Last Event of April

As usual, April has been a whirlwind of activity.  It is my biggest event month of the year and 2016 has been no exception.

This coming Saturday, April 30th I will be at the Bachman Garden & Home Show at 2815 Anderson Pike on Signal Mountain.  The hours are 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., so that gives you time left in the afternoon to dig holes & get your plants in the ground!

Bachman CC Facebook Page

Map

Chattanooga Times Free Press Article

I will have a total of 324 small plants available plus a few in gallon pots.  There will be a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs, lavender, coneflowers, and scented geraniums.  Among these will be:

• Basils: Genovese, Red Rubin, Lemon, Thai
• Sages: Common, Purple, Pineapple
• Thymes: English, French, Golden Lemon, Orange
• Oregano family: Greek Oregano, Hot and Spicy  Oregano, Sweet Marjoram, Zaatar Marjoram, Winter Savory
• Lavenders: Phenomenal, Provence, Hidcote, Lady, French, Spanish, Czech
• Coneflowers: Purple (purpurea), Ruby Star, White Swan, Tennessee, PowWow White, Paradoxa (yellow), Cheyenne Spirit
• Scented Geraniums: Chocolate Mint, Attar of Rose, Frensham Lemon, Rober's Lemon Rose
• And more...!!

Because of space constraints and plant varieties, there will be from one to six of any given variety so shop early.  I will still have plants available all summer at my regular market venue or by delivery/pick-up.

I'm praying for a nice day!  Come visit me!

Weekend Event - Come Visit Me!

Come visit me this weekend at the Hamilton County Master Gardener's "Master Your Garden" Expo.  The event will be held at the Camp Jordan field house on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
I will be loaded with plants and will have a variety of my other products as well. 

Here is a link to the Expo page:
Garden Expo Information

And here is a link to the Facebook page:
Garden Expo on Facebook

I will also be speaking on Sunday in Classroom B at 12:30 p.m.  My subject will be "Why Grow Herbs?"  This will cover a variety of things that can be done with herbs, as well as a little info on successful growth.

You can see the entire list of speakers and our bios here:
Garden Expo Speakers & Bios

I would love for you to check out everything I have to offer, or just come by to say "Hi" and ask some questions!  You can bet this Garden Girl will be keeping it Down To Earth...

A Tale of Two Tables (really Three)

The timing is never right, but we finally got going on my new tables.  Many thanks to my 'Agricultural Engineer' (darling husband Mark) for taking on the project after working 50 hours last week.  While this shows a picture of the work in progress, here is a picture after they were both completed & posting 'No Vacancy' signs!

Over the weekend, we completed the third table & it was a bear, to say the least.  This one is a healthy 8'x8' & it dawned on us that it would not fit through the greenhouse door.  It had to be built in-place inside the greenhouse.  Since the top is build upside down, it took some finagling to get that bad boy right side up.  Needless to say, ropes & straps were involved.  In retrospect, I should have gotten 2 smaller tables...  Here we have it completed, then receiving guests.

The expanded metal top came in 2-4'x8' pieces that meet on top of the middle support.  We noticed that once trays of plants were placed, it started sagging off of that middle support.  The supplier has been contacted for direction on how to deal with that problem.  Plants are pretty heavy after they've been watered, so I don't really want to be crawling under the table to retrieve plants if the mesh sags far enough for a catastrophe.  I hope something can be worked out because we REALLY don't want to have to take it apart.  

Just another delightful challenge!

The Dark Side of Companion Planting

I posted a chart a while back about the benefits of companion planting.  Now let's take a look at the flip side of that coin.

There are some herbs/plants that do not play so well with others.  Some plants engage in a sort of chemical warfare with other plants.  The general term for this is alleopathy.  It's the releasing of chemicals by one plant that inhibits or detrimentally affects the condition of some plants around it.  Seems plants are more like humans than we thought!

