with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Tomato and Pepper seed start time
For those of us in cold climates, we get itchy to get into gardens or do SOMETHING gardeny… and then something like this happens…
The AVERAGE last official frost date for Zone 3 and 4 is May 15th while zone 5 and 6 is looking at about April 15th. But, as mentioned on Monday, that’s changing. Still, it’s best to plan for it.
Warm season crops such as tomatoes … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Soil structure and drainage
Nothin’ sexier than soil structure and drainage! HA…
If you peruse descriptions of a particular plant’s needs, they almost all say, prefers “well-drained soil”. That is soil that contains enough pores, the gaps between soil particles, to allow air and water to flow freely. Ideally, the sand, silt and clay particles are arranged so they occupy only half of the space, leaving the other half as pore space. A 50/50 split is primo.
Most … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Time to turn on the tap – Maple syruping
It’s time to turn on the tap, if you haven’t already. The sap is running.
Maple Syrup season is here and that golden goodness is the best thing EVER.
Sugar Maples are best but it’s not just maple trees. I’ve told you before that you can even tap boxelder trees. The caveat to tapping these other trees is that the sugar content is lower than a Sugar maple … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Explaining a freeze, a frost and why it matters
We’ve had some lovely warmer temperatures and even some rainfall. BUT, we live in cold climates so that means cold ain’t over till Mother Nature says so.
And often she gives us more blasts of cold – I think she wants to remind us who is actually in control!
Historically, in my zone 4 area, May 15th has been the last frost date, however, with climate change that has … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bare-root tree/shrub planting
As soon as the soil thaws (is workable), it’s time to plant bare-root trees. A bare-root tree has no soil at all around its roots. It has been removed from the soil while still dormant.
Typically bare-root are available until just after the frost free date in your region, this year they are selling out quickly! After that, if there are any left the nursery will pot them up, let them break dormancy, and sell … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fresh From the Garden – myth busting
Years ago, I had a chance to interview John Whitman, he’s the author of a vegetable gardening tome called “Fresh from the Garden – an organic guide to growing vegetables, berries and herbs in Cold Climates”.
It is packed with information on vegetables I grow and those I’ve never even heard of!
He also shares garden myths:
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: International Day of Forests
I saw on a calendar of holidays, that today is International Day of Forests. I got to thinking, what a GREAT day!
The UN General Assembly proclaimed this day in 2012. Click on the link for information on this 10 year anniversary! I’m IN!
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More cool tools
Great tools are the gardeners best friend. Great, QUALITY tools are even better! When I first started gardening, I bought the cheapest pruners, loppers, trowels and even shovels.
Well, that was 20 years ago and I’ve spent a lot more money on replacing those tools that fell apart or simply didn’t do the job I needed them to do! I talked about some of my favorite tools last week, today I’ll share a few more. … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What NOT to do when the temps rise
Okay, I admit it. Last week was lovely for many of us with a reprieve from the bitter cold. I couldn’t stand it. I walked around in my yard looking at the unusual amount of rabbit poop and rabbit fur! Some cat has been hungry…
I left the bunny poop and fur but removed the “fence” that didn’t work.
After removing the evergreen garland and de-wiring it so I could … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Spring Equinox 2022
The Vernal Equinox is Sunday! The word vernal means ‘fresh’ or ‘new’ and is related to Spring.
Many a gardener lists Spring as their favorite season. The freshness of it, the hope it brings and the first time we get our hands in the soil again and smell the Earth!
Equinox means equal night. The Equinox doesn’t “officially” happen until 10:33 Sunday morning central time. I say we start celebrating now! I’m thinking happy dance… … [Continue reading]