Raised beds warm up more quickly in early spring and give gardeners a head start on the season.

If you wait too long to plant tomatoes, your yields will be low at best and quality may be lacking.

Crops grown for their fruit or roots should have at least six hours of sunlight for optimal yields.

“Building on good foundations.”

“When it rains, it pours.”

“Let the Sun in.”

National Tree Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April. However, here in Florida, the state legislature of 1945 designated the third Friday in January as Florida Arbor Day. This year, 2022, Florida Arbor Day is January 21. So go ahead and plant! This is the time of year when the climate is optimal for planting trees.

Arbor Day is a reminder that all plants, trees, shrubs, herbs and even phytoplankton containing chlorophyll in the oceans are essential for life on this planet. It is common knowledge that oxygen, one of the byproducts of photosynthesis, allows us to breathe.

However, just as or more importantly, green chlorophyll is the substance that traps all the energy that arrives on this planet. It is the energy that we all use to live, love and grow. Whether we burn phytochemicals in the form of petroleum products to fuel all kinds of exertion or eat kale to fuel our busy lives, the transfer of energy from light to carbohydrates made by chlorophyll sustains life and enables our existence.

My rule has always been that people shouldn’t look at garden catalogs until the New Year. The year that is coming to an end should be devoted to completing the fall tasks and enjoying the holidays.

I have to stop living in the past.

With supply chain issues and shortages of everything including seeds, you probably should have already placed your seed orders. I admit that I made the problem worse: I placed orders in advance.

When Fedco’s catalog of trees, shrubs and perennials showed up, I immediately checked to see if they had Red Astrachan apple trees. It was, so my wife Nancy and I had a rainy day going through the pages, selecting what we wanted and placing our order, including the red Astrachan.

Because they contain so much enjoyable information, I will spend a few cold January hours reading the other Fedco (Seeds and Supplies) catalogs and other catalogs. But if you are very disappointed if the seeds or plants you want have run out, order quickly!

Wood Prairie Farm, an organic potato farm in Aroostook County, attends the same old school as I do – or maybe it’s just suffering from delays related to the pandemic. In mid-December, the farm notified its customers via email that it was working on its catalog, which would be posted soon.

The catalog will feature a new section featuring beneficial organic flower seeds. The company conducted field trials to determine which flowers were beneficial to bees, non-bee pollinators and other insects that attack predators of potatoes and other crops. The new section includes 25 beneficial flowering plants, such as sunflowers, zinnias and nasturtiums.

As every year, Wood Prairie offers a new variety of potato, also “Baltic Rose”, which has red skin and golden flesh. Fedco is also offering ‘Baltic Rose’ for the first time.

This image is a composite design created over several years by members of the Fedco catalog production team: Laura Childs, Elizabeth Smedberg and Yvonne Montpelier. Originally, the River Conductor was a public domain image of a log reader with no background and no mountains. Montpellier transformed the logs into potatoes. Seven years later, Smedberg joined the team, rediscovered the image, and added some of the background and moonscape. This year, Childs completed the scene by adding life to the water and transforming the catalog cover image. Maine gardener Tom Atwell, for his part, appreciated the teamwork. Fedco Seed & Supplies cover courtesy of Fedco

The catalog I spend the most time with each year is Fedco Seeds & Supplies, because it’s full of entertaining goodies and so much great information. I love the pen and ink drawings, and I especially liked the potato reader on the cover.

This time, I had the pleasure of finding a list of about 50 seeds that are produced within 100 miles of Fedco’s headquarters in Clinton, and another 50 within 500 miles. It also has supplier codes, with # 1 being small suppliers including Fedco staff, and # 5 being multinationals engaged in genetic engineering. Syngenta, a manufacturer of neonicotinoid pesticides, gets its own number 6.

Pinetree Garden Seeds in New Gloucester is simpler than other local catalogs. With the exception of the cover, it’s printed on newsprint – as you’re holding now if you get the Dead Tree’s edition from The Press Herald – and includes clear and precise descriptions of each item, alongside it. ‘a photograph.

