| Evidently, many of you are as excited about this warm weather as I am. We have been very busy keeping up with the greenhouse. The question I have heard most often this week is, "Do you think the cold weather is over? "Is it safe to plant my tender veggies and flowers?" My response is, "Your guess is as good as mine." Anyone who has lived around here for any length of time knows that late April and May frosts are not uncommon. If you plant the tender things now, be sure you have something on hand to cover them if cold temps return. I am somewhat of an optimist so I have moved many of our plants into the shade house. The Supertunias and Superbells continue to steal the show, with our Dragonwing begonias not far behind. Dragonwings are spectacular plants. They are a hybrid angelwing begonia which cannot produce seed. The plant doesn't know this, so it blooms continually trying to produce seed. They are semi-succulent, so if you forget to water once and a while, it is not detrimental to the plant. They grow in full sun to part shade. Four or five plants will quickly fill a half-whiskey barrel, and provide spectacular color until frost. If you are a hummingbird enthusiast, they are drawn to dragonwings like magnets. Hang one on your sunny porch, and you will be dodging these little birds all summer. My Grandpa Clyde always said to plant corn and beans when the oak leaves were are big as a squirrels ear. Late April or early May is a good time to plant these crops. Corn is a wind pollinated crop and needs to be planted in rows. I usually do not plant corn as I use raised garden beds and it takes up too much space in my small garden beds. Plant two seeds about a foot apart in rows 2 feet apart. Cross-pollination can occur between varieties, so plant only one variety. Beans prefer warm soil temperatures and have a tendency to rot in the ground if cool damp weather sets in after they are planted. Beans like peas are legumes and with the help of bacteria, fix nitrogen from the air to meet their nitrogen needs. They actually put nitrogen back into the soil, instead of depleting the nitrogen supply as most other plants do. Plant beans about 1/2 inch deep two or three seeds to a hill with 6 to 8 inches between hills. I planted the first of my tomato crop last week. The two Early Girl's already have small tomatoes. I'll hold off on my main tomato crop until this wet weather is over. Happy Gardening, Paula Sherwood |
| The Blackberry Lane Gardens |
| Newsletter April 24th,2009 |
 | |  |
| Blackberry Lane Gardens Crane, Mo. 65633 1-417-723-8272 1-417-723-8271 fax Regarding the contents of this page please contact us at :admin@blackberrylanegardens.com |