Show Date: 25 Feb 10
Now is a great time to prune shrubs and trees UNLESS they’re Spring flowering such as Lilac and Forsythia. 

Felco Anvil-style Pruner

Felco Pruner

Clean, sharp pruners are a gardeners best friend…  well, one of our best friends!  Good tools kept clean and in good working order will make your life SO much easier. 

Be sure to listen to the podcast above for instructions on cleaning and sharpening your pruners. 

Felco cleaning instructions

PLEASE TAKE NOTE:  EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN MINNEAPOLIS

Do NOT transport firewood… burn where you get the wood, if you don’t burn it all, leave it behind

Minneapolis Star Tribune Article on EAB

Show Date: 25 Feb 10
African Violets are very easy to propagate.

African Violet

Yes, you can see a couple of yellowed leaves!  Just pinch them off.  If you look at the bottom of the pot, you can see I bottom water this fella.

To propagate an African Violet: Select a healthy leaf from the middle of your plant and snap it off leaving about an inch of stem.  Place your cutting in a 50/50 mix of vermiculite and soil.   

The leaf should be almost flat against the soil, and up to a half inch of its stem should be in the soil. Firm the soil around the stem, put the container in a plastic bag, close the bag, and set the container in a spot that is warm but not hot, light but not sunny.  Roots form in about 3 weeks.

African Violet [University of MN]

Show Date: 24 Feb 10
This versatile shrub is one of my favorites despite a propensity for powdery mildew on some species.

Ninebark 'Coppertina'

All Ninebarks are hardy to zone 3.  Now THAT’S a bonus. Ninebarks that appear to have some resistance to powdery mildew include ‘Center Glow’ and ‘Diablo’.

Show Date: 23 Feb 10
As we’ve talked about Buckthorn replacements in comes relief from the University of Minnesota:

Dogwood 'Garden Glow'

This beautiful gem was created by our own plant nuts at the University of Minnesota!  They may not appreciate me calling them “nuts” but I mean it as an endearment.    We’re very lucky to have such an incredible pool of talented horticulturists among us.

Show Date: 22 Feb 10
Once you’ve started the process of clearing Buckthorn you’ll find sprouts continue to pop up! I know that’s not what you were hoping to hear. Sorry.

Buckthorn

Now the good news, you can start planting replacements BEFORE the Buckthorn is all gone.  Some great suggestions from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources include the American Hornbeam, Grey Dogwood and the Serviceberry. 

Buckthorn Invasive Species [MN DNR]

Be sure to check out the article called “The Trouble with Buckthorn”. 

Show Date: 19 Feb 10

WHAT you say??

Blue bunny pee

I wondered what bubblin’ crude was on my property.  Turns out it’s a combination of bunnies eating buckthorn, going potty and the sun hitting their pee that turns it blue. 

How do scientists EVER find stuff out!?  Fascinating.

Show Date: 18 Feb 10
Cut out the canker!  Fire blight canker…

Fireblight on Apple tree

Late winter/early spring is a good time to do some pruning.  Leaves are gone giving you a good view of the structure of your tree and bugs are not an issue.

Fire blight is a bacteria that attacks many trees but for Minnesota, it takes a shine to our apple and crabapple trees.  The University of Minnesota has a great article to help you determine WHAT you have and HOW to deal with it.

Fire blight [U of MN] 

Show Date: 17 Feb 10
While perusing my White Flower Farm catalog I discovered a product that I wanted to share with you. 

Behold, the Growing Bag

Growing Bag

This bag is great for growing potatoes!  It’s made of a porous fabric that heats up earlier in Spring but then sheds the heat of our summer.  

To learn more, listen to my podcast above and then check out White Flower Farm

Show Date: 16 Feb 10
Kohlrabi?  Really?

Kohlrabi

Yes, this alien vegetable is packed with Vitamins C and B6, fiber, potassium, copper and manganese. 

AND it’s easy to grow, just watch the moisture.  Keep it evenly moist rather than bouts of drought then overwatering.  That will crack the kohlrabi.

Check out this Kohlrabi Slaw

Show Date: 15 Feb 10 
Vegetable garden size, that is!   

Garden Veggies

Here are some questions to ask yourself BEFORE you build a 1,000 square foot garden:

Probably the biggest question is how much TIME you have to take care of your garden.  If you build it big and become overwhelmed you won’t enjoy it. 

How much will you really eat?  Plant what you know you’ll eat, then expand your palette.

Do you want to grow enough to share, to freeze, to can?

Plan your garden near your home, near a water source and in full sunlight.  8 hours worth!