FOOD FROM THE GARDEN, I JUST CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.

>> THIS PARTICULAR PLANT WILL ACTUALLY SHOOT UP ADDITIONAL LEAF TISSUE.

THE PROGRAM WAS TO CREATE FOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.

THEY ARE PUBLIC ORCHARDS.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT REALLY IS WORTH IT.

WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE BLOOMS AND IT'S GORGEOUS.

DENNIS: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO GREAT GARDENING.

I'M DENNIS LAMKIN, YOUR HOST FOR THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE OUR GARDEN EXPERTS WITH US TONIGHT.

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

AS ALWAYS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS ON ALL THINGS GARDENING.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PROGRAM ARE HERE TO ANSWER THE PHONES.

CALL LOCALLY OR TOLL FREE 218-788-2844 OR 877-307-8762 OR E-MAIL US AT ASK@WDSE.ORG.

LET'S TALK CURRENT CONDITIONS.

WHY DOTODAY.

DEB: NATIONAL GARDENING DAY TODAY.

BOB: THEY'RE GONNA BE HELD BACK A BIT.

THAT IS A SIGN.

THIS WAS JUST SHOT THIS AFTERNOON I BELIEVE.

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET SOME SLOW MELT AND SOME MOISTURE ACCUMULATION.

VERY CLINIC -- CRITICAL THIS EUROPEAN -- THIS YEAR.

DENNIS: THE THEME FOR TONIGHT'S EPISODE IS HOUSEPLANTS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION COMING UP, BUT FIRST WE VISITED BYRNS GREENHOUSE WHERE DEB TAUGHT US A SIMPLE WAY TO PROPOGATE DRACAENA.

DEB: THIS IS ZWARTKOP.

IT IS A SUCCULENT.

IT HAS A REALLY NICE AESTHETIC VALUE, AND THEY'RE NOT DIFFICULT TO PROPAGATE.

ON THESE ONES, WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST, WE'LL CUT THE TIP OFF.

AND THEN WE JUST PUT IT IN DIRT JUST LIKE THAT, AND THEN THEY'LL GROW JUST LIKE THAT.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU TAKE THAT BUD AND THEN THE LOWER BUDS ALL START TO BREAK.

SAME WITH RIGHT HERE.

IT'S AMAZING, THESE LITTLE THINGS.

THIS IS PROBABLY FIVE YEARS OLD.

SO IN FIVE YEARS YOU COULD HAVE THIS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT DILIGENT ABOUT TAKING THOSE CUTTINGS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T TAKE THOSE CUTTINGS.

THEY'LL LET THE LEAVES TO BREAK OR THE NODES TO BREAK ON THE SIDES.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE AND IT'S NOT DIFFICULT.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU'RE STARTING WITH PLANTS, START WITH SOME SUCCULENTS, THEY ARE NO FAIL.

YOU JUST KEEP THEM REALLY NICE AND LIGHT AND DRY SOIL AND EMULATE WHERE THEY COME FROM, WHICH IS IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

WATER THEM HEAVY ON OCCASION EVERY 1 TO 2 WEEKS, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.

THEY CAN GO OUTSIDE IN THE FULL SUN.

THESE WERE GROWN IN THE FULL SUN HERE, AND THEY'RE REALLY EASY TO TAKE CARE OF.

AND I THINK THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, TOO.

BUT A LOT OF OTHER SUCCULENTS, YOU JUST TAKE THE CUTTING OUT THE EDGE LIKE THAT.

THAT'S ALL YOU DO AND YOU STICK IT LIKE THAT AND THAT WILL ROOT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCULENTS.

THEY ARE EXTREMELY EASY TO GROW.

THIS ONE ALSO, JUST OFF OF THIS SIDES.

YOU CAN JUST BREAK THESE OFF.

IF YOU GET ROOTS WITH IT, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IF YOU JUST SET IT THERE, IT'S GOING TO ROOT.

JUST DON'T OVERWATER IT AND GIVE IT A LOT OF GOOD LIGHT.

