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Greetings!
Psst! I've got a vegetable-growing secret for you. In this area, you have to start that veggie garden before you're really ready to go out into the garden. It's true - you begin preparations for the spring garden in the winter, when it's cold, drizzly and frankly awful outside. The best time to work on your fall garden? In the terrible heat of August. Sad but true! But take heart - it won't always be winter. We are about 30 days away from our average last day of frost so it's time to get ready for planting.
Our first vegetable gardening class of the season is this Sunday, January 20, at 2:00pm. Jeanie Dunnihoo leads our workshop in Preparing the Spring Vegetable Garden. I just know you'll love Jeanie and this class will help you get the season off on the right foot. The class is indoors, with refreshments, so come on out to Papershell and spend an afternoon learning to get the most out of your efforts later.
The Biermeister is transforming himself into a blogger! Who knew? Anyway, his latest post on beer is right here. Head on over there and take a look. If you like it, "like" it. It'll do him good and we want to keep him writing.
 | | All 50% off! |
We've got a great selection of pots on sale now! They're in great condition, no dents or dings or scratches. I'm just making room for spring inventory. Speaking of which, I'm expecting our fruit trees to arrive today. It will take them a few weeks to be rooted in well enough to sell. Look for the variety list on the website or in the next newsletter at the very latest. I will be waiting a bit on the citrus until the weather is more reliably warm. If you've got special citrus varieties in mind, let me know and I'll try to get them for you.
Keep your eye on the weather! This weekend should be nice and sunny but there's a chance for an Arctic blast later next week. Historically, we experience our coldest temperatures in January so we can't let down our guard. Don't get all excited and put those tomatoes outside yet. Read more about tomatoes or come meet Tom LeRoy and learn from the master - you'll love our Totally Tomatoes class.
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Leeks!
Leeks, like their cousins garlic and onion, are edible members of the Amaryllis family. Did you know that? They're prized for cooking because of their mild flavor -- the taste is subtle and delicate enough to enjoy them grilled or braised all on their own. At the grocery store, I usually find them in bundles of three but I usually just need one my recipes. What's the answer? Grow them yourself!
 | | Leeks! |
Plant leeks now: they grow best when weather is cool. Work 4-6" of good organic matter into your planting bed,a along with some all-purpose fertilizer. Here's a tip: poke a deep, deep hole in your garden with a stake or a piece of rebar. Plant all but the top 1" of the leek. Use a teaspoonful of rock phosphate in each planting hole and set them out 4-6" apart. You can begin to harvest as soon as the leeks are 1" in diameter. As they grow, pile mulch up around the stems, which blanches them and keeps them tender and white. Side-dress again in May or June with a high-nitrogen fertilizer like cottonseed meal. Unlike onions, leeks are rather light feeders. (Reminder: feed your onions!) Do not allow your leeks to become stressed by lack of water. Rather than harvest all at once, leave your leeks in the ground until you need them. You can harvest until they are 2-3" in diameter.
When you harvest leeks, pick strong, unbruised stems. Cut off the top dark green leaves. Split the leek vertically through the root end. If it's a big leek, split it again lengthwise. Now swirl the long, thin pieces in a sink full of cool water to remove as much soil as you can.
 | | Photo: MarthaStewart.com |
Martha Stewart has a whole section on her website devoted to leeks. Take a peek, pick out some recipes, and get to planting!
My grower says the leeks will be shipped to me on January 14, which means they should be at Papershell by the time you read this. However, it all depends on the weather in the fields. Please call to double-check or email me.
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 Spring Tomatoes
You tomato people are a special lot. And don't we know it! Our growers have gone wild with the sheer number of tomatoes they'll be offering this spring. Right now, right this very minute is the time to plant tomatoes from seed, as long as you have a place indoors, protected from the cold, with plenty of light.
 | | Matt's Wild Cherry - seeds available |
Tomatoes can be tricky to germinate from seed. My advice to you: plant your tomatoes about 1/2" apart in a seed-planting mix. Keep the trays in a very warm location, between 75 and 80°. When you first see the little seedlings poking up through the soil, provide very strong light, either from a big south or southwest window or a flourescent grow light. People underestimate how much light is required - I hang my grow lights inches above the growing plants so they stand up straight, stocky and sturdy. Plants grown in too little light are tall, spindly and not strong enough to withstand even the slightest breeze. When the plants develop the first set or two of true leaves, transplant them to bigger pots so they'll have room to thrive. Keep them indoors until mid to late February, depending on the weather. You'll have to "harden" them to the elements by setting them outside for a few hours a day and gradually increasing the time they spend in full sun.
