Show Date: 27 Jan 12

I talked about Community gardens this week.  Here are some easy growing plants to help you get started.  Also, some of my favorites!!

Carrots 'Purple Dragon'

 In the above picture you’ll see nasturtiums at the top, mesclun mix of lettuce, kale and those carrots!

• radishes
• carrots, ‘Purple Dragon’ are a favorite of mine
• cherry tomatoes
• sunflowers, shorter and edible varieties
• snap peas
• nasturtium, dwarf type
• marigolds
• mesclun mix of leaf lettuce
• Kale
• ‘Baby Bear’ pumpkins, this is a smaller pumpkin.  These are a little more work and definately need a little more room.

Be sure to check the seed packet for proper placing and cultural requirements.  All of the above plants are ones that we used in the Jr. MG program designed for kids from 8 to 12 years old.  These are also great plants for new gardeners of ANY age!  This is NOT a complete list but a great place to start.

Show Date: 26 Jan 12
I think not!  I’m all for going “green” and reusing as much as possible but I draw the line at cat “waste” in my garden.    While some cat litters are obviously better than others at helping with the odor problem, there’s still the “solid” waste that, although scooped out, can still leave behind traces of bacteria.

 There are a number of companies saying that once the solids are taken out, you can use it as mulch or put it on your compost pile.  My question is why?  Yes, the recycling thing is great, pine needles are wonderful for mulch, but, honestly, there are no Master Gardeners I know that would advocate using this in your gardens.

A disease known as toxoplasmosis can be present in the solid waste of cats and it’s just not worth the risk.  Please check out these websites for more information:  Centers for Disease Control and essortment on toxoplasmosis

Show Date: 25 Jan 12
…swaying in the breeze.  Using native plants is good for the environment and good for our local growers, 2 of which I have in my Favorite Links tab.  For ideas, and perhaps to buy, check out Praire Moon Nursery and Prairie Restoration.  

Little Bluestem 'Blue Heaven' U of MN cultivar

‘Blue Heaven’s parents come from Benton County, Minnesota!  This native is Big Bluestem and grows to 8 feet tall.  You’ll likely recognize it!

Big Bluestem

And then there’s the short Side Oats Grama that grows to 16 inches tall and is great planted on steep hills as it holds the soil well.

Side-oats Grama

Once established, native grasses are carefree.  There are other cold climate grasses that add 3 seasons of interest. If you get the chance, go to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and check out their ornamental grass collection.  If you click on the link, you’ll find yourself at the U of MN’s Extension site gazing at the grasses!   There’s a book called Ornamental Grasses for Cold Climates written by M Hockenberry Meyer, a U of MN horticulture scientist.

Show Date: 24 Jan 12

Community Gardens add beauty and health to neighborhoods.  In fact, studies have shown that rates of asthma have been reduced because kids eat a manageable amount of pollen and build their immune systems. 

Community Garden photo by Joe Marinaro

This site, Simple Organic, is chock full of information but my link will take you right to Community Gardens section where you’ll learn what a community garden is, more on the benefits, and details on how to get started.   There are a few community gardens listed for Minnesota on a site called Local Harvest.   Also check out Community Garden and Gardening Matters. 

It’s really important to measure the level of interest in your community for a joint garden.  Everyone can get excited for a while but when the real work comes in to tending a garden, you want people that are still willing.   You also have to check with your city to find out the rules and regulations. 

Show Date: 23 Jan 12
There’s no better stress reliever than to play in the dirt!  I have often taken for granted my ability to move through my gardens easily.  Oh maybe my knees give me a little trouble now and then, but I can bend down and pluck a weed or snip a flower with ease.  Other gardeners can’t.

Gene Rothert, the author of The Enabling Garden, is the Director Emeritus at the Chicago Botanic Garden and his book is a fantastic resource for those looking to make gardening easier for themselves or loved ones.   I’ve linked you to a site called Disabled World that takes you directly to helpful garden tools for those less able. 

There’s a table top method of gardening where you buy a bag of quality garden soil, lay it on a table, cut holes in the bag and plant!  Of course they need to be shallow rooted plants like marigolds, geraniums and herbs. 

Carry On Gardening is a great website from the UK that is loaded with information.  Check them out.  Also check out the tab on my front page that says “Enabling Garden” for much more information!!!

Show Date: 20 Jan 12
So many plants, so little room!   Here’s a look at some 2012 picks of mine for the sunny garden.

Sedum 'Dazzleberry'

‘Dazzleberry’ sedum grows to 8 inches tall but 18 inches wide.  The seed heads are between 6 and 8 inches wide.  This is a lovely groundcover.  Here’s a link for more complete information.  Great Garden Plants  I have not ordered from this place so I can’t personally vouch for their quality, however, I did some checking and they sound reputable.   Always check locally first. 

