Nine Newcomers for Every Gardener’s Wish-List As a garden writer, I get to grow new plant introductions when they first come to market. But not all the freebies fare equally well in my garden. After a long cold Northwest winter and spring, here are the best and brightest. They not only survived—they thrived. Look for […]
April is the cruelest month, if only because that’s when slugs and snails start to proliferate. Usually, in this column I seek out an expert to follow, but as far as these slimy underleaf denizens are concerned, I am an expert. After all, I live in Eugene, Oregon, where every year we crown our own […]
What is the best way to start vegetables and annual flowers? Factors to consider include your available indoor space, your time, and the space and temperature requirements of the plants you want to grow. Some crops, such as peas, resent moving, and it’s best to plant them where they’ll stay. This is also true of […]
As we enjoy the lengthening sunlight of late winter, it’s hard to imagine being interested in shade. But if you’re planning to build a greenhouse, creating shade for the hottest days of summer should be on your list of considerations. While it’s possible to grow plants in hot greenhouse environments, high temperatures will limit the […]
Orchids stand apart. At flower shows these movie stars of the plant world gather under the lights, their jewel-tone speckled faces shining. But I confess— Orchidaceae’s astonishing allure has always passed me by. However, that changed last month, when my friend Ann Murphy, Director of Marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, invited me to […]
Varieties of arugula – also known as rocket – developed in the last ten years grow especially well in greenhouses, an expert has suggested. In an interview with the Canadian Press, organic food producer David Cohlmeyer said these plant types have great flavour and produce a bountiful crop. Mr Cohlmeyer stated that the shape of […]
Pest control starts long before the question- “What do I spray?” This month greenhouses take center stage in the gardening year. However, insects can come along with the show. I’ve turned to Sue Nicol, a Seattle consulting horticulturalist and arborist ([email protected]) for advice on indoor pest management. Sue says, the first question all greenhouse owners […]
One good thing about bone-chilling weather is that it provides a chance to peruse this winter’s crop of seed catalogues indoors. I’ve only begun, but my list is growing long… Johnny’s Selected Seeds have long-supplied Northeastern market gardeners with the best in vegetable seeds; they offered organic seeds before they were readily available elsewhere. I’ll […]
People hoping to fill their greenhouses with some delicious vegetables could follow one author's advice when it comes to growing their own produce. Writing for the Orange County Register, Shelby Barone stated that she first started tending to her own food four years ago. Now, she has offered some tips to those who wish to […]
Like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson’s interest in gardening was influenced by European trends. His gardening mentor, Bernard McMahon, an Irish nurseryman and writer, was probably instrumental in encouraging that he build his own. Because Jefferson himself had travelled extensively in Europe, he had seen many greenhouses – freestanding structures later known as orangeries, which were […]
One whiff of fragrant plants in winter and I’m transported far beyond the gray and white landscape outside my windows. The exotic aromas, redolent of the tropics, develop fully when captured within the enclosed walls of a greenhouse or sunroom. But I don’t want clashes of strong scents – think how your nose reacts when […]
With the year drawing to a close, it will soon be time to see in 2011 and the Daily News has discussed exactly the sort of weather growers will be hoping for over the next 12 months. As we move towards our new growing season, it is important not to "jump the gun" by planting […]
