Autumn has officially begun and frost isn’t far away. Gardens are already showing signs of leaf loss on squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. These are among the most susceptible plants. Good News, there are a few easy precautions we can take to protect our favorite plants and extend the gardening season to get a little more out of our summer efforts. It’s also the best time to begin improving the soil for next year’s garden so let’s look at…
Plant Health & Seed Saving Recent rains have been welcome but have promoted plant diseases, weeds, and some pests. As harvesting of onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables continues it’s important to apply sanitation practices to limit damage to our hard-earned harvests. Also, while harvesting veggies, herbs, and flowers is the best part of gardening, don’t overlook another valuable crop you have and might want to harvest… seeds for next year. The easiest seeds to save include peas, beans, heirloom…
Rain or shine, our gardens are now heading into the home stretch with tomatoes, beans, squash, and peppers leading the way! Dry weather has been tough on some veggies and flowers this summer, so mulch and extra watering is required. Good news is that weeds grow slower and the lawn needs less mowing! Tomatoes and peppers are really sub-tropical plants and don’t know that winter is coming so they are still trying to grow. We know better and there are…
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…
Despite our recent wintery week April is National Garden Month so now is a great time to think about starting a garden and the planning and choices we can make. Most basically, “What should I grow?” depends on what you want to eat or to see in your yard, and the kind of work you can do. Soil & climate conditions in Vermont place some limits on our choices but we do have a great selection of hardy fruits, vegetables,…
Snow has been replaced by slippery mud, a sure sign that spring is almost here! We now get just over 12 hours of daylight per day and that stimulates new plant growth. It also makes our gardens irresistible on warmer days. Don’t be tempted to get too ambitious just yet, but there are several jobs that can be done before digging soil. Houseplants and indoor sheltered garden plants would benefit from a feeding now. I prefer to use a liquid…
Here we are… winter in Vermont with beautiful snow, cold nighttime temperatures, and 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 listed in the previous article (or any others that you like) and you can browse their online catalogs from the comfort of home. This is not the year to delay, the best varieties are…
I like to finish fall gardening with planting. Garlic is an easy New England crop and it’s great to have something to look forward to for next year that’s already in the ground when winter arrives. Nothing compares with fresh garlic from your garden and now is the time to sow your garlic, along with many other bulbs that will be the first things up next spring. Let’s look at a few tricks to have a successful garlic crop year…
Leaves made the great Green Mountains green all summer and now provide the beauty of autumn across the Vermont landscape. Next they are dropped from their trees to add fertility and build soil. The key message here is to use those rich leaves. Do not remove or discard them as is so often the misguided custom. The second message this week is about the great importance of water to plants heading into winter. Let’s look at why we should not…
Autumn has officially begun and Jack Frost isn’t far away. Many gardens are already showing signs of leaf loss on squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. These are among the most susceptible plants. Good News, there are a few easy precautions we can take to protect our favorite plants and extend the gardening season to get a little more out of our summer long efforts. It’s also the best time to begin improving the soil for next year’s garden so…