Tuesdays with a Twist #120 is LIVE!

Good Morning and welcome to another No Rules Party! 

If you're growing your own organic food (or you'd like to),
 check out our VERY popular monthly planting Guide
AUGUST Seed Planting Guide for the US by Region

Are you ready for the party?   We're your hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Please give a warm welcome to our new co-host
Heather @ Homestead McCoy

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The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59am.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

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 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!

Growing Organic root Crops from Seed to Harvest

Mary's Heirloom Seeds Growing Root Crops from Seed to Harvest Don't Miss Out! Check out  Mary's Blog ON SALE thru 7/27/15 CATNIP Garlic Chives Lemon Bee Balm Genovese Basil Green Sorrel Scarlet Nantes Carrots  Arugula "Roquette" Plains Coreopsis *Seed Packs as low as $1* $10 order minimum on all seed orders ORGANIC GARLIC is now available as a Pre-Order  Helpful Links Heirloom BEANS Heirloom BEETS Heirloom CABBAGE Heirloom CARROTS Heirloom CORN Heirloom CUCUMBER Heirloom EGGPLANT Heirloom GREENS Heirloom ONIONS Heirloom PEAS  Heirloom PEPPERS Heirloom RADISH Heirloom SEEDS Heirloom SQUASH and PUMPKIN Heirloom TOMATOES HERB Seeds Wildflower Seeds  Seed Pack Combos Germination SUPPLIES ORGANIC PLANT FOOD Organic Pest Control DIY Tincture Kits Organic Dry Herbs Join Our Mailing List Mary's Heirloom Seeds (954) 654-3501 A few of our favorites Forget-Me-Not Marigold Spanish Eyes Lavender Dear Mary, Did you get a chance to check out our AUGUST Seed Planting Guide for the US?  It was packed with growing info.  Last week we also shared Boost Your Health with Organic Herbs If you have additional questions, we are happy to help! Growing Radish from Seed to Harvest The   German Giant is my favorite Radish.  It's not fancy or hard to grow and tastes great at any size.  The Radish may be a cool-weather crop but I continue to have success even in South Florida.   Grow  radishes in full sun or partial shade. Plant radishes in loose, well-drained soil. Remove soil lumps, rocks, and roots from radish planting beds. Obstructions can cause roots to grow malformed. Add organic matter to planting beds before sowing radishes. Radishes prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8. Sow radish seed ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart; thin successful seedlings from 1 to 4 inches apart in wide rows depending upon the variety. Daikon Radish Sow radishes in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before average date of  the last frost in spring. Sow succession crops every 2 weeks in spring and in autumn. Two or more crops can be grown in spring. Radishes require 22 to 70 days to come to harvest. Warm weather can result in small roots. Long days may also cause radishes to flower; plant radishes during the shorter days of spring and autumn. In mild winter regions, grow radishes in late autumn and early winter. Radishes can withstand frost.          Continue Reading Growing BEETS from Seed to Harvest Beets can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 50 degrees, making them ideal for the early spring and fall vegetable gardens. Beets don't care for overly acidic soil, so gardeners should perform a soil test before planting to ensure that the pH is between 6.2 and 6.8. Chioggio Beets Table beet (also known as garden beet, blood turnip or red beet) is a popular garden vegetable throughout the United States. Beet tops are an excellent source of vitamin A and the roots are a good source of vitamin C. The tops are cooked or served fresh as greens and the roots may be pickled for salads or cooked whole, then sliced or diced. Beet juice is a basic ingredient of Russian borscht. The garden beet is closely related to Swiss chard, sugar beet and mangel. Continue Reading Growing TURNIPS and RUTABAGA For TURNIPS:   Fast-growing spring turnip crops are best harvested while the weather is still cool. The flavor of fall crops is improved by light frost. Don't forget the greens which are delicious! Days to germination: 4-7 Days to Harvest: 50-70    Prefers well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Can tolerate slightly alkaline soil. Needs plentiful, consistent moisture. Loosen soil deeply or grow in raised beds to encourage good root development.    From early spring to late summer, sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin plants to 4- to 6-inch spacings. Plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest. Quality and flavor are best if harvested when whether is cool.   For RUTABAGA: Rutabagas are cool weather crops that must be harvested before temperatures reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit but shouldn't be planted until the soil temperature remains at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Days to Germinate: 7-10 Days to Harvest: 80-90 days  Prefers well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Can tolerate slightly alkaline soil. Needs plentiful, consistent moisture. Loosen soil deeply or grow in raised beds to encourage good root development.    From early spring to late summer, sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin plants to 4- to 6-inch spacings.

