Upcoming Webinars: Can’t Fail Container Gardening and Winning the War on Weeds

Webinar: Can’t Fail Container Gardening Basics and Beyond
Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00pm ET via Zoom
Instructor: Kathy Jentz, Editor of Washington Gardener Magazine

Introductory Fee: $10From what type of soils to use to what plants do best in our region, Kathy will cover the basics of growing successful container plantings. She will also cover both ornamental and edible containers as well as the different styles and fashions in container gardening.
Register at: https://py.pl/2WL7ArxVKnM

Webinar: Winning the War on Weeds

Saturday, June 6 at 10:00am – 11:30am ET via Microsoft Teams

Instructor: Kathy Jentz, Editor of Washington Gardener Magazine

Fee: $10 / Discounted Fee for FOBG Members: $8

Tired of fighting the never-ending weed war year after year in your garden? Fear no more as this workshop will explore proven ways to combat weeds and keep them controllable, while still being able to enjoy your garden. This talk will also review a list of the "Dirty Dozen" weeds, which are the worst challenges to fight off in our local gardens. Learn labor-saving tools, best timing for maximizing efforts and tips for preventing future weeds.

Register at: https://apm.activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/74702

GardenDC Podcast Episode 11: Lotus, Harvesting Asparagus, and a Profile of Calamintha

This episode, we chat with Kelly Billing of Water Becomes a Garden about Lotus, and I answer a listener question on harvesting Asparagus. The plant profile is on Calamintha (Calamintha nepeta).

Kelly Billing and her lotus rt

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: 
https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/May-16--2020-ee50k0

It is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8

• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V

• Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/gardendc

• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk

• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc

• 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.

You can also read more about Kelly in the August 2018 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. 

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Fenton Friday: A Leap Forward

first ripe strawberry of the season

What a difference a week makes! From below-freezing to practically 90-degrees! Suddenly, many plants that were in a holding pattern last week are putting on great growth.

The peas are flowering and I cannot wait for those pods!

The strawberries are ripening and because I have zero patience, I grabbed that first one and ate it already. It was a tad under-ripe, but still darn good!

I cut enough spinach and lettuce for a lunch salad earlier this week. I should be able to do two more cuttings (at least) until those are spent.

The carrots and the beets are forming nicely. I will dig a few in a few weeks to test them out for size.

Unfortunately, that does mean many of the cool season vegetables are now bolting (going to flower) -- that includes the kale, cilantro, and radishes. I will let the radishes set seed so I can collect them to plant next year. for giving away at SeedSwapDay, and for trying in a salad -- as I've heard the radish seeds are edible, though have not eaten them myself.

pea plants flowering

Radished bolting

'Satina' seed potatoes

One of the highlights of the week was receiving a small box of 'Satina' seed potatoes ordered from the Maine Potato Lady by our Washington Gardener Magazine "EdbleHarvest "columnist Elizabeth Olson. I hope to plant them early next week.


The other nice surprise was finding several ladybugs around my plot -- maybe another plot owner released them?

ladybug

What are you harvesting this month in your edible garden? 

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.

A Warm Welcome to Bloom Day!

bearded iris

It is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day again! On the 15th of each month, we gardeners with blogs share a few bloom photos from our gardens. Here is the Mid-Atlantic USA (USDA zone 7) on the DC-MD border, the past month has been a very wet and cold one. The early-spring blooms that had been ahead of schedule due to the somewhat mild winter are now all gone and the mid-spring are now here. Today, we take a BIG temperature jump into the mid-80s and I am loving the warm sun on my skin this afternoon.

Pictured here is a bearded iris that I got from another gardener years ago. It came with no name, so I have no idea on the variety. In my head, I call it "grape bubble yum" as that is what it smells like to me.

Over at my Instagram account, I have posted many more blooms in the last few days that you can check including:
- Clematis 'Silver Moon'
- Clematis 'Taiga' 
- Hardy Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) 'Pink Summer'
- Allium ‘Globemaster’
- several different weigela shrubs
and I will be sharing many more bloom photos in the coming weeks.

