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2013 East Texas Garden Lecture Series set Feb. 16 in Tyler

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Scott and Lauren Springer Ogden to speak

Scott and Lauren Springer Ogden

Scott and Lauren Springer Ogden, authors of the Plant Driven Garden, the Moonlit Garden and other books. (Photo courtesy of the authors)

Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu

TYLER – The first of the East Texas Garden Lecture Series, set Feb. 16 in Tyler, will feature nationally renowned husband and wife authors, horticulturists and garden designers Scott and Lauren Springer Ogden, according to Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service county agent, Keith Hansen.

“Many gardens are designed cookie-cutter fashion, with little or no sense as to how plants may work in a particular environment or with each other,” said Hansen, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture, Smith County.

The Ogdens, however, teach what they call “plant-driven” design, according to Hansen.

“It’s about how to use adapted plants in ways that are not just original and beautiful, but lend a ‘sense of place,’ and are sustainable with an emphasis on soil and drought tolerance,” he said. “The Ogdens emphasize that a garden’s design should be driven by the plants a gardener loves rather than by a rigid adherence to certain design styles or rules.”

The lecture series is a rethinking – as well as a renaming – of the East Texas Spring Landscape and Garden Conference, which Hansen has overseen in Smith County since 1994. the conference in years past was an all-day event, the lecture series breaks programming up into half-day sessions in February, March and April.

An example of a plant-driven designed garden in the Tyler area. (Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service photo by Keith Hansen)

An example of a plant-driven designed garden in the Tyler area. (Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service photo by Keith Hansen)

“Our horticulture committee decided it would better serve our clientele to have several morning programs than one daylong program,” Hansen said.

The first part of the Ogden’s lecture will be “Plant Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place and Spirit,” followed by “Moonlit Gardens.”

Registration for the Ogden’s lecture opens 8 a.m. at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Dr. The program will begin at 9 a.m. and finish at noon. Registration for each lecture will be $25, payable at the door on the day of the event.

“To keep costs down, we are not taking credit cards; only cash and checks,” Hansen said.

Upcoming lectures in the series are “Creating Creative Container Gardens” on March 16, and “Growing and Arranging Cut Flowers” on April 13.

For more information on the East Texas Garden Lecture Series, contact Keith Hansen at 903-590-2980 or khansen@ag.tamu.edu, or go to http://EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu .

For more information on the Ogdens and their books, go to http://www.plantdrivendesign.com/

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25 Ultra-Romantic Date Ideas in Denver — Just in Time for a Valentine’s Day …

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DENVER, Feb. 1, 2013 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Turn up the romance this year with music, theatre, cocktails and only-in-Denver activities. Make the most of Valentine’s Day weekend with a romantic hotel package from more than 20 participating metro Denver hotels.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130201/DC52767 ) (Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101210/DC15827LOGO-b )

1. Romeo Juliet at the Denver Center for Performing Arts January 25 – February 24 The Stage Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts You can’t go wrong with the greatest love story ever told, right? Shakespeare’s classic play tells the tragic tale of two “star-cross’d lovers,” and still packs an emotional wallop more than 400 years after it was first performed. 

2. Southwest Rink at Skyline Park Through February 14 Skyline Park, Denver, CO Take a whirl on the ice with your sweetheart, right in the heart of downtown Denver. It’s a cheap date, too – if you bring your own skates, the rink is free (and skate rentals are just $2).

3. Orchid Showcase at the Denver Botanic Gardens Through February 24 1007 York St., Denver, CO Things are always blooming in this Denver oasis, a lovely spot for an afternoon rendezvous. More than 200 orchid plants with more than 1,000 blossoms will be surrounded by colorful complimentary foliage plants to provide a dramatic display during the coldest months of winter.

4. Traditional Tea Brown Palace Hotel Spa 321 17th St., Denver, CO Experience a touch of elegant, Old World charm at the historic Brown Palace Hotel Spa. The Traditional Afternoon Tea takes place between noon and 4 p.m. in the hotel’s gorgeous atrium lobby, and includes freshly made scones, pastries and sandwiches and a wide variety of teas.

