Monthly Garden Gossip

May, 2013

Welcome to our garden! We're proud of our hard work and want to share the reward with you, so here is what's going on in the garden this month..Central Alabama

Sunn Hemp

If you are looking for a cover crop for your garden when you are finished with your tomatoes and squash, consider Sunn Hemp. It is a fast growing legume that will choke out weeds while building up your soil. Sunn Hemp's claim to fame is that in 60 days from planting it typically is 6 feet tall and produces 100 pounds of Nitrogen, 10 pounds of Phosphorus and 80 pounds of potash. Sunn Hemp smothers about 99.9% of all weeds and is allelopathic to Palmer Amaranth.

For the the deer hunter Sunn Hemp is known as "Deer Dynamite". During the summer months deer need protein for weight gain, antler growth, milk production and overall herd health. The best part of this food plot besides attracting deer is the fact that it supplies the Nitrogen and organic matter for your winter food plot. Quail and turkeys also enjoy the cover and abundance of grasshoppers found in the Sunn Hemp.

For you goat farmers out there goats also thrive on Sunn Hemp. Leaves are 30% protein. This boost in protein results in phenominal herd health. Studies show that goats on Sunn Hemp alone, without feed, wormer or medication gained 10-20 pounds and doubled there kidding rate.

We have Sunn Hemp seed and it is $5.00 a pound or we have in tablespoons for $1.00 each.

The spring has been very cool and the roses are just beginning to bloom at the first of May. Remember you can prune your once only bloomers after they bloom and then give the a little more fertilizer. Repeat flowering roses may be pruned after they flower if they need it. Remember to give them some fertilizer too. It takes a lot of energy to make all those beautiful flowers. There is a new Bayer product that is 3 systemic products in 1 and all you have to do is sprinkle it around your roses and it controls insects, disease and fertilizes your plants. It is called Rose and Flower Care All-in-One. The insect control takes care of Japanese Beetles, Aphids and Caterpillars as well as others.

Spraying

Peaches, plums, cherries should be sprayed for shuck split with a fruit tree spray, a combination of captan and malathion. This controls sucking insects, aphids and scale. This spray also controls scab and plum curculio which causes wormy fruits and brown rot. Chlorothalonil can be added for superior scab control.

Keep spraying your daylilies for aphids they are still out there and sucking the life out of your plants. Use Neem or Malathion. In lieu of spraying you can use a fertilizier with a systemic insectcide or one of the Bayer products that is systemic. It can be mixed up in a watering can and poured on the daylilies, it lasts up to 60 days.

Plant herbs now such as basil, dill and fennel. There are several different basils that are fun to try, such as Mrs. Burns lemon Basil, Thai Basil, and African Blue Basil. Each basil is just a little different and lends a little different flavor when used in your favorite dishes. Plant Russian sage, santolina and Spanish lavender in your garden if you are bothered with deer. It seems they aren't attracted to these plants.

There is still time to sow summer flowering annuals such at cosmos. zinnia, sunflowers and cleome. We have the seed for you in our bulk wildflower seed for $1.00 a tablespoon or teaspoon depending on the size of the seed. The butterflies love zinnias so why not plant a few for them. There are many others in our seed packets by Renee` Seeds and Botanical Interests.

Get those tomatoes planted and ready for our Tomato Contest on July 6. There will be a lecture on how to grow the best tomatoes and a judging of the best tomatoes entered in our contest. The prizes are fabulous. You should start growing your tomatoes to enter today. You can print an entry form from our website.

The blackberries and blueberries are doing nicely with all this wonderful rain we have had. We should be able to pick some blackberries by the end of May and some blueberries by the middle of June. Check our home page or call the retail shop if you wish to pick your own berries to make sure we are going to have enough to do u-pick that day. The retail shop number is 205-646-0069.

The pansies are in their glory right now and it would be a shame to replace them with summer annuals. But..when the weather turns hot they will cease to bloom so beautifully. After Mother's Day, the selection of summer annuals usually starts to dwindle and the selection is not as good. Think about buying these plants now while there are lots to choose from and keeping them watered until you feel it is time to pull up the pansies.

Don't forget about our up coming events. The Black and Blue Berry Festival is on June 8 and our Annual Green House Sale is on June 29. Check our event page for details of these events.

Just couldn't pass up the opportunity to show off this beautiful tree. It is a native crab apple tree that is located near our fruit area. Last fall it was loaded with small green fruit. Shelley couldn't help herself. She made lots of crab apple jelly.

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