Figs are easy to grow and are a great choice as both an edible and ornamental plant in your garden.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Plant Profile: Figs (Ficus carica)
Saturday, September 26, 2020
GardenDC Podcast Episode 30: Seed Saving
This episode we talk with Debby Ward of Prior Unity Garden about all aspects of Seed Saving. The plant profile is on Figs and I share about the 'Sheffield Pink' Mums blooming in my garden.
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- PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
- Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)
We welcome your questions and comments!
You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.
Friday, September 25, 2020
Fenton Friday: One Potato, Two Potato
This week I dug up the few Potato plants I had planted. It was not a huge harvest -- enough for a meal for two (or one hungry gardener).
In that space I will sow a few rows of Radishes and Carrots after this weekend's rains are done.
We had an early frost scare earlier in the week and the edges of some of the Basil plants look like they got a bit zapped, but overall they are fine so I plan to pull them in a week or so and make a BIG batch of pesto to be able to freeze a bunch for this winter.
The rows of Lettuce are growing well as are the Broccoli seedlings -- both are under a covercloth and thank goodness for that as we definitely have a rat problem at the community garden now. There are rat bait traps placed all around the perimeter and one dead rat has been laying on the sidewalk outside our side gate. I am refusing to clean him up as I took care of the last two animal carcasses at our garden. It is someone else's turn this time.I blame increase in rats on a couple things, mostly that COVID caused the streets to be emptier and several of the local restaurants to be closed, giving the rodents both motive and opportunity to move in. Hoping the hawks an owls I have seen around our neighborhood catch up with them soon.
In more pleasant news, I harvested more Okra and Tomatoes this week. We are having our harvest gathering for the local soup kitchen this Sunday and my plan is to pull up the tomato vines and pull anything ripe or green on them to share with that collection. I expect to have a good amount as they are still producing very well.
What are you harvesting in your garden this week? Any rodent reduction tips?
About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Upcoming Webinars by Washington Gardener Magazine
All of the webinars are held via Zoom. Once you register, you will get a confirmation and a link to the Zoom connection details. Note that if you cannot attend the live class, you can still register and get a link to view the class recording for two weeks after the actual class date.
Speaker: Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine.
Fee: $10. Register at: https://py.pl/180w3U
Speaker: Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine.
Fee: $10. Register at: https://py.pl/6HkgAJ21d3A
Speaker: Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine.
Fee: $10. Register at: https://py.pl/4oRnjFT9Xc0
Monday, September 21, 2020
Win Green Goo Products in the September 2020 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest
For our September 2020 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a set of Green Goo products (value $95, greengoo.com). The set includes Bugs Be Gone, Natural First Aid, Hand Sanitizer, and more.
Green Goo makes potent, portable first aid and body care products for the active gardener. They use only plant-based ingredients and slow-infuse them in enriching oils. The result is one of the most-effective all-natural product lines on the market. The herbs are carefully sourced from organic farmers and they use a full-spectrum/whole-plant approach when creating their products.
To enter to win the set of Green Goo products, send an email to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 30, with “Green Goo” in the subject line and in the body of the email, tell us what your favorite article was in the September 2020 issue and why. Include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced on October 1.
UPDATE: Our contest winner for the @greengoohelps products is: Jennifer Summers of Waldorf, MD. Congratulations, Jennifer!
Saturday, September 19, 2020
GardenDC Podcast Episode 29: Butterfly Gardening
Sarah Dickert, Smithsonian Gardens' horticulturist |
Holly Walker, Smithsonian Gardens' entomologist |
See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support.
- RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/
gardendc-G2ql5V
- Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/
gardendc
- PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
- Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)
We welcome your questions and comments!
You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.
Friday, September 18, 2020
Fenton Friday: The Okra Gospel
I feel like I am the okra proselytizer. Everywhere I talk about edible gardening, I have to share how easy it is to grow, how you can eat it raw, what a gorgeous plant it is, and no, it is not slimy at all - you just have to get it fresh from your own garden and prepare it correctly.
BTW, here is my Okra growing basics video:
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2013/07/video-wednesday-okra-growing-basics.html
And here is a cool craft you can make from dried okra pods:
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2017/12/diy-okra-santa-ornament.html
Yes, I see the eyes glaze over, but I persist. I feel like just one more convert, it is worth it. It is not like I have stock on okra seeds, I just need to spread the okra joy!
Is there an unpopular edible that you just have to convince others to grow?
