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Sunnyside Nursery
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Vol. 28 No. 6
Gardening Tips
1. Enjoy this season, and the bounty offood and flowers that your garden provides!
2. Trim off flowers that are past their prime to keep annuals and other plants blooming longer.
3. Mulch flower and vegetable beds andaround other plants. This will help reduce water usage, protect roots, keep out weeds, and make your yard look more attractive and 'finished.'
4. Decorate your entryway and patio with some of our gorgeous hanging baskets.
5. Harvest vegetables frequently to extend production.
GROWING GROUNDS SALE!
2 weekends only! Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
July 9, 10, 11 & July 16, 17, 18
Everything is at least 25% OFF!
At our 5 acre Fairfax Growing Grounds
3000 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD IN FAIRFAX
Plan for a Large Colorful Container!
Flowers That Love Heat
Here’s just what that hot spot in your garden ordered—some fantastic hot weatherflowers! All of these keep their bright color without fading, bloom beautifully through summer and fall and can be planted in containers or inthe ground. We have many that work well, and every garden should have at least one of the following star performers:
_ Red Salvia (spendens) will be the brightest red in your garden. Plant with gray-foliaged plants to really show off their color, as well as their deep green leaves.
_ Blue salvia (farinacea) needs to be planted in a mass to be noticed. Salvias make a lovely accent in a cut flower bouquet.
_ Vinca rosea is a favorite heat-loving annual. It is available in white, pink, or rose. This pest-free flower will bloom until frost. It germinates poorly from seed, but transplants successfully from our plants.
_ Coreopsis is a star repeat performer and the most vibrant yellow daisy-like flower in your garden. Available in double or single flowers, tall or dwarf heights, they look great and perform well everywhere in your yard. Plant them as a perennial border or add to containers. Also plant some lantana, marigolds, gaillardia, gloriosa daisy, ageratum, petunias, dahlias, phlox, sweet alyssum, verbena, and zinnia. These plants will bloom nicely with average water and regular feeding.
Night Fragrances
Warm evenings on the patio are more pleasant when you have a few aromatic plants strategically placed.
Here are some pretty plants that have that added benefit of fragrance. Don't forget to place some of these near your entryway to greet guests!
Night Jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum) is a shrub that grows to about 12 feet high. Its clusters of creamy white flowers bloom off and on through the year. The fragrance is like sweet orange blossoms.
Nicotiana, an annual flower and distant relative of tobacco, offers masses of bright blooms in a variety of colors such as wine, lime green, scarlet, and white.
Citrus plants have attractive deep green leaves and sweetly perfumed blossoms that grow into luscious fruit. The citrus family includes a wide assortment including lemons, oranges, limes, tangelos, and grapefruits.
Plant some fragrant herbs between stepping stones and alongside walkways, so that they release their scent as you walk by and brush them. For other deliciously fragrant shrubs, some of which bloom in the day, choose jasmines, daphne, stephanotis, osmanthus, sarcococca, mock oranges, honeysuckles, gardenias, tuberoses, and roses.
CENTER
Compact White Daisy
~or~
Blue Felicia
~or~
Red Geranium
TRAILING
Blue Lobelia
~or~
White Alyssum
MID-HEIGHT
Phlox, Zinnia, Celosia
Vinca, and/or Aster
Refreshing Corn and Tomato Salad
A great way to use these healthy vegetables and herbs—fresh from your garden!
6 ears, husked and cleaned
3 lg tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1/3 c. fresh basil, chopped
¼ c. olive oil
2 Tbs. balsamic vinaigrette
Salt & pepper to taste
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in boiling water 7-10 minutes (or desired tenderness). Drain and
cool. Slice off kernels with a sharp knife. In a large bowl, toss together corn, bell peppers, basil, oil and balsamic vinaigrette, salt, and pepper. Chill. Just before serving, mix in diced tomatoes.
Landscaping for Value
‘Landscaping for value’ makes sense whether you intend to remain in your present home for many years, or hit the lottery and move into a mansion. Use the following checklist along with our recommendations for your particular yard requirements, and you’ll be sure to get the most for your dollar!
- Choose the proper plants for your yard so you won’t have to baby them to keep them alive. Ask us for our expert recommendations—it pays to start with the right plants, for best performance and the least amount of care.
- Pay particular attention to your entrance. Make it a grand entrance with lots of shrubs, color, and potted plants to welcome you home after a tough day at work and a visual feast for your guests.
- Plant trees—they add considerable value to a property!
- An excellent value are low-maintenance perennials and bulbs which provide color for many years.
- Plant to create privacy. You will enjoy it now, and it becomes a good selling point in the future.
Kid’s Garden Humor
Q. Why did the Tomato go out with a prune?
A. Because he couldn't find a date!
Q. What did the baby porcupine say to the cactus?
A. “Is that you, Mama?”
Q. What's your pet's favorite veggie?
A. The pet-atoe.
Q. How do you fix a broken pizza?
A. With tomato paste!
Grow Your Own “Square” Watermelons
Perhaps you received one of those forwarded emails with pictures of square watermelons and immediately thought, "This is a hoax!" Snopes.com confirms that these images are legitimate and that Japanese farmers started growing the watermelons in tempered glass cases so that the cube-shaped fruit could be easily packed and stored, and fit snugly into small refrigerators without rolling around. It's a wonderful idea, but in 2007, the
price was an astounding $82.00 per melon! You too, can grow square watermelons—for a reasonable cost—by following the simple 9-step directions found on at:
www.instructables.com/id/Grow-a-squarewatermelon/
Hey—tie a bow to the top stem and you'll have a unique party present already gift-wrapped by mother nature!
New Gardeners Resource
After two years of development, a new FREE website www.yourgardenshow.com has been launched, where "gardeners [can] find inspiration, grow a garden, and share with others." Be sure and check out this interactive website which features the vegetable database developed by Cornell University and ornamental plant database from Missouri Botanical Garden (use these for general reference only as both are out-of-area resources). You may become inspired to post and share your own garden pictures, advice, and utilize the
Garden Log (or 'GLOG') to track your garden's progress. HAVE FUN!
‘People’s Gardens’ are Catching On!
Consider collaborating with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a ‘People's Garden’ in a vacant lot, or at a church or school in our community.
This movement began when Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack broke ground on February 12, 2009, for the first ‘People's Garden’ at USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC. As of June, over 400 USDA People's Gardens have been established in all 50
states (13 here in California), two U.S. territories, and three foreign countries. Not bad for just 17 months!
Each garden is specifically created to benefit its community through recreational or leisurely respites; form wildlife habitats; or to provide fresh produce for food banks and shelters. A People's Garden must also
incorporate sustainable practices and be a collaborative effort. For example, the first 124 Peoples Gardens worked with local charities by growing and donating 134,000 pounds of produce!
To learn more, check out the multiple links under "Resources” at
www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden.
A PEOPLE’S GARDEN
• IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
• BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY
• IS SUSTAINABLE
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
Please enjoy it and then pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2010. All rights reserved.
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April Success Tips APRIL 2010
1. It's Spring Planting Time!
Now is the time to plant both edible and ornamental plants to create a more beautiful yard and home. Enjoy the spring weather while you plant!
2. It's a great time to plant warm-season vegetables and herbs. Try new vegetables, and some new varieties of old favorites. We have an excellent collection of selected varieties that do well in our area.
3. Fertilize all your plants now if you didn't last month.
4. Prune all flowering ornamental trees and shrubs after they bloom.
Container Vegetables!
Think about the extraordinary taste of sun-ripened vegetables and the convenience of having the ingredients for a gourmet meal right outside of your kitchen. A container vegetable garden is an easy way to have all that!
Select containers about 18-24 inches wide and a foot deep. This gives the roots enough room to grow, and reduces the need for frequent watering. Use our Edna’s Best Organic Potting Soil and mix in with EB Stone
Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food at planting time. The soil levels should be about 2" below the rim of the pot to allow for deep watering. Be sure to provide support, such as tomato cages (which can be used for other vegetables too), trellises, or poles.
