Best Buy Extendable Hedge Trimmers

What new tools and infrastructure would you love to have this coming year? Get on the computer or bury yourself in a seed catalog to find a variety that may better suit your soil and climate characteristics.

Good choices include Bonarda, Mendocino, Santee, Early Purple Sprouting and Rioja. As early spring arrives, slowly remove the extra protection around the plants. In fact, some gardeners can harvest fresh shoots from the plants all winter long.

Step 8: Water As Needed The plastic can be removed whenever you need to water, but otherwise, leave it in place. Lay 2-by-4 boards across the trench every few feet and then cover the entire trench with a layer of thick, clear plastic film or rigid plastic...

It can get complicated for bigger operations, so consider that. It is in those moments of winter that the farmer really must think about how his or her crops are handing the excessive heat.

An unheated garage or cool cellar between 50 and 35 degrees F work great for this process. Once the danger of frost has passed, the transplants can be moved out into the garden, to a site that receives a minimum of six to eight hours of full sun per day.

To grow winter radishes using a cloche, sow seeds in clusters of three to five in a sunny garden spot. But, to ensure the plants don't get frozen out if cold weather arrives before Christmas does, here are three winter gardening techniques you can employ...

Use the pipe cutter to cut a piece of the EMT conduit pipe to that length. Step 8: Secure The Plastic Fasten the plastic to the raised bed frame, pulling the plastic taunt as you go.

Just remember to remove the covering for at least 8 hours per day to allow enough sunlight to reach the plants. Tags Lists , The Dirt on Gardening The late sowings will bolt weeks behind the first sowings simply because they aren't yet mature enough to...

With proper care, it will stay in flower for many weeks. By removing the terminal portion of all the stems, branching is encouraged and the plant will stay compact and well-shaped.

Succession crops need to reach maturity in just two to three months. For weeks after the warm-season crops have been killed by frost, these second cold-tolerant crops will continue producing.

For this method, large-leaved succulents, such as kalanchoes, flapjacks, sedums or echeverias, work best, though you can try it with smaller leaved plants, too. Let the kids help and plan to share the daughter plants with school teachers, friends and...

Increase Airflow Add vents and fans at each end, and convert the hoop house sides to roll up. Removing the plastic also allows rains to rebalance the salt content in the soil, which can build up under cover.

Be sure to cover them up at night, whenever a frost is expected. Pin down the edges to hold them in place, but remove the fabric in the late morning to allow access to pollinators during the day.

Using Your Cold Frame When you use your cold frame, as well as where you position it and how long you use it, are all based on your growing zone, what you plant and your gardening goals.

Or, you can create a larger display platform by setting boards from the steps to the supports on the opposite side. Use caution with these heavy windows, as they can be difficult to maneuver and would hurt tremendously if the lid accidentally slipped...

A farmer's desire for the first Brandywine tomato of the year may lead him to plant a row of Rose in the high tunnel, but many heirloom tomatoes don't do very well in an enclosed environment, leading to plant-health issues.

Don't allow it to get too dry. According to Eliot Coleman's The Winter Harvest Handbook : “Double coverage moves the covered area about three USDA zones to the ‘south'.” Use Additional Season Extenders: Row covers and cloches can warm the soil an...

You'll often see Black Futsu sold as an ornamental, when it should be sold as a winter edible. But, of all the crops our ancestors feasted on when the snow flew, it's likely that none was more valuable to them than members of the squash family.

Thanks to a sinus infection, I found one. Once inside the nursery it was difficult to determine what to do first. Rillito is so charming. Instead, I gather up my camera gear, phone and some cat treats and head for what has become my new favorite, family...

Step 5 Cover the hoop frame with heavy-weight floating row cover or plastic. Tags extend the growing season , Lists , raised bed garden , season extender , season extension Before you purchase the pipe, be sure it fits into the opening of the flagpole...

I have experience with the Grow-Span (Previously called EZ Build) system at three local farms, including my own. A wireless thermometer and humidity sensor is a handy way to monitor when to remove covers, open sides for ventilation and water.

While growing it from seed can take forever, you can transplant clumps in fall that may stay productive much of the winter. Rhubarb takes a few years to get established, and fall planting lets the harvest begin a year earlier than otherwise.

This is due to the extension of the harvest by at least three weeks. Researchers are experimenting with different plastics to find one that will provide a better temperature in the high tunnel.

And, with an added layer of supplemental insulation, your harvest can continue all winter long in all but the coldest of climates. Cover the piece of concrete reinforcement wire with another piece of chicken wire or boxwire fencing, and then place the...

While you're still likely to encounter pests, scouting your crops often and using soft pest-control products, such as Bt, pyrethrum and insecticidal soaps, will help to keep the pest population under control.

As long as you use the heat boosting techniques and choose the right varieties, you can enjoy these sweet treats during the summer. Tomatoes When it comes to short-season tomatoes, Britton sticks with the basics for his garden: beefsteaks, Romas and cherry...

The trick to forcing bulbs is understanding that bulb plants like these need to be exposed to cold temperatures for several weeks in order to initiate their bloom period. Cover this layer of bulbs with more potting soil.