DENNIS: DEB, YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH US THE TOP 5 HOUSEPLANTS MYTHS, RIGHT?

DEB: SPLINTER VERY POPULAR RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE SOME MYTHS YOU WILL SEE.

NUMBER ONE IS WATER YOUR PLANTS WEEKLY AND ONTO BEEN A HOW BIG D HELP WHAT TYPE OF HOUSE AND IT IS.

THE LIGHT SITUATION.

IF YOUR HEAT IS ON THEM OR IF THERE IS A COOL AREA THAT THEY SIT IN.

THEY WON'T NEED IT WEEKLY.

YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK THEM.

DURING THE SUMMER, YOU WILL.

ONCE THEY ARE ACTIVELY GROWING THEY ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF WATER.

NUMBER TWO, PUT ROCKS AT THE BOTTOM OF A POT TO HELP WITH DRAINAGE.

THERE ARE NEW CONTAINERS, A LOT OF REALLY PRETTY CONTAINERS THAT DO NOT HAVE DRAINAGE.

I WOULD NOT SLANT-IN THEM AND EXPECT IT TO BE ABLE TO STAY DRY AT THE BOTTOM TO JUST PUTTING SOME ROCKS I WOULD EITHER PUT A HOLE IN IT OR PUT A CONTAINER INSIDE OF THAT CONTAINER.

TERRA-COTTA IS MY FAVORITE.

YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT AND CHECK IT OUT AND JACKET AND SEE THAT IS WET.

STICK YOUR FINGER IN IT.

IT IS MUCH EASIER TO GROW IT MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL.

NUMBER THREE, BROWN LEAF TIPS MEANS YOUR PLANT IS OVERWATER.

MY OPINION AGAIN, NOT TRUE.

IT IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING FACT TO ME THAT IF THE TIP IS BROWN AND IT IS SYMMETRICALLY BROWN, THERE IS NO IRREGULAR SHAPE TO IT, THAT IS GENERALLY TO DRY.

THERE CAN BE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE BROWN TIP, TOO.

BOB: WITH ARMING USEFUL WATERS AND OTHERS BOTH CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE IN PARTICULAR.

SOME OF THESE DINNER LEAF PLANTS -- THINNER LEAF PLANTS CAN ACTUALLY BROWN UP BECAUSE OF THAT FLUORIDE BEING CARRIED TO THE TIP IT JUST LET YOUR COUNTER SIT ON THE COUNTER FOR 24 HOURS.

DEB: THAT THEN LEAVE.

IF IT IS A THICKER LEAF YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM.

NUMBER FOUR, PUT YOUR PLANT -- BRAND-NEW PLANTS INTO A NEW BASH BRAND-NEW POT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GROW.

NOT TRUE.

A LOT OF TIMES, SOME PLANTS LIKE A TIGHTER POT.

THEY DO BETTER IN A TIGHTER POT.

YOU CAN TELL IF THE ROOTS ARE TIGHT A FEELING IF IT IS A PLASTIC CONTAINER.

IF THE CONTAINER FEELS HARD AND RIGID BECAUSE THE ROOTS ARE HARD AND RIGID, YOU WANT TO BUMP IT UP SLIGHTLY.

IF IT IS SOFT AND THE SOIL IS NOT VERY TAUT WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FINGER IN IT, THE ROOTS ARE NOT THAT ROOT BOUND.

HONESTLY, HOUSEPLANTS DO BETTER WITH THE SMALLER CONTAINER.

LESS CHANCE OF OVERWATERING.

NUMBER FIVE.

MISSED YOUR PLANTS TO INCREASE EMITTED LEVELS.

NOT TRUE.

UNLESS YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL GROWER AND YOU HAVE A ONE HOUR, EVERY HOUR YOU HAVE A ONE SECOND MISSED GO OUT.

THAT IS NO ONE BUT A GROCERY STORE OR PROFESSIONAL GROWER.

