>> ANYTHING THAT I CAN DRILL A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM CAN BECOME A PLANTER.

>> THE RHODODENDRONS ARE GREAT FOR WILDLIFE.

THE BUMBLEBEES, TIGER SWALLOWTAILS.

>> WHEN YOU GET IN HERE, THIS IS JUST A HAYFIELD.

>> DAD HAD, IT GIVES YOU THAT INNER PEACE, WITH THE BAD DAYS, GET OUT IN THE GARDEN.

♪ SHARON: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "GREAT GARDENING."

I AM YOUR HOST, SHARON YOUNG.

TONIGHT, WE ARE BRINGING YOU TIPS FOR A SUSTAINABLE PLANET.

OUR GUEST IS HORTICULTURALIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN AND GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON.

THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM HERE TO ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN YOU CALL IN.

CALL LOCALLY AT 218-788/2147 OR EMAIL US AT OUR NEW EMAIL ADDRESS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS TODAY.

WE HAVE VIDEO FROM THE WEB.

THERE IS SNOW MELTING BUT STILL NOT A WHOLE LOT OF GROWING YET.

BOB: THAT IS NOT THE COLOR WE WANT TO SEE.

I THINK WE ARE READY, RIGHT?

OUR VIEWERS, THEY WANT TO GET OUT AND GARDEN.

SHARON: LAST SUMMER, YOU VISITED THE UNIVERSAL UNITARIAN CHURCH.

THEY HAVE A GREEN GARDEN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

ANN: MY NAME IS ANN, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSAL UNITARIAN CONGREGATION OF DULUTH.

WE BUILT THIS GARDEN, THE WHOLE BUILDING, 12 YEARS AGO, AND WE CONSIDER OURSELVES EXTREMELY GREEN, AND WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD BUILD OUR BUILDING WITH ALL THE FLEXIBILITY AND ALL THE GREEN THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY PUT INTO A BUILDING, AND I BELIEVE WE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.

IT COST $35,000 TO PUT IN THE GARDEN.

THERE WERE 10 PEOPLE ON THE BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND WE WORKED ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I THINK I WANTED AN IN-FLORA GARDEN AND A WATERFALL, AND EVERYBODY BOUGHT INTO IT, SO WE BUILT IT INTO THE PLAN OF THE BUILDING, AND I'M HAPPY WE EMBRACED IT.

WE MAINTAIN IT FOR ABOUT MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, THE FERTILIZER, PUT IN SOME NEW DIRT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE DO NOT GET WEEDS, WHICH IS A BLESSING.

THE WATERFALL STARTS UP THERE AND RUNS DOWN TO THE POND.

AND PEOPLE CAN COME UP WITH WHEELCHAIRS.

IT IS COMPLETELY HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE.

I LOVE ALL THE PLANTS.

I THINK IT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING PEOPLE ARE IMPRESSED WITH WHEN THEY FIRST WALK IN THE BUILDING.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WANTED BE.

SHARON: WE WILL SEE MORE FROM THE CHURCH LATER TONIGHT, BUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR QUESTIONS.

DANIELLE FROM VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA IS ASKING, LAST YEAR I USED ORGANIC MULCH, AND QUICKLY EARWIGS EMERGED.

I REMOVED THEM THIS SPRING.

WHAT IS THE BEST MULCH RECOMMENDATIONS?

BOB: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK EARWIGS HAVE TO DO WITH MULCH, IN ALL HONESTLY.

THEY ARE A REAL CHALLENGE AND KIND OF HIDEOUS LOOKING, TOO.

THIS IS A LIVE PROGRAM, OTHERWISE WE WOULD THROW A PHOTO OR TWO UP THERE.

AS FAR AS THE MULCH, SHE WANTS TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

IF HE HAS BULBS UNDERNEATH, THEY CAN PENETRATE, THEY CAN BECOME MORE DISFIGURED AS YOU PUSH YOUR WAY THROUGH.

DEB: ESPECIALLY EARLY ONES.

