Category: gardening

Blooming Now – Visit our Butterfly – Hummingbird Garden

Our butterfly/hummingbird garden is bursting forth with beautiful blooms!

Before Planting – February 2018

Containing approximately 180 plants, our butterfly garden is brimming with blooms.  Intended to educate and inspire, the garden also nurtures hummers, bees, moths, and butterflies with a thousand flowers.

It is always in a state of change. You can catch a different set of plants blooming any given time of the year, It’s enjoying the love and attention from Josh, our landscape horticulturist. Come in and see what’s blooming now!  The pictures here are awesome, but soak up the real beauty in person. You likely won’t be in the garden a few minutes before a hummer zips up for a sip.

Enjoy a few close-ups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viburnum Showiness

Viburnum opulus or Snowball Bush is a beautiful large flowering shrub to consider for a part of the garden where you need some splash and height. Snowball bush displays a profusion of white snowballs which are similar in shape and appearance to hydrangeas. The blooms start chartreuse-green; many of ours are showing color now. They ripen to a nice bright white, and they stay for quite a long time. They grow best in morning sun or bright shade.

As a plant, it is much hardier than hydrangea, growing best in morning sun or dappled shade. It is also quite a bit larger, something you want to put where you have some room as they can reach as large as 12 by 12 feet or larger, but you’re in charge, can be easily managed to 5 or six feet.  Snowball bushes can also be pruned up as a very attractive multi-stemmed small accent tree. They’re just a moderate water user once established, so it is excellent for our dryer California-drought -prone landscapes.

We have a lot of them right now they’re just coming into bloom

Clematis Vines Add a Spectacular Touch

Plant Clematis for beautiful blooms.

If you have ever seen a mature clematis vine in an old garden, then you’ll have seen a glimpse of gardening heaven. To say its breathtaking is an understatement. The large dramatic blooms are well worth it during the heat of summer. Some of the flowers seem iridescent when struck by the sun.

Clematis like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. They’ll take 5-6 hours of sun or all day filtered light. To provide a cool area for the roots, you can add mulch, plant a ground cover or use large flat stones to cover and cool the root area. Always provide support for them. You can use a trellis, tree trunk, or open framework to keep them growing in the right direction.

There are over 2000 named varieties of Clematis, Stop by and let us help you choose the perfect one for your garden. Here is a sampling of our Clematis varieties on hand now:

  • Ramona – 8-12′ tall, pale lavender-blue flowers, 5-7 in. across from early to late summer.
  • Comtesse de Bouchaud – 10′ Tall with 5″ Mauve-pink blooms summer into fall.
  • Vancouver Starry Night – 6-8′ with 5-7″ bicolor, pule/pink blooms June to September.
  • Niobe – 8-12′ with 7″ red blooms late spring through summer
  • Jackmanii- 8-12′  dark purple blooms, reblooms in fall if pruned after the spring bloom. Can be pruned to 8″ tall to reinvigorate.

clematisclematis-pinkclematis-blues

 

 

 

 

 

Wine & Roses… and Beer

The Valley of Wine & Roses… and Beer

When my mother, Ruth, and father Jack would meet new residents asking what they could successfully grow in our valley the answer would start with, “Grapes and Roses.” Our climate, soil, and water are perfectly suited for both. The name of “Hopyard Road” reflects a time when the Valley was known for filling the beer barrel as well.

The arrival of grapes pre-date roses coming to the valley in the mid-1800s with commercial rose growing to start in the 1930s. The Livermore Amador Valley was “World Headquarters” for commercial rose growing in the 1930s – 1960s. All the international growers and breeders were represented in Livermore and Pleasanton. Pleasanton’s Rose Avenue was named in honor of the industry and Jackson & Perkins Rose Company. Due to urbanization, commercial rose growing has since moved to the San Joaquin Valley, but it confirmed our valley was made for growing beautiful, healthy roses.

In addition to wine grapes, table varieties are equally happy here. Like roses, grapes want full hot sun with good air circulation. Here are the grape varieties we carry:

  • Table grapes include Black Monukka, Eastern Concord, Crimson, Flame, Golden Italian Muscat, Ladyfinger, Perlette, Princess, Ruby, Summer Royal, and Thompson. Most are seedless varieties.
  • If you want to be a “Backyard Wine Grower,” choose your favorite from this list: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz or Zinfandel.

Hops were grown commercially on Hopyard Road in Pleasanton. Today there are commercial and backyard growers & brewers who are bringing back the tradition.

Celebrate our valley’s vibrant and growing history by planting a rose, a grapevine, or some hops, – or all three!

Tomatomania

Vine-ripened tomatoes from your own garden, it doesn’t get much better.

Grow your own and enjoy the delicious result and health benefits. April and May are great months to get your tomatoes growing!

