Cold Zone Gardening

Soil Goodness

doug — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:44:37 +0000

When planing your raised beds this year Redmond Greenhouse would like to remind you that we have a GREAT soil. It is an organic “weed” and “manure” free mix. It is what we call a soiless blend and should serve your growing needs well. We sell by the half and full yard. Swing by and take a look at it plus other soil, bark, and compost options

Veggie Garden Seed….. Doug’s Pic

doug — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:08:02 +0000

During one of my past KBND Radio “Garden Talk” shows I had a question in regards to some of my favorite and better performing veggie seeds. That said here is a list of some of my old and reliable varieties as well as a couple of newer introductions that should do very well for gardeners in colder, short season, High Desert regions.

Beans: Kentucky Wonder / Burpee Stringless / Romano Beets: Detroit Red Carrots: Nantes Cucumbers: Marketmore / Lemon / Calypso (pickling) Corn: Early Sunglow Chard: Bright Lights Radish: Champion / Cherry Belle Lettuce: Red Sails / Red Salad Bowl Melons: Ambrosia Pea: Little Marvel / Thomas Laxton / Wando Spinach: Bloomsdale Squash: Black Beauty Zucchini / Waltham Butternut Tomato: Sungold / Brandywine / Juliet

A few flowers that I must also mention that tend to do quite well in our unique gardening zone would have to include the likes of: Alyssum Asters / Calendula / Sweet Peas / Marigolds / Cosmos / Zinnias / Nasturtium / Bachelor Buttons (I just had to mention this one as it was one of the first seeds (along with a few fragrant early blooming Sweet Peas) I planted with my most wonderful grandmother in the small town of Frenchglen at the early age of about five or six!

I hope this small lister will help you in your plantings here on the “High Desert”. As I am sure you well know, now matter which ones you select the results are NEVER guarnteed. I sum the art of sowing seeds as a “Trip to Las Vegas”……… always a gamble….. and no… I don’t take trips to that city…. I just happily garden…… Doug

The Year to “Grow” …..Dig, Plant, & Enjoy

doug — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:50:36 +0000

Let this be the year to grow and flourish. A year to take the hand of a non-gardener and share with them the true joy of working the soil and planting seeds and plants of purpose. Amazing things happen when we drop to our knees and embrace the earth. Planting trees, shrubs, and other growing delights is truely a wonderful thing and should be experienced by everyone at some point in their life. With that thought in mind I hope you will find the joy and pleasure in another year of gardening and landscaping…………. Happy New Year….. Doug

and here comes December……

doug — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:36:09 +0000

With Thanksgiving day in our rear view mirror, off we go to the wonderful month of December. I hope all of you had a meaningful and satisfying day. Meanwhile back in the garden the last of the leaves are slowly falling from trees and shrubs. Check and make sure your lawn does not need one more clipping before the winter season settles in. Still time to apply some of our organic lawn fertilizer to all your grass. We have lots of organic “manure free” compost to top-dress empty beds. Three inches would be best. If you have leftover carrots, parsnips, beets. or other root crops still in the soil make sure to insulate them with straw of some other mulching material to ensure no freeze damage when the mercury drops.

If you are contemplating a “living” tree for the upcomming Christmas, now is a GREAT time to make your choice. Redmond Greenhouse has a pretty nice selection for you to choose from with prices starting at just six dollars. Some of the smaller selections make excellent table top choices as well as childrens bedrooms. Spraying your trees with “Moisturine” if “WiltPruf” will make a HUGE difference in terms of overall health and well being!

Our first load of “fresh-cut” Noble Firs just arrived. We focus on larger trees if you are in the hunt. This group of trees was cut Thanksgiving week from our grower in the Silver Creek Falls area. As in past seasons we are still offering custom “Snow Flocking” if you are interested in that “Winter” look.

Enjoy the weather and all the moisture we have been getting. Rake the leaves, take time to smile, and share a hand with someone in need….. Doug

It “could be” a GREEN Christmas

doug — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:01:33 +0000

As November fades from the yearly calendar many of you will begin thinking about the traditional centerpiece of the Christmas season, The tree. As in past years Redmond Greenhouse will be presenting to you a host of “living” trees for your selection. From small tabletops to larger specimans we hope you will find the perfect tree for your home. There has been an increase in interest in living trees as folks look for ways to make better spending choices. I know of folks who use the same tree year after year. They simply use the tree for the season and then return it to the patio for the remainder of the season.

The choices you will have will include the most popular Colorado Spruce along with a few assorted Pines. As more kids get involved with gardening we have made sure to increase our inventory of smaller one gallon trees plus a special selection of “garden-start” trees all dressed up in a traditional Terra Cotta pot complete with bows and keepsake ornaments….. Happy Holidays!!!!