 | | Red Rocket - very fast tomato |
If you prefer to buy your tomato plants already "up and at 'em" we have access to a huge variety. There's no way I'll be able to keep a tray of each variety on hand so I've prepared a list of the tomatoes our growers are preparing. If there's a variety you just have to have, please get in touch! I'll do my very best to get them for you. This isn't to say that I'll be able to get all of them at any one particular time, but I'll sure try.
 | | Tom LeRoy |
For the best tomato-growing advice in Texas, make plans to attend our Totally Tomatoes workshop on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00pm. Our speaker is Tom LeRoy, Montgomery County's Extension Agent for Horticulture. Tom is a well-known speaker, writer and gardener and we are thrilled to have him at Papershell on our birthday weekend! Attend the class, get the 15% off coupon and a piece of birthday cake! Sound like fun? Email or call to register, space is limited.
 | | The reward! |
View the Spring 2013 tomatoes on our website, here. If you'd like to keep up with what's in stock, go to the bottom of that page and click the box to be notified of comments. We'll update the inventory in the comment section, during the Spring 2013 season. Here is the link to the printable list of tomatoes that may be available by special order. Peruse at your leisure and then let me know what I can special order for you.
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Winter Lawn Care
Right now is reconnaisance and strategy time in the lawn. It's way too early to fertilize but it's not too early to plan your attack on weeds. If you have weeds now (winter weeds), you can apply a selective herbicide that will work for broad-leaf weeds. Use something like Weed-Free Zone, which is better for cooler weather. You want to complete this process before spring green-up, when your new grass may be at risk.
If you had a bad weed problem in the warm season, prepare to apply a pre-emergent herbicide around the first of February. These products inhibit the germination of weed seeds and proper timing is critical. If you wait too long, the seeds are already growing, even if they're not noticeable. A good clue: if the redbud trees are blooming, the soil has warmed enough for weed seed germination. Apply pre-emergent herbicide before the redbuds bloom.
 | | Too early to feed! |
I recommend you not begin to fertilize your lawn until you need to mow it. Applying fertilizer too early greatly increases the chances that it will run off into streams and bayous before the grass has a chance to use it. If the grass is not actively growing, it doesn't need fertilizer yet. When it's time, we carry both organic and conventional products for you.
 | | Slender Aster flower |
If you're interested in winter weeds, I've begun a series of articles for our website on some of the most common weeds in cooler weather. One of them, Slender Aster, is not quite a winter weed, but its blackened stems after a freeze are what sometimes bothers gardeners the most. Click the Tips link for the entire series of articles. |
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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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Zendala Workshop
Saturday, January 19
2:00-4:00pm
Certified Zentagle instructor Dawn Meisch leads this workshop - it's Zentangle in a totally new way! Zendala incorporates the principle of Mandala with the techniques of Zentangle using round tiles. If you are familiar with Zentangle, the guidelines are completely different for Zendala.
This class is $35 and space is limited. For reservations, please call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
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Preparing the Spring Veggie Garden
Sunday, January 20
2:00-3:30pm
Jeanie Dunnihoo leads this class in preparing for the spring garden. Topics include seed starting, soil preparation, frost protection and plant supports. This class is $10 and includes a coupon for 15% off today's garden center purchases.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
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Papershell Birthday!
February 2-3
All Day
My, how time flies! It's been another year and you know what that means: CAKE! Join us this weekend for cake as we celebrate our 2nd birthday. Thank you for all your kindness and support this year!
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Spring Tomatoes!
Saturday, February 2
2:00-3:30pm
Montgomery County Extension Agent Tom LeRoy tells you all you need to know about growing the perfect tomato this spring! And while it's just a little too early to plant them outside, it's not too early to get the garden ready. Learn about selecting the right varieties, plus insect/disease control, fertilizing & more. This class is $10 and includes a coupon valid for 15% off your garden center purchase.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
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