With the passing of the summer solstice on June 21, the long days of summer begin.
I’m hoping for a good growing season, at least one that is better than last year’s summer of extreme heat and dryness.
Surprisingly, I spotted a cache of Earliblue blueberries almost ripe on June 18th when normally the first pick date is not really until the tail end of June.
It does not seem like the cool rainy spring caused them to be behind.
The flowers in the greenhouse are growing better than ever although the pickings are getting slimmer with the exception of our late planting of wave petunia hanging baskets.
With the weeding under control this past week has been a pitch for sprucing up the botanical garden and the planting of flowers all over the nursery.
After the flower planting, the first wave of transplanting shrubs is followed by our taking of semi-hardwood cuttings of various trees & shrubs.
While the nursery seems to have its continuing share of work, the Owl Barn Market will be open in mid-July although I’m still wondering how far behind will be Seiberling’s sweet corn which is our main supply of fresh home-grown sweet corn.
The rainy spring weather placed farmers in a questionable position whether to plant or not because of the necessity of planting soo late.
Apparently, on a trip recently to north central Ohio along US Route 224, I observed many farm fields lying fallow apparently due to the wet spring.
At least there will be plenty of blueberries and other earlier crops to start out the market for the season.
Happy gardening,
Tom
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - June 17, 2011
This past week has been one of welcome relief from the 90 degree days of last week.
With the drier weather it’s easy to forget to water newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials that have not had a chance to root in yet.
As always, I recommend a twice per week watering for container-grown plants and at least a once per week waterings for most balled and burlapped plants regardless of the weather.
Balled and burlapped acid-loving plants such as Rhododendron though like to be watered at least twice weekly just as a container-grown plants until establishment about a month later.
The second half of June is a good time to sow some more beans, sweet corn, cucumbers and squash, tomatoes and peppers will do very well if planted now with the long warm days.
The response was overwhelming for our free liquid fertilizer that can be used on your hanging baskets, vegetable plants and flower beds. The fertilizer is an analysis of 20-10-20 and can be used once each week to fertilize outdoor plants. We’ll continue this free fertilizer until October so that all summer you’ll be able to take advantage of it.
The weeds are finally getting under control at the nursery and we’re beginning to pot up our liners (rooted cuttings from last summer)
We’re growing a batch of the new compact “buzz” butterfly bush that do great in the ground or in a container. These should be available about September 1st.
Don’t’ forget that our food preservation seminar is tomorrow, June 18th at 11:00 AM.
The cost is $5.00 with refreshments for the informative seminar.
See you soon,
Tom
With the drier weather it’s easy to forget to water newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials that have not had a chance to root in yet.
As always, I recommend a twice per week watering for container-grown plants and at least a once per week waterings for most balled and burlapped plants regardless of the weather.
Balled and burlapped acid-loving plants such as Rhododendron though like to be watered at least twice weekly just as a container-grown plants until establishment about a month later.
The second half of June is a good time to sow some more beans, sweet corn, cucumbers and squash, tomatoes and peppers will do very well if planted now with the long warm days.
The response was overwhelming for our free liquid fertilizer that can be used on your hanging baskets, vegetable plants and flower beds. The fertilizer is an analysis of 20-10-20 and can be used once each week to fertilize outdoor plants. We’ll continue this free fertilizer until October so that all summer you’ll be able to take advantage of it.
The weeds are finally getting under control at the nursery and we’re beginning to pot up our liners (rooted cuttings from last summer)
We’re growing a batch of the new compact “buzz” butterfly bush that do great in the ground or in a container. These should be available about September 1st.
Don’t’ forget that our food preservation seminar is tomorrow, June 18th at 11:00 AM.
The cost is $5.00 with refreshments for the informative seminar.
See you soon,
Tom
Friday, June 10, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - June 10, 2011
Father’s Day is coming up on the third Sunday in June.
It wasn’t until President Johnson made a proclamation designating the day of the third Sunday in June that Father’s Day became “official”. President Nixon signed a bill in 1972 making the day finally sanctioned by the Congress and executive branch of the Government.
