>> GARDENS ARE ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

>> THE EARTHWORM IS A SIGN THAT THERE'S LOTS OF LIFE IN YOUR GARDEN.

>> GOOGLE DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND THE BEST WAY IS TO TALK TO FELLOW GARDENERS.

>> YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING IT HAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LOOK.

I KIND OF LIKE THAT IT CHANGES FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

>> HELLO, AND WELCOME BACK TO "GREAT GARDENING."

I'M ASHLEE SMITH, DIRECTOR OF CONTENT HERE AT WDSE-WRPT, AND HOST FOR THIS EVENING.

OUR SHOW HAS HAD A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, FROM OUR SOCIALLY DISTANCED EPISODES IN 2020 TO A NEW SET THIS YEAR.

WE'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT KAREN SUNDERMAN HAS MOVED ON TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND IS NO LONGER WITH THE SHOW.

WE WISH HER WELL IN HER NEW ENDEAVOURS, AND THANK HER FOR HER WORK WITH THIS PROGRAM OVER THE PAST YEAR.

BUT AS USUAL, WE HAVE OF OUR GARDEN EXPERTS WITH US.

THEY ARE HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN, AND GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

BOB: IT IS OUR PLEASURE.

WELCOME TO THE GREAT NORTH LAND.

YOUR PREMIER APPEARANCE ON GREEN GARDEN.

ASHLEE: I'M EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

BOB: THERE IS A LOT.

WE JUST CAME OFF OF A TREMENDOUS GROWING SEASON.

A LOT OF PLACES DID NOT HAVE FROST.

WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE?

DEB: WE HAD FROST.

BUT THAT IS OK. BOB: WE STUCK BY IT, NIPPED A LITTLE BIT.

A BROAD VIEWING AREA.

SOME PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT IT.

SOME HARVESTED EARLY.

MANY OF US CLOSER TO THE LAKE GOT AWAY WITH THAT SCARY PERIOD.

WE MAY HAVE WARM WEATHER AND EXTEND OUR SEASON.

IT HAS REALLY BEEN A TREMENDOUSLY PRODUCTIVE YEAR.

ASHLEE: AND I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS COMING IN.

AS ALWAYS, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WITH QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PROGRAM ARE HERE TO ANSWER THE PHONES WHEN YOU CALL IN.

CALL LOCALLY OR TOLL FREE, 218-788-2844 OR 877-307-8762.

OR FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ASK@WDSE .ORG.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS TODAY.

IT WAS VERY NICE OUT TODAY.

BOB: YOU CAN'T FIND IT BETTER.

WASN'T IT THE PERFECT DAY?

ASHLEE: A PERFECT DAY.

WE JUST HIT THE FIRST DAYS OF FALL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

IS IT AVERAGE WEATHER FOR THE START OF FALL?

>> WE ARE WONDERING WHAT AVERAGE IS.

IT IS VERY NICE.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE NICE FALL WEATHER.

ASHLEE: I THINK YOU HAVE INFO ABOUT THE 2021 SEASON.

BOB: I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE IT WAS DEFINITELY HOT AND I.

VERY APPRECIATIVE TO CAROL CHRISTIANSEN FOR PUTTING THESE FIGURES TOGETHER.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS WARMER THAN NORMAL.

WE HAVE A COOL CLIMATE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE GROWING MONTHS, MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST.

ON AVERAGE, THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE 3.3 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT JULY, AND I KNOW YOU MOVED IN FROM THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA.

YOU CAN SAY IT WASN'T A HOT SUMMER.

THE AVERAGE HIGH WAS ONLY ABOUT 80.

THAT WAS THREE DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

SO WE ARE WARMER THAN NORMAL.

THE SHOCKING THING WAS HOW DRY WE WERE.

USUALLY WE GET MOISTURE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

WE DID NOT GET THAT.

THE MONTH OF JUNE WAS BELOW AVERAGE, IN TERMS OF MOISTURE.

THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE SUMMER, AND WE WERE JUST ABOUT OVER FIVE INCHES, FIVE POINT 06 INCHES BELOW NORMAL WITH HOT AND DRY.

IF YOU ADD IRRIGATION, SUPPLEMENTAL WATER OF SOME SOURCE, YOU HAVE A GREAT GROWING YEAR, PARTICULARLY FOR ONE SEASON CROPS.

IF YOU DIDN'T, YOU ARE STRUGGLING.

WE ARE GETTING MOISTURE NOW.

BUT WE COULD HAVE USED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN JULY.

DEB: ABSOLUTELY.

CROP FARMERS AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

I DON'T WANT GARDENERS TO BE SET BACK AND NOT WANT TO CONTINUE ON.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT PREPARED.

ESPECIALLY NEW GARDENERS.

BOB: WE BOTH HAVE TIES TO AGRICULTURE.

A LOT OF PRODUCERS.

IT WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR SO MANY OF THEM.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE WITH IRRIGATION, WELLS, TRICKLES, WE PRODUCED WHAT WE DID.

IT IS NOT ARIZONA, BUT IT FELT LIKE THAT SOMETIMES.

ASHLEE: WE'VE GOTTEN A BUNCH OF RAIN.

DOES IT HELP ONCE IT COMES INTO THE END OF THE SEASON?

BOB: WE WILL TAKE IT ANY TIME.

DEB: ABSOLUTELY.

BOB: WE HAD A DEFICIT, A DROUGHT, AND WE ARE RECHARGING THE SOIL AND GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEAR.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE GETTING PERENNIALS READY AND PREPARED TO GO IN.

DEB: TO BULK UP AND GET READY FOR WINTER.

THEY NEED IT NOW.

BOB: WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN WE GOT RECENTLY.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IN A MOMENT, WE'LL BE BACK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

BUT FIRST, WE TRAVEL TO GLENSHEEN MANSION, WHERE HEAD GARDENER EMILY FORD TOOK US ON A TOUR OF THEIR VEGETABLE GARDEN.

WE'LL LEARN HOW SHE USES SMALL SPACES TO YIELD VERSATILE HARVESTS.

>> MY NAME IS EMILY FORD, I'M THE HEAD GARDENER OF GLENSHEEN.

I WILL SHOW YOU THE VEGETABLE GARDENS WE TAKE CARE OF.

CHESTER CONDON, WHO WOULD BE THE MAN OF THE HOUSE, HE WAS SO INTO EXPERIMENTING WITH PLANTS.

HE WAS REALLY INTO SEEING HOW FAR YOU CAN PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND SEE WHAT WAS BETTER, WHAT WAS NEW.

HE HAD A FORWARD THINKING MIND.

I LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THE LEGACY OF IF WE ARE DOING THE BEST PRACTICES, IF IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.

THIS IS A RHUBARB ORIGINAL TO THE ESTATE.

EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD RHUBARB.

YOU CANNOT PASS UP ON IT AT ALL.

THREE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CORN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE CANNED OR FROZEN OVER THE WINTER.

YOU HAVE ASPARAGUS, WHICH WAS A HUGE OLD TINY PLANT.

I LIKE TO SHOW THIS, BECAUSE WE REALLY TRY PACKING EVERYTHING IN SO TIGHT.

SOMETIMES EVEN A LITTLE TOO TIGHT.

BUT IT MAKES IT WORTH IT FOR WEED SUPPRESSION AND GROWING AS MUCH FOOD.

SOMETHING NEW I TRIED, I'M NOT HAVING THE BEST LUCK.

BUT THE FUN PARTS ABOUT MY JOB, EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT TURN OUT HOW IT USED TO BE.

IT IS FUN TO LEARN ABOUT THE WHY BEHIND IT.

DO I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN?

HOW DO PEOPLE GROW IT?

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I GREW IT THIS YEAR.

I'M PROUD, WE TRIED IT ANYWAY.

THIS YEAR WHEN I'M TESTING TO SEE IS IF CAGES ARE NECESSARY OR NOT FOR TOMATOES.

IS IT OK IF YOU GROW YOUR TOMATOES ON THE GROUND IN A MOUNDING FASHION?

SO FAR IT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.

IT LOOKS A LITTLE MESSY, THAT MAY BE THE DOWNSIDE.

BUT OTHER THAN THE -- TOMATOES IN THEIR NATURAL FORM FOR DETERMINATE T TOMATOES.

THERE ARE CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, A LOT OF ROAD PUMPKINS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BED TO JOIN UP.

PACKING REALLY REALLY TIGHT.

SINCE WE ARE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY, WE ALWAYS TRY TO STRETCH OUR IMAGINATION TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INNOVATIVE WAY TO DO SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE.

ASHLEE: WHAT A FANTASTIC VIDEO.

THANK YOU, EMILY FORD AND GLENSHEEN MANSION FOR THE TOUR.

BEFORE WE HOP INTO QUESTIONS, I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK WITH BOB.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE MORE INFO ABOUT HOW THE GROWING SEASON WENT.

BOB: IT WAS HOT AND DRY.

WE HAD THE GOOD.

THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A WARM SEASON.

AND I APPLAUD EMILY HOOVER FOR STILL DOING SOME APPLIED RESEARCH.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SO MANY VARIETIES.

HE HAS BEEN POPULAR, IN TERMS OF ROASTING PEPPERS.

YOU CAN SEE IN THE ONE PHOTO, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH MANY VARIETIES.

RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, PURPLE OR LAVENDER.

THEY DID GREAT.

THE APPLES WERE GOOD, BUT EVERYTHING CAME VERY EARLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO GROW SOME MELONS AND SOME SQUASH.

THINGS CAME IN VERY NICE.

THAT WAS GOOD, PROVIDED YOU ADD WATER.

AS FAR AS THE BAD GOES, FOLKS CAN PROBABLY RELATE TO THESE THINGS.

RADIO CRACKING ON TOMATOES, THAT COMES FROM A MOISTURE IRREGULARITY WHERE YOU HAVE THINGS DRYING DOWN AND YOU WATER IT.

THEN YOU PUSH OUT THOSE CELLS AS THEY EXPAND WHEN WE GET THIS CRACKING.

ONE THING WE OBSERVED WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENCY OF WATERING AND GETTING ORGANIC IN THE SOIL.

SO WE HOLD MOISTURE SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS ON AND OFF PHENOMENA.

ON THE PEPPERS, WE GOT PEPPERS SET EARLY.

THEN IT GOT TOO HOT.

THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLLEN TUBE THAT GROWS TOMATOES AND PEPPERS.

SO WE LOST A WHOLE SERIES OF BLOSSOMS, FRUITS.

YIELDS WERE DOWN.

WHAT WE DID GET REALLY RIPENED.

ANOTHER SLIDE IS GRASS.

THINGS GOT VERY DORMANT.

NOT TO THE POINT OF BEING DEAD.

BLUEGRASS HAS COME BACK.

THEN WE SAW A LOT OF WARM SEASON DISEASE.

PARTED MILDEW BEING THE CLASSIC.

ALL OF THE FINE CROPS.

THIS WAS A SOUTHERN DISEASE FOR A LONG TIME.

AS TEMPERATURES CHANGE, WE SEE MORE MILDEW.

I MENTIONED THIS MOISTURE IRREGULARITY.

THIS IS EQUIVALENT OF BLOSSOM AND ROT.

WE ARE NOT GETTING CONSISTENT MOISTURE THROUGH THE BODY.

AND WE SAW IT ON PEPPERS, ON ZUCCHINI, ON TOMATOES.

THE INCONSISTENT WATERING AND FAILURE TO DELIVER CRITICAL NUTRIENTS WITH THAT INCONSISTENCY LEAD TO TISSUE BREAKDOWN, MOST AT THE BLOSSOMING AND THROUGHOUT THE FRUIT WALL.

THAT WAS THE UGLY COMPONENT WE SAW A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

IF WE HAD WATER, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS YEAR.

WE EXPERIENCED INTERESTING PHENOMENA THAT CAME FROM THE HOT, DRY SUMMER WE HAD.

ASHLEE: A LOT GOING ON THIS SEASON.

BOB: I THINK EVERY SEASON.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE CLIMATE AND CHALLENGES, AND IT IS CHANGING.

DEB: OR IS IT A TREND?

BOB: THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION.

ARE WE GOING TO BE A BIG PEPPER GROWING REGION, OR UNUSUAL PHENOMENA?

ASHLEE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE GOOD COME THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.

LET'S ANSWER A COUPLE OF VIEWER QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE DIANE FROM PIKE LAKE.

LILAC TREES, WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT BABIES?

BOB: I THINK -- THE NUMBER ONE TIME IS GENERALLY THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, NUMBER IS RIGHT NOW.

DEB: WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE GETTING MOISTURE.

BOB: MOISTURE IN THE SOIL AT THIS TIME.

SHE WANTS TO START WITH A WELL ROOTED PLANT.

DEB: PEOPLE NEED TO WATER IT WELL, IN A CONTAINER OR HOWEVER THEY ARE GROWING IN A, BEFORE THEY PUT IT IN THE GROUND AND GROW IT.

SOME PEOPLE PUT A DRY START IN AND WATER IT, AND FEEL IT IS ENOUGH.

BUT THEY NEED TO PREP IT, GET IT HYDRATED SO IT IS READY FOR THAT TRANSPLANT AND PUT ON SOME WEIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE A WHOLE THAT YOU DUG IN THE GROUND, HAVE THE HOSE READY AND RUN IT INTO THE HOLE.

