Tomato and pepper planting


Thu. May. 21, 2020

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

I know a lot of folks have already planted tomatoes. We then had a record cold of 26 degrees! BRRRRR……..  while it didn’t last, that did NOT make the tomato plants happy. Peppers like it even warmer.

The ground temperature should be at least 60 degrees for tomatoes and warmer for peppers. There are plenty of soil temp gauges out there, it’s worth your while to pick one up. When planting, be sure to  … [Continue reading]

Some like it wet, some like it dry


Wed. May. 20, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Some like it wet, some like it dry

We talk a lot about sun/shade conditions and soil types but one thing we don’t always check on when pursuing our favorite plants is whether they like dry feet or wet feet.  Some really have a penchant for moist soil.

Siberian Iris are graceful yet tough perennials that thrive in moist to wet soil, and they’ll form large clumps that bloom heavily after the first year.   For most prolific bloom,  … [Continue reading]

Watering newly planted trees and shrubs


Tue. May. 19, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Watering newly planted trees and shrubs

More than ever, folks are working on their landscapes and buying trees and shrubs. These aren’t the kind of plants you plant and forget about!

I planted the spirea on 5-11-19. It will need to be pruned after it flowers to help keep it from spreading but the color of the leaves is so pretty in Spring.

One important aspect of planting new trees and shrubs is, of course, the WAY they’re  … [Continue reading]

Trees are an investment – consider them carefully


Mon. May. 18, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Trees are an investment – consider them carefully

Tree selection is a big deal, they’re an investment in dollars and time. There are lots of considerations, one of those is the mature size of the tree you select.

There are lots of considerations, one of those is the mature size of the tree you select. Oftentimes, homeowners don’t see the 4 ft. sapling they planted 4 feet from the foundation growing to 40 feet tall! That’s NOT a  … [Continue reading]

Plants to repel mosquitoes


Fri. May. 15, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Plants to repel mosquitoes

Squiter season’s already here. I smacked one last weekend behind my ear, he’d already had quite a drink from the blood on my hand… and then I had a listener ask me about plants that repel mosquitoes. Good idea! Thanks for the idea, Avis!

There are some… perennials even! But let’s start with the annuals for our cold zones.

First is basil, one of my all time favorite herbs! Basil also keeps flies away  … [Continue reading]

Creating a bee home


Thu. May. 14, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden  Bite radio show: Creating a bee home

Creating a HOME not a hive… for the bees.

Certainly planting flowers is a must…

but so is a nest for them.  Thirty percent of bees are cavity-nesting, they’ll live in hollow stems or holes in wood.

There are pre-made nests but these are often more cute than useful, says the University of Minnesota Extension’s Bee Lab.

You can use your dried plant stems.  They must be dead! Not the bees, the stems.   … [Continue reading]

Cool season crops and other May to-do’s


Wed. May. 13, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Cool season crops and other May to-do’s

We had a cool spell, you should know we would… Still, you may have gotten those radishes in the ground we talked about last week.

You can also plant kale, one of the most nutrient dense plants on the planet, a true Superhero. And there’s spinach too, scallions and onion sets. Oh and then there are beets!

Here’s a Planting Guide from the University of MN Ext. on when to  … [Continue reading]

Vegetables in containers


Mon. May. 11, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetables in containers

Especially this year, folks are wanting to plant vegetables. But maybe your lawn isn’t big enough or you live in an apartment with just a balcony or maybe your sun conditions aren’t ideal, so what do you do?  Plant in containers!

What size container should you use?  What TYPE of container?   Certain containers create issues for your plants.

Tomatoes are super popular and grow well in containers but they need size! University based information says  … [Continue reading]

Mother’s Day and flowers


Fri. May. 8, 2020

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

Happy Mother’s Day a little early…  Today would have been my mom’s 88th birthday!

This day was started by Anna Jarvis, it’s a totally American holiday. Jarvis eventually spent all her inheritance to get rid of the holiday after it became too commercialized for her taste!

This was when my mom and I would go shopping to fill her whiskey barrels with annuals. 

It’s a splendid day to spend time taking in the sights and scents of your  … [Continue reading]

Fertilizing annuals and perennials


Thu. May. 7, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fertilizing annuals and perennials

Many of us have made our way to our local Garden Centers! Stocking up on things to do outside where social distancing works so well! Of course then we had a drop in temperatures and some of your plants had to be covered!

Generally, I’ve not been one to add a lot of chemicals to my gardens which includes fertilizer.  However, to boost the bloom and get the foliage flashing –  fertilizing is the  … [Continue reading]