Here is a list of some of the bully plants & the ones they like to pick on:

Plant Bully	Victim
Anise	Carrots
Black Walnut	Most Vegetables, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Blackberries, Lilacs, Peonies, & Apple trees
Chives	Beans & Peas
Chrysanthemum	Lettuce
Coriander	Fennel
Dill	Carrot, Tomato, & Fennel
Fennel	Beans & Peppers
Garlic	Beans & Peas
Larkspur	Beets
Mustard	Turnip
Onion	Beans, Peas, & Sage
Rue	Basil, Cabbage, & Sage
Sage	Onion
Tansy	Collards
Wormwood	Most Vegetables

Perhaps this will explain some of your mysterious failures!

Don't Jump the Gun!

With the gorgeous weather we're having, it's only natural to want to start digging holes & planting.  Not so fast...

Hamilton County is in USDA Zone 7a.  If you don't believe me, check here:
TN USDA Zones


The last frost date is not quite that simple.  The greater Chattanooga area, including north to Middle Valley but excluding the mountains, can still have the potential for frost as late as April 10th.  Mountains & outlying areas have the potential for frost as late as April 20th.  View the map here:
TN Last Frost Dates

Gardening includes a touch of Russian roulette.  Plant too soon & you take the risk of having damaged plants or losing them completely.  Spring fever is an overwhelming sickness!  It makes seasoned gardeners lose their better judgement.  What to do??

It's a gamble, but watch your weather forecasts & try to make your best educated guess.  If you go ahead with your planting, be prepared to protect your investment by covering the plants if the temperatures drop.  Any lightweight material will work.  Be careful with plastic, though, as it can create a sauna effect when the sun comes out.  That can cook your plant goose, so to speak.  There are more online resources that can help you, but always be sure to get information that is pertinent to our area for best results.
In the meantime, prepare your beds or containers, get your tools ready, & plan what to plant & where.

Down To Earth will have plants available beginning April 1st (no fooling!).  My website is on the horizon, but until then you can email me at:
dte0853@epbfi.com
I can provide you with a list of what I will have & when.  You can also find me at the Hamilton County Master Gardener's Expo at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, TN on April 9th & 10th.  Hope to see you there!

Growing Along...

In spite of all the rainy, dreary days, things are growing along in the greenhouses.  I guess the couple of days of sunshine here & there were better than none at all.  Even so, it would be nice to have a 4 or 5 day stretch (or more) of uninterrupted sunshine.

This Down To Earth Garden Girl has her fingers crossed...

Upcoming Events

Unfortunately, I will not be at my regular Saturday market on 2/13.  I had an opportunity to get some help in the greenhouses & I just couldn't pass it up.  However, I will return to the market on Saturday, 2/20.

In addition, "if the Good Lord's willin' & the creek don't rise", I will be set up at the following events in April:

• 4th Annual "Master Your Garden" Garden Expo on Saturday, April 9th & Sunday April 10th in the Camp Jordan Arena, East Ridge, TN  http://mghc.org/garden-expo/
• Crabtree Farms Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 16th & Sunday, April 17th http://crabtreefarms.org/events/16th-annual-spring-plant-sale-festival
• Bachman Garden & Art Expo on Saturday, April 30th https://www.facebook.com/295315663312/photos/a.10152346472718313.1073741825.295315663312/10153987698463313/?type=3&theater

You can always call (423) 400-5301 or email me dte0853@epbfi.com.  I will respond as quickly as I can.

Landscaping With Herbs

Note: I include this information in a publication for sale. Please do not print and distribute.

Thank you.

Including herbs in your landscaping - what better way to spice up your yard and your life?

If you have adequate sunlight (minimum of 5-6 hours) and good drainage you are already half way there. Now all you have to do is figure out the plan. Consider what you want to accomplish, how you want to be able to use them, then get going.

If you're looking for sustainability in the landscape, here is how herbs can fit the bill for you:

• They are easily incorporated into the landscape. 
• There are many perennial varieties. 
• There are some natives/'weeds'. 
• They have minimal water requirements, once established. 
• They have minimal fertilizer requirements. 
• They have minimal soil requirements. 

Here are some suggestions for different applications in the landscape.
These lists are not all-inclusive.  Not all herbs in the lists are edible; some are poisonous. Please exercise due diligence and caution!

Herbs for Containers:
Basils, Calendula (pot marigold), Catmint, Catnip, Chive, Cilantro, Lavender, Lemon Balms, Lemon Verbena, Marjoram, Mints, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Scented Geraniums, Thyme, and MORE. Almost all herbs can be used in containers/planters.