Some vegetables to plant in containers include bush beans, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, compact squash, leaf lettuce, chard, and everyone's favorite: tomatoes! Add herbs or low-growing annuals around the edge of the pot to make the planting more decorative.
Create Beautiful Roses!
With just a little care your roses will look their best! Feed roses throughout their growing season, beginning in early spring when growth first appears. Use our Bayer Allin- One Rose & Flower Care, which contains a
fertilizer, a systemic insecticide that kills the aphids and other insects feeding on the plant, plus a systemic
fungicide to prevent powdery mildew, rust and black spot. Or use Bayer 2-in-1 Rose & Flower Care, which contains a fertilizer and a systemic insecticide to kill the aphids and other insects feeding on the plant.
Add Rose Defense
Keep a sharp eye out for rose diseases, especially this year because of our unusually wet weather. An
excellent multi-purpose organic product that controls rust, powdery mildew, and black spot on roses is Green Light Rose Defense. The active ingredient in this product is neem oil, which is derived from the tropical neem
tree. Neem oil has low toxicity to mammals and beneficial organisms. Plus it controls many insect pests, too, and completely biodegrades within a few weeks, so it is an excellent product to use on all roses.
Prepare Your Soil and Then Plant
It's April, and serious planting time has begun! We're well stocked with all kinds of flowers, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, trees and groundcovers to plant now, with new stock arriving almost daily. Prepare your soil properly to ensure success. Whether you have been preparing your soil every year or are working on a new plot,
you will want to use a soil conditioner—Greenall Soil Booster. This amendment enriches the soil and promotes healthier plant growth by enhancing air circulation and allowing greater water and nutrient availability.
Grow Your Own Blueberries
In recent years more and more excellent new blueberry varieties have become available that bear fantastic crops in our California climate. Blueberries are a nutrition-packed "super food" that cost a bundle in stores.
But you can grow plants that yield crops year after year. Blueberries are easy to grow, plus they are very attractive plants. Plant at least two varieties for better pollination; about two plants for each household member. They prefer acid soil, so add our organic soil amendment and some sulfur at planting
time, and when you fertilize use our acid fertilizer. Mulch them because they are shallow-rooted, water regularly, and enjoy a long season of plump, incredibly delicious fresh berries! We have these and other berries in stock now, while the supply lasts.
Plant a Pizza Garden!
"What is a pizza garden?" you ask? It is a fun project for families to plant, look at, and eat! Picture a circular area (about 8 feet in diameter) with 6-8 "slices"—each featuring a topping for your delicious homemade pizza. Here's how:
In an area that receives full sun, divide your circle into triangular slices with edging, bricks, or wooden dividers. String attached to stakes can also be used.
Start with tomato plants—about four will do. With their sweet taste and pasty consistency, Romas are a favorite choice. Avoid any varieties that result in a watery tomato sauce, as they will make your pizza soggy.
Herbs! Basil is the staple here; we recommend at least one sweet basil, and two other varieties to complete this slice. For the best flavor, pick leaves before the plant begins to flower. For variety, consider basil pesto instead of tomato sauce.
Other popular herbs are chives, parsley, oregano, and thyme. If planting one herb per slice, use three plants of each type. For multiple herbs, conserve space with just one of each.
Here are some favorites for your remaining slices: onions (red, yellow, or white), scallions, sweet peppers, corn, eggplant, artichokes, and zucchini. For those who like to add zip to their pizza plant hot peppers (several should be sufficient!), and garlic. An olive tree is a lovely addition outside of your pizza
garden!
Do You Know Your NPK’s?
Ever notice the letters “N, P, & K” on fertilizer packages and wonder what they meant? They represent the primary nutrients a plant uses. Deficiency of any or all of these can cause poor plant health. Here's an explanation of how each element helps a plant grow and thrive.
N: Nitrogen is necessary for growth above ground and for greening of the leaves. It's particularly important for leafy plants like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and grasses.
P: Phosphorus increases root growth, improves fruit and flower formation, and improves disease resistance.
K: Potassium strengthens stems and roots, increases fruit size, and improves resistance to disease, drought, and other stresses.
Root and tuber crops such as carrots, beets, and potatoes require larger amounts of potassium than other vegetables.
Secondary elements (calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) are also essential to plant growth, but plants don't require as much as they do of the primary nutrients. Required in still smaller amounts are micronutrients boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. Proper feeding makes a huge difference in how well plants perform. Don't get just any fertilizer—ask us to recommend the best ones for your particular plants.
Live Safer—
Grow Your Own!
It's hard to stop talking about how much better tasting homegrown fruits and vegetables are than store-bought. But food safety is another important reason to grow your own. Here are three serious health hazards lurking in the form of food borne illnesses and toxins on foods bought in stores.
The FDA found Salmonella and Shigella bacteria, (which care typically passed on from an infected person who handles them) on 3.5% of domestically grown cantaloupes. An amazing 7% of imported melons carried these disease-causing bacteria. Recommended: scrub store-bought melons withmild dish soap and warm water before slicing.
Salad mixes labeled "triple-washed" may still harbor germs. If you aren't growing some of your own greens, protect yourself by always washing store-bought greens under running water one more time. Remove and discard the outer leaves of cabbage and head lettuce before washing thoroughly as well. Grow your own peaches, and avoid as many as nine different pesticides used to prevent skin blemishes. Health bonus—studies show the potassium found in peaches and other fruits and vegetables makes your body's pH more alkaline, which helps your body build more lean muscle mass!
Water-Wise Thinking
We've had some welcome rainfall this winter, but it's always good practice
to be "water-wise." Here are a few ideas:
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SEPT/OCTOBER 2009
Vol. 27 No. 7
Fall is for Planting—Catch the Excitement!
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2009. All rights reserved
Tips for Fall Gardening
1. Fall is for planting—the weather at this time is nearly perfect for people to plant in, and for plants to grow in. Come in and see what we have for this time of year to beautify your yard!
2. Plant chrysanthemums in containers now to accent your front door, mailbox, lamp post, and other prominent spots. All of our fall beauties really are perfect for yard decorations.
3. Roses will respond to a little care this time of year—the mild fall weather is perfect for rose flower production. Feed with EB Stone OrganicsRose & Flower Food, water, and cut off flowers that have already bloomed. Prevent pest damage by treating with one of our new organic insecticides for roses.
4. Conserve water by planting sections of our natives and other water-wise plants in your garden. Fall is ideal for this. As you are loading up your cart, feel free to ask for our help in picking out what to plant—our many years of experience in our local area is rare and can make a huge difference in your gardening success.
5. October and early November are a perfect time to plant our wildflower seeds—you'll have larger plants, with more flowers in the spring, than if you wait until later.
Colorful Double Duty Shrubs
Bring on the change of seasons—California style—with shrubs (or small trees) that provide multiple seasons of color. Hereare four good ones.
_ Lorapetalum has deep purple leaves on branches that arch, then drape in tiers. The bright pink flowers bloom in clusters at the branch tips.
_ Euonymus alatus (also called burning bush), makes a big impact in fall gardens when its dark green foliage turns bright red. When growing in a shady area, the fall foliage will be pink. The branches grow horizontally.
_ Kerria japonica produces bright green heavily veined leaves that turn buttery yellow in fall. The yellow flowers that bloom from spring into early summer look like miniature roses.
_ The heart shaped blue-green leaves of the Western redbud put on a show of yellow to red leaves, followed by picturesque red-brown seed pods. In spring the plants are covered with spectacular pink, sweet pea-like flowers.
Other excellent shrubs with colorful fall foliage include Japanese maple, smoke tree, Japanese barberry, nandina, and ornamental pomegranate. Accent your shrubswith wispy golden grass, add some white flowers for sparkle, plus other colors tobrighten up a dreary garden! We also have bulbs, annuals, and perennials that will
keep your yard beautiful all through the fall and winter months. Enjoy the colors!
Fall Bulbs Make Spring Magic!
