It’s on every news program, “food prices are going up.” So what can you do? There are a lot of things to help cut that
grocery bill. First, grow your own vegetables. Second, buy locally from the farmer or at the farmer’s market. If you want to grow your own, it’s easier than you think (and you can grow them anywhere!). Some vegetables can grow in shadier locations, some in containers, and some on a windowsill. You can even add a few vegetables to your flower garden - who says that’s not a good idea? Most salad greens, arugula, and mustard will grow in light shade or full sun. Radishes can be harvested in less than 25 days. Tomatoes are the perfect plant for large containers.
Think of what your family likes to eat and grow some this summer. Don’t just grow vegetables that you harvest and eat right away, think about the winter months and plan for that fall harvest - growing things like winter squash can extend the food supply well past the New Year.
Planting Parsley Seeds
Parsley is a little tricky to grow from seed; it takes a long time
for it to germinate. To speed up germination, use these tips.
First, soak the seed overnight in water that started out being
lukewarm. Parsley seed has a chemical in the seed coat
that inhibits germination. Soaking
the seed removes enough of
the inhibitor to get things started.
Once the parsley seed is planted
in the seed box place the container
in a completely dark place until
the first signs of germination (light
also interferes with germination).
Young seedlings should be placed
in a sunny window or put under
grow lights. After the parsley has
sprouted the seedlings will grow
slowly. Once they are big enough to handle, transplant
them into individual pots.
Seeding the Lawn
Spring is the second best time after fall to apply grass seed
to the thin areas of the lawn. May is an ideal time to get
grass seed established before the hot weather. The following
chart shows how many square feet can be covered with a
pound of grass seed:
New lawn
Over-seeding
Bluegrass
500-600 sq. ft.
1000-1200 sq. ft.
Other grasses
300-350 sq. ft.
600-700 sq. ft.
When purchasing seed make sure to have a good mix.
Choose mixes that have bluegrasses, perennial rye grasses
and fescue grass seed. The more variety of grass seed the
less likelihood a disease will take out the
whole lawn. Look for new grass blends
at Bachman’s Garden Centers. If you
have had salt damage use Boulevard
Mix, this grass mix tolerates salt more
than the other grass seed mixes. To
repair pet traffic areas or walking paths
use High Traffic, this blend stands up
to the wear and tear. Cabin Mix is a great low-maintenance
mixture perfect for the weekend home or places that are
hard to mow due to steep slopes. For those areas that just
won’t grow grass, try Dense Shade Mix, this blend is
formulated to be planted under large shade trees, around
pine trees and areas that get less than ½ a day of sun.
Tips
•Plant tomatoes now if you use Wall-O-Water, a plant
protection devise.
It shields plants from the cool night
temperature.
•Grass won’t grow? Find an appropriate ground cover for
the exposed
earth and fill in the problem spot with
perennials that thrive year after year.
•Place grass seed in the freezer over night this will
speed germination.
Did you know?
Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) freeze during the winter
and thaw again in the spring. Wood frogs are native to
Minnesota and are found throughout the state,
except the southwestern counties.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh flower arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding flower design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh flower arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
