OUT.

THEY ARE NOT JUST RED LINES ANYMORE.

>> BLUEBERRIES WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS FOR A BUSH TO RIPEN.

>> THIS IS THE CONE FLOWER.

VERY POPULAR WITH BEES.

>> THIS IS A WEEPING LARGE.

>> THE VARIETY THAT WE HAVE, IT IS INSPIRING.

♪ >> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "GREAT GARDENING."

I’M SHARON YUNG.

WE’VE HAD SOME SNOW MELT SINCE LAST WEEK’S SHOW SO WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO GETTING OUTSIDE TO PLANT AND LANDSCAPE.

AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE OUR GARDEN EXPERTS WITH US TONIGHT.

THEY ARE GARDEN PROFESSIONALS, DEB AND BOB OLEN.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM.

WE HAVE PHONE VOLUNTEERS COMPRISED OF MEMBERS FROM THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS STANDING BY.

CALL LOCALLY OR SIMPLY EMAIL US.

WE ARE TAKING QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW SO CALL OR EMAIL US NOW AS WE START TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER IN THE REGION.

>> THE SNOW IS GOING AWAY.

>> ARE WE ALL LOOKING FOR A GREEN AT THIS POINT?

I THINK WE KNOW WHY WE REALLY ENJOY THIS AND WHY WE ARE ALL GARDENERS.

THE WINTER CAN GET LONG SOMETIMES.

IT WILL CHANGE VERY FAST THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> EASIER DRIVING.

>> ALL THE ICE IS GONE FROM THE LAKE.

>> YEAH, THAT SCENE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS WILL BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

>> RIGHT?

>> PEOPLE CAN STILL DO SOME PRUNING.

SHARON: KEEP COLLEEN YOUR QUESTIONS.

DEB, DO YOU HAVE A TERRARIUM DEMONSTRATION?

DEB: I DO.

THIS IS A FAIRY TERRARIUM AND IT MAKES IT VERY BECAUSE I ADDED SOME LIGHTS TO IT BUT IT GIVES IT A LITTLE BOUGIE.

ANYWAY, IT IS NOT HARD TO DO A TERRARIUM.

WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT IS -- SORRY ABOUT THIS BUT THEY HAVE JUNKIE LOOKING SUCCULENTS.

THIS IS PEOPLE’S PRIDE AND JOY WHICH TO ME DOES NOT LOOK GREAT.

WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER A LONG WINTER, YOU CAN START TO CUT THE SUCCULENT.

FIRST, WE WILL START WITH THE TERRARIUM.

I LINE MINE -- I USE A GLASS BOWL.

YOU CAN FIND THESE, THEY ARE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.

THIS WAS LIKE $12.99.

YOU CAN USE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE LAYING AROUND.

I LIKE A CLEAR GLASS.

SO, WE START WITH SOME STONES ON THE BOTTOM.

THAT IS GOOD FOR DRAINAGE.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT SUCCULENTS, YOU HARDLY HAVE TO WATER THEM.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE FORGIVING THAN ANY KIND OF HOUSE PLANT TERRARIUM WHERE YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE MOISTURE OR KEEP A TOP ON.

I USE R-SOIL WHICH IS A PEAT.

THEN, I WILL JUST ADD IT TO THE BOTTOM OF MY TERRARIUM.

JUST TO COVER THE SOIL AND MAKE A GOOD BASE FOR THE PLANTS.

AND YOU CAN CHOOSE -- I WILL DO CUTTINGS BUT ALSO IF YOU HAVE SOME SMALL PLANTERS, THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS -- THIS IS FINE.

BUT YOU CAN PULL THESE GUYS OUT JUST LIKE THAT AND YOU CAN JUST SET IT IN AND BARELY, JUST BARELY SET IT.

THEN, WE HAVE AN ALOE RIGHT HERE.

I LIKE USING ALOES.

THEY ARE EASY, MEDICINAL, AND THEY ARE A NICE CENTERPIECE.