DEB: THE NIGHT BEFORE, YOU CAN DO BOTH AND PUT IT IN THE MORNING OF SO IT HAS A NICE, COOL START.

BOB: RAINS HAVE HELPED, EARLY FALL TRANSPLANTING WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

ASHLEE: ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.

A BIT OF AN ISSUE GOING ON AT THIS PERSON'S HOUSE.

MUSHROOMS INVADING THEIR BACKYARD.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

BOB: WHAT YOU WILL NOT DO IS LOOK FOR SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL TO CONTROL THEM.

THAT IS THE FIRST THING PEOPLE LOOK AT.

MUSHROOMS LIVE ON DEAD, DECAYED MATERIAL.

UNLIKE A GREEN PLANT PRODUCING ITS OWN SUGAR.

SO THEY HAVE ORGANIC MATERIALS IN THEIR LAWN THAT HAS TO BE DECOMPOSED, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE MUSHROOM IS LIVING ON.

YOU CAN ACCELERATE THAT PROCESS, AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME OF THE YEAR, BY FERTILIZING, MAYBE GET MORE NITROGEN FERTILIZER, EVEN MORE THAN WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE.

YOU CAN DROP SOME -- IN OTHER WORDS, PULLING THE COURSE OUT OF THE SOIL AND DROPPING SOME HIGH NITROGEN FERTILIZER.

WE WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE THE DETERIORATION AND DECAY OF THE ORGANIC MATERIAL.

THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE MUSHROOM.

THEY WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO LIVE ON.

DEB: AND IT IS A GREAT TIME FOR NITROGEN.

THE GRASS WILL LOVE IT.

THE MUSHROOMS WILL NOT.

BOB: A BUNCH OF UNHAPPY MUSHROOMS.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

[LAUGHTER] ASHLEE: SPEAKING OF FERTILIZERS, ANOTHER QUESTION FROM JEFF IN DULUTH.

SHOULD APPLE TREES BE FERTILIZED, IF SO, WHEN?

BOB: I THINK SO, BUT NOT NOW.

AND I THINK YOU WILL AGREE, WHEN WE GOT WOODY'S LIKE THAT, THEY WANT THEM REALLY TO GO INTO THE DORM AND SEE GRADUALLY WITH THE SEASON.

YOU WANT TO PUSH THE GREEN GROWTH.

COME BACK NEXT SPRING.

AT THAT POINT, SOME FERTILITY.

WE ARE LOW IN FERTILITY IN OUR SOIL.

IT IS NOT CENTRAL IOWA.

SOIL IS LOW AND ORGANIC.

SO I THINK ALONG THE DRIP LINE.

DEB: OUT TO THE CANOPY.

BOB: MAYBE A FOOT BELOW, THE STEM OUT AND BEYOND THAT IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR.

THAT IS WHEN WE WANT FERTILITY FOR THE APPLES.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM PAT.

I'M LOOKING FOR A WINTER HARDY HEDGE PLANT FOR FULL SUN EXPOSURE THAT WILL NOT NEED A LOT OF PRUNING TO KEEP IT UNDER FIVE FEET HOME.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

DEB: FIVE FEET IS NOT BAD.

THERE IS A BIG GAP.

YOU HAVE THREE FEET AND EIGHT FEET.

THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF IT LIES.

DEPENDING HOW DENSE AND WHAT SHE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH, ARE WE DOING A PRIVACY?

HOW DANCE -- AN EVERGREEN?

HYDRANGEAS ARE BEAUTIFUL RIGHT NOW.

FIVE FEET, GREAT.

OLD ANNABELLE'S.

BUT THEY DON'T REALLY WANT THE FULL SUNSHINE.

AND THEY ARE BREEDING SOME BEAUTIFUL -- YOU CAN DO A HEDGE IN HYDRANGEAS.

BOB: THAT WOULD BE UNIQUE.

WE SEE A LOT OF THE PT HYDRANGEAS, WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL.

IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK, THAT WILL BE TOUGH.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT CARRIE DEAN, THE SIBERIAN PIECE RUB, HIT IT WITH A POWER SAW AT THE LEVEL.

THEY TAKE PRUNING AGGRESSIVELY.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER NINE MARKS AND WOULD MAKE GOOD HEDGES.

BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY GET THAT CLARIFIED.

AN EVERGREEN, THAT HAS TO BE YOUR FIRST DECISION.

IF YOU HAVE DEER, WHO DOESN'T, I HAVE MY OWN DEER STORIES, AS EVERYONE DOES.

BUT I THINK TRADITIONAL EVERGREENS ARE TOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH THE SPRUCE AND SO FORTH THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO ATTACK.

IF NOT, STICK WITH THE DECIDUOUS.

>> AND THERE ARE SOME NICE LILACS.

ALSO THE BOOMERANG.

THEN THERE IS A BABY KIM.

THEY SAT LIKE RIGHT AT FIVE FEET, AND THEY WILL GET SOME FALL COLOR.

BOB: THOSE ARE GOOD CHOICES.

GOING TO HAVE TO START PRUNING AFTER THE BLOOMING.

ASHLEE: SEEMS LIKE GOOD OPTIONS.

ONE OTHER QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

DO I NEED TO BURY MY ROSE PLANTS OR CAN I MULCH THEM?

DEB: DEPENDS ON THE ROWS.

THEY ARE BREEDING MORE HARDY ROSES THAT YOU CAN LEAVE, OR AT LEAST PROTECT THEM SLIGHTLY.

BUT GRAND FLORA, ANY OF THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONAL ROSES, YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THEM IN, BUT THEY ARE REALLY DOING SOME NICE WORK ON THE HARDY ROSES AND DIFFERENT COLORS.

BUT KNOWING YOUR VARIETY.

BOB: THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

SEPARATING THOSE TWO, EITHER THE HYBRID, WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE BURIED.

BUT THE SHRUB ROSES, THERE ARE SO MANY VARIETIES, THOSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE QUESTIONS IN A FEW MINUTES.

JULIE A.C. OF DULUTH TOOK US ON A TOUR OF HER FRONT LAWN GARDEN.

SHE SHARES WITH US THE STORY OF TAKING AN UNCONVENTIONAL SPACE, AND SHAPING IT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

>> MY NAME IS JULIE, AND WE ARE IN CHESTER PARK.

WE HAVE A RELATIVELY DIFFICULT SITE.

WE WERE TRYING TO CONTROL THE GRASS.

I LOOKED AROUND, I VISITED A COUPLE OF OTHER PLACES, AND I CONTACTED SHRUB VIEW NATIVES.

THEY CUT DOWN THE SCUBBY TREES, CUT DOWN SOME STUFF AND COVERED IT WITH VERY THICK, BLACK PLASTIC AND IT COOKED FOR A YEAR.