One of the greatest pleasures a gardener can experience is selecting spring-blooming bulbs, and then enjoying their burst of color in the spring! Our large quality bulbs are arriving by mid-September so now is the time to start planning and purchasing. Remember that we frequently sell out of certain varieties every year, so shop early! Make your selections now, then plant when the weather cools— October and November are the best months.
HAVE FUN! Select bright colors and combinations of colors—that's what bulbs are all about! Try some bulbs you've never grown before—you may find new varieties that grow especially well in your yard. Plant early, mid and late varieties for a longer display of color in late winter and spring. Choose enough bulbs so you can plant blocks of
the same species and color. Group bulbs (5 or more) using just one or two colors in a repeating pattern
rather than individual bulbs spaced several feet apart. Plant shorter growing bulbs such as crocus,
scilla, and grape hyacinths in drifts of 25 to 50 bulbs for the most dramatic impact. Also, use these smaller
flowering bulbs in front of large flowering bulbs. When planting bulbs mix in EB Stone Organics Bulb
Fertilizer and EB Stone Organics Planting Compost.
World’s Largest Food Fight
In late August, forty-five thousand Spaniards and tourists arrived in Buñol, Spain for the
La Tomatina festival. The main attraction of this annual event is a massively messy tomato food fight.
This year, trucks hauled over 125 tons of over-ripe tomatoes (an estimated 15 moretons than in 2008!) and dumped them inthe town plaza. Only one hour of carnage isallowed before fire trucks hose out the sea of
red pulp with water from a local aqueduct. For safety sake, participants are supposed to squish their tomatoes before launching them. White clothing is recommended as the stains are more photogenic. Some participants wisely wear goggles to protect their eyes. The acid from the tomatoes cleans the ground, but visitors often have to resort to washing themselves off in the Buñol River or wait in long lines for a shower near the train station.
How did this tradition begin? One popular theory is that city councilmen were attacked by disgruntled townspeople
back in 1945. Many locals believe the food fight spontaneously erupted among juvenile friends and the idea just
caught on as a fun thing to do every year. Viva La Tomatina!
Revelations About That ”Organic” Labeling
Did you know there are four different USDA classifications allowingproducts to carry the label "organic"?
Doyou know what the differences are?
☺ "100% Organic" is simple enough to understand without any confusion.
☺ Products containing only 95% organic ingredients can be labeled "organic".
��Products that have 70-95% will say "made with organic ingredients".
��Anything less than 70% means the term "organic" can only appear within the list of ingredients.
A simpler and healthier way to avoid any uncertainty and really know what you are consuming is to grow your own!
Tree Selection Tips
Ahh, fall—what a perfect time to be planting trees! Roots have an advantage in getting established in their new location before new top growth is stimulated in the spring.
Here are a few basic considerations that will help you make wise choices:
What function is desirable? Shade trees help reduce energy bills, as do trees planted as a windbreak. They make a good screen from objectionable views, or neighbors and their noise. How about adding color and beauty along with another function, or choosing a tree that adds to your edible garden?
50 years from now, what will the tree look like? Growth factors like mature height, width, and shape should figure into your final choice. Space-wise, will a small, medium, or large tree be best? Some trees don't stay small for long!
Right tree, right place—look around the area where you plan to plant the tree. Are there any wires above or below? Will you have enough clearance surrounding your sidewalks, driveway or patio once the tree matures? What type of soil do you have, and how much sunlight?
Other benefits: Trees add peace and serenity to our lives. Studies show hospital patients recover faster from surgery when they have a view of trees. Economically, they add value to our homes. Globally, they are a natural defense against climate change. Drop by and let us help you find your new tree or trees today!
Chocolate & Vegetable Oil Power!
Scientists in the UK have unveiled the World's First Formula 3 racing car designed to go 125-140 miles per hour. It is powered by fuel derived from waste chocolate and vegetable oil. Other sustainable components used to build this remarkable car include carrots (used in the steering wheel), potatoes (auto body), orange oil (tires), soybean oil and flax (seats).
This delicious recipe is quick to put together. Anticipation will build as the wonderful aroma wafts through your home while it is baking!
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!
Honey Crunch Baked Apples
6 large apples, cored
1/3 c. granola
1/3 c. chopped walnuts
1/3 c. chopped, pitted dates
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. lemon juice
6 Tbsp. honey, divided
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
¾ c. apple juice
Place apples in a 9" square baking pan. Combine the next six ingredients with 3 Tbsp. honey and spoon mixture into the center of each apple. Stir together 3 Tbsp. honey, butter, and apple juice. Pour over apples and bake, covered, at 350o for 30 minutes. Uncover, baste, and bake another 30-35 minutes. Serve
warm. Add a scoop of ice cream and you’ve got a winner!
HUGE
GROWING GROUNDS SALE!
2 Weekends Only!
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
October 9, 10, 11 & 16, 17, 18
Everything is at least 25% Off!
At our Fairfax Growing Grounds
3000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Fairfax
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JUNE 2009
Vol. 27 No. 5
June Success Tips
1. We are stocked full of blooming
plants that thrive in the warmer weather ahead. Some are proven performers for our area, and others are superior new varieties. New plants are arriving weekly, and some quickly sell out.
2. This is still an excellent time to plant warm-season vegetables. Feed growing vegetables regularly with EB
Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
3. Check your irrigation system now to prepare for warmer months ahead. Turn it on, making sure all heads are adjusted properly and aren't being blocked by foliage. Check your drip systems to be sure emitters are not
clogged. More emitters may need to be added as the plants grow and their roots spread out—we have all of these parts in stock!
4. Prune plants this month to cause them to grow fuller, with more blooms. This is a secret that works on many plants, but is especially important on petunias, fuchsias, and chrysanthemums.
5. House plants are growing vigorously now, so be sure you are feeding them regularly.
6. Father's Day is unique this year—it is June 21, the same day as Summer Solstice. Come in and we'll help you find a special gift for this special day!
Container Gardens Beautify Summer!
June is "Container Garden Month"! Our nursery is filled this month with lots of colorful flowers with the perfect containers to plant them in.
Your container: Choose larger containers because these don’t dry out as quickly, and they allow for deeper root systems. Glazed and plastic pots will retain water better than terra cotta or wood containers, but be mindful that dark-colored pots exposed to full sun all day may become too hot for tender roots.
The potting mix! Edna's Best Organic Potting Soil ensures strong and vigorous root growth.
Filling your container: Try a mass of a single kind of plant in one color, or create a miniature garden. The three potting-up principles are 1) a taller, larger plant for the center, 2) encircled by sturdy plants, and 3) plants that drape around the edges.
Classic favorites: Geraniums, dwarf margarites, felicias, coreopsis, and ornamental grasses and flaxes make beautiful center focal points. Add lower growing annuals such as ageratums, impatiens, phlox, celosia or dwarf zinnias. We also have colorful foliage plants as well to add in. Finish off with bacopa or lobelia— these will gracefully cascade over the sides.
For edible container gardens vegetables, strawberries, herbs, and dwarf fruit trees are excellent choices.
Mulch is Wonderful Stuff!
Mulch is a powerful tool in the hands of a gardener. By doing a simple thing like mulching, you can
easily save water because mulch cuts down water evaporation from the soil surface. Mulch keeps the
soil more uniformly moist and temperature-consistent, which improves root growth. Mulch improves the
soil as it decomposes, and encourages beneficial earthworms. It gives a "finished" appearance to a landscape,
making it look much more attractive and professional. Best of all, it's a natural resource that cuts
down on weed growth, which saves hours of back-breaking work weeding. Mulch is a winner!
We have several kinds of mulch to choose from. Ones we particularly like are our Micro Bark, Mango Mulch, or Greenall Shredded (redwood or cedar) Bark. Use these to mulch around all trees, shrubs, vegetable and flower beds, etc. Mulch should generally be 2- 4 inches thick. Renew mulch each year to maintain that thickness.
