Blog grid – Lee Reich

PRUNING HYDRANGEA

April 5, 2023

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

4 Comments

[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

17 Comments

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

6 Comments

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

5 Comments

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

March 1, 2023

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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

February 21, 2023

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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:

TREES AND SHRUBS AND VINES, OH NO!

February 15, 2023

16 Comments

It’s that time of year when nursery catalogues and websites splash colorful plants in my face, enticing me to purchase and plant. But what do I want; what do I have a spot for? And what about my potted grape, filbert, and other plants awaiting planting. There is at least one heavily hyped plant i will never grow. Read my latest blog post to find out what I lust for and what I’ll never grow.

TOO MANY GOOSEBERRIES

February 8, 2023

68 Comments

Can one have too many gooseberries? Did you ever taste a gooseberry? A really good one? My gooseberry journey has been very long and enjoyable, to the extent that I amassed a large number of varieties. I’ve periodically pared down the collection for various reasons. And now . . . read my latest blog post for details.