All of the seeds listed are open-pollinated, non-gmo and non-hybrid, non-patented,  untreated, heirloom garden seeds. Mary has signed the Safe Seed pledge.   Most seed orders processed Monday-Thursday are shipped within 24 hours, except for holidays.

AUGUST Seed Planting Guide for the US

Because you ask, we've posted our AUGUST Seed Planting Guide a bit early this month!

Mary's Heirloom Seeds Newsletter AUGUST Seed Planting Guide for the US by Region ABOUT GARLIC Garlic varieties fall into two broad categories, the hard-neck types and the soft-neck types. Soft-neck varieties tend to produce larger bulbs than hard-neck types, and their bulbs store better.   Soft-neck garlic is typically more sensitive to cold than hard-neck garlic, so it often doesn't do well in northern climates. It does just fine in Florida, California and warmer climates. HARDNECK VARIETIES: Red Chesnok Kilarney Red SOFTNECK VARIETY Inchelium Red  Seed Starting SUPPLIES  ORGANIC PLANT FOOD     Heirloom BEANS  Heirloom BEETS Heirloom CABBAGE  Heirloom CARROTS  Heirloom CORN *NON-GMO*  Heirloom CUCUMBER HEIRLOOM SEEDS Heirloom EGGPLANT  Heirloom GREENS *Arugula, Dandelion, Kale, Endive, Radicchio, Chard, Spinach*  Heirloom ONIONS   Heirloom PEAS  Heirloom Peppers Heirloom RADISH   Heirloom SQUASH & PUMPKIN  Heirloom TOMATOES  HERBS ORGANIC FLOWERS  Seed Combo Packs  DIY Tincture Kits **NEW** ORGANIC GARDEN GIFT PACK Organic Neem Oil   Helpful Links:  Heat Tolerant Veggies Companion Planting Using Organic Neem Oil in the Garden   GROWING TIPS Grow Your Own "Medicine"   Using Diatomaceous Earth    GROWING FROM SEED TIPS I know it's still July but we've had a lot of requests for our August Seed Planting Guide already.  FALL planting is HUGE in many regions across the country. Organic GARLIC is available as a Pre-Order NOW. Late September/Early October is usually the best time for planting Garlic.  Don't miss out!  We sold out fast last year and were unable to accept additional orders.   AUGUST Seed Starting Guide for the US by Region ON SALE thru 7/27/15 CATNIP, Garlic Chives, Lemon Bee Balm, Genovese Basil, Green Sorrel, Scarlet Nantes Carrots, Arugula "Roquette" and Plains Coreopsis *Seed Packs as low as $1* Below are suggestions for planting.  Sowing indoors isn't an absolute necessity but can increase your chances of a successful harvest This week I posted our Growing Radish from Seed to Harvest tutorial.  RADISH is one of the easiest varieties to grow in the garden and can be ready to harvest in as few as 25-30 days GULF COAST   Sow Indoor - Broccoli, Cabbage Cauliflower, Eggplant, Leeks and Lettuce Sow Outside - Arugula, Beans, Collards, Corn, Cucumber, Mustard Greens, Okra, Southern Peas, Peppers, Pumpkin, Sorrel, Summer Spinach (Malabar Spinach), Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Cherry Tomato and Watermelon Pretty much EVERY  Herb!!!  Our favorites: Basil, Cilantro and Parsley Don't forget  WILDFLOWERS! SOUTH FLORIDA   Arugula, Beans, Carrots, Collards, Corn, Eggplant, Escarole, Lettuce, Mustard, Onions, Okra, Peppers, Radish, Rutabaga, Summer Spinach (Malabar Spinach), Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips and Watermelon  Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Caraway, Chives, Comfrey, Dill, Echinacea, Lavender,  Lemon Bee Balm, Lemonbalm, Lemongrass, Mugwort, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, Toothache Plant, Thyme and Yarrow Don't forget the  Wildflowers!   SAN DIEGO  Arugula, Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Eggplant, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Radish, Radicchio, Rutabaga, Sorrel, Summer Squash, Summer Spinach (Malabar Spinach), Cherry Tomatoes and Turnips  Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Caraway, Chives, Cilantro, Comfrey, Dill, Echinacea, Lavender,  Lemon Bee Balm, Lemonbalm, Lemongrass, Mugwort, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, Toothache Plant, Thyme and Yarrow  Pretty much EVERY  Herb!! Don't forget the  Wildflowers!    