TIP: Weed eaters and lawn mowers easily damage young trees, and even mature trees that have thin bark. Mulch around tree bases to create a buffer zone, but leave a gap between the trunk and mulch so the bark at the base of the tree can dry out.
Three Common Tomato Problems
Tomato hornworm—These huge caterpillars eat entire leaves and gouge out holes in the tomato. Tomato hornworms also eat eggplant, peppers, and potatoes. Search for and handpick hornworms, or apply our
special bacterial organic insecticide that affects only caterpillars.
Verticillium and fusarium wilt diseases cause older leaves to yellow and die prematurely. Choose tomato varieties labeled "VF" after the tomato variety—this means they are resistant to these diseases.
Overwatering of tomatoes is a common problem. Water deeply, but once the plant is established water only when the soil about 1 to 2 inches deep is barely moist.
Landscaping for Security
Statistically, burglary and theft are the two major crimes homeowners are most likely to experience. Most burglaries take place during the daytime, or on weekends, when no one is home. Here are some landscaping deterrents you can use to protect your valuables:
* REDUCE HIDING PLACES by keeping trees pruned high (no branches below 7 feet) and shrubs low (under 3 feet). Low plantings are especially important near entryways and driveways.
* REMOVE ANY LIMBS that could act as ladders over fences or provide easy climbing access to upper-stories.
* PLANT PRICKLY SHRUBS OR THORNY PLANTS under windows, but keep them trimmed below the windowsills to
allow for an easy escape during a house fire.
* TO CREATE PRIVATE AREAS: pair the beauty of greenery and flowers with the painful discouragement of thorny vines or climbing roses— trained to cover walls or other barriers. Plant a hedge with spiny shrubs
such as pyracantha or shrub roses.
* KEEP YOUR GARAGE AND TOOL SHED LOCKED. Why allow would-be intruders to use your ladder to break into upper-story windows?
It’s Easy to be Water-Wise!
You can enjoy a beautiful garden and use less water at the same time! HERE’S HOW:
Group plants according to their water needs, rather than mixing plants with high and low water requirements.
Mulch, mulch, mulch! Add mulch around plants to reduce surface evaporation and discourage thirsty weeds.
Use a drip system or soaker hose where practical, or water in the early morning to reduce loss from evaporation.
Choose drought-tolerant plants or plants native to our area. We’ll help you find them!
Minimize your grass lawn area by replacing a portion of it with ground covers.
Water deeply and less frequently—this encourages roots to grow deep and also reduces surface evaporation.
Ancient Beehives
Archaeologists recently unearthed in Israel an amazing 30 intactbeehives dating to around 900 B.C., approximately the period that King Solomon reigned. The hives were stacked in neat rows, three tiers
high, in a room that would have contained some 100 hives total and been able to produce as much as half a ton of honey per year.
This is an extraordinary find, because it is the first time that actual beehives have ever been discovered anywhere in the ancient Near East, and it indicates that early beekeeping was much more
highly developed than what had been previously thought.
The Old Testament uses the term "honey” 55 times; 16 times as part of the image of Israel being "the land of milk and honey.” But many scholars had concluded the word "honey" usually referred to a type of "honey" produced from fruits such as dates and figs, partly because bee's honey is specifically mentioned only twice. This discovery confirms that nearly 3,000 years ago, real bee's honey was produced in much larger quantities than previously thought possible.
Delicious Sauteed Squash Blossoms
Regulate your summer squash growth by harvesting extra blossoms and serving them as this tasty appetizer!
2 eggs
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1/8 c flour
1/8 c olive oil
3 TBS finely chopped parsley
15 squash blossoms
Remove stamens and pistals from the open flowers. Mix eggs, parmesan cheese, flour, oil, and parsley into a smooth batter. Dip the blossoms into the batter and then place them in a hot buttered frying pan. Brown each side and serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
Once cooked, these can be frozen, then rewarmed in the microwave or oven. You can also experiment by stuffing them with a variety of cheeses like cream cheese, chevre, or ricotta.
Lawn Love Affair
Forty years after the invention of the lawnmower in 1830, homes surrounded by cultivated lawns became the American ideal. Lawns continue to be cherished today and are an important part of most landscapes, though they are smaller than before.
We currently have new and improved cultivars never dreamed of back then! The newer varieties we carry also use less water and are far more resistant to pests than lawns planted as recently as 15 years ago.
There are eight grass characteristics to consider: water usage, color, texture, shade or sun tolerance, growth habits, pest resistance, and traffic wear. Come in and ask one of our experts what is best for your yard!
Mistaken Identity
Thermal-imaging from a helicopter led policemen to break down a gate and enter an English garden in their hot pursuit of two fugitives. Instead of finding a couple of hiding thieves, the police discovered two active 3-foot compost bins full of steaming piles of rotting vegetables. The report concludes, “This was not just a case of egg on their faces, but potato peelings, banana skins and coffee grounds too.”
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2009. All rights reserved.
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MAY 2009
Vol. 27 No. 4
Grow a Theme Herb Garden
It's a pity to use dried and bottled herbs if you have a window box or a small patch of sunny ground. The fresh flavor of many herbs is quite short (refrigerate up to 3 days), but it is so easy to grow your own assortment
of these incredibly versatile and useful plants—just harvest when needed! Fresh herbs are great in breads, stews, soups or vegetables. You can make herb vinegars for salad dressings and marinades, and herb oils for cooking. If you can’t plant all of them, here are some creative ideas that take up little space.
Some popular culinary pairings: Basil with tomatoes, oregano with sauces, rosemary with lamb, and chives with butter or cream cheese.
Tea garden: Plant chamomile, catnip, lemon balm, or choose mints: spearmint or peppermint.
Natural medicinal herb garden: Camomile—a digestive aid, sedative, and skin soother. Feverfew & Spearmint—for headaches. Echinacea—a beautiful flower that causes an increase in the number of immune cells, Please note: we are not medical advisors, it is always best to consult your physician first.
Homemade aromatherapy: For the fireplace, toss in rosemary, lemon verbana, or mint. Place lavender or any combination of favorite scents in a sack of cheesecloth, and hang from the bath spigot when filling the tub with hot water.
Italian spaghetti garden: Plant oregano, basil, garlic, bay and parsley.
May Success Tips Ready
1. May is for planting! Come visit our store chock full and overflowing with flowers, edibles and landscaping plants.
2. Excellent perennial flowers that do well with low water once established include our wallflowers, lion’s tail, lantana, santolina, Santa Barbara daisy, society garlic, lavender, salvias, penstemon, yarrow, and echinacea.
3. Continue planting vegetables, citrus, strawberries, blueberries, and fruit trees this month.
4. Fertilize citrus regularly with EB Stone Organics Citrus & Fruit Tree Food for larger fruits and greener, healthier foliage.
5. The best time to do major pruning and shaping of spring flowering shrubs is when they finish blooming. If you prune later, you'll be cutting off developing flower buds.
6. We have many plants that are very low water users once established, including California natives and plants from other areas around the world that have similar Mediterranean-style climates. Many of these
are just as pretty as high-water users.
Spring Lawn Care Secrets
Amazingly, you can control even difficult-to-control weeds like oxalis and clovers, plus even bermudagrass with our Turflon Ester weed killer. Use this product in all cool season grass lawns including
fescues, bluegrasses and rye.
Set your lawn mower higher in May and keep it higher until cooler weather arrives in the fall. Set it to cut at 2½-3" for fescue and bluegrass lawns.
Set your automatic sprinker to water lawns early in the morning—it reduces evaporation. Water deeply to encourage roots to grow deeply, and increase the time between waterings. Fertilize now with Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Food.
Ready, Set, Let’s Go With Roses!
May is the time for Mothers and roses, and both are beautiful. Our roses are in bud and bloom, and ready for transplanting, so come in today! We'll help you select from a variety of hybrid teas, grandifloras, climbing
roses, and more, including proven classics and new award winners! Don't be shy if you're not an expert; we are here to help.
