Our Home Garden

Spring Flowering Bulbs

2005-08-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

Crocus and Snowdrops followed by Daffodils and Tulips, then Dutch Iris and Spanish Bluebells

Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in late September through October, when soil temperatures fall below 60° F. This will allow a root system to develop before the ground freezes.

When establishing a new bed of bulbs, the soil should be loosened to at least 4 inches below the bulb's suggested planting depth. For example, if the recommended planting depth is 6 inches, the bed should be prepared to at least 10 inches. Check the bulb package to determine the spacing and planting depth for your type of bulb. As a general rule of thumb, bulbs should be planted twice as deep as they are high.Bulbs prefer full sun, a rich, well-draining soil to which compost or other organic matter has been added.

After deciding which types of flowers you want in the spring, select only firm, solid bulbs for planting. Avoid bulbs that are shriveled or lightweight. Bulbs that are discolored by mold or that contain soft spots should also be avoided. Don't forget to plant your bulbs right side up. This means planting the pointed end up for bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, squill and many others.

Decide on a design. Bulbs are much more attractive if planted in odd numbered groups or mass plantings. I like to plant them in a circle, starting in the middle and going around. It makes them look like a bouguet when they bloom. GORGEOUS. They may be enjoyed more also if the planting can be seen from a favorite window in the house.

Cover the bulbs lightly with soil and then sprinkle a good bulb food on top of the soil, not in the hole. Fertilizer in the hole may burn tender, young roots. Water thoroughly, and then keep the soil moist to allow the roots to form more quickly.

Fall Tree Planting

2005-08-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Trees add beauty and so much more. Trees can be planted almost any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen. Late summer or early fall is the optimum time to plant trees in many areas. Fall planting can be successful as long as the planting season is not extended too late into the fall. As the air temperatures cool, the soil continues to be warm for a while so much of the activity of the tree moves underground and new roots are produced.

A properly planted and maintained tree will grow faster and live longer than one that is incorrectly planted. Be sure to water the tree once every three or four weeks through the winter unless we have sufficient moisture to keep the soil moist to at least the entire depth of the root ball.

Some popular tress that can be successfully planted in fall include maple, buckeye or horsechestnut, alder, catalpa, hackberry, hawthorn, ash, honey locust, Kentucky coffeetree, crabapple, Amur corktree, spruce, pine, sycamore, linden and elm.

Fall planting (mid-August to mid-October) takes advantage of favorable soil temperatures and moisture conditions that promote the root growth needed to sustain plants through their critical first year in the landscape.

Grasses

2005-08-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Grasses add variety to many types of gardens.

Grasses look well against a dark background and placed to catch morning or evening light, they add movement and sound.

Grasses are adaptable.

Grasses are bothered by few pests. If any come, a strong force of water from a hose takes care of them.

Grasses require little effort.

Some of the more popular cool season grasses include: Fescues, Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon), Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia), and Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria).

In the fall, plant only container plants with well-established root systems and allow for at least one month of growth before winter. A good rule of thumb is to space plants equal to their mature height (plants 4' tall are spaced 4' apart) Then provide a light cover of straw or hay during the first winter for best results. Apply the mulch after several hard frosts.

Success depends greatly on soil preparation before planting and having good drainage.

It's the Beginning of Gardening Season!!

2005-08-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Stop thinking of fall as the end of gardening season! Instead think of it as the beginning and do a lot of your planting now.

Grasses
Trees
Shrubs
Spring-flowering bulbs
Perennials
Ground Covers

These are just a few of the things you can plant this time of the year.

Another benefit to fall planting is extra root growth, according to extension services. During autumn, a plant's leaf and flower production slows and heads into dormancy. That leaves the plant with energy it can apply to root development. Even though the top is in dormancy, the roots continue to develop as long as the temperature of the roots is 45 degrees or more.

Disease Management

2005-08-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Both powdery mildew and downy mildew often infect squash plants as autumn nights grow cooler and dew keeps the foliage moist through the night. Fungicides can be applied when disease symptoms first appear to reduce their spread. This will work on the plants not already affected but will have no effect on the already diseased plants.

Symptoms first appear as yellowy spots on the oldest leaves. Lesions then appear followed by a white or light tan powdery growth. Here is a link to see it and read more about it: Powdery Mildew

Weeds and Pests in Your Fall Garden

2005-08-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

As you till your soil for the fall plantings, you will bring the weed seeds to the surface where they can germinate. Be very diligent about pulling and hoeing those weeds. Mulching will help as it blocks the light needed for germination.

Cucumber beetle and squash bug populations peak in August and can quickly destroy cucumber and squash seedlings. The name cucumber beetle refers to two species: The Striped Cucumber Beetle,Acalymma vittatum (Fabricius) and the Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber. THere is some very good info on controlling them on this site: Cucumer Beetle The squash bug is one of the most common and troublesome pests attacking squash and pumpkin plants. Here is a site to identify them: Squash Bug

Imported cabbage worms and cabbage loopers can destroy new cole crop transplants if not diligently controlled.

Summer Gardening Season Hasn’t Ended Yet

2005-08-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of picking tomatoes, zucchini and peppers from your summer vegetable garden? Are you ready for something different?

As with spring plantings, some crops are more easily established when started early and transplanted into the garden. You have all summer to do this, when you are thinking about gardening.

