Wednesday, April 4, 2018

At last we have spring...maybe


            Welcome back to another episode of Lost In The Farmer’s Market, where we take a look into varied topics regarding sustainability, horticulture and organic practices. Continuing our tradition of shifting to garden topics as the weather warms this week’s post begins with an updated photo of the Memorial bed within the test gardens.

Thalia turned out to be color changing, a nice surprise.

This picture bears some explaining, in a prior post I may have noted that the test gardens were planned to be expanded every year for five years and the addition of these daffodils are part of the 2018 expansion. The variety is called Thalia and when I bought two bags of fifteen bulbs last fall the picture on the front of the package indicated that they would be pure white thus matching the motif of the memorial bed. When they came up and bloomed they were almost a bright butter-yellow sort of color and for the briefest of moments I thought the package had been mislabeled. Little did I know, each one actually fades to a warm white making them an interesting addition to the garden and within the color standards of the garden.  You can bet that more photos will be posted up here when the other bulbs planted in this garden start blooming. Speaking of things that bloomed unexpectedly in one way or another the second photo of this post is below.

In most instances sage seems to dislike our weather.
This is common sage or Salvia officinalis, and sage in general has a somewhat difficult time in our climate either due to our high heat, humidity or lack of a properly cold winter. However, when we do have a cold winter like we did this year Sage will bloom and that alone makes growing sage very much worth the effort and frustration. For those who have never seen common sage bloom it has the most gorgeous sky-blue flowers that are only rivaled by those of Chicory (chichorium intybus). Unfortunately, in the test gardens I have to replace my entire sage row every few years because they peter out no matter what I do. While they are here they provide seasonings for the soup kits and their gray-green foliage provides contrast against the nearby black fennel. Speaking of things that give me difficulty, take a look at the picture below.

Now that I can get it to grow I have no idea what to do with it.
This strange looking but super healthy plant is Rhubarb which is also known by it’s scientific name, Rheum rhabarbarum. Honestly with a scientific name like that no wonder we stick to calling it Rhubarb, though I must admit this is one of those plants I had very little success with until recently. As it turns out rhubarb seems to like being in a very large pot that’s filled with potting soil that’s been spiked with compost and other organic soil amendments. It doesn’t seem to like receiving afternoon sun. It also seems impervious to exceptionally cold temperatures so remaining in a post exposed isn’t a problem during it’s dormancy over the winter. Though the picture doesn’t do it justice, those leaves are a foot long, and for some strange reason the stems aren’t bright red. Even so, I am not complaining because this deciduous perennial is going to be a conversation piece for the Annual garden tour which is slated to be the first Sunday of May. 

For note this is where the advertising starts because it keeps the Test Garden’s supplied and running tests so you don’t have to. If you want to get some GMO-free, Organic vegetables, herbs and fruiting shrubs come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between he Hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Barring bad weather, I’ll be there selling the following spring offerings while supplies last.

Plants Available Now:
Lettuce, Parris Island – $3.00
Kale, Lacinato/Dinosaur – $3.00
Kale, Scarletbor - $3.00
Kohlrabi, Purple Vienna - $3.00
Peppers, Sweet Banana - $3.00
Peppers, Tobasco - $3.00
Swiss Chard - $3.00
Tomato, Brandywine - $3.00
Tomato, Black Krim - $3.00
Tomato, Golden Jubilee - $3.00
Tomato, Glacier - $3.00
Tomato, Mountain Spring - $3.00
Tomato, Sungold - $3.00
Tomato, Sweet 100 - $3.00

Basil, Genovese - $3.00
Basil, Thai - $3.00
Burnet, Salad - $3.00
Chamomile, Roman - $3.00
Chives - $3.00
Fennel, Bronze - $3.00
Lemon Grass - $3.00
Lavender, English - $3.00
Oregano, Italian - $3.00
Parsley, Italian - $3.00
Rue - $3.00
Savory, Winter - $3.00
Shiso, Red - $3.00
Tansy - $3.00
Thyme, English - $3.00

Mulberry, Dwarf (2 gal pot) - $15.00 (last one in stock)
Raspberry, Heritage (2 gal pot)

Coming Soon:
Santolina (aka Lavender-Cotton)
Hops, Zeus
Hops, Cascade
Figs, (assorted) (0.5 Gallon pot)
Raspberry, Heritage (2 gallon pot)

If the market isn’t your thing or your schedule does not allow you to go there my premium exotic house plants can be purchased in attractive clay pots with unique embellishments at LeClair’s General Store. LeClair’s General Store is located on 1212 Fort Bragg Road in Fayetteville North Carolina.

This is their Facebook Page:

The Visit NC page’s Listing:

Most recent deliveries to Leclairs:
1x 6” standard pot - Purple Glory Bush, Tibouchina granulosa
2x 6.5” rimless pot – Zebra Plant, Aphelandra squarrosa
2x 4” standard pot – Shark’s Tooth Cactus, Crassula corymbulosa
2x 4” standard pot – Creeping Pineapple, Abromeitiella brevifolia
2x 3.5” standard pot -  Pagoda Cactus, Crassula capitella
2x 3.5” standard pot – String of Lemons, Senecio citriformis

These days I am generally at the store at least twice a week, maintaining stock and/or delivering new materials so if you go to visit the store there is a fair chance I’ll be present to answer your questions. If not, you can always send me questions through this blog or visit the farmer’s market or pay attention to what Sustainable Neighbors is doing at the link below.


            This brings to a close the seventh LITFM post of the new year, stay tuned the next episode which should be posted roughly around the 18th of April.

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