Whether you are just starting to plant roses, need a gift for a rose gardener, or have worn out a faithful tool, we have just the right tools you'll need to make rose gardening easier and more rewarding! We have quality
leather gloves, bypass pruners, loppers, short digging forks, kneeling and knee pads (to save your knees), watering wands, long-handled shovels, plus garden and leaf rakes.
Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Great for My Garden!
Would you believe one ladybug can eat as many as 50 to 60 aphids a day? They will also eat garden pests like spider mites, mealybugs, whiteflies, and other pesky soft-bodied insects and larvae. What a wonderful way to control pests organically!
Attract these beneficial insects to your garden by planting their favorite umbrellashaped
flowers: dill, angelica, fennel, tansy, caraway, cilantro, or yarrow. Cosmos, scented geraniums, and coreopsis will also attract these helpful insects. Since ladybugs are sensitive to both natural and synthetic insecticides, use
these sparingly.
We have ladybugs in stock. Release some and watch them go to work in your garden! We also have praying mantids, plus beneficial nematodes to control pests in the soil.
Basic Vegetable Gardening Needs
For a productive vegetable garden, start with the three basics: plenty of sunshine, water, and good soil.
SUN: In order to fully ripen in a stress-free environment, your vegetables will need 6 or more hours of sun. Some greens like lettuce will survive in light shade.
WATER: Regular watering is critical to improve yields. It also can actually reduce bolting in some vegetables. Consider installing a drip irrigation system to reduce water usage. The water will go directly to the roots with less
evaporation loss. Mulch (our favorite “M” word!) around plants to reduce surface evaporation, keep more uniform soil temperatures, and discourage thirsty weeds.
GREAT SOIL: Providing a soil rich in organic matter is important for bigger and more prolific vegetables, and sometimes even better taste! Consider starting a compost pile to produce your own "gardener's gold" to use in
addition to our bagged soil amendments.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This is one of our favorite recipes—so be sure to plant your zucchini now, and you’ll soon be able to enjoy this incredibly delicious bread!
3- 1 oz squares unsweetened
chocolate—melted over low heat
2 eggs
1½ c sugar
½ c oil
1 tsp vanilla
1½ c flour
1 tsp each baking powder, baking
soda, and cinnamon
½ tsp salt
1½ c semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c grated zucchini
In a blender, combine first 5 ingredients. In a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients, folding in zucchini last. Bake in a lightly greased loaf pan for 50- 60 minutes at 350o.
Wonderful Watermelon
Now is the time to plant some sweet, juicy watermelons to enjoy later this summer! Whether you choose a variety with yellow, orange, or red flesh, all are good for your health!
HERE ARE A FEW OF ITS BENEFITS:
❁ A 2-cup serving of watermelon is practically it's own multivitamin, containing vitamins A (for eye health), B6 (helps us cope with anxiety and panic), C (bolsters the immune system), and potassium (helps control blood pressure, and relieves stress).
❁ Watermelon is a rare food source of citrulline, an amino acid used in wound healing and cell division.
❁ Watermelon, a lycopene "all-star" contains 40% more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. Lycopene helps
maintain healthy hearts, reduces the risk of prostrate cancer, and removes ammonia from the body.
❁ With 92% water content, you enjoy only 25 calories per ½ cup, without fat or sodium, making
watermelon a perfect craving quencher!
FOR MORE fun facts, recipes, and creative carving ideas, check out www.watermelon.org.
Did You Know?
T he average food garden produces about 300 pounds of fresh produce from a 600 square foot lot, saving $600 per growing season.
F or the past five years, there has been a greenhouse on the South Pole—an environment with a high-altitude, low-air pressure, and -148oF wind-chill factors, brrrr!—that produces fresh tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, strawberries, and herbs for local workers.
T he Federal government may start retrofitting their aging office roofs for vegetative or green roofs. The economic and environmental benefits are astounding: it can double or triple the life of a roof, keep buildings cooler in the summer, contribute to cleaner air, and reduce storm water runoff and overflow problems (a significant issue in Washington DC).
Share Your Gardening Knowledge!
The Peace Corps is looking for experienced gardeners! Help promote sustainable agricultural practices and boost nutrition by becoming a Peace Corps volunteer. Positions are available in countries around the world. Assignments are 27 months long and include free travel, intensive training, full medical and dental care, a monthly stipend, and
$6,000 upon completion of service. Contact kkuykendall@peacecorps.gov in California for more information.
New Tree Discovered
As many as 10,000 new species of plants and animals are discovered each year, but most are small and easily overlooked, or few in number. What a surprise when a new tree was recently discovered that covers a huge
area of 3,100 square miles! It had not been discovered before because it is in a remote and difficult-to-reach area in Ethiopia.
The tree is Acacia fumosa: it grows up to 20 feet high and has a 30 footwide canopy. This unusual tree
sprouts pink flowers while the tree is leafless during the dry season.
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2009. All rights reserved.
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APRIL 2009
Vol. 27 No. 3
All Wisteria and Lilac_now 20% OFF until April 15th!
GREENALL SOIL BOOSTER
Buy 3 bags and get a 4th FREE in April!
April Success Tips
1. Spring is in Full Swing! It’s a perfect time to be outside enjoying your garden and planting.
2. Rhododendrons & Azaleas are in bud and bloom, so it’s a great time to pick outyour favorite flower colors of these incredibleplants.
3. Fertilize plants you haven’t fed so far this year. Ask us and we’ll quickly select the best fertilizer for your specific needs.
Grow Your Own Fresh Vegetables!
Studies show that home-grown vegetables have higher nutrient levels, partly because they are eaten so much soonerafter picking. Nutrient levels gradually decrease the longer produceis held in storage. Plus we all agree—home-grown vegetablesare far superior in taste compared to those bought fromstores. You can also grow your own vegetables organically!
Amend the Soil
Add organic matter such as compost every year to prepare your vegetable beds, otherwise you will end up with tired, depleted soil. Not only does compost add nutrients, but humus as well. Plus, compost helps keep the soil structure looser, which creates healthier roots and plants by allowing more oxygen into the soil. An excellent compost to use is Greenall Soil Booster. Vegetables should also receive an initial fertilizer at planting time with EB Stone Organics Sure Start. Starting 4 to 6 weeks after planting, feed
with EB Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
What to plant
Warm season vegetables to plant now include tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini and other summer squashes, melons, beans, and corn. Continue to plant lettuce, radish, carrots, beets, and other favorites. If you have limited space, some vining vegetables can be trained to grow up trellises, or choose some of our more compact varieties. Don't stop at growing just vegetables! Be sure to plant some of our luscious berries, fruit trees, and herbs as well.
Need a Low Border? Use Herbs!
For a striking effect, herbs make a perfect low border! Once established, most will thrive on being watered only two times a month. Group them close together along the edge of your lawn or garden path and enjoy the fragrant aroma some of them release as you walk by and brush against them. Let your tastes and cooking needs help you select your favorites from these and others in stock:
Lavender—Famous for their fragrance and feature flowering spikes set on gray foliage. Does best with full sun, and little water with good drainage.
Rosemary—Choose from trailing and upright plants. Pale blue flowers in spring and often again in fall. Needs good drainage and tolerates hot sun.
Santolina—Trim this low hedge occasionally, can also be planted as a ground cover. Has green or whitish-gray leaves with button flowers. Likes full sun and needs very little water. Other great border herbs include yarrow and thyme.
How to Live Weed-Free
Prevent weed growth around plants by laying down our landscape fabric and covering with three to four inches of mulch. Use landscape fabric staples to hold the fabric in place. Cut an "X" in the fabric and slip small plants through the cut to get good coverage. You'll have a weed barrier that looks great and lasts for many years. Top dress with fresh mulch yearly, as needed.
Plant A Flower Celebration!
We have flowers galore with more arriving weekly! April is the month to stop by, wander through the amazing display, and enjoy the wonderful variety of flowers we have in stock. Unfortunately you won't be able to take them all home this year, but you can add new ones to your garden. We have time-tested top performers and exciting new varieties, just released for your pleasure! Tests show that people with extensive flower gardens are happier, healthier, wealthier, and more generous. They also have brighter personalities,
more satisfying marriages, and more obedient children. (April Fool! We don't actually have a study to base this on, but don't you think this must be true?) Flowers do naturally lift our spirits. Just imagine your
favorite flower—are you smiling yet?