BOB: AND EARWIGS CAN BE NOCTURNAL.

THEY WILL OFTEN TIMES FEED AT NIGHT.

THIS MIGHT BE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF SYNTHETIC PESTICIDE FOR CONTROL.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE OTHER GOOD NEWS, BUT THEY COULD BE A REAL CHALLENGE, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE, DEB?

DEB: YES, YOU WILL HAVE TO READ THE LABEL AND DO SOME RESEARCH ON PESTICIDES SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.

SHARON: GOOD QUESTION.

THIS IS FROM MARY.

WHY DIDN'T MY LILACS BLOOM LAST YEAR?

THEY ARE FIVE YEARS OLD.

THEY FACE THE WEST.

CAN YOU SUGGEST A GOOD HANGING POT, BEING PLANT?

DEB: THAT IS INTERESTING.

BOY, WE HAD SUCH A LATE SPRING, AND I KNOW OIC MIS -- I SAW MISS KIM BLOOMING LAST YEAR, SO I'M SURPRISED HE DID NOT BLOOM, AND IT IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD.

UNLESS YOU GET LATE PRUNING IN THE FALL AND YOU TOOK OUT THE BUDS, BECAUSE THE BUDS SIT IN THE FALL, OR EVEN SOME EARLY PRUNING THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN OUT SOME OF THE BUGS, BUT I CAN --B BUDS, BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT WOULD NOT BLOOM.

BOB: UNLESS IT IS IMMATURE.

IT HAS TO GO FROM A JUVENILE TO A MORE MATURE STATE BEFORE WE CAN GET A BLOOM.

BLOOM IS SECONDARY ONCE THERE ARE EXTRA SUGARS THAT ARE DEVELOPED.

IT COULD BE JUST IMMATURITY AND A LITTLE PATIENCE WITH IT.

SHARON: GREAT.

JAMIE FROM WISCONSIN LOVES THE SHOW BUT HAS AN ESTABLISHED RHODODENDRON THAT IS A BROADLEAF VARIETY, HEARTY FOR OUR ZONE.

SHE WRAPS IT EVERY YEAR TO PROTECT FROM WIN, SIGN, ETC., BUT THIS YEAR WHEN SHE -- WINDS, SUN, IT SET HER, BUT THIS YEAR WHEN SHE UNWRAPPED IT, LEAVES IN GOOD CONDITION, STILL GREEN.

THE FLOWER BUDS ARE HEALTHY AND INTACT.

IS THERE ANYTHING SHE SHOULD DO?

AND WILL IT GROW LEAVES TO REPLACE THE DROP ONES?

DEB: I THINK WITH IT BEING SO WET, THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE LEAF LOSS, ESPECIALLY IF SHE HAS ALREADY WRAPPED IT EVERY YEAR, SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING.

THE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT THIS SPRING AS IT WAS SUCH A WET SPRING.

BOB: ANYTIME YOU WRAP, STAY AWAY FROM PLASTIC.

BURLAP OR SOMETHING THAT IS PERMEABLE TO AIR AND MOVEMENT THAT WAY.

COULD BE IT HAS BEEN WRAPPED FOR SO LONG.

IT IS INTERESTING, SHE SAID THEY ARE GREEN EVEN IN THE GROUND, APPARENTLY, BUT TO HER QUESTION THERE, THE BUDS ARE GOING TO FLOP, AND THAT IS A PLANT THAT WILL RE-BUD AND RE-LEAF, BECAUSE THOSE ARE FROM LAST YEAR'S, AND NEXT YEAR IS SET FROM THE REGROWTH THAT WILL COME THIS YEAR.

DEB: AND HOPEFULLY WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RABID RABBIT DAMAGE, BECAUSE THERE WAS DAMAGE UNDER THE SNOW BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH SNOW.

BOB: YEAH, IF THE MAINSTEM WAS GIRDLED -- DEB: THEY WOULD HOLD THE BUDS.

