When do you plant garlic and onion sets? When they become available. Wells Brothers has garlic and onions, now is the time to plant them. These two crops are among the most mindless to grow. With that said, my garlic from last year was a wash out (pun intended). Their time to harvest is longer than other crops. Figure 7 to 9 months for both crops, but well worth the wait. Neither suffer from too many insects or diseases. Plant both with the root side down and the tip of the top exposed to the sunlight. No need to worry about freezing weather, as it will not affect either of them. Just keeping them fertilized, weeded and watered is about all there is to it. Harvest when the tops start to die or flower and dig them up don’t pull them.
We get calls throughout the year on the availability of wheatgrass seed. Just to let you know, wheatgrass is grown from wheat seed. It’s not a special wheatgrass seed. Availability of wheat seed is very seasonal because it’s an agricultural crop and not a garden crop. Normally, Wells Brothers has wheat seed from the middle of August to the middle of November. This year a pound of wheat seed will set you back $.80. But when it’s gone, it’s gone until next year.
Calling all history buffs! Here are some interesting historical facts that happened in October!
October 2, 1968 California’s Redwood National Park was established.
October 5, 1986 a plane carrying arms for Nicaraguan rebels was shot down by Nicaraguan Sandinistas. Former U.S. Marine Eugene Hasenfus was captured marking the beginning of the “Iran-Contra”
October 7, 1985 the Italian passenger ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly Jewish wheelchair-bound American, was shot and his body thrown overboard.
October 14, 1947 the first man to break the sound barrier is U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager.
October 16, 1859 Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry was seized by abolitionist John Brown and about 20 followers. Brown was captured by U.S. Marines under the command of Col. Robert E. Lee. Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859.
October 26, 1881 the gun fight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona occurred.
October 20, 1818 the 49th parallel becomes the border between the U.S. and Canadian.
One of the most annoying garden critters we fight in the cool weather is the cabbage looper. A green inch worm looking bug that loves leafy plants. They can be very damaging but they are also easy to control. You need to scout the garden to identify the problem before they get out of hand. The weapon of choice is Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). Bt is available in both liquid and powder called Dipel Dust. It is not noted on the label but I have found that liquid Bt works better if it’s used with a sticking agent (surfactant). I have used both a non-ionic surfactant called “Spreader Sticker” and liquid molasses for this task. Both work well but I prefer the Spreader Sticker as the liquid molasses has a tendency to gum up the sprayer. Do not use soap or detergent for this task. If you decide to go with Dipel Dust you don’t have to deal with any of that. But it’s very hard to get the powder to stick to the bottom of a leaf.
Did you have issues with squash bugs, squash vine bores, cucumber beetles or root nematodes this past spring? Taking a page from Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”, attack them when they are at their weakest. That would be in dormancy. The weapon to use is beneficial nematodes. These microscopic, subterranean worms act as parasites on non-beneficial pests. Since the larva of the bad guys are in a dormant state in the soil, they are easy prey for the nematodes. Nematodes are mixed with water and poured through a provided sieve. For garden applications I use a clean watering can, although you can use pump-up or hose-end sprayers. They are applied on damp ground as the sun is setting. Water the area thoroughly after application. The nematodes we carry will cover a quarter of an acre or the large size that covers half of an acre. As always read and follow the label direction.
Stop by Wells Brothers for all your garden and lawn supplies. Whether you’re going to the organic or synthetic route, we’ve go the knowledge and products you need for a beautiful lawn and garden.
To raise healthy game fish you need to provide the right environment for them to thrive. There are four key elements which are considered ideal for a productive and healthy pond that is convenient to maintain. Use these as standards when constructing a new pond, or as guidelines to make improvements to your existing pond.
Check the location of your pond. It should be adjacent to a source of clean, clear water. Soil in this area should be at least 30% clay so it will hold water. The watershed should be large enough to keep the pond full – typically 10-30 times the size of the pond. If the watershed is too large, or too close to fertilized cropland or livestock pastures, consider building a ditch around part of the pond to divert some of the water.
Next, look at the banks of your pond. The slope of the above-water banks should be 3:1 or 4:1 to make maintenance easier and to help prevent soil erosion. The minimum pond depth for underwater weed control is 3 feet; information on minimum depth to prevent winterkill in your area is available from local extension agents. Depth should be determined by comparing rainfall to evaporation in your area. Maximum depth is what is reasonable for your pond’s location and, of course, your budget.
Install a drainpipe that drains the pond from the bottom to make management and maintenance easier. For example, drawing down the water level for three consecutive winters can reduce as much as 90% of undesirable submerged vegetation. Also, the number and size of harvestable game fish usually increases following drawdowns.
In order to protect the nutrient quality of your pond water, it is always better to divert excess water around rather than through your pond. You may also consider adding an emergency drainway in case of heavy rains; do consult your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for information and regulations in your area.
There are five main factors that determine the overall quality of water in a given pond. These include:
For more tips on establishing a healthy pond, contact your local Purina Animal Nutrition representative.
Source: Larry Varner, Purina Animal Nutrition
Wells Brothers Pet, Lawn & Garden Supply is pleased to offer monthly specials and coupons.
Click here for the coupons. wb-may-2024-coupons