THAT IS ROOTED.

YOU CAN PULL IT OUT.

THIS ONE IS REALLY DRY, BUT THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF THEM.

THEY DON’T REQUIRE A LOT OF MOISTURE.

THEN, YOU STICK IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TO GIVE YOU SOME NICE VOLUME, THEN THE SIDES WILL HELP SUPPORT IT.

JUST LIKE THAT.

NOTHING TO IT.

AND THEN, WHEN YOU HAVE -- THIS IS A JADE.

YOU CAN JUST CUT NOW.

OK, I WILL CUT THESE OFF, AND THEN AT THE END, I WILL SHOW YOU AFTER A MONTH WHAT HAPPENS.

I LIKE TO PUT THINGS IN GROUPS OF THREE.

SO, I WILL TAKE ONE, TWO, THREE CUTTINGS.

THERE WAS THREE ON THAT ONE.

YOU CAN STICK THAT RIGHT IN.

THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.

THERE’S REALLY NOTHING TO IT.

THIS ONE HERE, YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING.

BECAUSE SUCCULENTS ARE FORGIVING, THIS WILL BREAK DOWN WITH THE SMALLER ONES THAT WILL COME IN.

I LIKE TO TAKE THESE IN.

I WILL JUST STICK THEM IN AND THIS IS ALL I WILL DO.

NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

THAT ONE IS GOOD, GET RID OF THAT ONE.

THEN, I WILL TAKE THIS ONE, BECAUSE THIS IS SUPER SIMPLE.

IT KEEPS YOUR PLANTS TIDY.

THEN, YOU WILL PUT IN -- I CAN TAKE MORE OFF.

I CAN EVEN CUT OFF OF THIS OTHER TERRARIUM I HAVE DONE.

THIS ONE -- I WILL PULL THIS UP.

SO, THIS ONE.

IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I WILL CUT THE TOP OFF.

I WILL STICK IT IN.

THEN, THE WHOLE BOTTOM WILL BREAK.

THEN, YOU WILL FINISH UP AND THEN YOU CAN FINISH UP BY ADDING A FEW MORE THINGS OR YOU CAN LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS.

TO ME, THE THING THAT REALLY MAKES IT FUN AND KIND OF DIFFERENT IS THEN ADDING FAIRY LIGHTS TO IT.

YOU CAN GET FAIRY LIGHTS ALL OVER.

JUST PUT THEM IN.

THERE’S A LITTLE BATTERY ON IT.

PULL THE TAB AND TURN ON THE BATTERY.

THEN, YOU JUST HAVE A REALLY CUTE TERRARIUM.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE.

THIS ONE, I PLANTED THE LAST TIME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IT AND IT IS FULLY ROOTED IN.

THE 18TH, WE DID THAT AND IT WAS AWFULLY ROOTED IN.

PRETTY SIMPLE AND A NICE UPDATE.

SHARON: IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

BOB: SUCCULENTS NO NEED MUCH MOISTURE.

DEB: I WATERED THIS ONCE SINCE I DID IT.

BOB: LOW MAINTENANCE.

SHARON: THANKS.

THAT WAS AWESOME.

LET’S GET TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

JAN WANTS TO KNOW WHY HER HIGH ZHENG JIE’S BLOOM -- WHY THEY WON’T BLOOM AND THEY ARE BLUE.

DEB: THAT’S WHY.

[LAUGHTER] SHARON: DO TELL.

BOB: WE HAVE SOME THAT GAVE US A LITTLE TROUBLE.

IT IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK SHE MIGHT BE REFERRING TO THE ENDLESS SUMMER.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A FATHER PLANT OF THIS GREAT SERIES THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE.

ONE THING I HAVE OBSERVED, IF THINGS WILL NOT BLOOM, TRY MOVING THE LOCATION.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE KILLING THEM WITH KINDNESS.

I HAVE SEEN THE MOVE TO POORER SOILS AND LESS SUN BUT THEN THEY START TO BLOOM.

