Hey, just in time; I bought some bare root asperagus plants to get growing for the yard sale in May. 800 North 1000 east in Orem. Growing Together Yard Sale, every weekend Thursday through Saturday in May except May 16, See you there.
Growing Asparagus
An asparagus patch is typically started with one-year-old
crowns purchased from a garden center or seed catalog. A
crown is the root system of a year-old asparagus plant grown
from seed.
There is conflicting information on how asparagus crowns
should be planted. Traditionally it was recommended to dig
an 8-inch deep trench for the crowns, then carefully spread
out the roots within the trench, refilling it a bit at a
time as the plants grow.
However, recent comparison studies have shown that it isn't
necessary to gradually fill the trench or spread out the
roots. Additionally, the deeper asparagus crowns are
planted, the more the yield will be reduced.
To plant your asparagus crowns in the spring, start by
digging a trench that is 5-6 inches deep. For every 50 feet
of row, add a pound of 0-46-0 triple superphosphate fertilizer
or two pounds of 0-20-0 superphosphate fertilizer to the trench.
Next, toss the crowns into the trench, right on top of the
fertilizer. The plants will grow well whether or not the
roots are spread out. Place the crowns 18 inches apart,
with five feet between rows. This will provide good air
circulation for the plants and help prevent fungal diseases.
Finally, backfill the trench to the original soil level, being
careful to not compact the soil over the crowns. If you have
poorly draining or clay soil, it would be better to plant your
asparagus in a raised bed. You can learn how to create a
raised bed here:
http://freeplants.com/preparing-raised-planting-beds.htm
The asparagus spears cannot be harvested the same year the
crowns were planted. The plants need this time to build their
energy so they can produce well. The following year you may
harvest a small crop over a three-week period, and over a 4-6
week period the year after that. It is the third year after
planting when you can continue to harvest for the full 6-8 week
season. Stop harvesting when new spears become less than a
half inch in diameter.
Once harvesting is done, allow the plants to grow and keep
their fern-like foliage through fall and winter. The foliage
will catch snow that will provide moisture and insulation for
the roots. Cut or mow the foliage in early spring before new
growth begins to emerge.
Have a great week!
-Mike McGroarty
(more personal stuff about Mike and Pam and pictures
of our grandkids)
http://www.freeplants.com/stuff.htm
P.S. The message board is here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/519353/
McGroarty Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 338
Perry, Ohio 44081, USA
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Pot roast gardening
I was making pot roast this morning so I planted the potatoe eyes and garlic sprouts in the garden. I figure God will forgive me if no one sees me. Trouble Is my garden faces 800 North, a most busy street; but I only planted during the hymns at conference.
I've also potted a couple of the plants that grow profusely around my yard. We moved another shelf out from the shed to the "Green house area" for the Yard sale, to put all my enterprising plants on. Its back is to the white fence facing the southern sunshine and it gets sun pretty much all the time it is up. The rains and snows this week have been good for my recovering lawn and my garden.
I've planted the corn in a new garden area, wilderness, and planted the potatoes and garlic among the corn. I read you could do that.
Don't forget our Yard Sale in May in Utah County Utah. http://www.growingtogether.com
I've also potted a couple of the plants that grow profusely around my yard. We moved another shelf out from the shed to the "Green house area" for the Yard sale, to put all my enterprising plants on. Its back is to the white fence facing the southern sunshine and it gets sun pretty much all the time it is up. The rains and snows this week have been good for my recovering lawn and my garden.
I've planted the corn in a new garden area, wilderness, and planted the potatoes and garlic among the corn. I read you could do that.
Don't forget our Yard Sale in May in Utah County Utah. http://www.growingtogether.com
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Yard sale in May
Utah County Residents and Businesses: don’t forget the first annual Growing Together YARD SALE in May. Just in time for Mother’s day or Memorial Day, or Cinco de Mayo.Baskets, buckets, tincans and planters full of Orem special blend of garden flowers
Other plants ready to transplant into your garden; mertle ready to plant for a ground cover; and much more.
Strawberry starts, raspberry and black berry starts; red and green grape vine starts. All ready for planting.
Even Asparagus starts for your garden. Remember, eat greens and live longer and healthier.
Other plants ready to transplant into your garden; mertle ready to plant for a ground cover; and much more.
Strawberry starts, raspberry and black berry starts; red and green grape vine starts. All ready for planting.
Even Asparagus starts for your garden. Remember, eat greens and live longer and healthier.
Enrich garden with Green Sand
Utah County Residents and Businesses: don’t forget the first annual Growing Together YARD SALE in May. Just in time for Mother’s day or Memorial Day, or Cinco de Mayo.Baskets, buckets, tincans and planters full of Orem special blend of garden flowers
Improving Soil with Greensand
Today I'm going to tell you about a wonderful organic product
that will improve your garden and potting soil.
Greensand is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from
ancient sea floor deposits that has been used as a fertilizer
since the 1700s. In the U.S. greensand is found mainly in
Texas, New Jersey and Arkansas. It is completely organic and
safe to handle. It will not harm insects, pets or people and
is so safe it can be scooped up in your hands. Greensand can
be applied to the garden any time, and unlike chemical fertilizers,
it will not burn your plants if applied too heavily.
