Tips for April Gardening

April has brought singing birds, sunshine and blooming trees for us in PA!  It's been wonderful!  In fact, everything is blooming earlier this year, did you notice that the azaleas had peaked at The Masters this weekend? Go Bubba!

Since the winter was so mild, you might have a head start on your plantings- and actually enjoy being outside! But in case you are right on schedule, here are a few things to focus on in April:

• Vegetable plantings like lettuce,  cabbage, rhubarb, horseradish and asparagus.
• Since the weather is so nice, you could plant warmer weather crops like tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and peppers, but beware we MAY still have another nighttime frost!
• There is still time left to plant shrubs and trees but do it now or it'll be too late and they won't get a strong start.

• The summer flowering bulbs should be planted now. Mix some bulb fertilizer with compost but make sure that all signs of frost have passed before you  put your bulbs outdoors.
• Prune the evergreen hedges to keep them in trim and cut the dead wood and branches to allow for maximum growth and thickening over the summer months.
• Perennials can be divided now like, Day lilies, Iris, Chrysanthemums and Primula. These can be used to plant out new areas of the garden or given to friends to boost their gardens and also to show off your skills as well, of course! 
• Fruit trees can be planted out, best in a sunny spot of the garden.

But our most important tip of all is to get out side and enjoy the spring! 

Katie @KatieGMG
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find - Don't just Plant...PLAN!

So this week's Friday Find is all about planning! I decided to expand our veggie garden from last year and knew I needed a plan...so I started looking for anything that could help me organize all my hopes and dreams in one place...and this very cool and incredibly useful tool found its way to me!

Vegetable Garden Planner from Mother Earth News!

FYI, it is now available for the iPad!

I've included a video that explains how to use the planner...it is SOOOOO easy!

Description of the Veggie Garden Planner from the Mother Earth News Website...

...As each crop is added, the app automatically spaces the plants and calculates how many you can fit into the area you specify. The Grow Planner is flexible, too, enabling you to add plants in traditional rows, blocks, raised beds or using the square-foot gardening method, whatever the size or shape of your beds. And with the flexibility and mobility of the iPad, you can plan or add notes about your crops while out in the garden or while relaxing at home.

Grow Planner uses an extensive database of over 140 plants and nearly 5,000 weather stations across the United States and Canada to calculate recommended planting times for your ZIP code. Link it to an online account and you can receive planting reminders for your own crops delivered by email twice a month.

With the Grow Planner app, you can browse catalogs from several major seed suppliers, add your own varieties and even customize the spacing and planting dates for each crop. The app includes information on how to grow each vegetable, fruit and herb. It also provides bonus gardening content from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, including information on garden pest control, maximizing your harvest, designing your garden with permanent beds and paths, controlling weeds, and more. At the touch of a button you can quickly share plans with friends and family by email or on popular social networks...

So...your choice...will you just plant and hope for the best or PLAN and reap the benefits!

-Karen
GMG

Garden #2: What should I plant?

My Husband and I are trying to decide what we are going to plant in our veggie garden this year and if we should attempt an even bigger garden this year! We have ideas of grandeur for our second attempt. Last year's plot was 2- 6x8 areas...we are thinking this year's will be 22x15!

I am not saying last year was a failure! NOT AT ALL! We are still enjoying the fruits of our labor with amazing homemade pasta sauce. (See last picture.)

But the entire process was a lot of work...fun work. We were going through the pictures from last summer and came across this little timeline in film of our very first veggie garden. WOW...what a transformation...from the row of bushes that were occupying the space which we (by 'we' I mean Mark & Dad) removed to make room for our spur of the moment idea!

So I thought I would share a few shots from beginning to end...from just plain dirt to amazing sauce!

 Big JUMP in the timeline here...

 FYI...These are all tomatoes.

 The green fence stakes are 3 feet tall. Needless to say we had VERY tall tomato plants!

What I would like to know is what are your favorite tomatoes to grow? I think we will grow from seed again this year...so I need to get those seeds bought!

Please help a novice gardener out and give me some suggestions of some of your favorite veggies (not only tomatoes) that you have had success growing and enjoying!

-Karen

GMG

The Year of the Experimental Gardens "TAKE 3"

Well, here's part 3 of my “Year in the Experimental Gardens”. In the two previous posts I shared my gardening experience with my containers and raised garden. Today, I will share with you my experience with Topsy Turvy® planters and my attempt at pond hydroponics.