IF THEY ARE NOT BLOOMING AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, TRY MOVING THEM OR SWITCH VARIETIES.

DEB: THE BUDS ARE NOT AS HARDY AS WELL.

SHARON: JULIE IS ASKING IF SHE NEEDS TO PUT TOPSOIL OVER FILL DIRT IF SHE WANTS TO PLANT DUTCH WHITE CLOVER IN THE AREA.

DEB: IF YOU WANT TO GROW ANYTHING, YOU NEED TO PUT GOOD TOPSOIL OVER THE TOP.

BOB: SUBSOIL JUST DON’T HAVE THE ORGANIC, THE NUTRIENT COMPOSITION.

CLOVER DOSE FIX NITROGEN BUT IT HAS TO GROW FIRST.

IT HAS TO HAVE THE NITROGEN IN THE SOIL TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT THE TOPSOIL OVER ANY SUBSOIL.

SHARON: KATE ASKS CAN I PRUNE MY CHERRY TREES?

THEY ARE GETTING VERY LARGE.

OR WILL IT RUIN THIS YEAR’S CROP?

DEB: I WAS LOOKING AT MINE AT HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CARRYOVER AND I AM SEEING BUDS.

I WOULD WAIT UNTIL THEY FRUIT AND THEN I WOULD SHAPE THEM.

I LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS FLOWER, FRUIT AND THEN SHAPE.

BOB: SHE’S REALLY NOT TALKING ABOUT A TREE, SHE’S TALKING ABOUT THE CHOQUE BERRY.

SHARON: GARY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ARE GOOD VEGETABLES TO GROW IN DULUTH WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER?

DEB: IS THE WEATHER UNPREDICTABLE?

BOB: ALL THE TIME.

DEB: VEGETABLES, YOU WANT SOMETHING HARDY.

LIKE, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME OF THE COLD CROPS, THEY ARE SUPER EASY TO GERMINATE.

THEY ARE VERY FLEXIBLE.

SHARON: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES?

DEB: BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, CABBAGE.

SHARON: WHAT IF WE DON’T LIKE THOSE?

DEB: WELL, I LOVE THEM.

TOMATOES ARE EASY TOO.

PEOPLE BABY THEM SOMETIMES TOO MUCH AND THEN THEY GET TALL AND THEY GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE.

TOMATOES ARE NOT REALLY DIFFICULT.

BOB: THE NICE THING ABOUT THE CABBAGE FAMILY, DOUBLE CROP THEM.

NICE CROP IN JULY, NICE CROP IN THE FALL.

THEY ARE RESISTANT.

IN THE SPRING, ALL OF YOUR LETTUCE GROWS.

LETTUCE IS FROST TOLERANT.

SPINACH IS NOT.

CARROTS, ANY OF THE SALAD GREENS WILL DO WELL.

SHARON: THANKS.

NEXT, WE ARE SERVING UP SOME BERRIES.

LET’S GO TO A FARM WHERE THEY ARE GROWING A DELICIOUS VARIETY OF THAT FRUIT.

ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE BIG LAKE NEARBY.

>> I DON’T WANT THEM IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

I WANT THEM RIGHT AT FIELD TEMPERATURE.

TO HAVE BOTH HONEY BERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES, YOU CAN FOCUS ON MAINTAINING ONE AND PICKING THE OTHER.

THERE IS FRUIT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SEASON.

I’M THE FARM MANAGER FOR FARM LOLA.

I ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL EGG COMPANY HERE IN RENSHAW, MINNESOTA.

WE ARE STILL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LAKE SUPERIOR, THE MICROCLIMATE WE GET AROUND THE GREAT LAKE.

IT KEEPS OUR TEMPERATURES HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRINGTIME, IT KEEPS IT A LITTLE LOWER WHICH ALLOWS THE PLANT TO RIPEN AT A MORE STEADY PACE.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE AS YOU MOVE THEM AROUND, IT IS EASIER SOIL TO WORK WITH.