SOUTHWEST   Sow Indoors - Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage Cauliflower, Chard, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach Sow Outside - Arugula, Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Corn, Cucumber, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onions, Peas, Radish, Rutabaga, Sorrel, Spinach and Turnips Transplant - Celery, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Summer Squash and Tomatoes Don't forget the Herbs and  Wildflowers!   PACIFIC NORTHWEST Sow Outside - Arugula, Beets, Carrots, Chard, Cilantro, Collard Greens, Kale, Lettuce Mustard Greens, Radish, Rutabga, Sorrel, Spinach and Turnips Transplant - Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale Don't forget the HERBS and  Wildflowers!        SOUTHERN INTERIOR  Sow Outdoors: Arugula, Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Cucumber, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Radishes, Rutabaga, Spinach, Squash and Turnips. Sow Indoors: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi and Lettuce. Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Caraway, Chives, Cilantro, Comfrey, Dill, Echinacea, Lavender,  Lemon Bee Balm, Lemonbalm, Lemongrass, Mugwort, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, Toothache Plant, Thyme and Yarrow Don't forget the  Herbs  and  Wildflowers!      CENTRAL MIDWEST Sow Outside - Arugula, Beet, Carrot, Chard, Collards, Endive, Kale Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Peas, Radish, Rutabaga, Sorrel, Spinach and Turnips Transplant - Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce and Spinach  Don't forget the Herbs  and  Wildflowers!     NORTH CENTRAL ROCKIES  Sow Outside - Arugula, Beets, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach and Turnips Transplant - Kale, Kohlrabi and Scallions      MID-ATLANTIC Sow Outdoors - Arugula, Beets, Calabrese Broccoli, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Radish, Rutabaga, Sorrel, Spinach and Turnips. Transplant- Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce and Parsley  Our Favorite Herbs:  Basil, Borage, Catnip, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Lavender, Lemon Bee Balm and Parsley Don't forget the  Wildflowers!     MARITIME CANADA & NEW ENGLAND  Sow Outdoors - Arugula, Beets, Calabrese Broccoli, Carrots, Endive, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach and Turnip Transplant - Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks and Lettuce     HAWAII  Sow Outdoors - Arugula, Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce, Melons, Onions, Radish, Summer Spinach (Malabar), Squash, Peppers, Tomatoes and Zucchini.   Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Caraway, Chives, Comfrey, Dill, Echinacea, Lavender,  Lemon Bee Balm, Lemonbalm, Lemongrass, Mugwort, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, Toothache Plant, Thyme and Yarrow Pretty much EVERY  Herb!!! Don't forget the  Wildflowers!         Mary has signed the Safe Seed pledge.     Most seed orders placed Monday-Thursday are shipped within 24 hours, except for holidays.  *$10 Order minimum* If you have additional questions please feel free to ask.  What will YOU plant this AUGUST?   Sincerely,                                    Mary Mary's Heirloom Seeds  The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. Thomas A. Edison   "The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway." Michael Pollan