Oa/divitnar cvim and ohqk on Cuaiomar Sarvtea; a-maJl
OQDcuataarv^rodaia^om; call &00-606-2206; or wrta to
OnjanVc Oardanin* PO Bon 7320. Red Oak IA 51501.

READER PREFERENCE SERVICE

Wa occasionally mafcs our ■ubaoribara* names avaJlebta to
companies wnoaa product! or aarvlcee may ba of Intarmar
n+ . to Organic Garo%n*ryr raadara. If you wou*d prafar not to
ba mciuoad. you may requaat that your nama ba r#-
movad from promotion Hats. Wnta to Organs GaroWr-
iroT. 33 Eaat Mmor Straai. Emrnaua. PA 16096*




r - ~




RODALE



U Hodale

Founder, 1942-1971

Maria Rodale

Chairman of the 8oard



Robert Rodale

Chairman of ine Board and CEO, 1971-1990

Anteth Rodalt

Chn?f Inni^Ation Off^ar



Steven Ptahette Murphy

President and Chief Executive Of'icer



Letter Raxhatf
Bill CHtraff
MaryAnn Sekhedahl
Gr^gg Michaelson
Jim Berra
Michael Bruno
Mia Garbonell
Kenneth Gtron
Michael A. Sudlk
Karen Rinaldl
Robin Shallow



EVP, Chief Financial Officer
President. Publishing and Marketing Group*
EVP. Group Pubteher. Rodate
EVP, Rodale Dvect
SVP and Publisher, Kodak: OnJme
EVP, Human Services
SVP f Corporate Communications
SVP, th«f Technology Officer
SVP, Operations

SVP, General Manager and Publishing Director, Hodafe Books
VR Brand Commumcations and Public Relations



We inspire and enable people to improve
their lives and the world around them

Rodale Inc. 33 E Minor St Emmatii, PA 18098 610*967*5171 rodale.com



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Maiopnan, aaiuMim



FROM OUR READERS




Keep It Raw

The milk article ["Milk Shake-Up," May] seemed
to discourage raw milk in favor of USDA-certified
pasteurized and homogenized milk. Must we
sterilize everything in the name of public safety,
negating what has managed to nourish many
generations healthfully and safely?

I want to refer your readers to the Weston A.
Price Foundation (westonaprice.org)* which is a
pioneer in the effort to educate the public about
raw milk.

Steve Eyerdam

Cbchatis, Washington



Funny About Worms

I just got my first issue and I love it. I
read the article about compost tea [Soil,
May], and I want to urge folks to try
verm icompos ting. You can't get easier
than worms eating junk mail and veggie
scraps and leaving behind compost. I
have a five-tray worm bin, and the results
have been wonderful — even if I do have
to put up with my family's worm jokes.

Tanya Gearhcarc

Via e-mail

So, Tanya, have you heard the one about the two
worms who walked into a bar? —Editor

Serious About Swapping

I am ecstatic that you have revived your
magazine to nearly its original format! I



had dropped my io-ycar subscription, so
it's great to have you back in my life.

I would love it if you also revived the
seed savers/plant swap section. I still
have the best peonies growing in my
garden rhat I swapped for Thai dragon
peppers and purple old-fashioned iris.

B. Miller-Daniels

Maynard, Massachusetts

Our seed and plant map is alive and well in the
Discussions area of OrganicGardcning.com,
so you can trade directly with other gardeners.

Deep Concerns

"Double Delight" [Ask OG, April]
describes the benefits of double -digging
garden soil. However, gardeners need to



understand the history of their garden
>>>