Spring Landscape Makeover
Does your garden inspire you to visit often and happily linger? If not, chances are your needs and motivations have changed and it is time to begin a spring landscape makeover! Old design elements, artwork, and plants can and should be moved or replaced with a landscape that reflects your current personality and preferences. Here are a few key design elements to incorporate in your new landscape:
View: Are your favorite plants and garden art able to capture your immediate focus? If unwanted views of the
neighbor's yard, a compost pile, or AC unit distract and detract, screen them off with a trellis, ornamental tree, or hedge.
Scale: Use smaller or dwarf plants to help keep a small space in balance, plus you can plant a greater assortment.
Variety: Choose plants with interesting seasonal features such as berries, decorative foliage, peeling bark, and flowers.
Flow: Are your pathways wide enough? Can you move about your garden easily? Expanded pathways that meander through your garden will also create visual interest.
Containers: Choose containers that have a unified style, rather than a hodgepodge assortment. Complementary styles, colors, and materials will add to the beauty of your plants.
Luscious Strawberry Cream Pie!
Plant strawberries now and make this absolutely delicious pie the grand finale of many a summer dinner!
1 c. sugar
8 c. (4 pints) strawberries
1 Tbs. cornstarch
2 Tbs. cold water
2 c. whipped cream
1 9-inch pie shell, baked
Wash and hull berries. Add sugar to berries and let stand 1 hour. Strain juice into a separate bowl. Dissolve 1 Tbs. cornstarch in cold water (add more for very juicy berries). Combine all of reserved juice, cornstarch, with half of the berries and cook over low heat 15 minutes to thicken. Chill. Just before serving, spread whipped cream about ½" deep in pie shell. Place uncooked berries on top of cream. Pour cooked berries over top. Use remaining cream to decorate around pie edges.
2009: A New Era for
Victory Gardens!
In 2008, Maine gardener Roger Doiron won 1st prize in the "On Day One" contest with his proposal to replant a food garden at the White House. The last White House garden was planted by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, and Doiron observed that these Victory Gardens lifted America's spirits as well as
encouraged millions to help conserve financial and natural resources during a time of crisis. Did we mention the benefits of becoming physically active?! As a result of Doiron's proposal, a garden was planted on March 20! It will be used as an educational tool to teach local children about growing and sustainability, as well as for meals. So, what's growing at the White House? A wide variety of leaf lettuces, collards, black kale, spinach, chard, hot peppers, tomatillos, a few herbs, and a berry patch.
It is true that keeping a garden takes time and occasionally requires some hard work,
but what worthwhile thing in life doesn’t? --Roger Doiron
Mother’s Day Flower Colors
Now is the time to plant a special Mother's Day bouquet. Here's how to choose from a rainbow of colors that symbolize her unique qualities and what she means to you:
Red: to show your love and respect for a mom who is strong and courageous.
Pink: the ideal way to say “Thank you!” for her lifestyle of grace, happiness, and fun.
Orange: for the energetic mom who is full of enthusiasm and warmth.
Yellow: a bright inspiration for the lighthearted mom.
Green: celebrate your earthy, gardening mom with a fruit tree, or green-colored plant.
Blue: present your busy mom a bouquet so that she can relax into feelings of peace and serenity.
Lavender: is ideal for the ultra-feminine mom, delicate and elegant.
Purple: this royal gift for the queen of the home conveys your admiration for all of her accomplishments.
Spring Sprinkler System Tune Up
Start each spring by turning on your automatic sprinkler system and checking to see if it is operating properly. Straighten leaning sprinklers, prune any vegetation blocking the spray, and look for any partially clogged nozzles that cause an irregular spray pattern. If clogged, unscrew the nozzle and clean out any dirt and debris by running each filter under cold water, or use an old toothbrush. If there are gaps in the spray pattern of nozzles that provide a fan-shaped spray, it may be that a tiny
pebble is stuck in the spray nozzle—use a toothpick to get it out rather than
a knife, which can scratch plastic nozzles and ruin the spray pattern.
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2009. All rights reserved.
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March 2009
March Success Tips
1. Begin dressing up your yard with our new shrubs, groundcovers, trees, and annual and perennial flowers. Add fresh colorful flowers to bare or colorless areas.
2. This is a great time to plant vegetables! Start with vegetables like lettuce, peas, carrots and beets that thrive in cooler weather. As the weather warms, start planting tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and other warm-season vegetables. If in doubt as to the best time to plant a certain vegetable, ask us when you are in the store.
3. Give drip irrigation systems a spring tuneup: Clean filters by flushing out sediment under running water, and clean or replace emitters.
Multi-Talented Groundcovers
Ground covers can be colorful, , drought tolerant, and versatile. They'll beautify bare areas, control erosion, and can even reduce or replace lawn areas.
For light shade, use campanula,hosta, liriope, pachysandra, vinca
minor, and some types of moss.
For sunny areas use Africandaisies, artemisia, baccharis, shrubroses, gazania, iberis, ice plant, myoporum,oenothera, polygonum, spreading cotoneaster,dwarf daylilies, cerastium (snow-in-summer),sedums, and ornamental grasses.
Not all plants are labeled "groundcovers". Culinary herbs like mint, thyme, and rosemary make fragrant and edible groundcovers. Ask us to show you some of our many other low-growing, attractive plants. We are sure we can help you find something that meets your landscaping needs!
Looking for something that has low waterneeds? We have some excellent choices—ask us to show them to you.
Many of these plants are permanent, so take the time to carefully prepare your planting bed. Mix in Greenall Soil Booster and mulch around the plants to help prevent weeds. Once established, many of these plants require very little maintenance. Until that time, you'll need to water regularly between rains, fertilize and keep the area weed-free.
Spring is for Flowers!
Hooray for Spring! Is your green thumb itching? New plants are arriving weekly! Here are some outstanding flowers you can continue to plant this month: snapdragons, stock, lobelia, dianthus, alyssum, campanula, delphinium,osteospermum, coral bells, Iceland poppies, pansies and violas,ageratum, and many more, plus a wide selection of perennials.
As the weather begins to warm a little, start planting marigolds, petunias,long-blooming impatiens, cheiranthus (wallflower), mimulus, linaria, and many others.
Remember to amend your garden soil by mixing in Greenall SoilBooster.
Grow Great Early Tomatoes!
The dreary winter months are drawing to an end and it is time to prepare for a succulent harvest of fresh, juicy tomatoes. Follow these simple tips and you'll be among the first to enjoy a long season of sweet vine-ripened tomatoes.
✔Buy our healthy, vigorous transplants. Select some early maturing varieties, such as Early Girl, which not only starts producing early, but is an excellent long-season bearer. We have many varieties to choose from!
✔Prepare the soil by mixing in Greenall Soil Booster.
✔Find the sunniest spot in your garden. Tomatoes thrive onheat and need 6-8 hours of sun a day.
✔Plant deeply. Bury the lower part of the stem (additional roots will form along the buried stem).
✔Stake the plants to get them off the cold, wet-ground. Pinch out suckers twice a week.
✔Tomatoes need a uniform supply of water. Too much can rot the roots, too much fluctuation will promote blossom end rot.
✔Mulch to help maintain uniform soil moisture, reduce weeds and soil compaction, and to help keep fruit clean. Black plastic helps absorb heat; if you use an organic mulch, hold off until the soil warms up more because it moderates soil temperatures.
✔Provide cold protection by covering them with our row covers.
✔Four to six weeks after planting, start feeding on a regular basis.
Optimum Fertilization Time
Even though plants appear to be dormant, underground their roots are in need of nutrients to absorb for abundant growth. This is why March to early April is such an important time to fertilize! If you want to get your plants off to an advantageous start; those roots need to be fed in order to promote healthy plant growth in the months ahead.