We also like to suggest using living evergreens such as Holly, Mugho Pines, and Pieris for indoor greens and decor. Simply wrap the nursery pot with decorative florist cello or rustic burlap to conceal the pop….. zippo………. you are looking great and going with “growing green”. For your table you might just plant up a low decorative planter bowl with succulents, ivy, and Christmas cactus, add a couple of long taper candles and again you are “going green” with your table centerpiece. As you can see the possibilities are endless…. This is what I call “Getting out of the rut”…… Happy end of November….. Doug

Garlic and Shallots ….. Now is the time!

doug — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:28:54 +0000

Just in case you are all wrapped up in other important things…. Don’t forget to get your garlic planted. We thought we were out, but then we were able to get another shipment in. Fall is the time to plant these wonderful little garden gems and our selection is pretty darn good. Many of you have found out how easy it is to grow and how GREAT the results can be not to mention the money that you can save. I was in a local market the other day and the shallots were at just under six bucks a pound…. ye ha dang!!!!! Someone just might want to start a small cottage business in raising and selling quality organic shallots.

In other related garden news don’t forget to top-dress your empty garden beds with a generous application of “Cold Climate” organic fertilizer as well as at least three inches of compost. You still have time to plant a few “spring flowering” bulbs if you have not already done so. For those of you that have fruit trees DON”T forget to spray your fruit trees with dormant spray. In my opinion this is BEST preventative you can do to guard against overwintering insects and disease.

Meanwhile back at the ranch I have been able to get away a few times to enjoy life up at our cabin on the north slope of the Steens Mt. Talk about ye haw dang…………… it has been SPECTACULAR! On other unrelated items my back continues to mend and I am very optimistic about the surgery they did. I just hope I will respect my body just a little bit better and not tear things up.

Well that is about all for now……….. I will try to be a little bit more attentive to posting info as we head into the late fall early winter season. Hope you had a good season…. Enjoy the weather each and every day…… Try making a homemade soup and a loaf of fresh bread….. Now we are realy living the good life….. Happy November… Doug

Summertime………. Let the Garden & Landscape Grow

doug — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:40:43 +0000

Ahhhhhhhhhh the season of summer is here andI hope all is well in your garden. Not a bad spring in terms of past history….. A few frosts, a couple of heavy downpours, along with a scattered pounding of harsh hail. Welcome to the “High Desert”. As I have always said if you can ride out the unexpected climatic conditions of thus unpredictable gardening are you “just might” have a pretty good garden of flowers, herbs, and veggies. As we move into the month of July there are a few things you will wanat to keep an eye on. Spider mites are the number one invader of so many our flowers and shrubs. Do keep a watchful eye (with a hand held lens) for distressed looking foliage. Leaves will often become dusty looking as well as a little sprackled yellowing on the inner leaves. The product called “3 in 1 Insect, Disease, Mite Killer” is a top end and very effective. On the organic side a product called “Spinosad” seems to be doing a pretty good job. As always make sure you “WATER DEEPLY IN THE MORNING AND DON’T SPRAY UNTIL THE COOL OF THE EVENING”. I might also add that it is imperative to repeat the spray every seven days for three times to get the most out of your efforts!!!! Down in the Vegetable garden it will pay you to apply preventative sprays of “Serenade” (organic disease control) on such plants as your squash (Zuccini) and cucumbers. These plants inparticular are very vulnurable to powdery mildew. The particular disease goes by so many time undetected and will realy take a toll on your plants vitality…… Don’t forget to continue to sow seeds of crunchy salad greens as well as cilantro, radishes, and peas. The HOT weather will sometimes derail your efforts, but if you are successful the mid to late summer crunch will be all yours.

Out in the orchard (for those of you that are lucky enought to have fruit trees) should make sure to thin your crop if you have not already done so…………….. Less fruit means a bigger and tastier late season harvest. In worse case senerios I have seen frut trees complety dump their fruit because of too much fruit combined with inadequate waterings……. Side dress with some of our organic fertilizer “Cold Climate” and maybe even a thin layer of good organic compost to help hold in moisture as well as reduce weed populations.

For tomatoe growers who may have not properly addressed the need for calcium you may want to apply a liquid or granular side dressing of “Liquid Calcium” of granular “Azomite”. This practice might also be good for your cucumbers and squash…… Mulch with compost as well!!!

If you have any Alberta Spruce trees, if you have not already done so it would be advisable to give them a liquid drench of Ferti-Lomes “Systemic Insect Drench” to help ward off any hot summertime Mite damage. Almost Guaranteed they will arrive and do their damage. Potted Alberta’s will usually show signs of browning, rusty dusty on the side facing the building. Sometime webbing will be seen but not always….

