plant care – Red’s Home & Garden

Fall Gardening Tips for a Bountiful Harvest

Posted on August 22, 2023August 22, 2023 by escranton@proechosolutions.com

As the summer warmth begins to wane and the leaves start to display their vibrant hues, it's time for gardeners to shift their focus to fall gardening. Fall is an ideal season for gardening, with its cooler temperatures and abundant moisture creating the perfect conditions for a successful harvest. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, these fall gardening tips will help you make the most of this fruitful season.

Choose the Right Crops

Selecting the right crops for your fall garden is crucial. Some vegetables thrive in cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Consider planting crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and beets. These vegetables are well-suited for fall's conditions and can often withstand light frost.

Plan and Prepare

Before you start planting, take time to plan your fall garden layout. Consider crop rotation to prevent soil-borne diseases and pests. Prepare your soil by amending it with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its structure and fertility. Clear out any summer crops that have finished producing and remove debris to minimize overwintering pests.

Extend the Growing Season

To maximize your harvest, consider using season-extending techniques. Cold frames, row covers, and cloches can help protect your plants from early frosts and provide extra warmth. These simple structures create a microclimate that allows you to continue growing tender crops well into fall.

Optimize Watering Practices

As the temperature drops and rainfall increases, you'll need to adjust your watering routine. Monitor the moisture levels of your garden regularly and water only when necessary. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root development. Mulching around your plants can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.

Monitor for Pests and Diseases

While fall gardening generally sees fewer pest and disease issues, it's still important to keep an eye out for potential problems. Regularly inspect your plants for any signs of infestation or disease. Early detection allows for more effective intervention, whether through manual removal, organic sprays, or other appropriate methods.

Harvest in a Timely Manner

Harvesting your crops at the right time is crucial for flavor and quality. Follow the recommended maturity dates for each vegetable variety. Some crops, like root vegetables, can be left in the ground longer as the cool temperatures improve their taste. Others, like leafy greens, should be harvested promptly to avoid bitterness.

Preserve the Harvest

As the fall harvest comes in, you might find yourself with an abundance of produce. Consider preserving your bounty through methods like canning, freezing, or drying. This will allow you to enjoy your homegrown goodness throughout the winter months.

Clean Up and Prepare for Winter

Once the harvest season is over, take time to clean up your garden. Remove any remaining plant debris and weeds to prevent pests from overwintering. Consider covering your garden beds with a layer of compost or mulch to protect the soil during the cold months and improve its fertility for the next growing season.

Reflect and Plan Ahead

As you wrap up your fall gardening activities, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Make notes in a gardening journal to remember your successes and lessons learned. Use this information to plan your next year's fall garden with even more success in mind.

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

Finally, remember to take a moment to enjoy the results of your hard work. Whether you're savoring a homegrown salad or admiring the colors of your fall garden, relish in the satisfaction that comes from nurturing a garden through its productive cycle.

In conclusion, fall gardening is a rewarding endeavor that offers a second chance to cultivate a successful harvest. By choosing the right crops, planning carefully, extending the growing season, and following these tips, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of a bountiful fall garden. Stop by Red's Home & Garden this season for fall seedlings, pollinators and advice from our knowledgeable staff!

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Growing Vegetables

Posted on May 11, 2023 by escranton@proechosolutions.com

Growing your own vegetables is a delightful way to get back to nature and enhance your table, but vegetable gardening mistakes can damage the experience. Luckily, these mistakes are easy to avoid if you plan ahead and do some basic research.

Not Starting Slow

Trying to grow everything all at once is a recipe for frustration. Especially if this is your first attempt, be realistic about how much time and effort you’ll be able to devote to your garden and choose vegetables that won’t require more than you have to give. Baby lettuce is a great first step, especially if your containers are on the smaller side. Other beginner-friendly options include peas, radishes, and Swiss chard.

Not Considering Your Weather

Your area’s climate partly determines the types of vegetables that will flourish in your garden. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, peppers, and zucchini tend to grow best in hot weather, while spinach, carrots, and beets prefer chillier conditions. You’ll also need to find your area’s frost-free date, which determines when you should plant different vegetables. The maps on the back of seed packets are a good start, but you’ll need to investigate local weather patterns as well. Another of the more common vegetable gardening mistakes is choosing plants that require more or less sunlight than your garden receives. Take note of how many hours of light your space gets each day and whether it’s primarily morning or afternoon sun; then, choose plants suited to your conditions.