The six Topsy Turvy® planters I planted are hanging on my children’s wooden play set that they don’t use anymore and unfortunately the plants are not faring so well. One pepper plant has died, two are hanging on with no fruit, two are so-so and one tomato plant looks lush with leaves, but still no fruit. They were planted in the same mix as the raised garden – ½ top soil and ½ Organic Mechanics Planting Mix, and I added some Dynamite plant food. Surprisingly the TT’s plants that are doing the best are the ones getting the least amount of sun.

The most fun garden experiment for me this year was my pond hydroponics. Why not? The fish love to eat the roots and plants don’t need soil to grow, just sunlight and water so it was a win win situation.

I planted one green bell pepper and one beef steak tomato plant. So far, they are doing “ok”. These are strictly experimental and will not be consumed due to the pond chemicals we’ve used to clarify and make the water healthier for our fish. They say they are 100% natural but I am not 100% sure they are safe for human consumption even if in the fruit of a plant. The tomato plant is much smaller than all the other tomato plants in my menagerie with no fruit on it but it still looks healthy. The pepper plant is much smaller than the other plants however it does have two fruit growing on it.

The plants I am pleased with most in my pond are the pond plants I purchased at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE last month. They look amazing and my fish are happy with the new additions. The white water lily is beautiful and it seems as though there are new leaves daily which are making a wonderful canopy for the fish. The white bog plant is doing well and the shoots are above the water line so I am excited to watch them spread out. Finally, I have my water hyacinths that are multiplying like crazy and am awaiting their exotic blooms.

Thank you for visiting my gardens! Please let me know what you think or any feedback to help my gardens grow happy and healthy! I’ll keep you posted with any developments.


Tracey - GMG

The Year of the Experimental Gardens "TAKE 2"

Last week, I shared with you that one of the great things about working for a company that specializes in the garden/green industry is becoming aware of great products and places.

This year I went out on a limb and did some experimenting in my garden. I planted a raised garden, six Topsy Turvy® planters, a few veggie containers and even some veggies in my fish pond. Check out my post from June 29 where I shared a little about my Campania International container garden with Organic Mechanics Potting Blend and the great success I am having with my peppers and cucumbers.

Most of the plants in my 4x8 raised garden are gorgeous with lush green leaves and plenty of fruit. I used a recommended blend from my buddy, Mark Highland, the Organic Mechanic, of a 50/50 blend of top soil and Organic Mechanics Planting Blend and I added some Dynamite plant food.

The cucumber plants are lovely and are growing larger every day. Their fruit are smaller than my pinkie but they are coming along. The two tomato plants are lush and green and have several small fruit growing on them. Most of my 16 pepper plants are lush and full and look very healthy and happy. Unfortunately, a few were planted too shallow and although they have fruit on them, the leaves are spindly and don’t look healthy. Remember, this was the year of the experiment and not all experiments are successful!

I have six celery plants that are very full and lush and are waiting to see them grow. I had eight heads of romaine lettuce which we have harvested and they were delicious! We’ve just added seed for arugula, red romaine, green leaf lettuce and squash. Let’s see what happens with these!

Thanks for visiting my raised garden! Next week I will share my experience with my Topsy Turvy® planters and my attempt at hydroponics!

Tracey – GMG

Garden Writers Early Spring Survey Results: Garden Spending Drops But Retailers Maintain Head-to-Head Competition

Looks like we may have spent more on our gardens this year. According to the 2011 Early Spring Gardening Trends Research Report from Garden Writes Association Foundation, we planned to spend 23% less -- from an average $600 in 2010 to a projected $469 for 2011.

GWAF says it's a sign of the economic times. But it was a pretty cool, wet spring in the northeast this year, which may have dampend enthusiasm in the early part of the year.

These are just projections, and I’ve always wondered who spends only $469 on their garden. I spent way more than that just getting my veggie garden refurbished – and that doesn’t count plants, soil or other goodies!

Anyway, there are some other interesting trends I saw that are not in the report I thought I’d share:

• Front yard gardening is up 3% from last year. It appears there’s a slight shift as backyard gardening is down 3%. GMG predicted this trend several years ago in our annual Garden Trends Report.


• Container gardening is up 5% from 2009, but slightly down (1%) from last year.
  


• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those who have a garden plan to grow their own vegetables this year, but it’s down 2% since last year.


• And the size of the vegetable garden is shrinking. Some 6% more are opting for smaller 10’X10’ plots while 9% are opting out of 20’X20’ or bigger gardens.
  


• Almost twice as many grow their own veggies for quality, taste and nutrition (86%) not because they feel it is cheaper than buying them in the grocery store (46%).


