"Tomato Growing Secrets"

Tomato Growing Secrets by Doug Green

Doug Green is a semi-retired Canadian nurseryman with years of experience in the garden. According to Amazon this “award winning garden author, brings a down-to-earth style and easy gardening systems to his lifetime of organic garden achievements.”

I always enjoy his writing. Tomato Growing Secrets is no exception. So if you think you know everything there is to know about growing tomatoes, think again. This book contains hints and tips for growing a good crop of tomatoes. Some tips include: how to warm the soil for early planting, how to increase a late crop of tomatoes, how to get a ripe tomato before your neighbor (a must read for you competitive types).

Pests and diseases are also covered. A chart to compare with your plant’s symptoms tells what you can (and can't) do about it.

Other books by Doug Green: Tender Roses in Tough Climates, Vegetable Gardening in the North, Successful Organic Lawns and many more. (Some books are offered only as ebooks) Doug’s Website “Doug Green’s Garden”

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Brochure for Master Gardener Spring Garden Series
http://extension.psu.edu/lehigh/events/files/spring-garden-series
See January 8, 2010 post - http://bethlehem-pa-gardening.blogspot.com/2012/01/before-we-know-it-spring-gardening.html

JOIN THE FUN!

ADVENTURES IN AGRICULTURE

Talk about your garden, learn to grow better tomatoes, pick up information sheets, enter to win a soil test kit, have the kids plant bean seeds and pick up coloring pages and crayons.

Join the Master Gardeners at Palmer Park Mall near Easton PA this weekend.

Lots more to see throughout the mall.

2012 Spring Garden Shows & Classes

Before we know it spring gardening season will rush in.
There are a lot of local events to look forward to before the real gardening begins. Mark your calendar and be sure to join the fun.

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Adventure in Agriculture
Feb. 10, 11,12,2012
Friday - 5-9pm, Saturday - 10am-9pm and Sunday - 11am-6pm
Palmer Park Mall
123 Palmer Park Mall
Easton, PA 18045
Phone: 610-258-6017
Some local exhibitors: Penn State Master Gardeners, Northampton County Farm Bureau, Becker Honey Farm, Smith Krekk Alpacas, 4H clubs and much more! Fun for kids and adults.


Valley Flower and Garden Show
March 2, 3 and 4, 2012 –
Ag Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds
302 North 17th Street
Allentown, PA 18104
Description:
Since 1973. Beautiful flowers and horticultural exhibits to make you feel that Spring is on it's way


Master Gardener Spring Garden Series – Brochure
http://extension.psu.edu/lehigh/events/files/spring-garden-series
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”Vegetable Gardening: From the Ground Up."
(call 610-391-9840 for more information)
Classes to get ready and get in the mood for Spring.

in Northampton County at the Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Road, Bethlehem, PA. 18020
- March 14 “Plan Before You Plant” 6 p.m.; “Seeds and Transplants” 7:15 p.m.
- March 21 “Garden Maintenance: The Endurance Stretch” 6:00 p.m.; “Maximize Your Efforts” 7:15 p.m.

in the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, 4184 Dorney Park Road, Room 104, Allentown,
PA 18104-5798
- March 22 “Plan Before YouPlant” 6:00 p.m.; “Seeds and Transplants” 7:15 p.m.
- March 29 “Garden Maintenance: The Endurance Stretch” 6:00 p.m.; “Maximize Your Efforts” 7:15 p.m.

Philadelphia International Flower Show – Islands of Aloha
March 4 – March 11, 2012
What can be better than gardens of Hawaii?

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and for fall 2012 - Workshops for the Gardener: September 15, 2012, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Nazareth.
(Contact 610-391-9840) Save the date!

Philadelphia International Flower Show

Can Can at the Bistro in miniature.

“Springtime in Paris” - Tres bien!

Under the iconic Eifel Tower, carousel animals set a festive mood for the Philadelphia Horticulture Society extravaganza. Another year of a celebration in flowers.

(Carousel animals designed by Valley Forge Flowers, Wayne PA.)

Waldor Orchids, Linwood, NJ created a laboratory showing the orchid-cloning process pioneered by a French grower. Masses of orchids filled planter beds around the exhibit.

(PHS Award of Distinction, American Orchid Society Trophy, Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Education)

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Stony Bank Nurseries, Glen Mills spectacular apple and pear tree espaliers highlighted the sustainable garden bursting with herbs, flowers and vegetables.

