Tips for Early Spring

It is a rainy Friday here in Hockessin. Unfortunately it looks like it could persist through the weekend. However humdrum the skies may look, there is a plus side to the rain...it's not snow! The temperatures have finally risen enough to be able to work outside without freezing your fingers off. In that spirit, I figured I'd kick off the almost beginning of April with a brief checklist of can do's in your garden.

Prep Beds

--Remove large debris like fallen branches, large rocks, or maybe even an unfortunate tree. Whatever is in your way, get it out of there. You'll need your space to work when it comes to the fun stuff!

--Rake in foliage and other light compostable material into top layer of soil. It is a great way to feed the soil a little bit and it saves you from having to haul it way!

--Add organic matter if needed. If you don't have a lot of fallen leaves or other small debris that can break down easily, you may want to add some organic matter to improve the soil and wake it up for the great things to come! We suggest using a product called Bumpercrop in vegetable and flower beds or Black Forest around trees and shrubs.

Check for Winter Damage

--Plants that held too much snow or ice this winter could have suffered some broken branches or even total loss due to the persistent weight on them. It seemed like each week there was snow and ice so that is a lot of pressure on plants both getting established and already established.

--Pots and stonework (patio, stairs, etc.) may have cracked due to the extremely low temperatures we faced and with fluctuations in temperatures things like to contract and expand. If pushed too far, cracking can happen. It is good to fix these things now while you have the time not when the weather is perfect and you're trying to enjoy your landscape!

----You may want to check your decks too for repair, paint, or stain.

Plant

--Go ahead and get some stuff in the ground. Just make sure it is all stuff that can handle some low temperatures. We are not in the clear yet but should be experiencing some warmer weather now so cool weather veggies, pansies, violas, hellebores, should all be a go! 

Fertilize Bulbs

--You did all of that hard work getting those bulbs in just the right places now it's time to revisit them with some food. They need a little encouragement this time of year and Bulb-tone is a perfect product to get the best results for your results. 

Critter Care

--Your winged friends are looking forward to a busy spring so you can take the time now to clean out and prep their houses and feeders. They'll be so appreciative and you can enjoy watching them. 

--Some of the not so nice critters may have wreaked some havoc in and or around your beds. Check for potential damage caused by your new neighbors and consider ways to repel them going forward this spring. We have a variety of animal repellents we recommend.

Prune

--Pruning, to some, is an art. To some, it is an engineering feat. To some, it is a way to relieve stress. To some, it is something they simply don't do. Whatever your take is on pruning, be aware that different plants require different techniques so stop in or call to ask one of our knowledgeable staff members. We also have workshops where you can learn all you need to know about pruning certain plants!

Tool Shed

--Whether it's the garage, a detached shed, or a pile of tools under a tarp, get your tools and garden equipment ready now. Do a quick inventory, clean, fix what you can, and decide what you need to equip yourself with moving into those Spring projects you have planned. A clean organized tool area will prevent major headaches down the road.

Take advantage of this warmish weather and get the garden grunt work out of the way! You'll be happy you did when you can start with the enjoyable warm weather projects. 

If you have any comments or questions, please give us a call, stop in, or leave a comment in the box below!

Sweet Citrus

We are now officially in Spring. Hip hip hooray? We can speak technicalities till we are blue in the face but let's face it, it's not quite feeling like spring yet. I sat down to write out our schedule for next week and, as I always do, I checked the weather forecast to gauge how much traffic we could expect. I saw that scary icon of white snowflakes and those low numbers with the little circles to the right of them. Snow and 35 degrees Tuesday this week! We seem to be getting there but we're just not quite there yet. So, if you are still being patient and doing some indoor gardening, I have another idea for you. Pot up a small citrus tree, specifically a Meyer Lemon Tree!

Meyer Lemon Trees are a great high yielding citrus tree that not only produces tasty fruit but also has fragrant flowers. Double whammy! The little white blossoms will light up your room and give off such a sweet sweet smell. Those flowers then trade places with some spectacular tasting fruit. A little sweeter than most, the Meyer Lemon has a different taste than  its counterparts. You can keep these wonderful specimens smaller in more of a shrub like form by keeping it in a pot but it is known that they have a potential to become fully grown trees if cared for the right. way planted outside. If you have a sunny spot and are willing to be consistent with the watering, you will love this plant. It likes good drainage and to be fed on a regular basis. Be sure not to overfeed because it will not perform for you if you do so. Always read the fertilizer of your choice's directions carefully! Focus on the nitrogen content of the fertilizer for these guys.