In addition to flower and vegetable seeds and garden supplies, it has sections on containers and the best seeds for them, bee-friendly seeds and supplies, gift items, books and – in a way. hopping they’ve been doing for years now – teas, knitting and making soaps. We order from the catalogs I mention in this column almost every year, but Pinetree is the one we go to when we find out mid-season that we need something.

Old catalogs from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Jeff Pouland / Morning Sentinel file photo

Our Johnny’s Selected Seeds catalog for this year is not yet available, but their website is easy to use. Johnny’s is a leading seed company, having introduced many All-America Selection flowers and vegetables over the years. On the website, the homepage lists new varieties for 2022, some 223 items, including vegetables, flowers, farm seeds, fruits, herbs, organic plants, and tools and supplies. The company is local – it is based in Winslow. Another reason to shop there? It belongs to the employees.

Let me mention three out of state companies that Nancy and I use.

Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan specializes in antique flower bulbs. We have a collection, of sorts, of antique bulb plants on our property, many of which were from Old House. We visited the business a few years ago when our niece got married in Ann Arbor. It is a very small company, headquartered in a (relatively large) garage and with less than 10 employees, all of whom are friendly and helpful. The company offers excellent bulbs for all seasons, many of which are produced by small farms across the country, at least one of which is from Maine.

We also buy from Kitchen Garden Seeds which has a good variety of items especially flower bulbs. Located in Connecticut, it’s almost local.

Dixondale Farms, an onion specialist from Texas, has a lot of good information and I have been ordering onion plants from them for several years. This year, its catalog noted that the old reserve Copra Onion has been phased out, replaced by Patterson. I checked Fedco and Pinetree, and saw that they also dropped Copra. I missed it, but luckily we use Cipollini as a white keeper.

Tom Atwell is a freelance writer who gardens in Cape Elizabeth. He can be contacted at: [email protected]

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People can’t wait to see the designs Arthur Brown creates on his lawn at the corner of Fifth and University streets in Alexandria. It’s a New Year’s tradition.

Even as he got his bike ready for the Alexandria Christmas Parade, people were asking him what he had planned.

They just had to wait and see.

“I’ve been doing this well for 25 years, so I’ve been doing it for a long time,” Brown said. “I just love doing that. It took me 15 hours to do so, so it’s taken me a long time this year.”

The investment varies. Last year it took him 9 hours.

Future :Alexandria Events Include Epiphany Service, Burning Greens

Brown creates his designs by planting ryegrass – a winter herb that usually stays until spring around November.

“I always put my date on,” he said of the “2-0-2-2” circled around.

As Brown walked through this year’s airing, he pointed out the other designs, such as an “S” snake, window pane, and a maze that someone might be able to walk through.

“I made horseshoe models,” he said. “You can see how it looks like a ‘U’ shape.”

One item was inspired by his mother.

“Further down, I made it like a little railroad track, as you can see here. One of the reasons I put the railroad tracks here is because every time I go through a track railroad, my mom said, “Hey! Did you look both ways? ‘”Said Brown, smiling.” So I put that here to remember her. “

As he enjoys sports, he incorporated the letters “NBA” and “NFL” as well as soccer and basketball designs.

Take a trip:The labyrinth of the Rapides hospital offers “a place of meditation while walking”

But every year after he finishes, he starts planning the next year’s creations. He offers about 15 and reduces it to 10.

And Brown doesn’t search the Internet for ideas.

“It all comes from the brain,” he laughed, pointing to his head.

As far as Brown knows, he’s the only one doing lawn projects like his. He hopes that is not always the case and that more and more people give the medium a try.

“They still have time,” he said. “Because I’ve been doing it for a long time. I really would love to see someone else be able to cope with it.”