SHARON: ALL RIGHT, BOB, YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS AND SHED SOME LIGHT ON SUSTAINABLE GARDENING TIPS.

BOB: SURE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES WITH GARDENING THAT YOU CAN DO, AND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR YOURSELF, IN THE PROCESS OF GARDENING.

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF OR CONSCIOUS OF, YOU WANT TO BASICALLY MINIMIZE INPUTS TO MAXIMIZE THE HARVEST.

WE START WITH THINGS LIKE WATER AND FERTILITY AND SO FORTH, APPLY WHAT IS NECESSARY BUT DON'T OVER APPLY, SO START BY SOIL TESTING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REUSE FERTILIZER, YOU DON'T NEED PHOSPHORUS, DON'T NEED POTASSIUM, AS AN EXAMPLE, JUST USE NITROGEN.

TAKE THE SOIL PACKS AND APPLY WHAT IS NEEDED, AND THAT IF YOU HAVE ORGANIC SOURCES OF FERTILIZER, THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF THEM, OBVIOUSLY ANIMAL MANURE, BE CAREFUL.

COMPOST, THE BEST FERTILIZER, SO COMPOST EVERY ORGANIC THAT YOU HAVE GOT.

EMPHASIZE THAT COMPOST, COMPOST, COMPOST EVERYTHING.

USE THAT FOR A NUTRIENT SOURCE OF YOUR YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR ORGANIC AMENDMENTS.

THESE ARE GOING TO GROW BOTH THE FERTILITY, ANY NUMBER OF MATERIALS YOU CAN INCORPORATE, BUT IN THE PROCESS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE IMPROVING THE TEXTURE.

THE WHOLE CONCEPT IS YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH NUTRIENTS WITHOUT OVER FERTILIZING, FERTILIZER THE RIGHT AMOUNT.

IF YOU CAN USE SYNTHETIC, PARTICULARLY NITROGEN COMMIT HAS TO GO ON BEFORE A RAIN OR BEFORE YOU IRRIGATE.

IT HAS BEEN GRANULATED, AND IT WILL GO BACK TO THE EARTH.

YOU DON'T GET IT DOWN INTO THE SOIL WITH WATER APPLICATION.

OTHER SOURCES OF NITROGEN, YOU WANT TO PLANT PEAS AND BEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S NOT CONFUSE THIS ISSUE, IF YOU WANT MAXIMUM NITROGEN ACCUMULATION, YOU WILL HAVE TO TILL THE WHOLE CROP IN, SO YOU WILL NOT HARVEST ANYTHING.

IT WILL ALL GO DOWN TO GET THE NITROGEN INTO THE GROUND.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY PLANT COVER CROPS.

PEOPLE HAVE IT ALTERNATING, A WINTER RIDE, CLOVER OF COURSE, IT CAN BE INCORPORATED.

AND THEN GET OUT THERE, MANUALLY, IT MAY SEEM RIDICULOUS, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A SMALL PLOT, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WITH A GARDEN TRACTOR TILLING A SMALL PLOT.

GET OUT THERE, TILL IT YOURSELF, ENJOY THE EXERCISE.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT OVER TILLING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BREAK DOWN SOIL STRUCTURE.

TILL IN THE FALL OR JUST IN THE SPRING ONCE, AND YOU MIGHT EVEN MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TILLING.

WHEN YOU TILL, YOU ARE BREAKING DOWN STRUCTURE.

GET THE STRUCTURE OF THE SOIL RIGHT, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO BE FINE.

YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU WATER, WATER THOROUGHLY IN THE MORNING.

DON'T OVERWATER, AGAIN, DO THE FINGER TEST, IF YOU ARE DRY DOWN AN INCH AND A HALF OR SO, THEN IT IS TIME TO WATER.

THAT IS A VERY SIMPLE WAY TO DO IT.

IT SEEMS KIND OF FUNNY TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW WITH ALL THE RAINFALL AND MOISTURE IN THE SOIL, THE GUARANTEE WE WILL DRY DOWN THIS SUMMER.

