Once the Holidays have passed some thoughts turn to garden plans. There may be no better way to overcome the mid-winter doldrums than to imagine your next garden and decide what new things to grow this year. Despite the calendar, now is the time to get your plans and seeds organized so you’ll be ready when spring arrives. Seed catalogues have already been arriving and it’s not too early to make your selections before the best varieties sell out. …
Here we are… winter in Vermont with beautiful snow, cold nighttime temperatures, but there’s still plenty to keep a good gardener busy. If you haven’t ordered your garden seeds yet, that is your #1 priority! Look at the short list of local seed companies that I list in the full article (or any others that you like) and you can browse their online catalogs from the comfort of home. Don’t delay, the best varieties sell out first. In this article…
Like it or not, the gardening season in the Green Mountains has ended, mostly. Before our thoughts turn completely to the holiday season there are a few tasks worth attending to before we’re totally snowed in. There are also a couple easy tips to help keep your Christmas tree green and fresh longer. Christmas tree health. I can offer two simple tips that will help your tree stay green and hold its needles longer: 1) Just before placing your tree…
We are in peak garden season and there’s a lot happening out there. The dry weeks of July have made two practices essential: watering and mulching. While you enjoy some satisfying harvests and flowers, stay alert to new pests showing up now to prevent serious damage. There are some more things that can be planted now too. Garlic harvest is almost here so let’s look at the best way to harvest, cure, and select next year’s crop. Weeds are growing…
We’re slowly getting to the time of year when we can plant some things into the ground. Some things can go in early, other things need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? Most soil is still too wet to dig or till unless you have raised beds. Let’s look at several ways to help determine when it’s best to plant seeds or put out transplants. Also, a few words about the benefits of…