We grow flowers just for you.
Dear Garden Friend, March 17, 2009
Here is a little about what is happening around the Greenhouses this week...As many of you know, we grow just about everything we sell...needless to say, it is a daunting task getting all the plants and flowers ready for the Spring planting season. We root all of our flowering plants from cuttings...It is done in our 54' x 125' glass propagation house...We keep the temperature a toasty 78 degrees...Great to work in when it is cold outside...
This week we are planting: New Guinea Impatiens, Bacopa, Verbena, Osteos, Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias, etc...Our hanging baskets are looking really good this year...As usual we use Osmocote in our hanging baskets, which means the baskets won't have to be fertilized by you the gardener for at least four months...Osmocote is a very good grandular fertilizer which slowly releases the food over a 4 month period...We recommend it for all plants...One treatment and your plant is fed for the majority of the growing season...
Next week we start planting Petunias and Marigolds in bundles...We have been using bundles for the past 3 years with great success...The landscapers started asking for them, as they found there was very little transplant shock when planted in the garden...The large 3" square cells gives the annual a real boost in the rooting system, even if the weather is less than optimal...If you haven't tried our bundles yet, try some this year...You will never again go back to the old bedding plant flats...
This year according to the reports, should be a big vegetable season. People are interested in cutting down on food costs and would also like their food to be free from pesticides and other bad things...All of our veggies have been started in our greenhouses from seed...We take very special care of the food plants we grow...If you plant your own veggies from seed, great! If you buy your veggies already started, make sure you inquire if the grower or garden center used pesticides on the plants...It is a very common practice among many growers to spray every week to keep insects at bay...The Glass Greenhouse, however, does not use pesticides on our veggies...We use temperature averaging to control the insects...It is a very successful technique...I'll give more details on how to control insects naturally in the home, as well as the garden, in the near future...
Our retail greenhouse is all set up for Spring...When the sun comes out the temperatures can quickly rise to 85 degrees...It is Spring under our glass roof...The color and smells of the Pansies, Violas, and Gardenias are intoxicating...The colors of the flowers are striking after a long winter...It makes me want to put up the "Closed" sign and get into a nice hammock and take a long nap...I am dreaming here of course...But, if you are in our area please stop in and browse around...You'll be glad you did...We have some park benches set up if you have the time to sit and smell the roses...
We also want to thank all of you who have returned The Glass Greenhouse pots...We continue to recycle our pots with new plants every season...All of us who garden and work close with nature know that it is our responsiblity to give back a little more than we take...If only the whole world would care and know how bountiful the soil is, when love and care is given back to the Garden, maybe, just maybe, things would be better...
Happy Gardening...Talk to you soon...Walt G.
PS. If anyone has any gardening questions just email them to gabrielsen@earthlink.net and we shall attempt to answer them in the next column.
Check out our website at www.theglassgreenhouse.com
An early Spring nip is in the air, but your garden is already stirring under the soil and in those brown branches...buds are starting to swell ever so slightly...It is time to go out and access what old man winter has been up to for all these many months...You may want to start doing a little raking of old leaves and downed branches...When you rake be gentle, so as to not disturb the shoots from bulbs and perennials that are starting to awaken...For those that have fruit trees, now is the last time to spray dormant oil to help control those summer insects...Consider doing some composting this year...A lot of garden litter can be used to compost with...You will be rewarded with a deep rich soil, which can be added back to your garden, which in turn brings a rich and contented garden...
Now is the time to start tomato seeds in a sunny window...Now is also the time to plan for that bare spot or corner with annuals or perennials or perhaps even a berry bush...Blueberries and raspberries are great in the summer...Especially with whipped cream...
Encourage children to help in planning and preparing the garden...Kids always have great ideas...Go with their thoughts and run with them...You will be surprised at their perception of life and their facination with the growing things around them...A garden must have children's laughter in it... A garden is more than just where plants should grow or what looks best in one spot over another; but a garden is meant to be shared by loved ones and those close to you...So start enjoying the Spring in your own little oasis and live a little bit more...Walt G.
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