CERTAINLY WATER IS VALUABLE, AND CAPTURING SOME OF THE BRAIN WATER GOING BACK TO RAIN BARRELS, I KNOW IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE, SO CAPTURE THAT WATER.

MAKE SURE YOUR HARVESTING PROMPTLY WHEN RIGHT.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT BEING -- WHEN RIPE.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT BEING AS SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE.

THE BEST SOURCES IN YOUR BACKYARD.

MAXIMIZE YOUR HARVEST, PLAN THE SECOND HARVEST OFF THE SAME PIECE OF GROUND.

PRESERVE YOUR HARVEST AND AVOID WASTE.

.

THESE ARE ALL SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS.

CANNING, FREEZING, DRYING, SOMETHING THAT DEB SPENDS A LOT OF TIME DOING.

WE TRY TO AVOID THE SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES.

HOW DO YOU CONTROL INSECTS?

THINK MORE ABOUT NETTING.

YOU'VE GOT COVERING AS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU'VE GOT LUTHERAN AND IMPORTED CABBAGE WARM, EASILY EXCLUDED WITH AN OPEN NET ON THE TOP WHEN THOSE PLANTS ARE MATURE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BOTH SHUFFLING LOCALLY, GROWN -- SHOPPING LOCALLY, GROWN LOCALLY, AVOIDING ALL THE FOSSIL FUELS BY MOVING A LOT OF FOOD PRODUCT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

JUST SOME THOUGHTS.

INHERENTLY SUSTAINABLE IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOB.

LET'S RETURN TO THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF DULUTH.

THEY SHOWED US THE SOD ROOF GROWING ON THEIR PROPERTY.

ANN: WE ARE ON THE ROOF OF OUR CHURCH.

IT IS CALLED A GREEN ROOF.

WE HAVE GOT PRAIRIE GRASS UP HERE AND SEDUM.

WHEN WE FIRST PLANTED, WE PUT IN JUST A SOD, BUT THEN WE PUT IN THE PRAIRIE GRASS, AND THAT HAS BEEN GROWING FOR 12 YEARS, AND NOW WE HAVE SEDUM ALL THE WAY HERE AND THERE, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE FULLY SEDUM.

THEY WERE VERY NEW, AND IT WAS A VERY GREEN THING TO DUPE YOU AND WE WANTED TO DO IT BECAUSE WE GOT SOME BENEFITS FROM IT.

IT IS 50 YEARS BEFORE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED OR CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, TO BE REPLACED.

KEEPS THE WATER FROM GOING INTO THE CHURCH.

THE MEMBRANE PROTECTS EVERYTHING , AND IT HELPS US WITH WATER RUNOFF.

WE LOVE THIS GREEN ROOF VERY MUCH, AND WE LIKE THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN IT AND IT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND DOES GREAT THINGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

I MEAN, WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN SOLAR.

THEY PUT IN A SHINGLE ROOF, TO PREPARE FOR THE SOLAR THAT WE HAVE NOW RAISED MONEY FOR AND WILL PUT ON THIS SIDE OF THE POINT.

YOU KNOW, A SHINGLED ROOF, THEY ARE A DIME A DOZEN.

I LIKE THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE A GREEN ROOF, WE ARE A GREEN CHURCH, AND WE HAVE A GREEN ROOF.

SHARON: LET'S GET BACK TO MORE QUESTIONS.

RICK IN SUPERIOR IS ASKING, IS IT OK TO PUT SEEDS LEFT FROM LAST YEAR, AND HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SEEDS WILL BLOOM, ESPECIALLY VEGETABLES?

BOB: GO AHEAD.

DEB: CHECKING THE GERMINATION, YOU CAN DO A LITTLE TEST IF THEY WILL GERMINATE OR NOT.

YOU CAN TAKE A PAPER TOWEL, MOISTEN IT, PUT THE SEEDS IN IT, PUT IT IN A ZIPLOC BAG, AND SEE IF THEY START TO GERMINATE.