We just brought in some small citrus plants including the one and only Meyer Lemon! Stop in to check out the selection.  

Bonsai Event

What a week it's been! I'm used to being able to get a few posts a week in but time just was not on my side this week. We have brought in so many colorful beautiful plants, it's feeling more and more like spring here at Gateway everyday! Another reason why there has been a gap is because there was a small recovery period after getting our place in tip top shape to prepare for The Kennett Collection's special sale. The Kennett Collection is a private collection of rare world class bonsai plants based in, you guessed it, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania!

The collection was looking to sell off some of its inventory to make room for new fresh plants. Now you might think, they're just trying to offload their junk. That couldn't be farther from the truth! These plants were amazing! They were so careful setting them out on the tables, I wanted no part of setting them up. I don't know if I would have trusted myself to lift and load a plant that is a few thousand dollars! They brought in around 400 plants ranging from $60 to $14,000. Yes that's the right number, no typos here. These plants were just exquisite beyond belief. Truly a world class collection.

The first day was crazy busy. Our parking lot was packed right away with license plates from all over. Nebraska, Indiana, Florida, New York, etc. They came as special invitees and these collectors were itching to get in. To keep it sane, they limited it to 3 trees per person and only 10 people in every 10 minutes to avoid a mad rush. After 1:00 that day it was open to the public to wander and shop as they pleased. This is when the bulk of the trees left for new homes. There were even people in U-Hauls!

I will not try to attempt to describe in words how wonderful these plants were. Instead, I will just post the photos that I took of the day. Enjoy!

Sow what will look pretty?

Okay sow I know I said I would cover all three in a week but I couldn't help but get outside and enjoy working in the weather the past couple days. Today, on the other hand, I don't mind staying in and writing a post. My apologies for leading you on. I had the best intentions but you have to take advantage of what March gives you!

Sow far, I have babbled on about growing herbs and veggies from seeds but some of you may be concerned about the aesthetic properties of those herbs and veggies. Even though they can be wonderful compliments to a dinner plate, they're not always the most eye appealing plants when they are planted alone. Edible plants are probably the most popular to grow from seed but there are wonderful opportunities to grow pretty flowers as well.

Let me start by reminding you there are sooo many options to choose from. Our seed racks are chock full of colorful options for any garden! The first flower seed pack I want to promote was a popular one last year...

Tithonia "Mexican Sunflower": This beautiful orange flower will grow to be about 4' to 6' tall and will attract all the butterflies you could ask for! It is an extremely easy plant to grow and makes a wonderful accent to any cut flower bouquet. I love the lines from Livingston Seed Co.'s description...

"Its fiery orange petals are irresistible, and it's so easy to grow. In no time your garden will ignite with its glow."

Individual plant seed packs are nice because you know exactly what you're going to get when that little sprout pops up but for those who like to live a little on the edge, I suggest a mixed seed pack, especially one that will attract butterflies. 

Wildflower Butterfly Mix: Looking at the front of this seed pack is like looking into a kaleidoscope! So much color happening here which could easily turn up in your own garden. This mix has everything you'd need to get that butterfly garden up and running. The mix contains some coneflower, daisy, blanket flower, zinnia, sunflower, among many others. It is a great option for those who cant decide on just one flower!

A mix is good and all but some of you might be asking what will last the longest? What will give you the best bang for your buck? Well, 

Alyssum "Carpet of Snow": This plant will have its little white flowers on it from spring until frost. For this reason, people usually like to put out on the edges of their gardens. It could also be a great pick for a window box because of its sweet fragrance. Also, my favorite attribute, it is easy to grow! 

Sow, get out there and sow some seed sow your gardens don't look sow empty!

Now that we can move on from seeds, stay tuned for BONSAI! We have a fantastic opportunity here at Gateway to host The Kennett Collection's first and only sale of rare and unique bonsai masterpieces this weekend. I will be sure to photograph the event and write a post about the excitement! Visit the link for more info http://www.thekennettcollection.com/. 

  

Sow what's next?