We have the old favorites, heirloom varieties, and new hybrids. Fredriks will dazzle us with their tasty “Colorful Collection” and Upstarts will offer certified organic options. There’s something for everyone.

Invest in sturdy tomato cages and use them year after year. (In the winter turn them upside down and use to support flowering or edible peas!) Your little tomato seedlings will reach 5-6’ in height. With the cage support, you can plant more in a small space. I’ve been known to wedge seven tomatoes into a 4’ x 8’ raised bed with room on the edges for basil, chives, and other favorite herbs.

Before you know it, you’ll be slicing tomatoes for salads, making Bruschetta and delicious sauces from your harvest. Add other veggies to the garden as weather permits. Basil and melons love it warm. Save space for them and plant in May.

Plant for Now & Later

This week is unique in that we enter the window of time for starting vegetables for setting out into the garden later.  Gardeners can also set out starter plants for a second, bumper crop of cool season crops.

Summer Vegetable Seed Starting

Now is the time to start seeds indoors for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. We have seeds, seedling trays, seed starting mix, to get you going.

We also have lighted starting kits and trays.

Here is an example of the highly informative Botanical Interests Seed packet:

Hungarian Yellow Wax Pepper – Capsicum annuum
Organic HEIRLOOM Seeds 

75 days from transplanting. Developed in Hungary, this early-maturing pepper has a waxy texture that resembles beeswax. Wax peppers are actually orange-red when ripe but are usually picked while still yellow. Great used fresh in salads, pickled, fried, canned, or roasted. 4,500–5,000 Scoville heat units (medium hot).

When to sow outside: For mild climates only: 2 to 4 weeks after average last frost, when soil temperature is at least 70°F [Warm enough for Sun Bathing].

When to start inside: RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°‒90°F. Transplant seedlings outside 2 to 4 weeks after average last frost, and when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F, and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Mild Climates: Also sow in late summer for fall/winter crop.

Harvesting: Harvest when 3″–5″ long or longer and when peppers are yellow or orange-red. Even though Hungarian yellows are usually harvested yellow, they will ripen to orange-red if left on the vine. When harvesting, take care to avoid touching the interior of any broken peppers, as the capsaicin is an extreme irritant, especially to the eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after harvesting, or wear gloves to harvest peppers.

Artist: Pat Fostvedt

Want to start a second “Bumper Crop” of winter vegetables?

Peas, broccoli, onions, and cauliflower set out now can squeeze in a productive run before temperatures rise in June.  Cool season crops, such as these are often planted in September and October for harvest now, but planting now allows you to work in a crop for later spring harvest. This can even out your garden harvest before summer veggies begin to fruit.

Snap peas are great for a quick, sweet snack.  Plant a couple for snacking or plant a 10′ row for meal-size harvests.

Cauliflower comes in hues including orange and white; Broccoli is in stock in green and chartreuse; try something new!

 

 

 

 

Artichokes

artichoke600[1]

Artichokes are a cool season perennial vegetable. The mature plants reach 3-5 feet in height and cover several square feet with large, deep-cut, grey-green leaves.

Artichokes are primarily grown for the soft fleshy flower bud, but this handsome plant is often used ornamentally in the garden. Given the proper conditions, each plant will produce several stalks with many flower heads and will remain productive for several years.

Preparing the Soil
Artichokes grow best in rich, well-drained soils supplied with plenty of organic matter. We recommend MASTER NURSERY GOLD RUSH. One cubic foot will enable you to prepare a 3 ft by 3 ft area, enough for one artichoke plant. Also important when planting is an initial treatment of MASTER NURSERY BONE MEAL. Use one cup bone meal beneath each plant for strong root development. Mix well into the soil beneath the roots. Water new transplants immediately and thoroughly.

Planting
Early winter to early spring is the perfect time for planting artichokes. Plant divisions in a sunny location or in one that receives a half day shade. Artichokes need plenty of room; space them about four feet apart. Place the plants in the soil, so the base of the new leafy shoots is just above the ground.

Watering & Feeding
After growth begins, water plants thoroughly once per week. Regular soakings are much more beneficial than frequent lighter sprinklings. As temperatures rise, plants may need additional water. Water when the leaves start to relax and wilt.

For a balanced supply of nutrients, feed the plants monthly with MASTER NURSERY TOMATO & VEGETABLE FOOD.

Harvesting
Cut artichokes while the buds are tight and about 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Cut each bud with 1 to 2 inches of the stalk. If left on the plant, the green bracts loosen, and their purple flowers show. Buds will open more rapidly in hot weather.

artichoke600[1]After harvesting, the last artichokes from a stem, it will wither, and the leaves will die back to the ground. Mid-summer is also the time to cut the stem and leaves to the ground. New shoots will grow from the base producing a new plant with next year’s crop.  Make regular applications of Sluggo Plus to ward off earwig invaders.

