Rain, Rain, and More Rain

Raindrops keep falling on our heads. Be glad you couldn't hear me sing that as I typed. This winter has been a wet one. Arbor Day is this month. Usually, I would be in spring mode, getting excited and ready to plant my yearly tree. However, my excitement is drowning. Then, I think, wait a minute, the ground is soft, and it's the perfect time to get a hole dug for my beautiful tree. EXCITEMENT has returned!!

It seems we only see the sunshine here about twice per week. People seem gloomy and maybe even grouchy. Take heed, it cannot last forever. All of this bad stuff will eventually be a memory. 

Could you ever imagine all this rain having a positive side? Well, there is, and we really need to focus on that. First of all, it replenishes our water table below ground. The water table is critical for those of us who have wells, to keep them from going dry.

Trees! Think trees. When we are experiencing a particularly wet season, you must think of trees. We all know that holes for trees seem endless to the one digging. However, if it has rained a lot, those holes are much easier to dig. It also cuts down on time spent watering a new plant. Of course, you'll need to water when it dries out — if it ever dries out. Rain can be helpful. it's very hard to see it that way through the gloom.

So now may be the ultimate opportunity if you were planning on adding trees or shrubs to your landscape or home orchard. The ground is soft and we still have enough sunny days to get it done. Unless of course, you plan on waiting for the weekend. We haven't seen a dry weekend in quite some time here in NC, but we are so blessed it has not been snow. 

March brings us ARBOR DAY. Arbor Day in North Carolina was designated as the first Friday following March 15. So, what better way to recognize that day than to plant a tree.

If you are curious about how and when Arbor Day got started, click the link and read more at https://mitchellsnursery.com/2022/01/20/arbor-day-2022/

Plant a tree and better our environment.

Divide and Conquer

 

Perennials are plants that grow back every year. We love them because of their beauty and they are mostly very low maintenance. However, every few years, we must take time to dig them up and divide the bulbs, tubers, and roots by at least 1/3. This will help the plant to grow and flourish when it's less crowded and not competing for nutrients. 

This simple task will also add more of the same kind of plants to your landscape. Or, if you would rather, you can share them with friends and family.

It is best to do the dividing on an overcast day as the direct sunlight may dry the plants out. This may make them struggle when replanted.

How to divide perennials

1. Dig up the parent plant using a spade or fork.

2. Gently lift the plant out of the ground and remove any loose dirt around the roots.

3. Separate the plant into smaller divisions by any of these methods: 

   • Gently pull or tease the roots apart with your hands; 

   • Cut them with a sharp knife or spade; 

   • Or put two forks into the center of the clump, back to back, and pull the forks apart.

4. Each division should have three to five vigorous shoots and a healthy supply of roots.

5. Keep these divisions shaded and moist until they are replanted. Replant as soon as possible.

Divide summer and fall-blooming perennials in the spring because:

• New growth is emerging and it is easier to see what you are doing.
• Smaller leaves and shoots will not suffer as much damage as full-grown leaves and stems.
• Plants have stored up energy in their roots that will aid in their recovery.
• Rain showers that generally come along with the early season are helpful.
• Plants divided in spring have the entire growing season to recover before winter.

It can be hard to know what to divide when. Check out this PDF to help you understand what, when, and how.

THINK SPRING!

HAPPY GARDENING!

Getting a Jumpstart on Spring

Can you imagine going to your garden in early spring and gathering vegetables for a fresh spring salad, even before a lot of veggies are ready to plant? Make your salad as simple or as complex as you want. There will be plenty to work with.

Cabbages offer a crisp texture and a bittersweet taste that please a picky pallet. Throw in some fresh lettuce for a softer bite and a gentle flavor. Broccoli adds a coarse texture and a mild taste. Cauliflower has a texture less coarse than broccoli and a touch of sweetness. Throw in a few radishes and onions for a bite, and you have a great salad, even before it is salad season. Add a few pansies or violas for a garnish.

In zone 7, spring comes earlier than northern zones and stays longer than southern zones. Therefore, our zone is ideal for growing most all cool weather crops. They grow, not only in the spring, but they do an encore performance in the early fall.

Right now is the best time to plant! Fill your garden spaces or pots with these veggies to help you hold onto hope for spring. It won't be as long as it feels like it will be. Mitchell's has collards, spinach, and broccoli ready to plant and others on the way.

* Broccoli

* Kale

* Spinach

* Cabbage

* Carrots

* Potatoes

* Beets

* Arugula

* Peas

* Radishes

* Turnips

* Brussels sprouts

* Pak Choi

* Lettuces

* Swiss Chard

* Cauliflower

* Collards

* Onions

* Kohlrabi

* Pansies

So many choices and endless combinations to bring spring to your dinner table a little early.

We also have pansies and violas to add color to your salad. They are edible also!

So, start planting now and enjoy the yield, enjoy the garden, enjoy the outside time.

Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Gratin

Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Gratin 

INGREDIENTS :

RECIPE NOTE: ALL DAIRY NEEDS TO BE ROOM TEMPERATURE BEFORE COMBINING

• 1 lb cauliflower florets
• 8 oz broccoli
• 8 oz brussels sprouts 
• 2 cups onion 
• 1 tsp olive oil or butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 1 cup milk 
• 4 oz freshly grated gruyere cheese
• 4 oz freshly grated gouda cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• black pepper 
• 1/4-1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1-2 TBSP butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 
2. Chop your vegetables
3. Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts until the broccoli turns vibrantly green and all three veggies are fork-tender. This will take This should take about 8 minutes. When your perfect texture is reached, Quickly dump the vegetables in a cold water bath to stop the cooking process to avoid overcooking. 
4. Place vegetables in a casserole dish and set aside.
5. Drizzle a medium pot with a little bit of olive oil or butter
6. caramelize your onions, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking until onions are golden brown and tender.
7. Turn your burner to medium-low heat and add 1/4 cup butter.
8. Once your butter has melted, slowly mix in flour a tablespoon at a time, whisking the mixture together as you go.
9. Once your roux has begun to form a paste with the onions, add room temperature milk and cream, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens.
10. Remove your pot from heat and slowly add 1/2 of the cheese.
11. Pour sauce over vegetables, then top with the cheese you set aside earlier.
12. Next, melt 1 TBSP of butter in a small skillet and add breadcrumbs. Mix constantly while toasting, then sprinkle over casserole.
13. Bake on center rack at 350 for 20 mins.