• GWA also discovered the competition between independent garden centers and mass merchants is expected to remain evenly split this spring. When GWAF first started tracking consumers gardening preferences in 2005, only 40% planned to buy most of their spring plants at garden centers compared to 51% who favored mass merchants. Today, the April survey found garden centers have a slight edge over mass merchants (46% to 44%).

For more results, check out the 2011 Early Spring Gardening Trends Research Report, the first of four national consumer attitude surveys on gardening to be conducted this year by the GWAF. The survey statistically represents the attitudes of over 100 million households with an accuracy of 95%.

Suzi, Garden Media Group

Happy Spring from the Garden Media Group

Happy first day of Spring! How will you celebrate the awakening of Mother Earth!

On this first day of spring I celebrated early by planting my snow peas along a split rail fence in my flower bed this weekend. I wish I'd watched Fine Gardening's video first and soaked my peas and coated them with an inoculant.

On the day before this first day of spring I watched my fish bask in the sun after hibernating all winter. They were so happy to have fresh air and food!

On the day before this first day of spring, I marveled at the Super Moon and got up close and person with it through our new telescope Peggy gave us for a house warming present.

On this first day of spring I was thankful for the bouquet of daffodils my friend Debby brought me while we the hundreds coming up and ready to pop in our new yard.

On this first day of spring I welcome the rain as it waters the seeds I planted this weekend.

And on this first day of Spring, I'd like to share a poem from one of my favorite poes, Robert Frost. Garden Rant post a wonderful bit of unknow information about this poetic American chicken farmer.

A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost
OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orcahrd white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Happy Spring! May your seeds sprout and your bounty be plenty!
Suzi

Garden Media Group

GWA Finds Edible Trend Continues in 2010

According to the 2009 Edibles Gardening Trends Research Report conducted by the Garden Writers Association Foundation (GWAF) in November, over 41 million U.S. households (38%) grew a vegetable garden in 2009. More than 19.5 million households (18%) grew an herb garden and 16.5 million households (15%) grew fruits during the same period.

Did Edibles Gardening Grow in 2009?
There was definitely a growth in edibles gardening in 2009 from both experienced gardeners and an influx of new gardeners. Among those that grew edibles gardens this year, 92% had previous experience and 7% (7.7 million households) were new to edibles gardening. One-third of the experienced gardeners reported growing more edibles in 2009 than in the previous year, while 46% reported they grew about the same as 2008, and 19% grew less than the previous year.

Will Edibles Gardening Continue to Expand in 2010?
When asked if they planned to continue their garden for 2010, 37% of households reported plans to increase their edible gardens, 29% reported they planned to plant about the same as 2009 and only 1% reported they would plant less than this year. Although a significant number (15%) remained undecided regarding their 2010 plans, the strong response for growing more edibles next year should carry the market to a new level of activity.

The main reason given for increasing or maintaining edible gardening for next year was to supplement household food supply. The most common reasons given for planting less next year were: lack of success in 2009 (14%), cost (13%), loss of interest (8%) and time involved (4%).

Consumer Information Sources
With over 7 million households becoming new edibles gardening participants in 2009, the GWAF investigated where consumers were getting their gardening information. The top response was friends, which has been the leading response in almost every past survey. Having magazines, books, retailers and newspapers in the third through sixth positions was also not a surprise. However, websites are now listed as the #2 information resource but were #5 as recently as March 2009.

The 2009 Edibles Gardening Trends Research Report is the fourth and final trend report of the GWA Foundation for 2009. The study was conducted by Technometrica Market Intelligence of Oradell, N.J., in November.

Pictured above: Margie Grace, APLD International Landscape Designer of 2009 and 'Pink Lemonade' blueberry from Briggs Nursery.

Click here to see Garden Media Group 2010 Garden Trends

The Kale Stands Alone by Doug Jimerson

Our friend Doug posted this on Better Homes & Gardens new blog "Everyday Gardeners" :By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, my garden looks like a 1930s black-and-white photo. That’s why I’m thrilled with the last beacons of color from the flowering kale that’s brighter now than when I planted it last spring. The leaves are a bit ragged around the edges (after all, we’ve had snow already!), and the plants are a little leggy, but the color is amazing: vivid pink and blue-green. A Technicolor touch in the monochromatic landscape.

Funny thing is, I’ve never been a fan of ornamental kale. They always seemed too gaudy and only appropriate for fall planting. Even when I found two plants, like stray kittens, sitting on a cart outside of my office last April with a sign saying “free plants,” I wasn’t tempted. Editor Luke Miller had used them as photo shoot props for a story in his magazine Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living. All day long people with spring on their minds passed by the small, orphaned kale. Finally as I was leaving for the day, I took pity on them, brought them home and poked them into an out-of-the-way corner in the garden.

