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Greetings!
Good news! We've got two baby birds that are just now big enough to peep out over the nest. They're keeping mom and dad busy, bring takeout mice, lizards and snakes!
 | | Our new baby! |
I hope you enjoyed last weekend. The notoriously-incorrect weather forecasters are saying that will be our last cool weekend until the fall. We sure loved the cool dry air, but I have to admit: I was a bit worried about the low temperatures on Friday evening. I hope your garden made it through in good order.
To me, this is the best time of the year. It's warm enough now that our tropicals are really flourishing, yet still cool enough to be comfortable outside. Now is a great time to be in the garden!
 | | The fiery Mexican Flame Vine |
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Sweet Potatoes Are Here!
It's time! Are you ready to plant your sweet potatoes? We are! Sweet potatoes are a true Southern favorite, a garden vegetable that loves our long, hot summers. Although some of us call them yams, they're not at all the same. Our sweet potatoes are actually in the same family as morning glories are. They grow best in loamy, well-drained soil and need a bit less water than other summer crops. In fact, a bit too dry is better than a bit too wet.
When planting sweet potatoes, don't crowd them. Although it is traditional to grow them in rows, we've also experimented with growing them in large tubs. I recommend the largest size possible to accommodate tons of taters! A 15-gallon pot seems like the best size. Plant 3 plants in a 15-gallon container and in 90-100 days, you should have about 20-30 lbs. of sweet potatoes.
 | | The beautiful Beauregard! |
We have the classic Beauregard variety, developed at LSU for high yields, uniform shape and good disease resistance. For more information on growing sweet potatoes, there's a longer article on the website here.
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Snails & Slugs: The War Continues...
I have had quite a few reports of slugs and snails out there! As soon as we get a little rain and it warms up, they're out in force, munching their way through our garden. It seems they have a special fondness too for our very favorite plants, don't they? If you're not an early riser, you might not see them. They tend to be most active at night and in the early morning hours.
 | | Eeek! |
Slugs and snails are tiny molllusks, with thick slimy bodies. A slug is just a snail without a shell. They have a rasping mouthpart that leaves holes in the leaves. If the infestation is bad enough, they may completely consume the leaves. They love to hide under pots and boards and leaves. The old trick with the saucer of beer really does work, in case you're wondering. It helps to sink the dish down into the soil a bit so the snails can just fall right in. If they are after certain plants in particular, placing a 2" wide band of the clay-type kitty litter around the plant can help deter them. Pouring salt on slugs does work, but I don't recommend it because too much salt can also affect plants.
 | | Double Eeeek! |
If stronger measures are needed, diatomaceous earth will work but needs to be reapplied after a rain. We carry Sluggo, a bait product that uses iron phophate as the active ingredient. This product is not harmful to household pets who may accidentally eat it. The bait that is not eaten by slugs and snails will naturally degrade in the garden. Once the slug or snail eats the bait, it can take up to 6 days for them to die, but meanwhile they will stop feeding. It will persist after irrigation or a light rain, but needs to be reapplied after a heavy rain or when it's all consumed.
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What Kind Of Soil?
Most garden centers stock several different types of potting soils, and if you include the various compost and mulch products, why, that's a lot of dirt!
Here's a fact or two about the various soil products we carry, and why we might recommend one or the other.
 | | Potting Soil typically contains a mixture of ingredients, but not soil. |
Succulents, cacti and bromeliads all love very well-draining soil. I like to use a special potting mix just for them. This sort of soil does not clump together. Water is able to move quickly through the soil and out the drain hole in the container. I have been known to mix small gravel with potting soil to achieve the same effect! I don't like to use sand, though. I find a rougher, rockier texture works better.
Seedlings and cuttings need a soil that will remain moist but is light and easy for new little roots to penetrate. Most seedling mixes are peat-based. I like to use our Loose Organic Garden soil for growing these little plants. We also have smaller bags of Seedling Mix which is light and fluffy enough for fine root growth.
 | | Peat-based mixes are very lightweight. |
Typical container plants will be quite happy with a traditional potting soil. We stock a peat-based potting soil with a bit of ColorStar fertilizer mixed in and an organic product that contains no peat. The traditional potting soil will hold moisture a little longer than the organic product, in my opinion.
Potting soil isn't the best thing for garden flowerbeds, though. We typically recommend just amending the existing soil with compost, either homemade or storebought. For raised beds, you can mix equal parts compost and the Loose Organic Garden Soil, or simply your own good soil. The compost is what will really help your plants.
 | | Compost is best for flowerbeds. |
Despite the fact that people talk about "Rose Soil" all the time, roses are actually fairly tolerant of soil. If you're growing them in a container, use any good potting soil. If you're growing them in the ground, incorporate compost into the flowerbed on a regular basis. It's not necessary to buy a special soil just for roses.
I hope that helps a little bit! If you've still got questions, get in touch. We'll be glad to help.
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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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