Thursday, July 31, 2014

August already

THINGS TO DO:
Come to our AUGUST TREE & ROSE SALE! All of our trees and roses are 20% off through August. We have a nice selection of evergreens, fruit and shade left. So for those of you who have been waiting for this...here it is!

Go on The Evergreen Garden Club's Annual Garden Tour. It takes place on Saturday August 9th from 9-1 and we have once again been selected to be on the tour. For those of you who are saying "Really?" "Again?" I think they thought that since the date has been changed to August different things would be blooming and they were right. If you didn't make it out last year, please come. If you did come last year please bring a friend this year. This is a good organization to support and it is always nice to see what other people are doing with their yards. We are located at 141 Armijo Road just past mile marker 28 heading south on highway 90. Third house on the right.
  The next house on the tour is at 101 Christopher. If you continue past our house on Armijo, it veers right and Christopher goes straight (east). This house is the first one on the left, about 3/4 of a mile down Christopher. It has a lot of colorful drought tolerant plants and a beautiful courtyard.
  Blythe Whiteley has also been on the tour before. She sells her cut flowers at the Farmers' Market on Saturdays. Her landscape is full of unusual varieties of perennials, annuals, roses, vines, shrubs and trees. I am sure you will see something you have never seen before. This garden's address is 816 East Pine which is off Silver.
  Alicia and Emma are the creators of the landscape at 1809 N Yucca off 18th St. They describe it as an urban fruit and vegetable garden with an emphasis on pollinator habitat, utilizing xeric and native plants. This same philosophy has been implemented at The Commons which is also on the tour. It is located at the corner of 13th and Corbin and can be reached by turning east off of Hudson onto 12th and then turning north onto Corbin.
  If you have a garden or landscape that you are proud of, contact The Evergreen Garden Club and let them know you would like to be on the tour next year (388-1324).

We will be closing at 3:00 on August 9th because it is our 30th wedding anniversary...and we can. Thanks to Gavin and Bill for making this little getaway possible!

Plant cool season veggies from seed. I don't know about you but I can't stand to have empty space in my vegetable garden. And since we just pulled the last of our carrots, beets and onions, we planted fennel, lettuce and radishes. They should be up in no time with this warm (ok hot) weather and produce before it starts to freeze. Here is the list of when to plant what give or take a week or two. Remember that we will have transplants for cool season vegetables in September.

                   SILVER CITY’S SUGGESTED PLANTING TIMES
ASPARAGUS (P)                     MARCH1-APRIL30
BEANS, BUSH (S)                  MAY1-31 & JULY1-31
BEANS, POLE (S)                   MAY1-31
BEANS, LIMA (S)                  MAY1-JULY15
BEANS, PINTO (S)                MAY1-31
BEETS (S)                              MARCH1-APRIL15 & JULY15-AUGUST1
BROCCOLI (S) (P)                   MARCH15-APRIL1 & JULY1-15
BRUSSELS SPROUTS (S) (P) APRIL1-MAY15
CABBAGE (S) (P)                    MARCH15-31 & JULY1-15
CANTALOUPE (S) (P)             APRIL15-30
CARROTS (S)                         FEBRUARY15-APRIL 1 & JULY1-AUGUST1
CAULIFLOWER (S) (P)           MARCH15-31 & JULY1-AUGUST1
CHARD, SWISS (S) (P)          MARCH1-APRIL15 & JULY1-AUGUST1
CORN, SWEET (S)                 APRIL20-JULY1
CUCUMBER (S) (P)                 APRIL15-MAY15
EGGPLANT (P)                       APRIL15- MAY15
GARLIC (Bulb)                       SEPTEMBER15-NOVEMBER15
LEEKS (S)                              FEBRUARY15-MARCH15
LETTUCE, HEAD (S) (P)         MARCH1-15
LETTUCE, LEAF-ROMAINE
-BUTTERHEAD (S) (P)           MARCH1-31 & JULY15-AUGUST15
OKRA (S)                               APRIL15-30
ONIONS (S) (Sets)               FEBRUARY15-MARCH15 & SEPTEMBER1-31
PEAS (S)                                FEBRAURY15-APRIL15
PEPPERS,BELL,CHILES (S) (P) APRIL15- MAY15
POTATOES, RED-RUSSET-
WHITE (SP)                           APRIL1- MAY15
POTATOES, SWEET (SP)       MAY15-31
PUMPKIN (S)                          MAY1-15
RADISH (S)                            MARCH1-APRIL30 & SEPTEMBER1-30
SPINACH (S) (P)                     FEBRUARY15-MARCH15 & AUGUST1-30
SQUASH, SUMMER (S) (P)     APRIL15-JULY1
SQUASH, WINTER (S) (P)     APRIL15-MAY15
TOMATOES (S) (P)                 APRIL15-MAY15
TURNIPS (S)                          MARCH1-APRIL15 & JULY1-AUGUST15
WATERMELON (S) (P)           APRIL20-MAY20
(S) =plant by seed; (P) = plant live transplants; (SP) =plant seed potatoes or use pieces of organic potatoes
Last frost date in the Grant County area is April 15-May 15 depending on the year and microclimate you are in.
Grant County Extension Service has more free information at 2610 N. Silver Street, Silver City (575) 388-1559.

