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Greetings!
It's back -- the green haze! No, not air pollution. It's that misty green fog that hovers over our deciduous trees this time of year. When spring leaves are just emerging, the trees appear to be enveloped in a green haze: my signal that spring is arrived.
 | | Huisache - Blooming Now! |
If you need more proof, look around these parts for just a bit and you're sure to see the Huisache blooming. This beautiful native tree blooms in scrubby pastureland and is a great favorite of mine, even though it doesn't really make a nice landscape tree. Huisache is quite thorny -- its name is derived from the Nahuatl language and means "many thorns!" It is very fragrant, though, so if you've got your hiking boots on, approach and sniff: it's delightful.
Spring is such a busy time of year! This weekend, we've got two great classes for you, the second half of "Build A Bed" on Saturday and a Drip Irrigation class on Sunday. If you can stand it, think back to last summer and how hard it was to water with overhead irrigation. Drip puts water where you need it, in the root zone. And it's easy! Very little, if any, digging is involved!
 | | Drip Irrigation is easier! |
Are you feeling pressed for time? Well, Sunday March 11 is when we "spring forward," giving us all an extra hour in the garden when we get home from work. And we'll need it -- March is the busiest time in the garden, with all the planting, picking, weeding, etc. So without further ado, let's get to it!
Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon! |
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What Do Tomatoes Need?
We had a full house for Diana Liga's Spring Tomato class last week, and if you were lucky enough to attend, you know what a great resource she is for Papershell! Diana led a very informative seminar on growing tomatoes organically in our area, and I'm going to offer just a few of the highlights for the benefit of those who couldn't make it. Diana's handout is here, if you want to download a PDF copy.
Late February and early March are the very best time to plant tomatoes in our area, even though there is technically a risk of a late frost. This year, I think we are safe! Tomatoes are best planted in raised beds or containers filled with a mixture of sandy loam and compost. Select good strong plants and plant them on the deep side to help develop good strong roots. Use rock phosphate and a balanced organic fertilizer at planting time, and follow up with another application of fertilizer when the first fruits begin to form.
 | | Sweet Million Cherry |
Tomatoes, like other fruiting vegetables, like full sun and it's best to rotate your crops to deter soil pathogens. Watch out for hornworms and leaf-footed bugs or stinkbugs: they can really do a lot of damage in a short period of time. Provide regular water and try not to get the leaves wet, to avoid fungal problems. Tomatoes need support and a strong, tall cage is recommended for best results.
Tomatoes will stop fruiting when the days reach about 90 degrees and the night temps are in the 70s. Cherry tomatoes are a little bit more forgiving of high temperatures and are a little easier overall for beginners.
We've got a great selection of tomatoes at Papershell, though the varieties change on a daily basis, depending on which deliveries arrive and which ones sell out. If you're looking for a particular variety, email me and I'll try to find it for you.
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Blueberries!
When I was growing up, no one ever considered planting blueberries in a Gulf Coast garden, but there have been some excellent introductions in recent years that will tolerate our hot, humid conditions.
Rabbit-eye blueberries are very well suited to our climate and seem to have no major pests. A full-grown bush will get about 10 feet tall but most people keep theirs a little shorter, to better pick the fruit. These blueberries are self-fruitful but perform much better with two or three varieties in one planting. Blueberries tend to flower all at the same time but ripen at different times, so having more than one variety also extends your blueberry harvest season. Bees pollinate blueberry flowers, so don't spray for insects during flowering.
 | | Photo courtesy NSCU Extension |
About the only trick to growing blueberries is to provide a very acidic soil, which can be tricky since our native soil is a little on the alkaline side. Some growers keep their berry plants in containers planted with pure peat, but even that will eventually need some amendment to preserve a low pH. Test your soil periodically and keep the pH in the range of 4.0 to 5.0. Use a soil acidifier and make sure that all your soil amendments help work toward a more acidic environment.
