The Greenery Nursery & Garden Shop
Aug 08
Well, if you haven’t yet heard, Ed Perry, our local UC Extension Advisor has retired. We at The Greenery are very sorry to see him go. He has been a wealth of knowledge to us and the residents of our community. Whenever we were stumped about a plant, insect or disease he was there to [...] [...more]
Well, if you haven’t yet heard, Ed Perry, our local UC Extension Advisor has retired. We at The Greenery are very sorry to see him go. He has been a wealth of knowledge to us and the residents of our community. Whenever we were stumped about a plant, insect or disease he was there to guide us (yes we do get stumped from time to time!). Unfortunately due to budget constraints there is no person or service there to fill his place. There are still online resources that we will use and you can use too. I am going to provide the links below, some of these I was not even aware of!
Integrated Pest Management - MY longtime favorite resource
http://ipm.ucdavis.edu
Stanislaus County UC Extension Gardening Publications
http://cestanislaus.ucdavis.edu/Gardening/Gardening_Publications.htm
California Gardening by The UC Extension
http://cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu/
California Backyard Orchard
http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications
http://www.anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/
Environmental Horticulture Research & Info Center
http://groups.ucanr.org/EHRIC/index.cfm
Since I am providing links to websites I wanted to talk a little about information found online. First, yes there is more information online than anyone could ever read. You can search Google, Yahoo or Bing (whichever search engine suits you) and find information to do just about anything, including gardening. However, please be aware of the source of your information when researching online. When it comes to gardening, information from another country or even another state can be different when it comes to gardening in the Central Valley. Anyone can publish something online (just look at all the forwarded emails and texts we typically get) and it doesn’t mean it is real. The above links are full of information specific to California and the Central Valley. If you use any of these links, let me know what you think.
So just to reaffirm my point, the staff at The Greenery is here to help you with whatever gardening question or problem you may have. We are your local experts. We have enjoyed serving you for the past 4 decades and look forward to many more.
-Adria
Jun 07
Now that the warm weather is here, our gardens are finally taking off and unfortunately so are the insects!
For tomatoes the common problem insect is the tomato hornworm. It is easy to control and even prevent this pest by using insecticides with the main ingredients Bt or Spinosad. Bt has been around for years and [...] [...more]
Now that the warm weather is here, our gardens are finally taking off and unfortunately so are the insects!
For tomatoes the common problem insect is the tomato hornworm. It is easy to control and even prevent this pest by using insecticides with the main ingredients Bt or Spinosad. Bt has been around for years and works very well but needs to be applied every week to maintain control. It also needs to be mixed up fresh for each application since it becomes foul smelling and ineffective within one week after being mixed. Spinosad is a newer introduction and is recommended to be applied every week, especially if you have a heavy infestation but I have found it can last as long as 2 weeks in between applications. At The Greenery you will find Monterey Garden Insect Spray (containing Spinosad) in concentrate or a convenient hose-end sprayer. Oh and did I mention both of these solutions are ORGANIC!
Aphids and whiteflies can devastate annual plants like vegetables. They can be controlled many ways but the way I recommend is using Dr. Earth Home and Garden Spray. It is all natural so it is safe for edibles and actually repels the insects too. Now the trick with whiteflies is to spray the plants down with a strong spray of water 3-4 days from the last insecticide spraying. Whiteflies have a very fast life cycle and you can not apply insecticides, organic or not, that frequently hence the use of water. This knocks down the adults so they can’t get up and continue reproducing.
Snails are a year-round nuisance here in our climate. I recommend the use of Monterey Sluggo or Sluggo Plus. Sluggo is a long lasting pellet that is safe for us and pets. Its main ingredient is iron-phosphate which is a naturally occuring element in the soil. Sluggo Plus contains iron-phosphate along with Spinosad to control other insects that live on the soil like cutworms, sowbugs and earwigs.
So I have covered the main insect pests we see in summer. Is there an insect that you have a problem with? Let me know!
-Adria
May 05
This post is for all those who are wary of gardening or need a little confidence. Gardening seems like a large unknown and can be daunting for people who have had little to no experience gardening. As with anything, the fear of failure tends to keep us from trying something new. I want to share [...] [...more]
This post is for all those who are wary of gardening or need a little confidence. Gardening seems like a large unknown and can be daunting for people who have had little to no experience gardening. As with anything, the fear of failure tends to keep us from trying something new. I want to share a story of how I began gardening…
When I was about 12 I began growing vegetables and was so successful that I created a small business of providing homegrown veggies to friends and family. I didn’t grow anything other than vegetables because I didn’t have any appreciation for trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. I thought why grow a flower and only get a flower when I can grow vegetables and have something to take inside and eat? Well, when my parents built a new house and we had a whole landscape to develop from scratch, the rest of the gardening world won me over. Now you are saying, what does this have to do with failure? Well, when I started growing shrubs and flowers and tried to design the yard at the same time I did not have any schooling in Horticulture. I learned by trial and error. I did lots of reading and research but still had my own theories about growing plants and stubbornly tried things that I only laugh at now. For instance I tried growing a hydrangea in full sun. Now any semi-experienced gardener knows that hydrangeas need part to full shade in our climate. Well my theory was that if I kept it watered, it wouldn’t wilt or burn. Ha! I trickled water at the base of the plant all day long. It still wilted. Eventually it stressed out so bad that I decided it needed to be in the shade. The poor thing died shortly after. It was just too much.
