EAT AND GROW
GREAT GARLIC

If you haven't had non-supermarket garlic, you are in for a treat. Varieties like Chesnok Red or Spanish Roja will blow you away with their gorgeous aromas and depth of flavor. (We mention Chesnok Red, because we recently had an in-house garlic tasting, and it came out on top, though each variety had its own interesting qualities.)

If you are unsure of what variety to grow, buy a few garlic bulbs and try them out! Seed garlic bulbs are edible (the ones we get are not treated). Remember to try each variety raw, cooked, and baked. (Some varieties are exceedingly hot raw, but deep and mellow when baked.)

Garlic is relatively easy to grow if you pick a good spot and prepare the soil correctly. Garlic is planted in the fall and harvested at the end of the following summer. As you would expect, you're going to want rich, well-draining soil, so your garlic doesn't rot during the winter. It grows well in a raised bed too.

While that's a long investment of time, the payoff is delicious garlic bulbs next summer...and a harvest of garlic scapes in the spring!

We have five varieties of garlic in stock. (Plus elephant garlic, which by the way, isn't a true garlic. It's a member of the leek family. It's delicious nonetheless.)

Now is the time to plant garlic. Come on in for our garlic handout.

IT'S TIME FOR
HOLLY DAYS*

Holly Days are here!

Come in November 7-9 for the biggest sale of the year and our kick-off to the holiday season!

Here's what to expect:

• 40% off ALL plants (indoor and outdoor)
• 40% off ONE non-plant item for each day of the sale. One discount per family, please.
• Wreathmaking machines open.
• Donna's new holiday decorations, gifts, cards, and more.

For more information about Holly Days, deliveries, rules, etc., click here.

* No, we don't actually sell holly (though we often have holly sprigs to tuck into wreaths), as holly is considered invasive in Washington state, so please treat the name with some holiday levity.

IT'S FEELING CRISP OUT THERE

Now that the heat is behind us, we can finally enjoy fall. As it gets cooler, plants slow down and divert their energy to winter survival. There are things we can do to help our plant friends prepare for the long winter and emerge in the spring extra strong:

• Do a light mulching of your garden beds with compost. Compost helps add organic matter to soils that have been depleted by all the watering we needed to do over a long dry summer. This layer also protects roots from extreme cold and as we move into the next year, holds onto moisture and keeps the roots cool.
• In general, you don't need to fertilize established plants at this time of year, because you don't want to encourage new growth that might be damaged by frost or a deep freeze. However, for established woody plants, applying Soil Science Bloom Driver or EB Stone Ultra Bloom encourages root and flower growth for the upcoming season, especially for lilacs, camellias, rhododendrons and fruit trees. These products have a low amount of nitrogen but high enough phosphorous.
• It's a good idea to give your lawn one more dose of fertilizer before winter. This helps give roots a boost so your lawn comes back stronger in the spring. Pick a time that's not too rainy (or the fertilizer will just wash away) and before a deep freeze when the grass is dormant.
• Before we get into our storm season, it's good to thin out tree and shrub branches that may be encroaching on your paths, driveways or above your house. As long as you're not removing more than 20% of the overall volume of your plants, you are not setting back their health. It’s better to make those pruning cuts yourself rather than having the wind or wet snow do the trimming for you.
• If you have veggies growing, such as leafy greens, you should consider covering them with a cold frame or cloche to extend the season.
• Consider getting some Reemay or protective material (Harvest Guard) to cover your tender plants before a cold spell. Also, you may want to move potted tender plants to a protected area before such a spell.