We love this site

Landscape Vision,a landscape design software, just loves this site. We think this is a great place to shop for plants. Create your design with our software, then shop for the plants you chosen here at Wayside Garden.

in reference to: Wayside Gardens Catalog of rare Perennials, Bulbs, and Trees (view on Google Sidewiki)

Melinda Myers Gardening Tips

Hello everyone, you really should check out this site. Melinda is a friend of Landscape Visions'. Her site offers great product info and helpful gardening tips.

Check it out and visit often for timely tips.
http://www.melindamyers.com/

in reference to: Gardening Tips from expert gardener Melinda Myers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Wayside Garden Gardening Guide

Hello everyone, we wanted you to check out this link from Wayside Gardens. They offer this great gardening guide.

It's easy to grow Wayside trees, shrubs, and perennials; just take a moment to read the following sections on preparing your soil and caring for your Wayside plants. Just a little extra time and attention at planting time and during the first season will get your plant off to its best possible start in your garden, helping it grow healthy roots, and looking its best for years to come!

For specific planting instructions, refer to the alphabetical listings below. You can also download and print this useful Gardening Guide to use at your convenience.

Use our software then shop for your plant choices at Wayside Gardens.

Special fall pricing on Landscape Vision check it out www.landscapeyourvisions.com

Falling For Pumpkins

Pumpkins -- glorious, round, orange fruits that take center stage every October -- bring joy to everyone. Whether you're 6 or 60, they immediately call to mind carving contests, Thanksgiving dinners and that perennially popular TV special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." And this time of year, there's plenty of opportunity for nostalgia: Grocery stores and farmer's markets are flush with pumpkins.

Known for easy germination, a single pumpkin seed can bear as many as nine fruits. And there's no shortage of varieties. More than 100 exist with wild names like Baby Boo, Spooktacular and Cinderella. Although orange is still the predominant color, varieties also come in pink, red and white. Their sizes are even more diverse, with 4-ounce miniatures like Jack Be Little that are great for table decorations, Small Sugar pumpkins that weigh only a few pounds and are ideal for baking and, of course, the "giants."

Giant-pumpkin-growing contests became internationally known when the first 400-pound specimen was sent to the Paris World's Fair in 1900. Competition has grown considerably, thanks to hybrid seeds and big prize money. Last year, Larry Checkon of Northern Cambria, Pa., won $2,000 for his 1,469-pound Atlantic Giant, the heaviest on record. At its peak, the pumpkin packed on an astounding 50 pounds per day.

Once my children were old enough to celebrate Halloween, I started to grow pumpkins in my vegetable garden. They weren't giants, but from the moment the seedlings burst forth until the first fruits ripened, the kids were mesmerized. They would race outside to check the growth practically every day. With vines that rivaled Jack and the Beanstalk's, pumpkins became our household's favorite crop, stealing the No. 1 spot from tomatoes.

As long as you're not planning to break any world records, growing your own pumpkins is relatively easy and doesn't require acres of land. A 6-by-8-foot area or a sturdy fence that gets at least six hours of sun a day will suffice. Once the threat of frost has passed and the soil temperature is 65 F to 70 F (use a soil thermometer to check), plant four to six seeds in the middle of a 3-foot-wide mound. (Most varieties mature in 90 to 140 days, so plant accordingly if you want to have pumpkins for next Halloween.) Water daily, pick three of the strongest-looking sprouts and pull out the others. Once the sprouts become plants, water at their bases often enough to keep the soil moist but not too wet.

When it's time to harvest your pumpkins (whether they're plucked from your backyard or a local farm), handle them with care. If treated right, they can last for several months. Pick pumpkins when they're ripe, not a moment before. You'll know they are ready by the color, which will be uniform and deeply saturated. Flesh will be firm and resist denting when pressed with a thumbnail. Use a pruner to cut the fruit off the vine, leaving a 2- to 4-inch stem. To cure pumpkins (which will harden their shells and ensure a longer shelf life), place in a sunny spot (about 80 F to 85 F) for 10 days; if it's too cool outside, a windowsill with direct sunlight will do. Then, store them in a well-ventilated, cool, dry place.

You'll be happy to have extra pumpkins on deck. Scoop out the seeds for roasting, or prepare them to start next year's crop. (Rinse seeds with water, place on a paper towel until they have completely air-dried, then store them in an envelope in a cool spot until next planting season. Note:The germination rate may not be as high as packaged seeds.) You also could try your hand at a velvety soup or a piping hot batch of pumpkin muffins for a cold December morning.

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FRAN'S FAVORITE PUMPKIN VARIETIES

TYPE: Small Sugar
GOOD FOR: This heirloom pumpkin from the 1800s, also known as New England Pie, develops a non-stringy, sweet flesh that's perfect forpies and canning.
SIZE: 5 to 8 pounds
GROWING TIME: 100 to 105 days to maturity

TYPE: Lumina
GOOD FOR: White skin and bright orange flesh distinguish this variety, which is great for cooking and carving. Its short growing season will appeal to gardeners in colder climates.
SIZE: 10 to 12 pounds
GROWING TIME: 90 to 100 days to maturity

TYPE: Rouge Vif D'Etampes
GOOD FOR: This beautiful French heirloom has ribbed, bright red or burnt orange skin and a taste and texture that works well in soups.
SIZE: 5 to 40 pounds
GROWING TIME: 110 to 150 days to maturity

TYPE: Orange Smoothie
GOOD FOR: Children will like to paint on this all-American winner with a strong stem and smooth skin.
SIZE: 5 to 8 pounds
GROWING TIME: 90 to 100 days to maturity

Ordering Gardening Seeds

When it's not gardening season, it's time to plan for next year and peruse seed catalogs. Here are some tips on ordering garden seeds:

• Obtain catalogs from companies located in your part of the world as well as from distant businesses, and compare their offerings and prices. Some of the small regional seed sources carry heirlooms and special varieties best suited to your area.
• Before you order, contact your local county cooperative extension service office and ask about varieties that are known to do well in your area. Discuss any specific problems you've had with pests or disease.
• Make a list of what you'd like to grow, but check it twice before you order. A pause or two will give you a chance to change your mind. Remember that the garden is actually one-quarter the size you think it is.
• Plan to buy enough seeds to sow them thickly. Inevitably, you'll suffer some losses (bugs, birds, weather), and you can always thin later if you end up with an excess.
• Pay careful attention to the number of days to maturity included in every catalog description. If your growing season has 85 predictable frost-free days, chances are you won't harvest a watermelon that needs 120 days to ripen.
• Avoid discounted seeds sold at chain stores. They probably haven't been stored under ideal conditions, and you may find germination to be spotty.

From our firesnd at the Old Farmers Almanac