5. Georgia O’Keeffe in New Mexico at the Denver Art Museum February 10-April 28 100 W. 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO Spend an afternoon taking in O’Keeffe’s beautiful southwestern visions at the Denver Art Museum. These rarely seen masterpieces were inspired by katsina tithu (carved and painted representations of Hopi spirit beings).

6. Green Russell 1422 Larimer St., Denver, CO Steal away to a speakeasy in Denver’s posh Larimer Square. Located behind the “front” of a pie shop, Green Russell offers handcrafted, artisanal cocktails in an intimate, 1920s-inspired space.

7. Peaks Lounge at Hyatt Regency 650 15th St., Denver, CO Located on the 27th floor of the Hyatt Regency Denver, this one-of-a-kind spot offers swoon-inducing views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown, along with 40 wines by the glass and a menu of appetizers and desserts.

8. D-Bar Desserts 1475 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO Does your sweetie have a sweet tooth? This upscale dessert and wine bar, owned by Keegan Gerhard, one of the nation’s top pastry chefs, is just the ticket, with a menu filled with sinful treats like Cake and Shake (3-layer chocolate cake, manjari frosting, and a vanilla or chocolate milk shake or malt) or a Chocolate Hazelnut Sitting in a Tree (chocolate souffle, chocolate sauce, Nutella beignets, and praline ice cream). Need we say more?

9. Dive Lounge at the Downtown Aquarium 700 Water St., Denver, CO It’s not 20,000 leagues under the sea, but it’ll do. A posh getaway in a truly unique setting, the Dive Lounge is located on the first floor of Denver’s Downtown Aquarium, offering the chance to sip cocktails with your sweetheart while surrounded by beautiful marine life. 

10. Couples Massage at the Ritz-Carlton Denver 1881 Curtis St., Denver, CO Unwind together! The Ritz-Carlton’s Reconnection Falls treatment offers relaxation with your partner in a luxurious couples suite.

11. Valentine’s Day 5K February 10 Washington Park, Denver, CO Couples who run together have fun together! This race will get your pulses racing – literally – during a 5K trek around the scenic Washington Park neighborhood. Registration is just $30 and all proceeds help fight cancer.

12. Lannie Garrett’s Valentine Show: “Takin’ A Chance On Love” February 14 1601 Arapahoe St., Denver, CO A swingin’ Valentine’s Day! Lannie Garrett and her quintet, The Errand Boys of Rhythm, will perform a special Valentine concert, featuring love songs for you and your honey. Located beneath the famed DF Clocktower in downtown Denver, Lannie’s is one of the city’s most romantic venues.

13. Cruise Room at the Oxford Hotel 1600 17th St., Denver, CO One of the most hidden and romantic downtown Denver bars, the art deco-style Cruise Room was modeled after one of the lounges on the legendary Queen Mary, with original chrome and neon creating an unparalleled atmosphere. Order a drink from the classic cocktail menu or enjoy a handmade martini.

14. Infinite Monkey Theorem Wine Tour 3200 Larimer St., Denver, CO Is your Valentine a wine lover? Then show him or her how Denver wine is made! If you’ve never experienced an urban winery before, there’s much to see, lots to learn, and there’s a lot to taste. This tour guides you through a flight of palate-pleasing Infinite Monkey wines. And if you decide to purchase wine while you’re here, the tour is free.

15. Culinary Date Night at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts February 13-15, 22 1937 Market St., Denver, CO Spice up your love life with an evening that’s guaranteed to stir up more than just delicious dishes! Take date night to new heights with a cooking class that’s perfect for pairs. Two glasses of wine (one white and one red) are included with the meal.

16. Most Romantic Classics with the Colorado Symphony February 14 1000 14th St., Denver, CO The perfect date night soundtrack! Enjoy classic, classical love songs and romantic works in the acoustically perfect Boettcher Concert Hall.