About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
September 2020 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine – Tall Sedums, Grape Hyacinths, Onions, Goldfinches, and much more
The September 2020 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is out now.
Inside this issue:
·
Tall Sedums for Fall Gardens
·
The Benefits of Bee Watching
·
Create Your Own Woodland Fernery
·
7 Secrets to Successful Onion Growing
·
A Condominium Community Garden
·
Grape Hyacinth Planting Tips
·
Attracting the American Goldfinch
·
What to Do in the Garden this Month
·
Pleasant View Garden Brings New Life to Historic
Site
· DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar
and much more…
Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the October 2020 issue are due by October 5.
>> Subscribe to
Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication
sent to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can
use the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: http://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm
Monday, September 14, 2020
Discuss "Two Gardeners: Katharine S. White and Elizabeth Lawrence--A Friendship in Letters" with the Garden Book Club
For our next Garden Book Club selection, we will be reading:
Saturday, September 12, 2020
GardenDC Podcast Episode 28: Preserving Your Harvest -- Canning, Freezing, and Drying
BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support.
- RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/
gardendc-G2ql5V
- Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/
gardendc
- PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
- Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)
We welcome your questions and comments!
You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.
Friday, September 11, 2020
Fenton Friday: Groundcherry Surprise
Groundcherry Plant |
This week at the community garden we had lots of rain and yesterday we had a torrential rainstorm, so I have not been over to the plot much. In my absence, I lost a few Cucumbers and Tomatoes to some creatures gnawing on them - likely the same ones that destroyed my Watermelon last week.
Edamame |
I did pull out all the Edamame (soybean) plants and had one big meal of them. They were delicious! In their place, I planted 'sugar Magnolia' Purple Snap Peas from Botanical Interests and I saw that they were already started to emerge when I visited the plot today.
Lettuce Seedlings |
Also, starting to emerge are the lettuce seedlings planted by intern Nicole and I weeded a bit and found that the Groundcherries (pictured at top) had once again seeded themselves in the same spot by my Asparagus. They are always a welcome sight in late summer.
Finally, I cut a bunch of the Celosia flowers to use in my flower arranging talk and demo tomorrow for the DC State Fair. I also cut a lot of my Goldenrod from my home garden and will decide what third flower I want to add in when I gather the rest of my supplies in the morning. I am thinking something white like my Garlic Chives now in flower might be nice for a color balance.
What are you harvesting from your edible garden this week?
About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.
Tuesday, September 08, 2020
13th Annual DC Plant Swap
UPDATE - the event is at capacity and registration is CLOSED.
What: A Plant Swap -- bring and receive free plants to expand your home garden and houseplant collection
Why: Free Plants and Fall is a perfect time to get them in the ground!
Date: Sunday, September 20
Time: starting at 11:00am bring your plants for sorting by category (shade perennial, groundcover, herb, houseplant, etc.) -- swap starts promptly at 11:30am -- do not be late (the swap goes fast and can be over in a matter of minutes!) - we plan to conclude and be cleaned up by 12:00noon.
Place: U.S. National Arboretum - exact location provided in confirmation note. (We will stay socially distanced and park vehicles with one space between them. If you bike there or get dropped off, you will also occupy one parking space with an open space left between you and the next vehicle/person.)
Weather: This event is rain or shine. In case of a bad storm, we will reschedule for the following Sunday.
Who: anyone is welcome and it is FREE! You must register in advance. We are strictly limiting this event to 50 participants. EACH PERSON attending must provide a name and email for our entry security list and contact tracing records.
Bring:
~ a facemask to wear at all times
~ pen and paper - you will want to take lots of notes during the preview phase
~ plants to swap - pot them up NOW -- the longer they can get settled in their pots, the better their chance of success and survival
~ labels - fully label all your swap plants with as much info as you have - optimally that will include: common and scientific name, amount of sun needed, amount of water needed, any other special care notes, and color of the blooms (if it is not currently in flower)
What kind of plants to bring: you can bring houseplants, native plants, vegetable plants, ornamental garden plants, water garden plants, annuals, perennials, biennials, shrubs, trees, cuttings, seeds, etc.
What NOT to bring: common orange daylilies* and any invasive species - use this list (http://www.mdinvasivesp.org/list_terrestrial_plants.html) to screen your plant offerings
*Hybrid daylilies are fine and totally welcome, but the common orange ones (aka "Ditch Lilies") usually end up with no takers and we are stuck having to throw them out as yard waste.
AFTER the Swap: Enjoy the beauty of the US National Arboretum's plant collections.
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