(Mayor’s Trophy, Garden Club of America Award, Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Conservation)

Yes, it is a live Shekel Pear Tree espaliered.

A bank of Rhododendron “Chez Daniel” by Repich & Associates, Holicong, PA epitomized the softness of spring. The Repich family created a picture of Eden as a tribute to their father, Daniel Repich, who passed away in January.

(Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Horticulture)

The exhibits almost defy description. Certainly my pictures can’t do justice to the beauty and amazing details of the show.

Beaautiful fleurs! Heureux les jardins!

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Pruning Shrubs

It’s time to prune shrubs.

We pruned the Crepe Myrtle last weekend. First, I checked the University of Virginia pruning publications. The best time to prune crepe myrtle is January, February and March. Virginia is in hardiness Zone 7 but it’s close enough to my zone 6 to use with only slight adjustments. It’s a great resource.

Crepe myrtle blooms on new wood so cutting back the old wood shouldn’t hurt the blooms. Ours grows by about 1/3 each year. We cut a little more than 1/3 to keep it in bounds. We also cut crossover branches.

Here are the links to the University of Virginia Publications:

Guide to Pruning Deciduous Trees
Deciduous Trees Pruning Calendar
Guide to Pruning Evergreen Trees
Guide to Pruning Shrubs
Shrub Pruning Calendar

I will be away this coming weekend. Part of the weekend will be spent at the Philadelphia Flower Show. It’s always exciting. This year’s theme is “Springtime in Paris”. Ooh-la-la!

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The Valley Flower and Garden Show runs March 11-13. I’ll try to stop in before I leave. It’s fantastic to have a flower show back in the Lehigh Valley after a few years cancellation.

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Adventures in Agriculture

Adventures in Agriculture in Palmer Mall is always fun. Last weekend was no exception. Antique toys and tools, spinning alpaca yarn, fly tying for fishing, animal hides, farm products and go green displays filled the mall with exciting exhibits.

Easton PA Farmers Market displayed colorful totes for sale and information about the market. Bath PA Farmers Market reminded everyone that fresh farm products will be available again this summer.

A motorized ground water flow model (RSVP sponsored) demonstrated how contamination from an oil tank, for instance, pollutes wells and streams miles away. The animated illustration slowly took the dye colored water underground until it met an impermeable layer then traveled horizontally toward wells and streams.


Master Gardeners with the “Green Gardening” theme had some timely tips on recycling, water barrels, soil quality, native and invasive plants, pesticides and compost. Free brochures were available to expand on all the topics.

The 4-H clubs were the stars of the show as far as I’m concerned. They enthusiastically shared stories of their adventures and work. There is a club to fill almost every interest.

A few of the clubs represented:

Wagging Tails 4-H Dog Club – teaches care and training of dogs
4-H Reptile and Amphibian Club – teaches the roll of these animals in nature along with ecological studies.
4-H Livestock, Beef, Dairy and Swine Clubs – teaches the importance and responsibility of raising goats, pigs, poultry, cattle, cows and sheep and the use of their by-products
Little Rascals 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club – teaches the process of raising rabbits and guinea pigs.

I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

4-H teaches responsibility and boosts self-esteem. And it looks like they just have fun.

I know I had fun with these and many more displays in the mall.
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Ah, Amaryllis

It was worth the wait.

Look, the other is one has a bud.

So, - still waiting


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LOCAL EARLY SPRING GARDEN EVENTS

Master Gardener Spring Garden Series continues at two locations. See brochure for details here. $7

at Lehigh County Agricultural Center

- Feb. 12, 2011 – 9 AM Heirloom Tomatoes,10 AM Composting, 11 AM Pollinators

- February 26, 2011 – 9 AM Community Gardens in Urban Settings, 10:30 Green Roofs

- March 5, 2011 – 9 AM Backyard Fruit Production from Apples to Zinfandels, 10 AM Flowering Trees: The Good, the Bad and the Scabby, 11 AM Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs

at Bethlehem Township Community Center

- February 21, 2011 – 6 PM Flowering Trees: The Good, the Bad and the Scabby, 7 PM Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs

- February 28, 2011 – 6 PM Backyard Fruit Production from Apples to Zinfandels, 7 PM Colonial Herb Gtowing with Mistress Rebecca

Adventures in Agriculture Feb 11-13, 2011 at Palmer Mall. Hours and location here.

Environmental, ecological, and home gardening information; farm products, and more. Displays, sales and information throughout the mall. Free

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