Entries by Lee Reich

FERTILIZER GIVEAWAY

Free fertilizer for your garden! No, it’s not a giveaway from me, but from our friend, familiar to many gardeners, Rhizobia. Less know are Frankia and many other friends. You’re probably curious about this even if you know Rhizobia. Find out more in my latest blog post.

GARDENING LUNACY

“Plant potatoes by the dark of the moon,” some old-timers recommended. But the instructions can get much more detailed and complicated. What are they, and what is their basis. Read more about whether this is all lunacy in my latest blog post.

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.

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.