News for the Nursery: Week of September 9, 2013

News for the week of September 8, 2013

City Farmer’s Nursery will be closed Saturday, September 14. Thank you for understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience. We will be open Sunday, September 15 and then will resume our regular hours of Tuesday through Sunday, 9-5.

If you plant in September, remember to do so in the coolest parts of the day, and keep your new plants watered!

We have some wonderful plants to suggest this week (please call to be sure of availability):

1 gallon Jerusalem artichokes: $5.99 each.

This is not an artichoke, and is native to North America! Also called a sunchoke. Blooms pretty daisy-like flowers. The tubers can be a substitute for potatoes.

1 gallon Mexican papaya: $9.99

2 gallon Moringa tree: $22.89

Also known as the tree of life.

1 gallon bay leaf: $8.99.

Can be grown as a hedge, trained as a tree, or kept in a pot. Useful in sauces, stews, and stocks. Once established, thrives with low amounts of water!

1 gallon lemon grass: $6.99.

Lemongrass has many uses, particularly in teas, soups and curries. Grows well here with a little regular water.

In the Nursery: Week of 09-01-2013

Remember, if you are going to plant anything this month, do so in the early part of the day or in the evening to reduce stress on your young plants. Provide some shade during the sunniest part of the day.

Water generously!

Available in our nursery for the week of September 1, 2013:

Call to be sure of availability!

• Assorted salad mixes: mesclun, radish leaf, arugula

• assorted spinach

• assorted kale

• chard

• beets

• assorted peas

We still have a few trays of the winter tomatoes: long keeper, tigerella and stupice.

Check out our new shipment of herbs!

September in the Garden

September in the Garden:

This month is about maintenance! If it is too hot for you to be out in the yard, then it is too hot for new plants.

• Water diligently.

• Continue to fertilize.

• Pick ripening fruit so plants will continue to produce.

• Keep weeds under control.

• Deadhead old blooms to promote new flowers.

• As summer crops finish, amend the soil with organic fertilizer and compost so active bacteria will break it down for fall and winter crops.

• Start seeds indoors.

• If you do any outdoor planting this month, be sure it is done in the early part of the day or later in the afternoon, to reduce stress on the plants in the heat.

Advice for our tomato and potato farmers:

At the end of September and the beginning of October, plant winter tomatoes. They need to be already growing while the soil is still warm to produce in the cool season.

When the potatoes you planted in the spring are dead, then go looking for the wonderful tubers. But wait till they are done to let the plants to put as much energy into the crop as they can.