What is blooming in YOUR garden today?

Plant Profile: Lily of the Valley

When I picked up some Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) pips from a garden club plant exchange years ago, I wanted a spot for them that was well away from other planting beds because I had been warned about how this plant can take over and be very aggressive. Just to get them in the ground quickly, I stuck them in an empty, dry shade area next to my home’s foundation. To my surprise, not only did they survive, but they actually thrived!

   Their spreading tendencies are kept in check by being in that dry, full-shade spot. Give them better growing conditions at your own peril.

   They are the definition of low-maintenance. At the beginning of spring, I rake out the old, tattered foliage from their beds and sprinkle in some leaf compost. This isn’t necessary, but it keeps the bed looking neat. Other than that, the only care they need is to pluck out the occasional weed in their midst.

   The scent of their blooms in spring is lemony fresh. To pick some Lily of the Valley flowers to enjoy indoors, grasp the stem down at the base and then pull firmly upward in one smooth motion.

   Note that they are poisonous and should be kept away from small children and pets.

   Over the years, I have collected the pink version of Lily of the Valley as well as one with variegated foliage.

   There is a native version, Convallaria majuscule ‘Greene’, that is almost impossible to differentiate from the Eurasian import unless they are side by side. The American one is a bit taller and can be found in the Appalachian woodlands in discrete clumps of just a few plants, rather than in a large patch.

   I highly recommend this sweet little flower to beginning gardeners who want an early success to give them confidence to tackle more labor-intensive plantings. 

Lily of the Valley - You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out
➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com
~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/
~ facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC on Spotify, Apple, etc.

If you liked this video, you may enjoy these other plant profiles: ~ Virginia Bluebells Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/plant-profile-virginia-bluebells.html ~ Baptisia Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/baptisia-plant-profile.html ~ Spring Beauty Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/plant-profile-spring-beauty-claytonia.html

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GardenDC Podcast Episode 10: Peppers, Fothergilla, and Rachel Carson's Home

This episode, we chat with Peter Pepper about growing Peppers and I describe my visit to Rachel Carson's home a few years ago. Also, I share what is blooming in my garden and the plant profile is on fothergilla.

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/May-9--2020-edq60b

It is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8

• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V

• Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/gardendc

• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk

• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc

• 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.

Fenton Friday: Frozen in Time

This week at the community garden plot it seemed like everything went into slow motion. This is the week that all the plants should be jumping! The rainy days and cool temps have slowed down most of the plants to a slow pace. The pea plants are getting so big, but have yet to flower! The strawberries have formed fruits, but they are staying yellow-green for now.

Tonight and tomorrow night we have another late freeze warning. This is unusually late and I was just sent a few tomato plants among other edibles to trial. They are all under a blanket in a corner of my home garden and I hope they make it through okay.

The lettuces are doing nicely in the plot and I am ready to make my first harvest from the Renee's Garden Baby Leaf Lettuce Heirloom Cutting Mix and I dug up a bunch of radishes to share with family members today.

What are you harvesting this month in your edible garden? 

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.

Plant Profile: Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

The Lilac is a large, ornamental shrub whose flowers emit one of the most beautiful scents found in nature. On a sunny, breezy day, I can smell the lilacs in my side yard all the way down the block.

   The Mid-Atlantic area is pretty much the southern most region that lilacs can flourish in, because they need to experience a winter freeze and like a temperate climate. They prefer a sunny, well-ventilated location and can take almost all soil types. 

   The only real problem for them in our region is that they are prone to powdery mildew. In our humid climate, most show signs of it by late summer. It will not kill the plant; it is just unsightly.

   Remember to prune them after they finish flowering. Trim the bush to shape it and remove suckers at the same time. You can give them some leaf mulch or aged manure as compost, but don’t over-fertilize them.