Prepare for summer in style! eBay Launches Massive Sale of Hot Weather Gadgets and Games with $ 169 Two-Person Kayak and $ 999 Outdoor Hot Tub

By Matilda Rudd For Daily Mail Australia

Posted: 2:00 PM EST, December 23, 2021 | Update: 9:47 p.m. EST, December 23, 2021

Australia’s favorite online bargain marketplace has kicked off a massive sale of summer essentials like kids’ clothes, inflatable water sports and barbecue tools just in time for the New Year.

eBay Australia has organized a number of seasonal must-haves for customers with the $ 169 Bestway Inflatable Canoe Raft and $ 79.95 Keezi Kids Beach Toys Sandbox which are the perfect tools for a long, hot day at the Sun.

With many residents choosing to vacation at home in these uncertain times, eBay has become the one stop shop for all things fun in the sun – and prices up to 77%.

To look great this holiday season leading into the New Year, kids will love the $ 54.95 Ruched Bodysuit from Country Road, made from refreshing 100% cotton.

eBay Australia has organized a number of seasonal must-haves for customers with the $ 169 Bestway Inflatable Canoe Raft and $ 79.95 Keezi Kids Beach Toys Sandbox that prove to be the perfect tools for a long and hot day in the sun

“A soft little bodysuit designed with a gathered bodice, elasticated straps and crotch snaps,” the website read.

For adults, the Imogen $ 129 leather-bound slide can easily be donned for a day at the beach or a poolside party, depending on the day’s needs.

Once you’re dressed and ready, it’s time to step out on the Bestway canoe, which can be quickly inflated and support a combined weight of 160 pounds.

Made from sturdy pre-tested vinyl, the canoe won’t let you down on the river or ocean and is both rust and tear resistant.

To keep the kids entertained on the sand, go for the Beach Toy Sandbox, which is currently 61% off its original price at $ 79.95 (right)

If the worst should happen and you have caused a leak, the product still comes with a special repair kit.

To keep kids entertained on the sand, go for the Beach Toy Sandbox, which is currently 61% less than its original price of $ 79.95.

It comes with a sand and water table – as well as 26 play accessories – which can be found under a wide-brimmed umbrella to protect their eyes from the sun.

If a barbecue is your summer scene, you’ll be nowhere without the Bestway $ 999 Lay-Z-Spa Inflatable Massage Hot Tub, which comfortably seats seven.

Capable of heating water up to 40 degrees when southerly winds blow into the tub, it is both relaxing and luxurious to look at, perfectly easy to set up on the aft deck.

If a barbecue is your summer scene, you won’t be anywhere without Bestway’s $ 999 Lay-Z-Spa inflatable massage hot tub, which comfortably seats seven.

For those who don’t want to sit in the hot tub outside, eBay sells a wooden garden bench that seats three for $ 179.90.

Rustic in nature, the seat provides enough space to sit down for a chat or read a book, and it won’t wear out over time.

To keep the adults entertained, look no further than the hottest drink offering in town: a 12-bottle case of King of Clubs Pinot Grigio for $ 65.

Elegant and refreshing, this Pinot Grigio is a vibrant fusion of flavors of peach, pear and green apple.

And finally, to nail the protein to the barbecue, opt for the Steak Skillet Non-Stick Round Cast Iron Grill ($ 37.99)

And finally, to nail the protein to the barbecue, opt for the Steak Skillet Non-Stick Round Cast Iron Grill ($ 37.99).

Designed to last a lifetime, the pan is large enough to hold your family’s steaks and cook them all at once.

