SHOW ARCHIVE

Episode 199 • April 16, 2011

VIDEO ARCHIVE

200 episodes!  it seems like an incredible milestone, but when you are having fun and visiting some really cool garden centers every week its not that tough!  We have had a blast over the past 5-plus years bringing you timely segments and tips for the northwest gardener.  Thanks for watching us and making Garden Time the most watched garden show in the northwest!

This week we featured...

Patio Fountains

Patio Fountains

The sound of water in your garden or on your deck can really add a different dimension to your outdoor enjoyment.  One of the local experts in building a water feature is Doug King from Tsugawa Nursery in Woodland.  Doug met with Judy to walk her through the building of 3 different water features that could be built in a bowl.  The first one a ‘goldfish’ bowl with a small bamboo pump.  This one is easy… you just fill the bowl, drop in the pump and plug it in.  The second one we saw was a bowl that was sealed on the inside so you could make just a simple water bowl.  Just add water and plants and you are good to go.  The final one has a little more work involved, but it is the most striking of all 3 features.  This one had a small upright stone with a hole drilled in the center of it.   You just install the plumbing, place the rock on a brick (with shims to level it) in a bowl full of water, and you are ready to plug it in and enjoy!  If you would like to build one of these great little features or you need tips on a bigger feature, stop by and see Doug or any of the Tsugawa employees to get started.

Bauman Greenhouse Gallery

Bauman Greenhouse Gallery

Spring is here and it is time to dress up the garden.  We stopped by Bauman’s Farm and Garden (503-792-3524) to see how they are dressing up.  To celebrate the beginning of spring the Bauman’s are having their 4th annual Greenhouse Gallery this weekend.   Brian Bauman invited us out to meet a couple of the artists and see some of their work.  We visited with Linda Wells who was a hit last year with her ‘smiling suns’.  This year she has come up with some really cool rotating suns made out of recycled bike tires.  Next we talked with Gina Nash about her metal art.  Gina is known for some really great metal work including rain chains and rain barrels.  This year she has come up with a fire pit grate that is one of a kind.  This fire pit can also be taken apart for easy storage.  Finally, we talked to Rene Schearer about her pottery.  She made some really delicate bowls that sounded almost like a bell when you tap them.  The pottery is that thin!  She also has some heavier pieces that can take a little more wear and tear!  The best part of the event… a portion of the proceeds will go toward breast cancer awareness.  If you are out and about on the 16th or 17th you should stop by and find some pieces you can use to decorate your home or garden!

Seed Starting

Seed Starting

Now is the time to start some of your seeds indoors in anticipation of the coming spring and summer.  Judy and William walked us through the steps of seed starting to show you how to plant your seeds and what types you can plant now to get a head start on the season.  The basic rules for success include starting with a quality soil and fresh seeds.  Sterile soil will help you keep your new plants happy and healthy, because they won’t be exposed to different molds and fungus.  Judy also mentioned the need to read the back of your seed pack so you will know how deep to plant your seeds and other care instructions.  We recommend that you move and thin your small plant seedlings to bigger pots to give them the best start before they go in her garden.  This would be a great year to start a vegetable garden to save some money; check out your local garden center for a great selection of seeds.  For some more tips on successful seed starting, check out the ‘Seed Starting’ link on the How-To page.  We tried New Dimension Seeds for this story, but you can find hundreds of different varieties at your local garden center.

Earthpot Veggies

Earthpot Veggies

Gardening is putting people back in touch with the soil, but not everything is earth-friendly in the garden!  We know that in our own garden we have had hundreds of plastic containers over the course of 20 years of gardening and they are a real pain to get rid of.  There is a new product on the market that will help reduce all that waste and will also give your plants a healthier start too.  The EarthPot is a bio-degradable container that breaks down over time so you don’t have all that waste when you are gardening.  Melanie joined William at Portland Nursery on Stark to show him all of the different varieties of vegetables that you can buy in these cool containers.  In these ‘living pots’ you can get everything from tomatoes to basil.  These pots allow the plants to grow healthier.  They allow for more air and water to get to the roots and there is no transplant shock either since you plant the whole container in the ground.  If you want to start your own seeds for your garden they even come in packages with just the EarthPot and soil.  Check out their website for a list of local garden retailers where you can get the EarthPot.

Jan’s April Tips

Jan’s April Tips

The weather has not been cooperating and so a lot of gardeners are getting frustrated about their gardens.  We stopped by to visit with retired OSU Extension agent Jan McNeilan to learn what we can do right now in the garden.  She pointed us to the brand new OSU Extension website.  This website can answer just about any question that a Northwest gardener might have.  She told us about some of the cool features for gardeners.  Every year OSU posts a ‘variety list’ for just about every vegetable you can grow in our climate.  This list contains the varieties of different crops that will do well in our area.  Once you have planted those varieties, you can also get information on care including pruning, transplanting and other care tips.  Plus insect control and disease information for the different plants.   

She also talked about planting your cool crop veggies right now and making sure you pay attention to the ‘last frost date’ for your area.  For the valley it is generally around mid to late April, but this year we are recommending that you keep your vegetables inside (or protected in a greenhouse) until the beginning of May.  Higher elevations have a later frost date than the valley.  If you are looking for more growing tips be sure to check out that new OSU website so you can have the best garden ever!

TOW – Coffee Pot filters

TOW – Coffee Pot filters

Good drainage in your pots and containers is very important to the health and success of your flowers and vegetables.  In the past we have suggested using broken pottery shards, rocks, and even foam packing peanuts to keep the hole at the base of your container from clogging.  Recently we read a tip that may have all of those beat!  Coffee Filters!  You just place a coffee filter in the bottom of your planter or container and fill with soil.  These filters are designed to drain water through and not let anything else leak out (either coffee or soil).  Over time the filters will breakdown and then the soil should be set up enough to not leak all over your deck or patio.  Try them out and see how well they work for you.
 

 
main page this week

plant of the week

tip of the week tool shed how to gardens to see sponsors events calendar the happy spot
streaming video read our blog join our twitter e-mail us archive press relations links to other websites
 

Website design and content ©2006-2021 Gustin Creative Group.  Please send website inquiries to gustingroup@comcast.net.  This page last modified July 30, 2021.