All the Dirt on Gardening

Red Russian Kale Today I planted a row of Red Russian Kale seeds in the ground. Reminder: It's time to get all your cabbage and cool family seeds and plants started outside. That includes broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, onion, leek, lettuce, peas, potatoes,parsnip, radish, spinach, turnip, asparagus crowns, etc. Here's a link to the Oklahoma State University planting guide. Click over and have some fun in this glorious warm-ish late winter we are having. Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale Our two favorite kales for garden and table are Red Russian and Dinosaur. They are both wonderful in salads and cooked. After a two year break, vegetable plants are showing up again in our gardens; I only bought Red Russian seeds this year in order to re-enter the veggie growing bit gradually. Cucumbers are a must, of course, but it's too early to start those seeds. We'll buy a six pack of banana peppers and I'm undecided about tomatoes but there...

Back Yard Boss has a great summary of what we need to know about mulch. Bark, rubber, leaves, glass, lava rock, red mulch - it's all covered in one single resource. Here's the link https://www.backyardboss.net/what-is-mulch/

Grow Italian is one of my favorite seed catalogs. The company is actually called Seeds from Italy but it doesn't matter. If you enjoy growing vegetables this is one resource that you will treasure.  Seeds from Italy offers kitchen and garden gear, 500 varieties of heirloom Italian vegetables, flowers and herbs. Started in 2001 by Bill McKay, Seeds from Italy was born because McKay couldn't find the Italian vegetable varieties he wanted to grow. By luck, he happened upon Franchi Seeds, Italy's oldest family-owned seed company, which offers an extensive selection of traditional Italian varieties. Franchi didn't have an agent in the U.S., so Bill started importing the seeds and reselling them.  In 2011, Bill sold the business to Dan Nagengast, a long-time market gardener in Lawrence, Kansas. In addition to growing vegetables and flowers for local markets, Dan was director of the Kansas Rural Center, a nonprofit that advocates for sustainable agriculture and f...

Hypericum inodorum Hypearl Compact Red48" tall Plant Delights Nursery posted on their blog recently about a new St. John's Wort with Ornamental Fruit, Hypericum inodorum Hypearl Compact Red. It is really beautiful!  It's one of the hundreds of interesting selections in this year's catalog from plantsman Tony Avent and his crew at PD Nursery. Tony said the hardiness range is 6a to 9b so we are just barely safe to plant it but with winter protection ... .  Several years ago I received a garden writer sample plant of Hypericum Hypearls Renu from Blooms of Bressingham and it is thriving seven years later in part shade.  Just in case you were planning to go looking for Blooms of Bressingham they now call themselves Must Have Perennials  (wholesale) and  rozanne and friends (retail). Hypericum, St. John's Wort, in general, is considered a butterfly attracting plant and there are many varieties. Common St. John's Wort, Hypericum calycinum, has a...

Here's a great opportunity to learn about Orchids from Cathy and Steve Marak. The Maraks are enthusiastic about orchids and give great presentations. What Is It About Orchids?    At the February 17 meeting of Flower, Garden & Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas hear two orchid enthusiasts, Cathy and Steve Marak, as they talk about their collection of hundreds of orchids.   Both Cathy and Steve have held offices in the Orchid Society of the Ozarks (Steve is the current president.), and they are co-chairing the 8th Annual Orchids in the Garden Show and Sale.   That event will occur March 2, 3, & 4 this year.    Meet Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Student Center of Northwest Technical Institute at 709 S. Old Missouri Road in Springdale at 9:30 a.m. for social time and the meeting at 10:00.   Membership is not required for first-time visitors.  Info:  479-466-8100 or 479-466-7265.