The moral of the story? Gardening is partly trial and error. It is not rocket science and is not cut and dried either. If you kill a plant, consider it a learning experience. Why did it die? What can I do to ensure success next time? I can’t tell you how many plants I have killed in my gardening years. The other thing to keep in mind is that our yards are man made and plants aren’t. We are growing things that naturally don’t grow here. So yeah, we won’t always be successful. My hope is that we can share our experiences and learn from each other so we become that much more successful in our gardening endeavors. As gardening professionals, The Greenery staff has experienced many common gardening challenges but are always willing to learn, and we do learn new things everyday!
Do you have any gardening successes or failures that you would like to share? Click on comment and share your story. I look forward to hearing from you.
-Adria
Apr 14
For those looking to grow the newly popular Goji Berry, we have the plants! Plant them in full sun and water regularly but do not over water. They can grow to 8′ so don’t be afraid to prune them to shape.
They are available in #1 size pots and only in limited quantities.
Good Luck!
-Adria
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For those looking to grow the newly popular Goji Berry, we have the plants! Plant them in full sun and water regularly but do not over water. They can grow to 8′ so don’t be afraid to prune them to shape.
They are available in #1 size pots and only in limited quantities.
Good Luck!
-Adria
Apr 14
If you are looking to add beneficial insects like Ladybugs or Praying Mantids to your garden, now is the time. It is best to release them before the harmful insects populate. Now Ladybugs, also called Ladybird Beetles, are most known for their beneficial capabilities. Not to mention they are pretty to look at and kids [...] [...more]
If you are looking to add beneficial insects like Ladybugs or Praying Mantids to your garden, now is the time. It is best to release them before the harmful insects populate. Now Ladybugs, also called Ladybird Beetles, are most known for their beneficial capabilities. Not to mention they are pretty to look at and kids love them. However my favorite beneficial is the Praying Mantis. Ladybugs tend to be very flighty and leave if there is not enough harmful insects to pray on, whereas Praying Mantids tend to stick around. Now you can use Ladybug Lures that have pheromones (insect hormones) in them to keep them attracted to your garden. The pheromones make the Ladybugs think there is someone there to mate with, so they try to stick around. Praying Mantids don’t have to be coerced to stay. Ladybugs also prefer to prey on aphids and other soft bodied insects while Mantids are not so picky.
Praying Mantids are very territorial so they find a plot in your garden and hang out, literally! They will even fight with other Mantids that approach their territory. Their actions are fun to watch. Sometimes you can find one perching on a leaf, slowly swaying. I learned that they do this to pretend they are a part of the leaf, then when an insect flies by, they grab it and munch down. How cool is that!
So adding beneficial insects to your garden is without a doubt the best way to fight insect populations the natural way. Just pick your favorite and enjoy!
-Adria
Mar 18
This Saturday we are offering a hands on seminar about planting a herb bowl for cooking uses. Rick will be offering advice on selecting herbs for your own herb container and then help you plant it to take home. Should be a great class and a great excuse to get your hands in the soil! [...] [...more]
This Saturday we are offering a hands on seminar about planting a herb bowl for cooking uses. Rick will be offering advice on selecting herbs for your own herb container and then help you plant it to take home. Should be a great class and a great excuse to get your hands in the soil! If you haven’t signed up and would like to, visit the Calendar of Events page for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!
-Adria
Feb 03
Today is such a beautiful day and we have had a few lately, but don’t let it fool you! It is still only February 2nd and the groundhog saw his shadow today. Which means 6 more weeks of winter.
So veggie and flower gardeners don’t get too excited and plant too early. Tomato growers should wait [...] [...more]
Today is such a beautiful day and we have had a few lately, but don’t let it fool you! It is still only February 2nd and the groundhog saw his shadow today. Which means 6 more weeks of winter.
So veggie and flower gardeners don’t get too excited and plant too early. Tomato growers should wait too. Even when tomatoes are first planted be sure to protect them thoroughly. I like to use a Season Starter that is like a mini greenhouse where the walls are filled with water. This can be left on until the end of April or beginning of May to ensure a good early crop.
So enjoy the weather while it is nice and imagine the beautiful weather to come!
-Adria
Sep 27
I ran across some interesting information about edible flowers. There is a recipe about making candied flowers - Yum! Here’s the link. click here
For more information on which flowers are edible visit Botanical Interests website
Don’t forget, edible flowers make perfect additions to your winter vegetable gardens or containers!
