Wild Cucumber


Mon. Aug. 27, 2018

Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Wild Cucumber

It has draped itself over everything!!!  I have never seen so much Wild Cucumber.  Yes, that’s that vine that is covering fields, trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers along nearly every rural road through Minnesota, Wisconsin and parts east,west and south!

It’s Latin name is Echinocystis lobata. The name Echinocystis comes from the Greek echinos for “hedgehog” and cystis for “bladder”, appropriately describing the spiny fruit.

A vining native annual in the cucumber or  … [Continue reading]

Planting cover crops


Fri. Aug. 24, 2018

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

Let’s talk green manure.  No, I’m not talking about an animal with a gastrointestinal issue but cover crops.  These are plants with a purpose.

They can help with soil erosion, weed control and even fix what’s ailing your soil.  ps Some interesting information from thelaundrylady on interplanting cover crops!

This time of year, you can plant oats or annual ryegrass which will grow in cool weather and keep the weeds out, then die before winter.   … [Continue reading]

Resurrection lily


Thu. Aug. 23, 2018

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

I moved into my current home in July of 2012 and found a plant I’d never seen before. It’s always an adventure to find plants the previous owner chose to plant,  and deciding what you’ll do with those gifts.

For me it was the Resurrection Lily.  The previous owner told me that I wouldn’t see this flower coming and I didn’t.  I renovated the area in 2013 and have continued to do so.  In the process  … [Continue reading]

Asparagus


Wed. Aug. 22, 2018

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

I was never a fan of asparagus until I had dinner one night at a very lovely golf club.  I don’t golf, I eat, drink and drive the cart.  Anyway, that lovely dinner got me thinking about planting this perennial that’s prized by many.  Frankly, I was THAT kid at the table who would try to sneak peas into my napkin, or sit at the table until everything was cold and my mom put my plate in  … [Continue reading]

Glory in the grasses and GB video introduction


Tue. Aug. 21, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Glory in the grasses and GB video introduction

As we head toward Fall, one of my favorite seasons, the native grasses really start to show off!  There IS Glory in the Grasses!

‘Big Bluestem’ is a grass and a true prairie plant.  It’s long stems are nearly 7 feet tall and sway beautifully in the wind.

Several flower spike at the tops of the stem are covered with pairs of tiny flower clusters.  If you separate the stalks  … [Continue reading]

What’s a native plant “community”?


Mon. Aug. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  What’s a native plant “community”?

Gardeners are always talking plants, it’s what we do!  There’s also a lot of talk about planting native species, creating a native “community”.  What does that mean?

I interviewed Phyllis Root not too long ago, she wrote “Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers – a Guide for Beginners, Botanists and everyone in between”.

It’s a great read for anyone in the upper midwest.  She also explains what a native plant community DOES.

There are  … [Continue reading]

The magic of microbes


Fri. Aug. 17, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The magic of microbes

GBTK 8-17-18

Microbes are everywhere!  In our soil, in our plants which means in our food and water and, of course our guts.   So why should we care?  Wellllll… without them life would cease to exist. We’re talking about the magic of microbial science.

Before you zone out – hear me out!

A little gram of soil that’s the size of the tip of your little finger has 10 million microbes!  Scientists are mapping

 … [Continue reading]

August vegetable garden tips


Thu. Aug. 16, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  August vegetable garden tips

GBTK 8-16-18

I love warm weather but I’m not a huge fan of humidity, so the next question is WHY would I live in Minnesota?  Well, the Upper Midwest offers some seriously beautiful country and I’ve got family here and friends and a job! Bringing it back to WHY I brought that up…

Watering tips for the August vegetable garden.  While I use rainwater, I, and many gardeners, also water with hoses. Some that  … [Continue reading]

Of basil and tomatoes


Wed. Aug. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Of basil and tomatoes

GBTK 8-15-18

While I’ve been enjoying fresh basil on my salads, some gardeners are reporting their basil with yellowing leaves and dark spots.  

Some folks in the upper midwest have experienced significant rainfall and humid conditions.   First found in the U.S. in 2007, downy mildew is a devastating disease of basil, resulting in infection and complete loss of the plant.

Basil downy mildew is caused by (Peronospora belbahrii), a water mold that  … [Continue reading]

Mid-summer garden update 2018


Tue. Aug. 14, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Mid-summer garden update 2018

GBTK 8-14-18

The heat is on, lawns are a little crispy and we’re past harvesting of our cool season greens.  Locally, Grism’s sweet corn stand is a twice weekly stop for me as I wait for my ‘American Dream’ corn from All America Selections!  I planted a few seeds in a couple of containers. I’ve noticed the earwigs have been getting into the ears of corn. YUK. I do not like those squiggly things.   … [Continue reading]