Crossroads Gardening

Feb 14, Happy Valentine's Day

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:37:16 GMT

One legend has it that during the Middle Ages, people in Europe believed that birds started looking for a springtime mate around the middle of February. The notion evolved and strengthened, particularly with lovers, so that during a holiday they celebrated on February 14, they began exchanging notes and giving small gifts like flowers.

Jan 4, Give your Narcissus a Nip

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:10:38 GMT

Those crafty researchers at Cornell University have come up with another use for alcohol (go figure!) It turns out that giving narcissus' a drink containing 5 alcohol will stunt their growth enough so that they don't get leggy when forcing them. The alcohol doesn't affect the flowers, just the stems, so you get the beautiful flowers without having them flop over. Click the link for the whole story.

Jan 1, Seed companies

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:21:21 GMT

Here's a list of seed companies for you to visit.

Jan 1, Indoor gardening allows you to bring nauture indoors

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:27:05 GMT

You can bring nauture indoors with indoor gardening. From the window sill pot to an advanced hydroponics system there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Dec 31, Low light plants

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:40:31 GMT

There are many plants with low light requirements that you can grow in your home or office

Dec 29, After Holiday Bargains

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:42:13 GMT

If you are out and about this weekend, check out the after holiday sales on bulbs. I was able to get some Alliums, Anemones, Ranunculus and Nectaroscordum at 75 off! You can still plant these out as long as the ground isn't frozen or you can plant them in pots for forcing in the next couple of months. I was able to get seventy bulbs that would have cost $22.00 for only $5.50!

It was the Nectaroscordum siculum also known as the Sicilian Honey Lily that caught my eye. This plant has umbels of large, bell-shaped creamy pink and green hanging flowers on top of tall erect stems with interesting seed pods.

So if you are able to take advantage of them, there are some great bargains out there.

Only 82 days till spring.

Dec 22, What's the temperature today?

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:53:18 GMT

Temperature is an important thing for gardeners to know and be aware of all year long.

Dec 15, Soil Improvement

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:04:42 GMT

Better gardens through soil improvement

Dec 1, A test of the Topsy-Turvy tomato planter vs. normal container grown tomatoes.

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:00:40 GMT

A test of the Topsy-Turvy tomato planter vs. normal container grown tomatoes.

Dec 1, Do it yourself plant markers

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:42:53 GMT

Do it yourself plant markers

Dec 1, Site Map

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:25:59 GMT

Site map for Gardening at the Crossroads

Nov 24, Thanksgiving weekend

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:25:58 GMT

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Sitting down with family and friends to thanksgiving dinner that includes bounty grown in your garden brings back memories of the gardening season. Here in NE Ohio, Thanksgiving brought us our first measurable snowfall, a couple of inches here at the Crossroads Garden. But the sun came out yesterday and most of it is gone by now but we know it will be back. Snow in our area is usually "lake effect" snow. The cold winds blow from Canada across a relatively warm Lake Erie and create bands of snow that can deposit large amounts of snow in a short period of time in one area while a mile or so away gets nothing. The bands can twist like a weather vane with the wind. This week's mail brought the first seed catalog of the season from Stokes Seed this week. Seed catalogs are something gardeners look forward to, they signal the start of planning for next year's garden. It's fun to spend cold winter evenings looking through the catalogs dreaming of what the winter landscape will be transformed into when the warm weather of the spring arrives again. Happy Gardening from Cathy & Neal

Nov 11, Winter Garden

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:48:00 GMT

The winter garden, it's not as bleak as it seems.

Nov 9, Compost

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:57:52 GMT

Put the magic of compost to work in your garden!

Nov 4, Annuals and Perennials

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 01:57:45 GMT

What is the difference between annuals and perennials anyway?

Nov 3, Pansies

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:58:29 GMT

Pansies bring early and late color to our garden

Oct 31, Winterizing your power tools

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:36:56 GMT

For most of us in the northern hemisphere the gardening season is over. Any power tools that we use are likely to not be used for the next four to six months. We have found that by using a fuel stabilizer in our fuel year around we have less problems with starting the equipment up in the spring, especially if we forget and don't run the tank dry as most recommend. This is also a good time to take your summer equipment in for any repairs. The repair shop can then look at it over the winter and you will be ahead of the game next spring when everyone else is taking their equipment in and waiting.