17. Pinnacle Club at the Grand Hyatt 1750 Welton St. Denver, CO One of the most awe-inspiring spots in The Mile High City, the Pinnacle Club is located on the 37th floor of this downtown hotel. Enjoy food and drink while taking in the entire Rocky Mountain Front Range with the city skyline in the foreground, through floor-to-ceiling windows. Gentlemen, this would be a good place to pop a certain question. Just saying!

18. Colorado Garden Home Show February 9-17 Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO If you’re planning on moving in with that special someone, this is the event for you. Discover the Rocky Mountain region’s oldest, largest and most prestigious garden and home show – a nine-day spectacular event – where you can find inspiration from the latest ideas and trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement.

19. Cupid’s Arrow at Su Teatro February 10 721 Santa Fe Dr., Denver, CO This Valentine’s themed show takes a vivid look at the emotional roller coaster of romantic love as expressed in both poetry and prose, with readings by some of the city’s best actors.

20. Jekyll Hyde at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts January 29-February 10 The Buell Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts A darkly romantic (think Phantom of the Opera) adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of horror, this bound-for-Broadway musical is brought to thrilling, chilling new life by Constantine Maroulis (“American Idol”) and Grammy-nominee Deborah Cox.

21. Downtown Horse Carriage Ride 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO Take a quintessential romantic ride through downtown Denver. Sit up high snuggled under a blanket in a Cinderella carriage drawn by magnificent draft horses. As you slowly clip-clop along the streets, you’ll get a different perspective of the sights and lights of downtown Denver. There are various pick-up points along the 16th Street Mall.

22. Chocolate Class at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver Feb. 10 EDGE Restaurant Bar, 1111 14th St., Denver, CO Bring your sweetheart to one of the city’s top restaurants for a Valentine Chocolate Class from 2 to 4 p.m. where Executive Pastry Chef Christopher Jordan teaches lovebirds how to make their own chocolate dipped strawberry marshmallows, chocolate hazelnut truffles, and hot chocolate puddings with quick candied peanuts. Guests take home the finished products. To reserve a spot, contact EDGE at 303-389-3343.

23. Howl At The Moon Piano Bar 1735 19th St., Denver, CO Want to sing your heart out? Located in the heart of lower downtown, this high-energy dueling piano bar provides live music centered on audience participation. Come sing, dance and howl.

24. Salsa Dancing Lessons at the D-Note Sundays, 8 p.m. 7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada, CO Spice things up with a Sunday night Salsa dancing lesson at this classy pizza joint in Olde Town Arvada. All skill levels are welcome!

25. DeVotchKa at the Paramount Theatre February 14 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver, CO Denver’s own DeVotchKa bring their unmistakable brand of theatrical rock to downtown’s beautiful Paramount Theatre for a concert benefiting Bonfils Blood Center.

CONTACT: Katie Converse 1-303-571-9418 kconverse@visitdenver.com

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention Visitors Bureau

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Real Estate Matters: Utah Valley Home and Garden Expo coming soon

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Get ready for the 28th annual Utah Valley Home and Garden Expo owned and sponsored by the Utah County Association of Realtors. 

The event is usually held in March or April, but organizers pushed it up this year, according to the Realtor association. So this year it’s on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 at the UCCU Events Center in Orem, formerly the McKay Events Center on the Utah Valley University campus. Tickets are $5 or you can get them free from a Realtor®. Admission is also free if you’re a kid under 12. 

While the local Realtor® association owns the event and used to have a committee run it, it was a lot of work, so now Utah Valley Expos (part of Bennett Communications) runs it. 

The Utah County Association of Realtors is listed as the title sponsor and counts it as a major revenue producer for the association beyond the hundreds of dollars member Realtors pay in dues each year. 

New this year is a complete landscaping section. Look for waterfalls, pathways, trees and other landscaping features to give you ideas, because spring WILL come, even though it’s freezing outside right now.

