Now is the Time,
Kerby's is the Place

 September 18, 2014   

Make your garden beautiful with the colors of fall.

Waking up to the sound of rain is always soothing. Besides the lovely sound, it is nice to know that all of your beautiful plants are being well-watered by mother nature. And with the first day of fall coming up next week, it is really nice to see a cold front pushing into Florida. Afternoons in the upper 80s are a welcome treat after the upper 90s of the summer. Before long, there will be some 60s in the forecast and native Floridians will start putting on their sweaters. Take advantage of the soaking rains and milder temperatures to get out and make your garden beautiful. A lovely fall season awaits in the garden.

Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family	Forward to a Friend Follow us on Facebook Landscape Design Services

In This Issue

A Practical Veggie Garden

Featured Plant

Upcoming Events
Saturday 9/20 at 10am
Fall Veggie Gardening

Fall Color is Here

Geraniums and Mums

Back By Popular Demand

Pine Straw Bales
2 for $10

Click to See
More Beautiful Plants
at Kerby's

Blooming Gerniums 6" Pot - $4.99

Featured Plant
Geranium
Pelargonium x
 
The start of fall in Florida is ushered in by the bright, beautiful of color of geraniums. They brighten up porches, patios and pots with colors ranging from pink and red to lavender. Get rid of the summer blues in your garden and plant some fall fun.

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? These 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 a fall garden, many years ago now..)

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 (pictured above)always remembers helping Grandma and Grandpa Kerby 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

 
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