The Greenhouse is Coming Alive!

After just a few days, the empty metal and concrete structure of our Big House is filling up with tiny green  life! 

Tim Kirby transplants tomato seedlings while Kaisa and Stephanie plant hanging baskets in the background. Bay 2 is filling up! 

The five gallon patio tomatoes have a great start. By May they'll be over two feet high and loaded with plenty of blossoms, green fruit, and some ripe tomatoes.

A few of the hundreds of hanging baskets we grow, ready to be planted. 

  Tiny superbells are snug in their new homes. If you've ever visited our greenhouse in May, you know how spectacular they'll look in just a few months!

April Flowers

Walking in the greenhouse today, I saw little bits of color everywhere. So I picked a little photograph bouquet! I hope you like it!

Growing in the Greenhouse

This time of year, when Spring has barely made it's presence known, the greenhouse is an inspiring place. Warm sunshine falls on thriving green plants, and flats of sprouting seeds.

One small seed placed in the soil, one of thousands transforming into tiny, tender sprouts breaking through and unfurling in the light... after a long, cold, snowy winter like the one we've had, we're all waiting for a chance to branch out in the warmth!

We start our plants by seed, plug, or bare root transplant depending on the type of plant. Vegetables destined for the field are started from seed (tomatoes, peppers, brcooli, etc), as well as enthusiastic annuals (marigolds, allyssum, lobelia, for example) and perennials.

The photos below in the center and on the right show our broccoli seedings. Every two weeks, another crop will be transplanted into the field, giving us a constant supply of broccoli from June until November. 

Most perennials that come in as plugs (young plants growing in trays) are planted in smaller quart pots. Delphinum, Columbine,  and Dianthus are pictured below on the right, growing happily in quart containers. Look at that green!

All bare root transplants are put in gallon pots to give these large root masses plenty of room for an equally large plant. Some particularly vigorous plugs like hosta and helleborous are planted in larger gallon pots as well. Pictured to the left, for example, is Heleborous Ivory Prince with striking red stems and graceful, blue-green leaves.

Below on the left and in the center is Hosta Sum and Substance, one of the largest hostas on the market. It grew so well in the tray that they were impossible to pull out and we had to cut the tray to pieces! Look at all those roots. To keep them from becoming root bound, we sliced off a layer of the bottom of the roots. On the right is Pineapple Lilly, an exotic looking plant with  long pointed leaves and a tall flower stalk.

Spring Perennials!

Thanks to our greenhouses, color shows on these early bloomers while green things are just beginning to poke up outside, creating a beautiful show this time of year.

windowboxes

From left to right, top to bottom: Snowdrop Anemone, variegated Solomon's Seal, Lithodora Grace Ward, Lilly of the Valley, Wild Sweet William 'Blue Moon' in the top window box next to white Iberis, and lastly, Brunerra behind painted fern.

Spring Crop Updates

peachbud

Here's a little taste of Spring to start your week off right. Just a sample of what's happening on the farm right now, starting with....

peafield

Peas! With the warm weather we've had over the past several days you can practically watch the plants grow. The strength and perseverance of this tender little plants is evident in the second one from the bottom. See those chunks of earth it pushed through?

The next two photos were taken within five minutes of each other, showing the bloom period of two different peach varieties. The earliest peaches are bursting into flower, while the later varieties are still clusters of tight little buds. So far, it looks like we'll have a good crop of stone fruit. Keep your fingers crossed that Mother Nature is kind for the rest of May!

lettuces

How about a quilt of lettuce? That's at least NINE different kinds, seeded in the greenhouse and headed to the field for planting soon. Our plan is to make variety bundles of three different kinds, something we're putting together especially for our CSA members (but we'll have it for our market customers too!). I can't wait to have a nice big bowl of fresh picked salad!

Have you started your own seedlings indoors? What are you growing?

Check in tomorrow for a sample of some of our favorite Spring blooming perennials!

Plant Sale!

I know a lot of our customers have been waiting for this moment. Our greenhouse still has plenty of beauitful plants in it,  including big hanging baskets, geraniums... and lots more.

Starting Sunday, July 3rd, all Hanging Baskets will be 25% off and all other annuals will be 50% off!

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Perennial of the Month for June: Baptisia

Talking about getting in under the wire....! There are still a few days left in June, plenty of time to talk about this star of the Spring, Baptisia. We have several plantings in our display garden, some paired with classic orange poppies, and they are attention grabbers.

>>> And as a special bonus, a selection of Spring Blooming perennials is on sale NOW, including some Baptisia! Follow the signs to our "Back Mat" (where we keep our extra perennials) to find a stash of bargain Spring Bloomers.

And now, a few words about Baptisia from our perennial manager Jaime Brennan:

"Baptisia is one of my absolute favorite perennials, being a native plant is one of the reasons why. I only wish it bloomed all summer, but it does produce attractive seedpods that last all fall and through the winter. There are some newer varieties that have longer bloom time.  Baptisia australis is growing in the garden bordering the west side of our parking lot. They have become large beautiful bushes that have attractive light blue green leaves. Right now (June) you can see what a wonderful combination they make with oriental poppies. We have one beautiful plant of Baptisia alba located in the east garden at the edge of the road. There have been many requests for this plant that has dark stems with contrasting white flowers. My fingers are crossed that we will be able to offer them this year (several years ago I ordered Baptisia alba but they all bloomed blue).

Baptisia has a very large taproot that helps it tolerate the heat and drought we can experience here in NY at least once a summer. Their tall spikes have flowers that resemble that of a pea flower, which is not surprising because it is a member of the pea family. One interesting function that pea family plants can do is make their own nitrogen. If you've ever wondered what those small nodules on the roots were for – now you know."

New Annuals for 2011

Every year we add a handful of new and interesting plants to our selection of Annual bedding plants. Sometimes they can get lost among the many beautiful varieties that fill our greenhouse. It's great to have this space to feature them. We hope you enjoy!

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"Zion" Osteospernum

Beautiful sunset-like colors.

Likes full sun or part sun.

Height: 16"

Care: Remove spent flowers. Allow soil to dry between waterings.

Uses: Containers, borders, rock gardens

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"Butterfly Deep Rose" Penta

Attracts butterflies.

Likes full sun,

Height: 18" - 24"

Care: Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, borders, garden beds

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"Mini Famous" Calibrachoa Double Salmon, Pink, or Blue

Likes full sun or part sun. Produces lots of flowers!

Height: 4", Trailing

Care: Keep soil moist on hot days. Fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, window boxes

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"Beth's Blue" Star Flower

Likes full sun

Height: 12" - 14"

Care: Heat tolerant, deadheading not necessary, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, landscapes

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"Fiber Optic Grass" Scirpus cernus

Creates a unique texture!

Likes full sun or part shade. 

Height: 10" - 14"

Care: Heat tolerant, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Landscapes and containers

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"Picobella Carmine" Petunia

Likes full sun or part shade. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds!

Height: 8" - 10"

Care: Heat tolerant, remove spent flowers, fertilize regularly.

ses: Containers, landscapes

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"Butterfly Deep Rose" Penta

Likes full sun, attracts butterflies.

Height: 18" - 24"

Space: 10"

Care: Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, borders, garden beds