Archive for the ‘Garden Calendars’ Category

The first in a series of many classes will begin Saturday March 19th 11:00 - 12:00……. Starting plants from seed……. Please call (541-548-5418) or email info@redmondgreenhouse.com to reserve your seat and allow us to prepare………. The class is FREE and is offered to the local community……. Here comes spring
Happy March……….. Doug

Time to dust off the shovel and think spring……….. We have lots of spring colors in our greenhouse that are just waiting to adorn you kitchen table or the entrance to your home….. Spring color just does a body good………. mind and soul……….. Not really a bad winter but when March rolls onto the calendar gardeners are just ready to go…
Lots of new and exciting garden seed in plus we were able to secure a big seed rack from Seed Savers Exchange……. Heirloom Seeds……. wow. I think you will be happy if you are an organic veggie and herb grower. I might advise that you get in early to secure your picks so as not to be dissapointed during the rush of the season… We will try to keep it re-stocked…. On a related note we have also secured several varieties of Oregon’s own… Nickols Seed… dang…… They also provide organic, natural, and heirloom seed.
Looks to me that this will be another year of the “edibles”. Fruit trees, small berries, veggies, and lots of garden fresh herbs……… Oh my…. Our garden center is already loaded with many items with more on the way……we are ready for your visit… It is a GREAT time to plant with all this wonderful weather.
Don’t forget that we still carry bulk potting soil as well as our popular organic compost….. Our selection of organic products is second to none……. Growing natural is our way
Keep watching for and email concerning upcoming classes …. should be starting on March 19th….. 11:00-12:00… our Saturday morning in the garden series…. FREE of charge… call for details if you need and reserve seating.
Happy March and hope to see you soon……… I’m down on my knees out in the garden… Praying for a wonderful spring……. Thanks for your time… Doug

Good news for the local snackers….. We are in progress of starting a most wonderful food only market on Friday afternoons……….. Starting the last Friday in May or 1st Friday in June……… we are looking for vendors and or volunteers………….. It should be great… it should be a local event…….Full info at my blog at coldzonegardening.com……………. Here we go……….. Doug

·      Live Today without conflicts of yesterday or obsessions of tomorrow

·      Guide your thoughts towards happiness and avoid clouds of depression and replace them with rays of warm sunshine

·      Accept what is and its reality correcting what you can and not fretting about what you have no control of.

·      Improve your mind with “great” reads and avoid mental loafing….

·      Try to be agreeable, kind and courteous to those that you daily meet.

·      Avoid speaking ill of others, talk softly, and try not to interrupt.

·      If you feel the urge to judge someone, walk in the bathroom and look in the mirror!

·      Improve yourself every day, not everybody on any day!

·      Improve your health in small obtainable ways

·      Be responsible for yourself and for your actions

·      Be thankful, lend a helping hand, appreciate every moment, and always try to smile.

The above thoughts are a collection of ideas from many sources including “Dear Abby” and of course myself………. Happy New Year 2011…. Doug

The “to-do” list:

Reduce watering of ALL landscape and garden plants by at least ¾. This will help them adjust to the next season… WINTER. It will also help bring the vibrant colors of fall to your yard

Plant seeds of spinach, chard, and lettuce of late season crops…. (I know it is a gamble but you just never know)

Redmond Greenhouse still has stock of garlic, shallots, and onions for late fall planting. You will never have better tasting harvests if you like these crops!

Plant groupings of tulips, daffodils and crocus for next season’s colors. We still have a GREAT selection of Bearded Iris…. Many NEW re-bloomers if you desire

Apply our organic fertilizer “Cascade Natural” / Natures Intent” to your lawn for the “Best of Show” for your 2011 season. The microbes and mychorizae in our fertilizer plus the extensive list of individual ingredients make this particular lawn food possibly the best on the market!
, Apply organic “Cold Climate” blended fertilizer to all beds, borders, trees, and shrubs. Now is the time and we have plenty of bags to supply your needs

If you want to add that “extra touch” you may just want to join the growing number of folks who are applying our granular “Humic Acid” to all planting areas as well as a supplement to the lawn. This organic product helps make all nutrients available to your plants. Helps with thatch control as well. I used it in all my veggie beds this year and I think my yield was the best ever especially considering the unusual year! We sell it in bags and boxes. For a full description take a look at it on the internet…….. Dang what a product.

Vermiculite is the VERY BEST PRODUCT for storing bulbs of any kind. It is a little more expensive but I do believe it is worth it. You can use it over and over again. Remember…. Cool, Dark, Ventilated, and Frost Free!!!!!

If you still have root crops in the ground, you DON”T have to dig them…… just store them in the ground right where they are growing………. Just mulch them heavily (12”-24”) with wheat straw. This practice allows them Frost Free passage through the winter months but will allow you go out and dig them on any given day….. Bingo……. Fresh veggies with no hassle storage…. Double dang!!!!

Don’t like to can…………. Try using a dehydrator…. No muss, no fuss, and little energy used, plus easy storage….. A vacuum device works well to seal the bags…. They will last for years until opened. Remember….. Store them in a cool dark place….. Happy harvesting

Don’t forget to apply dormant sprays to your fruit trees, roses, Lilacs, cane berries, plus any other garden plant you have that had insect or disease problems this past season. The time is nearing for application time. We have lots of product in stock plus as always, helpful information to fill your personnel situation.

It would be wise to lay down your pruners at this time of the year. Pruning stimulates growth and this is NOT what you want to happen!!! The subsequent new growth will get hit hard by early fall frosts causing damage.