Not Considering Your Space

How much space do you have for a garden, and what does that space consist of? Plenty of vegetables thrive in containers, so don’t despair if your space is mostly paved. Do, however, research different varieties to make sure your choices won’t outgrow their homes. For in-ground beds, take exact measurements and plan ahead to ensure none of your plants will crowd out their neighbors. Remember to look beyond the soil surface; tomato plants can grow to amazing heights even in containers, and mint will quickly take over a bed and potentially your entire yard if you don’t set physical barriers deep into the ground.

Not Having the Proper Equipment

While most home gardens don’t require tons of equipment, some tools are essential for avoiding vegetable gardening mistakes. A garden hose or watering can tops the list; even in rainy climates, you can’t always depend on the weather to keep your plants healthy. You’ll also need good soil; plan to refresh it at least once a year. A spade or digging fork, comfortable gloves, and garden shears are simple but necessary items. Some vegetables also require specialized equipment, such as tomato cages or bean trellises.

Not Having a Plan for Pests

You’re not the only one eager to snack on your homegrown bounty; a whole array of pests from aphids to slugs to voles can damage your vegetables. Learn which pests you’re most likely to encounter in your area and look for the safest and most eco-friendly means of preventing them. Be especially careful with commercial pesticides as many of them can harm beneficial insects that naturally prey on the unwanted bugs eating your plants.

Not Having a Plan for Weeds

Like pests, weeds are an inevitable reality that can lead to vegetable gardening mistakes. Keep a sharp eye on your beds and pull weeds immediately; experiment with different tools and techniques to see what works best for you. If you decide to use herbicide, make certain the product you choose is safe for edible plants. Growing your own vegetables is a fun and delicious hobby, and a little preparation goes a long way. Be sure to explore Red's Home & Garden for advice, inspiration, and all of your gardening needs.

6 Tips To Keep Your Indoor Plants Happy All Winter Long

Posted on January 11, 2022April 6, 2022 by escranton@proechosolutions.com

During the cold, dry months of winter, you've probably noticed that your houseplants struggle. Thanks to low-light conditions and a lack of humidity, it can be a challenge to keep your leafy friends looking their best. However, the following indoor plant tips can ensure that your plants look green and healthy throughout the winter season.

Increase Humidity

When the temperatures drop, you turn your home's heater on, which is good for keeping you warm and toasty but bad for the health of your plants. Your heating system dries out the air in your home, and most houseplants are tropical and prefer humidity. If you notice droopy or limp leaves, you need to find a way to increase the humidity in your home or at least in the vicinity of your plants. There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can run the heat less often and utilize a humidifier, or you can place your plants' pots on a tray of pebbles covered in a shallow layer of water. As the water evaporates, it creates humidity that your plants will love.

Avoid Repotting

During the winter, your plants are working hard just to survive, so they become stressed and stop growing. This is normal and not a cause for concern, but you should avoid repotting your plants until the spring. Repotting in the winter adds even more stress and can be too much for even the hardiest of houseplants to handle. If you find a new pot at the store that you just have to have, either slide the plant, existing pot and all, into the new one or simply wait until conditions are better to repot.

Wait To Fertilize

In a similar vein, houseplants do not need fertilizer during the winter, since they are not pushing any new growth. Most plants that are kept in homes are native to other parts of the world and have adapted to conditions in which they do not have access to nutrients during a portion of the year. It can be tempting to want to feed your plants in the winter, especially if they start looking a little sad. However, be sure to hold off until spring when they're ready to take off again.

Check for Drafts

If you have plants on a windowsill or shelves near a window or door, be sure to check for drafts. The cold air can damage the plants and cause them to lose leaves or even die altogether. Remember that glass gets very cold in the winter as well, so make sure that no leaves are touching a window.

Cut Back on Watering

Overwatering your plants is just as bad, if not worse, than not watering enough. Excess water can lead to root rot and a mushy, dead houseplant. During the winter, your plants do not need nearly as much water as they did during the rest of the year. A good rule of thumb is to water your plant thoroughly and then wait until the top inch or so of soil is completely dry.

Find the Light

Because the days are shorter and your plants will have less light during the winter, you may need to move things around to give them as much light as possible. If you normally have them near a north-facing window, move them to a south or west-facing window so that they can soak up the sunlight and stay happy. These indoor plant tips should be enough to keep your collection of houseplants happy all winter long, whether you have one plant or 50. You'll be glad that you have something green to look at when it's cold and gray outside, so take good care of them! If you need a new plant, check out the selection at Red's Home & Garden.