LAST JUNE, THEY TOOK IT OFF AND PLANTED ABOUT 1200 LITTLE PLUGS OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

THIS IS ITS SECOND YEAR.

THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS DECIDED TO DO THE SAME, SO IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ALLEY.

IT IS AMAZING WHAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPENING HERE.

THIS EXCEEDS MY EXPECTATIONS.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE FOUR YEARS OR MORE FOR THIS TO DEVELOP THIS MUCH.

EVEN LAST SUMMER, IT WAS QUITE FULL.

THINGS WERE VERY TALL, BUT THIS YEAR, IT IS TAKING OFF.

THAT IS BUTTERFLY WEED.

I LOVE IT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL.

GREEN, WHITE, A LOT OF NATIVE THINGS ARE LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT IS A NICE SHOCK OF COLOR I REALLY LIKE.

THIS YEAR, WE WATERED A LITTLE BIT.

THEY ARE KIND OF ON THEIR OWN.

THAT IS THE NICE THING ABOUT THEM.

MOSTLY THEY HAVE TO BE CUT BACK SO THAT THE STAIRS AREN'T DANGEROUS.

THESE PLANTS COME FROM WHERE WE LIVE NATURALLY, SO THEY DO REALLY WELL.

IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T WATER IT, BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF A CHALLENGE, THINGS WILL STILL THRIVE.

SO WE ARE REALLY HAPPY WE DID THIS.

ASHLEE: WHAT A LOVELY TOUR.

LET'S GET BACK TO MORE QUESTIONS.

FIRST UP, LILY FROM WEST DULUTH.

CAN I SEE SEEDS FROM MY GROCERY STORE SQUASH?

BOB: THERE IS A GOOD QUESTION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF HEIRLOOM SQUASH, BUT MOST OF THE REAL HIGH QUALITY VARIETIES ARE HYBRIDS.

SO WHEN YOU ARE SAVING SEED, IT GOES BACK TO THE PARENTAGE.

WE HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES.

I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE EVERYTHING IN THE SUPERMARKET WILL BE A HYBRID BECAUSE OF THE PRODUCTIVITY A COMMERCIAL GROWER DEMANDS.

BUT YOU BROUGHT US ONE OF THE SPAGHETTIS, IT IS KIND OF STANDARD.

IT IS A HYBRID.

TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.

DEB: THE SUGAR READY LOOKS LIKE A WATERMELON.

WE HAD A BET AT WORK, WE HAD TO CUT ONE APART, BECAUSE THERE WERE 4 DIFFERENT ANSWERS FOR WHAT IT WAS.

BUT SUGAR READY.

A LOT OF FLESH TO IT, WHICH SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF FLESH WITH YOUR SPAGHETTI SQUASH.

BUT REALLY NICE, BUT IT IS A HYBRID.

BOB: SO MUCH BREEDING GOING ON.

I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU GET OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET WILL BE A HYBRID.

SO YOU CAN SAVE THE SEED, YOU WILL GET SQUASH, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL GET.

IT IS HYBRID BECAUSE HYBRIDS ARE SO MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE, AND A COMMERCIAL GROWER, WHICH THEY ARE BIG GROWERS, THAT IS ALL THEY WANT.

THEY WANT TO YIELD PER ACRE THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE MARKETS.

DEB: GO TO YOUR LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS.

YOU CAN HAVE A MUCH GREATER LIKELIHOOD THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS AN HEIRLOOM.

BOB: MANY LOCAL FARMERS DO HAVE HEIRLOOMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAXIMUM YIELD PER ACRE.

ASHLEE: SAVING SEEDS IS UP TO YOU.

JEFF WANTS TO KNOW -- HIS BRUSSEL SPROUTS ARE TALL AND GREEN WITH NO FRUIT.

WHY?

BOB: IT IS JUST VIGOR.

IF HE HAD WATER FOR THEM AND THEY ARE VIGOROUS, I WOULD SUGGEST AT THIS POINT HE TOP IT.

BY TOPPING THAT TERMINAL BUD, YOU WILL FORCE THE LATERAL BUDS.

THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT, LATERAL FLOWER BUDS.

I WOULD GET OUT WITH ONE OF YOUR GARDEN TOOLS.

DEB: THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT QUICKLY.

BOB: I WOULD TAKE IT OFF.

BECAUSE IT IS LATE IN THE SEASON, HE WILL STILL GET BUDS, BUT IF HE DOESN'T GET ANY FORMING, I WOULD TOP THEM.

DEB: IT IS LATE.

BOB: HE'S GOT TO GET THEM GOING.

ASHLEE: MOVING INTO THE FALL.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM ROY FROM NORTH OF TWO HARBORS.

"HOW DO I COMPOST MY TREES IN THE FALL?"

BOB: COMPOSTING TREES.

A LITTLE CLARIFICATION MIGHT HELP.

I DON'T THINK HE IS -- WE WILL ANSWER IT A COUPLE OF WAYS.

COMPOSTING WHAT HE CUT DOWN, CLEANING UP THE LIMBS AND SO FORTH, THAT IS VERY WOODY MATERIAL.

ALL CARBON NEEDS NITROGEN.

SO HE WANTS TO CHIP IT.

SOME CHIPPER WILL ACCELERATE THE PROCESS.

HE WILL NEED A NITROGEN SOURCE, BECAUSE IT IS ALL CARBON.

SO HE CAN USE A GRANULAR NITROGEN FROM A BAG, A FERTILIZER PLANT.

HE CAN USE A SLOW RELEASE ORGANIC FERTILIZER.

BUT IF THAT WAS THE QUESTION, CHIP IT UP AND ADD NITROGEN, AND HE WILL BE FINE.

IF HE JUST WANTED TO COMPOST AROUND THE TREES FOR WEED CONTROL OR SUPPRESSION, USE COMPOST AS A MULCH, YOU DON'T WANT IT UP AGAINST THE ACTUAL BARK SO WE CAN HAVE DECAY OCCURRING.

I HOPE WITH THAT LENGTHY ANSWER, WE ANSWERED HIS QUESTION SOMEHOW.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ROGER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SLUS IN MY LAWN, AND WHAT DO I DO?

BOB: HE'S GOING TO SEE THEM.

DEB: SEE THE DAMAGE.

BOB: HE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

MOST PROBLEMS WITH SLUGS IS COMING OUT OF THE LAWN AND GETTING INTO OTHER ORNAMENTAL AND VEGETATIVE PLANTS.

I DON'T THINK THEY DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE LAWN THEMSELVES.

DEB: IT IS NOT THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

SOME BIT OF CONTROL IS ENVIRONMENTAL.