-Adria
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I ran across some interesting information about edible flowers. There is a recipe about making candied flowers - Yum! Here’s the link. click here
For more information on which flowers are edible visit Botanical Interests website
Don’t forget, edible flowers make perfect additions to your winter vegetable gardens or containers!
-Adria
Sep 11
As I mentioned in the Small Space Veggie Garden Seminar post, I would continue to blog about companion planting. I wanted to try it out for myself. Below are some pictures I took of my vegetables, you will see my comments below each.
My pepper bed planted with chives, oregano, basil, parsley and thyme.
My pepper bed [...] [...more]
As I mentioned in the Small Space Veggie Garden Seminar post, I would continue to blog about companion planting. I wanted to try it out for myself. Below are some pictures I took of my vegetables, you will see my comments below each.
My pepper bed planted with chives, oregano, basil, parsley and thyme.
I took this about 1 week after I planted this bed.
My pepper bed later on.
I took this picture about a month after I planted it. Everything looks happy! As of writing this post, I had no pest problems with this bed.
Another angle of my pepper bed.
Same pepper bed, taken same time as above.
Heartland and Sweet Olive Tomato.
Taken right after planting. I planted my tomatoes with chives, thyme and marigolds.
Heartland Tomato
Taken a little over a month after planting.
Taken one month after previous picture.
Sweet Olive Tomato
Taken a little over a month after planting.
Taken a month after previous picture.
Super Fantastic Tomato without companion herbs, as a test.
Taken right after planting.
Taken a little over a month after planting.
Taken a month after previous picture.
Eggplant and Nasturtiums
This is the only picture I took of this. As you can see, it is a while after planting and the nasturtiums have swallowed the eggplant!
Here is the status as of writing this post. As I mentioned my pepper bed had no problems, except for the fact that the tomatillo never set any fruit of any size. I had plenty of peppers and herbs though.
My Heartland and Sweet Olive Tomato died within a month after the last picture. I was not sure why since this is the second time two years in a row that the tomatoes I plant there die midsummer. I sent samples to Ed Perry at the UC Extension and he believed it to be root rot of some sort. I know the soil outside the planting hole is very poor, so I will have to work on it next year.
My Super Fantastic Tomato has lived up to its name. It is still producing more than I can eat and has had just a few tomato worms. I never sprayed for them.
As I mentioned, my Eggplant was swallowed by my nasturtiums. As of now it is finally starting to grow over the nasturtiums and finally has a fruit on it!
So as far as companion planting goes, I see mixed results. The main purpose is to attract more beneficial insects to promote pollination and reduce the harmful insects. I have to agree with that. The second purpose is to promote healthier more flavorful plants. Well, since the tomatoes died for another reason (companion planting is not supposed to have an effect on diseases) then I can’t say that the tomatoes benefited.
What are your thoughts? Have you had any experience with something like this? I would like to hear any feed back you may have.
Aug 16
Now that it is late summer (mid-August to mid-September) it is time to start thinking about winter veggies and spring perennials. Now is the best time to start cool-season veggies that take 90 days or more to mature. For instance, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and more. Other cool season veggies like lettuce should not be [...] [...more]
Now that it is late summer (mid-August to mid-September) it is time to start thinking about winter veggies and spring perennials. Now is the best time to start cool-season veggies that take 90 days or more to mature. For instance, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and more. Other cool season veggies like lettuce should not be started yet since they can mature in 45-60 days, depending on the variety. You want to get them started while the weather is warm to encourage germination but so that the weather is cool by the time they are harvested. Most winter veggies are sweeter if kissed by light frost. You can also start them in intervals for contiued harvest, usually 2 weeks apart all they way until last harvest in spring.
For perennials and biennials, it is best to start them the previous fall in order for them to bloom the first summer. In case you don’t know, perennials and biennials started from seed or purchased as small plants in the spring will not bloom that year since they still have to mature. If you start them the previous fall, you can cheat a whole year of growing and have blooms the following summer! It is never too early to start perennials and biennials in the summer, they just need to be established in the ground before the first hard frost. In our area this can be as early as November (rare instances in October) or as late as January, but I wouldn’t bet on January since it is better to be safe than sorry.
Why start perennials, biennials and veggies from seed? There can be many reasons. The main reason I do it is because I am looking for different types of perennials that are not always found as plants. Believe me, it is a lot of work starting plants from seed so I do buy as many started plants as I can! As for veggies, sometimes it is more economical to start them from seed, especially if you plant a large crop or have severall successive crops planned.
Whatever you decide to start from seed, make sure to do it right! I recommend Gardner & Bloome Seed Starting Mix and an all -purpose liquid fertilizer like Dr. Earth Liquid Food. There are also seed starting kits available with soil or with peat pellets for easier transplanting.
For a complete list of plants to start from seed and the recommended times from Botanical Interests Seeds click here.
Hope this helps you have a great winter veggie season!
-Adria