ALL OF OUR LAKE VALLEY & PAGANO SEEDS 
ARE HALF PRICE THROUGH AUGUST!
Plant now and stock up for next year. 
Lake Valley & Pagano seeds are untreated and contain no GMO's.

PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Lagerstroemia indica. Crape Myrtle is a moderate growing deciduous shrub that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.  It is a China native with smooth gray bark that can become mottled pink with age. The new foliage is light green with bronze edges and will turn yellow, orange and red in fall. In summer the crepelike flowers form in clusters 6-12" long and the round seed pods provide winter interest. The two varieties that we are carrying now are 'Pink Velour' and 'Red Rocket'. 'Pink Velour' has bright pink flowers and slightly darker foliage being wine-burgundy in spring. It is also considered a semi-dwarf variety only reaching 6-10 feet tall and wide and is a zone 7 plant. 'Red Rocket' will grow to at least 10 feet with ruby red blooms and is a little more cold hardy at zone 6. Both of these Crape Myrtles should be planted in full sun for the most blooms. They could be trained into a small tree, used as an anchor in a perennial bed, grown as a hedge, or used as a screen. They bloom on new wood but really only need to be pruned to shape. Low water and low maintenance, what's not to like?
Lagerstroemis indica 'Red Rocket'


Monday, July 14, 2014

Sale!

ALL OF OUR ANNUALS, HERBS & HOUSEPLANTS
ARE ON SALE FOR 50% OFF! 
WE HAVE SOME REALLY NICE GERANIUMS, 
ANNUAL SALVIAS, A FEW HANGING BASKETS 
AND MUCH MORE. 
COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK! 

By the way, we carry several styles of rain gauges. You really need to be able to tell your friends how much you got!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

JULY 2014

We will be closed July 4th through the 7th to celebrate our independence! Hope you have a safe and fun-filled holiday!

http://blog.cvsflags.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/American-flag-fireworks.jpg

THINGS TO DO:
Think about your pollinators. I have been suffering from "blogblock". When considering a subject to write about then looking back and seeing that particular topic was pretty comprehensively covered in an earlier post. That is why I often link you to a previous post. So I have been thinking about questions and conversations we have had from/with customers over the last few weeks. One concern that keeps popping up is the use of systemic insecticides, that contain neonicotinoids, on shrubs, annuals, perennials and vegetables. This was mentioned in  June 2013 ("Attract beneficial insects") via a link a friend sent me. These insecticides are synthetic derivatives of nicotine that attack insects' nervous systems. Because they are systemic they contaminate the entire plant including pollen and nectar. Any systemic insecticide, especially those with neonicotinoids will stay in the plant for AT LEAST 8 weeks killing anything that comes for a drink of its nectar. First, we would personally never use any kind of a systemic anything on our plants.  We never use any nonorganic pesticides of any sort on the perennials and shrubs that we grow. Second, there are very few, if any, large commercial growers that don't use some sort of nonorganic pesticides. Our grower does not use any systemic pesticides. The insecticides he uses have little residual effects and once the plants are delivered to us we treat them organically. I am not sure the other places in town that sell plants (your superstore, your hardware store, your grocery store, your farmers' market) can say the same thing about their plants. I understand the economics of this practice. It is pretty easy to mix some of this stuff into the soil before you plant and not have to worry about ANY insects. But that is really the point isn't it? Not worrying about ANY insects.

 
A variety of beneficial pollinators on our lovage and parsley.






