Please click here to read newsletter if not displayed below: http://www.orchardnurserynews.com/news/552
Edition 5.52 The Orchard Online News December 29th, 2005

3 day forecast

3 day forecast

3 day forecast



Lafayette
Weather Courtesy of:
Weather Sponsor

Subscribe Now to
The Orchard Online News
Subscribe
Unsubscribe
Tell a Friend about our Newsletter
YOUR EMAIL
YOUR NAME
THEIR NAME
THEIR E-MAIL
Have a Look Around our Site

Be a Guest Gardener:

Gardeners love to learn from other gardeners "over the fence." We would love to include a tour and or an article from one of our readers!

Contact Information:

E-Mail:
Click to e-mail us.
Telephone:
 (925) 284-4474

Address:
4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA 94549

Dr Earth

Gardner & Bloome
Master Nursery
Bulb Food.

E. B. Stone Tomato & Vegetable Food
is formulated from quality natural organic ingredients for use throughout the vegetable garden as well as with soft fruits like strawberries. It will contribute to even plant growth without producing excessive foliage at the expense of fruit. The additional phosphorous helps to ensure the production of high quality fruits and vegetables. The calcium in our Tomato & Vegetable fertilizer aids in preventing disorders like blossom end rot and helps to correct acidic soil conditions. For superior produce, use our Flower & Vegetable Planting Mix with native soil when preparing your beds.
quote of the week

Quotation of the Week:

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."
— Author Unknown

 

Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2006!

We are closed Jan. 1st and 2nd and will be back to our regular schedule on Jan. 3rd: 8:30-5:00.


DECEMBER
Dormant spraying-

Just a reminder not to neglect dormant spraying over the holidays. The leaves have pretty much left and the trees are bare, so if you did not spray earlier now is the time.

If you did get an earlier spray in, it is still a good idea to do a midseason spray in case weather or your busy schedule prevent you from making the late winter spray.

Give your dormant plants a holiday gift that will return benefits all next season!

Annual Pruning Demonstration
Join our own Bonnie Brusseau, Advance CCN Pro. With a seminar fee of $10.00, you will receive an Orchard coupon valued at $15.00 along with a gift pack, valued at over $20.00
Special session for newsletter customers Wednesday January 18th from 10-12
Available to the general public Saturday January 21st from 10-12 - Sunday January 22nd from 11-1
Reservations are required as seating is limited. Please call in advance to reserve your seat. No tickets will be sold at the door. Call 925/284-4474

The Benefits of Frost Cloth

by Tamara Galbraith

Using frost cloth can mean the difference between life and death this time of year. Maybe you're trying to squeeze in (and keep the bunnies away from) some lettuce before the really bad weather sets in. Or maybe that prized plant will only take temperatures down to 35°. Whatever the case, having a good supply of frost cloth — also sometimes called a 'row cover' — is a must.

Frost cloths can generally be found cut to several different widths and lengths, and woven into varying weights. At Orchard Nursery we offer protective bags for individual hanging baskets, containers, and small plants in the ground; 10’ by 20’ sheets are available for citrus and other larger plants in the ground, and 6’ by 20’ blankets can be used for row crops. We even offer a commercial grade frost cloth 35’ wide cut to order by the foot for jobs of great size or odd shape (the cloth can be cut to fit).

Frost cloth allows both light and water to penetrate, instead of getting soaking wet and heavy like cotton or other fabrics or having water pool in low spots like plastic sheeting. Also, frost cloth is more breathable. If temperatures warm up during the day following the cold and you've left the cloth on, chances are your plants won't get cooked, as opposed to what could happen with plastic or cotton sheeting.

While you can just 'float' the row cover directly on top of plants, the best set-up is to install hoops or some other support for the frost cloth, making sure it is tall enough to not allow the cloth to touch the plants. Then, drape the cloth over the support and secure it on all sides and at the base, so that the warmth of the ground rises and is trapped around the plants. Office supply-type binder clips, spring clamps, and u-pins all work well for securing the cloth to your chosen support and to the ground.

Timing is important too. If you know Jack Frost is coming, give your plants a good drink of water and get them covered before sunset to trap the most available warmth.

Most commercial frost cloths can be washed in the washing machine on gentle cycle and re-used for several years. They are also great in the springtime as an insect barrier or shade cloth...or for keeping those pesky bunnies away.

Houseplant Clinic!
Start the New Year with happy, healthy houseplants! You know, it this time of year, after all the holiday trimmings have been put away, that we can take the time to refresh our indoor “landscape”.
  • We’ll teach you how to recognize, prevent and eliminate the top 5 houseplant pests.
  • We’ll share with you our top 5 favorite houseplants and tell you why we like them.
  • We’ll teach you repotting skills in a nutshell: how, why, when and with what!
It’s time to take stock and inspect your indoor plants, consider repotting and feeding them, examine them for pests and consider adding a few new ones to refresh and brighten your home during the long winter months ahead. One lucky participant will take home a wonderful prize!
Your first step? Join us and learn how! No need for reservations and the clinic is free!

Featured Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

What You'll Need:

  • 2-1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
  • 2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 medium carrots, coarsely shredded
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 (10-1/2 oz.) can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (6-oz.) package long grain and wild rice mix uncooked
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 5 cups water

Step by Step:

In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine cooked chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, cream of chicken soup, uncooked rice and the contents of the rice seasoning packet.

Gradually stir in chicken broth and 5 cups water.

Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH heat setting for 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 8-10 servings

print

 
print thisclick here for a printer friendly version of this page
Garden Center News Written content © 2004-2011 Garden Partners LLC, or respective authors. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. All written content contained in this site is protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, or broadcast without prior written permission of Garden Partners, LLC. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. Would you like a newsletter like this for your nursery or garden center? Please feel free to look at what we have to offer and contact us for your garden center marketing solutions.