Fertilize blueberries with azalea fertilizer, using a half-strength application twice as often as directed. Provide regular water and allow the berries to ripen on the bush; the taste is affected if you pick too early. No special pruning is required. Simply remove diseased or crossing branches as you would on any other shrub. Mulch well, since blueberries have shallow roots and dry out easily.
We have four varieties at Papershell. In order of ripening, they are Austin, Premier, Brightwell, and Tifblue.
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Seed Sale Saturdays!
There are so many wonderful things you can grow from seeds! It's always the most economical way to grow vegetables, herbs & flowers, and some plants are just plain easier to grow from seed. Beans, radishes, and carrots, for example, don't transplant well and are generally not available in garden centers as plants. They should be started from seeds in the garden where they will grow.
 | | I love okra! |
In our area, we can plant the following seeds in March:
Blanket flower (gaillardia), cleome, cosmos, marigold, moonflower, morning glory, sunflowers, zinnias, pole beans, bush beans, melons (late in the month), cucumber, eggplant (late in the month), okra (late in the month), peppers, pumpkins, squash, radishes (early in the month), lettuce (early in the month), collard greens (early in the month), basil, arugula, dill, & parsley! Whew!
To celebrate, we're having a special seed sale -- every Saturday in March, all seeds are BUY 2, GET 1 Free! All day, every Saturday in March, no limit! Those dates are March 7, March 14, March 21 & March 28. Plant spring seeds now, stock up for fall planting later...
(Seed potatoes included, while supplies last!) |
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Please stop by and visit! Have a glass of world-famous lemonade (or a beer!) -- we'd love to meet you!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barrow
Papershell: A Garden Gallery
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Build A Bed, Part 2 Saturday, March 3 3:00-4:30pm Want to install a brand-new flowerbed but don't know how to go about it? This class builds on Part 1, and covers plant selection, sun exposure, design tips and more. Class fee is $10. Each participant receives a coupon good for 15% of today's purchases. Reservations suggested: call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Convert Your Veggie Garden to Drip Irrigation Sunday, March 4 2:00-3:30pm Drip irrigation saves water and time! Learn to install a simple drip system for your veggie garden. We'll cover automated and manual systems, with hands-on demonstrations. Class fee is $10. Each participant receives a coupon good for 15% of today's purchases. Reservations suggested: call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Seed Saving: Flowers & Vegetables Sunday, March 11 2:00-3:30pm Learn to collect and store flower and vegetable seeds for future growing seasons! This class features horticulturist Diana Liga of The Garden Insectary. Class fee is $10. Each participant receives a coupon good for 15% of today's purchases. Reservations suggested: call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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After-Hours Terrarium Party! Friday, March 16 andFriday, March 23 4:00-6:00pm It's a happy hour for plants! Make a terrarium, have a glass of wine and a snack -- lots of fun! We'll supply containers or you can bring your own. Space is seriously limited for this one -- you simply MUST register in advance. This workshop is $15 and includes soil, charcoal, instructions, wine & snacks! Master Gardener Jane Gray leads this fun workshop. Reservations required - call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Watercolor Painting, Part 1 Saturday, March 17 9:00am-12:00pm Artist Michael Vollmer leads this 4-part watercolor painting workshop, designed for students of all skill levels. The classes will address landscape composition, balance, hue, creating textures and much more! Take one class for $35 or register for all four for $125. Students should bring a 1-quart container for water and any watercolor painting supplies they may already have. Reservations required: call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Creative Combos with Christina! Sunday, March 18 11:00am-12:30pm Christina Salwitz aka The Personal Garden Coach is making a stop at Papershell on her whirlwind tour of Texas. Her design class on planting colorful mixed containers is not to be missed! Christina is a nationally-known design expert, merchandiser and horticulturist. Join us for this unique workshop! Class fee is $10. Each participant receives a coupon good for 15% of today's purchases. Reservations suggested: call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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