Saturday Morning in the Garden
A series of educational classes designed to strengthen your skills and brighten your Early Spring Season

Seating is limited so we ask that you call (548-5418), e-mail (info@redmondgreenhouse.com), or stop by and place your name on the list of the classes you would like to attend.
The classes are for garden enthusiasts of all ages and usually last about an hour. They are FREE of charge.
We do offer supplemental Hand-Outs and Pamphlets which we ask for a donation to offset costs of paper and copying.

March 19th
Starting plants from seed…….. Tips, techniques, and products
March 26th
Fruit trees…… Varieties, planting, and maintenance
April 2nd
Small Fruits and Berries….. This will be a very tasty class
April 9th
Composting….. Create great soils… Great ideas and tips
April 16th
Veggie Gardens….. Raised beds and a whole lot more
April 23rd
Lawns…… Lets get the green growing plus maintenance tips
April 30th
Organic gardens and landscapes…. Tips, suggestions, and products

All classes will start at 11:00 am and end around noon. Due to limited indoor space it is advisable to call (541-548-5418) or email info@redmondgreenhouse.com for reserved seating

Classes will be on site at Redmond Greenhouse 4101 S. Hwy. 97

www.redmondgreenhouse.com

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

As the fall season wanders down the autumn path there are still a few things we as gardeners should be doing and checking off our “to do” list. I always say that what we can do now will be something less we have to do in the busy time of spring.

Hope all is going well in your backyard. I just finished harvesting my potatoes, and winter squash. Mulched in the remaining Nantes (my very favorite) carrots and tasty beets. I have to say that I was real impressed with the money I saved since I installed drip in almost my entire garden. I am also proud of the fact that I was able to dry a lot of my fresh herbs for winter use…. Ahhhh the tasty stews and soups I will be able to make…… I also have fired up my age old sourdough for tasty bisquets this winter season……. That said lets take a look at some of the things on our garden lister……

If you have not yet got your garlic, shallots, and winter onions planted….. Time is wasting

A GREAT way to reduce weed growth in your empty beds this winter is to apply an application of Cold Climate organic fertilizer then spread at least 3”-6” of good organic weed free compost over the entire beds….  WOW…. You will be impressed next spring.

As the leaves fall from your fruit trees make sure to apply “dormant” oil and Lime Sulfur or Copper spray. You may also spray your roses, cane berries, plus any other ornamentals that seem to suffer perennial insect and or disease problems

Apply Fertilome “Systemic Tree and Shrub Drench” around Birch, Aspen, Snowball Bush, Alberta Spruce, Lupine, or any other “non-edible” trees, shrubs, and perennials to help protect against borer/insect damage in the year 2011. This process is working very well for a lot of folks and has most certainly been credited for saving a lot of our areas White Birch trees for almost certain death.

Pruning of most evergreen shrubs and trees can commence at this time of the year. Save some of the branches for holiday decorating…. You might even try making a wonderful “Garden Wreath” for your door as well as some special friend or relative…… Happy clipping

Make sure to store all liquid garden and landscape products to ensure against freeze damage… Lock them up to spare younger hands from getting into them!!!!! Even granular and dust type products should be stored to protect against moisture damage. In future purchases try to buy small amounts so as to use them up during the season….. May be a little more cost per application but storage will be eliminated and quality of product will prevail.

Remove all hoses from hose bibs and drain. Keep handy in case of fire or dry winter watering for plants under eves and dense evergreens.

Make sure to have a bird bath out to encourage the wild birds to stay in your backyard. These little feathered friends are not only fun to watch during the winter months but they will help control insects and reduce your spraying.

Clean all garden tools and spray with “Pam”. Treat wood handles with linseed oil. Drain or treat all gas powered equipment to help maintain your investments.

Side-dress asparagus and rhubarb with “Cold Climate” organic fertilizer, then top off with at least 3” to 6” of GOOD organic weed-free compost.

Continue to rake fallen leaves from your lawn to avoid suffocation of your grass. Apply a granular mole/vole natural repellant if you have had problems with trails in your spring lawn.

