Temperatures are trending up!

It may not be a steady trend, but can we really wait any longer?

Do you still have plants in pots? Afraid that the soil is still too cold and wet? Let’s get them into the ground and give them a chance.

If you think your garden spot is still too cold, cover the plants with a cloche (fancy name for any sort of cover to keep heat around plants). It could be a plastic tent, a bell jar, or even a large jar turned upside-down.

One gardeners favorite is the Walls O’Water, those blue tubes filled with water. Though these are generally used to protect early plants from cold nights, they could be used all season to add extra warmth to the soil. And Portland gardens surely need that.

Tomatoes and peppers come from areas in South America where temperatures never dip below the 50’s. In our area temperatures never get above the 50’s. A bit of a tough spot for these crops.

And the continuing rain isn’t helping.

I'll be in the studio this Saturday, 10 till noon, so let's talk!

TaborSpace Master Gardener Clinic

Come celebrate the newest Master Gardener Plant Clinic in the community space and coffeehouse known as TaborSpace in the Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church at SE 55th and SE Belmont. Today, Wednesday, May 18th, from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Tonight's Kick-off Celebration includes specially-selected Vegetable Starts to get your garden started - finally! Many of the varieties for sale are those recommended for successfully growing in the NW by vegetable expert, Willi Galloway.

Green Zebra Tomato
Juane Flamme Tomato
Legend Tomato
Purple Calabash Tomato
Stupice Tomato
Cherry Bomb Hot Pepper
Little Finger Eggplant
Purple Tomatillo

Portland Nursery loaded up 100 of these premium organic veggie starts and they are on their way to the TaborSpace Kick-Off celebration,.

So drop by TaborSpace tonight - join the 'Kick-Off' celebration, get your garden question answered, buy some beautiful veggie starts, enjoy some sweet and savory treats, and the company of the TaborSpace community.

Slug Talk

It’s spring and the slugs are on their way! In many gardens (including my own), they are already here.

Join me this Saturday (March 26th) at the Better Living Show and find out how to fight these garden marauders.

The Better Living Show is all about living sustainably. There’s lots to learn at seminars, booths, and demonstrations. Discover today’s electric cars, efficient appliances, and environmentally-friendly building materials.

And for gardeners, there’s even more to know. Grow delicious mushrooms right on your kitchen countertop with Fungi Perfecti. Discover native plants with Linda McMahan and Carl Grimm. Find out how to grow vegetables year round with the Grow4it system. Backyard chickens, rain gardens, and urban composting – get all your questions answered.

And if slugs are your problem – come see me.

Saturday, March 26th
4:00 pm
Room D201
Better Living Show
Portland Expo Center

Garden Shows Herald Spring

You can really get excited about the upcoming garden season as you walk through the display gardens at our two big garden shows.

First up is the Yard, Garden & Patio Show (presented by our own Dave Etchepare's Dennis' 7 Dees) from February 18th through the 20th. There are innovative garden designs and lots of booths with new garden plants, art, and tools. Save the date!

The following week in Seattle, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show fills the Washington Convention Center with green roofs, water gardens, terrific seminars, garden-related jewlery, plants, seeds, garden hats, and on and on. For many people, it's a must-do each spring.

The Multnomah County Master Gardeners take about 40 people up to the show each year. The bus trip lets you arrive refreshed and the cargo compartment will hold all the goodies you find. If you'd like to hop on board, it's on Wednesday, February 23rd (first day of the Show). For all the details, contact June @ 503-477-8698.

And while I'm mentioning garden-inspired jewlery, I'm going to mention my favorite designer - Nature's Creations. You can see them in Seattle or right here.

Freeze Damage in the Garden

I did get the grapefruit into the garage and covered the less hardy pots outside. All the leaves got raked into the beds to cover most of the perennials. But I didn't get to everything before the freeze hit.

Once again the bananas froze. Oh, the crown and roots are fine and will put up banana "pups" come spring. But, one day I will find a way to protect the stalk enough to grow it taller than the eight feet I usually get. This year I just didn't get out there in time.

If some of your plants got caught out, as well, you may not be able to tell how bad the damage is until spring. We'll just have to wait and see whether that shrub or perennial leafs out. There will be more cold weather before planting season comes again, so take another look around the yard.

--Get the pots in close to the house or cover them with a "freeze blanket." Check your local garden center.

--Wind can dry out the leaves or needles of evergreens and roots can't take up water in frozen soil. Think about covering exposed plants - in containers or in the ground.

--Check on plants placed close to the house under the eaves. They may need water during winter dry periods.

The Cold is Coming

Dire weather warnings are in every newscast. Winter weather will arrive any day. Yes, we need to get ready. But, take a moment to enjoy any last bits of fall. My tuberous begonia carries on blooming - seemingly oblivious of the frosty temperatures on the way.

The dahlias were so late starting in spring that they just didn't get all their blooming in over the summer. They still carry on, as well. I hate digging them up to store for the winter when there might be a few more flowers in the offing.




No other flowers are left in my yard, but there is still plenty of interest for the birds and if you know where to look.

Here's what's out in my garden . . .

You've probably heard Mike mention that I bring various clippings from my garden into the studio to show off or to be a reminder. Well, I thought everyone would like to see what we are talking about.