Northern & Central Midwest Regional Report

Succulents Will Win You Over

If you've never been a fan of succulents, I'm going to try to change your mind. They are certainly in a class of their own, with their fleshy leaves, easy care regime and tidy appearance. One group, the cacti, often have thorns, but if that bothers you,...
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Resources

The Succulent Plant Page
How to Make a Hypertufa Pot

Save Repotting for March
Attend a Seminar
Clean out Old Seeds
Sharpen Garden Tools
Have a Seed Ordering Party

Extend Your Vegetable Season

This has been the perfect year to extend the season with use of a cold frame or hoop house. It's been unusually warm in my area, all the way into December, and the hoop frames I put over my raised beds have given me wonderful greens all the way through...
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Resources

Wisconsin Fresh Market Growers Association
Extending the Season

Bring Christmas Cactus Back to Bloom
Plan Your Seed Starting
Get Planting Supplies Ready
Start Worm Composting
Raise Humidity for Houseplants

Eat as Local as Possible

I suppose now that the gardening season is coming to a close, it's only natural to yearn a bit for the fresh vegetables that were so abundant during summer. But we don't have to give up fresh, local food. We simply need to change our attitude a bit, as...
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Resources

Beginning Farmers
Alternative Kitchen Gardens

Enjoy the Winter Wonders
Grow a Hoya
Plan the Spring Garden
Monitor Poinsettias after the Holidays
Keep Cyclamen and Paperwhites Cool

The Late Fall Garden

My carrots are in! With the extended fall we've had, I've been bringing in the garden fairly slowly this year. I finally dug my carrots and shredded them for the freezer. You can certainly keep carrots in the crisper or root cellar, but I've found that...
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Resources

No Mow Grass
Alternatives to Lawn Grass

Plant Seeds of Annual Herbs
Remove Screens for More Sun
Stick Greens into Potting Soil
Mulch Hybrid Roses
Use Natural Materials to Decorate

Fall Reflection

The garden's almost finished for the year. Except for the final clean-up, things are going to sleep, the soil is preparing for its snow blanket, earthworms are burrowing deep and the landscape is heaving a sigh. I actually love this time of year simply...
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Resources

Black Velvet Petunia
Veggie Harvest

Force Leftover Bulbs
Plant Bareroot Trees and Shrubs
Use Herbs to Brighten Meals
Clean Feeders
Keep an Eye on Houseplants

Frost Only Sweetens Some Vegetables

It may be well past the first frost date, but that certainly doesn't mean that the garden is finished. Tomatoes and cucumbers have gone, but the stalwart frost-hardy vegetables are still going strong. In fact, some of them will continue to give us...
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Resources

Local Dirt
Let Lettuce Plant Itself

Clean Up the Orchard
Clean Your Tools
Start a Worm Bin
Carefully Place Christmas Cactus
Bring Amaryllis into Bloom

A Touch of Xeriscaping

It may seem a little unusual to think now about landscaping for next year, but the weather is getting a bit unpleasant, at least in my area, so I tend to spend less time outside and more time inside next to a fire in the evenings. I've been pondering...
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Resources

Xeriscaped
Dry-Land Gardening

Protect Equipment from Freezing
Give Extra Care to Houseplants
Plant Bulbs
Protect Roses
Plant Trees and Shrubs

Planting Fall Crops

The cold weather is coming on fast, and I can't stand the idea of giving up my Swiss chard, mustard greens, and lettuce that are thriving right now. So I'm hauling out the cold frame. I still have some small Chinese cabbages and endive also, so I'm...
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Resources

Building a High Tunnel
Use Coffee Grounds as a Great Deodorizer

Lift Tender Bulbs
Winterize Ponds
Harvest Winter Squash
Protect Against Critters
Compost!

Frost Sweetened Kale

It seems that this time of year, I always tend to wax philosophical about greens. But how can I not? The peppers and tomatoes are almost finished for the year, but the greens are going strong. A walk through my garden right now yields a basket full...
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Resources

The Heirloom Gardener
Midwest Fruit Explorers Show and Sale

Leave Your Leaves
Start Pruning Only after Leaves Fall
Prepare Houseplants for their Return Indoors
Leave Seedheads for Winter Interest
Dispose of Diseased Plants

Plant a Meadow Garden

A meadow garden, once established, will reflect the rhythm of the seasons. It starts with bulbs and tiny spring wildflowers, moves through summer with larger, blowsy sunflowers, gaillardia and ironweed, and then ends the season with the beautiful...
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Resources

Garden Inspiration
Use Shredded Straw for the Best Mulch

Fix Your Lawn
Harvest Herbs Through Fall
Harvest Potatoes and Onions
Monitor Rainfall
Harvest Tomatoes Before Damage Occurs

Landscape Mishaps

We all try to do the best for our landscapes, but sometimes, we just don't realize that we may be making some mistakes that can be avoided. Most of the mistakes I'm going to describe can be fixed; all can be prevented with a little education....
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Resources

Michigan State Forestry Publications
Blueberry Farm Journal

Wait to Transplant Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
Platn Evergreens by October 1
Buy Bulbs Now!
Core Aerate your Lawn
Prune Raspberries Properly

Northern & Central Midwest Regional Report

Succulents Will Win You Over

Resources

Reminders

Extend Your Vegetable Season

Resources

Reminders

Eat as Local as Possible

Resources

Reminders

The Late Fall Garden

Resources

Reminders

Fall Reflection

Resources

Reminders

Frost Only Sweetens Some Vegetables

Resources

Reminders

A Touch of Xeriscaping

Resources

Reminders

Planting Fall Crops

Resources

Reminders

Frost Sweetened Kale

Resources

Reminders

Plant a Meadow Garden

Resources

Reminders

Landscape Mishaps

Resources

Reminders