Dig-up your rosemary plant then bring it inside for wintertime enjoyment. Not only will you be able to harvest the needles for culinary uses but it should offer some spectacular blue fragrant blooms sometime during the early to mid stages of winter.

Make sure to drain and possibly store your cast stone fountains and birdbaths to avoid freeze damage. It would also be wise to apply a coat of sealer to help protect the finish.

It is fun to set out stations of suet and other select wild bird feed to maintain a good bird population in your area. As mentioned above they will help rid your area of pesky little insects, thus reducing the amount of spraying during the spring and summer season.

If you have any Terra Cotta pottery outside it will be wise to bring it inside to avoid winter damage. You may also want to monitor other earthen pottery. We now sell only frost resistant pottery which has really reduced the amount of damage. It is so sad when spring arrives and you see damage to your patio investments.

As long as there is no hard frost in the soil you may still plant a few exciting and early spring blooming flower bulbs. Many times, at this time of the year there will be some great sales. Shop around as there are many great varieties to choose from and they will…. Or should I say might come back year after year….. Fun Fun Fun…… grab your shovel….

As the leaves fall from your trees make sure to put them into a compost pile……. Dango….. These leaves will make the BEST compost in the world. Layer them in with other debris as well as some finished compost. Moisten well and then cover with a tarp or plastic to help hold in the heat. You should turn the compost on occasion to help hasten the end result…. Happy composting.

Last but not least why not try “forcing” some flower bulbs for indoor color. Redmond Greenhouse has great choices of paper white narcissus, hyacinths, and amaryllis. You will usually need around seven weeks depending upon indoor temperatures. Use a GOOD potting soil and fertilize with Earth Juice (combine the “Grow” and the “Bloom” to give optimum feeding! Apply every 2 weeks once they start to grow. This practice will help ensure repeat blooms year after year.

Well that about wraps it up for this go around. Hope it helps you continue the world of gardening here in the High Desert……. Happy Autumn………… Eat an apple and smile… Doug

     For those of you who grew root crops I might offer an alternative to digging and trying to successfully store them before winter hits with snow, frost, frozen ground. In past years I have simply covered these rows of veggies with about twelve to twenty four inches of clean wheat or rye straw………….. dango………… Winterization made easy.

     This amount of insulative organic material should hold the “deep freeze” at bay and allow you to harvest some of the tastiest root crops ever!!!!!!

     Many folks agree that flavor is enhanced and natural sugars are brought forth as the winters chill sets in. Mother Earth will store your root crops the best ever…..

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

Thought I should give you a current tip sheet to help guide you through the fantastic time of the year……….. Lots of great things can and should be done at this time of the year. I don’t believe there is a better time to plant and I don’t believe you will find the weather any better. Warm soil, warm nights, wonderful days filled with sunshine….. Better grab the shovel and plant some spring flowering bulbs along with a little garlic, shallots, and tasty onion sets….. Now is the time…. Doug

• As garden beds are emptied of their flowers and veggies it might be a grand idea to plant a “green manure” crop of rye, oats, or peas. With this warm weather you should be able to get them established before the cold sets in….. Then you till them under in the spring just before planting.
• Fall is a great time to plant seeds for a new lawn…. Redmond Greenhouse has a local blend that should germinate in less than a week
• Fall is also a great time of the year to plant wildflower seed. We have over 10 different varieties that are well suited for our high desert area……Our Deer Resistant selection is our number one seller.
• This is the time of the year to plant fall blooming crocus as well as spring blooming varieties of tulips, daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths….. Our selection is the best ever with lots of new and exciting species….. We also have many deer resistant types as well as some deer resistant tulips….. oh yes………. All at Redmond Greenhouse.
• When you have about 80% leaf fall on your fruit trees, roses, and cane berries it would be a GREAT time to apply dormant sprays to all of them…….
• If you have not yet pruned your cane berries…… time is wasting….. remove all the canes that bore fruit (if they are done) and then leave only 5 to 7 strong vigorous canes that grew this year……… remove all others to help build STRONG berry patches….. Fertilize with 10 cups of our organic fertilizer Cold Climate and then mulch them with some of our organic compost at the rate of about 3 to 6 inches…… Ready for winter now….
• No pruning should be going on at this time of the year….. Fall pruning in cold climate zones such as ours is done in the spring and summer season only…..
• Pruning of evergreens can begin as soon as late fall lands on our calendars….
• Drenching insect vulnerable trees and shrubs with our Fertilome Insect Tree and Shrub Drench can be done at this time of the year through November….. This product works pretty darn well with boring insects in all trees……
• Its Garlic time…………… ye ha………. Our selection of garlic, shallots, and onions has never been better…………. Now is the time to allow them time to establish themselves before winter sets in………….
• If you are going to bring in any outdoor plants make sure they are free of insects and disease otherwise you risk the chance of contaminating all you other indoor plants.
• If you have a rosemary herb planted outside in your herb garden you may want to pot it up and get ready to bring it indoors……. They do so well and will bless your home with amazing blue and fragrant flowers mid winter…Wow…
• Any tree, shrub of perennial planted at this time of the year will be almost a year ahead of those planted in the spring of 2011..… grab your shovel…Happy Fall Gardening….Doug