Oct 29, Over wintering Pansys

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:28:08 GMT

Julie from Ontario writes and asks us- "I have planted pansy's in a planter now being November some are blooming can I leave them in the pot and outside for the winter?? We have temp of -30's in January???? or do I bring them in." Great question! Pansy's are hardy in zones 4-8. They love the cooler weather and will withstand light freezes. Since you have planted them in a planter, we would bring them in when the temps start getting consistently below freezing at night. If you have an attached unheated garage, they will probably do OK if stored against an inside wall. You can bring them out again in late winter or early spring. Not sure if you are in southern or northern Ontario and as you know, there's a big difference between the two! If you had them in the ground, they might be OK with mulch applied to keep them from freezing too hard. Pansy's like soil rich in organic material and do well with plenty of water and mulching. They are usually grown as an annual, but they can, under favorable conditions, be grown as a perennial. They tend to start looking a bit scraggly after a few years, however. We usually get some for our window boxes in late winter from the garden center and they do well until May or June when the hot weather knocks them back a bit. We are located in NE Ohio about 20 miles south of Lake Erie. We usually toss them in the compost pile in June and add the summer flowers to our window boxes. We are going to experiment with planting them in a shady, out of the way place once we remove them from the window boxes next summer and bringing them back in the fall. When in doubt, check with your local garden center for advice, they know best about your local climate when it comes to plants.

Oct 20, Pumpkin carving tips

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:14:22 GMT

In a few weeks all the little ghosts and goblins will be coming around. We'll all be out looking for the perfect pumpkin to carve (unless of course, you grew your own!) Click the link below for our pumpkin carving tips.

Oct 15, Sad time of year

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:15:08 GMT

Even though fall is one of our favorite times of year with the cooler temperatures and low humidity, it's always a sad time of year when we finally bring ourselves to cleaning up the remains of the garden. We haven't had any frost yet at the crossroads garden, but the tomato plants, while still valiantly producing blossoms, will produce no more red tomatoes with the cooler nights and shorter days. We'll soon be planting the last of the daffodils in anticipation of next spring. We hope that you have had a good gardening year also. If you haven't subscribed to our e-mail newsletter yet, do it today. The October issue has important information on what you should be doing now to prepare your garden for the winter.

Oct 3, Bulb Gardening

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:54:33 GMT

Bulb Gardening, planting flower bulbs for a spectacular spring start to your garden!

Oct 3, You can use a groundcover to take care of that shady area.

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:50:13 GMT

You can use a groundcover to take care of that shady area that is hard to grow other plants in.

Oct 3, Container Gardening

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:42:30 GMT

Container gardening

Sep 9, Wildlife gardening

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:04:23 GMT

Wildlife gardening can make your life more interesting

Sep 7, Early Spring Flowers bring color when we need it most

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:20:59 GMT

Early Spring Flowers bring color when we need it most after a long winter!

Sep 7, Planting deer resistant bulbs will help protect your landscaping investment

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:18:46 GMT

Planting deer resistant bulbs will help protect your valuable landscaping investment.

Aug 19, Use the No Dig Gardening method to reduce your work and increase your yields!

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:30:24 GMT

Use the No Dig Gardening method to reduce your work and increase your yields!

Aug 5, Drip irrigation

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:59:31 GMT

Drip irrigation helps you keep the plants watered and saves money

Aug 5, So, like, I got these suckers hanging around my trees, how do I get rid of them?

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:50:56 GMT

Suckers are tree sprouts that grow from around the tree trunk or from tree roots. Sometimes they will grow from areas on the tree where limbs have been removed. Some species are more prone to suckering than others. Suckers should be removed as they will sap strength from the tree. Remove sucker growth around the trunk by cutting as close as possible to the point of origin. You can use a sharp spade to prune smaller suckers. If your suckers are too big to prune with a sharpened spade, then remove the soil and prune with a loppers or saw at the root junction, then replace the soil. This will not harm your tree. Pruning at the root node will help to prevent the sucker from re-growing. Don't prune off at the soil line, however. Pruning at the surface will result in more suckering.