The event is a magnet for vendors who target homeowners, so expect to see about 200 of them and what they have to offer. Plans also include family activities and childrens’ areas, free seminars, valuable door prizes and yes, food. 

The Expo typically attracts 8,000 to 12,000 people, the association says.

Here’s a link for more information: http://www.uvexpo.com/home_garden/

•••

 

Taylor Oldroyd, Corporate Executive Officer of the Utah County Realtor association recently told the Women’s Council of Realtors that they’re only as good as the service and information they provide, then lauded them for surviving the last four years of a tough real estate market.

He cautioned them not to take the service they give for granted because they are in an industry with low overhead and a huge upside, which they must protect. He cited a PulteGroup poll that said six in 10 renters want to buy in the next two years, but the number of renters has skyrocketed.

Still, online searches for homes are up 253 percent, Oldroyd noted. Realtors can meet that demand with relevant websites, video environments, and mobile applications. Locally home starts are up and the owners of a new outlet mall have caught the vision with the start of the second phase of a new outlet mall in Lehi.

Improved transportation infrastructure — a rebuilt 1-15 through Utah County and the extension of Frontrunner to Provo is enhancing travel. Allegiant Air is now flying non-stop from Provo to Mesa Ariz. UCAR recently sponsored an Allegiant Air introduction lunch.

Other pluses for Utah County include:

•A Kiplinger Report that Provo is 2nd of 12 cities in the country where prices have gone up the most. In the last year prices there increased 21.8 percent.

•Provo has a low foreclosure rate now at one in 1,685.

Also, Oldroyd said, a Fortune 500 food manufacturing company is looking at Utah County to serve the Southwest. The key factor is the quality of the local workforce. That’s all good news for housing. There’s more and I’ll report on it in future columns to come.

Rodger L. Hardy is a Realtor affiliated with Prudential Utah Real Estate and a former real estate editor. For answers to your real estate questions please email him at rhardy@utahresidentialEteam.com.

Home-grown food part of a new vision of urban development: Mark Cullen

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The new “urban farming community” as envisioned here gets people out of their cars, encourages social interaction, the consumption of better quality (and less processed) food, boosts local employment and provides, according to Ladner, “a feast of spinoff health, community-building, exercise, green space, community safety, recreational and educational benefits.” I will add this important point: real estate values are enhanced when they are within proximity of urban farming establishments (as long as odour issues associated with livestock are addressed. No one likes living next to a pig or chicken farm.)

Top Spring Landscaping Tips

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Every year like clockwork, winter comes to a close and the cold and dreary climate gives way to the burgeoning spring season and the promise of new growth. Of course, this also signals the perfect time for a thorough spring cleaning. But this goes beyond clearing out the attic or getting rid of last season’s old clothes. The outside of the home is just as in need of some annual TLC as is the inside; no area more so than the yard or garden.

spring landscaping

There’s no better time than Spring to work on your garden. (Image © Rafael Ben-Ari – Fotolia.com)

Yes, the winter months can wreak havoc on a yard or garden and all but ruin the beautiful landscaping that defined it before the chilly weather set in. These areas can look the worse for wear after a long winter and may even appear beyond saving. But rolling up the shirtsleeves and getting to work on yard beautification is the best way for anyone – man or woman – to start anew and get into the spring spirit.

Here are some basic tips for turning a yard in recovery into a spring sensation.

Clear the debris

Winter storms can wreak havoc on a yard in the form of fallen branches and piles of leaves. The best remedy is to set aside a good chunk of time in which to clear all tree debris from the yard. Once that is taken care of, then it’s time to get down to the business of pulling the weeds that have likely cropped up during the winter months. Once this is complete, homeowners should then plan on spending 10-15 minutes one time per week maintaining a weed-free yard.

Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize

There’s no way around it, those who want to ensure a thriving lawn or garden are going to need to fertilize. That means everything: grass, flowers, shrubs – the works. The good news is that there is nothing about this process that needs to be complicated. In fact, there are a number of different fertilizers available from home-supply stores geared for a number of different purposes and a number of lawn and garden types. Terf builder is one popular option for those who want to give their lawns a fighting chance to thrive. Plus, there are organic weed killers on the market that can make the aforementioned weed hunting a breeze.

Tip: those growing food — such as herbs, fruits and vegetables — should use only organic fertilizers containing no pesticides.

Don’t shy away from mulch

It can be depressing to gaze upon a limp garden ravaged by the effects of a cold winter. But there’s no reason to lose hope because mulch can save the day. Just one layer of this stuff on a flower bed can bring the plants roaring back to life. Professional landscapers suggest applying four inches of mulch over the top soil, which will help retain moisture and prevent growth of those pesky weeds.

Tip: pull mulch away from the base of the plant, as this will help protect the bulb.

Maintain a functional irrigation system

Whether working with a complex in-ground sprinkler system or a simple garden hose, it’s best to test the equipment at the dawn of the spring season. Those with sprinklers will want to ensure the unit’s pump and tank are in good working order, as a couple winter months without use may compromise their functionality.

By following these simple guidelines, even the least green-thumbed of homeowners should be able to bring their yards and gardens back from the brink of winter extinction.

Our guest author, Jason Smith, writes for Australian Outdoor Living (AOL), a home improvement business based in Adelaide. AOL specialises in cafe blinds, roller shutters, pergolas and artificial lawn.

Proof that gardening is good for us

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Charlie Hall thinks it’s not good enough to simply tell people that gardening is a good thing to do because flowers are pretty and planting trees and shrubs makes the world more beautiful and ultimately more livable.

All of which is true. But Hall wants to prove the benefits of gardening by producing unequivocal evidence, supported by convincing research data and verifiable scientific proof.

WHO IS CHARLIE HALL?

He’s one of the most influential leaders in horticulture in North America today, famous for giving passionate, informed lectures.

An economist by training, he is a professor in the department of horticultural sciences at Texas AM University.

He has all sorts of other titles, but all you really need to know is that he is the expert everyone in the gardening industry listens to very carefully because of the detailed work he has done to nail down precise data about the benefits of gardening.

His research has unearthed compelling facts and statistics that prove being around plants makes everything better, including helping children to learn faster, improving health, reducing crime, enhancing the natural environment and greatly reducing the stress of everyday life.

I doubt you have heard of his name before today, but it is well known to all the movers and shakers in what is now known as the “green industry” – covering everything from garden centres to landscaping to the basic nitty-gritty of upkeep of parks and other community green spaces.

“You may have heard the term ‘greenwashing,’ ” he told me in a phone interview recently. “This is when a company makes a claim that it is doing something that is environmentally friendly without backing up the statement with evidence.

“The consumer is left asking, ‘What is the basis for them saying that? Where did they come up with that information?’ “

Hall says it was his desire to have facts at his fingertips rather than anecdotal experiences to back up assertions that got him to start compiling research data from a wide variety of respected sources, including many not directly connected to the horticultural industry, such as Harvard Medical School.

Over two years, he gathered more than 400 research documents showing the benefits of gardening and other aspects of the horticultural industry.

Here are just a few of his key findings:

. People are able to concentrate better in the workplace or in the home and have better memory retention when they are around plants. “Tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better with greater accuracy.”

Spending time in nature gives people an increased feeling of vitality, better energy levels and makes them feel more animated, he says.

. Children learn better when they are around plants. “Research shows that kids learn faster when they are in a green environment. Those with attention deficit disorders have longer attention spans when they are in a natural gardenlike environment as opposed to a sterile, concrete classroom,” Hall says. “You’d think it would be counter-intuitive; if you take kids to an outdoor classroom where there are all sorts of distractions, dogs barking and so on. But the opposite is true.”

