IS IT SUNNY, ENOUGH?
People have their own definitions of “sun”, “part shade,” and “shade.” But plants have THE definition, according to their needs. For a more plant-centric definition and what plants enjoy where, read my latest blog post.
Entries by Lee Reich
PRUNING AN APPLE TREE, A NECESSARY EVIL
Apple trees grow and bear best if pruned every year. In my latest blog post, I step by step prune my apple trees. Read the whole blog post here, for the whole picture.
MARCH OF THE LETTUCES
With a few little tricks, I grow a steady supply of lettuce right through the growing season. (Actually, right through winter, but I have a minimally heated greenhouse.) In my latest blog post, I describe how raising a steady supply of lettuce is possible while taking up only minimal space in the garden. Read the details here.
PRUNING HYDRANGEA
Hydrangeas are all the rage these days. But what is a hydrangea. They are a number of species. For a guide to identifying a species and what it needs as far as pruning, read my latest blog post, here:
BENEFITS OF IMMATURITY
[As with humans and other animals, even plants go through a stage of prepuberty, or juvenility. Besides not being able to have sex, juvenile plants have other characteristics that differ, often markedly, from mature — potentially sexually active — plants. See what this is all about and how we gardeners can make the best of plant growth stages in my latest blog post.
LOOKING BACKWARD, LOOKING FORWARD
Two plants from the mild winters of the Mediterranean region, here in frigid winter Zone 5. With help, they could do what they’re supposed to do. In my latest blog post I describe my efforts, reliably successful with cardoon. But I’m playing around with a new, easier method with figs. All detailed in this week’s post.
YOU NEED A PITCHFORK IN YOUR QUIVER
Are organic fertilizers better than synthetic ones? For plants? For the environment? Are all organic fertilizers better. What’s best. Grab your pitchfork and read about it in my latest blog post.
A COLDFRAME IS WARM, UNLESS IT’S…
Riddle: When is a coldframe not a coldframe. Answer: When it’s a hotbed. So what is a coldframe, what’s it good for, how can you make one? And what supersedes coldframes. Explore all this in my latest blog post
SLEEP, MY FIGS
It’s possible and it’s easy to be harvesting fresh figs even where winters are cold. Of course, some accommodations must be made for this subtropical fruit. Most important is not letting the plant wake up from it’s winter sleep prematurely. For why, how, and what to do if it disobeys, read my latest blog post.
FINDING MY ROOTS
I like to find my roots, my plants’ roots. Besides being interesting to look at, imho, they tell something about the plant and its needs. I take action — needed yearly with some plants, not so much with others — letting those in need have new roots and new food. But this only skims the surface; I “dig” deeper into this in my latest blog post:
