Shopping madness 2022


Fri. Nov. 25, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden  Bite radio show/podcast: Shopping madness 2022

Yesterday we packed our bellies, today we’re packing shopping bags! 

For gardeners here is a list of my favorites, including my new favorite tool, the Hori Hori knife! Seriously, I can’t believe I went this long without one! I’m also a huge fan of garden forks. I use mine consistently. It’s so much easier on the plants and their roots and also on ME.

As for gloves, I have probably about 10 pair all over  … [Continue reading]

Happy Thanksgiving 2022


Thu. Nov. 24, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Happy Thanksgiving 2022

 Happy Thanksgiving, may your house and your belly be full today.

As you belly up to the table, think about the herbs in the stuffing you could grow! Parsley and sage are two easy ones!

I generally grow rosemary and use that in LOTS of dishes, in particular when I’ve thrown chicken, pork or beef in the crock pot.

Oh, and those little red potatoes would be easy to grow.

Maybe you could ask for  … [Continue reading]

New vegetables for 2023


Wed. Nov. 23, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: New vegetables for 2023

 I get all kinds of emails from plant companies including Johnny’s Selected Seeds with the headline “New for 2023 Vegetable Varieties”! Well I had to look!

Some new vegetables for 2023

First up, one of my favorite vegetables/fruits – a new cherry tomato! Mochi has a whole new texture. It’s kinda weird. Instead of bursting in your mouth, they say it’s like eating a gumdrop. I’m not quite sure what to think about that. … [Continue reading]

Dormant oils – what are they?


Tue. Nov. 22, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Dormant oils – what are they?

What are dormant oils and when and why would you apply them?  A listener had asked this question before and today, I thought I’d revisit it as it’s been a few years! 

Apples, crabapples, plums, quince and pears all benefit from dormant oil, as do gooseberry and currant bushes.

Other fruit-bearing trees and bushes don’t have any need for this type of oil as they don’t often harbor the same pests.

These

 … [Continue reading]

Spruce tips/tops 2022


Mon. Nov. 21, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Spruce tips/tops 2022

I know, it’s not Thanksgiving yet but already all the spruce top pots and decorations are being sold. Perhaps because it suddenly got REAL cold.

In fact, since I was sick when it was warm I didn’t get out to disconnect my hoses from the hose and empty them before they froze. UGH, I did get to them later but I’m just hoping they’ll be fine. Shout out to Dramm hoses! Oh, and another irritant,  … [Continue reading]

Planning perennial edibles for next year


Fri. Nov. 18, 2022

Click to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planning perennial edibles for next year

When planting our edible gardens, most of us think of them as annuals. Here’s a look at 3 perennial edibles and 1 herb hardy to zone 4 climates. 

The first is one I’ve never been a huge fan of but almost everyone I know loves it. Asparagus. It takes commitment to grow this guy but once established, your asparagus bed will yield for years.

They prefer a neutral pH soil. Choose a  … [Continue reading]

Infused sugars – party gift


Thu. Nov. 17, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Infused sugars – party gift

Party season is upon us. Now that we are back to gathering a lot more in person, that means more parties, which means, as guests, we like to bring a little something for the one hosting the festivities.

In my department at work, we sometimes give each other a little something. Last year I gave small jars of infused sugar. 

I made the following videos back in 2018. I have additional info  … [Continue reading]

What holiday is your cactus blooming in?


Wed. Nov. 16, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: What holiday is your cactus blooming in?

I hate to disappoint you but your “Christmas” cactus is not an overachiever…

 I changed my cover photo on my personal Facebook page and got a lot of comments so I thought it was time to revisit this subject. 

Every year people are mixed up on what kind of flowering cactus they have. If yours is blooming now, like mine is, it’s a Thanksgiving cactus.

It’s not just because that’s the  … [Continue reading]

UMN 2022 Annual flower trial results


Tue. Nov. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: UMN 2022 annual flower trial results

Yesterday was about AAS Landscape Design winners, today I’m sharing the results of the University of Minnesota Extensions Annual flower trials!

With November being the “cloudiest” month, I wanted to brighten it up with pretty flowers.

The U’s Horticulture Display Garden is in Morris, Mn. which is located in Zone 4. Each year, the Top Ten Performing Annuals are selected from the hundreds of cultivars trialed.

Annual flowers are evaluated on

 … [Continue reading]

AAS Landscape Design winners 2022


Mon. Nov. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: AAS Landscape Design winners 2022

 I have often talked about All-America Selections. They are an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties of edibles, annuals and perennials for the home gardener.

AAS also has a landscape design challenge each year for their Display Gardens around the country. This year’s theme was Games in the Garden.

For the challenge, AAS provides the gardens with recent AAS Winner seeds and plants. The gardens have the option to  … [Continue reading]