. Gardening can act as therapy for people who have undergone trauma. “The act of nurturing something is a way for people to work through the issues surrounding traumatic events and improve their mental health.”

. Residents are more likely to exercise if there is a community park or landscaped area nearby. Exercise improves their health through physical fitness which can cut health care costs.

. Landscaping is one of the most cost-effective methods for changing a community. “It is a fact that neighbourhoods with beautiful parks tend to have less crime. Simply by landscaping a formerly crime-ridden park, a community can be transformed into a safe and friendly neighbourhood environment.” Hall says parks also give people a reason to come together and become a tight-knit community.

. Quality landscaping improves property values. “You get a $1.09 return on every dollar invested. It is the only home improvement that generates a greater than one dollar return for every dollar spent,” says Hall.

“Put the same dollar into a bathroom or kitchen and, according to the Home Remodelling Institute, you get 73 cents return for that dollar, but our own research shows that with every dollar put into landscaping you get $1.09 in return.”

. Businesses do better when even a little strip of landscaping is added outside their premises. “Research shows businesses sell more stuff when they have an esthetically-pleasing landscape outside. People shop longer, feel more at ease, will come long distances to shop, and are often willing to pay higher prices.”

. Beautiful parks and landscapes enable communities to reap benefits from ecotourism. “In this new green environmentally-conscious era people are becoming more interested in exploring the beauty of nature while maintaining its integrity.”

This is one reason Hall believes botanical gardens and other public gardens and green spaces should be supported without hesitation by local government. “Ecotourism is a smart way for communities to bring in revenue with relatively little cost to themselves. Walt Disney proved this to us years ago – that people will come to the swamps of Florida in the middle of summer to be in a beautiful, engaging environment.”

. Studies show that people who spend time cultivating plants have less stress. “Plants sooth human beings and provide a positive way for people to channel their stress into nurturing.”

Hall’s core message boils down to this: the green industry – gardening, landscaping, the growing and selling of flowers and plants and all the rest of it – is about much more than creating “pretty environments.” It is also about other positive factors from health to air quality to job creation to community relations, spinoffs that most people never think about.

“The message that plants are more than just pretty needs to be incorporated into the marketing message of every single business in the green industry,” Hall says.

“We need to give people the facts that prove plants are not merely an indulgence, but an essential necessity if we want to live positive, productive, healthy lives.”

CALLING ALL GARDEN CLUBS

Gardening columnist Steve Whysall is compiling a list of Lower Mainland spring garden club plant sales for a special plant sales calendar to appear in early March. Please sent him the details of your sale, including date, location, start and finish time, and a contact name and number for people looking for more information. Submissions should be sent to swhysall@ vancouversun.com

swhysall@vancouversun.com

Gardening Tips: Controlling wild garlic in the lawn

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Posted: Friday, February 1, 2013 10:53 am


Gardening Tips: Controlling wild garlic in the lawn

By Matthew Stevens

RR Daily Herald

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Most lawns this time of year are almost entirely brown due to winter dormancy.

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Tips for impatient Staten Island gardeners for a quicker vegetable harvest

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Many vegetables get woodier, less succulent and lose some of their sweetness as they grow more mature. Some, however, like the beets show above, new potatoes, radishes, baby carrots, zucchini, miniature cucumbers, spring peas and turnips offer up their best flavors while young.
Associated Press Photos


 

Vegetable gardening is an exercise in patience. Sweet potatoes can take more than 100 days to ripen; some tomato and watermelon varieties require five months.

But there are ways to shorten the wait.

The easiest is choosing plants that taste best when harvested young.

“The one thing you will miss out on with speedy growing is bulk, but what you will get in return is layers of flavor; a sprinkle of hot and peppery micro-green radish here, a sweet and nutty, barely cooked new potato there, a garnish of cucumber-y borage flowers to finish a dish,” writes Mark Diacono in the new “The Speedy Vegetable Garden” (Timber Press). “These are the crops that will mark out your cooking as distinctly and unquestionably homegrown.”

