From The University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

Growing Asparagus in Maine

Developed by Assistant Professor Mark Hutton and Extension Educator Tori Jackson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial crop that originated in Asia Minor but is now grown throughout the world. It has been cultivated for more than 2000 years for culinary and medicinal uses. Wholesome and nutritious, asparagus can be eaten raw or cooked, and is used fresh, frozen, or canned. In Maine, asparagus is one of the most popular early spring vegetables. Harvest in central Maine typically begins in early May.


For the full article (which includes great how-to photos) click here!

Bill's Favorite Native Plants: March

Allen, Sterling & Lothrop's nursery manager Bill Kennie has been working with the Falmouth Open Space committee to help eradicate invasive plants from the Maine landscape. Bill believes that it is very important to include native species in ornamental landscape gardens. Indeed, the more native plants a garden has the better--native plants are typically low maintenance, they provide food and shelter for wildlife and are visually in keeping with our native "wild" landscape

Disanthus Cercidifolius                                  “Redbud Hazel”

Height: 6-10’                                      Spread: 6-10’

This little beauty has blue-green heart shaped leaves that turn red-purple and orange in the fall.  Plant in part to full shade.  A perfect specimen for a Shade Garden!

 

Seed of the Month: Little Fingers "Baby" Carrots

Little Fingers “Baby” Carrots

New for 2013!!  

Who doesn’t love baby carrots?  Isn’t a baby carrot just an immature regular carrot?  Well, yes and no.  You can pick immature carrots but you must be vigilant to pick them before they get too big.  Little Fingers are slender and tender at maturity (65 days).  Little Fingers “Baby” Carrots are extremely sweet and perform well in containers and small garden plots.  If  you love to cook this is a great carrot to play with!

Little Fingers “Baby” Carrots are open pollinated (that is, the seeds of an open pollinated plant will produce a “true” replica of the parent plant).

Try  this nice recipe from Simply Recipes:

Roasted Baby Carrots Recipe

• 1 1/2 lbs of 5 inch long baby carrots, carefully washed, patted dry, greens cropped to 1 inch above top of carrot
• 1 medium red onion, peeled, cut lengthwise (root to top) into 8-12 wedges
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, or 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently toss together the carrots, red onion, rosemary to coat with the olive oil. Lay out on a rimmed baking pan, lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2 Roast for 30 to 40 minutes on middle rack or bottom rack, until well browned.

Identifying & Harvesting Fiddleheads

OK, so there's still plenty of snow on the ground--but, we all know that fiddle-heads are right around the corner!!

Here's a nice video from UMaine Cooperative Extension that explains how to identify and properly harvest fiddle-heads:

AS&L Garden Tips for March

The longer days of March remind us that spring will be here…eventually.

This month:

1. Give your compost pile a turn.
2. Inspect your gardening tools; use steel wool to remove any rust and debris from them.
3. Inspect plants for winter damage (like broken branches) & prune now.
• UMaine Cooperative Extension (Hancock) How To Videos:
• How To Prune Ornamental Trees
• How To Prune a Lilac Bush
• How To Prune Raspberries
• How To Prune Blueberry Bushes    
• How To Prune Apple Trees       
• UMaine Cooperative Extension On-Line Publications:
• Pruning Woody Landscape Plants
• Renovating Old Apple Trees            

Seeds to Start in March

March is upon us and I think we're all ready to see something green grow!!!
I find it very hard not to start my tomatoes in January. And, while March is still too early for tomatoes there are many vegetable, herb and flower seeds we can start in March. Please be aware that this seed-starting schedule is based on being planted on Memorial Day weekend (the traditional weekend for many Northeast gardeners to put their gardens in).

Tip from the Seed Room: To increase germination success for hard shelled seeds (like morning glory) nick the end of the seed or put in the freezer overnight. You can also soak the seed between damp paper-towels

All of March: Peppers (peppers have a long germination period and they vary with the variety, so be sure to check your seeds packet)

March 2nd: Leeks, Onions and Thyme

March 16th: Lupine, Shasta Daisy, Gloriosa Daisy, Ox Eye Daisy, Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea), Columbine, Carnation, Lobelia, Pansy, Statice, Catnip.

March 23rd: Parsley, Lavender, Cilantro (Coriander).

March 30th: Eggplant, Oregano, Calendula, Baby's Breath, Dianthus, Morning Glory, Moon Flower, Thunbergia, Icepand Poppy, Chinese Lanterns, Spearmint.

Check-out this cool video from UMaine Cooperative Extension

How To Build a Seedling Stand:



  

Bill's Favorite Native Plants: February

Allen, Sterling & Lothrop's nursery manager Bill Kennie has been working with the Falmouth Open Space committee to help eradicate invasive plants from the Maine landscape. Bill believes that it is very important to include native species in ornamental landscape gardens. Indeed, the more native plants a garden has the better--native plants are typically low maintenance, they provide food and shelter for wildlife and are visually in keeping with our native "wild" landscape.

Microbiota Decussata " Russian Cypress"

Height: 1'      Spread: 4 - 6'

Not offically a native but it is one of the hardiest and most versatile evergreen.
Russian Cypress is one of my favorite evergreens (as many of you who know me know already!). It has soft cypress-like foliage that turns burgundy red in the winter.  I have planted several of these in my yard.  When they reach matuirty they can reqally fill a space and are good for sloping areas.  I have planted these in full sun & part shade and they have done great!  The only thing they don't like is wet feet; so be sure to plant Russian Cypress in well-drained soil. It is very hardy and wind tolerant.