Discover the Fun of Gardening

September 15, 2011   

 
A Florida Sun Hosta in Kim and Joey's Garden

Something exciting has arrived at the nursery . . . Florida Sun Hostas. That's right a hosta grown especially for Florida. Kim and Joey have been growing them in their yard for a few years and they are thriving. Try some in your garden, or as we like to say when we really want to see the staff roll their eyes at us . . . You "Hosta" try some of these!  The beautiful variegated foliage and delightful white flowers will add something special to your fall landscape. 

Last year's fall garden. Hopefully this year's will be as successful.

Veggie season is here! Broccoli and cauliflower, collards and cabbage, and everyone's favorite . . . Brussels sprouts have arrived at the nursery.  This Saturday, September 17th at 10am, we're having our Fall Veggie Workshop where you can learn all about growing and caring for your fall vegetable garden. If you're still in the planning stages, check our this sample fall veggie garden. It's a sample plan for a 10 x 20 garden, but can easily be adapted to gardens of any size. Be creative and plant something delicious this year. We hope to see you at the workshop.   


Happy Gardening,
Kim, Joey and Mark
 

In This Issue

Fall Vegetable Gardening

Upcoming Events
 

Fall Seeds &
Veggies are In


All Roses
50% Off

New Shipment of
Florida Sun Hostas
 

Fall Veggie Gardening: A Practical Garden

There are so many benefits to growing your own vegetable garden. It's great exercise and can help you unwind after a long day at the office. Plus you get home-grown nutritious food that always tastes better than store bought veggies. Planting a veggie garden can seem overwhelming though. Which veggies should I plant? Do I have enough time to care for them? are common questions for anyone thinking about becoming a backyard farmer. Fortunately even with the responsibilities of a job and a family, you can still find time to create a productive vegetable garden, without turning into a full-time farmer. Below are some tips for creating a practical garden that will work for you.   To really get a great start, come out to the nursery at 10am this Saturday for the Fall Vegetable Workshop.   

Make it Practical -  Everyone with dreams of being a home farmer pictures a large plot of land brimming with vegetables of all kinds. That may not be reality for all of us though. So what makes a garden practical and manageable? Try these tips to have your best garden ever.

1. Location - Make sure your veggie garden is in the sun and is easily accessible. Water should be right at hand so that watering is as easy as turning the hose on. Being located near the kitchen also makes harvesting a snap. (Pictured at right: Joey and Kim's niece Sawyer helped pick carrots in their fall garden.)

2. Start Small - Don't get caught up in veggie fever and try to grow every vegetable that you like. Start with a small plot and pick your favorite three or four vegetables. Tend them well and as you become successful, increase the garden size. Be sure you plant only as much as you can manage.

3. Don't Start too Small - While you don't want to start too large, it is easy to underplant as well. Take a little time to plan out what you would like to harvest and use that amount to guide how many of each plant you put out. For instance with lettuce or spinach, it can be useful to plant a large patch, so that you can continually harvest leaves. One or two plants would make for very small salads!

4. Use Rich Soil - Our Florida soil is notoriously poor, so add lots of rich potting soil such as our Kerby's Soil or mix your own with peat, manure and compost. Soil condition impacts the taste and nutrition of the veggies you grow, as well as the success of the garden.

5. Make Tending Easy - Keep fertilizer and ready-to-use sprays handy on your morning garden walks so that you can easily tend to problems as you see them. Scouting your garden regularly allows for more relaxation time (a stroll with your morning coffee in hand is always soul-soothing) and more opportunities to keep problems in check. The more you scout the more successful your garden will be.

6. Get Everyone Involved - As kids, helping in the garden can be lots of fun and will create some great memories. Kim always remembers helping Grandma and Grandpa Kerby (picture, left) in their veggie garden. Having little (and big) helpers can lessen the chores you have to do in the garden and can make tending it a little easier. Plus, it never hurts to teach kids where veggies come from, they may even be more likely to eat them!

Happy Harvests!

 

 

Upcoming Events
 

What a wonderful year to discover the fun of gardening! Below is the schedule for our Fall series of events and workshops. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

 

Workshop: Growing and Caring for Veggies
Saturday, September 17th at 10am
The second workshop in our fall veggie series, where we'll discuss planting veggies, and the care required to make them grow big and strong. We'll also show you some great natural options for fertilizing and spraying to make sure your great harvests are also safe and healthy. Come out and let Kerby's turn your thumbs green.

 



 Workshop: Fall Porch Pots
Saturday, October 8th 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!





Workshop: Fall Fruits
Saturday, October 15th at 10am
This workshop will teach you all the basics about planting and caring for fruits, and focus on some of the hardy fruit trees that you can plant for our area. We'll also discuss techniques for protecting your favorite fruit trees from frost and freezes. Afterwards sample some of the delicious fruits and tantalize your taste buds.
 

 

 


Kerby's Pumpkin Patch
Coming in October

Bring the family out to select this year's jack-o-lantern while enjoying the beauty of fall at the Kerby's Pumpkin Patch. You'll find cool pumpkins and great ideas for decorating your garden for fall.






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Kerby's Nursery

2311 S. Parsons Ave.

Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 685-3265
www.kerbysnursery.com


Store Hours
Open Seven Days a Week
Monday - Friday,  9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday,  11:00am - 4:00pm