Four Investments for a Better Garden in 2021

Whether you're a seasoned master gardener or someone just getting started growing your own food, there's always room for improvement. As a new gardening season approaches, consider making time to invest in developing your gardening skills, perhaps trying new varieties of tomatoes and vegetables and building the best garden soil possible;  important steps to take towards a healthy, productive gardening season in 2021. 

 

Investment Number One: Grow your gardening skills. The more you know, the better you’ll grow. Taking classes, joining a local garden club and finding someone to mentor you along your gardening journey are three ways to strengthen your gardening knowledge and techniques.  Consider joining Hoe and Hope Garden Club, a well-established local organization whose membership includes all levels of gardening experience. You can learn more about Hoe and Hope by visiting their website http://hoeandhopegardenclub.com/.  

Find a garden mentor. A garden mentor is someone with the training, knowledge and experience to help you make good decisions when it comes to planting, growing and harvesting your crops. This could be a neighbor, a friend or someone in a local garden shop that you can bounce garden questions and ideas off of.  

Investment Number Two: Build your garden soil. Soil quality has the greatest influence on your crops and yields. You can overcome a lot of gardening mistakes if your soil has good structure, drains well and is healthy and rich with microbial activity. Adding organic material on a regular basis, utilizing plant fertilizers, effectively and incorporating cropping strategies that build and maintain soil microbial health are methods that will pay off in larger yields. It’s a good idea to test your soil before the season begins. Stop in and pick up a soil sample jar and information form, then mail the sample off to Colorado State University.   In return, you'll receive a report detailing the quality and fertility of your soil. Bring us your report and we'll help you figure out what to do. 

Investment Three: Buy the best tools you can and take care of them. Good tools make every garden task easier, safer and more effective. Create a designated storage spot for each tool and get in the habit of cleaning your tools and putting each tool away after you’ve used them.  This way, you won’t waste time looking for tools.  

Investment Four: Get out in the garden every day, even if it’s just a walk through to observe what’s going on. Working in the garden isn't all about the chores you "have to do". Whether you're growing tomatoes or dahlias, make sure you pause every now and then and enjoy your garden. It's one of the healthiest aspects of your life. Enjoy it!  

 

 

 

 

 

Houseplants with a Holiday Flair

While Poinsettias are the most popular holiday choice, there are many other plants with vibrant flowers and colorful foliage that will add a festive mood to your holidays and beyond. Moreover, houseplants help clean the air we breathe and elevate our moods. Here are a just a few of our favorites. 

With its red flowers and dark green foliage, Anthurium delivers some of the best of holiday colors. Anthurium plants thrive when placed near a bright window. It will do okay in low light situations, but don't expect it to flower as well.  Allow the soil to dry slightly between each watering. 

Aglaonema are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Also known as Chinese Evergreen, you can grow this plant in low, medium or bright light situations and still enjoy its colorful foliage. 

Kalanchoes are succulents with thick green leaves and bright, cheerful flowers. These plants prefer bright, indirect light in order to flower well. As with all succulents, it's best to avoid over-watering. Let the plant dry, then water thoroughly. 

For outstanding foliage, Polka Dot and Frittonia are easy-to-grow and both offer outstanding color. Polka Dot plants prefer bright, indirect light, while Frittonia does well in lower light situations. 

In addition, cyclamen and holiday cactus are still very popular plants during the season. As a general rule, all of these houseplants will do well when kept at normal room temperatures. You'll want to keep your houseplants healthy and growing by feeding them every two weeks with houseplant fertilizer such as ferti-lome's 20-20-20. On the weeks you don’t fertilize, water with Super Thrive, a vitamin solution that includes Kelp. This supplement will help your plants thrive, especially during the winter months.  Houseplants make easy, beautiful gifts for teachers, co-workers and hostesses. They're a gift that will last long after the holidays are over.