July has been a challenge. On the one hand, with the excess rain and humidity, I kept a close eye out for fungal problems. I sprayed my squash plants with a half-strength neem oil solution once as a preventative for powdery mildew, figuring it was only a matter of time before it showed up. So … Read more
JULY IS NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH July is an excellent month to enjoy the fruits of bounty from blueberries in the area. Our produce vendors with our farmers’ market can now provide fresh, locally grown blueberries. See and enjoy our farmers’ market every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm. Not long ago, I did a … Read more
Ever gone to pick a tomato and found it’s not what you expected? Well, the tomatoes are ripening, so here’s what to look for: Tomato Problems Blossom End Rot These are black lesions at the bottom of the fruit. A calcium deficiency causes it—but it might not be due to a lack of calcium in … Read more
THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF WATERING PLANTS Here we are in mid-July. July’s weather has been typical, with the heat index rising and high humidity levels. I have to say that we are fortunate in that Mother Nature has helped with some timely rainfall. But we need to learn good watering practices. Good watering practices … Read more
Boy, we’ve had a lot of rain recently! What does this all mean for our vegetable gardens? We’d better learn words like anthracnose, blight, and powdery mildew. These are all fungal diseases that thrive in wet weather. So here’s a quick overview: Anthracnose—attacks both deciduous and evergreen plants. Anthracnose is characterized by dark lesions on … Read more
And you thought I was going to write about some new plant. NOPE! It is essential to be aware of Japanese Beetles’ presence now. They are here. Customers come into the garden center daily, wanting to know what is eating their plants. Japanese beetles are a serious pest that feeds on the leaves and flowers. … Read more
Most of the time, I’m write blogs on what I plan to do next in my garden or on what you should be doing in yours. This week I’m going to do something different. Put down your rake or put away your garden hose. Grab your spouse or your kids or your BFF and take … Read more
THE GLORY OF GARDENING: HANDS IN THE DIRT, HEAD IN THE SUN, HEART WITH NATURE! Thank goodness for all the rainfall we got in late June. This rain was much needed because we were starting to get dry. At this moment, we have no fear of any water restrictions placed upon us because our ground … Read more
I’ve had several customers asking when to plant pumpkins for a Halloween harvest this week. You should do it right now. So here’s some information about pumpkins… Pumpkins are members of the cucurbit family—which means they are related to squash, cucumbers, and melons. Pumpkins were a food crop cultivated by Native Americans long before the … Read more
GARDENING ON A BUDGET. CAN WE DO IT? Are you and your family on a budget? Isn’t most everyone? So, can we still enjoy gardening with a budget? Absolutely!! But, it may take some good planning and creativity. In my over 40 years in the garden center business I have never before experienced such high … Read more
