Author: Trey Collier

About Trey Collier

Avid Do-It-Yourself-er. Love's being outdoors. Helped push the shade sail market into one of the fastest growing outdoor shade structures product in North America.

Garden Tools & Tips, Healthy Ideas

Know When to Start Your Spring Vegetable Garden

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Are you planting a garden this spring? Vegetable gardens are a great way to utilize space in your backyard. If you are new to vegetable gardening, you are probably wondering when you should start. Below, you will find a handy guide to help you understand when you should plant in your area of the country. When you start your plants, you can either start them indoors or use a cold frame greenhouse to start them outdoors. Cold frames act as a protective barrier, creating the perfect amount of sunlight and ventilation. This allows you to start your plants outdoors earlier than normal. Whether starting your gardening indoors or out, use the handy guide below to get started now!

Vegetable Growing Guide

You base when to start your plants (indoors or in a cold frame) on the date of the expected last frost in your growing zone. A “growing zone”, also known as a hardiness zone, is determined by the climatic conditions of the location where you live. It factors temperatures, rainfall, humidity, general soil conditions, and other factors to give you zone number. Your zone can also be used to help you determine which plants will thrive best where you live. The approximate date ranges for the last freeze in your zone is below.

  • Zone 1           June 1 – June 30
  • Zone 2          May 1 – May 31
  • Zone 3          May 1 –  May 31
  • Zone 4          May 1 – May 31
  • Zone 5          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 6          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 7          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 8          February 28 – March 30
  • Zone 9          January 30 – February 28
  • Zone 10       January 1 – January 31
  • Zone 11        Frost Free Year Round

Below is a list of commonly grown vegetables and how many weeks before the last frost you should start your plants.

Vegetable                                                  Number of Weeks Before Frost to Start

Okra                                                            2-4 Weeks

Cucumbers                                               3-4 Weeks

Squash                                                        3-4 Weeks

Broccoli                                                     5-7 Weeks

Cabbage                                                     5-7 Weeks

Lettuce                                                       5-7 Weeks

Eggplant                                                    6-8 Weeks

Tomatoes                                                  6-8 Weeks

Spinach                                                      6-8 Weeks

Peppers                                                      8-10 Weeks

Onion                                                           10-12 Weeks

 

Happy gardening!

Garden Tools & Tips, Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Spruce Up Your Garden for Early Spring

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Spring has sprung early in many parts of the country. Plants and flowers are blooming weeks earlier than expected and many have already started tending their gardens. Now is a great time to add some fun and decorative touches. Here are a few ideas for adding color, whimsy, and function to your garden or backyard area.

  • Flutterby Solar Garden Accessories use solar power to give the impression of colorful insects in flight. Direct sunlight on the Flutterby solar panels make the colorful butterfly and dragonflies flit around your flowers and shrubs. Each insect measure 3.1 inches from wing to wing and they come in red, purple, yellow, blue, and green.

  • Solar Chameleon Gazing Ball adds a touch of beauty and style to your garden. It has a solar panel hidden discreetly within that gives its dual light settings their bright light. The White Mode features 2 bright white LEDs, and the Chameleon Mode cycles through a spectrum of colors. It comes on automatically during dark periods of the day and offers up to 8 hours of light each night when fully charged. There is no wiring required – only the power of the sun!

Holidays & Gift Ideas, Innovative Solutions

Rocket Roast Your Turkey!

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Turkey Rocket Roaster
Looking for a new way to cook your turkey this holiday season? Try the Turkey Rocket Roaster. This Dutch oven style roaster uses charcoal for cooking and flavor, but is much easier than a grill for prepping a whole turkey. This type of cooking costs 2/3 less than comparable gas and oil cookers. The roasting chamber is large enough to cook a 14 pound turkey in about 2-1/2 hours, but is also great for ribs, pork, seafood, vegetables, and more! You will get a tender, juicy turkey or chicken with maximum flavor in a short time. Great for holidays, camping trips, cookouts, and more.

Outdoor Entertaining

Fire Table Elegance and Function

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Catalina Fire Table
Style and function very rarely come together they way they do in the beautiful Catalina Fire Table. Handcrafted from slate and completed with a powder coated metal base, it is a beautiful addition to any porch, patio, or outdoor area. The fire bowl itself is made of spun aluminum and the versatile design can be powered with a propane tank or gas line. The included fitted cover converts this piece into a regular table. It is like getting two tables for the price of one! Lava rocks are included. You can replace them with sand or fire glass. Made in the USA, you know that you are getting great craftsmanship as well as a gorgeous, cozy gathering spot for entertaining and relaxing.