Archive for February, 2010

Rhubarb ‘Canada Red’

Last weekend we picked our 87 year old grandma up to walk through the greenhouses. And on our walk she saw the ‘Canada Red’ Rhubarb and reminded us of last year when she got to pick some when it was ripe. All she could talk about was how good and sweet the Rhubarb sauce was that she had made. So in a few months the time will be here again that grandma will be making Rhubarb sauce. Oh the joys of Spring!

(Rhubarb) Rhubarb ‘Canada Red‘ is Great for PIES! Naturally Sweet n’ Red! It features juicy stalks that are cherry-red clear through. It keeps its color when cooked. Stalks are high in sugar and tender with no need to peel. Plants are hardy perennials and suitable for northern zones, very easy to grow and trouble free. One plant of ‘Canada Red’ will supply you with enough fruit for many pies and jam. Its pucker-power is exactly what makes rhubarb the world’s favorite pie plant.

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Diamond Frost® Euphorbia

Last year our top selling annual was Diamond Frost® Euphorbia. People just loved the light airy look and feel that this plant gives. They were planting it with just about every thing including New Guinea Impatiens, Dahlias, & Petunias. It is a great filler that blooms all summer long.

(Euphorbia) Diamond Frost® Euphorbia is a must have for all gardeners. Diamond Frost®, a Proven Winners® top seller is drought and heat tolerant. The small flowers provide a airy mass of white color in full sun or part shade.

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Upon receiving your new plants, it is important to open the shipping box(es) immediately. Carefully remove all packing materials and containerized plants from the carton(s). Do NOT keep the plants in the shipping boxes as this will reduce plant quality and may lead to plant disease or death.

If the potting mix is dry upon arrival, apply water to the containers until the root zone is thoroughly moist. When possible, plant your new perennials within 1-3 days after they have been received. If it is not possible to plant them within this time period, keep them in an area that provides some degree of shelter from the natural elements (sun, wind, rain, etc…) until they can be planted.

4 easy Steps to planting your potted plants

*Prepare a hole that is 2 times as wide and deep as your pot. Work the soil to loosen it up and replace half the soil in the   hole

*Squeeze the pot a few times and while holding the plant hit the bottom to loosen the plant, it should slide right out.

*Set the plant in them  hole approximately 1 inch above the ground. Replace the loosen soil around the plant, add in water and press the soil down. If the plant is sitting to low in the ground you may need to add additional soil in the bottom of the hole.

*You may cover the area around the plant with mulch and you are finished.

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Coriandrum ‘(Cilantro)’

The summer brings so many fresh food choices and salsa is one of them. I really enjoy making homemade salsa! Below is a recipe that you may also enjoy using fresh Cilantro, Roma Tomatoes, and Green Pepper.

Homemade Salsa Recipe

• ½ small onion
• 1 medium pepper
• 3 large  roma tomatoes
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 lime squeezed
• pinch of  fresh cilantro

Chop onion & pepper in Quick chef. Then add fresh tomatoes and chop. Once they are at desired size add lime and cilantro. Mix all ingredients together. Let set for a while for best flavor. Serve with Tortilla chips.

(USDA Organic) Cilantro

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Perennial Planting & Soil Preparation

In general, most perennials prefer being planted in sites with well drained soil. The drainage in poor soils can be improved by adding organic matter like, compost, leaves, peat moss, or aged manure. For new perennial beds, incorporate 4 to 6 inches of organic matter into the soil before planting. When transplanting new perennials into an existing garden, incorporate a few handfuls of organic materials into the hole prior to planting.

In general, dig a planting hole at least 50% larger then the size of the container you are planting. Larger sized holes should be dug when you intend to mix in organic material. Carefully remove the perennial from the container by holding one hand over the top of the pot and turn the container upside down. Gently tap the bottom of the pot to loosen the root zone from the container and gently pull the pot away. If the container does not easily come off, it may be necessary to squeeze the container until the plant comes out of the pot.
Next, place the plant in the hole so the top of root ball is at the same level as the top of the hole. It may be necessary to remove the plant and place a little soil back in the bottom of the planting hole and retry aligning the top of the hole with the top of the root ball. Many perennials do not tolerate being planted too deeply and may not grow very well or may succumb to crown and root rots. Conversely, perennials planted too high may not grow properly and are more susceptible to drying out. Once the plants are at the proper height, fill in the planting hole with soil, gently packing the soil around the roots and being careful to not overly pack or compact the soil around the new planting.

After planting, it is important to water them well. For the first couple of weeks or so, it is important to keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet. Keep in mind that many new plantings do not perform well or even die because they are either over- or under-watered. Once they are established, most perennials can tolerate less moisture. For optimum growth, it is recommended to deliver 1 inch of water per week either by rainfall or through irrigation systems.

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Kingfisher™ Clematis ‘Evipo037′

I really enjoy the large deep purple flowers that Clematis Kingfisher has. It is such a strong bloomer that makes a huge impact in my garden. The long bloom time is a nice bonus. I enjoy mixing Kingfisher with Clematis Rebecca for a nice contrast of colors.