This recipe is surprisingly good. Even the pickiest eater will enjoy.

Cherry Dump Cake

Cherry Dump Cake

One can of cherry pie filling

One can crushed pineapple, undrained-20 oz.

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans, optional

1 stick margarine

Grease a 9 x 13” pan. Dump the whole can of cherry pie filling into the pan and spread over the bottom.  Dump the can of pineapple over the cherries and spread. Spread the dry cake mix over the pineapple. Melt the stick of margarine and spread it over the dry cake mix. Sprinkle the pecans over all. Put into the oven and bake at 350 for about 35-45 minutes until browned.

Show Your Garden Some Love

 Would you believe me if I told you that Spring is almost here? Probably not. I have a hard time believing it myself. The sunny days that look warm and inviting are still harboring a winter bite. The trees show no sign of life. The birds still sing but the songs are not as happy as they seem to be in the early spring when they are busy making their new nests.

You can still grab a jacket and a pair of gloves and go to your garden and yard to enjoy the chilly sunshine and help nature get ready for spring.

Your shrubs need some love before they wake up from winter's sleep. Now is the perfect time to cut out dead limbs from your evergreens and summer-blooming shrubs and cut them back if needed.  Perennial grasses such as liriope can be cut back to prepare for new growth. You will want to be sure not to leave clippings laying. Rake them out so that your new growth has plenty of air and light to produce lush growth.

Take the time to rake up the leaves that have accumulated around beds and along borders so that they don't smother any of your perennials. Putting the leaves you gather into compost will make them very useful next year. In fact, composting most of your trimmings is always a good idea as compost provides much-needed nitrogen and nutrients to your soil which will benefit your plants. Raking the leaves also will help your lawn to grow lush and green. 

February is a good time to spread the love. Spreading fresh mulch or pine needles will give you a head start on the spring weeds, giving you the advantage when they start into their growing season.

Also, don't forget about the spring songbirds that will be back soon. If you have birdhouses, you may want to clean them out and get ready for the next generation.

Prune your trees. Remove dead limbs, suckers, and limbs that cross. If you are planning to add a tree or shrub, you can do so now also. Bring in spring flowering dormant shrub limbs to put in a vase to force for early blooms, for some spring color indoors.

Get outside in your own yard, in your own space, and leave the mask inside. Breathe some fresh air and soak up some sunshine, even if it is still a little chilly. Sunshine is a good source of vitamin D and is known to fight depression. 

The best part is, NO MASK REQUIRED!

Happy Gardening!

Love Your Indoor Plants

 As the winter months drag on, we as humans tend to fall into the winter doldrums. Instead of setting our sights on the prize, Spring! This is true also with our house plants. We go about watering them as usual, but they still always look a little sad during the winter months.

There are 6 main reasons our plants that we share our living space with, look so depressed.

1) HEAT SOURCES

Heat sources are not a good roommate for plants. You may have had your Swedish vine sitting on top of the beautiful mantel all year, but did you think to move it when winter came and you actually had to use the fireplace? Any source of heat that you don't use all year can affect your plants negatively. So check their location and move them out of the bath of direct heated airflow. Your plants will thank you.

2) DUST

You have put time and effort into your plants all year. Now that it is winter you have the time to give them some love by getting the dust off of their leaves. When dust accumulates on the leaves of any plant it smothers their ability to produce oxygen and to take in much-needed light. Even a light layer of dust can reduce the amount of light taken in by the leaves by 35%. So take the time to use a damp paper towel and wipe down the individual leaves or at least the ones that are visibly dusty.

3) OVERUSE OF FERTILIZER

We tell ourselves that a shot of miracle grow at every or every other watering will produce a lush plant. Sometimes we are correct but other times, not so much. Your indoor plants are no different than your outdoor plants. they all go through a period of dormancy. It usually happens in the winter when the lighting changes and the temperatures, even in your home, change too. It is a good idea to stop the fertilizing around October and do not do it again till around march or April. Overuse of fertilizer can do more harm than good in the long run.

4) OVERLOOKING LIGHT CHANGES

You find the perfect plant. You take it home and find the perfect place to put it. You enjoy its beautiful growth. Then, along comes October all dressed up in days that are shorter, Nights that are longer, and temperatures that are cooler. Suddenly your beautiful plant doesn't look so happy. Probably because the sun's light crosses the sky differently. What may have been perfect in May is not going to be the same in October. You really need to make sure you have a plan b. you will need to see where and when the sun is landing in your home now. Move your plant to the spot that is nearest to the same light you had when you brought it home. Many miss this little tidbit.

5) OVER WATERING

This is the most common mistake made among plant lovers. 

we assume that the soil must be wet at all times. That just is not the case. Most plants fare better if they are thoroughly soaked and then let dry until the top 1/4 inch of soil is dried out. If the soil isn't allowed to dry some it can cause root rot. this is definitely something that is difficult for any plant to recover from.

6) DRY AIR

This is where your hair begins to succumb to static electricity. If the air is charged it is too dry for your plants but it is an easy fix. Simply fill a spray bottle with water and mist your leaves about every day or every other day. You will begin to see a huge difference.