THEY WOULD BE WANTING TO GO MORE TO SHADE, WHERE THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IF IT WAS A FULL SUN, REALLY NICE LAWN, THAT IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT THEY WOULD BE SHOWING UP ON OTHER SPECIES AND OTHER AREAS THAT WERE COOLER, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.

BOB: THEY DON'T LIKE IT HOT AND DRY.

LAWNS LOVE A LOT OF SUNSHINE, SO I DON'T THINK HE HAS A PROBLEM.

ASHLEE: ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION.

WILL COLEUS PLANS GROW OUTSIDE ALL SUMMER MAKE GOOD HOUSEPLANTS?

DEB: THEY CAN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN AND THEY GET ALONG AND LEGGY.

YOU NEED TO DO A SLIGHT CUT BACK.

I DO AT LEAST IN HALF.

SO THAT THEY STAY BUSHY.

THEY WILL GO DORMANT, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A LOT OF VIGOR, BUT YOU ARE KEEPING THEM ALIVE.

YOU COULD PROPAGATE THEM TO START OTHERS SO IN CASE YOU LOST THE BIG ONE, YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS COMING ALONG.

BUT YOU CAN.

THEY WANT A BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCE, THEY WANT IT WARM.

THEY DON'T WANT IT COOL OR LOWER THAN 45 DEGREES.

AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THE NEW COLORS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THE BREEDING IS REALLY GREAT ON THE NEW ONES.

BOB: AND YOU RETAIN THE COLOR.

IT IS GREAT.

WAIT UNTIL THE DAYS START GETTING LONGER.

THAT IS WHEN THE REAL INITIATION IS MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SOUTHERN WINDOW FOR THOSE.

DEB: THEY ARE IN LIKE 14 DAYS, ONE OF THE QUICKEST THINGS.

ASHLEE: PERFECT, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

WE'LL BE BACK FOR MORE QUESTIONS SHORTLY.

THIS PAST YEAR, "GREAT GARDENING" STARTED A YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO TELL MORE STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT GARDENING IN OUR REGION.

IN A YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE, DEB SHOWED US HOW TO CONTROL TINY PESTS LIKE SPIDER MITES AND APHIDS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK!

>> WHEN I SEE DISTORTION IN A LEAF, I AUTOMATICALLY FLIP IT UPSIDE DOWN AND LOOK FOR PESTS.

YOU LOOK AT THIS, IT IS MODELED.

IF YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH IT, YOU WILL SEE LITTLE TINY WEBS, TINY SPIDERS.

THOSE TINY SPOTS ARE SPIDER MITES.

SO YOU CAN DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU CAN EITHER KNOCK THEM OFF WITH A STRONG STREAM OF WATER, OR HIT THEM WITH NEEM OIL.

IT WILL DO THE SAME THING TO THE SPIDER MITES THAT IT WILL DO TO THE APHIDS.

IT IS EXTREMELY SOFT ON THE PLANTS.

I LIKE TO HAVE ON THE END OF A HOSE, A SPRAYER.

THEN YOU CAN SPRAY EVERYTHING DOWN.

THE BEST TIME TO APPLY NEEM OIL IS AN OVERCAST DAY, A COOLER DAY WHERE THE OIL WILL STAY ON THE PLANT A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THE APHIDS TO KILL THEM WITH THE NEEM OIL.

ASHLEE: WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US MORE OVER HERE?

DEB: I BROUGHT A DEMONSTRATION TO DO FOR BRINGING IN PLANTS INTO THE HOUSE FOR THE WINTER.

REALLY ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU WANT TO SAVE, BECAUSE IT IS A VALUABLE SPACE.

IT IS THINGS THAT WERE EITHER COSTLY TO YOU, OR YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH.

HOUSEPLANTS ARE HUGE TREND.

YOUR HOUSE MIGHT BE GETTING CROWDED.

SO BE SELECTIVE.

WALK AROUND, PICK OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO PRESERVE.

THIS IS A LEMON CYPRESS.

REALLY FRAGRANT, DOES WELL IN THE HOUSE.

ABOUT 60 DEGREES.

IT IS NICE FOR CHRISTMAS.

ONCE YOU HAVE SELECTED WHAT YOU WILL DO, WHAT PLANTS YOU WANT TO PRESERVE, YOU CAN DO THIS OUTSIDE.

IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO DO THIS.

BRIGHT LIGHT, YOU CAN MAKE A MESS.

I WILL NOT MAKE SUCH A MESS.

BUT DO THE WORK OUTSIDE.

GET YOUR TOOLS TOGETHER.

I HAVE AN OREO EYED WE WERE SPEAKING OF, WHICH IS A GREAT TOOL.

IT CAN DO A QUICK JOB OF DIGGING THINGS OUT OF THE GROUND.

IF YOU WANT TO BRING STUFF IN THE GARDEN AND YOU WANT TO TRY TO SAVE IT FOR THE WINTER.

THEN THE PRUNER.

IT WORKS GREAT ON A LOT OF THINGS.

ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE AND START TO TIDY IT UP.

CLEAN IT UP.

THIS WAS LEANING, SO WE ADDED A POLE SO IT CAN STAY STRAIGHT.

THE TRIM IS FINE SO IT CAN KEEP IT BUSHY.

TIDY UP THE PLANTS.

LOOK FOR INSECTS, LIKE THE SUCCULENT.

THEY COULD BE HIDING UNDERNEATH, THERE COULD BE MERELY BUGS, APHIDS, SCALE IS HORRIBLE.

SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SCALE.

IT IS A LITTLE PAST ON THE BRANCHES.

IT IS A HORRIBLE THING TO BRING INTO YOUR HOUSE.

IF YOU BRING IT IN AND INTRODUCE IT TO OTHER PLANTS, YOU HAVE LOST WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO GAIN BY BRINGING THEM IN.

IF YOU ARE BRINGING IN THIS AND THERE ARE LITTLE WEEDS, TAKE THEM OFF.

THEY WILL JUST TAKE MORE NUTRITION FROM THE PLANT.

THEN YOU CAN CLEAN UP THAT ON THE BASE.

MAYBE YOU CAN MULCH IT TO DRESS IT UP FOR BRINGING IT IN.

THEN WE WANT TO CONSIDER THE SOIL WE ARE GOING TO USE TO READ POD.

YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT IS LIGHT AND PEARL LIGHT.

I USUALLY GO WITH MORE OF A REAL SOIL AND PEARL LIGHT, TO KEEP IT LIGHT.

THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF HOUSEPLANTS DYING.

BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO GO DORMANT.

YOU CONSIDER WHERE THE PLANTS COME FROM.

MEDITERRANEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT BRINGING SO THIS LAVENDER, YOU CAN DIG IT OUT, PUT IT INTO A NICE BIGGER POT, BUT WHAT -- BUT WHEN YOU PUT THINGS IN A BIGGER POT, IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVER WATER IT EASILY.