It’s the professional quality that customers expect from eBay sales and the perfect product to start 2022 on a high note.

newsletters, selection list of editors,

Nice weather lately for water lilies, waterfowl and Wellingtons! Even with only odd days above 24-26 degrees, the gardens still grow quickly and fabulously. Sure, weeds grow at a very fast rate, but at least the moist soil makes most of them easy to pull. Maintaining weed control in a season like this, and at this busy and busy time of year (days before Christmas), can certainly be a challenge. However, if you can find the time, you will save yourself some extra work in the months to come. You can try to spend just 10 minutes a few times a week and focus on the weeds that are blooming and about to sow. Another task that gardeners may escape this busy time of year is pruning spring flowering shrubs after they have bloomed. Plants that bloom on “old wood” mean that after flowering they begin to form buds for the flowers of the following spring. The buds remain dormant over the winter on last year’s growth, which is called old wood. Plants that bloom on old wood usually flower early in the growing season. It is important to prune plants that bloom on old wood soon after flowering has finished, because if you wait too long after flowering has finished, they may not have enough time to create plants. flower buds for next year. If you prune in winter or early spring before flowering, you will remove flower buds. Learn more about gardening: A common cause of a shrub not flowering is pruning it at the wrong time and inadvertently cutting off embryonic flower buds. Shrubs that bloom on old wood include Forsythia, Cytisus (broom), Rhododendron, Azalea, Magnolia, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis), Lilac (Syringa), quince (Chaenomeles), Philadelphus, Spiraea, Viburnum, Weigela, flowering honeysuckle winter (Lonicera fragrantissima), Deutzias and Camellia. Shrubs don’t necessarily require pruning to flower and perform well. If your spring-flowering shrub has bloomed well this spring and isn’t too tall for the space, you can go ahead and skip pruning. Moist conditions are also popular with snails and slugs, so watch for signs of damage and use your preferred method of control. Check the grafted plants and remove any shoots growing under the graft. It’s much easier to do when the new growth is soft and fresh, so don’t leave it on for too long. Dar Brookes Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can access our trusted content:

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This is the darkest time of the year: not only are the days short, but the clouds obscure the sun most of the time. Many of us find the gloom overwhelming, especially when there isn’t enough snow to ski, or ice to skate. And for gardeners, there is little we can (or want) to do outdoors. So what do I do?

First, I go to my local grocery store or florist and buy some cut flowers or potted plants. For $ 10 or $ 15, I can dramatically improve my outlook. Potted plants are the most economical to buy. They will bloom, with a minimum of care and forethought, for weeks or even months. Here are some of my favorites:

Christmas cactus. It should be called a Thanksgiving cactus, really, as they usually bloom long before Christmas. Buy one in full bloom, or one that has a mix of flowers and buds. They need moderate indoor light, but no hot afternoon sun. Temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees are best for success. You don’t want to let them dry out completely, but they don’t want to stay soggy either. They love humidity, so place them in a saucer of small stones and add water. Never let the pot sit in the water.

Cyclamen. Another low light plant. This one is suitable for even less light than the Christmas cactus. If you give it direct sunlight, an hour or two of morning sunlight is sufficient, but indirect light is best.

Water your cyclamen only when it is dry, which depends on temperature and relative humidity. I find that picking up the pot tells me a lot: if it is dry, it weighs very little; when it is wet, it is heavier. If you go too long, the flowers will crumble as if to say, “Look at me, I’m dying of thirst!” But they recover quickly. Place your plant in a saucer of water and let it suck up the water. But don’t let it sit in the water for a long time.

My mother loved African violets and got on well with them. I remember doing an experiment with my new chemistry kit for young scientists when I was in fourth grade. I made a tannic acid solution and put a drop on a leaf. Overnight he burned a perfect hole! Great experience until my mom asked me if I had done something to her plant.

I haven’t had much luck with African violets here in New Hampshire (they may have heard from my experience a long time ago). I heat most of it with a wood stove, and keep the house warm, but quite cool at night. I finally read an article that said you should never let the temperature in the room they were in to drop below 70 degrees. So I don’t try anymore, although I recently read that temperatures up to 60 degrees are okay.

If you want to grow them, keep them constantly warm in a bright room but not in direct sunlight. They like high humidity (so don’t like wood stoves) but don’t tolerate soggy roots. Water from below, but water once a month from above (to eliminate any fertilizer salts). Never let water get on the leaves. Pinch off any faded flowers or yellowed leaves.

