Archive for the Winter Gardening Tips Category
Because of Ohio’s unpredictable fall and winter climates, it is generally the time of year when the gardening gloves are packed away and stored until spring. However, that does not have to be the case. Many leafy green vegetables can be harvested throughout the year, but more cautionary actions have to be made to keep the plants from dying during the cold months. Luckily, a greenhouse isn’t even necessary to keep producing crops through the winter!
The most successful greens you can harvest in the cold include spinach, arugula, kale, and leaf lettuce. To retain as much warmth as possible in the bed, it’s best if the seeds are planted in a raised flower garden. The tight space can retain the heat in a smaller area per square foot. Each crop is different, but planting can begin as early as mid-August and go through October to yield crops during the height of winter. A key indicator of when the crops will be ready to eat is comparing the temperature in fall. A warm fall yields greens sooner, and a cooler autumn will delay the growing process. It is best to have some trial and error years until you can grasp the best growing conditions for each type of green.
The key to crop survival is coverage. If you don’t have a green house, temporary shields are the path you will want to take. One of the easiest manmade covers is simply to place thick plastic sheeting over the entire bed, and secure it down with stakes or heavy rocks. Remember, the plastic must be able to be moved depending on growth area and to pick the ripe crops. Plastic can potentially harm the leaves of each plant so it’s important to make it a tent-like feature to hold the “roof” of the overlay high enough over the greens.
The weather is the overall deciding factor on whether or not you will be able to harvest a steady crop throughout the winter, but it is not to be discounted, it is possible! We advise you to talk to greenhouse or nursery expert to decide which crops and growing technique will suit your needs best. Be sure to contact Jones Topsoil for all of your winter gardening, and spring planting needs!
We work all year maintaining and caring for our gardens, so it’s important not to let all of that hard work go waste in the winter. While very few plants grow in Ohio in January, for the ones that do, it is important to take proper care so that once spring hits, you can easily jump back into it.
At some point this winter, we will get our famous Columbus, Ohio snow that comes out of nowhere and hangs around unwelcome for weeks. That is the perfect time to care for your ornamental plants and trees. After the snowfall, dust the snow off of ornamental shrubs and bushes, and tree branches that can be safely reached. It is common for a branch or two to break during a storm, so it is important to get it pruned off immediately following a storm to prevent peeling or cracking further.
Heavy ice is also something we often face in Columbus, and our shrubs and trees take the brunt of it. As tempting as it is, don’t pull icicles or break ice off of leaves or branches. The plant is highly susceptible to breakage when covered in ice, so it is best to let it melt off naturally.
As fun as it is to sled down the big hill in the back lawn and run around in the fresh snowfall, it could actually be damaging the ground underneath. Traction tears the healthy grass out from the soil causing patches of bare areas. It is important to be cautious of the foot traffic on the ground when ice and snow are covering it. As an alternate, use sand, birdseed or sawdust to help gain traction overtop the ice on the path leading to the house.
For more information about protecting your garden in winter, more winter gardening tips, or to plan your spring planting and gardening, contact the professionals at Jones Topsoil or give us a call! We are here for all of your soil and gardening needs.
Nov26
Winter Gardening Tips: Growing Amaryllis
Comments Off on Winter Gardening Tips: Growing Amaryllis
Winter in Ohio can be rough for gardeners. The itch to work on the garden is made difficult by all the freezing air and snow. However, winter gardening isn’t impossible if you have the determination. One perfect plant for winter gardening is the amaryllis.
Amaryllis is perfect for the dull winter gardening months. One reason for this is that amaryllis doesn’t stop growing once it’s planted so you stay busy with it the whole time. Also, it doesn’t require a lot of sunlight; just keep it in a place that receives some throughout the day. Another reason is that amaryllis only has to stay above 60F (but warmer is better).
Make sure you use a large container. Amaryllis grows large blooms that can be top-heavy if you don’t plant it in a container with a large base. In addition, some sturdy sticks will help to keep the plant from growing sideways and keep it nice and straight.
First plant your bulb in potting soil and pack the soil so that one-third of the bulb remains above the soil line. Place it in a location that gets sunlight and water it sparingly until you see about 2” of growth. Then, you’ll want to water it more regularly. Remember to turn the plant every so often so that it grows straight. It only takes 5-8 weeks for amaryllis to bloom so you can have some beautiful flowers during the cold winter months in Ohio!
To cut amaryllis and make a pretty display like the picture above, cut the flower stems when the first bud is just ready to open and place it in a sturdy vase. Change the water regularly and remove flowers as they fade. Your cut amaryllis should last for up to 10 days if maintained well.
If you need topsoil or mulch for any of your winter gardening projects, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to serve you in any way possible at Jones Topsoil!
HAPPY CUSTOMERS
I had 8 cubic yards of topsoil delivered to our house for use in a new flower bed. The representative I spoke with was very friendly, helpful, and professional. The soil was delivered the same afternoon I called.
The service was very quick. They offered to bring it out the same day but we had it delivered the next day. They showed up on time and delivered our topsoil.
This company was great. I had originally scheduled them to come on a Friday, but when I saw that the weather was going to be bad that day, I called on Thursday and asked if they could deliver that day instead. They agreed right away and delivered at the exact time I specified. The driver was actually waiting for me when I pulled in the driveway. He quickly pulled his dump truck into my driveway, dropped the topsoil exactly where I asked him to, took my check, and drove off. It was all very neat, orderly, and efficient. I love them!
The SoilPlus was worth every penny. It was great quality soil and so easy to work with. The driver who delivered the soil suggested he dump the soil in our beds rather than on the driveway as planned. What an excellent suggestion-saving us hours of work!
They delivered mulch and gravel to my house for me. They were on time with the delivery. I would use them in the future. They were courteous and kind. They were professional. The quality of their work was good. They were able to deliver it to me the same day. They were very responsive.
