with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Earth Day
Today is Earth day.
And maybe now more than ever, we see what human industry has done to our beautiful planet as we see skies clear over once smog-filled cities and wildlife return [albeit a little TOO much in some areas!] as we Shelter In Place.
I don’t want to start a fight here, I just want to point out that, perhaps we could do better at taking care of the things we love.
It would … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Mycelium – the Information Superhighway
While that may sound like I’m talking about the internet… I’m not. This is a garden show! So…. what the heck is mycelium and how does it become a Superhighway
Mycelium are the thin threads of fungi that link roots of different plants. According to the BBC, plants aren’t just sitting there quietly growing. By linking to the fungal network they can help out their neighbors by sharing nutrients and information – or … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: April is fickle
April is fickle in the Upper Midwest. From nearly 60 degree days (70 coming up this week!) to 19 degrees and 8 inches of snow. Yup, pretty darn fickle!
So what’s a gardener to do? Check the weather! Your perennials and hardy spring bulbs that are peeking out, don’t need extra protection—they can take whatever nature hands out—but any early annuals will need a cover or a quick trip inside if the temps drop.
The … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden tool prep and pruning out damage
We’ve talked a lot about plants this week but, of course, if your soil is just too soggy, consider garden tool prep. At least lovingly tending to the tools gets us closer to the garden!
Take some steel wool to those trowels, a file to your pruners and examine tools for any repair or, perhaps replacement!
You can prune out dead or damaged branches any time…
My lilac always suffers damage … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Cool coleus and 2020 introductions
Coleus are such cool plants! I love them in my containers, in the garden and in areas to fill spots where the spring beauties have already expired! From green to yellow to pink to orange to nearly any combination you can think of you, you’ll find an amazing array!
Main Street ‘Beale Street’ Coleus is a 2020 All-American Selections Winner and the first-ever coleus to be named an AAS Winner!
Fully sun tolerant, … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More 2020 vegetables to try
Hybridizers are always workin’. As we continue to shelter in place, getting our hands in the dirt, or at least being outdoors and pondering what we’ll plant can lift our spirits. (currently it’s snowing like crazy in southeast Minnesota but yesterday was fabulous!) Welcome to the Upper Midwest where the weather changes on a whim!
How about a new summer squash? It’s called ‘Lemon Drop’.
According to Burpee, Lemon Drop makes for … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Of pollinators and plants
Bees get the buzz as the most efficient pollinators, as they should…
Honey bees in particular because they can be packed up and carted to commercial growers for pollinate, for instance, almond trees in California.
But nearly everything is a pollinator to a certain degree. Butterflies are probably next on the list. Though inadvertent pollinators, they carry the pollen on their legs and bodies as they feed on the nectar of flowers.
Birds, beetles … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Your Easter lily
It was an odd weekend for Easter. While we are social distancing and staying in place, many of our places of worship held online services.
Our local florists were busy delivering Easter lilies to many.
The beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, hope and life – the spiritual essence of Easter – a time of renewal.
Caring for your Easter lily:
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden nurseries
We’re living in a strange land that none of us could have imagined just a couple of months ago. As gardeners we instinctively love being outdoors.
Thankfully THAT’s still an awesome thing we can do and we can benefit in so many ways. Oh I’ve already had a few days to get out in the sunshine and cut back some perennials and grasses and linger a proper distance away from my neighbors who gather to check … [Continue reading]
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]