August 30, 2012 Newsletter

This Saturday, Sept 1st at 10am, we are holding our first workshop of the season. It will give you great information about preparing your garden for this season's veggie garden. And we'll talk about easy ways to start vegetables from seed.

Plant Seeds Properly - That seems obvious doesn't it . . . but two things are critical when planting veggie seeds. Plant seeds at the correct time of year and at the correct depth. Planting seeds when it is too cold or too hot will result in poor germination and weak plants. Additionally, each type of veggie has a different planting depth. Radishes (pictured at right), for instance, should be planted at a depth of about a half inch, whereas most lettuces are planted at a quarter of an inch. Planting too deep means a seedling can't find the sun as soon as it needs to and results in a weak plant, or no plant at all. The University of Florida has a great Vegetable Gardening Guide with tables of detailed information for lots of veggies.

Start Seeds in Pots or Trays - Some seeds, like lettuce, spinach, radishes and carrots are easier to start right in garden beds. But some veggies like collards, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers are easier to start in individual pots or trays. We like to use old egg cartons with holes poked in them as our seed-starting trays. This allows you to start a number of seeds and then select the strongest plants for your garden. When starting seeds in pots or trays, use a very light soil, such as Fafard Seed Starting Planting Mix. Don't use the same soil as you have in your veggie garden, as it is often too dense for seeds to sprout well.

Water seeds properly - Seeds don't need a whole lot to get started. A light soil and moderate moisture is usually all that they need. Avoid over-saturating the soil that you are starting seeds in, as this can lead to disease issues and poor growth of seedlings. As seedlings grow and become large plants, they will need more water, but as seeds they just need light moisture to sprout.

There are so many cool vegetables out there and seeds are a great and inexpensive way to get a veggie garden started. What will you plant this season?

Veggie Gardening: Preparing the Soil and Planting Seeds
Saturday, September 1st at 10am

The most important part of a vegetable garden is the soil. It's where each plant gets nutrients and water, so it is important that it be prepared properly. Come out to this workshop to learn about getting the soil ready for your Fall Vegetable Garden. While your soil is settling, it is also a great time to start seeds, so we'll talk about the best ways to start veggies from seeds too.

Gardening to Attract Wildlife
Saturday, September 8th at 10am

Fall is a great time to see many different birds in Florida as they migrate south for the winter. At this workshop we'll teach you tips and tricks to make your garden the place for birds (and other wildlife) to stop on their way south.

Fall Veggie Gardening in Raised Beds
Saturday, September 15th at 10am

Florida is a wonderful place to live, because while our northern neighbors are starting to hunker down for winter, we are planning our fall vegetable gardens. Fall is a great time of year to grow leafy favorites, like cabbage, collards, mustards and broccoli. We'll talk about all of the great vegetables that grow through the winter in Florida, and we'll also discuss gardening in raised beds (a great way to grow veggies in smaller yards).

Fall Porch Pots
Saturday, September 22nd at 10am

Your front porch is the first thing friends and guests see when they enter your home, so why not make a stunning first impression. Porch pots are an easy way to create amazing, colorful displays that will invite everyone into your home. We'll show you how to create and maintain an amazing porch pot. Come early to pick out your pot and we'll even help you plant it!

Rose Care in the Fall and Winter

Saturday, September 29th at 10am

Roses always need a little TLC after the summer time. At this workshop we'll talk about pruning and caring for roses in the fall and winter. We'll also talk about pest & disease control and fertilizing to get the best blooms out of your rose bushes.


Discover the Fun of Gardening	August 30, 2012