TODAY, WE WILL BE OUT IN THE PATRIOT.

THIS IS THE PATRIOTS VARIETY FOR OUR BLUEBERRIES.

THEY WILL COME OUT AND WE WILL ASSIGN THEM A ROW TO PICK.

BLUEBERRIES WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS FOR A BUSH TO RIPEN BEFORE YOU GET A VIABLE FRUIT CROP.

GENERALLY, WE PLANT IT IN 2014.

WE STARTED SEEING THE FIRST HARVESTS COMMERCIALLY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT.

ABOUT 800 BUSHES, TWO ACRES TOTAL IN BLUEBERRIES.

IT DEPENDS ON THE VOLUME OF PICKING HOW LONG WE WILL GO.

WE PICK THEM IN STAGES.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR BLUEBERRY ORCHARD, WE PLANTED THIS IN 2014.

GENERALLY, ALL OF OUR BUSH INVENTORY COME AS ROOTED STOCK.

THEY WILL EITHER BE POTTED STOCK THAT’S A LITTLE BIT OLDER OR THEY WILL BE SPRING STOCKS AND WE WILL START.

HONEY BERRIES ARE MUCH MORE COLD TOLERANT.

THEY WILL HANDLE BELOW ZERO WEATHER MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THE BLUEBERRY BUSHES.

PART OF THAT IS THEIR GENETICS.

THEY ARE NATIVE TO NORTHERN SIBERIA, NORTHERN JAPAN, NORTHERN CLIMATE AREAS.

THEIR GROWTH CYCLE IS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A SHORT COLD SEASON TO WORK WITH.

SO, THEY ARE THE FIRST TO BERRY.

THEY BERRY MUCH EARLIER THAN BLUEBERRIES.

THEY HANDLE HEAVY SNOW PACK REALLY WELL.

THE HONEY BERRY BUSHES WERE JUST FLAT, BUT IN THE SPRING, THEY BOUNCED BACK.

IN TERMS OF YIELD, WE HAVE HONEY BERRY BUSHES THAT HAVE YIELDED NINE TO 10 POUNDS FROM ONE BUSH.

STRAWBERRIES ARE A LOW GROUND PLANT VERSUS THE DOMESTICATED BLUEBERRY BUSH.

THE STRAWBERRIES THEMSELVES, ALL THE BERRIES HAVE CERTAIN WATER NEEDS.

STRAWBERRIES DO NEED MORE WATER AND ATTENTION.

YOU WILL HAVE TO REPLANT AND REDO YOUR STRAWBERRY FIELDS EVERY THREE TO FOUR TO FIVE YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT.

OTHER THAN REPLACING ANOTHER INJURY, ONCE A BUSH IS IN THE GROUND, YOUR HEART’S WORK IS KIND OF DONE.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE BERRIES YOU ENJOY, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

BLUEBERRIES AND HONEY BERRIES, THEY TAKE UP A LITTLE MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THE GROUND THAN A STRAWBERRY DOES.

IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS WILLING TO EAT AND INVEST IN.

I ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE BERRIES YOU CAN.

SHARON: THOSE OF THE FARM SAY HONEY BERRIES ARE USUALLY RIPE AT THE VERY END OF JUNE OR EARLY JULY, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FIRST HARVESTS IN THE NORTH PLANT.

NOW A TIME TO ANSWER MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO KNOW IF THEY CAN USE A THRIFT STORE AQUARIUM FOR A TERRARIUM.

DEB: ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN DO SO MUCH IN THERE.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BOB: THAT WAS EVEN CHEAPER.

DEB: YEAH.

SHARON: KRISTIN AND JAY FROM DULUTH WANT TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING SOIL TESTED FOR GARDENING, THEY ARE NOT SURE WHERE TO START.

BOB: TAKE A GOOD SAMPLE.

YOU WILL GET THE RESULTS BACK BY THE TIME WE WILL CLICK.

A CERTIFIED LAB, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IF YOU LIKE.