Veggies. We all were force fed them as infants so we developed a disgust for most of them as we grew into our "no" stages. That is when we learned to gain an upper hand by throwing a fit when given an ultimatum of either eating our veggies or receiving no dessert. As we hopefully mature with age like a fine wine, our tastes become more refined and we welcome a variety of adult flavors that not only please our palates but also benefit our health. We understand why veggies are good for us and we learn to consume them in ways that suit our tastes. Some of us even go as far as making them the only thing we consume. Sow, as adults with mature tastes and who take responsibility for their health, let's invest in vegetables.

                                                                               

The "Grow Your Own" movement has grown significantly and is becoming more and more mainstream. This a wonderful thing because consumers can then rest assured that what they're consuming has been handled properly. Even if certain vegetables are claimed to be organic at the grocery store, that doesn't always mean that they were purely organically grown. The only way to truly know is to grow your own. I know it is almost impossible for all of us to grow every single vegetable or fruit or herb we eat but I emphasize a focus on growing your "go to" items. You could consider what three to five vegetables you purchase regularly your "go to" items. If you did the math on how much you spend on those items at the grocery store and compare it to how much it would be to grow them from seed, you would be amazed! Also, to repeat the most important part, you know exactly where they came from! I picked my top three to talk briefly about and provide some links to scrumptious recipes.

Carrots: A staple in most people's diets, this crunchy orange vegetable turns up in many dishes. You could take after Bugs Bunny and eat it raw or you can chop it up and put it in soups or even pasta dishes as an ingredient in authentic bolognese sauce. When told that bolognese sauce should contain carrots, most people have an expression on their face like they've been given an extremely hard math problem to solve. The sweetness of the cooked carrot is a great addition in this bolognese recipe from Foodnouveau.

Arugula: The peppery goodness of arugula really adds a kick to typical salads. It is a great addition to your regular salad or it can also hold its own with some sweet additions like beets and mozzarella cheese or just some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yummly has a nice recipe that includes arugula roquette.






Kale: My favorite. I have kale everyday I like it so much. Sometimes I get weird stares because I enjoy it as a raw salad but to each his own right? You don't have to eat it raw (but I do recommend it!). You can make kale chips with it too. Kitchen Treaty has a cool pictorial step by step to show you how to make this delicious snack.

We have these three seeds and so much more to choose from here at Gateway. Sow, stop in to get your gardens growing inside!

Do you have any recipes you'd like to share? Please do, I'd love to expand my cookbook. Leave a comment below!

Sow what now?

Sow now that we are in quite the predicament with even more snow on the ground and cold temperatures persisting, we need to look at what we can do inside to get ready for when the warmer temps creep back allowing us to get outside in our gardens!

One thing we can do now to prep for the upcoming season is to start our seeds. Whether it's for color, for taste, or for nutrition, there are many options to choose from. Maybe you want to have a wildflower garden, or you are fed up with the supermarket's quality of herbs, or maybe you're still sticking to your New Year's Resolution to eat healthier and you need a more economical way to do so. Whatever your reason is, we have you covered here at Gateway. We have your seed starting soil, your table top greenhouse kits, and of course your seeds. Oh so many seeds! There are so many, I had trouble choosing which ones to cover in this post. I eventually picked three herbs, three veggies, and three flowers that I would like to highlight during the next few days.

Today, the herbs. Pretty self explanatory here for most of us. Fresh herbs are great additions while cooking your meals. If you are a big user of herbs while cooking, starting your own from seed is a good way to go because you will save money and it's a good way to get the garden juices flowing. The three I chose to highlight are three I use frequently to season food and to flavor drinks as well!


-Spearmint has a wide variety of uses. You can use it while making ice cream, mixing a cocktail, or just crushing it in some water for a refreshing drink!
--Look at this ice cream recipe from Yummly








-Basil is great on pizza. sandwiches, pasta, and in many other recipes. One of my favorites is fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil on a toasted ciabatta roll. Mmm too bad I already ate my lunch!

--Pesto is great too! EatingWell has a good recipe.




-Rosemary is a versatile herb that can be used in many dishes. Whether it's in a salad dressing or cooked with chicken (my favorite), rosemary is a great addition to not only your meals but in your garden as well. It has been said that rosemary can deter pests from other yummy herbs and veggies in the garden when it's planted near the others.

--Here is a solid rosemary chicken recipe from AllRecipes



Check back for info on the veggie seeds that I chose from our seed racks!

Also, if you'd like to share one of your recipes or have any other input about using/growing herbs, please share in the comments!