Archive for August, 2008

With the abundance of hot weather the devastating insect known as the spider mite is populating at a very very fast rate. From roses, to butterfly bushes, to marigolds the damage is really starting to show up. Make inspections to your garden and landscape at least two times a week. Indications will include possible webbing (but not always), yellowing of leaves starting out low on the plant from the inside out, plus the leaves on affected plants are usually dusty looking. Two products that Redmond Greenhouse carries that are proving very effective are “Three and One” plus an organic solution called “Spinosad”. You should apply the products every week for three consecutive applications. Water the target plants in the morning and apply the spray in the early evening. Follow directions on the label for types of plants you can spray plus other precautions. If left unchecked the mites will probably take your plants down and then move on to other species in your garden and landscape.

This is the first year that I have grown eggplant and I must say….. What was I thinking…. the plant has performed just outstanding and has produced fruit after purple fruit. Son Luke invited me over for dinner last night (Antlelope steak from Wyoming) and gave me a beckon. With basket in hand I headed out into the garden to provide crunchies for the salad and the eggplant for the grill. I marinated the eggplant in a wonderful combination of extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic, grated ginger, basil, thyme, chives, salt, fresh ground pepper, plus a couple of shakes of pepper flakes. I let the eggplant wander in the marinate for about an hour before it hit the grill. If you are wondering how it was….. I looked in the dictionary and the words have not been created yet…… Hot Dang I must save that recipe……….. Happy Summer Grilling.. Doug

If the birds are giving you a hard time you just might want to give the product “Flash Tape’ a try. Many have found this inexpensive product works very well and much easier than traditional bird netting. Just cut small pieces of this flashy mylar tape and tie it on branches, fences or other sites. At Redmond Greenhouse we have sold this product for years with great consumer satisfaction……. Just might get an apple pie afterall…………. Doug

Ahhhhhhhhh the summertime in the backyard, flowers are blooming and tomatoes are beginning to yeild the flavor we have all come to enjoy. Make sure you do a weekly tour to inspect for insects as well as disease. A lot of folks have come face to face with powdery mildew on their summer squash, rose bushes and Bee Balm (Monarda). One of the best sprays (organic) is one called Serenade. If you have to spray make sure you make 3 sprays once a week to try to clean-up this destructive disease. If you tomatoes have a black spot on the bottom of the tomatoe you have blossom end rot….. nasty….. Try working some of the granular Azomite (rich in calcium and  organic micros) in and around the roots. Be consistant with your watering as well. You might also try this great product on your squash and cucumbers…. We have just stocked our garden benches with the first crop of flowering cabbage and Kale…. my oh my you just have to check out the new introductions….. spectacular colors and a sign of the changing seasons. We also have some of the first late summer flowering asters and hardy garden mums. Time to spruce up those faded summer planters and hanging baskets. Try fertilizing with some of our “Bloom” Earth Juice. A wonderful liquid organic nutrition that will realy give your special plants a great boost. For those of you who have water features with living plants don’t forget to fertilize them with at least three special nutrition tabs. You will be surprised. Speaking of water gardens our first Lotus bloomed the other day…… this plant redefines the word spectacular. I think if might fall into the catagory of the similar beauty as the passion flower blooms. Just plain WOW!!! Well thats about it for the moment……. Hope all is well in your backyard and you are enjoying the summer.  As always if you need any of the above mentioned plants of products a quick trip the the Redmond Greenhouse should fill your needs……. Happy Summer…… Doug