Greetings!

Spring seems to be approaching faster than normal and we're increasing our selection of garden products quickly. Nancy and I just visited some of our favorite growers in Fallbrook and we came back with a truckload of herbs.   

Last time I forgot to mention that we are now carrying a good selection of garden hats.   

Bare root Chandler strawberry plants are still available and looking good.  We also have attractive plastic pots in various sizes that are suitable for making a strawberry "tree" or "stack".  We have several "trees" on display.  When you stack smaller pots on a large pot you can grow quite a few more strawberry plants than a single large pot will hold.  The hanging berries are also difficult for birds, snails, slugs and pillbugs to damage.  We have plenty of our potting soil ACID MIX on hand also.    

In 4" pots we also have pink and red-flowered,fruiting strawberry plants.  Normally the flowers are white. 

Potted bare root wine and table grapes and blueberries are still available.  We do have bare bare root Flame grapes. 

Valentine's Day is approaching.  Stop by our booth to order a living gift.  We have a selection of thoughtful gifts that keep growing.  A beautifully decorated wine grape to start your vineyard, an African Violet pot, an herb garden, a succulent pot, or a living heart are available for pickup or delivery.

Bare root fruit trees have been ordered and should start arriving in the next week or two depending upon the weather.  I have ordered apples, nectarine, peach, persimmon, plum, and pomegranate.  Just the basics this year.  

Herb Selection

In 4" pots we now have African Blue Basil, Large Leaf Basil, Six Hills Giant Catmint, Lemon Catnip, Chamomile, Chives, Cilantro, Curry(the herb, not the tree), Bouquet Dill, Fernleaf Dill, Green Fennel, Fernleaf Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Apple Mint, Chocolate Mint, Orange Mint, Peppermint, Spearmint, Gold Leaf Oregano, Greek Oregano, Hopley's Puprle Oregano, Variegated Oregano, Italian Parsley, Moss Curled Parsley, Prostrate Rosemary, Purple Sage, Tricolor Sage, Coconut Thyme, English Thyme, French Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Lemon Variegated Thyme, Lime Thyme, Mother of Thyme, Silver Thyme, and a few more.  
 

The Large Leaf Basil can still be damaged or killed by cold night temperatures, so make certain you either bring it inside or cover it at night.  True Basil doesn't like temperatures below 55 degrees F.  This is similar to tomatoes.  Basil is completely safe outdoors at night by mid-May!  Take your chances.
 

The various Mints are damaged by prolonged cold, but rarely killed.  
 

Culinary Sage is damaged by waterlogged soil.  Either provide very fast drainage (our potting soils are perfect) or watch your watering.  
 

Many of the various cultivars of Thyme make excellent small-scale groundcovers.   

As with many other plants we do caution about using other brands of potting soil.  As far as we know, no other potting soil should be used for permanent applications.  Most herbs live several years or more and most other potting soils are only intended for 3-6 months of use. Success with herbs in pots depends upon the soil.  
 

For most pots a mixture of our ACID MIX with equal parts of sand (plaster sand) makes the ideal soil.  Mix two 50 pound (1/2 cubic foot) bags of plaster sand with one bag of Laguna Hills Nursery ACID MIX.  This mix will last longer than the plant.   

Farmers Market Locations

EVERY SUNDAY

The Great Park Farmers Market

The Great Park Balloon parking lot on

Marine Way in Irvine (off the 5 freeway at Sand Canyon)

www.ocgp.org

10am-2pm

EVERY FRIDAY

Rancho Santa Margarita Farmers Market

Big Lot's parking lot at the corner of Avenida de las Flores and El Portal

1pm-6pm

COME AND SAY HELLO! 

Gary Matsuoka 

LAGUNA HILLS NURSERY