A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU HAVE A CONTAINER AND YOU PUT IN A SAUCER AND YOU PUT ROCKS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SAUCER AND THEN YOU FILL IT WITH WATER.

THE ROOTS CAN GET TO THE WATER IF THEY NEED IT BUT IT ALSO DOES HELP EVAPORATE AND IT IS MUCH MORE FOR HUMIDITY THAT WAY.

DENNIS: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOISTURE METER?

DEB: YOUR FINGER.

AND DON'T PUT IT IN THE SAME SPOT EVERY TIME.

CHECK A DIFFERENT ONE BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT CAN GET DOWN DEEPER AND DEEPER.

DENNIS: AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO A FEW QUESTIONS.

LAST WEEK'S EPISODE WAS ON TOMATOES SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RELATING TO TOMATOES.

WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR BLOSSOM AND ROT?

BOB: A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND WE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR.

NOT ONLY DO YOU GET ROT ON TOMATOES, ZUCCHINI, AND OTHER SUMMER SQUASH AT OUR PEPPER PLANTS AS WELL, THAT IS REALLY A CALCIUM DEFICIENCY.

YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CALCIUM IN THE SOIL.

THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A POTTING SOIL EXCHANGE.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOME GYPSUM WITH HIS CATS -- CALCIUM SULFATE.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO FERTILIZE WITH CALCIUM NITRATE.

IN A GARDEN SITUATION YOU HAVE PLENTY OF CALCIUM IN THE SOIL AND IT IS CALL-UP -- TRANSFERRED.

WHAT WE LEARNED LAST YEAR WAS YOU HAVE TO WATER ON A VERY CONSISTENT BASIS.

OTHERWISE, THE CALCIUM FLOW TO THE END OF THE FOOD ITSELF STOPS.

CONSISTENT WATER AND PLENTY OF CALCIUM.

DENNIS: WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS A MEDIUM-SIZED TOMATO PLANT.

BOB: OH, A MEDIUM-SIZED.

DEB: AMI T IS ROMA.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZED AROMA.

THEY GREAT NEW GENETICS FOR HARTLINE -- HEARTLAND.

FOURTH OF JULY.

THEY ARE SMALLER AND YOU WILL GET LOTS OF TOMATOES BUT THEY ARE MEATIER, TOO.

BOB: DAN MARZANO WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE.

BUT IF SHE WANTS JUST ANOTHER CONSISTENT MEDIUM-SIZED, I THINK WE GO BACK TO OUR CELEBRITY AND OUR CHAMPION.

ONE WE LIKE NOW IS MONT MERRITT.

SURPRISINGLY THAT IS PERFORMING EXTREMELY WELL.

CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

DENNIS: SPEAKING ABOUT TEMPERATURE, FROM DENNIS.

WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE THAT YOU SHOOT FOR IN THE SOIL BEFORE YOU START PLANTING YOUR TOMATOES?

BOB: TOMATOES COME FROM TRANSPLANTS.

USUALLY WE WANT WARMER TEMPERATURES FOR DIRECT SEATING.

IT IS CRITICAL.

YOU WANT TO GO LITTLE LATER I THINK BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T FREEZE THE TOMATO OFF, YOU SET IT BACK AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO RESTART.

HE WANTS TO DELAY UNTIL TEMPERATURES NIGHT AND DAY WILL BE CERTAINLY ABOVE 55.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT JUNE 10 TO JUNE 12, 15TH, FOR TRANSPLANTING THEM OUT.

DENNIS: IT'S A SIX FOOT LONG, SIX FOOT HIGH CHAIN LINK FENCE.

WHAT KIND OF SHRUBS CAN SHE PLANT FOR PRIVACY?

SHE WANTS SHALLOW ROOTS.

DEB: IF SHE WANTS SOMETHING FAST-GROWING, SHE DID DO SOME SPRING, SUMMER, FALL COLOR.

SO DOESN'T LOOK LIKES GREEN FENCE ALL OF THE TIME.

FORCINTHIA, HONEYSUCKLE VINE.

