Spring Hours and COVID protocols
The weather feels as though it is nearly Spring. Our non winter has lulled me into thinking it is Spring. Make no mistake, (I tell myself), we will have cool unreliable weather for some time yet. It seems that everyone is anxious to get started including me. ...
Februrary 2021 Selection at Wheelbarrel Nursery
What's new: Plants: Pansies, Primulas, Ground Covers such as Aubretia, Thymes, Lavenders, Heather, Herbs, a few tough perennials such as Digitalis, Doronicum, Erysimum. And of course Hellebores and Heuchera.Begonia Tubers: We have a nice selection. ...
Tom(ate)o, Tom(at)o
Tomatoes like to be planted in rich soil with a PH of 6 to 6.8 or slightly on the acidic side. Neutral is 7. Tomatoes prefer regular feeding once the fruit sets, but too much too early in the season will grow a large plant with fewer tomatoes. Calcium is very...
Planting by Moon Phases
Veggie garden and planting by the moon signs If I read my moon phase calendar correctly the new moon for March is the 8th and the full moon is the 23rd. Keep these dates in mind when reading the following information. Planting by moon signs in its simplest form is...
Mason Bees
Late February, early March is the time the Mason Bees will start to be active. There are natural nesting places in the landscape but for the purposes of this writing, I am going to assume we are buying or building a suitable nest, thereby becoming mason bee farmers or...
Neem Oil
Neem Oil At the Organic Soil Amendment Seminar, Mr. Sayed recommended the use of Neem oil as an organic fungicide and insecticide. He recommended 100% concentrate cold pressed Neem. Several sources were discussed but low and behold we have a source right here on...
Soil Testing
Soil Testing Our Organic Soil Amendment speaker Mr Sayed suggested that we have our soil tested. Many of you have expressed interest in the Mehlich 3 extraction test. This is the test suggested in the book 'The Intelligent Gardener'. After some research the soil...
Organic Soil Amendments
The Organic Soil Amendment Seminar Mr Yasir Sayed from Biofert spoke to us and answered questions for more than three and a half hours. He was very knowledgeable and generous with his information. Wheelbarrel has carried the Orgunique liquid fertilizer for 3 or 4...
Happy Spring!
The seeds are in with new trees, shrubs, fruit trees, ground covers, perennials arriving. Most should be in stock by early March with annuals starting to arrive later in March. We are getting the plant displays set up as the weather improves and shipments roll in. The...
Mason Bee Fall Chores
Mason Bees. If you are increasing your mason bee population by providing nesting houses, early October is the time to remove the nesting tubes and clean the houses with water and a bit of bleach to kill the mites that may be overwintering. Remove your cocoons from the...
Pests and Pestilence
Slugs The heat has slowed these guys down some. As well as it being warm enough for the garter snakes to be comfortable and out and about snacking on them. Hand picking is the best remedy but if you have an area which is totally out of control, a product called...
Water Conservation
Most of you will know as much or more about this as I do. I include this here for our customers who are new to the Island, and there are many. use grey water from dishwashing and bathing to water the plants that are important to you in your food garden or your fruit...
Summer at Wheelbarrel
This Week at the Nursery July looks to be warm and pleasant. One of my famous understatements. Seems it will be very warm but pleasant. The 9 cm pots of Rudbeckia and Echinacea were so popular that we brought in more. Most 9 cm pots at Wheelbarrel are 3.40, giving...
May 14th At the Nursery
Annuals Our benches are full. New Guinea Impatiens are new this week. We have restocked as much as possible of the essentials. Hanging Baskets Our own Wheelbarrel Nursery baskets designed by Jennifer. Veggie Starts New this week, Squash and Cucumbers. Other starts...
Tomatoes
As promised,a complete list of tomatoes with a little information on each. Sweet 100, cherry type, vine, 1 oz. fruit, high Vitamin C content Red Grape, cherry type, vine, .75 oz fruit in clusters or 20 or more Sun Gold, cherry type, vine, 1 oz. fruit bright...