Blog grid – Lee Reich

GARDENING LUNACY

May 3, 2023

“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?

April 26, 2023

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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.

PRUNING AN APPLE TREE, A NECESSARY EVIL

April 20, 2023

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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

April 12, 2023

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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

April 5, 2023

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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

March 29, 2023

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[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

March 22, 2023

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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

March 15, 2023

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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…

March 8, 2023

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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