SHE COULD GET SOME GOOD HEIGHT ON THEM QUICKLY.

SHALLOW ROOTS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

IF YOU WANT SIX FEET OF HEIGHT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME DEPTH.

BOB: MAYBE A VINE LIKE VIRGINIA CREEPER TO COVER THAT FENCE.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE SLOWER.

DOESN'T REQUIRE ALL OF THAT ROOT STRUCTURE.

DEB: COULD PUT IN SOME ANNUALS WITH IT LIKE MORNING GLORIES.

DENNIS: MARTHA FROM DULUTH SAYS WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP BIRDS FROM EATING GRAPES?

BOB: NETTING IS ABOUT THE ONLY WAY.

THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS BUT WE WON'T GO THERE.

NETTING IS ABOUT THE ONLY WAY.

YOU CAN GET POLY NETS THAT ARE ABOUT A QUARTER INCH SQUARE.

DENNIS: JOHN FROM VIRGINIA BROUGHT IN PLANTS NEXT FALL AND NOW HE HAS DIRT FLIES.

HOW DOES HE GET RID OF THEM?

DEB: FUNGUS NETS.

--FUNGUS GNATS.

IT IS A WATER ISSUE MOSTLY.

IF YOU LET THINGS DRY OUT.

DON'T PUT THEM IN THE FULL SUN AND THEN YOUR PLANTS DRY OUT.

IF YOU HAVE THEM IN A LOWLIGHT SITUATION AND YOU LET THAT SOIL GET RELATIVELY DRY SO THAT THEY CANNOT LAY THE EGGS AND IN THE NEXT GENERATION COMES ALONG, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PESTICIDES THAT YOU CAN USE.

OR YOU CAN USE NEEM OIL OR HORTICULTURE OIL.

DRENCHING WITH SOME OF THESE BIOLOGICALS WON'T WORK IN THE SOIL NECESSARILY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO A MORE CONVENTIONAL.

MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE WARM UP AND THEN A SMALL APPLICATION OF AN OVER-THE-COUNTER MATERIAL.

DEB: OR A STICKY COAT.

DENNIS: BOB, YOU WANTED THIS TALK ABOUT THE 10 MOST POPULAR HOUSEPLANTS.

BOB: I REALLY WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO CAROL CHRISTIANSEN.

SHE'S ONE OF OUR MASTER GARDENERS.

SHE GOT A GREAT PROJECT WITH OTHER MASTER GARDENERS WHERE THEY ARE PROPAGATING HOUSEPLANTS AND TAKING THEM OUT INTO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND BRINGING JOYS IN THAT SETTING.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOOD WORK THEY'RE DOING THERE.

IT WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE AND ARE SO MANY HUNDREDS OF HOUSE PLANTS OUT THERE.

EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THEIR FAVORITES.

THE ARROWHEAD PLANT WILL WORK NICELY.

THE CRITERIA IS SOMETHING THAT IS LOW MAINTENANCE WILL THRIVE IN LOW LIGHT AND DOESN'T REQUIRE A LOT OF CARE.

CAN WATER IT QUITE EASILY.

THE ARROWHEAD PLANT, THE BEGONIA GROUP THE CHINESE EVERGREEN THERE THE BOTTOM C.. GREAT BREEDING AND VARIATION.

THE FERNS THERE.

SOME GREAT FERNS OUT THERE.

THESE WE MIGHT HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH.

THE FLUORIDE IN THE WATER SYSTEM.

LET THAT SIT FOR A WHILE IF YOU ARE GETTING BURNT ALONG THE TIP MARGINS.

THE PEPPEROMIA GROUP.

NOT BENEFITED UNDER PIZZA.

ANOTHER GROUP DOWN THERE.

VERY EASY TO GROW, VERY EASY TO PROPAGATE.

THEY TEND TO LAST FOREVER IN LOWLIGHT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

THINK ABOUT THE HEART-SHAPED LEAF.

PHILODENDRON IS THE OTHER.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THEM.

HERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

OUR RUBBER TREE WHICH IS VERY VERY POPULAR.

