Jumping worm warning Update!


Tue. Sep. 8, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Jumping worm warning!

 Seriously… that’s the headline from the MN DNR. They’re cautioning gardeners and anglers to be on the lookout for invasive jumping worms. Who had THAT for 2020? Actually I have a Garden Bite from 2013 on these invasives. They’re more prevalent now 

These destructive worms can quickly degrade soils and damage garden plants and lawns. Jumping worms are a relatively new species to our area, they turn good soil into what looks like coffee  … [Continue reading]

Fermented vegetables


Fri. Sep. 4, 2020

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

Fermentation has been around for like forever, it’s pretty ancient but it sort of fell by the wayside when folks started freezing and canning. Within the last 5 years or so, and the understanding of how great probiotics are for us, fermenting has kicked into high gear.

When freezing and canning techniques took over, fermenting fell by the wayside.  But with the probiotic rage going on, fermenting is back.

All you need is salt, your chosen  … [Continue reading]

Meet the Kiwiberry


Thu. Sep. 3, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Meet the Kiwiberry

I was just introduced to the kiwiberry by the University of Minnesota extension. Kiwis? In the cold north? YUP! So we don’t have the typical kiwi with it’s fuzzy outside, what our cool zones can grow is, as the name implies, more like a berry, it’s more grape sized and sweeter!

 The skin of kiwiberries is thin and smooth, there’s no need to peel before popping…into your mouth…

There are 2 species that can be  … [Continue reading]

Annuals for Fall


Wed. Sep. 2, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Annuals for Fall

As I mentioned yesterday, I stopped at my local nursery for some annuals as Fall approaches. The temperatures were pretty warm but they’ll cool off and many of the annuals I bought this Spring were looking pretty bedraggled. I picked up a couple of mums. Which by the way were in the wrong bin. I thought I was buying yellow when I got them home the tags said purple. Oh well.

There’s celosia on the  … [Continue reading]

Big Bluestem ‘Blackhawks’


Tue. Sep. 1, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Big Bluestem ‘Blackhawks’

I was devouring my new Northern Gardener magazine sitting on my front porch with a cool beverage when I came on an article by Debbie Lonnee, who works in the horticulture industry, about a new cultivar for Big Bluestem.

 Let me tell you, this one is a beauty! Called ‘Blackhawks’, the foliage evolves throughout the growing season.

Emerging green in the Spring, the long strappy leaves take on purple hues by June. Throughout the  … [Continue reading]

Blight blues on lilacs


Mon. Aug. 31, 2020

Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Blight blues on lilacs

There’s been a lot of the blues this last few weeks with lots of reports of blight on lilacs. I have plenty myself. They look awful.

Some of my listeners have sent me pictures of their towering lilacs now can’t down to a few feet tall to try and rid the plants from this nasty fungal enemy.

So why THIS year? As if 2020 hasn’t been challenging enough? A cool, wet,  … [Continue reading]

Garden to-do’s for September


Fri. Aug. 28, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden to-do’s for September

September is just a few days away! While this year has some vast changes due to a pandemic, our garden to-do’s heading into Fall remain the same! (that feels kinda good right now!)

Harvest, of course is ongoing. 

My Red Grape tomatoes have been outstanding! I’ve been putting them in salads and stir fry and have been dehydrating them too.

Because of the crazy year I’ve had with road construction on both streets of  … [Continue reading]

Pretty poppies and peonies for Fall planting


Thu. Aug. 27, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pretty poppies and peonies for Fall planting

We’ve talked about Fall planting of trees, shrubs and daylilies. There are plenty more perennials including pretty poppies and peonies that dig Fall planting! Poppies explode in June.

Their ruffled, shimmering petals pack a colorful punch. Plant in groups in a sunny, well-drained position and match them with summer bloomers or annuals that spread out and will conceal their early dormancy. They grow to about 2.5 ft.  Although the foliage can  … [Continue reading]

Clethra – it’s for part sun/part shade


Wed. Aug. 26, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Clethra – it’s for part sun/part shade

So I’ve been looking to replace the hostas I quickly planted near my new Crabapple tree. I had these in my nursery on the side of the garage. That’s where I put all the “extras” I have of plants like daylilies, hostas and whatnot that I’ve divided.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to just toss a plant! Sometimes not!  They were chewed up pretty bad by slugs and I really  … [Continue reading]

Fall is great for planting trees and shrubs


Tue. Aug. 25, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fall is great for planting trees and shrubs

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs.  They love the warm soil and cooler air. They also still have plenty of time to scoot their roots down deep into the soil.

For easy growing, Rugosa roses are a good choice. These are also salt tolerant! This one was at a home I lived in in Burnsville, Mn.

Be sure to water new plantings up until the ground  … [Continue reading]