As summer progressed, I turned a blind eye as cabbage looper caterpillars chewed lacy holes in their ruffled leaves. But somehow, the kale held their own. As summer turned to fall, and the rest of the garden faded from successive frosts, the kale got brighter, more vivid. And now those two orphaned kale are the last plants standing in my garden. And, I have to admit they are looking darn good.

So, I’ve made a note for next year’s planting list: plant kale in the spring for big fall color.

Peter Talks Up Outdoor Pest Solutions on Big Blend Radio

Peter Pape, vice president of sales and marketing, The Liquid Fence Company joins Lisa Smith on Big Blend Radio 8:05 Wednesday Aug 26 to talk about keeping your outdoor celebrations pest free.

I'm sure he'll be talking about YardNet and Ultimate Insect Repellent. The reports from my friends and colleagues are these are the best for keeping away insects! Period. They have one for dogs and cats, too, so I no longer use the oily stuff you squeeze on their backs.

Peter is a great guy and a fun interview. He joined Liquid Fence when it was no more than a good idea and a retired chemist’s secret formula for deer repellent. Now 11 short years later, the company’s flagship Deer & Rabbit Repellent is the number-one repellent in the country.

Click here to listen tonight at 8:05 PM

Taking Back the Land for the Greener Good

Margie Grace, owner and head designer at Grace Design Associates in Santa Barbara, CA, tells us on the launch of Zester Daily that we need to liberate our land and create something new that’s just right for each of us.

In her op-ed piece she says: "We’ve been trapped in our self-made residential land use nightmare. We may not be able to un-grid the gridding of America, but we don’t have to take it lying down.

It’s time to reclaim our land for our greater good. Take that food-producing garden from the back 40 and put it wherever we want. Reunite the ornamental with the edible—roses beside tomatoes, corn anchored by geraniums, azaleas under grapevines.

Ten years back, I ditched the lawn and planted an ornamental garden. Then added fruits and veggies. Who knew what would ensue when I planted those proverbial seeds?

These days, I park my car and decompress, wandering along the edge of the driveway futzing with flowers, popping a few snap peas and tomatoes into my mouth, watering my corn-in-a-planter, returning to sanity before I go inside.

Do it your way, I say. My veggies are in pots because, darn it, past age 50 all that bending and stooping is no fun. Maybe you like getting on your hands and knees to till the soil—go for it! Maybe you never grew a thing in your life. Here’s your chance to try. Plant a seed, see what grows."

Click here to read the entire column by Margie Grace, APLD Landscape Designer of the Year.

iPhone app goes Locavore

I just read this cool post on heliumballoon -- iPhone just released a new app that connects you with what's in season. Locavore is a app that uses built in GPS and location awareness to show you real-time information about the nearest farmers' markets, what's in season locally, and what's coming in season soon. The app costs $2.99 but it's worth it. Just think of all the fresh watermelon you'll be eating this summer.

Farm in Your Yard

Always wanted a backyard veggie garden but don't know a petunia from a parsnip. Then here's a plan for you. The owners of Happy Cat Farm, Tim Mountz (terrain's nursery manager and tomato expert) and his wife Amy Bloom, have started a new venture with a twist: They come to your home and help you design, build and maintain your own veggie garden. Their approach is really cool. They meet with you to talk about what food you really like and would love to grow. Then they build a sustainable edible landscape for you, which they maintain weekly -- meaning they water, weed and harvest. When they're finished, they leave a box of produce from your own farm. If you want ot help, that's great. But you can do as much or as little as you want. (And you may want to protect your hard work so be sure to get some of the Liquid Fence Dual Action Rabbit Repellent we talked about earlier.) Tim or Amy are in Kennett Square and can be reached at Happy Cat Organics or call 610-217-7723. Or you meet Tim at terrain. To find a local harvest near you click CSA . Now if I only had sun! Suzi

Mission Possible: Stop Bunnies Cold!

Happy first day of Spring! We've heard a lot lately about persistent bunnies and how to keep them out of the garden. The devastation even the little furry babies can cause in only a few hours is amazing. When professionals asked The Liquid Fence Company to solve extreme rabbit problems, they called it "mission possible" and came up with a solution -- Liquid Fence Dual Action Rabbit Repellent. This 100% all-natural formula works on scent and taste to keep even baby bunnies out of the garden and in the woods. It's easy- to- use, safe for humans, pets and vegetation and 100% guaranteed. It dries odorless, is long-lasting and rain-resistent. So get enjoy your garden this Spring without feeding Thumper and his friends.