Control insects on houseplants. (Reprinted from blogpost March 2012 & newsletter July 2002) If you have houseplants that you move indoors in the winter and outside to a shady spot in the summer I am sure you have noticed how insects seem to flourish indoors. Most insects love the warm, dry, still environment of a house. Be it a greenhouse or your home. Houseplants can be affected by a wide range of insects. Keeping them healthy by not overfertilizing or overwatering is one of the keys to preventing problems. Check them frequently for pests and you will be able to stop a problem before it gets out of hand. Be sure to check the undersides of the leaves and the leaf crotches since this is where trouble usually starts. Aphids are small tear-drop shaped sucking insects that can be green, black, reddish, yellow or wooly and cluster on the new growth. The leaves will look distorted. Wash aphids off with water or use Safer's Insecticidal Soap which will dry them up and kill them. Scale are also sucking insects. They gather on the leaves and branches and can be recognized by their hard, brown covering. This covering is waxy in nature and protects the insect inside which makes them hard to control with contact-kill insecticides. Your best form of attack is Horticultural Oil which will coat and smother them.  Spider mites are another nasty sucker. They are microscopic and the first signs are dull, stippled leaves, webbing and the plants may be stunted. Misting your plants or spraying them with water in a kitchen sink or shower will help deter them since they prefer warm, dry conditions. Safer's Insecticidal Soap or Horticultural Oil are the best sprays for control. Mealybugs are of recognizable size but hard to detect because they cluster on leaf stems, branch crotches and roots. They have round, white, fuzzy looking bodies and can eventually kill a plant. For small infestations rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab will take care of it. For larger problems use Horticultural Oil. Whiteflies look just like their name implies. They are tiny, winged white insects that flutter above the plant when disturbed. They attach themselves to the undersides of the leaves and are one of the most difficult insects to eradicate. Be persistent. Alternating Horticultural Oil and Safer's Insecticidal Soap every other week is effective. Increase air circulation and wash leaves off with water. A homemade spray of 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap, 1 cup cooking oil, 1 cup rubbing alcohol and 1 quart of water can be used every 10 days. Don't forget the undersides of the leaves. All of these sucking insects excrete a shiny substance called honeydew. It is often the first sign of a problem and left unchecked can encourage the growth of Sooty Mold. This looks like soot covering the leaves and is more unattractive than it is dangerous. First control the insects that are creating the honeydew and then wash the sooty mold off with a damp cloth. Fungus Gnats are very active when conditions are moist and/or humid. They look like tiny flies and lay their eggs on top of the wet soil. They are more annoying than damaging. Most importantly let the surface of the soil dry out between waterings. Yellow Sticky Traps will catch the adults and Mosquito Bits will kill the eggs.
Always follow label directions when using any of these insecticides as some plants may be sensitive to certain oils and soaps. If it is possible, when all danger of frost has passed, move your plants to a bright shady or part shade location away from strong winds. This will allow natural predators to intervene. One more word of advice (I make mistakes so you don't have to); although a feather duster is a good way to clean your plants it is also a good vehicle for your pests to hitch a ride on. 

Fertilize. As of right now (Love this website: Wunderground) we have a significant chance of precipitation beginning on Tuesday. Hallelujah! I may be getting 2 hours a day of my life back.  I have been reading articles that indicate that evenly moist soil (from rain) aids in the uptake of fertilizers. So if this monsoon does happen it is a perfect time to feed all of your plants. In deciding what fertilizer is best for you look at the numbers or chemical analysis on the fertilizer bag. Nitrogen, the first number, is for green leafy growth. Phosphorus, the second number, encourages healthy blooms, roots and fruits. Potash or Potassium is the third number and it is for overall hardiness, strong stems and branches, and disease resistance. We carry Fox Farm's Happy Frog  granular and liquid fertilizers. The granular products contain mycorrhizae which are beneficial fungus that attach to plants roots and aid in the absorption  of nutrients and water. You can choose from Fruit & Flower (5-8-4), Tomato & Vegetable (7-4-5), All Purpose(5-5-5) and Rose Food (4-4-5). These are organic based and easy to use since you sprinkle them on the soil and water them in. The liquids are mixed with water and applied to the root area. They include an all organic Big Bloom (0.01-0.3-0.7), Grow Big (6-4-4) for vegetative growth and Tiger Bloom (2-8-4) to encourage flowers and fruit set.  The Fox Farm liquids contain micronutrients, earthworm castings and kelp. We also have Yum Yum Mix (2-1-1) which is a very balanced, organic, all purpose, vegetarian (no animal products) blend. Another all purpose is Chickity Doo Doo (5-3-2.5). It is composted chicken manure and contains 9% Calcium. The other fertilizer that we have always sold is Gro-Power which is formulated with our southwest alkaline soil in mind. There are two different blends which contain 6-7% humic acid derived from compost. This helps break up compacted soil, encourages biological activity and promotes water conservation. Sulphur is also added to control the Ph and unlock available iron. We recommend using Gro-Power Hi-Nitro for lawns at a rate of 7 lbs. per 1000 square feet. It can also be used to fertilize any evergreen trees or shrubs by applying 1/2 cup for every 5 feet of height. The analysis of the Hi-Nitro is 14-4-9. This means it is highest in Nitrogen which, in addition to producing dark green vegetative growth, increases protein content in food crops and helps plants use moisture more efficiently. For all of your flowering trees and shrubs, fruit trees, perennials, annuals and vegetable gardens you can use Gro-Power Flower & Bloom (3-12-12). It is low in Nitrogen but high in the primary elements Phosphorus and Potash. Use Flower & Bloom at the rate of 2 lbs. per 100 square feet of bed area or for individual plants apply 1 cup per 8 feet of height or width whichever is greater. It is also a wonderful winterizer. Just let us know what you are feeding and we will find the fertilizer that is right for you.

PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Perovskia atriplicifolia. Russian Sage is a very popular perennial around here and for good reason. It grows fast, is drought tolerant once established, cold hardy, and deer and rabbit proof. The abundant lavender-blue blooms are borne in spikelike clusters that form a cloud above the foliage. They are a magnet for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Native to the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Tibet it grows quickly each year to at least 3' tall and 4' wide. The gray leaves are finely divided giving it a lacy appearance. Plant this perennial in full sun with bright yellow or magenta companions. It is very versatile and would be at home with evergreens or in a xeriscape. To rejuvenate cut to the ground anytime after frost.
Perovskia atriplicifolia