Grow Some Goodness!,

by Jenny Rash 

Your vegetable garden may be looking pretty tired this month.  Don't give up on it now...grow some goodness!  There are so many wonderful vegetables that appreciate the cooler weather.  Of course, you could go with your "Plain Jane" varieties of carrots and beets, but we don't do "Plain Jane" at Sneed's!  Our USDA certified organic seeds from Botanical Interests include many heirloom varieties with wonderful colors as well as flavor.  Even if you never planted the seeds, the seed packet is a work of art in itself with an encyclopedic amount of information on the when, how, and what of each specific variety.  Look for the following varieties to try in your fall/winter vegetable garden:

• Arugula...wonderfully spicy and nutty, this leafy green adds a little kick to your salad.  It is often a component of mesclun mixes, can also stand alone for an unforgettable side!
• Gourmet Blend Beets combines 'Golden', 'Chioggia', and 'Bull's Blood' varieties for a rainbow of jewel tone colors in the beets as well as the tops.
• Carnival Blend Carrots offer up great flavor in reds, purples, whites, yellows, and oranges!
• Kales...'Black Tuscan' (also called dinosaur kale) and 'Red Winter' are not just great to eat, but their foliage is beautiful in the winter garden.  You will have to grow extra so that you have some to look at and some to eat!
• Lettuces and meclun mixes...too many to list here, but a great selection of colors, flavors, and textures.  One of our favorites is the Mesclun Valentine Mix.
• Mustard...great for salads, steaming, and stir frying. 
• Radish...very easy to grow!  Add to salads, sandwiches, or veggie trays.  Great plant for kids to grow.
• Spinach...I just can't figure out why spinach is such a hard sell to kids.  I remember refusing to try it and now can't get enough of it!  A little olive oil, garlic, and feta and I am in heaven!
• Swiss Chard...also available in a myriad of colors.  Wonderful with pine nuts, olive oil, and of course garlic.


So, you're not interested in fall and winter vegetable gardening?  Then give your garden a good rest with a cover crop of organic field peas and hulled oats.  The legume (pea) and grass (oat) are beneficial to the soil by fixing nitrogen, conditioning the soil, and attracting beneficial insects.  The added bonus is suppression of weeds through the winter.  In the spring you just till it under!  Either way, you can grow some goodness!

Remember, we love hearing about your success!  Email us pictures of your gardening accomplishments.  If we publish your picture in our newsletter, you will receive a $10 gift card for use in the garden center.

The Bottom Line in Landscaping,

by Bob Sneed 

Mulch is a very important aspect of the landscape, both aesthetically and culturally.  First, the aesthetics:  You have multiple choices of mulch, including shredded hardwood, dyed mulch and pine mulch.  Shredded hardwood is a rich red brown color with a consistent texture, but it fades over time.  Dyed mulch comes in a variety of different colors (including black, chocolate and red) that do not fade as quickly.

Pine mulch has a great natural color and does not fade as quickly as hardwood.  Shredded hardwood is readily available, organic, and a little less expensive than the others.  It is not as "friendly" to perennials as pine mulch is, however.  Dyed mulch consists of shredded wood (i.e. pallets, etc.) which is dyed with a harmless coloring agent.  This type of mulch lasts longer, is not organic, and holds color well -- but who wants a yard full of old pallets??

Bottom line . . . we use shredded hardwood for its organic properties, its pricing comparisons, and the fiberous nature which helps to hold it on banks.  Pine is a better mulch for the plants, especially perennials, azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons.  Pine is a great soil amendment for new plantings.  Its downside is that it is pricey and will float, reducing its effectiveness on a hill.

Lawn Care Tips for Fall,

by Mark Alfred 

It's Almost Time to Winterize!