The Garden Club: Late Spring

The wet, cool spring has had a bit of an impact on most area vegetable gardens as well as flowers and lawns. After a quick chat with Kelli Morgan, owner of on Mexico Road, I was armed with the knowledge (and a few plants) I needed to get things back on track.

Just like with any potted plants you will plant in the garden, giving an extra boost of nutrients will help the plant thrive in the months to come. Wiggle Worm Earthworm Castings, sold at Koenig’s, will give the soil a boost and is safe to put into the soil directly with the plants—it is non-toxic and completely organic.

A small handful into the bottom of the hole will promote vigorous plant growth and a strong root system.

Right now is the time to get a second application of fertilizer down on the grass, if you have not done so already. You can go the traditional route and get your bag of name-brand lawn care or you can begin going organic. The transition is easy and many believe it is safer for children and pets.

Koenig’s sells an organic brand called Organica. Organica Kelp Booster is the second step of Organica’s lawn care system. It contains kelp and a microbial soil conditioner and should be applied late spring to keep the lawn lush and promote great roots.

All vegetable plants started from seed should be in the garden and well established at this point, with the exception of pumpkins and potatoes. Those can be added from seed directly into the ground up until June 10.

If you still have aspirations of fresh garden grown veggies this summer, you can still plant vegetable plants from local nurseries. Morgan said plants grown locally, such as those found at Koenig’s from Kaiser Hill Farm have a better chance to succeed when planted this late.

Potted herbs also should be in the ground by now. As herb plants grow, be certain to harvest the top herbs leaves before the plants begin to flower and seed. This is particularly important for basil. Basil will lose some of its sweetness once the plant begins to flower.

There is still time to plant another round of cilantro seeds around your existing cilantro plants. The existing plants will shade the seeds and seedlings and encourage growth. For more information on keeping a continuous crop of cilantro, see the a .

This spring, the basil I began from seed has yet to establish itself. Morgan attributed this to the humid, damp spring. I am supplementing my basil crop this year with three varieties I have never tried: Thai Magic Basil, Mammoth Basil and Greek Columnar Basil. Morgan said the Greek Columnar Basil should thrive in the humid St. Peter’s summer. Koenig’s still has a few of these plants available.

Since the spring has been so wet and cool, there is still an opportunity to get some color into your flower beds.  Morgan said the key to growing annuals successfully is to pay attention to the location and choose the right plant.

Most potted annuals indicate on their tag as to whether the plant requires sun, shade or a mix.

Pottery and fountains add interest to a garden landscape. In the St. Peter’s climate, many gardeners find that their fountains are subject to algae growth, even though the water is in constant motion. If the fountain has had water in it for several weeks already, it may be time to treat the water.

Home improvement stores sell a variety of additives to keep the water algae free. If you have no plants or fish in your fountain a couple tablespoons of household liquid bleach will do the trick. I have done this successfully for years with no harm to the surrounding landscape plants.