ON THE RIGHT THERE THAT IS A SNAKE PLANT.

NOT ALL CLASSIFIED AS A -- A NEW ONE FOR ME BUT SOMETIMES THEY REGROUP THEM BASED ON GENETICS.

AND THEN THE SUCCULENTS WHICH DEBBIE MENTIONED WHICH ARE SO EASY TO GROW AND PROPAGATE.

THEY DO SO WELL IN A WARMER, DRIER ENVIRONMENT.

MAYBE SOME CACTI AS WELL.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE WHICH IS JUMPING ON THE SCENE JUST RECENTLY.

THIS EASY PLANT.

THEY ARE REALLY SOMETHING.

DEB: SOME NEW BLACK GENETICS THAT THEY ARE DOING.

VERY BEAUTIFUL.

DENNIS: BOB, YOU HAD AN EVENT COMING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR?

BOB: A SPRING GARDENING EXTRAVAGANZA.

DEB AND I WILL BE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND THAT WILL BE DOWN AT THE DEPOT ON APRIL 23.

A FULL DAY GOOD 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 230 RATHER THAN 130.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY EXPANDED THAT IDEA A BIT SINCE THE SLIDE WAS MADE.

YOU CAN VISIT ON THE WEBSITE.

OR JUST CALL TO SEE.

A GREAT DAY, GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PLANTING UP OUR COMMUNITY IN HONOR OF THE UKRAINIAN FOLKS WITH SUNFLOWERS.

EVERYTHING FROM GROWING EDIBLES TO INTEGRATED GARDENS.

EDIBLES, SMALL FRUITS, PEPPERS, POLLINATOR GARDENS.

DEB IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF HER FAVORITE NOT JUST SHRUBS BUT AS WELL AS ANNUALS THAT ATTRACT POLLINATORS.

REALLY A GREAT TIME WITH LOTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN.

DENNIS: BOBBY FROM SPIRIT VALLEY WANTS TO KNOW WHY DO HIS ROSES SOMETIMES BLOOM IN JUNE BUT SOMETIMES NOT UNTIL JULY?

DEB: TEMPERATURE AND HOW EARLY ARE SPRING IS.

I WONDER WHAT OUR SPRING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE MAY IS GOING TO BE WARM BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES WE HAVE ALTERNATING MONTHS.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IT'S AT LEAST SOIL BE CONTRACTED.

IF WE HAVE A COOL APRIL WE WILL SOMETIMES HAVE A WARM MAY.

BOB: WE HAVE A TERM FOR THAT CALLED REVERSION TO THE MATE -- THE MEAN.

SOMETIMES IT WILL BE REALLY COLD AND THEN IT GETS REALLY WARM.

THAT IT ALL COMES TOGETHER AND IT WAS JUST NEVER -- AN AVERAGE YEAR.

WHO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING TO COME.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT BUDDING?

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE TOO COLD, TOO HOT, NOT ENOUGH PHOSPHORUS.

DEB: AND IN THE FALL WHEN THEY SET.

YOU GONNA GIVE UP ON ROSES BECAUSE THEY CAN BE HIGH MAINTENANCE.

BY THE END IN THE FALL, THEN YOU ARE JUST LIKE I AM DONE.

I AM SO DONE.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE DONE BECAUSE YOU NEXT YEAR MIGHT SUFFER FROM IT.

YOU CAN SOMETIMES COOL THOSE BUDS DOWN A BIT.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY WILL OFFER ON THEIR OWN SCHEDULE.

FOUND A PATCH OF ASPARAGUS IN THE WOODS.

IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO FERTILIZE IT?

WHAT WOULD -- HELP?

BOB: GOOD QUESTION.

A LITTLE FERTILITY FROM NITROGEN FERTILIZER.

YOU NEVER WANT TO APPLY WOOD ASH.

IT'S -- YOU NEVER WANT TO PUT THAT UNLESS THERE IS THIS SOIL TEST THAT SAYS LINE IS NEEDED.

