Shallot and onion bulbs can be planted into cool, moist soil now. But other vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli should be started indoors over the next few weeks before transplanting them outside.
"Ed Buyarski"
Gardentalk – Here’s your early-season, pre-planting checklist
Gardening season is here! Master Gardener Ed Buyarski encourages us to finish with the clean-up of messy greenhouses and garden beds that we started last fall.
Gardentalk – Season finale on fall clean up of yard and garden, bringing in perennials
Remove all dead and dying vegetation so that it doesn’t turn into prime slug habitat. And, don’t forget to bring in your begonias, dahlias and fuschias for the winter.
Gardentalk – How to check for fruit ripeness
Softness, taste and sometimes color are the best ways to check the ripeness of kiwi, apples, pears and tomatoes.
Gardentalk – Gotta get that garlic growing in the ground
Plant the biggest cloves in rich, well-drained soil in a sunny location. They should be planted about 2 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart with each clove’s pointy end up.
Gardentalk – How to treat your freshly harvested potatoes with TLC
Very carefully loosen the soil and pull out potatoes by hand. Place the potatoes in trays or crates in a cool place so the skins can toughen up. Then, cover with blankets, cardboard or newspapers.
Gardentalk – How to collect your own flower and vegetable seeds
Master Gardener Ed Buyarski describes how to create your own seed bank or collecting seeds for your own use.
Gardentalk – Great Alaska Slug Hunt: Fight back against invading mollusks
A clean yard and garden can stem a slug onslaught. If that doesn’t work, then effective extermination methods include slug bait, salt, an ammonia solution, beer traps, or simply a pair of bricks.
Gardentalk – When home improvement projects require emergency tree and shrub care
Master Gardener Ed Buyarski has some tips for homeowners who are trying to preserve their trees and shrubs while major home improvement projects are underway. Also, the annual Harvest Fair and Farmer’s Market is Saturday, August 16 at the Juneau Community Garden.
Gardentalk – Thyme for a deep chive featuring sage advice; homegrown herbs are a big dill for cooks
Fresh, homegrown herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, chives, dill, basil, tarragon and oregano can really add that extra pop to any dish. Some herbs best retain their flavor and aroma depending on whether they are frozen or dried.