SOMETHING THAT IS CERTIFIED SO YOU GET AT LEAST ONE GOOD RESULT.

JUST GOOGLE SOIL TEST LAB, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.

ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE THERE AND THE FEE SCHEDULE, BUT DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

SHARON: JAY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN THE SOIL TO HELP PLANTS GROW.

DEB: THE APPLICATION RATES AND WHAT TO USE, THAT IS WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT IT.

BOB: IF YOU ARE DEFICIENT IN ORGANIC OR ANY OF THE NUTRIENTS, IT WILL GIVE YOU RECOMMENDATIONS.

YOU CAN GO FROM THERE.

YOU CAN START IT THAT WAY.

SHARON: CINDY WANTS TO KNOW IF THE DEER HAVE EATEN THE ENDS OF HER HYDRANGEA PLANT, WILL IT BLOOM AGAIN?

DEB: IT WILL BLOOM AGAIN BUT I WILL ASK WHEN DID IT BLOOM LAST?

IF IT BLOOMED MID TO LATE SUMMER, IT WILL BLOOM AGAIN THIS YEAR BUT IF IT GENERALLY BLOOMS EARLIER, YOU WILL NOT GET THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE BUDS OFF.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT HYDRANGEAS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

BOB: THAT’S RIGHT.

SHARON: PAM IS ASKING WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PRUNE AN APPLE TREE AND WHAT PLANTS GROW BEST WITH OUR SHORT GROWING SEASON?

PEOPLE WANT EFFICIENCY TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] BOB: I WILL TAKE A CRACK AT THE APPLES.

YOUNG TREES, WHO ALWAYS PRUNE FOR A CENTRAL AND LATERAL BRANCHES.

THAT IS CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM STRENGTH.

IF YOU HAVE A MORE MATURE TREAT, YOU WILL BE BRINGING OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.

ANYTHING THAT IS RUBBING, ANYTHING THAT IS DAMAGED, TAKE THAT OUT.

WE WANT TO OPEN UP A MATURE TREE SO THAT THE SUNLIGHT BEGINS TO PENETRATE.

ALWAYS PRUNE BACK TO A MAJOR STEM OR A BUD.

PRUNE THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND GET THE BLOOD TO GROW TO THE OUTSIDE.

TWO DIFFERENT CONCEPTS BUT THIS IS THE IDEAL TIME.

NEW MATERIAL AND THEN MATURE MATERIAL THAT NEEDS TO BE OPENED UP.

SHARON: DO YOU RECOMMEND ANY PLANTS THAT GROW BEST WITH THE SHORT GROWING SEASON?

DEB: ARE WE TALKING VISUAL PLANTS -- ANY PLANTS?

BOB: THE SEASON IS SHORT BUT WE GET PLENTY OF LIGHT SO I DON’T THINK YOU WANT TO LET THAT STOP YOU AT ALL.

OTHER THAN SOME OF THE WARM SEASON CROPS, I THINK YOU CAN GROW JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND GET A HIGHER QUALITY BECAUSE DURING THE DAY, WE’VE GOT PLENTY OF SUNLIGHT AND COOLING NIGHTS AND THAT HOLDS SUGARS.

TRY EVERYTHING EXCEPT MAYBE SOME OF THE WARM SEASON CROPS WHICH ARE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE.

SHARON: JUST GROW WHAT YOU LIKE, RIGHT?

BOB: JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, YES.

SHARON: GOOD TIPS.

OK, BOB, YOU ARE WANTING TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH US TONIGHT THAT HAS YOU DIGGING BENEATH THE SURFACE.

BOB: WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE CONSIDERING STARTING THEIR OWN SEED NOW.

I THINK IT IS ALWAYS FOR MANY PEOPLE A GOOD OPTION.

STARTING IS NOT DIFFICULT.

THE BIG THING IS YOU WANT A GOOD START.

YOU DON’T WANT TO USE POTTING SOIL BECAUSE IT TYPICALLY WILL CONTAIN SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER.