Violas and Pansies


Violas and Pansies are bright and beautiful winter annuals that enjoy a popular following in the in our area because they can be planted in the fall or winter and enjoyed into May until the weather warms. Very few flowers will perform this well, especially right through winter.

Famous for their cute faces Pansies and Violas come in colors from violet hues to blue, yellow, orange; often flowers are a mixture of contrasting colors. Violas have small flowers, (less than 1″) Pansies large, (up to 2″).

Plant them about 6″ apart in well-prepared soil enriched with Bumper Crop. Plant in full sun and keep them moist if the rains are infrequent. Pansies are relatively pest free, but use Sluggo-Plus to protect against snails, sowbugs, and earwigs.

We plant ours in the ground or containers (with Master’s Pride Potting Soil), and we fertilize with EB Stone Sure Start to get them going. Later we will follow up with Maxsea Bloom Fertilizer about every two weeks to keep them in glorious flower.

Try them in hanging baskets where they will cascade down the sides.  Mix them with herbs; the flowers are edible!

 

Implement Winter Feeding Strategies!

Change fertilizers for many of your shrubs this month. Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Camellias need monthly applications of Master Bloom (0-10-10) to ensure good bud set for the spring. Citrus plants need regular feedings with Master Nursery’s Citrus Food to help protect them from frost damage.

The first cool rains of fall are a reminder that now is a great time to apply sulfur products to citrus, camellias and other acid-loving plants.

Citrus foliage commonly turns yellow in winter Soil Sulfur or Iron Sulfate help counteract this tendency.

We recommend 2-3 applications per year of some form of sulfur. Apply one before rains stop in early spring, one as rains begin in fall, and one application mid-summer.  Now is a perfect time because gentle rains (we hope) will wash nutrients into the soil.

Several products fit the bill and provide a pH adjustment which releases iron. or simply apply an iron product.  We suggest you rotate through products, applying one now and another later, so the plant gets a well-rounded diet of minerals and nutrients.

Sulfur products:
Gypsum or PH Adjuster Plus

Sulfur products containing Iron:
Greenall Iron Sulfate
Greenall F.S.T.
Master Nursery Iron Plus

Apply sulfur or iron products now to help citrus, camellias, azaleas, and gardenias stay green.

Now is also an excellent time to apply gypsum to the lawn or hydra-blue to Hydrangeas.

Lawns in general (if yours is still green) will appreciate a fertilizing before the weather gets too cold… this will help keep a green lawn through winter. Hydrangeas treated with Hydra-blue now will stay on the bluer side as opposed to pink.

Work Herbs into your Existing Landscape

Landscaping with herbs adds interest!

Many herbs make beautiful landscape accents which can at the same time be good looking, fragrant and tasty. Set herbs into your landscape underfoot to enjoy fragrance when walked upon. Plant them where you will brush against them or within reach of the patio for a barbeque or garnish.

Low Growing

• Thyme – Many varieties, from tiny leafed to golden tinged foliage. Great for tucking in around stepping stones or use as edging. great underfoot.
• Mint – Comes in flavors from spearmint to chocolate. Plant in a pot to contain it its rampant growth.
• Oregano – Greek  & Italian Varieties available. Pinch it back occasionally to keep it bushy.
• Chives – Grow these spiky little clumps as an accent. The pretty pink flowers are edible, too.
• Trailing Rosemary – Lovely spilling over a wall or pot edge.

Knee high

• Lavender – Dozens of varieties with gray or green foliage; all are colorful and fragrant in your hottest, sunniest spots.
• Lemon Balm – Tidy mounds with dusty purple flowers and wonderfully fragrant leaves.
• Sage – Silvery or multi-colored leaves are a must for flavoring poultry dishes.

Shrubs and Trees

• Lemon Verbena – Tough as nails drought lover is a sturdy shrub. Pinch to keep bushy; pour boiling water on leaves for a lemony tea.
• Upright Rosemary – Tuscan Blue grows to 5′; use as a hedge. Taller varieties have larger leaves and straight stems for skewering. All are tough, low water and delicious.
• Bay Laurel – Use Sweet Bay leaves fresh or dry for later. Grows as a dense, evergreen, dark green hedge or upright tree. Can be kept small with pruning.

Tuck a few herbs in a sunny spot near your kitchen door, within easy snipping distance. Most herbs like good drainage, so amend your soil with lots of Bumper Crop Organic Soil amendment. Or plant in pots and herbs spill over the sides. Many are surprisingly tough perennials, mounding between 6 inches and 2 feet or so, and will live for years. Enjoy truly fresh flavor!