SHOW ARCHIVE

Episode 207 • June 11, 2011

VIDEO ARCHIVE

Things are catching up.  The warmer weather is really helping things catch up to their normal growing season.  We are seeing more and more fresh fruits in the stores and the farmers markets.  Plus the flowers in the garden are really responding.  We even got the rest of our tomatoes in the garden.  Which brings up a point… we have been asked about vegetable gardens and whether it is too late to plant.  Don’t worry, you still have time to get your veggies in the ground in time for a great fall harvest.  In fact, most of your independent garden centers still have some vegetable starts on their shelves.  Let professor William and teacher Judy give some great tips in this week’s show.

This week we featured...

Spring Mulching

Spring Mulching

Now is the time to apply a good layer of mulch to your garden.  Chuck from Grimm’s Fuel (503-636-3623) joined us to talk about the different types of mulches you can get for your garden beds.  In the past people liked the red, fresh color of a new Fir or Hemlock mulch.  This type will age to a grey color and will help keep the weeds in check.  The problem is that they tend to pull nitrogen from your soil as the wood breaks down and that leaves less for your plants.  The other problem this year is availability.  The wood based mulches are harder to come by due to the housing market, fuel costs and timber harvesting.  The new popular mulch is Garden Mulch.  This is a nice dark color and it will help your garden by providing nutrients for your plants.   Grimm’s has all the different types of mulches and can deliver them in bulk or can even blow them in so the work is done and you save your back!

Pest Patrol-Spittle Bug

Pest Patrol-Spittle Bug

Our pest this week really isn’t a pest. It’s more of a nuisance.  The spittle bug is easy to find at the base of branches on your smaller shrubs and plants.  It’s easily identified by the ball of spit in which it lives.  What is interesting about the spittle bug is that is does no real damage to your plants.  If the spit bothers you simply wash it away with a hose.

 

Rose Festival Floats

Rose Festival Floats

Every year we get to see moving works of garden art and we probably don’t even know it.  Did you know the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade of the Portland Rose Festival is a showcase of plants?  To learn what that means we stopped by to visit with Kendra at SCi 3.2.  SCi 3.2 is the builder of most of the huge floats that you see passing by during the parade.  These floats have to be built with plant material.  Every part of the float has to have a plant (or plant part, seeds, stems, fruit) visible to the crowd and the judges.  We were a little early in the process.  They were working on the dry elements while we were there with live flowers being used later in the week.  Kendra showed us some of the large cool floats.  We saw the huge masquerade head on the Reser’s float, the running and jumping horses on the Spirit Mountain float and the frolicking whales and boat of the Alaska Airlines float.  Most of the work is done within a couple of weeks before the festival.  Volunteers are busy in the final couple of weeks applying all the color and texture that makes each float so special.  If you are interested in viewing the floats you can stake out a position on the parade route.  Or check them out after the parade on Naito Parkway at the waterfront from 2-9pm on Saturday from 11-5 on Sunday.  If you would like to volunteer in decorating the floats for next year, check out the SCi website. 

Planting Tomatoes

Planting Tomatoes

Now is the time to plant your tomatoes and there are a few things you can do to ensure a bountiful fall crop. One thing you can do is to plant your tomato deep! Tomatoes will grow roots along their main stem as long as you leave a portion of the leaves above ground. Also, by adding a small amount of garden lime to the soil you can avoid ‘blossom end rot’, a condition that causes a brown spot at the end of your tomato.  If your night time temperatures are still a little cool you may want to protect your new plants with a cover, like a cloche, or use a product like a Wall-o-Water.  Don’t forget to set your tomato cages up as well.  Use a couple of these tips now and you will have a great harvest this fall.

Patio Surface Savers

Patio Surface Savers

Putting your flowers in a place where you can enjoy them may have an unintended consequence.  Pots or containers on your deck, patio or indoor floor may damage the surface.  To prevent that we recommend that you place some form of protection under the plant.  One of the best products we have found is the Surface Saver.  This product comes as a ring or as planter feet.  All you do is place the ring under your pot for air circulation.  This air circulation will help the plant and will protect the surface.  Check out your local independent garden center for the Surface Saver or a similar product to extend the life of your plant and flooring.

Kindergarden-Shish ka bob Pot

Kindergarden-Shish ka bob Pot

Most dads love to grill and with Father’s Day a week away it is time for a gift he can use.  Our Kindergarden segment combines gardening and grilling.  Our young volunteers together with Amy Bigej of Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) put together a pot that contains all the essentials for creating a tasty, mouth watering shish ka bob.  Peppers, cherry tomatoes, onions and zucchini are all planted in one pot and even includes a Rosemary spear to cook them on.  It’s a perfect gift for the dad who grills and a great way for fathers to do a little gardening with their sons and daughters.  We found everything we needed at Al’s Garden Center in Woodburn, but you can find the same plants at your local independent garden center.

Earthpot – Late Veggies

Earthpot – Late Veggies

It is not too late to plant your veggie garden.  We know that the spring has been cold and wet, but now that it is warm and dry you can still plan on a full and big harvest when the fall returns.  One way to get a head start on your late garden is to look for plants in the Earthpots.  The Earthpot is a completely bio-degradable container for plants so you don’t have all those plastic containers after you are done planting!  All you have to do is just put them in the ground.  The paper container goes away and your plant has less transplant shock, so it grows faster.  For a list of garden centers that carry the Earthpot you can check out their website.
 

 
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