THIS IS FOR AN ARID LOCATION.

YOU CAN ALSO PUT THINGS ON ROCKS SO USE WINKING STRINGS, -- WICKING STRINGS AND THAT WILL RAISE COMMUNITY -- HUMIDITY FOR THINGS LIKE BEGONIA.

GIVE IT ANOTHER -- GIVE IT BRIGHT LIGHT.

THEY WANT THE ELUSIVE BRIGHT, NOT DIRECT, WARM SUNSHINE.

THAT IS A GOOD THING TO BRING IN.

THERE ARE SO MANY BEGONIAS NOW AND THEY MAKE WONDERFUL HOUSEPLANTS.

SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.

ONCE YOU SELECT YOUR POT AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR SOIL AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE PICK DIFFERENT CONTAINERS BASED ON YOUR INTERIOR, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO UPGRADE TO A NICER CONTAINER BUT YOU HAVE TO CHECK FOR DRAINAGE HOLES.

THEY ARE MAKING ALL OF THESE CONTAINERS WITHOUT HOLES IN THEM.

I AM SHOCKED.

SO IF YOU FIND ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A WHOLE, YOU COULD DRILL A -- A HOLE, YOU COULD DRILL ONE OR PUT A POT WITHIN A POT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH THESE CAREFULLY THAT THEY DO NOT GET OVER WATERED.

SOMETIMES THEY WILL DROOP AND WILL AND THAT IS FROM TOO MUCH WATER -- DROOP AND WILT, AND THAT IS FROM TOO MUCH WATER.

ONCE YOU ARE DONE PLANTING THESE AND YOU HAVE THEM IN THE POT, GOOD DRAINAGE, THE RIGHT SOIL, YOU WANT TO WATER IT REALLY WELL.

THAT IS A GOOD INDICATOR, IF YOUR POT HAS GOOD DRAINAGE, YOU WATER IT WELL AND IF IT COMES THROUGH THE BOTTOM RELATIVELY QUICKLY, IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOUR SOIL WILL DRAIN QUICKLY.

YOU CAN PUT SOME ROCKS ON TOP AND ADD MOISTURE TO THESE.

THOROUGHLY WATER IT AND THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO QUARANTINE THE PLANT, BRING THEM IN AND PUT THEM IN A SEPARATE ROOM.

KEEP IT SEPARATE FROM YOUR OTHER PLANTS AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PLANT, IF THERE IS ANY TEST YOU ARE MINDFUL AND -- IF THERE IS ANY PEST, YOU ARE MINDFUL AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR OTHER PLANTS.

KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU BRING THEM IN.

THEY WILL NOT GROW A LOT.

THE INTENTION IS TO NOT LET THEM DIE.

IF THEY ARE NOT DEAD, THEY ARE ALIVE.

DO NOT OVER WATER.

ESPECIALLY LAVENDER.

PEOPLE GET TO DECEMBER AND THEY ARE DOING GREAT AND JANUARY COMES AND THEY OVER WATER AND THAT CAN BE THE DEATH OF IT.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU.

I AM EXCITED TO GO PURCHASE SOME OF MY OWN.

THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL PLANTS.

BOB: YOU CAN PUT THEM IN A HEATED GARAGE OR BRING THEM IN.

TO TREAT THEM FOR PESTS, GET THEM UNDER CONTROL FIRST.

EXCELLENT.

ASHLEE: I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO SHARE A LOCAL EVENT WITH US.

BOB: THE MASTER GARDENERS HAVE A GREAT EVENT COMING UP.

IT IS OCTOBER 9 FROM 10:00 TO 1:00.

THANK YOU FOR THE GRAPHIC.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT PAST AND SAVING SEEDS.

ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS PLUS YOU WILL HAVE MASTER GARDENERS WHO CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE WILL HAVE LOTS OF BULBS FOR SALE AND THEY CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO THAT IS OCTOBER 9 AT 10:00.

ASHLEE: I APPRECIATE THAT.

LET'S GET BACK TO MORE QUESTIONS!

HOW DO WE PROTECT THE APPLES?

DO WE USE NETTING?

BOB: NETTING WOULD BE AN ANSWER BUT THIS IS USUALLY IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TREE.

IF IT IS THE UPPER PORTION, I WOULD LIVE WITH IT BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

YOU CAN HARVEST A LITTLE EARLY BECAUSE THEY WAIT UNTIL THE APPLES ARE PERFECT TO PACK HOLES.

I DON'T -- PECK HOLES.

BLUE JAYS ARE TOUGH.

ASHLEE: JENNY SAYS, MY ASPARAGUS HAS DEVELOPED A BIG FERN.

HOW DO I PROTECT IT FOR THE WINTER?

BOB: YOU DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE THE FERN.

KEEP IT GROWING.

THIS IS THE VEGETATIVE PORTION OF THE PLANT THAT IS STORING COVER HYDRATION FOR NEXT -- STORING CARBOHYDRATES FOR THE NEXT SPRING.

ASHLEE: JERRY SAYS, I HAVE FOUR HYDRANGEAS AND NONE OF THEM BLOOMED THIS YEAR.

I WAS TOLD I MIGHT HAVE WATERED TOO MUCH.

HOW AND WHEN SHOULD THEY BE PRUNED?

BOB: LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

GOOD VARIETIES.

NEW VARIETIES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I LOVE THE TWIST AND SHOUT.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DO NOT GET ANY BLOOM IT'S BECAUSE VEGETATIVE GROWTH HAS BEEN SO EXCESSIVE AND IF THERE IS A LOT OF WATER WITH THE SUN, IF YOU CUT BACK THE BLOOMING AND FERTILIZER, IT TRIGGERS THE BLOOMING PROCESS.

SO THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

ASSUMING THEY HAVE FULL SUN AND GOOD GROWING CONDITIONS, IT COULD BE ALL THE VEGETATION BECAUSE OF WARM CONDITIONS AND MOISTURE.

DEB: I AM SURPRISED IT COULD HAVE BEEN OVER WATER THIS YEAR.

I STRUGGLE WITH THAT A BIT.

I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE HARDER , EVERYONE SETS THEIR BLOOM AT A DIFFERENT TIME.

SO WHEN THEY SET THEIR BLOOM, DID THEY HAVE AMPLE WATER?

SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS AND THEY BLOOM AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

SO THAT IS A TOUGH ONE.

BUT I AM STRUGGLING WITH IT BEING TOO MUCH WATER.

BOB: A LOT OF VEGETATIVE GROWTH FOR SOME REASON.

IN TERMS OF PRUNING, THEY PRUNE IN OLD WOOD AND NEW WOOD.

OLD SET THE BLOSSOMS NEXT YEAR AND THEY DIE BACK.