ALL YOU NEED TO START, THE ENERGY IS IN THE SEED SO YOU NEED GOOD DRAINAGE.

YOU NEED TO HOLD MOISTURE.

IT NEEDS TO BE NOT PERFECTLY STERILE.

YOU JUST DON’T WANT THE PATHOGENS THERE.

IT’S PATHOGEN FREE.

THE CRITICAL THING IS NO SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER.

YOU WANT TO GET A SEATING MEDIA THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN A GROWING MEDIA.

I HAVE USED ALL OF THESE.

I HAVE USED THEM IN COMBINATION.I HAVE USE D THEM ALONE.

RATHER START WITH THEM, AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THESE FUNGI.

IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THESE COMPONENTS, WE WILL TOUCH ON IT IN A MOMENT BUT I JUST WANT TO SHOW SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO A GOOD SEEDING MIX.

AND IF WE CAN SEE THIS.

INCIDENTALLY, THIS IS A MINERAL.

THESE ARE ALL NATURAL MATERIALS.

THIS WAS MINE AND EXPANDED TO ABOUT 1400 DEGREES.

THIS IS A MATERIAL.

SHARON: IT IS SHINY.

BOB: IT WILL ACTUALLY HOLD THE MOISTURE.

IT HAS A WEB STRUCTURE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS.

ANOTHER IS PERLITE.

THIS IS AN ASH THAT EXPENDED AT 1400 DEGREES.

IT IS ACTUALLY MINERAL-LESS.

THIS ACTUALLY PROVIDES AERATION FOR YOU.

THEN, NATIVE TO THIS AREA, WE HAVE THE MOSS.

THIS IS DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHAT IS MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN OFF THE UPPER PORTION.

IT’S PATHOGEN FREE SO IT IS NOT STERILE BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD MEDIA.

YOU CAN MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER AND WHEN YOU MIX THESE TOGETHER AND MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIX, YOU WON’T HAVE ANY SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS AT ALL.

YOU MIGHT USE TWO PARTS PEAT MOSS, AND ONE PART PERLITE.

YOU GOT A GOOD MIX.

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WETTING THIS -- REMEMBER, WARM WATER WILL WHET THIS MUCH EASIER.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO GO.

TH INTERESTING PHENOMENAE -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WITH US FOREVER.

IT IS A NATURAL FUNGI THAT OCCURS IN FORESTED AREAS.

IT COMES FROM THAT WORD -- I ALWAYS HAVE TROUBLE SPELLING IT.

MICRO STANDS FOR FUNGI.

IT’S ACTUALLY AN EXTENSION TO THE PLANT’S ROOT SYSTEM AND IT DEVELOPS A TRULY SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PLANT’S ROOTS AND THE FUNGI.

THE FUNGI, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER DIAGRAM OF THAT TO SHOW YOU THIS.

WE’VE GOT THE GREEN PLANT ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SOIL.

WE’VE GOT THE ROOTS.

THAT VERY FINE WEB THERE, IT IS ACTUALLY PULLING WATER, PULLING NUTRIENT OFF THE SOIL PARTICLES AND CARRYING IT RIGHT INTO THE CELLULAR STRUCTURE OF THE ROOTS.

IN RETURN, IT GETS ITS ENERGY FROM THAT GREEN PLANT.

IT’S TRULY A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WHERE THEY ARE BOTH WORKING WELL TOGETHER.

NOW, THIS WAS NATURALLY OCCURRING AND WE ARE SEEING IT BEING ADDED TO MANY MIXES NOW.

I THINK IT IS VERY BENEFICIAL.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU CAN ALSO BUY IT, YOU CAN ADD IT TO YOUR OWN MIX.

YOU ARE A BELIEVER.

MOST OF US IN THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY HAVE BECOME BIG BELIEVERS.

VERY EFFECTIVE FUNGI THAT CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR SEEDING.

AND IT IS NOT A SALT LICK A LOT OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS.

