Entries by Lee Reich

A SECOND “SPRING”

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Make believe it’s spring. That’s what I’m doing this time of year as I drop seeds into minifurrows of potting soil in seedling trays. It’s as if I’m getting ready to plant a garden — and, in fact, I am. The fall garden. Having a fall garden is like having a whole other garden with no additional space needed. That’s why I’m sowing in seedling trays rather than elbowing my way into the present garden’s valuable real estate. Today I sowed lettuce, and . . . what?, when?, how? All in my latest blog post:

FOR THAT UNWELCOME MEDITERRANEAN LOOK

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The powdery white coating I notice on leaves of my peony and lilac plants gives them a very Mediterranean look. Not attractive, though, at least to me, because that’s a sign of disease, appropriately called powdery mildew. If I look around the garden, the disease is probably showing itself, or soon to do so, on a wide variety of plants, including phlox, zinnia, squash, gooseberry, and many more. I’ve had it. You’ve probably had it. What can we do about it? Read more on my latest blog post, here.

WORTH GROWING

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Lots of folks are dissuaded from planting sweet corn in their backyard gardens. Two reasons are generally offered. I debunk those rumors and offer reasons why you should plant sweet corn in your garden. Read more about this in my latest blog post.

SOME LIKE IT HOT

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A greenhouse isn’t only for winter. Join me, in my latest blog post, as we walk through the door to see what fruits (and a vegetable and a spice) are now growing. Special varieties of grapes, mulberries, cucumbers, and more! For more information about all this, read my latest blog post at www.leereich.com/blog, here.

EASY CHERRIES

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My Nanking cherries are ripe now, juicy, sweet and sprightly, and abundant, pretty much with no help from me. Except for planting them. It’s nice to have a fruit — a cherry, no less! — that bears reliably with no heroic efforts in pest control, including birds, or nail-biting about late spring frosts.

WISTERIA UPS AND DOWNS

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Wisteria. Beautiful blossoms, but sometimes reluctant to show them off. Nice for arbors but can take over and spread. To plant or not to plant? Hmm. There is an American species that might be better. Answers to all this in my latest blog post, which is linked, click here, for your reading pleasure.

A SLIPPERY SLOPE

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Fear of mowing off a toe was the spur for a rock wall, soil fill, and a family gathering. The family is the Heath Family, kin to many beautiful ornamental and fruiting plants. I’m very proud of my heath bed, might even brag about it. Read about how it came about and which family members — and some nonfamily members — got selected, in my latest blog post.

A FRUITFUL YEAR?

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Fruit trees bloomed abundantly this spring. Home free? Mmmm, not quite yet. Things that might “slip twixt the [figurative] cup and the lip,” but ending on a high note, are the subjects of my latest blog post.

EXIT: TOMATOES AND PEPPERS

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A late frost such as happened here about a week ago can kill tender transplants. These late frosts can’t be predicted (except very near their time) but that’s not to say you can’t use historical averages to help decide when to plant what. All of which is covered in my latest blog post.

PESKY CREATURES

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A few pests are sure to turn up in just about every vegetable garden, even yours! Yes? All three can be thwarted by various methods described in this week’s blog post, here. How do you control them?