Evergreens can be pruned beginning the late fall season.

If you grew any rosemary this year you just might dig them up and pot them up for indoor use. They make a great plant and will continue to grow providing you with its tasty needles throughout the winter season. They will also bloom during the winter months which are a REAL winter treat!!!!

You just might want to consider buying a good grow light for the upcoming season. We have many in stock and they will allow you to continue growing some of your favorite herbs and veggies throughout the winter months inside your home. Swing by and we would be glad to share our knowledge about indoor growing. We also have some of the NEW LED light systems.

As soon as we have received many hard frosts you can mulch up your plants. To do so to early can cause big problems as it will trap soil heat in by the roots and the plants will still think it is okay to grow……. Ouch!!!!! As usual we have ample supply of hemlock (sliver less) mulch as well as our famous “weed & manure” free organic compost…. Bags, bales, and in bulk.

It would be wise to spray “winter sensitive” plants with “Wilt-Pruf”. A great product that will lessen the devastation of our dry winters and winds. It is an organic product that you simply spray on the likes of Rhodies, Japanese Maples, Roses, plus any other plant or tree you have winter injuries on in the past.

Oh……… and don’t forget………. Enjoy this late season……….. Jump in a leaf pile, eat a winter squash, and smile at those you meet…………… Happy Autumn….. Doug

As the month of May fills our early spring calendar the time to plant in our cold climate zone is gaining momentum.  From leaf type crops to root crops to cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Ahhhhhhhh the excitement and optimism is building. New plants coupled with the new products are also part of the driving force.

            If you are a just getting started in the fun and joy of backyard gardening keeping it small is my best advice. This practice allows you to use better products, have greater results, more manageable plots, and hopefully a better experience. Utilize local garden centers for their source of knowledge. Small raised beds (4’ wide by 4’ or more) will make your efforts much easier. Using potting soil, compost, and organic fertilizers will ratchet up your potential for successful yields. I would avoid native soils and manure. Our Cold Climate organic fertilizer, Azomite, and Soil Activator (Humic Acid) should be added to the soil. Building a wood frame over the raised beds and then wrapping them with our frost blanket should have you up and running. Applications of Earth Juice “Grow” will add a needed boost to all seedlings and early sprouts. If you run into disease problem try the organic “Serenade” or bugs “Spinosad” and all should be well! If you take the time to build a “Sturdy” wood trellis on the NORTH end of your raised bed you will be able to train and grow the ramblings of cucumber, watermelon, squash, and the likes.

            Lots of sun, drip irrigation, and a little patience and you are off and running…. Happy Gardening…. Doug

New ones to watch for: Sweet Pea “Villa Roma Scarlet” and Zinnia “Double Zahara Fire”. Both are Fleuroselect’s choices for 2010 Gold Medal winners. This is the first sweet pea to ever gain this recognition and we all (or should) know there is nothing like a spring blooming sweet pea. The Zinnia is a shorter growing variety but it is DISEASE RESISTANT…. Dang. Powdery mildew is always such a problem when growing this non stop summer flowering annuals. Redmond Greenhouse will do all it can to obtain these GREAT plants for local gardens.

And hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee comees spring
I do believe it is time to plant onions, leaf crops, cabbage, broccoli, peas, and other hardy root crops. Make sure to soak peas for a few hours before sowing……….. Treat with legume inoculants for improved yields! If you have problems with root maggots in the past you my want to try Hi-Yield’s Garden dust………… It is the only product that I know of that has a label listing for that nasty garden pest.
There is still time to spray Copper spray on you peaches, lilacs, and pears. Reports have been good if you have had disease problems…….. Sure helps with poor performing lilac buds and blooms.
If you are in need of a little early spring color we have lots of pansies, violas, and other hardy flowering perennials. Our selection of summer flowering bulbs will be in next week. We will as in past years be offering some of the “Biltmore Estate” collection….. Some real dandies!
Speaking of dandies this crop of Walla Walla onions has been the best I have seen in some years. Make sure to plant in raised beds for best results. Working in additional manure free compost plus an application of our “Cold Climate” blended organic fertilizer will be an additional plus. The microbes and mycorrhizae we have added to both our garden/landscape, as well as our lawn fertilizer should aid in optimum results. And speaking of results (if I may brag on our lawn fertilizer) my son Luke’s lawn really shows the difference between organic and chemical fertilizers. His lawn abuts his neighbors and there is a DISTINCT line between the two… It is amazing! I will try to get a pic and post it for all to see.
If you are looking to add more greatness to you garden beds may I suggest you take a look at “Humic Acid” as a soil amendment. I have talked to and read more about this amazing product and I think it is very exciting………… Tomato growers you may have another organic product to add into your soil….. Keep me posted on your results.
I suppose I better not let this go on to long………… we only have so many hours in a day. Just like to keep in touch…… Hope all is well as you prepare for another GREAT growing season…………. Happy Tilling…………. Doug

Son Luke has put Redmond Greenhouse on facebook…. Not realy sure how well I will manage that but I shall give it a good shot! So he says that Twitter will not be far behind……… Oh my gosh…….. moving ahead and planting on……….. Happy Early Spring…. Doug

If you saw it last year at Redmond Greenhouse you know how it works! The “Straw Garden”. A framework (4′X4′) built of straw bales, then filled with our economical organic potting soil, top dressed with our Cold Climate organic fertilizer, crab meal, Azomite, wormcastings, and a dash of Kelp meal….. ye ha… dang. In go the seeds and garden starts and the fun has just begun………….. Better give it a try…. Give me a call or stop by if you have any ?’s….. Doug