They can be grown outdoors in partial shade to full sun. There are no worries of freezing weather and no need for plant lights for these transplants and the blowing wind and bright sunlight will help produce stocky, vigorous plants.

The first autumn frost is often followed by 2-3 weeks of warmer weather. With a little help, frost-tender plants can grow throughout those weeks. Lightweight blankets, sheets, newspapers, buckets and floating row covers all can be used to protect tender plants. Usually the first frost hits on a cloudless night, when the clouds do not protectand the heat is not reflected back to earth's surface. Covering plants keeps the ground heat around your plants so they do not freeze.

So get busy planting those fall crops and enjoy your bounty!

Preparing for Fall Gardening

2005-08-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

I just hate to think about the vegetable garden being done for the year! I found out that there are some things I can still have late into the fall. The problem for me has been finding seeds in Aug. Make sure you plan ahead and buy seeds in the spring for your later planting.

Cool-temperature-adapted crops work for fall gardening because they continue to grow well into the fall and can be harvested after many tender plants have been killed by frost.

Semi-hardy vegetables (can stand light frost, 30-32°F)
Beets
Mustard
Chinese Cabbage
Radishes
Collards
Spinach
Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Bibb Lettuce
Green Onions
Leaf Lettuce

Hardy vegetables (can stand several frosts, but are killed when
temperatures drop near 20°F)
Cabbage
Carrots
Broccoli
Turnips
Cauliflower
Rutabagas
Brussels Sprouts
Kale

Make sure you know the predicted date for you first killing frost. NebGuide G96-1312, Autumn Freeze Probabilities

And know the number of days to maturity for the seeds. Choose "early season" and the ones with shortest days to maturity.

I am sure looking forward to having fresh cauliflower and broccoli from my garden for Thanksgiving this year!!

Something for the kids

2005-08-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Kids love to grow things but seem to not know weeds from plants in the garden so we can give them their own project.

Plant Heads with Hair

Start with your old pantyhose.
Add a little bit of compost in the stocking
Sprinkle a few grass seeds on to the compost.
Add more compost mixed with a little soil
Tie the stocking
Stand it up on a container that will hold water.
Fill container with water to get the stocking soaked up
The grass will grow straight up through the stocking
They can draw faces on the stocking so the grass becomes the hair
Once the grass grows, they can give the grass a haircut and it will re-grow.

Here is another site with several projects:
Kids Projects

Now for Flowers

2005-08-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

It is the time to plant your daylilies and to divide your old one, if they haven't been done for 4-5 years. You should space them 24 t0 30 inches apart. Next year you will notice a reduction in flowers to begin with but they will quickly repropagate and fill in until they need to be divided again. Here is a link that tells you exactly how:
Daylilies

You can divide Hostas anytime and some people like to do it in the spring but I think August is the best time. They have time to recover from the shock to the roots and then they are up and going in the spring. Check out this link:
Hostas

Iris are one of my favorite flowers. If your iris patch is producing very few flowers, it's time to divide and conquer. Iris loves the heat and drier weather of summer and the summer dividing will cut down on bacterial soft rot.
Iris

Plant Now!

2005-08-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

And you thought that August was just for harvesting! Did you know that you can plant cool weather plants now and enjoy the produce later?

Plant now for a fall crop:

Broad Beans
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Chicory
Cress
Endive
Kohl Rabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Onion, spring
Parsnip
Radish
Rhubarb crowns
Salsify
Shallots
Silverbeet
Spinach
Swedes
Turnip

Sweet Corn in August

2005-08-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Most of my sweet corn is long eaten or in the freezer but we planted a late season variety. The worst problem with late sweet coarn can be the ear worm because populations increase in density as the season progresses. Look at the link for "lovely" pictures of them to know what you are looking for.

Earworm Pictures

Melons

2005-08-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Good Evening

I've just been out in my garden checking on my melons. When they are almost ready, they need to be checked every day!

This is a difficult thing for home gardeners to determine, no matter what type of melon it is.

Cantaloupes are ready to pick when the stem slips easily off the melon. Eating maturity follows in 1 to 3 days and best flavor is obtained if melons are kept around 70 degrees F. for this final ripening. If you want to keep them longer, 50 - 55 degrees F. would be best. Just a few more days!

Watermelons when the ground spot turns buttery yellow. They also stop growing, so pay close attention to their size.The sugar content of watermelon does not increase once it's picked. Harvest when a small crack appears in the stem just above the melon, indicating the melon is ripe. So leave on til they are ready, but not too long!

August

2005-08-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

August is the month to start getting your earlier plants ready for next year.

It is a good time to fertilize strawberries, sometime before the end of the month. If plants were set this year, apply about one pound of general purpose organic fertilizer (or 10-10-10 if you prefer) per 25 row feet. Be sure to apply fertilizer on dry plants, evenly over the rows. Plants that are not first year, the application should be increased to one and a half pounds.

Just anticipating the beautiful luscious strawberries next June makes me anxious to get this done.

Have fun, its not so diffucult!

Welcome! to Our Home Garden!

2005-08-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

Gardening is what spring, summer, and fall is all about. Actually winter too, as that is when all of our planning takes place. We want to share our excitement about home gardens and help you if we can.