How to Cover Plants for Frost Protection

QUESTION: What is the best cover to use to protect outdoor plants from the cold air — fabric or plastic? Threat of frost usually occurs overnight when the temperature drops low enough to freeze the moisture on plant leaves and buds. To protect plants from frost, you will need to cover them to keep the moisture from freezing. While an unexpected frost can leave many gardeners scrambling to find anything to cover their tender plants; it is important to use the …

Fall is a Great Time to Plant and Pick Fast-Growing Veggies and Herbs

While the season transitions, take in all it has to offer — football games, pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, and best of all, fresh-picked produce. Picking fresh produce in the fall always feels like such a treat. Even though leaves are starting to change, your veggie garden still has plenty of time left to produce delicious tomatoes, peppers, greens and more. Help your organic garden produce more than ever this fall with these four tips from The Espoma Organic Company: Ready, …

Advantages of Fall Planting

Additional Color for Your Gardens and Great Root Growth We are often asked “What are the advantages of planting perennials and shrubs in the fall?” Fall is a great time to plant perennials and shrubs due to cooler temperatures which put less stress on the plant and enable root systems to grow faster and larger. When we plant in the spring, all plants, perennials, annuals, shrubs, etc. are pushed to get a healthy mass of roots established so they can …

It’s Time to Plant Pansies and Violas!

Want beautiful color that will survive the cool temperatures of late-fall and early-spring? Look no further than the tough, cold-tolerant, and colorful pansy. Available in many beautiful shades of white, blue, yellow, purple, red-solid blooms and blooms with “blotches” of contrasting color in the center, pansies and violas will brighten any fall through spring landscape. Our pansies are all fresh and especially healthy as they are grown locally at our own growing division right here in Kalamazoo, MI. Pansies are …

Granvia Gold

Bring sunshine to your garden with Granvia Gold! Bracteantha bracteatum ‘Granvia Gold’ Much bigger than regular strawflowers, these SUPERSIZED flowers have an intensely bright yellow color with paper like petals that will amaze you with their unique papery texture. These stunners are easy to grow, bloom early and are long lasting. Impressive in landscapes and large patio planters. This employee favorite is a full sun annual. Bonus : These flowers are a favorite for bouquets and can be harvested to …

Try our Treasure Island Tahiti Sweet Potatoes!

Edible produce and foliage in 3 different varieties. The Treasure Island series delivers months of color ground above as well as below. Leaves comes in unique shapes and colors, and the foliage tastes great in salads and smoothies. The edible roots also come in a variety of colors, are highly nutritious and are a great source of dietary fiber. Full Sun They do best in evenly moist, well drained soil. Sandy soil is ideal for cultivating large tubers that will …

Poinsettias

Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas and add beauty and warmth to any home during the holiday season. Poinsettias are a tropical plant with long-lived bracts (vivid color leaves) and golden yellow flowers. To ensure that your poinsettia retains its beauty, keep these tips in mind. Place in a room with bright, indirect light. Avoid temperature extremes. This includes heat from registers as well as cold drafts below 50° F. Water plant thoroughly when soil surface is dry to …

Gardening in the Shade: Life Beyond Hostas

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Seed Sowing

Follow These Tips for Seed Starting Success! Start seeds 7 weeks before their normal planting dates. Example: Tomatoes and peppers are safely planted around May 30th; start the seeds around April 12th. Broccoli, cabbage and other cool season crops are usually planted the last week of April; start the seeds about March 15th. Follow all instructions on the seed pack. Seeds will vary in: Germination time Planting depth Pre-treatment requirements such as Soaking, Scarification (nicking the shell), and Stratification (chilling) …

How to Clean out a Garden Bed

If you’re a serious gardener, you’ll be out in your garden the first warm second of spring. While there is no harm in cleaning up fallen branches and debris, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball in your hand before walking on it and compacting it. But don’t wait too long to start your clean up. It’s much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets tangled up in the new growth. …