Dad’s favorite tree and shrub can be planted successfully as long as there is a designated waterer that will follow a watering regiment for about a month so the plant grows roots into the surrounding soil. Download our detailed watering info from our website under Garden Tips and then click on the watering schedule that is very easy to understand as far as what to do.
Our tomatoes in the greenhouse tunnel are coming along nicely and should be ready with the homegrown fruit about mid July. We used the 10 gallon smart pots as the fabric root prunes the plant’s roots and makes for a “happy” tomato plant with lots of fruit. We’re hoping to corner the market with homegrown tomatoes when the Owl Barn market opens with sweet corn.
Watch your email for the opening of the Owl Barn Market in July and of course with Seiberling Sweet Corn and our own home grown tomatoes coming from the back greenhouse.
You can still plant tomato plants in these smart pots and still get juicy ripe tomatoes by early August.
See you in the garden!
Tom
It wasn’t until President Johnson made a proclamation designating the day of the third Sunday in June that Father’s Day became “official”. President Nixon signed a bill in 1972 making the day finally sanctioned by the Congress and executive branch of the Government.
Dad’s favorite tree and shrub can be planted successfully as long as there is a designated waterer that will follow a watering regiment for about a month so the plant grows roots into the surrounding soil. Download our detailed watering info from our website under Garden Tips and then click on the watering schedule that is very easy to understand as far as what to do.
Our tomatoes in the greenhouse tunnel are coming along nicely and should be ready with the homegrown fruit about mid July. We used the 10 gallon smart pots as the fabric root prunes the plant’s roots and makes for a “happy” tomato plant with lots of fruit. We’re hoping to corner the market with homegrown tomatoes when the Owl Barn market opens with sweet corn.
Watch your email for the opening of the Owl Barn Market in July and of course with Seiberling Sweet Corn and our own home grown tomatoes coming from the back greenhouse.
You can still plant tomato plants in these smart pots and still get juicy ripe tomatoes by early August.
See you in the garden!
Tom
Friday, June 3, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - June 3, 2011
The days are so long and warm it is as if you gaze at a plant long enough you will see it actually grow.
It’s important that you supplement your containers or hanging baskets of flowers with a liquid feed because of this rapid growth and constant watering, nutrients will leach out of the container mix and the hanging baskets or pots of flowers will “run down” and for sure you will be disappointed. I like to use Osmocote slow release fertilizer on the plants but even then they will need a liquid supplement about every 10 days to keep things going.
Remember that I told you about our free liquid fertilizer in the greenhouse that you don’t need to dilute for outside plants. Just please bring your own container as we cannot supply enough for the demand. Your welcome to come in anytime during our hours of operation.
Another important chore is to deadhead your flowers (at least those that require it) so that they keep blooming as spent flowers get in the way of new growth that will keep the flower parade coming. If you think your having bug problems, just bring your samples in a plastic bag and we’ll identify the bug or disease and can make recommendations on the control of the malady.
Remember June is perennial gardening month and a good time to select and plant some of your favorite perennials and you’ve got to come over and see the roses in bloom!
Happy gardening!
Tom
It’s important that you supplement your containers or hanging baskets of flowers with a liquid feed because of this rapid growth and constant watering, nutrients will leach out of the container mix and the hanging baskets or pots of flowers will “run down” and for sure you will be disappointed. I like to use Osmocote slow release fertilizer on the plants but even then they will need a liquid supplement about every 10 days to keep things going.
Remember that I told you about our free liquid fertilizer in the greenhouse that you don’t need to dilute for outside plants. Just please bring your own container as we cannot supply enough for the demand. Your welcome to come in anytime during our hours of operation.
Another important chore is to deadhead your flowers (at least those that require it) so that they keep blooming as spent flowers get in the way of new growth that will keep the flower parade coming. If you think your having bug problems, just bring your samples in a plastic bag and we’ll identify the bug or disease and can make recommendations on the control of the malady.
Remember June is perennial gardening month and a good time to select and plant some of your favorite perennials and you’ve got to come over and see the roses in bloom!
Happy gardening!
Tom
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