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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

The time is now………………. With the mild winter we have had you can only imagine that it is a GREAT time to plant. Redmond Greenhouse has a GREAT selection of Spring flowering trees that are just waiting for a good backyard to call home. Plant now and the blooms will be in your yard and not in the garden center. crabapples are one of the best bets. With colors of white, pink, red, and purple it is hard to imagine a yard without the explosion of their great color. Now is the time to plant early sets of red, yellow, and sweet onions… ye ha…………. Ahhhhhhhhhh you just have love the very early days of spring…………….. Happy March………….. Doug

     Redmond Greenhouse as in past years continues to offer our unique inventory as a rental unit for Weddings and other great and grand events. Wedding planers and Special event coordinators have found this to be a very cost saving way to ratchet up many local events. In other words you can rent trees, flowering shrubs, fountains, arbors, gazebos, etc at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them. From single day rentals to special rate weekly rentals many have found this to be a great value. Turning indoor events into garden typy settings is quite easy with this cost saving program.

     Swing on by and give Redmond Greenhouse a “chat” and lets see what we can do for your Special Event

To better allow local folks to see the project in real life I have assembled a raised bed at the Redmond Greenhouse. Using inexpensive straw bales I built the border. Then I filled it with our bulk potting soil and organic bulk compost. I then added vermiculite, our top notch blended organic fertilizer “Cold Climate”, a good portion of “Wonder Worm” earthworm castings, a whole bag of “Natural Guard” natural soil conditioner, a BIG bag of Azomite, plus a 25# bag of crabmeal. “Great gobs of pure garden delight” I think this garden is going to rock and roll!
I have already added a few plants of heirloom tomatoes and other GREAT selections. I am excited and I hope this project will serve as an example of what small gardens with GREAT soil can do………. Stop by and take a peek………

Welcome to the new Redmond Greenhouse website!