     If there were one group of plants that consistently fill the ranks of “fragrant choices” for backyard gardens, it would have to be that of the fabled rose bush. As far as history can go back, people all over the world have been mesmerized by the scent of this huge family of plants. This intense interest still prevails; however the task is a little more involved due to the fact that many of today’s introductions have no fragrance whatsoever. With that thought in mind let’s take a look at some of old time favorites as well as some of the newer varieties that should add a wisp of fragrance and the chance of a lingering memory! I should also add that these potential choices have a reliable history in regards for toughness and hardiness for our arid cold gardening zone.
The old fashioned Rugosa as well as newer rugosa introductions are always a good choice of plants for our particular zone. They consistently offer a variety of wonderful fragrances, plus they often times add unique and dramatic winter interest in terms of twig color and rose hip/berry presence. Many gardeners have also found them to be some-what deer resistant! In addition, most are quite resistant to damaging insects and disease. In fact they react very badly to a wide variety of chemical sprays so often associated with rosebush care.
With that valuable information aside let’s take a look at some of the fabulous varieties we have to choose from in local garden centers.
Starting the “fragrant rose line-up” would be one called William Baffin. This magnificent old timer will rise up to upwards of eight feet and fill the midsummer branches with fragrant pink blossoms. Next in line might include a variety called Therese Bugnett. Graced with summertime double red blooms it will also add wonderful winter interest of purple-red stems and glorious bright orange rosehips. Cuthbert Grant is another history laden variety with similar double red blossoms and intense early morning fragrance.
It might be important at this point to mention that many garden experts including myself would conclude that the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers could well reduce the fragrance of many types of fragrant plants. Old fashioned planting techniques including lots of organic debris, coffee grinds, and egg shells worked deeply into the soil could well provide the perfect growing soil! Synthetic fertilizers also have a tendency to shorten bloom time as well as disrupt valuable microbial soil activity.
Continuing our fragrant rose lineup I would have to include the antique variety called Morden Blush. This extremely winter hardy variety will please your senses with a spicy fragrance borne from double ivory blush blooms. Summer heat is not a problem thus it should provide a wonderful presence in your garden here on the high desert. A favorite of mine is one called John Cabot. This tough as nails, large (up to 8’) rose bush will present eye-catching dark double pink blooms off and on the entire summer season.
A quick look at some of the newer hybrid introductions might include some of the non-stop blooming floribunda types such as Sunsprite (vibrant yellow, w/ lemon fragrance), Purple tiger (purple white), and one called Hot Cocoa (dusky red). In the Hybrid Tea department such choices as April in Paris (classic pink), Double Delight (Red White), and Pope John Paul II (pristine white fresh citrus scent) would make great reliable selections. If you are in need of a fragrant climber look no farther than named varieties such as Fourth of July (red white), and Golden Showers (yellow).
The list is long and the fragrance will take you back to memorable childhood days. Take your time in making your selections and you will be rewarded with years of memory making scents and fragrances. Happy Planting…………… Doug