   The ‘Bloomerang’ Lilac was introduced to the market in recent years. It re-blooms throughout the growing season. This plant is a bit controversial among old-school gardeners who like their blooms to stay “in season.” In my opinion, flowering too often or not at the “correct” time is hardly a reason to dislike a plant! I am partial to the old standard lilacs, though, and find them to be hardier, more-robust plants.

   Other new introductions include dwarf varieties. Lilacs are also available in shades other than the classic blue-purple. Look for white, pink, and yellow kinds. 

Try planting a Lilac in your garden today – you can grow that!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com
~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/
~ facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC on Spotify, Apple, etc.

GardenDC Podcast Episode 9: All Things Azalea

Barbara Bullock in her yard. Photo Lan Tu.

This episode is an in-depth talk with Barbara Bullock about all things azalea - from planting tips to pruning to favorite selections. She is the recently retired curator of the US National Arboretum’s azalea collection. We also reminisce a bit about Behnke Nurseries and she shares what gardening in retirement is like.

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/May-2--2020-edhc03

It is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8

• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V

• Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/gardendc

• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk

• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc

• 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.

Fenton Friday: Spinach - Two Ways

Lamb's Quarter aka Wild Spinach

I didn't spend too much time at the garden plot this week as it rained most of the days. I went over today and did a bit of weeding and discovered that I was growing a good crop of Lamb's Quarters.  I know this wild green is being grown by someone else in the community gardens, so it must have seeded over from their plot. I had never eaten it before, so I tried a raw leaf - meh. Then, I picked a few bunches and brought them home with the Asparagus I harvested to add to a pasta dish. I blanched the Lamb's Quarters and Asparagus first, then tossed in some butter and Parmesan cheeses with the rotini pasta. Pretty good!

You can read more about Lamb's Quarters in the November 2016 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

Spinach Salad

Earlier this week, I harvested a bag fill of 'Bloomsdale' Spinach to make a lunch salad. On that base, I chopped up an apple, threw in a handful of dried cranberries, and drizzled on bleu cheese dressing. Yum!

Elsewhere in the garden, the edible Peas and the Sweet Pea flowers look ready to produce any day now. Tiny Strawberry fruits are forming and the Cilantro has really taken off. The Beets are still too small to harvest, but I dug another batch of Radishes and should really plant another round in that spot before the summer heat sets in.

In a week or so, I'll start to transition to warm season crops. I am really looking forward to trying out some heirloom Watermelon and Squash seeds I got at this year's Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges!

What are you harvesting this month in your edible garden? 

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.

DIY: Compost Tea

Compost tea can be used for watering seedlings or established plants. The jury is still out on its benefits, but it is said to loosen clay soils, stimulate root growth, and boost overall plant health.

Level: easy   Cost: minimal   Use: gardening 

Materials:

- bucket

- compost

- rain water

- strainer

- watering can

- large mason jars or other containers with lids

Step 1: In a clean bucket, fill until about 1/3rd full of composted material -- either sourced from our your compost pile or purchased.

Step 2: Fill the bucket almost to the top with rainwater from your rain barrel or collected in buckets after a storm. Chlorinated water can kill the good beneficial microbes in the compost that you are trying to promote.

Step 3: Let it sit for 5-7 days while stirring the compost occasionally a few times a day. This is to aerate the mixture. If you want to make it faster, you can run an aquarium pump or bubbler in it.

Step 4: Next strain the compost with a stainless steel strainer* over a second bucket and then apply the leftover strained compost "pulp" to a garden bed. 

Step 5: Save the strained liquid in an air-tight container. Apply to plantings right away and then every two weeks or so.

Tips: To amp up your compost tea, you can add a few tablespoons of blackstrap molasses, sugar, or liquid kelp/fish fertilizer. You can also throw in chopped-up straw or comfrey. 

*Note: You might want to dedicate that strainer for outdoor use only.

Caution: Don't drink it - yuck!!!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a few pennies from Amazon.

This is a monthly blog series on DIY projects for the beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot.com.