An excellent all purpose fertilizer is EB Stone Organics All Purpose Fertilizer. For a lush lawn use Greenall Lawn Food.
Many plants need specific fertilizers, so when you come in, we'll be glad to guide you to the appropriate one.
Top 10 Countdown
What hobby is practiced by more people in this country than any other? Gardening of
course! Counting down to the most popular motivation cited, here are the top 10 reasonspeople love to garden. Which benefits inspire you the most?
10. Living legacy ! Gardens and gardening activities can build lasting memories when shared with children
and grandchildren. Experience the joy of tasting a tomato fresh from the plant, or adorning a table with flowers.
9. Emotional satisfaction! Tending a garden can contribute to a sense of well-being through stress-relieving weed pulling, successful harvests, or the enjoyment of a private retreat (to name just a few).
8. Competition! Winning is fun! Skills can be shown off at club shows or fairs, and may even bring national recognition or financial rewards.
7. Creative outlet! Try "re-decorating" your yard with a new color scheme each season,
experimenting with new plants, or design a setting that reflects your personal style.
6. Expanded social circles! Share information with neighbors, join a club, or have internetfriends answer questions about plants.
5. Monetary benefits ! These include increasing one's home resale value by 15% and
saving on your grocery bill by growing your own vegetables and fruit.
4. Learn something new! Gardening is intellectually stimulating and becomes an absorbing and challenging hobby.
3. A sensory feast ! Wind whispers through ornamental grasses, some leaves are a pleasure to touch, and gardens abound in fragrance, color, and beauty.
2. Exercise for a healthier body! Whether mowing, planting, or harvesting, gardens provide an important commute-free resource for cardio and aerobic exercise.
1. Safe & healthy food! The best solution to avoid additives, preservatives, or contaminated foods while eating fresh and tastier fruits and vegetables.
FOOD GARDENING ON THE RISE!
The National Gardening Association estimates the number of households that tend fruit and vegetable gardens increased from 22 to 25 percent in 2008!
Small Space Fruit & Vegetable Gardens
Have limited space? Don't despair! Follow these suggestions and even with small spaces, you'll have enough room to grow great tasting berries, herbs, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and other greens.
COMPACT PLANTS—Choose varieties that are bred to go into small spaces. These will most likely have tiny,
baby, dwarf, patio, or pixie in their name. The mature size of each plant will help determine how many you can fit into your space.
HANGING BASKETS—Use these small planters for herbs and place them near your kitchen for easy harvesting.
INTERCROPPING—Plant fast maturing vegetables next to slow maturing kinds. For example: you can harvest radishes first, thus allowing more space for slower growing beets and carrots.
VERTICAL PLANTING—Vining pole beans, cucumbers, and squash, trained up on supports or a fence, all take up less ground space.
SUCCESSION CROPPING—Every 2-3 weeks, plant a few new quick growing beans, zucchini, or lettuce for just enough produce all summer long.
CONTAINERS—With good drainage and enough root space, anything can be planted in a container. Vegetables like celery, swiss chard, and many lettuces all have decorative foliage that are attractive as well as tasty. Container favorite: strawberries. Don't forget our herbs and dwarf fruit trees!
Recycle Your Old Hoses
The first hose was invented in 1762 for fighting fires and was constructed from hand sewn linen. Modern-day rubber hoses are highly advanced, but both weather and kinking can
shorten their lifespans. Before spring gets into high gear, take a moment to check your hoses and replace any that need to be retired.
HERE ARE SOME GREAT WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD, WORN OUT HOSES:
Slip a piece of rubber tubing over wire handles of buckets. Ahhhh, what comfort! Hose segments covering
swing-set chains will protect those tender little fingers. Attract nocturnal earwigs into 6-inch hose segments placed around your garden. Shake earwigs out into soapy water. To protect tree bark from chaffing,
wrap pieces of old hoses around the wire used to stabilize young trees. Create a crude soaker hose to save water by crimping the open end and wrapping it with wire, then poke or drill holes in the hose where you need
them to water plants.
Low Fat Berry Muffins
Got berries? They’re great with milk, but try blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries straight from your garden
to make these delicious and healthy muffins!
.
3 c. each brown sugar (packed)
and granulated sugar
1 c. each flour and yellow cornmeal
11 tsp. each baking soda and salt
1 tsp. ginger
1 lemon ( 2 Tbs. juice + grated peel)
1 egg
8 oz. low fat plain yogurt
1 c. skim milk
1 c. berries
Combine dry ingredients. Add lemon, egg, yogurt, and milk, stirring just until
blended. Add berries. Spoon into 12 greased muffin cups. Bake at 425o for
about 15 minutes, then enjoy while warm, or serve as a healthy snack
MARCH 2009
Vol. 27 No. 2
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2009. All rights reserved.
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Tips for Fall Gardening
SEPT/OCTOBER 2008
Vol. 26 No. 7
1. This is a perfect time to repair thin or bare spots in your lawn, or start a new lawn with our area-adapted seed or sod. Get this done now and it will fill in nicely before winter comes.
2. Like a certain tree or shrub, but don’t know what it is? Simply bring in some of its leaves (a picture of it usually proves helpful also) --we’ll identify it for you and help determine if it is a good candidate for your yard.
3. Plant spring-blooming wildflower seeds in October and you’ll have larger plants with more flowers in the spring.
Fall is PERFECT for Planting!
As the weather starts to cool down, it becomes a perfect to plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, flowers, and
lawns. Here's why:
Plants love the daily warm air and soil with milder nighttimes.
Establishment period is optimized for excellent root development.
Rains will soon take over and water for you.
Fall temperatures are less stressful for transplants.
Even gardeners benefit from being outside during the milder weather.
Colorize your world through the lackluster winter months.
Transplant in the fall and plants will be much larger next spring.
Don't miss out on this perfect opportunity!
BULBS: A High Yield Investment
Seasoned gardeners know the thrill of choosing silky, sophisticated tulips; sunny, saucy daffodils; fragrant,
frilly hyacinths; and radiant, resplendent ranunculus! It's true that they don't look amazing yet, but come late winter and early spring your yard will be transformed into an enchanting showplace. If you've never planted bulbs before, now is the time to catch the excitement!
By early to mid-September, we will have a wide assortment of TOP QUALITY bulbs, corms, and tuberous roots (to name a few). Selection is always best for those who come in early and stock up for planting later.
If you want a continuous show of blooms, we're into October, start planting at weekly intervals for several weeks, or vary the planting depth just slightly. By doing this and choosing bulbs that bloom early, mid, and late season, you can look forward to a long beautifulseason. Wow! Pick up some EB Stone Organics Bulb Food and Greenall Planting Mix to ensure top results.
Economical Fall Vegetables
Want to eat healthier and reduce your grocery bills? Plant a fall vegetable garden! Broccoli, carrots, green bunching onions, leaf lettuce, spinach, edible pod peas, and Swiss chard all make the list for "top 15 vegetables in economic value." These results are based on pounds produced per square foot, the value of the crop, and the length of time in the garden. These vegetables may have missed the top 15, but they're still good for your health and should be included in your fall garden: Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. You can plant seeds now or our seedlings at the end of September. Need more good news? The flavor of fall-planted carrots is actually better! Why? It's those higher daytime temperatures
combined with cooler nights. Studies conclude carrots are able to rest at night instead of burning the sugar they photosynthesized during the day, resulting in more sweetness and flavor!
Creamy Pasta with Garden Vegetables
Cook the pasta (you can also use fusilli, penne, rotini or a medley) according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain pasta, and return it to the pot. Stir into reserved water: 7 oz of crumbled goat cheese, ¾ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. Stir until creamy and then gently mix with pasta.
Slice squash into thin medallions. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add squash medley, 1/2 tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper and cook, stirring, until the squash is tender-crisp and any liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Cut tomatoes into chunks (save liquid to add), mince garlic, and julienne 1-2
sprigs basil—add all to squash, cook 5 minutes more (season to taste). Top pasta with garden vegetables, garnish with basil and crumbled cheese and serve. For a robust meal, add cooked chicken cubes. Serves 4.
