Your Backyard Garden Information Source
Purchase and Prepare Your Tomato Seed Because your garden soil compacts too easily and can harbor organisms that may cause diseases it’s a better choice to purchase a prepared seed starting mix. A good commercial seed starting mix is often a blend of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. I like to thoroughly combine the seed starting mix with warm water […]
SEED QUALITYOnly the highest-quality seed, purchased from a reputable source, should be sown. It will probably have been prepared by acid extraction, to reduce the chances of spreading any seed-borne diseases. Most seedsmen supply their seeds in sealed laminated-foil packets, to prevent moisture absorption and loss of vitality. Seed stored in these sealed packets retains its germinating power for several […]
Bulbs are easy to grow, provided that you stick to some essentials. Probably no other plant group gives as much variety and pleasure to the gardener with so little effort. And if you don’t have a garden, bulbs do very well in pots and containers. If you know a few tricks, some can even be induced to flower indoors! Bulbs […]
Listing of Bulbs, Corms & Tubers proven to do well in your garden. Achimenes (Gesneria family) These greenhouse plants require a growing temperature of at least 6o°F ( 6°C). Their fragile stems can be supported by twigs or allowed to fall out of a hanging basket. The small trumpet-shaped flowers, freely produced, are in shades of pink, violet blue and […]
If a vibrant, sizzling garden color is what you’re looking for, this design is made to order. Fiery shades of golden-yellow, orange, and scarlet are the attention-getters here, but it is the addition of complementary rich purple and cooling lavender that makes the combination distinctive. Silvery Artemisia and Buddleia foliage, along with feathery ornamental Grasses, serve not only as mediators […]
As pleasing to our eyes as it is to its winged visitors, this garden shimmers in scarlet, purple, orange, and yellow, the vibrant colors most attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. The selected perennials also feature fragrance and special characteristics—clusters of small flowers and tubular forms—essential to drawing your small guests. The Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) and Caryopteris …. shrubs provide shelter […]
Winterizing our Greenhouse Jack Frost has already drawn up his list of greenhouses to visit. Will you be ready? Here’s the routine we follow at our house each fall: Take ll plants out of the greenhouse and thoroughly clean the frame, glazing and benches. Physan 20 is an effective disinfectant. Make glass sparkle brightly again with the detergent “The Pill” […]
Drying Tomatoes Sun Drying: Carefully wash and dry your tomatoes. Cut them in half lengthwise. If you decide to remove the seeds try not to remove the pulp. Use a spoon or your fingers to scoop out the seeds. To shorten the overall drying time, cut a slit in the sides of the tomatoes to facilitate air flow. Place the […]
These are less common spring-flowering bulbs that you plant in the fall as you would the more common daffodils and tulips. Their flowers come in a range of colors, and are generally bell-shaped, either in clusters or single. Plants range from six inches to three feet or more. Being less common, you may need to order many of the selections, […]
Amaryllis Amaryllis flowers are gorgeous, and they come at a perfect time of year — when our (some of us) gardens are sleeping! My neighbor has had his Amaryllis for about 10 years. He showed them to me one day and I couldn’t believe my eyes! In his windowed laundry room, there stood the biggest Amaryllis bulbs, flowers and leaves […]