BOB: I LIKE TO PUT 10 IN A ROCHA MUST BECAUSE IF TWO GERMINATE, YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FIVE TIMES AS MUCH OF IT THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA.

IF THEY DO NOT STORE PROPERLY, THEY LOSE A LITTLE BIT EVERY YEAR, SO BE CAREFUL AND CONSCIOUS OF EXACTLY HOW YOU STORE A LOT OF THE SEEDS.

STORE COOL, DRY, DON'T JUST LEAVE THEM IN THE GARAGE OR SOMETHING.

SHARON: GOOD TIPS.

MARY FROM DULUTH IS ASKING, WHAT IS THE BEST WOOD FOR RAISED BEDS -- NOTHING CHEMICALLY TREATED.

BOB: NOTHING.

DEB: CEDAR, THE BEST, MOST EXTENSIVE WAY TO GO IS SEITER.

BOB: NUMBER TWO MIGHT BE A REDWOOD.

WE HAVE TO CAUTION PEOPLE THESE ARE BOTH VERY SLOW-GROWING TREES.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE IMPERVIOUS TO A LOT OF ROT AND DECAY.

YOU HAVE TO SHIP IT AND OTHER THINGS.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

A LOT OF THE CHEMICALLY TREATED MATERIAL PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, SO NOW THE MATERIAL SHOULD BE STABLE, SHOULD NOT REACH ANY COMPOUNDS.

CONSIDER SOME OF THE SYNTHETIC MATERIALS MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTICS AND SO FORTH SOME OF THESE ARE VERY DURABLE AND DON'T LEECH AS WELL.

THESE ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOLID OPTIONS.

WE DO LIKE THE WOODS.

WE ARE PARTIAL TO THAT, BOTH THE CEDAR AND REDWOOD.

SHARON: GREAT.

BARNEY FROM FINLAND IS ASKING, WHAT IS THE PREFERRED MULCH FOR ASPARAGUS?

BOB: I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS TOO MUCH.

I THINK YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL ANY TIME YOU ARE USING ORGANIC PEER WE WILL START WITH ORGANIC MULCHES, OK, BECAUSE WE WANT TO START WITH PREMIUM.

MAYBE A WOODCHIP WITH A LITTLE ADDITIONAL NITROGEN.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK AS THEY EMERGE, CONTROLLING ANNUAL WEEDS, AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE, A GOOD, STABLE WOODCHIP WITH A LITTLE ADDITIONAL NITROGEN EARLY FOR THE DANCE, BECAUSE AS THESE DECAY, THEY WILL BE ABSORBING SOME OF THE NITROGEN.

DEB: EXACTLY.

BOB: HE HAS HIS CHOICE, A STABLE WOODCHIP MULCH WITH A LITTLE ADDITIONAL NITROGEN.

NOT UP AGAINST THE STALKS, BUT JUST TO SPREAD AROUND, AND THEN SHALLOW CULTIVATION, IF HE CAN.

SHARON: OK. DENISE FROM DULUTH IS ASKING, WHERE CAN YOU BUY A RAINBOW -- RAIN BARREL?

DEB: THAT WAS QUICK.

YOU CAN CHECK AVAILABILITY, GLOBAL, TRY TO GO LOCAL.

MOST GARDEN CENTERS OR OTHER STORES WILL CARRY QUITE A FEW.

BOB: YEAH, NOT LIKE PLASTICS, BUT SOME OF THESE POLY BARRELS ARE USED, 55-GALLON DRUMS.

A SOAP ITEM IS AN EXAMPLE.

CHECK AROUND VARIOUS PLACES, NOT NECESSARILY JUST AT LAWN AND GARDEN SHOPS.

BUT A NICE 55-GALLON DRUM, THEY ARE USED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

SHARON: GREAT IDEAS.

DEB, YOU WANTED TO COVER AN INTERESTING TOPIC TONIGHT, RIGHT?

DEB: GREEN OLOGIES.