My favorite houseplant is an orchid called Phalaenopsis or butterfly orchid. Buy them in bloom and they will bloom for several weeks. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, but they need a bright room. They are tropical orchids that love hot temperatures. But cool nights are good – up to 55 degrees.

Moth orchids in their original environment grow in trees. So the soil mix they come in is usually a special orchid mix made up of bark chips and maybe a bit of perlite or vermiculite. This mixture allows the water to flow right through. Make sure that if it comes with an inner pot and an outer pot, pour water after watering the outer pot, which normally has no drainage. Or just lift the inner pot and run water in your sink. Otherwise, you will kill your orchid. Water once a week, or if the exposed roots turn silvery white.

According to experts, tree orchids like these cope better with good air circulation. Me? I find that in a room where people come and go, there is enough air movement to keep them healthy. I grow them on a saucer of pebbles and water to increase humidity, and I grow them in the bathroom where the steam from the shower helps.

But if you have no patience with houseplants, or think you can’t grow them, buy flowers for a vase. Most cut flowers will last a week in a vase, many will last longer. Most rods cost between $ 1.50 and $ 3. Buy an odd number of stems – 3, 5, 7, or 11, depending on your budget.

The vase for displaying the cut flowers should be about half the height of the stems are long (or a little shorter). But this rule is not firm. If the arrangement looks good to you, that’s fine. Use a clean glass or pottery vase for best results, but if you want to use Grandma’s silver vase, go for it. Elegance is good.

Cut flowers are usually accompanied by a small sachet of white powder. Use it. This helps prevent the water from filling up with bacteria or fungi that will clog the stem, preventing it from absorbing water. Remove any leaves that would otherwise go into the water. You can also use a teaspoon of Clorox in a quart of water. Never put cut flowers near a heater or wood stove.

So buy something in bloom. This will help dispel the gloom of the short, dark days. Oh, and on that African violet: I confessed and wasn’t punished. But I never experimented with her houseplants again.

Henry Homeyer is a longtime master gardener and author of four books on gardening. At this time of year, he dreams of spring. Henry’s book “Organic Gardening (Not Just) in the Northeast” is available from his home for $ 19. Send a check to Henry Homeyer at PO Box 364, Cornish Flat, New Hampshire, 03746, or order from his website, Gardening-Guy.com. Contact him at [email protected]

Miriama Kamo – broadcaster and member of the Zero Waste Network

My biggest tip is not to use Christmas wrapping paper. Instead, wrap gifts with old fabric (pro tip: buy scarves from thrift stores), newspaper, cards, wallpaper – whatever you have lying around. They look awesome, especially if you save old ribbons and bows to reuse.

As for gifts, think about handmade (cakes / cosmetics / crafts) or experiences (zoo / boating / time together).

Always look for companies that are committed to sustainability. Buy local and check the ingredients to know the product is eco-friendly. I like to think of gifts as local, low-waste, and luxurious – gifts and experiences that make people and the planet happy.

Miriama Kamo is a broadcast journalist (Sunday / Marae, TVNZ1) who has been involved in the zero waste movement for three years and works hard to try to reduce her family’s carbon footprint.  

Sarah Pritchett – WasteMINZ

For a few years now, my parents have given my family and my sister’s family an experience, instead of Christmas presents. We ziplined, jetboating, white water rafting and at a family concert (pre-Covid).

A good friend and I donate for each other at Christmas time. Last year she donated to the Christchurch Foundation on our behalf, and I paid Stuff a koha on their behalf and gave them a voucher for a local cafe.

Flea markets contain all kinds of treasures. Young tamariki don’t really care where their toys come from, and you may be able to find some good quality purchases.

Consider buying items that last. For the coffee lover in your life, manual espresso machines (from the simple cooker to the slightly flashing ROK espresso) produce coffee as good as an electric espresso machine (and without the need for pods). And they’ll last pretty much forever, with just the occasional new filter needed for them to make great coffee.

