Dear Spring, we miss you…


Mon. Apr. 9, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Dear Spring, we miss you…

So the air temperature got down to 6 degrees last week (I’m in the southeastern portion of Minnesota)…  that’s a record by the way.  (Ya think!)

I was talking with a local nursery owner who said they’re opening today but “not really”.  The day they really think they’ll be able to take care of their customers needs won’t happen until April 21st!  (The latest he’s opened in his 50 years there).  They still  … [Continue reading]

Tomato and pepper seed start time


Fri. Apr. 6, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tomato and pepper seed start time

Nothing’s better than a homegrown tomato.  You can make that experience even better by starting your own from seed.  The best barometer for planting tomatoes and peppers outside is when the soil temperature is 60 to 70 degrees.  Usually that’s Memorial weekend in zone 4 and a week or so later in zone 3.   Planting early usually means stunted growth.  I’m going to start some seeds within the next week or so.   … [Continue reading]

Rain gardens


Wed. Apr. 4, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Rain gardens

More and more, homeowners are planting rain gardens.   Some cities offer dollars toward funding your project as it protects our water and helps storm water drains.  Check with your city to see if THEY offer something!!!  It’s worth it.

From marshes to savannas to dry prairies, there are some wonderful choices.  You must determine, first, what your sun/shade conditions will be and know the climate zone you live in.  University of MN Extension offers a comprehensive  … [Continue reading]

Frost dates, germination temps and the Year of the Beet


Tue. Apr. 3, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Frost dates, germination temps and the Year of the Beet

Throwing seeds of lettuce and radishes on your soil right now is fine, they germinate in soil temps of about 35.

Most cool season crops germinate when soil and air temperatures are at least 40 degrees and above.  Those crops include carrots, beets and cole crops like broccoli and cauliflower.

Right now, the Upper Midwest isn’t there and if you listened to yesterday’s Garden Bite, you know it  … [Continue reading]

Critical freeze and Spring buds


Mon. Apr. 2, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Critical freeze and Spring buds

The last couple of years, Spring came early in terms of warm temperatures and bud break, then we had a freeze which nipped some of those buds.  2018 is a different story.  Coming out of a cold winter, many of us have still been experiencing below normal temperatures.  In fact, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting April temperatures to be just below normal and precipitation above normal.  Check your budding trees and shrubs. … [Continue reading]

Tiptoe into Spring garden cleanup


Thu. Mar. 29, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tiptoe into Spring garden cleanup

As we tiptoe into Spring, we’re gingerly getting into our gardens, cutting back the leftovers from winter.  I’m talking about me.. And my cold foray into outdoor clean-up of my perennial grasses and flowers I left up. I do say tip toe for a couple of reasons…  soggy, muddy soil, which compacts and, frankly, it hasn’t been that warm!

If you’re not trudging through snow and your perennials aren’t laying over frozen to  … [Continue reading]

They’re all about the home gardener! NGB and AAS


Wed. Mar. 28, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  They’re all about the home gardener!  NGB and AAS

The National Garden Bureau and All America Selections, two non-profit plant organizations, joined forces to bring plants and information to the home gardener!  New, never before sold varieties are tested and shared with home gardeners.  I talked with NGB Executive Director, Diane Blazek.  NOTE:  I would suggest using Google Chrome as your browser for NGB.  The site didn’t interact well with Internet Explorer.   

She explained that the breeders  … [Continue reading]

One gardener’s delight is another’s invasive!


Fri. Mar. 23, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  One gardener’s delight is another’s invasive!

One gardener’s dream is another gardener’s weed.  Plain old orange daylilies are near the top of the list!  Their Latin name is hemerocallis.  In fact, on the Minnesota Wildflower site for Orange daylilies, in capital letters under status, it reads  Invasive – ERADICATE.

While Wisconsin isn’t as militant about the Daylily, they’re still considered invasive there too!  A rival vying for the title “ditch lily” in Minnesota, is called Tiger lily or  … [Continue reading]

Maple syruping


Wed. Mar. 21, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Maple syruping

When I was little my mom always had Aunt Jemima syrup.  Then I got the taste of REAL maple syrup and have NEVER gone back!  I can’t even order pancakes at a restaurant unless they have the real deal.  I’m so spoiled!

THEN I got to taste syrup made from my own Silver Maple trees.  There’s something about making it yourself that just adds to the flavor.  I’ll just be honest, this is when I lived  … [Continue reading]

Spring done sprung, spongy soil on the way


Tue. Mar. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Spring done sprung, spongy soil on the way

While it’s simply a day on the calendar to some, the Spring Equinox starts a new gardening season in the minds of many.  Some fun Farmers Almanac Spring Facts

Astronomically speaking, the Vernal Equinox will happen at 11:15 this morning in the northern hemisphere, central time!  The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator –  … [Continue reading]