IT IS COOL, WE LET MOTHER NATURE DO THE TALKING AND PAY ADDITION TO WHAT SHE IS TELLING YOU OR SIGNALING YOU TO PLANT, AND IT IS A GREAT TIME, IT HELPS TELL YOU WHAT THE TEMPERATURES MAY BE IN THE SOIL BY WHAT IS GOING ON IN NATIVE, ORNAMENTAL PLANTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT 100% ACCURATE, IT GIVES YOU A GOOD INDICATION OF THE GROUND TEMS AND DAY LENGTH ESPECIALLY FOR GARDENING.

AN EXAMPLE WILL BE BOOMING CROCUS, A GREAT QUEUE FOR RADISHES, PARSNIPS, SPINACH, THINGS THAT ARE COOLER CROPS.

IT WAS A LATE SPRING, AND IT IS GOOD TO WATCH THEM.

IT IS FOR, YOU KNOW, PLANTING PEAS, ONIONS, LETTUCE.

HAVE HEARTY VEGETABLES, BEETS, CARROTS, PLANT THEM WHEN THE DAFFODILS BLOOM.

ALL OF THIS IS PUSHED BACK, BUT OF COURSE OUR SPRING HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK QUITE A BIT.

YOU CAN LOOK FOR THE DANDELIONS TO BLOOM BEFORE PANTING -- PLANTING YOUR POTATOES.

PERENNIALS CAN BE PLANTED WHEN THE MAPLE TREE BEGINS TO LEAVE OUT -- LEAF OUT.

BY THE TIME LILACS ARE FULL-BLOWN, TYPICAL LILACS, NOT NECESSARILY MISS KIM, MISS KIMS ARE LITTLE BIT LATER, AND SO ARE THE JAPANESE TREES, THOSE ARE A GOOD TIME TO PLANT YOUR TENDER ANNUALS AND SQUASHES.

FINALLY, YOU CAN TRANSFER TOMATOES WHEN THE LILY OF THE VALLEY IS IN FULL FLOWERY, MORNING GLORY THINK A WIN-WIN MAPLE LEAVES ARE FULL.

WHEN BEARDED IRISES ARE BLOOMING, A GOOD TIME FOR EGGPLANTS.

THE LAST ONE, WHEN THE PN EONIES BLOSSOM, IT IS LATE FOR MELON, WHICH WILL REALLY TELL YOU YOU SHOULD NOT PLANT KENNEL, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT A LONG ENOUGH SEASON.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT VARIETY, AND YOU CAN ADJUST THAT, GO WITH ONE'S THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, QUICKER TO MATURE, BUT THESE ARE ALL KIND OF GOOD SIGNALS TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

SHARON: AWESOME.

THANKS FOR SHARING THAT.

LET'S WRAP THINGS UP WITH MORE QUESTIONS.

BYRON IS ASKING IF BIOSOLIDS ARE REALLY ORGANIC OR NOT.

HOW ARE HEAVY METALS ILLUMINATED FROM THE BIOSOLIDS, AND DO YOU RECOMMEND BIOSOLIDS IN A VEGETABLE GARDEN?

BOB: THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION.

BIOSOLIDS, WHICH IS A BYPRODUCT FROM SOME MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAMS, CAN CONTAIN HEAVY METALS.

I THINK THE HOMEOWNER DOES NOT HAVE A NEED FOR THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF LAND APPLICATION THAT MAKES SENSE.

FORTUNATELY IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL USE, SO OUR WASTE TREATMENT IS RELATIVELY LIGHT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND A LOT OF THESE MATERIALS.

THERE DEFINITELY IS A PLACE FOR THEM, BUT I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A REAL USE FOR A SMALL PLOT TO USE BIOSOLIDS OR AGRICULTURE IS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE YOU ARE RECYCLING IN THAT MANNER.

I HOPE THAT PIE SIBLING -- PARTIALLY ANSWERS THIS QUESTION.