SHARON: THANK YOU.

LET’S GET TO MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

CAROL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DWARF CHERRY TREE DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR HER LOCATION?

DEB: I AM NOT A FAN OF DWARF BECAUSE OF WHERE WE LIVE.

DWARF ROUTE STOCKS ARE NOT AS HEARTY AS STANDARD ROOT STOCKS.

I AM NOT PRO-DWARF.

SHARON: WHAT DO YOU SAY?

BOB: THE ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS A SHRUB.

THERE IS THE ULTIMATE DWARF.

IF THEY WANT SOMETHING THAT IS ULTIMATELY DWARF, TRY A NANKING.

WE WILL NOT THE BIG CHERRIES HERE BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM.

NORTHSTAR.

YOU CAN USE ALL OF THESE.

I WOULD AGREE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE DWARF.

A SEMI DWARF OR STANDARD WILL BE HARDIER.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HARDINESS WITH CHERRIES AND THE ROOT SYSTEM.

STAY WITH A SEMI DWARF OR EVEN BETTER, PLANT THEM ON A STANDARD ROOT STALK.

YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH A NANKING.

SHARON: NICE.

SO, NICK WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT INDOOR PLANTS AND FUNGAL GNATS?

DEB: WE HAVE A GREEN AND SOMETIMES WE DO GET SOME FUNGUS GNATS.

SOME PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH USING THEM, THE MOSQUITO BITS.

WHAT IS THAT -- BOB: YEAH.

DEB: ANYWAY, I USE THAT.

WE HAVE A BIG AREA, SO I CAN RUN IT THROUGH INJECTORS.

I JUST PUT IT IN MY WATER SOLUTION AND I WATER WHEREVER I MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM.

IT IS GREAT BECAUSE WHEREVER YOU WATER, IT HITS.

BOB: POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

IF YOU SAY JUMPING ON YOUR PLANTS, IT IS NOT A FUNGUS.

THAT IS A SPRING TAIL.

IT IS AN ANNOYANCE BUT IT IS NOT REALLY DAMAGE THE PLANT.

FUNGUS PLANTS ARE DOWN IN THE SOIL AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY DAMAGE IT.

IN BOTH CASES, YOU CAN TRY THESE BITS.

THEY ARE ORGANIC MATERIAL.

OR IF IT REALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM, THERE ARE HYDRANGEAS YOU CAN BUY OVER-THE-COUNTER BUT THEY NEED TO BE DONE OUTSIDE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM.

ONE QUICK TREATMENT, YOU CAN ELIMINATE THAT.

SHARON: ALEX HAS A COLLECTION OF CUPS AND WOULD LIKE TO PLANT SOME SMALL PLANTS FOR EACH ONE INDOORS.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

DEB: SUCCULENTS ALL DAY LONG.

THEY ARE SO SIMPLE AND EASY AND THEY MULTIPLY.

DON’T OVERWATER THEM IN YOUR TEACUP AND DON’T OVER BABY THEM.

DON’T BE WORRIED ABOUT PUTTING ON WATER RUTS.

YOU CAN PUT ON SOIL BY JUST TAKING IT DIRECTLY INTO THE SOIL.

BOB: I LOVE THAT WORD.

IT WORKS WELL IN A TERRARIUM, NOT SO GOOD ON YOUR PIZZA.

[LAUGHTER] PEPPEROMIA.

SHARON: PLANTING IN A GREENHOUSE, WHEN TO START?

BOB: RIGHT NOW.

BETWEEN RIGHT NOW AND CERTAINLY THE END OF APRIL, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

YOU WANT AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.

HE COULD HAVE STARTED A LITTLE EARLIER BUT HE’S NOT AT ALL BEHIND BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THEM.

IT IS GOOD TO GO RIGHT NOW.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

OF COURSE, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GARDENING EXPERTS FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT 7:00 P.M.

NEXT THURSDAY FOR MORE TIPS AND INSPIRATION.UNTIL THEN , HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

♪