Aug 4, Buying Organic Foods

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 18:05:23 GMT

Organic foods sold in stores are generally more expensive. If you buy fresh produce every week, it can be quite costly. To help reduce the cost, look for non-organic fruits and vegetables that have the lowest rate of pesticide use. The Environmental Working Group has compiled a list of 43 commonly eaten fruits and vegetables ranked from the highest to the lowest levels of pesticide use at their website, www.foodnews.org. The list was compiled from data collected by the USDA and FDA. Some of the recommended fruits and vegetables to buy non-organic are pineapples, mangoes, bananas, onions, sweet corn, and asparagus. Some fruits and vegetables they recommend to buy organic are peaches, apples, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, celery, and lettuce. This time of year local farm markets offer the freshest fruit and vegetables available. Whether or not they are grown organic depends on the farmer. Get to know the growers and whether or not they grow organically.

Aug 2, A visitor to our website asks-"When can I pick my corn?"

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:03:39 GMT

Corn can be harvested when the ears have completely filled out. The silk will start drying out when the ears are almost ready. You can peel back the husks to see if the kernels are filled out, but you can also feel the end of the ears without peeling back the husks. If the end of the corn feels full, rather than pointy, it's ready to go. Some gardeners like to test the kernels by piercing one with their fingernail. If the liquid is milky, you can pick the corn, if it's watery; leave it for a while longer. To pick the corn, grasp it firmly and twist it down in a quick motion and it will come right off the stalks. The stalks can be left to dry out and used for your fall decorations. Corn starts to lose it's sweetness as soon as it's picked, converting the sugars into starch so you should pick only what you need and cook it as soon as possible for peak sweetness. If you can't use it at once, you should refrigerate it as soon as possible to slow down the conversion to starch. The newer super-sweet varieties will not lose their sweetness as fast as some of the older varieties. Corn doesn't need to be cooked for very long. You should have the water boiling and carefully place the corn into the boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, cook it for an additional five minutes and your corn will be perfectly cooked.

Jul 30, Mulch can help you maintain and beautify your garden and save you time and labor

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:38:32 GMT

Mulch can help you maintain and beautify your garden and save you time and labor!

Jul 5, Mid-Summer Sales and Bargains

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:23:41 GMT

Check out the greatly reduced seasonal plant and merchandise prices at your local garden nursery and plant catalogs. Many items are discounted as much as 50 to 75 off flowers, trees, shrubs, patio furniture, and statuary. Some of the plants might look a little worse for the wear and picked over, but with a little tender loving care, they will easily become a lasting addition to your garden. Some, like bushes and trees will be better if you keep them in their containers and wait until September or October to transplant them. In any case if you transplant them now be sure to mulch them and water them daily to overcome the transplant shock and the heat of summer. Do not over fertilize them now. Wait until the fall to give them a good feeding with a slow release fertilizer. Also this is a great time to check on the new arrivals for fall 2007 plants.

Jun 30, Roses can bring beauty and grace to your garden, and they smell great too!

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:15:35 GMT

Roses can bring beauty and grace to your garden, and they smell great too!

Jun 29, Saving Tomato Seeds

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:54:39 GMT

Click on the link above for some easy tips to save the best of your open pollinated tomatoes for next year!

Jun 19, Why are my tomatoes turning black?

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:11:34 GMT

The cause is most likely blossom end rot. Click on the link and get more information on this common gardening problem.

Jun 7, Tomato Planter Test

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:07:34 GMT

Here is the first report on our container grown tomato test.

May 27, Is it too late to plant my flower garden?

Sun, 27 May 2007 12:44:04 GMT

It's Memorial Day weekend, and in addition to taking time to remember those that have paid the ultimate price to defend our liberty, a lot of folks are planting gardens. There are still plenty of options available to you, but planting from seed probably isn't one of them. If you live in the city, you probably don't have a ready source of free compost, so you could buy a bag or two of compost or composted manure to add to your soil that will help your plants. Spread it out over your garden area and dig it in with a shovel and level with a rake. Bedding plants that will work well for you are petunias, impatiens and begonias. These will be in flower when you buy them and will transplant well. Keep them watered, give them a shot of time release fertilizer and you will be rewarded with color from now until the fall. Keep the weeds down by spending 5-10 minutes a day keeping them pulled, or mulch them with grass clippings if you have them. Weeding is a relaxing task if you do it regularly and don't let them get to the point that the task is overwhelming.

May 25, A natural weed and feed for your lawn

Fri, 25 May 2007 02:20:41 GMT

Available from Gardens Alive! WOW! Plus Pre- Emergence Weed Control and Fertilizer, might be just what concerned parents are looking for to have a beautiful lawn and protect their families as well. A by-product of corn syrup production, this pre-emergence weed control: * reduces germination of dandelions and other broadleaf weeds by as much as 90 * stops grassy weeds such as crabgrass from emerging * allows kids and pets to play on the lawn right after application * provides nitrogen and other nutrients grass needs for strong root growth, stress resistance and a beautiful green appearance * releases nutrients gradually, as nature intended.