SHARON: WHAT KIND OF FERTILIZER CAN HE USE FOR BLUEBERRIES TO INCREASE THE DAIRY PRODUCTION, AND WHAT TYPE OF YEAR CAN HE -- BERRY PRODUCTION, AND WHAT TIME OF YEAR CAN HE PUT IT ON?

DEB: THIS IS FOR YOU, BOB.

BOB: INCREASING BERRY PRODUCTION, WE WANT TO, AND MY OPINION, AMMONIUM SULFITE.

STAY AWAY FROM ALUMINUM SULFATE.

WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE ALUMINUM IN THE SOIL.

BUT AMMONIUM SULFATE IS THE MATERIAL OF CHOICE AND WILL GO ON.

IF HE IS NOT GETTING A VIGOROUS GROWTH, OFTEN TIMES WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH GOOD DRAINAGE OR WE DO NOT HAVE A LOW ENOUGH PH, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.

SO AMMONIUM SULFATE, BEGINNING OF SPRING, WHEN THE BUDS BEGAN.

DEB: THESE ARE JUST A NICE COMBINATION FOR INDOOR OR A SHADE GARDEN, AND THEY ALL HAVE AND THEN BASICALLY >> BEGONIA, A TO BREAST BEGONIA, -- REX BEGONIA, A TUBOROUS BEGONIA, A SPIDER PLANT WHO WILL NOT TAKE OVER, A REALLY NICE FOLIAGE, COLOR, AND A NICE POP OF THE BEGONIA FLOWER, WHICH TASTES LIKE A LIMB AND IF YOU TASTE THE PETALS.

BOB: SPIDER PLANTS, THE TIPS, IF YOU HAVE FLUORIDE IN YOUR WATER, WHICH MOST MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS, YOU CAN GET TO BURN HERE.

IF YOU ARE OBSERVING THAT, THE FLUORIDE EVAPORATES, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT YOU CAN MINIMIZE THAT PROBLEM WITH TIP BURN.

[LAUGHTER] SHARON: THAT IS LIKE LIQUID GOLD FOR A HOMEOWNER, WATERING YOUR PLANTS.

SHARON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- WHO IS EATING THE RHUBARB?

DEB: AT THIS POINT?

BOB: DEER RIGHT NOW.

DEB: RIGHT NOW, YEAH.

BOB: BUT AS THE NATIVE EMERGE, D THEEER HERD IS HUNGRY, SO THEY ARE TAKING THEM DOWN RIGHT NOW KID AND I AM NOT SURPRISED, THEY CAN EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

DEB: MM-HMM.

SHARON: DUANE HAS SOME FROZEN HERRING CARCASSES.

CAN HE GRIND THEM UP TO USE ON HIS VEGETABLE GARDEN?

BOB: WELL, MY THOUGHT REALLY IS THAT IN A PROTEIN LIKE THAT SHOULD NOT BE GROUND UP AND PUT ON A VEGETABLE GARDEN.

IT WILL ATTRACT, BECAUSE IT WILL BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN PURE HE CAN INCORPORATE THAT DEEP INTO A COMPOST PILE, WHERE HE HAS A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL A MOLTING AGENT ON THE OUTSIDE, WHETHER LOTS OF FLOPPY LEAVES OR PIEDMONT'S -- PETE -- PEAT MOSS.

THEN THE NITROGEN SHOULD BE STABLE AND HE CAN SHARON: ADD IT TO THE GARDEN.

SHARON:THAT IS ALL FOR "GREAT GARDENING" TONIGHT.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE AT YOUTUBE.COM/GREATGARDENING, WHERE YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S EPISODE POSTED TOMORROW.

THANKS SO MUCH, BOB AND DAD.

-- DEB.

YOU ARE AWESOME TONIGHT.

DEB: SO WERE YOU.

BOB: NEXT WEEK IT WILL BE GREEN.

[LAUGHTER] SHARON: YOU PROMISE?

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT "GREAT GARDENING," WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, AND ENJOY THE GARDEN.

♪