Newsletter April 2011
In This Issue:
- Onion Sets and Seed Potatoes
Tomato Plant Soil Prep-Avoid Blossom End Rot - April Special–15% off All Fertilizers!
Veggie Box Sign-Up!
Trees and Perennials in by mid-April
Transplant and Divide in April
April Garden To Do List
Recipe of the Month: Deviled Eggs
Onion Sets and Seed Potatoes
Enjoy your own homegrown onions and potatoes and get your onion sets and seed potatoes from the greenhouse this year! But don’t wait too long, these are popular items this time of year!
Onions and potatoes are both cool weather crops and can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked. Both take 3 to 4 months to produce their harvest. So if you haven’t already started your onion seed indoors, come see us for your onion sets (pencil sized onions that are ready to plant outside) and your seed potatoes (certified seed potatoes are disease free and selected for the best yield).
Tomato Plant Soil Prep-Avoid Blossom End Rot
We’ll be adding compost and gypsum to boost the calcium and organics content of the soil. When it is time to plant, we’ll add another handful of gypsum and a handful of worm castings. Finally, we’ll be watering in our tomatoes with fish fertilizer. The soil preparation we have planned, should be just the ticket for beautiful, healthy tomatoes this summer!
All Fertilizers 15% Off!
We realize many of you will save your planting for the end of April or the beginning of May so we’re continuing our special on all fertilizers this month. Stock up and SAVE!
Check out some of our previous articles on fertilizing:
- Fertilizing your new plants with Earth Juice Grow and Maxicrop liquid Fish
- Foliar feeding your plants with Earth Juice Microblast and Maxicrop Seaweed
- Using Earth Juice Bloom and Earth Juice Catalyst for Superior Production
- As always, if you have any questions about our products and how to use them, we are here to help!
Veggie Box Sign Up!
Don’t forget to call us and sign up for your fresh organic vegetable box this summer. Click here for more details about our veggie box program!
Trees and Perennials here by mid-April
April is a great time to visit the greenhouse and shop for flowering trees and perennials so you can see just what color you’ll be getting. While you’re here, take some time to stroll through the gardens for landscaping inspiration.
Click here to see our complete list of new trees and perennials.
Transplant and divide in April
It’s the perfect time!
Spring is the best time to divide and transplant perennials that bloom in late summer and early fall. Perennials whose roots grow in clumps and those that have expanding root masses are the ones that you can divide successfully.
Why divide and transplant?
There are a couple of reasons. Over time, perennials can become overgrown and will stop flowering. Divide these to encourage new young flowering growth. Dividing also saves money. If you’re looking to expand your garden or want to create a new garden, you can use your own perennials to get started! You can also share your divisions with family and friends.
How to divide and transplant?
A few days before you transplant, thoroughly water the perennial each day. Watering for a few days will make the job much easier and you’ll be less likely to damage the plant. Loosen the ground gently with spading fork. When you can see the root clump, you can “cut” off portions with a garden trowel or shovel. Each transplanted portion should be about 4 inches by 4 inches. Plant these sections in prepared garden soil, add a handful of worm castings and water in with fish emulsion and seaweed. Regularly water your new plant.
April Garden To Do List
- Compost and manure for your raspberries. Trim out dead canes.
- Spread fresh mulch under trees and shrubs.
- Plant new trees and shrubs.
- Transplant small trees and shrubs.
- Feed your bulbs with fish fertilizer.
- Deadhead your spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, but do not cut back the foliage until they die and turn brown naturally.
- Divide summer flowering perennials such as daylilies, asters, mums and ornamental grasses.
- Cut back dead stems of perennials.
- If you haven’t already, plant your potatoes, peas, and early onions.
- Later in the month, plant broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard, lettuce, beets and carrots.
- Transplant indoor tomato seedlings to larger containers and start hardening off at the end of the month.
- Winter is over, so make sure your garden, perennials, trees and shrubs are getting regular water now.
- Celebrate Arbor Day (last Friday of the month, April 29, 2011) and plant a tree!
- Weed, weed, weed!
Recipe of the Month: Deviled Eggs
Always a delightful treat on Easter and the days following! (You have to do something with all those colorful hard-boiled eggs!) Try Teri’s simple recipe featuring Dill, Paprika and Garlic! View the recipe here.