Bob’s Blog
Rainy Day Garden Tasks
This week it has been quite rainy, and that got me thinking about what a gardener can do on rainy days. There's not much that can be done outside on rainy days, but there are quite a few gardening tasks that can be done indoors.
Preventing Blossom End Rot
Blossom-end rot is a serious disorder of tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Growers often are distressed to notice that a dry sunken decay has developed on the blossom end (opposite the stem) of many fruit, especially the first fruit of the season. This nonparasitic disorder can be very damaging, with losses of 50% or more in some years.
Hanging Basket Care Tips
Caring for hanging baskets is relatively simple, but there are some basic things you should consider. Follow these tips to keep your baskets looking great all summer long.
When to Plant Wildflowers
Fall is the perfect time for planting wildflowers. Think about it! In nature wildflowers produce their seed in the fall. The seed then falls on the ground, goes dormant during the winter, and then sprouts in the early spring and summer. You can easily replicate this same process.
Planting Late Season Crops
After harvesting early-maturing vegetables such as salad greens, radishes, peas and spinach, gardeners can plant other crops in midsummer for fall harvest. Some root crops, greens and other vegetables can be successfully grown from late June, July or even August plantings.
Growing Sunflowers in Containers
Container grown sunflowers are a great way to bring color from the garden and landscape onto your patio, porch, or even into your home. Whether you grow them from seed yourself or buy them at a garden center, there are a few things you should consider when growing them. Follow these tips to get the most out of your sunflower.