Bare rootin’


Fri. Mar. 20, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bare rootin’

Bare root plants are awesome… partly because they’re less expensive!

When the soil isn’t soggy, you can start sticking these bad boys in the soil, cool temps do not bother them!

A bare root tree has no soil at all around its roots.  It’s been removed from the soil while still dormant.  These trees are generally kept dormant by refrigeration until sold.

Bare root trees, shrubs and roses are often quite a bit less expensive than  … [Continue reading]

Spring Equinox


Thu. Mar. 19, 2020

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

Happy Vernal Equinox!  That’s a funny word, vernal.  The word means ‘fresh’ or ‘new’ and related to Spring.  Many gardeners on my Facebook page commented that their favorite season is Spring.

 The first time we get our hands in the soil again and smell the Earth!  Equinox means equal night. The Equinox doesn’t “officially” until 10:50 tonight, central time. That’s still TODAY, so the celebrations can start early! I’m thinking happy dance… my neighbors are used  … [Continue reading]

A how-to on vegetable crop rotation


Wed. Mar. 18, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A how-to on vegetable crop rotation

Some are takers and some are givers.  Plants that is.

Crop rotation is one of the simplest ways to discourage disease and keep your soil in good condition.

Ideally you could rotate your crops each year, but even if you do it every few years, you’re making an impact.  Certain plants take certain nutrients out of the soil, while others actually put it back!

But what crops do you rotate with?

In  … [Continue reading]

Shamrock or not?


Tue. Mar. 17, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Shamrock or not?

 “Top of the mornin’ to ya!”  and “By gosh and be gora” have a wonderful St. Patty’s Day!  I may be part Irish but I am all American, as those phrases really are! But it IS St. Patricks day and that makes me think of Shamrocks and all things green.

Shamrock is a kind of slurred pronunciation of the Irish word seamrog, meaning little clover.  It’s really White Clover also known as trifolium repens. 

 It  … [Continue reading]

Disease resistant vegetables


Mon. Mar. 16, 2020

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

Between concerns over produce contamination, viruses, our desire to lower our carbon footprint and eat healthier; vegetable gardening has increased in popularity by the handfuls (of soil!)

If you’re new to gardening or just tired of fighting diseased plants, you may consider planting disease resistant varieties of vegetables.  These are plants that have been bred with plants that are naturally more disease resistant.  These are not genetically engineered with certain herbicides or pesticides.  For more  … [Continue reading]

Should dog doo be composted?


Fri. Mar. 13, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Should dog doo be composted?

There were so many folks out walking last weekend! Such a beautiful weekend with temperatures nearing 50 and 60 degrees!!! They were out with their dogs and their little baggies for pickup. At least most of them had a way to pick it up!

There’s not much you can do about the discolored grass right now, we’ll talk about that in less than a month, but there’s poop detail. Those odd jobs not  … [Continue reading]

Garden friend or foe


Thu. Mar. 12, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Friend or foe

To squish or not to squish, that is the question when confronted by insects in the garden, or more recently in my house! I posted to Facebook about an insect I wasn’t sure was good or bad. Turns out bad but I couldn’t find the little fella again. You’ll learn more on him in a moment!

To squish or not to squish, that is the question…

The Lacewing larvae is like a little aphid-eating lion!   … [Continue reading]

Toss and walk gardening


Wed. Mar. 11, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Toss and walk gardening

A friend of mine does this every year.  He tosses seeds of leaf lettuce, radishes and even brussel sprouts on his garden this time of year and walks away.  Toss and walk…..

If you cleaned up your garden last year, then toss the seeds willy nilly onto the surface, no rows, and let them be.  No putting more soil on top, no watering, just walk away.  Toss and walk…

Sometime this month when the  … [Continue reading]

Making your own Maple syrup


Tue. Mar. 10, 2020

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Making your own Maple syrup

As promised… a primer on making your own Maple Syrup.  It IS an adventure.  It’s time consuming but the flavor can’t be beat.

In another life, I lived with an engineer who couldn’t wait to make his own Maple Syrup!  This is his story.  (unfortunately we only got 1 photo with his homemade taps – the next year he bought bags and taps from a company)

  • He made his own taps from 3/8
 … [Continue reading]

Maple syrup season


Mon. Mar. 9, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Maple syrup season

Once you taste the golden goodness of the real deal, there’s no going back! Maple syrup is a necessity on pancakes, oh and in so many other recipes!

The temperatures were delightful last week! I hope you had a chance to relish in them and in the sunshine too! Two ingredients ripe for sap flow.

You don’t need Sugar Maples to make some great syrup, Silver maples are just fine. The only difference is the  … [Continue reading]