Sarah Pritchett is a senior project manager for WasteMINZ, which represents the waste and resource recovery industry in New Zealand.

Paul Smith – New Zealand Consumer

Since getting involved with our Built to Last campaign, I’ve tried offering (or requesting) news articles that don’t waste resources (and can actually help keep things used for longer).

IFixit repair tools will help your friends and family use the items for longer. While Sugru fixes broken handles, strengthens charging cables, and has endless ways to make tough things easier to use.

CaliWoods razors are fun to use, eliminate plastic waste, and, with replacement parts and a blade recycling service, are an easy way to get around.

Don’t buy new tech devices – models refurbished just a few years ago do everything you need to know. I have used GoodTech.co.nz but there are many more.

Paul Smith is the Consumer NZ Testing Manager whose mission is to make sure the products we buy are built to last and can be repaired.

Kahurangi Carter – Para Kore

Think about the whakapapa of your gifts this Christmas. Have they been ethically made? Are they from a creator whose values ​​match yours?

In our whānau, our tamariki are given something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

Offer an experience: One of my favorite places to hang out with friends and whanau is on Mount Ruapehu. They have gondola rides and 2022 season passes available now.

Donate on behalf of someone: Two of my favorite charities are City Mission Donation and Rainbow Youth.

Offer something you’ve made: There are some amazing recipes in the Hiakai book, from modern cooking warrior Monique Fiso. You can cook something delicious for your friends or whānau. Last Mother’s Day my kids made me muesli and I loved their thoughtfulness.

Give something second-hand: It’s so much fun browsing the op stores. You won’t believe the treasures you find that remind you of your loved ones, yet stay away from the mall fever. Another great option is Trade Me – I often find beautiful clothes from brands I love, like Kowtow.

Offer a voucher (not a plastic gift card): Who knows what your person likes better than themselves. A voucher for Mutu, where you can rent things you need like tents for summer camping is a great option.

Meri Kirihimete.

Kahurangi Carter is the regional director of Para Kore, which advocates a te ao maori solution for a waste-free world

Georgie Ferarri – Sustainability Trust

It’s the season to think sustainable, be ethical and #SupportLocal. My biggest advice, then, is to give a fun experience as a gift.

Not only does this mean giving zero waste gifts, it’s a great opportunity to support a local business. Here in Wellington, you can offer an annual membership to Zealandia or the Wellington Zoo. One of our EcoShop staff said the best gift he had ever received was a zoo membership – he was able to pack a picnic and go to the zoo with his kids every time he got there. wanted to. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving!

For more ideas, keep an eye out for Sustainability Trust’s Christmas Gift Guide in early December, full of great tips and tricks for a sustainable holiday season.

Georgie Ferrari is the Managing Director of Sustainability Trust, a social enterprise that supports sustainable living.

Monty Don is a British horticulturalist and television gardener, best known for presenting Gardeners’ World. The broadcaster often shares gardening tips and tricks with viewers on their social media platform or the Gardeners’ World website.

“It’s a very delicate taste.

“It’s not garlic at all – it comes from the leek family.”

The other two types of garlic that Monty showed viewers were a soft-necked variety and a hard-necked variety.

He explained, “You can’t tell that much of a difference, however, the softneck tends to be harvested a bit later, it lasts longer in the ground, and it lasts longer in storage.

The gardening expert warned: “You don’t treat them like a bunch of onions

“Sets of onions, you just have to fix them in the ground.

“You plant them much more like a daffodil bulb and bury them so that the pointy end – the pointy part – is about as deep.

“You want rich, well-drained, rather alkaline soil, and space them out generously.”

Monty put the bulbs in the ground and added, “I’m going to put elephant garlic on the side to break it up and it can go a little shallower.”

“These will have a lot of empty beds between them, until next April / May.

“So I’m going to plant some arugula between the rows where the garlic is, and by the time I use it and harvest it, then I can pull it out and the garlic will grow through.” “

Arugula is another seed that can be planted at this time of year.