Herbs for Theme Gardens:
Southwestern/Mexican - Arugula, Mexican basil, Cilantro, Dill, Epazote, Lemon balm, Lemon verbena, Marjoram, Mexican mint marigold, Nasturtium, Oregano, Papalo, Parsley, Rose geranium, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Sweet bay
Mediterranean - Arugula, Basil, Borage, Chervil, Chive, Dill, Fennel, Lovage, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Salad burnet, Sage, Spearmint, Sweet bay, Thyme, Winter savory
Western European - Basil, Chive, Curly parsley, Dill, Lavender, Lemon thyme, Nasturtium, Peppermint, Purple sage, Sage, Spearmint, Thyme
Asian - Cinnamon or Licorice Basil, Coriander, Cuban oregano, Garlic chive, Ginger, Lemongrass, Thyme, Turmeric
Herbal Tea - Anise hyssop, Bergamot, Chamomile, Hibiscus, Lavender, Lemon balm, Lemongrass, Mint, Pineapple sage, Rose, Sage, Thyme
Biblical - Costmary, Hyssop, Lavender, Lady's bedstraw, Mint, Myrrh, Rosemary, Rue, Sweet flag, St. John’s wort, Wormwood

Herbs for Foliage/Fillers/Groundcovers:
Bugleweed, Corsican mint, Creeping thymes, Curly parsley, Dwarf sage, Lady's mantle, Pennyroyal, Roman chamomile, Silver Mound artemesia, Spicy globe basil, Sweet woodruff, Thyme, Winter savory, Wooly Thyme, Yarrow

Herbs for Color:
Angelica, Bee balm, Bergamot, Borage, Burdock, Calendula, Chamomile, Chive, Clary sage, Coneflowers, Cranesbill, Evening primrose, Feverfew, Flax, Foxglove, Hollyhock, Lavender, Mallows, Milk Thistle, Mullien, Pinks, Purple sage, Red clover, Rugosa rose, Scented Geraniums, Skullcap, St. John's wort, Tansy, Valerian, White Clover, Yarrow

Herbs for Rock Gardens:
Alpine strawberry, Basil, Catmint, Chamomile, Chive/Garlic chive, Lady's mantle, Marjoram, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Thyme, Wild ginger, Winter savory

Herbs for Bees/Butterflies/Hummingbirds:
Bees - Angelica, Anise hyssop, Bee balm, Borage, Calendula, Catmint, Chive, Comfrey, Coneflower, Dandelion, Fennel, Horehound, Hyssop, Joe pye weed, Lavender, Lemon balm, Marjoram, Oregano, Passion flower, Purple coneflower, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Valerian
Butterflies - Borage, Catmint, Catnip, Fennel, Hyssop, Joe pye weed, Lavender, Nettle, Oregano, Parsley, Purple coneflower, Pineapple sage, Sassafras, Savory, Thyme, Verbena, Yarrow
Hummingbirds - Anise hyssop, Bergamot, Borage, Catnip, Lavender, Marsh mallow, Mints, Sages (especially Pineapple sage)

Herbs for Accents:
Topiaries - Lavender, Myrtle, Rosemary, Scented geraniums, Sweet bay
Chairs, Obelisks, Wire Garden Art - Chamomile, Marjoram, Soapwort, St. John's wort, Thyme

Herbs by Size:
Creeping - Corsican mint, Creeping thymes, Pennyroyal
Low/Edging - Blue Cushion Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Salad Burnet, Savory, Silver Mound artemesia, Sweet Woodruff
Medium Height (13-24") - Basils, Calendula, Chervil, Chive, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon balm, Most mints, Prostrate rosemary
Tall (2-6') - Anise hyssop, Bronze fennel, French tarragon, Pineapple sage, Rosemary, Southernwood, Wormwood

Herbs That Can Tolerate Bright Shade:
Anise hyssop, Bee balm, Catnip, Cilantro, Dill, Lemon balm, Marjoram, Mints, Parsley, Sweet woodruff, Tarragon

Herbs That Require Less Water:
Calendula, Echinacea, Lavender, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Thyme

Native Options:
Alumroot, Bee balm, Butterfly weed (Pleurisy root), Chickweed, Coneflower, Elderberry, Goldenrod, Ironweed, Joe pye weed, Milkweed, Plaintain, St. John's wort, Wild ginger, Wild strawberry, Witch hazel

This should get you started! Plant on and stay Down To Earth!