A LITTLE BIT OF A NITROGEN FERTILIZER, EVEN A LITTLE COMPOST WOULD HELP.

DEB: REALLY, WE DID AND COMPOST IT.

BOB: ENJOY THEM EARLY.

DENNIS: LAST FALL SHE MULCHED HER GARDEN HEAVILY.

WHAT DO SHE DO NOW TO ADD COMPOST?

DEB: I FEEL LIKE SHE SHOULD RAKE IT OFF.

IT IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO GET IT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THAT COMPOST IN THERE.

BOB: I AGREE.

A MULCH, YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO BREAK IT DOWN.

IT HOLDS THE WATER AND -- IF SHE WANTS TO INCORPORATE THAT SHE NEEDS A LITTLE EXTRA NITROGEN AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE HER TO BREAK IT OFF AND WORK COMPOST INTO THE SOIL.

THEN SHE CAN BRING IT BACK ON SO THAT IT CAN SERVE AS THE FUNCTION AS A MULCH.

WHERE SHE COULD RAKE IT OFF AND PUT IT IN THE COMPOST PILE AND GET A PARTIALLY DECOMPOSED AND THEN ULTIMATELY INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE SOIL AS WELL.

DENNIS: AMY STORED HER DAHLIA TUBERS IN THE BASEMENT.

WHEN SHE SHE TAKE THEM OUT AND EXPOSE THEM?

DEB: THE SHE WANT TO START EARLY IN THE HOUSE?

IT DEPENDS ON THE DAHLIA THAT IT IS.

SHE SHOULD GET IT OUT AND REALLY LOOK AT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRY ENOUGH.

BASEMENTS CAN GET A LITTLE MILDEW WE AND WET.

I WOULD GET THEM OUT AND START LOOKING AT THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GOOD AND VIABLE.

WE START ARSON CONTAINERS.

WE START OURS RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL DROP THEM DOWN AND GET A HEAD START.

GET UP BLOOM EARLIER.

NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SEND IN PICTURES WITH THE LOCAL DIRT.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT GROWING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AND NIALL ROAD UNDER AN.

LEE IVERSON HAS FENCING FEATURED ACROSS THE GARDEN.

FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HEALTHY HOSTAS.

ALWAYS A LOVELY HIGHLIGHT.

NEXT, THE TEAM CONTINUES WITH LILIES LINED UP ALONG THE FENCE LINE.

LEE ALSO SHOWED US BEAUTIFUL, BLOOMING, CLUB MOTTOS THAT SHOWED ALLURING ACCENT FEATURES.

FINALLY, SOME VALIUM.

SEND US PHOTOS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

MLS AT GREAT GARDENING AT WDSE.ORG AND IT COULD SHOW UP ON AIR OR ON HER INSTAGRAM FEED.

DENNIS: THANK YOU ALL FOR CALLING IN.

WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

IF A FEW MORE AND WE WILL TRY TO GET THROUGH THEM AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.

HOW DO WE FERTILIZE LOU BERRY PLANTS?

JOHN WANTS TO KNOW.

BOB: ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

THE ONLY WANT TO FERTILIZE WITH AN ACIDIFYING FERTILIZER.

WENT TO KEEP YOUR PH DOWN AND AMMONIUM SULFATE.

NOT ALUMINUM SULFATE.

WE SEE THAT IN THE CONTAINERS.

YOU GET POTENTIAL ALUMINUM CONTAMINATION FROM ALUMINUM SULFATE THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, DENNIS: PETER FROM AURORA.

MY CARROTS ARE ALWAYS SMALL.

I HAVE SANDY SOIL, HOW DO I GROW LARGER CARROTS.

BOB: ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THE SANDY SOIL.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH NUTRIENTS FOR THE PLANT.

THEY MIGHT BE CLOSER TOGETHER.

DESPITE AMOUNT START THE MINOR SHIRLEY.

GET THEM TO GERMANY EARLY.

IT TAKES CONSISTENT MOISTURE.