(Clematis) Kingfisher™ Clematis is a new Evison/Poulsen variety that is exceptionally free-flowering with huge 6-7 inch flowers in late spring through early summer. The intense deep-blue flowers are breathtaking and are nicely contrasted with creamy yellow anthers. This exceptional new clematis also reblooms heavily in late summer with slightly smaller flowers for an extended season of color. Plant Kingfisher™ with a pink Group 2 clematis for a wonderful combination.

Prune Group 2 – Prune lightly above the new leaf buds in early spring and remove any dead or weak stems. Early flowers appear on the previous season’s growth while late summer flowers appear on new growth.

Kingfisher™ Characteristics & Attributes

Common Name: “Clematis”

Kingfisher™ Clematis ‘Evipo037′

Photo courtesy of Donahues

This plant has yet to be reviewed.

Flower color may vary due to environment

(Clematis) Kingfisher™ Clematis is a new Evison/Poulsen variety that is exceptionally free-flowering with huge 6-7 inch flowers in late spring through early summer. The intense deep-blue flowers are breathtaking and are nicely contrasted with creamy yellow anthers. This exceptional new clematis also reblooms heavily in late summer with slightly smaller flowers for an extended season of color. Plant Kingfisher™ with a pink Group 2 clematis for a wonderful combination.

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Strawberry ‘Fort Laramie’

Last year I was able to ’sample’ all of the Strawberries that we had grown. I would be working the store and as I walked past the berry bench I would sneak a berry now and then as they became ripe. I constantly would check the tag when I ate ‘Fort Laramie‘, the flavor was so sweet that I wanted to remember which variety it was.

(Everbearing Strawberry) Strawberry ‘Ft. Laramie’ produces large, sweet fruit and has excellent vigor. It is a good choice for commercial growers due to the amount of runners it produces. Strawberry ‘Ft Laramie’ is very cold hardy.

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Caring for Your Phlox

Description: With its aromatic, bright, and showy long-lasting flower clusters Phlox paniculata has become a staple in today’s landscapes. Garden phlox is one of the most recognizable and widely grown perennials.

Recent breeding efforts have brought several improvements to this already popular species of perennial plants including a wide range of flower colors available, improved plant habit, and increased resistance to diseases.

Garden phlox is the backbone of the summer perennial border and is also a great perennial for open sunny locations. The striking and fragrant trumpet-shaped flower clusters appear in the mid-summer and always deliver a spectacular display of color when they are blooming. Today’s cultivars produce a wide range of flower colorations consisting of various hues of lavender, orange, pink, purple, red, salmon, scarlet, and white. Many cultivars have contrasting colored eyes or bicolor blooms.

Maintenance: Phlox are easy to grow and only require few maintenance activities. It is recommended to remove the flower heads when they are done flowering. Taller cultivars may need additional support from cages or staking to prevent the flower clusters from lodging. To reduce the occurrence of powdery mildew, thin or divide large clumps every year or two to improve the air circulation around the plants.

Pests and Diseases: Some of the most common insect pests that may be observed feeding on Phlox include aphids, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, leafminers, and spider mites, whiteflies. Most of these pests, under normal circumstances, do not cause significant injury to garden Phlox.

Garden phlox are susceptible to several pathogens including fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, and stem canker diseases. Of these diseases, powdery mildew is observed most frequently. There are great differences between cultivars in their susceptibility to powdery mildew. Even highly resistant cultivars may succumb to this disease under severe or optimal conditions for disease development. This occurrence of this disease can be reduced when the plants are planted in areas with good air circulation, the plants are not crowded, and by avoiding overhead irrigation (wet foliage).

Uses in the Garden: Garden Phlox are commonly used as accent or aromatic border plants. They are also resistant to deer.

Other Uses and Attributes: This Native American perennial attracts butterflies and hummingbirds into the garden. Phlox makes and excellent cut flower and offers an excellent vase life. Many of the smaller cultivars make nice container or patio pots.

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Graceful Grasses Baby Tut

Are you looking for a great specimen that adds character to your combination planters? You may want to consider Graceful Grasses Baby Tut. Last year I added one plant to the center of my planter and it was beautiful. I choose to plant Petunia Bubblegum, Heuchera ‘Electra’, and then in the fall I added in some asters around it for a striking planter. Baby Tut adds motion and a creative touch you your landscape.

(Umbrella Grass) Graceful Grasses Baby Tut Cyperus provides interesting foliage to your flower gardens. This water garden friendly plant grows well in your landscape also. Plant Baby Tut in a full sun to part shade location to enjoy the beauty of this baby.  Graceful Grasses Baby Tut intermingles well with other plants to fill in the middle ground of a combination planter.

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At Garden Crossings you can reserve your plants now for spring shipping. Your credit card will not be charged until the plants have shipped.

Our shipping season begins in April and continues through October. If orders are received out of season, we will hold the order and ship it at your appropriate planting time. In spring, we begin shipping to southern zones first and are usually shipping to all states by late May. See the chart below for estimated ship week information (weather permitting). If you would like to specify a specific ship week for your order, please let us know by selected the ship week during checkout. We will do our best to meet your requests.

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