These next 2 plants, I think, compliment each other.  The poppy is new, the veronica is not.  The poppy ‘Paradiso’ grows to 26 inches tall and flowers in May and June with large papery pink flowers splashed with red.  The veronica ‘Total Eclipse’ grows to 12 inches tall with intensly purple flower spikes and blooms from early to mid-summer.  It’ll bloom during the time the poppies are blooming and then continue…

Poppy 'Paradiso'Veronica 'Total Eclipse'

Veronica 'Total Eclipse'

There’s a new Coreopsis in town that’s rated ”barely” to zone 4 but might be worth a try planted in a microclimate closer to your home. 

Coreopsis 'Route 66'

Wouldn’t this be gorgeous with some bright yellow Yarrow or in front of some bright yellow daylilies!?!?  This plant like it sunny, hot and dry.

Show Date: 19 Jan 12
Yesterday I showed you all the gorgeous new varieties of Hosta for 2012, today it’s about a disease that hits Hosta.  NOW, let me make this perfectly clear, this is not an easy disease to get!!!  So don’t be too worried.  I just want you to be aware. 

Going viral is a good thing when you have a youtube video, but not so good for plants.  Hosta virus X was discovered in 1996 by Dr. Ben Lockhart of the University of Minnesota.  New information on HOW the disease is transmitted has just been discovered. 

Hosta virus X

If you suspect your plants have Hosta virus X, you’ll need to destroy the plants and clean up the area of all plant material.  If you prune those plants, you need to SCRUB your tools, not just dip them, in a 10% bleach solution, 70% alcohol or Dawn dishwashing liquid.  

There are no known Hosta varieties that are resistant to this disease.  Pathologists are currently working on that!

Show Date: 18 Jan 12
Hostas sometimes get a bad rap because EVERYONE with shade has them.  Well, of course they do, Hostas are the best plants for shade and I found some fabulous new varieties I want to share with you!!

There are 4 catagories:  Mini – which are generally no bigger than 8 inches tall; short – usually no taller than 15 inches; medium – these are generally no taller than 24 inches and then there’s large – you get it from that point

Hosta 'Dixie Chickadee'

The above mini Hosta ‘Dixie Chickadee’ grows to just 4 inches tall and maybe 12 inches wide.  The tiny lavendar flowers are slightly fragrant.  All the hosta I show you are hardy to zone 3 and prefer part shade to shade.

Hosta 'Remember Me'

This short Hosta, ‘Remember Me’, starts the season with bright yellow leaves that turn white in the Summer.  It grows to 15 inches tall with a 20 inch width. 

Hosta 'Spilt Milk'

This medium size Hosta, ‘Spilt Milk’, grows to about 22 inches tall and has heavily textured leaves that look as though milk were splashed on them.  No two leaves are alike.  Heavy textured leaves deter slugs!

Hosta 'Devil's Advocate'

‘Devil’s Advocate’ is a large hosta that grows to 36 inches tall and 4 feet wide.  The edges of it’s huge leaves turn an apple green over the season. 

For a look at all the new hosta varieties I found click on this link to Bluestone Perennials.  It will take you right to the Hostas then look in the corner for “new item” .   Always check your local nursery first to see if they have the variety you’re looking for.

Show Date: 17 Jan 12
Oh the joy of receiving plant and seed catalogs in the your mailbox!  I just don’t get the same pleasure looking online as I do having that hard copy in my hand.  I know, it’s not very green of me but I DO recycle the catalogs after I’ve enjoyed them!  As you can see from the photo, I’ve flagged a LOT of pages in one catalog.   I’ll be sharing some of those pics with you this week!! 

Nirvana!

There are some terms in these catalogs that not everyone knows so here’s a mini glossary of a few:

• Slow to bolt – this term is usually associated with lettuce and is a good thing.  It means the plant doesn’t flower to early
• Determinate – this is associated with tomatoes (and a few peppers) and means that the plant will grow only so big and stop.  It’s a good thing for patio plantings or if you don’t want a HUGE plant with a lot of green tomatoes late in the season.
• Indeterminate – again, this goes with tomatoes and means it will continue to grow and produce.  You need room for these plants and you can make Green Tomato Pie at the end of the season!
• Bareroot – bareroot stock means that the plant comes to you with no soil around it’s roots.  These plants are cheaper but need your attention right away.
• Field grown – refers to a more mature plant that’s been grown in a field for at least a year, they’re usually more expensive but hardier plants

Show Date: 16 Jan 12
There are more, but we’ll start there!

• • 
  • Shade garden construction
• Planting the “easy spreader” or “fills in rapidly”.  These 2 phrases mean invasive.  If that’s what you want, and there are times I have, then by all means plant them.  However, if you want an orderly garden you might reconsider these types of plants.
• An old adage said that you can never have too many wood ashes.  Well, in Minnesota, you most certainly can.  Our soil is mostly neutral to alkaline, wood ash will only add to that.  So, my advice is not to add it to your gardens or add it LIGHTLY.
• Many of us have clay soil.  It seems logical to add sand to help the soil drain better.  If you use fine sand then you’ll just create dirt clods.  You can use a small amount of COARSE sand but only a small amount.  My advice is to continue to add compost to your soil instead.  This will help fluff it up and create better drainage than sand.