IF THERE ARE NEW BUDS, DO NOT TAKE THEM OFF BECAUSE THAT IS FOR NEXT YEAR.

OTHERS ARE IN SPRING FOR LATER BLOOMS.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL PLANT.

IF YOU HAVE PLUMP BLOOMS, DO NOT TAKE THEM OFF.

THERE IS NO SET ANSWER.

YOU PRIM THEM DEPENDING ON THE PLANT.

DEB: AND IT IS HARD WHEN THEY ARE NOT BLOOMING.

WHEN THEY ARE BLOOMING, YOU WAIT FOR THEM TO FADE AND THEN YOU CAN SHAPE THEM.

BUT IF THEY ARE NOT BLOOMING, IT MAKES THEM MORE DIFFICULT.

BOB: YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE BUGS.

-- BUDS.

ASHLEE: WE'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, AND A TOUR OF A DULTUH APPLE ORCHARD, COMING SHORTLY.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR "GREAT GARDENING, FARM TO TABLE."

IN THIS EDITION, PAT MCCOY, A DIETICIAN AND NUTRITIONIST FOR COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CLOQUET, SHOWS US HOW TO MAKE A POTATO TOMATO LEEK GRITON USING LOCALLY GROWN INGREDIENTS.

PAT: WE ARE AT THE OLD BRICK HOUSE IN CARLTON, MINNESOTA.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES AT A HOSPITAL.

TWO YEARS AGO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TRY A SHARE IN THE LOCAL CSA FOOD FARM SO ONCE A WEEK IT IS LIKE CHRISTMAS.

IT IS AMAZING UP HERE THE NUMBER OF SMALL FARMS AND DIVERSITY OF PRODUCTS.

SO THE FIRST VEGETABLE WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH IS THE LEEK.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO SPLIT IT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

I LEAVE THE END ON BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEPARATE IT YET.

WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE SINK AND RINSE.

THEN YOU JUST START SLICING.

SO HERE ARE OUR LEEKS.

THE NEXT FIND WAS BEAUTIFUL RED POTATOES.

I CUT THEM IN HALF AND THE RECIPE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CALLS FOR THIN SLICED POTATOES.

THE SHELF LIFE LASTS SO MUCH LONGER BECAUSE THEY ARE LITERALLY HARVESTED AND DELIVERED DAY OF.

WE HAVE REGULAR SLICING AND ALSO WE HAVE ITALIAN PLUM TOMATOES.

A SLIGHT RINSE.

WITH THE PLUM TOMATOES, WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS CUT THEM, TOSS THEM IN A LITTLE BIT OF OIL, SALT, AND PEPPER, AND THEN I POP THEM IN THE OVEN AND I ROAST THEM AND I KEEP THEM ON HAND.

THE OTHER LITTLE THING WE GOT THIS WEEK IS FRESH GARLIC, THE REALLY HARD INNER CORE.

CUT OFF THE TOP.

I AM GOING TO DRIZZLE THIS WITH OIL AND ROAST THE GARLIC ALONG WITH THE TOMATOES.

A LITTLE BIT OF SALT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO POP THIS IN THE OVEN.

LOW HEAT, ROAST, IT COOKS OFF OF THE LIQUID, AND WHAT YOU HAVE IS A BEAUTIFUL MIXTURE OF GARLIC, TOMATOES, AND THE FLAVOR IS POWERFUL.

WE HAVE DONE SOME PARTIAL PREPARATION OF THE POTATOES, TOMATOES, AND LEAKS -- LEEKS.

I HAVE A SAUCE PAN AND I AM HEATING UP BUTTER AND CANOLA OIL.

IT IS SUSTAINABLE AND WE ARE GOING TO SAUTE THE LEEKS UNTIL THEY ARE TENDER.

WE WILL COOK FOR US AND IT WILL TAKE THREE TO FIVE MINUTES.

IT SMELLED SO GOOD.

WE ARE GOING TO PUT THEM TO THE SIDE.

I HAVE SLICED POTATOES.

I AM GOING TO ADD CANOLA OIL AND FRESH CRACKED BLACK PEPPER AND SALT.

I HAVE AN OF IMPROVED SKILLET AND I AM GOING -- I HAVE AN OVEN -PROOF SKILLET AND I AM GOING TO BRUSH IT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OIL.

I PUT THE TOMATOES AND POTATOES AND GARLIC AND LEEKS IN LIARS.

SO A LAYER OF POTATOES ON THE BOTTOM, AND THEN THE LEEKS, THEN THE TOMATOES AND GARLIC IN LIARS.

-- LAYERS.

WE ARE PUTTING THIS IN A 400° OVEN AND BAKE IT FOR 30 TO 40 MINUTES.

OUR CASSEROLE IS DONE.

I AM MAKING IT VEGAN FRIENDLY.

I AM PUTTING CHEESE ON TOP AND I AM GOING TO STICK IT BACK IN THE OVEN TO MELT THE CHEESE AND THAT WILL TAKE TWO TO THREE MINUTES.

THE CHEESE HAS MELTED AND THAT IS HOT.

IT SMELLS SO WONDERFUL, THE TOMATOES, LEEKS, A LITTLE BIT OF CHEESE FOR CREAMINESS AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TOP IT OFF WITH SOME LIME VINAIGRETTE GREENS AND A LITTLE BIT OF BASIL.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD.

I LOVE THESE TOMATOES.

IT REALLY INTENSIFIES THE FLAVOR BY ROASTING THEM.

EVERYTHING BLENDS SO WELL TOGETHER.

THIS IS A REAL COMFORT DISH.

POTATO TOMATO LEEK GRITON.

A WONDERFUL WAY TO USE UP THE SUMMER VEGETABLES.

A WONDERFUL MEAL.

BOB: THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS AND WAS A NICE VIDEO, THANK YOU.

ASHLEE: PAULO WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT KIND OF TOMATO IS THIS?

IT IS 7 INCHES THICK AND 4.5 INCHES LONG.

DEB: THAT IS A BIG OLD PACE TOMATO.

BOB: WE TALKED ABOUT HEIRLOOMS AND THEY CAME FROM THE AMISH COMMUNITY IN WISCONSIN.

THEY ARE INTRODUCING MORE THAT ARE LARGER.

TYRON IS VERY LARGE.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A PACE BUT EXACTLY WHAT VARIETY IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE.

DEB: IF SHE DID NOT HAVE SEEDS, IT COULD BE AN HEIRLOOM.

BOB: DEFINITELY A PASTE OR PLUM TOMATO.

ASHLEE: FRANK WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT CAUSES CARROTS TO GET MULTIPLE ENDS?

BOB: IT CAN BE SEVERAL THINGS BUT I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS DAMAGE.

IT IS EXTENSIVE AND ACROSS MANY PLANTS.