Contrary to many this is a good time to sow seeds of wildflowers, lawns, and other desired crops. With the warm temperature, warm soil, warm nights, germination will simply astound you. I did my lawn in July several years ago in mid July. I had germination in 5 days and was mowing in 15 days!!!!! THE ONLY THING…….. If you do not water with diligence (at least three times a day) the seeding project may not go so well……….. Other tips I might offer to you would be to make sure you work a lot of good compost into the seeding area. Lightly cover the seed with a fine compost and use ONLY ORGANIC FERTILIZERS. You might also consider covering the freshly seeded area with our special “Seedling Cloth”. This scanty spun-bound white fabric is a true miracle in regards to helping new seedbeds. It will shade the seed, hold in moisture, and keep birds out. Just make sure to anchor it down or the High Desert breeze will move it down the block or possibly farther…….

Well……………….. That about wraps it up. Sorry I have been a little slow with subject, but my back has been giving me fits of late and I find it very unpleasant to sit at the computer…………. I did have surgery and I am in the recovery mode…. My wonderful wife bought me a new computer desk, chair, and keyboard…………… ye ha………….. I will try to do better………… happy gardening…………. Doug

Spring growth, plus a little extra

doug — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:48:26 +0000

As the growth of spring begins to reveal soft new and tender growth gardeners will want to be on the look-out for an outburst of aphids. This little critters can cause a lot of damage in a very short period of time. So many times folks will bring in plant samples with leaves all curled up by damage caused by these common pesky bugs. If you don’t keep a tight moniter on your plants you may well fall into a lot of damage.

At Redmond Greenhouse we like to offer a variety of products to help with your battle. Organic remedies are at the top of the list. Cedar Spray is offering some very positive results as a repelent. Mite-X is also a great product we sell. On the synthetic side we have a product called 3 in 1 that will stop just about every bud DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS.

We are in good shape if you are looking for lady bugs, praying mantis eggs, or benficial nemetodes. We are also in great stock with our composting worms if you are in need.

Hope all is well in your garden………….. I have assembled my organic “Straw Garden” at the Redmond Greenhouse. You may want to swing by and take a peek. Constructed of straw bales for the border, then filled with “Dougs Blend” which is a mixture of organic potting soil, compost, and vermiculite. Then I topped it off with a 25# bag of our “Cold Climate” organic fertilizer, 25# crab meal, 15# soil microbes/mychorizea, 30# Azomite, and last but not least a bag of Wonder Worms pure earthworm castings. Ye Ha and away the garden goes. I have now planted several of our heirloom tomatoes, sunflowers, cucs, and winter and summer squash.

Let the season begin and may the plants begin to grow……….. Summer is on its way………………… Celebrate…. Happy Gardening Doug

Tulip Blossoms……….. and the show goes on and on

doug — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:32:57 +0000

Ahhhhhhhhhh the wonderful world of tulips and other spring flowering bulbs. The show thus far has been nothing short of spectacular. It does pay to plant a variety of “fall” bulbs because of the elongated blooming season. In particular my tulips have been a show in motion for well over two months now. I realize that many folks can’t plant tulips beacause of deer problems, and to that I do say…. I’m very sorry. However with so many other wonderful fall planted bulbs and tubers you can still have a very good show of early color. I also planted a couple of fritalaria (Crown Imperial), the yellow variety and they both did a great job of blooming as well as an increase of conversation as to “What is That!!!”

As with all flowering bulbs make sure you don’t remove the foliage until after it turns yellow or brown. Feed your bulb beds with some or our (Redmond Greenhouse) “Cold Climate” granular organic fertilizer. This task will better ensure a repeat showiing in the spriing of 2010.

Great early spring flowers that might help cover fading bulb foliage might include the likes of Snapdragons, violas, veronica, and calendulas. Happy early spring and I hope your early planting are doing well…………….. Doug

Tips for planting potatoes…… the Spud

doug — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:23:40 +0000

Plant only certified seed stock: This will reduce the potential for disease and possibly increase yields. If the seed stock is large and there are multiple “eyes” on the stock you may wish to cut into multiple starts. Just make sure there are at least two to three eyes on each. It is wise to dust the fresh cut with sulfur and place in a cool, dry, dark, frost free area to allow the fresh-cut surface to cure.

It is important to note that small certified stock does not mean you will get small potatoes!

Use no manure in your potato planting area as it will increase the incidence the likelihood of “scab”

When planting your potatoes in our unique soil I would advise to amend the soil with organic compost at a ratio of one part compost to 2 paarts soil. Place the potato about three to four inches into the soil. Dust area with soil sulfur and add a small shovel of fir mulch. This practice will help keep your harvested crop free of potato disease.

Once the sprout has emerged it is common practice to “hill” the plant. This is achieved by mounding up the soil over the top of the emerging growth. You may do this a couple of times as the plant continues to grow

Early sneak harvests of small baby potatoes can begin in about two months. The BIG harvest will be later in the early fall once the frost has knocked down the foliage. Dig away and enjoy your bounty……. Doug