8 oz medium shell pasta
1 Tbs olive oil
salt and pepper
1 lb zucchini & crook neck squash
1 large clove garlic, minced
7 1/2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
2 tomatoes
2 or 3 sprigs basil
Be Green: Compost!
Composting your garden and household debris is an easy project the whole family can participate in and results in free rich garden soil amendments, smaller landfills, and water conservation! Here are some tips to
help Mother Nature turn your waste into “gardener’s gold” faster:
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GROWING GROUNDS SALE!
2 weekends only! Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
July 11, 12, 13 & July 18, 19, 20
Everything is at least 25% OFF!
At our 5 acre Fairfax Growing Grounds
3000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Fairfax
The Home Gardener’s Newsletter is written specially for our valued customers by Dr. Wayne S. Moore and Carolyn Kallander.
After you’ve read it, please pass it on to a friend! © Copyright Moore Consulting, 2008. All rights reserved.
Gardening Tips
JULY/AUGUST 2008
Vol. 26 No. 6
1. Replace flowering plants past their prime with our many summer and
fall blooming plants.
2. Check plants for aphids, spider mites, and other pests. We have a variety of
organic and conventional sprays, and the expertise to help you choose the best spray for
your situation.
3. Hang some of our gorgeous hanging baskets in your entryway and patio for an
instant stunning color display.
4. Fertilize your vegetables with EB Stone Organic Tomato & Vegetable Food for continued
top performance.
Glorious Blue for 2008!
IT'S ABOUT TIME!
Color authority, Pantone, declared the color "blue iris" as their 2008 Color of the Year. As many passionate gardeners know, blue flowers have been sought after and coveted for centuries. Why? Besides their striking beauty, blue flowers can create thoughtful, soothing, and meditative moods depending on
how they are used.
For an intensely dramatic effect, mix cool blue with bright orange red flowers. Create a calming environment by adding purple and red flowers.
Clean and refreshing combinations include yellow or white accents amongst your blue. Feel patriotic? Plant a red, white, and blue garden! We'llbe glad to offer recommendations.
Blue flowers can be found as ageratum, calibrachoa, lobelia, annual statice, blue salvia, petunias, hydrangeas, blue hibiscus, morning glory, delphiniums,marguerites (felicia), plumbago, and others instock—COME TAKE A LOOK!
Consider diversifying with our blue garden containers. Finishing touches include blue furniture or plants with beautiful foliage like blue fescue. Find pleasure and
Fire Resistant Landscaping
a peaceful feeling in your blue garden!
Past California fires have shown the importance of the right landscape to help save homes
from being burned down, and saves lives. You might want to evaluate your landscaping in
terms of fire resistance. Here are some vitalconsiderations to help you get started.
Replacing fire-prone plants with plants that resist burning is a key part of the strategy.
Limit use of plants which are known to be especially combustible, or which have dry or dead
undergrowth. Ask us for guidance on this when you buy plants.
Avoid massing shrubs around trees, and next to your home. Keep weeds and tall grasses
trimmed, replacing them with lawns or low growing plants.
IMPORTANT: Keep vegetation close to your home watered to make it less flammable.
Further reduce fire danger by cleaning up brush and dead wood. Tree branches should
not touch or overhang your roof. Trees should be "limbed up" as much as possible—that
means cutting all the lower branches so a fire is less likely to spread up into the tree. There
should be at least 6-10 feet clearance under most large trees.
Keep Flowers Blooming Longer
With a little extra care, many of your favorite annuals and perennials will provide you a much longer period of blooms. A key to keep them actively growing is regular watering, and feeding them with EB Stone Organic Rose & Flower Food. This will also increase the size and number of your flowers. Most plants will reward you with more flowers if you remove faded flowers and developing seeds. Pinching or cutting out old flowers tricks plants into producing more blossoms because their "mission" of reproducing has yet to be completed.
Summer Berry-licious Popsicles
Everyone in the family will love eating these C O O O L fruit-filled popsicleson hot summer days! The sun makes them naturally sweet.
On the left side of the tray, fill each cube space ¾ full with cran-raspberry juice and add pieces of cut up strawberries. Repeat the same process with grape juice on the right-hand side of the tray, and add cut
up blueberries. Freeze the tray for about an hour, remove, and insert an ice cream stick in each cube. Freeze solid. Bend the tray to loosen and pop out thej uice berry popsicles. Refreshing! Be sure to experiment with other garden fresh fruits like peaches, plums, and watermelon.
8-16 fresh strawberries (cut up)
24-32 fresh blueberries (cut up)
1/2 cup cran-raspberry juice
1/2 cup grape juice
1 ice cube tray
16 ice cream sticks
Dry Stream Beds Add Interest
A dry stream bed is a creative way to add beauty and interest to your landscaping and is quite attractive in a variety of places. These are eye-catching anywhere, even along a narrow side yard
that you view from inside but do not use. Dry stream beds have an additional functional value when they channel excess water away from your foundation or a neighbor's property. Grade a narrow "stream" in the shape of a tiny creek or rushing river. Use large rocks (in scale to the bed) in the background and along the banks, with smaller rocks clustered in the front. For the stream bed, use gravel and smaller stones, Ornamental grasses and colorful drought tolerant flowering plants will complete your newly landscaped area.
Wise Lawn Watering
Setting up a pattern of less frequent, but more thorough, watering of lawns during the early morning hours establishes a deeper root system, retards disease, and uses water more efficiently.
Your goal is to in achieve a soakage depth of 4-6 inches with 1 inch of water by watering slowly and deeply. Remember that sandy soils absorb quickly, while clay and loam soils absorb more slowly. Placing glasses or cans in different areas around your lawn will help you see how much water you are applying, and how good the coverage is. If your lawn has any dry spots, aerate these areas and/or apply our soil penetrant—this enables water to soak down into the grass root zone. TIP: If runoff occurs before the desired depth is
reached, turn sprinklers off for 30 minutes, then restart.
Kid’s Corner:
Summer Scrapbooking
Hey Kids! Now is a great time to go OUTSIDE and explore so you can put together a scrapbook detailing what you discover in your garden this summer. Beginning is EASY––after you have settled on where to keep your photos, drawings, journal notes, and all of those other amazing things you collect. Use a simple spiral-bound notebook, a 3- ring binder, or purchase a fancy album.
Need a few ideas to get going? How about having pictures taken of you in your tepee hideaway (featured
in our May issue) or write about reactions to your bottled squash (June issue)? You can draw interesting bugs (and if you can, identify them!) or a map of what you planted, journal observations, and transfer pressed flowers or dried leaves into it. Finally, have fun sharing your scrapbook with friends and relatives!
Healthy Landscaping for the Allergy-Prone
Give the gift of well-being to loved ones who suffer from pollen allergies! Suitable landscaping will do wonders to improve time enjoyed outdoors. Useful for implementing
allergen avoidance, researcher Thomas Leo Ogren developed a trademarked scale that ranks allergy potential in his book Allergy-Free Gardening:The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping. If you have any of these “worst offenders” in your yard, here are a few allergy-free plant replacement recommendations. Replace high pollen producing trees sycamore, acacia, cypress, oak, and
fruitless mulberry with sneezeless fir (abies), pine (lots of pollen but waxy, so it’s not irritating to mucous membranes), plum (including red leaf plum), fig, pear, pomegranate, and apricot. Replace shrubs artemisia, rhamnus (including coffeeberry), and juniper, with suffer-free camellia, nandina, yucca, manzanita, boxwood, berberis, and big leaf hydrangea.
Replace groundcovers artemesia, juniper, and baccharis (coyote brush) with wild strawberry, potentilla, English ivy, cotoneaster, and vinca. Replace perennials like senecio (including dusty miller) with allergen-free annual and perennial winners like agapanthus, lobelia, impatiens, violas, zinnia, salvia, snapdragon, and vinca rosea. |
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