Master Gardeners Rock!

I always enjoy speaking to the new classes of the Hamilton County Master Gardeners.  They are always interested in learning & ask some great questions.  Thanks to Tom Stebbins for inviting me back to present the Herb segment of the classes.

In the next few days, I'll be posting information that was specifically requested during the classes.
Please bear with me until I get the time to post all of it.  I promise I will get it on here just as soon as I can!
The Down To Earth Garden Girl (a.k.a. Pat)

Planting for Spring

Ok, in all fairness, THIS is why I never have time to blog.
Seeds, products, t-shirts, other creations, other ideas for creations - I think you get my point.  It can be tricky to juggle, particularly where the seeds and plants are concerned.

All I need now is a stretch of sunny weather.  Fat chance of that this week.  We've gone from a blanket of snow to two days of sunshine to five days of rain.  The melting snow would have been enough to create a mess to slog through, but the rain has added insult to injury.  Every step between greenhouses today was squish-squish-squish, interrupted only by an occasional slip and shoe full of mud.

I cannot believe how many varieties of herb and veggie seeds I have started.  And let's not forget the edible flowers.  This was the view a couple of weeks ago.  Some of these have since been potted and more have taken their place. You can hurry through some things, but you can't grab a seedling by its little leaves and make it get bigger.  Add to that two bouts of illness where I lost serious greenhouse time and it's understandable why I fight a feeling of panic every time I walk through the doors. So much of growing is completely out of my control.   My husband will tell you that I'm not a patient person.  I have great expectations - I don't care that the seed packet says 6-12 days for germination.  I'm convinced that if I stare at the dirt every day looking for signs of life, it will speed things up.

Very soon, I will list all the varieties on the menu for this season.  I have to ditch this panic and get back Down To Earth!

Worst Blogger Ever?

I often wonder how people find the time to blog on a regular basis.  Perhaps I have too many irons in the fire, but I like all my activities...so...I will once again TRY to do better.  Promise.

The Year of Playing Catch-Up

We are nearing the end of November.  When did that happen?  It seems like just yesterday I was posting about the newly planted garden.  Seems I have plenty of thyme, but not plenty of time.
I often wonder how people manage to make regular blog posts, Facebook posts, Tweets, follow things on Pinterest, etc.  I dare not even create a Pinterest account...

Shortly after the first of the year, I was running behind & have been running that same race all year.
To recap the summer, while some things in the garden did well, others didn't.  Scored some Tidwell's peaches & our blueberries yielded a decent harvest.  Here's the final tally in the larder:

• Canned:  43 quarts of green beans, 6 quarts of tomato sauce, 12 pints of Kosher dill pickles, 18 pints of lime pickles, 44 half-pints of peach butter, 20 pints of peach syrup
• Frozen:  28 quarts of yellow squash, 8 quarts of blueberries, 8 half-pints of roasted red peppers, 12 quarts of pink banana pumpkin/squash
• Dried:  a pound of cayenne peppers

I think I'm finally at the point were I can take a few deep breaths before it starts all over again. However, I'm mapping out some potential improvements on paper.  For starters, I am going to be more specific with scheduling my tasks.  Only time will tell if this will be effective (there's that pesky 'time' thing again).

I promise you (and myself) to do a better job.
Promise yourself to take time to be Down To Earth!

Planting Has Begun!

When I'm digging and planting, I'm in my element.  Mark did a fine job tilling the garden earlier this month, but after a few showers a crust had developed (along with some young weeds).  I'm using the small tiller to reestablish soft soil for rows.