Now here's the best part: Greensand will help loosen up clay
soils and help bind sandy soils. It also retains water and will
increase the soil's ability to hold moisture. When greensand is
mixed into potting soil, less watering will be required for your
potted plants. Greensand looks much like fine beach sand that
has been tinted green, but it is able to absorb ten times more
moisture than beach sand. The dark green color of greensand is
natural, and the when greensand is applied to the soil surface,
its dark color will help absorb sunlight and help warm the soil
in early spring.
At first glance, greensand may not look like much of a fertilizer.
It has an N-P-K rating of only 0-0-0.1 to 0-0-3 which means it
contains no nitrogen or phosphorus and only a slight amount of
potash. But it is the trace minerals present in greensand that
prove its worth. While plants need only tiny amounts of these
trace elements, they are essential to a plant's growth. Greensand
will provide calcium, manganese, and over thirty more trace
elements for your plants.
An application of greensand will improve the soil and thereby
improve the health of your plants. Greensand will make roses
bloom longer and it will make tomato plants produce tastier fruit.
If your garden soil is heavy with clay or sandy and weak, a dose
of greensand will make it more suitable for your plants.
Whether you buy Jersey greensand, Texas glittergreen greensand
or Arkansas greensand, always check the label for instructions
before applying this amendment to your garden. Application
rates can vary from 5 to 80 pounds per 100 square feet, depending
on the specific needs of the soil.
Greensand can be found at garden centers and in some gardening
catalogs. If your local garden center doesn't offer greensand,
ask them if they can order it in for you. Your garden will
appreciate it.
Have a great week!
-Mike McGroarty
(more personal stuff about Mike and Pam and pictures
of our grandkids)
http://www.freeplants.com/stuff.htm
P.S. The message board is here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/519353/
McGroarty Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 338
Perry, Ohio 44081, USA
Improving Soil with Greensand
Today I'm going to tell you about a wonderful organic product
that will improve your garden and potting soil.
Greensand is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from
ancient sea floor deposits that has been used as a fertilizer
since the 1700s. In the U.S. greensand is found mainly in
Texas, New Jersey and Arkansas. It is completely organic and
safe to handle. It will not harm insects, pets or people and
is so safe it can be scooped up in your hands. Greensand can
be applied to the garden any time, and unlike chemical fertilizers,
it will not burn your plants if applied too heavily.
Now here's the best part: Greensand will help loosen up clay
soils and help bind sandy soils. It also retains water and will
increase the soil's ability to hold moisture. When greensand is
mixed into potting soil, less watering will be required for your
potted plants. Greensand looks much like fine beach sand that
has been tinted green, but it is able to absorb ten times more
moisture than beach sand. The dark green color of greensand is
natural, and the when greensand is applied to the soil surface,
its dark color will help absorb sunlight and help warm the soil
in early spring.
At first glance, greensand may not look like much of a fertilizer.
It has an N-P-K rating of only 0-0-0.1 to 0-0-3 which means it
contains no nitrogen or phosphorus and only a slight amount of
potash. But it is the trace minerals present in greensand that
prove its worth. While plants need only tiny amounts of these
trace elements, they are essential to a plant's growth. Greensand
will provide calcium, manganese, and over thirty more trace
elements for your plants.
An application of greensand will improve the soil and thereby
improve the health of your plants. Greensand will make roses
bloom longer and it will make tomato plants produce tastier fruit.
If your garden soil is heavy with clay or sandy and weak, a dose
of greensand will make it more suitable for your plants.
Whether you buy Jersey greensand, Texas glittergreen greensand
or Arkansas greensand, always check the label for instructions
before applying this amendment to your garden. Application
rates can vary from 5 to 80 pounds per 100 square feet, depending
on the specific needs of the soil.
Greensand can be found at garden centers and in some gardening
catalogs. If your local garden center doesn't offer greensand,
ask them if they can order it in for you. Your garden will
appreciate it.
Have a great week!
-Mike McGroarty
(more personal stuff about Mike and Pam and pictures
of our grandkids)
http://www.freeplants.com/stuff.htm
P.S. The message board is here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/519353/
McGroarty Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 338
Perry, Ohio 44081, USA
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
starting vines from clippings
I have learned by talking to neighbors, foster kids taking horticulture class at Orem High school, and Mike Mc's news letters that I can, ME, all by myself make startings of vines like grapes and black berries. I cut the stem now as it is starting to grow buds for spring, about an inch above and below the bud, put it in water and put the container into a clear plastic bag tied up on the top, to make a little green house. It traps the gases that are produced and encourages the stem segments to make roots and leaves. (Stem Cell research is not only for animals)
Each of these little sticks will grow roots and leaves, then I will put them in individual pots to grow for my yard sale in May.
Tell your friends in Utah County, I am having a yard sale in May, probably most weekends Thursday through Saturday in my back yard. Yard Sale = plants and seeds for your yard.
Utah County Residents and Businesses: don’t forget the first annual Growing Together YARD SALE in May. Just in time for Mother’s day or Memorial Day, or Cinco de Mayo.Baskets, buckets, tincans and planters full of Orem special blend of garden flowers
Each of these little sticks will grow roots and leaves, then I will put them in individual pots to grow for my yard sale in May.
Tell your friends in Utah County, I am having a yard sale in May, probably most weekends Thursday through Saturday in my back yard. Yard Sale = plants and seeds for your yard.
Utah County Residents and Businesses: don’t forget the first annual Growing Together YARD SALE in May. Just in time for Mother’s day or Memorial Day, or Cinco de Mayo.Baskets, buckets, tincans and planters full of Orem special blend of garden flowers
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