Page 14 - Blog

Fennel Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”-1/2”
Row Spacing:12”-18”
Seed Spacing:3”-6”
Plant Spacing: 12”

Herbs may be either direct-sown outdoors after the threat of frost has passed, or started indoors for transplanting or container gardening. Herbs require moderately rich, well-draining soil with at least 5 hours of bright sunlight. To start indoors: sow lightly in sterilized seed mix, lightly moisten and cover with plastic wrap until germination takes place. Do not water again until sprouts emerge. Remove plastic wrap once sprouted. Transplant outdoors when the threat of frost has passed. Some perennials like Lavender, Catnip or Savory prefer to be started indoors. Others such as Chives, Sage or Fennel prefer to be direct-sown outside once the soil has warmed. Most herbs dislike chemicals or over-fertilization. Feed lightly with kelp or fish emulsion once seedlings are well established. Keep lightly moist: never wet. Pinch back the plants to avoid flowering and to encourage

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ac quam in nisl volutpat finibus.

The Bantam Bread Company
Bantam, Connecticut

Known far and wide, Niles and the Bantam Bread Company offer an amazing range of superb artisan breads; colorful, aromatic focaccias; fresh fruit tarts, dirtbombs and exquisite cookies. Attending the annual August Litchfield Jazz Festival and need special picnic fare? Call Niles at (860) 567-2737 and place your order.

Forget-Me-Not Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:0”
Seed Spacing:5”-6”
Plant Spacing:10”-12”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F

Myosotis sylvatica. Forget-Me-Nots can be direct-sown into the garden as soon as the ground can be worked, or may be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside. Prepare a bed in partial shade with rich, well-draining soil. Sow seeds on top of soil, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Provide even moisture and strong light. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions over 1 to 2 weeks prior to transplanting out 10" to 12" apart. Forget-Me-Nots love moist soil conditions and work well in shade gardens or rock gardens as well as sweet terrace pots. Prolific, they may reseed for future years of vibrant blooms. Spring to summer flowering. Height: 6" to 12".

Shade Tolerance

Our Pollinators are in Peril

Managing Biennials
Deciding

Gardening Tips: Managing Biennials
Deciding how to treat annuals and perennials is simple. Annuals dazzle you in summer, then take their leave. Perennials persist as long as they are welcome. But biennials are a two year proposition in which they are sown one year and bloom the next. If you have never tried biennials you might ask, “Are they worth it? I wait a year for this thing to flower, then it’s gone.” Well, not exactly. Biennials tend to be self-sowers which, once established, create their own little program. You have to get with their rhythm and learn to like their individualistic ways. One way is to give them a designated spot. Plant hollyhocks in the rear of a bed, since they’re tall, and next year they’ll make colorful, towering spires, dropping their seeds and creating a hollyhock neighborhood back there. A foxglove neighborhood might be a spot with dappled shade, in and around a shrub border. Forget-me-nots will congregate in a damp spot. Lupines, once introduced, might reappear

Four O’Clocks Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”-1/2”
Seed Spacing:4”-5”
Plant Spacing:12”-18”
Days to Germination:7-12 days
Germination Temperature:70°-80°F

Syn:Mirabilis jalapa. An old-fashioned flower, the Four O’Clocks Mixture is so named because it doesn’t open until about 4:00 PM unless it is cloudy in which case they could bloom earlier. Because they are fast to grow, it is best to sow them directly in the garden. Sow 1⁄4" to 1⁄2" deep in well-draining soil and full sun in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Keep the seedbed moist until seedlings emerge. You can also start indoors in peat pots 4 to 6 weeks before planting out. When seedlings have 4 true leaves, transplant out or thin to 12" to 18" apart. Although Four O’Clocks are not fussy and will thrive virtually anywhere, they do like to be watered occasionally if it gets dry. They may self sow in milder climates. Their trumpet shaped flowers will grace your garden with a delicious fragrance in an assortment

Foxglove Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Digitalis purpurea. These classic cottage flowers thrive in partial shade. It is best to start them indoors 10 to 12 weeks before setting out. Sow seed thinly and shallowly, as light aids germination. Keep moist and provide warmth and strong light. Transplant to larger, deeper pots so their root systems can develop fully once the seedlings are about 2" tall. When the plants reach 5" to 6" tall, “harden them off” by gradually exposing the plants to the outdoors for 7 to 10 days. Transplant them outside up to 2 weeks before last frost date. Plant in rich, well-draining soil. Keep watered and mulched; do not let them dry out. If you want to cut them for bouquets, wait until the bottom third of the flowers on the spike have opened. Cutting them back and deadheading them will encourage side shoots and second blooms to develop. Height: 4' to

The Totally Corn Cookbook
by Helene Siegel and Karen Gillingham
Published by Celestial Arts
Produced by Becker & Mayer! available at Penguin Random House
The series of Totally Cookbooks unlocks the breadth of recipes available for corn, garlic, potatoes, strawberries, carrots, chile peppers, eggplant, tomatoes (and other key ingredients like chocolate, shrimp or mushrooms). Perfect for corn-loving kitchen gardeners in a summer gift basket, The Totally Corn Cookbook has really wonderful recipes to make the most out of the peak of the corn harvest.

Garlic Growing Instructions

Harvest-Time Tips for Globe Onions and Garlic

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties

I concocted this in a low-carb phase and found it most delicious and satisfying.

John Scheepers
Bantam, CT
We adore sautéed shrimp and after years of experimenting, we came up with this recipe. It is sinfully delicious with or without the lo mein noodles.