Timing is everything.

“Be slow to harvest and you’ll miss their best moments,” says Diacono, who does his gardening on a 17-acre plot in Devon, England. “These are fresh, lively and zingy flavors, flavors that can either fade or become bitter and overly strong as the plant grows on toward maturity.” 

IT’S IN THE GENES

Many plants — notably fruits — are genetically wired for late development.

“Tomatoes, strawberries and apples all want to be left on the plant until they are fully ripe to get the fullest, lushest flavors out of them,” Diacono says. “Vegetables are a little different. Many get woodier, less succulent and lower in sweetness as they grow more mature, so really are at their loveliest picked young.”

That would include new potatoes, radishes, baby carrots, zucchini, miniature cucumbers, spring peas, turnips and beets.

Cut-and-come-again salad leaves can be clipped in as little as 21 days. Sprouted seeds (mung beans, mustard, lentils) can become table fare in just three days.

Check the maturity dates on seed packets as you shop. Heirloom tomatoes take 100 days or more to develop, while cherry tomatoes need only about 65 days.

The same goes for squash. Winter squash (acorn, butternut) generally require 110 days before they are kitchen-ready. Summer squash (crookneck, zucchini), by comparison, can be eaten in 55 days or less. 


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Heirloom tomatoes, rear, can take more than 100 days to ripen, while the smaller cherry tomatoes, foreground, need only 65 days. Grow both varieties to stagger the dates of your harvest.



 

JUMPSTART THE SEASON

There are many ways to jumpstart the growing season so you can be harvesting a meal while other gardeners are just beginning to turn the ground. Among them:

*Choose the warmest site possible if you’re planting early. “Even a small change in temperature can make a difference during spring and fall frosts,” says Jo Ann Robbins, an extension educator with the University of Idaho.

*Use enclosures. Covering plants moderates temperature, wind and humidity. “Air and soil temperatures are warmer, and the cover will conserve heat radiation from the soil during the night,” Robbins says in a fact sheet.

*Start vegetable plants inside from seed, and transplant them eventually into the garden. “Research shows the older the transplants, the better they will resist cold weather,” Robbins says.

*Warm the soil early. “Throw a piece of black or clear polyethylene over the soil in early spring, pin it down with tent pegs or bricks, and wait,” Diacono says. “The sun will warm it and excessive water will be kept off, leaving it in a fantastically workable state a few weeks later and conducive to quick plant growth.” 

Online:

For more about plant maturity dates, see this North Dakota State University fact sheet:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hortcrop/h912.pdf 

You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net

Gardening Tips: How to eliminate moss growth is determined by the cause

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Q: I have moss growing in my yard. What do I need to do to get grass to grow? I did a soil test three years ago, and everything was normal.

— Jim House

A: Moss normally develops when soil is compacted, wet or in too much shade. Soil with improper pH also invites moss growth. Determining which condition is causing the problem is the first step toward eliminating it.

Have your soil tested again to see if the nutrient content and pH level have changed since your last test three years ago. If the soil is deficient in nutrient content or needs lime, the test report will indicate how much fertilizer and lime to apply and when to apply it.

Moss growth usually starts in early winter and reaches its peak in early spring. This growth is caused by excessive rainfall. Moss growth normally declines in summer as conditions become drier and the grass growth increases. In shady areas, the moss may continue to grow through the summer. Here are some ways that moss can be reduced in the lawn:

Maintain proper soil ph. Most lawns should have a soil pH between 6.0-6.5.

Apply fertilizer and lime according to soil test recommendations.

Increase air movement and light penetration to the soil. This can be done by pruning the lower limbs of trees.

Improve soil drainage by adding organic matter to the soil.

Booker T. Leigh is the extension director at the Tipton County Extension office. E-mail your gardening questions to bleigh1@utk.edu. Include your name and the area where you live. For more gardening information call the Tipton County Extension office at 901-476-0123 or the Shelby County Extension office at 901-752-1207.