To say I have an aggressive plan for the garden this year would be an understatement.  If all goes as planned, I will have 3 varieties of yellow squash (Lioness, Fortune & Cube of Butter), 2 varieties of peppers (Big Red & Joe's Long Cayenne), 2 varieties of eggplant (Fairy Tale & Orient Express), 4 varieties of cucumbers (Tasty Jade, Bush Pickle, Arkansas Little Leaf & Rocky), 10 varieties of tomatoes (Mortgage Lifter, Martian Giant, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Super Sioux, San Marzano, Principe Borghese, Yellow Pear, Maglia Rosa, & Sweet Pea Currant), and at least 3 varieties of beans (Bountiful, Gita & Lazy Wife Greasy Bean).  Of course, there are other things I will start & plant later in the summer for fall/winter crops.  I'll reveal those later.  When I look through the seed catalogs, many things catch my eye.  I'll never know if I like a variety or not unless I try it...right?

Yes, your Honor, I have lost my mind.  Well, maybe not completely...yet...  The mission, should I choose to accept it and weather permitting, is to sell any excess we may have at market plus give some away.  My Dad always said your garden will do better if you give some away.  Makes sense to me, because I watched him do just that and his garden always prospered.  I hope he would be proud of my agricultural accomplishments.  I know I'm pretty proud, but not so much that it will keep me from being Down To Earth.

Companion Planting

While I was at the Master Gardener's Expo, several people asked about companion planting.  As promised, I am posting some information on that subject.  This is by no means a complete list, but it should be extensive enough to get you going.

Companion Planting Guide
Basil	•          May repel flies, asparagus beetle, mosquitoes & thrips •          Beneficial with tomatoes, squash, strawberries, grapes & peppers •          Avoid planting with rue or sage
Bee Balm	•          Beneficial with tomatoes •          Attracts beneficial insects & bees
Catnip	•          May repel flea beetles, Japanese beetles, aphids, ants, weevils & squash bugs •          May repel rodents
Chamomile	•          Beneficial with cucumbers & onions •          Increases essential oil in peppermint •          Attracts hover flies & wasps
Chervil	•          Beneficial with broccoli, lettuce & radishes •          May repel aphids, slugs •          Incompatible with beans & peas
Chive	•          May repel tomato pests, aphids •          Beneficial with carrots, grapes, roses & tomatoes •          Helps prevent apple scab
Cilantro	•          Attracts beneficial insects
Clover	•          Nitrogen fixer •          Attracts beneficial insects, particularly predators of the wooly aphid
Dandelion	•          Emits ethylene gas that is beneficial to fruit trees
Dill	•          Attracts beneficial insects •          Incompatible with carrots, caraway & tomatoes •          Beneficial with cabbage, lettuce & onions •          May repel aphids, squash bugs •          Can attract the tomato horn worm
Eucalyptus	•          May repel ants, cabbage looper, & Colorado potato beetle
Fennel	•          May repel aphids (I have not found this to be so) •          Attracts beneficial insects •          Incompatible with dill, potatoes
Lavender	•          May repel fleas, moths & whitefly
Lemon Balm	•          May repel many bugs
Lovage	•          Beneficial with most plants •          Attracts ground beetles
Marjoram	•          Beneficial with vegetables & herbs
Mints	•          Attracts beneficial insects, particularly predatory wasps & hover flies •          Use cuttings to mulch beets •          May repel rodents, ants, cabbage moth, aphids, fleas, flea beetles •          Beneficial with cabbage & tomatoes
Oregano	•          Beneficial with grapes, cabbage, squash & hot peppers •          May repel cucumber beetles & cabbage butterflies
Parsley	•          Beneficial with tomatoes, roses, asparagus, carrot, hot peppers, chive & onion •          Attracts beneficial insects, particularly hover flies & parasitic wasps •          May repel asparagus beetles •          Incompatible with mints
Rosemary	•          Beneficial with hot peppers, carrots, beans, cabbage & sage •          May repel carrot flies, cabbage moths & bean beetles
Sage	•          May repel white cabbage butterflies, beetles, flea beetles, carrot flies & cabbage moths •          Incompatible with cucumbers •          Beneficial with cabbage, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower & rosemary
Tarragon	•          Beneficial with most vegetables •          May repel a variety of pests
Thyme	•          Beneficial with eggplant, potatoes & tomatoes •          May repel cabbage worms, whitefly & cabbage looper