WORK SOME COMPOST.

HE DID GET SOME MORE NUTRIENT TO THE PLANT.

START EARLY.

GERMANY EARLY.

SPREAD THEM OUT IN THIN AMOUNT.

DENNIS: JANE FROM DULUTH.

WHEN SHOULD I REMOVING STRAW FROM MY PERENNIAL?

DEB: BOB: WOW.

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERENNIAL SHE IS TALKING ABOUT.

IF IT -- IF SHE IS PUTTING SOME STRAW, THEY MUST NOT BE VERY TOUGH.

GARLIC IS AN EXAMPLE, BUT IN SOME CASES WE STAY -- STILL MAY WANT TO MULCH BUT SHE MIGHT LOSE THE BOLD.

THE SHOOT ITSELF CAN TAKE 18, 19, 20 DEGREES.

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERENNIAL.

TENDER PERENNIAL SHOW WANT TO WAIT A WHILE.

SOME OF THE HARDIER PERENNIALS LIKE GARLIC'S, THAT MAY COME OFF NOW.

WANT OPEN THAT UP BECAUSE THEY WILL PUSH THEIR WAY THROUGH THESE.

YOU GET THESE TWISTED STEMS THAT MAY COME AS A RESULT.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND AND IS NOT THAT COLD SHE CAN START TAKING SOME OF IT OFF ON THE HARDY ONES.

DENNIS: WHAT IS THE BEST SOIL FOR A RAISED BED?

SHE HAS 4 X 4 12 INCHES HIGH, GALVANIZED METAL.

BOB: SHE IS GOING TO FILL THAT.

FOR THE MOST PART WE WILL BE DOING PERHAPS WITH A PETE BASED SOIL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MIXED UP WITH THE SANDY LOAM MINERAL SOIL, MIXED WITH THE PETE GOOD WE WANT GOOD DRAINAGE BUT IF WE HAVE JUST BE PETE SOIL WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ACIDITY.

WE HAVE VERY LITTLE NUTRIENTS.

HAVING TO SUPPLY NOT JUST POTASSIUM BUT BRINGING IN A SANDY LOAM MANY OF -- MINERAL SOIL BUT CREATE YOUR OWN SOIL TO FULFILL THAT.

DEB: LIKE YOU SAY, AMENDING.

YOU WANTED TO DRAIN WELL BUT YOU WANT THE MINERALS.

BOB: YOURSELF SOME SANDY LOAM.

SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME FOR YOU.

DENNIS: DOROTHY FROM DULUTH ONCE TO KNOW HOW TO WAKE UP HER GERANIUMS.

DEB: DEPENDS ON WHAT SHE DID WITH THEM.

THAT SHE LET THEM DRY OUT?

THERE REALLY A PERENNIAL ON TO TREAT THEM KINDLY.

RIGHT NOW SHE COULD HAVE THEM IN THE DIRT, THEY SHOULD BE IN DIRT RIGHT NOW.

THEY SHOULD BE WATERED.

THEY SHOULD BREAK BUD.

THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO WAKE THEM UP NOW.

A GOOD POTTING SOIL, A LITTLE FERTILITY, THEY LIKE FERTILITY.

A GOOD WATER.

WATER IT ONCE AND LET IT START TO BREAK.

BOB: AS YOU CUT THEM BACK OR IS IT TOO LATE FOR THAT?

DENNIS: THANK YOU ALL FOR TURNING IN -- TUNING INTO GREAT GARDENING.

IF YOU'RE MORE YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AT GREAT GARDENING W TO CHEVY DSE.

SUBSCRIBE TO US ON YOUTUBE.

AND LIKE US ON WDSE RPT ON FACEBOOK.

IF YOU MISS ANY PART OF THE SHOW, IT WILL BE POSTED TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON THE PBS APP TOMORROW.

THANK YOU BOB, DEV, IT WAS AN INTERESTING SHOW.

STOP SOME QUESTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AND FROM ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU.

ENJOY THE GARDEN.

♪