May 25, There are many gardening accessories that you can use to personalize your garden

Fri, 25 May 2007 01:30:54 GMT

There are many gardening accessories that you can use to personalize your garden.

May 25, A pergola becomes another room for relaxing or entertaining.

Fri, 25 May 2007 01:27:13 GMT

A pergola can add a touch of class to any garden. It becomes another room for relaxing or entertaining.

May 22, Salt Damage

Tue, 22 May 2007 01:19:10 GMT

Road salt from highways and driveways during the winter months can cause damage to nearby vegetation. Prevention for trees and plants before the start of winter would include staking up some burlap or incorporating gypsum into the soil. In driveways it is safer to use sand mixed with calcium chloride, sawdust, or kitty litter. You can also plant salt tolerant trees such as hawthorns; maples like Norway, Hedge, or Sycamore; English and Red oaks; and Austrian pines. Salt tolerant perennials include Artemisia 'Powis Castle'; Hosta; Sedum 'Autumn Joy; and Liriope Muscari (Lilyturf). Grasses such as ryegrass, tall and fine fescues are more tolerant. Areas of grass damaged by road salt can be flushed with water if the soil drains well. In severe cases, the top 3-4 inches of soil would need to be removed and replaced and the grass replanted.

May 17, Compost tea is an easy way to deliver nutrients to your plants.

Thu, 17 May 2007 01:34:54 GMT

Compost tea is an easy way to deliver nutrients to your plants.

May 16, Black spot disease on Roses

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:58:41 GMT

This disease (a fungus) affects roses this time of the year after a rather lengthy warm rainy period. Inspect the rose leaves for any black spots surrounded by a yellow area. Also inspect the rose plant's stems for signs of raised and discolored (usually red or purple) areas. The disease causes continued deterioration. If you notice these signs, remove the infected leaves especially on new foliage. Keep the leaves as dry as possible by planting them in full sun and somewhat spaced apart. In the fall or early spring prune back severely infected plants and clean up under the plant in case a dropped leaf deposited any residue on the ground under the plant. Some recommended Black Spot and mildew resistant varieties include Hybrid tea: 'Duet,' 'Eiffel Tower,' 'Grand Slam,' 'Jamaica,' 'Matterhorn,' Floribunda: 'Golden Slipper,' 'Saratoga,' Grandiflora: 'Camelot,' 'John S. Armstrong,' 'Pink Parfait,' 'Queen Elizabeth.'

May 15, Growing Greens

Tue, 15 May 2007 00:59:24 GMT

Greens are a great addition to a daily diet because they contain a powerhouse of nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and K; folic acid; riboflavin; thiamin; niacin; potassium; and phosphorus. They come in a variety of colors and sizes to add a decorative touch to a vegetable or flower garden. They are relatively easy to grow and mature quickly. In fact, greens can be picked at any stage of growth. Some examples are Collards, Kale, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, and beet tops.

May 9, Rabbit Manure

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:54:46 GMT

Rabbit manure is considered one of the best additions to garden soil because of its high content of 2.4 percent nitrogen (N), 0.6 percent potassium (K), and 1.4 percent phosphorus (P). A fresh application it is even higher than cow, horse, pig, and chicken manure. Rabbit manure is also low in weed seeds and is easier on plant life. For best results add to you compost pile or let age for two to three weeks before adding to the garden soil.

May 6, Gardening Tips

Sun, 06 May 2007 20:54:30 GMT

Gardening tips that will help you have your best garden ever!

May 2, The Flower Moon of May

Wed, 02 May 2007 23:00:50 GMT

Tonight is the full moon of May known as the Flower Moon. Today was sunny but a little cool. We brought some of our seedlings that we started inside out to continue hardening them off in preparation for planting them outside in a few weeks when danger of frost is past.

Apr 28, Hanging baskets are a popular method to add interest and gardening space.

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 12:43:42 GMT

Hanging baskets are a popular method to add interest and gardening space.

Apr 27, Adding an arbor to your garden can create an elegant entryway.

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:06:26 GMT

Adding an arbor to your garden can create an elegant entryway, background or focal point