IT COULD BE ROCKY SOIL, BUT THIS IS ROOT DAMAGE.

BUT HOW TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL?

FOR ROOT CROPS, YOU WANT TO GET THE CARROTS OUT AND USE SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT HAVE A ROOT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT CAN BE A TOUGH COMMERCIAL PROBLEM.

I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ROTATED OUT OF THE ROOT CROPS.

YOU COULD STILL ARISE TO DRIVE DOWN THE -- YOU COULD SOLARIZE TO DRIVE DOWN THE HOT TEMPERATURES.

ASHLEE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS YEAR ACROSS DULUTH PARKS, YOU MAY HAVE SPOTTED APPLE TREES BURSTING WITH FRUIT.

IN THIS NEXT VIDEO, DON KEEN-HOLZ OF THE CITY OF DULUTH TELLS US ABOUT THE CITY'S EDIBLE DULUTH PROGRAM, WHICH AIMS TO BRING ORCHARDS TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

>> WE ARE AT BIRCHWOOD PARK AT PUBLIC ORCHARD AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE APPLES WITH THE DULUTH PROGRAM.

I HAVE BEEN A PARK MAINTENANCE WORKER FOR THE CITY FOR 20 YEARS AND 12 YEARS AGO THE DEPARTMENT HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT UTILIZING SPACE.

WE LOOKED INTO OPPORTUNITIES AND IDEAS OF PLANTING FRUIT TREES.

WE PLANTED APPLE AND CHERRY TREES AND WE PRESENTLY HAVE 14 ORCHARDS FROM EAST TO.

IN THIS LOCATION -- FROM EAST TO WEST.

IN THIS LOCATION WE HAVE HONEY CRISP AND A LOT OF VARIETIES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THE VARIETIES BECAUSE WE NEED TREES TO CROSS POLLINATE EACH OTHER.

WE WANTED DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRUIT IN EACH ORCHARD.

THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT WAS TO CREATE FOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE WEALTHY, SWEET 16, AND HONEY CRISP IN THIS ORCHARD.

ALL TREES ARE TAGGED WITH THE VARIETY OF APPLE.

THIS IS A WEALTHY.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FRUIT ON THIS TREE.

WE HAVE SIGNS IN THE ORCHARDS THAT TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM THROUGH DULUTH PARKS AND.

IF YOU OPEN YOUR CAMERA -- PARKS AND DIRECT.

IF YOU OPEN YOUR CAMERA AND GO TO THE APP, IT CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE VARIETY OF THE FRUIT AND RIPENING.

THIS IS A FRUIT PICKER AND WE WILL USE IT TO PICK APPLES TODAY.

A BASKET IS ON THE END WITH HOOKS AND IT HAS A TELESCOPING SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLIMB UP OR SHAKE THE TREE.

LET'S SAY YOU PICKED ALL OF THE APPLES DOWN LOW AND YOU SEE ONE UP HERE, YOU CAN GET THE APPLE AND FOLLOW IT DOWN.

WE WANT TO MINIMIZE SHAKING THE TREE.

WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE CLIMBING THE TREES OR SHAKING THE BRANCHES.

THESE WEALTHY ARE READY TO PICK.

IF THERE IS AN APPLE CLOSE TO THE GROUND, JUST TO GIVE IT A TWIST SO IT JUST TWISTS OFF AND THE STEM REMAINS INTACT.

ASHLEE: I LOVE APPLE PICKING SEASON.

BOB: IT IS ORIGINALLY THAT THEY HAVE WEALTHY, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL VARIETY BROUGHT IN FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.

IT'S GREAT THAT THEY STILL HAVE SOME.

ASHLEE: DAVE AND JULIE WANT TO KNOW, THE BOTTOM AREA ON THE SIDE OF THE RED MAPLE TREE TRUNK SPLIT.

WHAT CAUSED THIS?

WILL IT BE OK?

BOB: IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED A WHILE AGO WHEN THE BARK WAS TENDER.

MAPLE TEND TO GROW IN FORESTED AREAS AND WHEN WE TAKE THEM AWAY THEY ARE EXPOSED AND THEY COULD CROP.

-- THEY COULD CRACK.

YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO MOISTURE.

ASHLEE: HOW DO I GET RID OF FUNGUS GNATS?

DEB: WHERE ARE THEY?

IT IS EASY TO GET BY OVERWATERING.

THE KEY IS TO GET THINGS DRY.

THEY ARE IN A LOT OF PLANTS AND SOIL THAT YOU BRING IN FROM COMMERCIAL PEOPLE.

IT GETS WET, THEY LAY THEIR EGGS, THEY HATCH, THEY FLY.

BUT IF YOU CAN GET YOUR SOIL DRY, YOU CAN GET RID OF A LOT OF THEM.

I CANNOT IMAGINE IT IS A PROBLEM OUTSIDE, BUT I CAN IMAGINE IT IS A PROBLEM INSIDE, HAVING THE PAST IN THEIR HOUSE.

MAYBE MOVE THEM TO AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN DRY OUT WITH LESS STRESS.

YOU COULD APPLY NEEM OIL OR PUT A STICKY CARD OUT TO CATCH THE ADULTS.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO RATHER THAN USE PESTICIDE.

BOB: THE BAD THING IS THEY ARE DOWN IN THE SOIL SO IT IS HARD TO GET THEM WITH NEEM OIL.

BUT YOU HAVE -- BUT TRIED TO GET THEM CLEANED UP BEFORE THEY COME IN BECAUSE THEY CAN BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE HOUSE.

ASHLEE: THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS FALL HARVEST SPECIAL.

ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU WANT MORE "GREAT GARDENING," YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @GREATGARDENINGWDSE, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF THIS SHOW, IT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TOMORROW, AND REBROADCAST HERE ON WDSE AT 3:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY.

THANKS, BOB AND DEB.

THIS WAS FANTASTIC.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN TALKING WITH YOU.

BOB: THANK YOU.

ASHLEE: DO YOU HAVE ADVICE FOR A NEW GARDENER?

DEB: TRY OLDER VARIETIES TO GET YOUR FEET WET.

TRY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER THAT WILL BE EASY FOR YOU.

ONCE YOU HAVE HAD SUCCESS, YOU WILL WANT TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH THE NEWER VARIETIES.

ASHLEE: I WILL HAVE TO GET MYSELF STARTED, THANK YOU.

WE'LL RETURN IN 2022 WITH A NEW HOST, NEW STORIES, AND THE SAME INCREDIBLE INFORMATION TO HELP THE GROWERS IN OUR REGION.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT "GREAT GARDENING," THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND ENJOY THE GARDEN.

♪ >> PRODUCTION FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA THROUGH THE CULTURAL AND HERITAGE FUND.

♪