>> I LIKE THE WAY THEY LAID THEM OUT.

THEY’RE NOT JUST RATE LINES ANYMORE.

>> THIS IS THE CONE FLOWER, VERY POPULAR WITH BEES.

>> THIS IS DECIDUOUS SO IT WILL TURN GOLD IN THE FALL.

>> THE VARIETY THAT WE HAVE, IT IS INSPIRING.

BOB: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "GREAT GARDENING."

.

I’M HEARTED COLOR -- HORTICULTURIST BOB OLEN AND SHARON HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US.

WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS WITH THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER STANDING BY.

LEE’S CALL US -- PLEASE CALL US OR EMAIL US AT ASK AT PBS NORTH.ORG.

FIRST, LET’S START TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER IN OUR REGION.

WE ARE JOINED BY SOME VERY EARLY VISITORS.

♪ [WHISTLING] ♪ ♪ BOB: THE AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS HAVE ENJOYED SOME SPRINGTIME WEATHER ALONG THE ST.

LOUIS RIVER AS THEY MIGRATE NORTH.

WHAT BEAUTIFUL FOOTAGE.

>> THAT’S GREAT, THE MUSIC WAS AWESOME.

BOB: VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

THAT MEANS SPRING IS ON THE WAY.

PLEASE KEEP CALLING IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO START OF THE PROGRAM WITH?

>> WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT DEER DON’T LIKE AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN PLANT THAT WILL, NOT DETER THEM, BUT SLOW THEM DOWN.

WE ALL KNOW ONCE IT GETS TO ABOUT AUGUST 18 OR SO, THEY START TO PUT ON THEIR WINTER WEIGHT AND THERE IS NO STOPPING THEM.

THIS WOULD JUST GET YOU THROUGH HOPEFULLY THE SUMMER AND SOME NICE CONTAINERS YOU CAN DO EN MASSE.

BUT DEAR DO NOT PREFER FINE, FUZZY, FRAGRANT FOLIAGE.

SOME OF THESE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO START OUT WITH HAVE THOSE THINGS SO THEY JUST WORK REALLY WELL.

ONE THING IS LAVENDER.

LAVENDER IS VERY FINE, IT’S FUZZY, SOMEWHAT OF A FUZZY STEM, AND IT IS FRAGRANT.

AND IT HAS A FLOWER ON IT AND THEY DON’T SEEM TO LIKE IT.

IT’S NOT HARDY, SO WE DO TREAT IT AS AN ANNUAL.

SO THERE ARE SOME GREAT LAVENDERS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN GET.

THIS IS KNOWN ASALYSSUM, AND IT HAS A VERY FRAGRANT SCENT TO THE FLOWERS.

THE FLOWERS’S KIND OF TASTE LIKE BROCCOLI.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER ONE THAT IS FINE AND FRAGRANT.

THEN THERE IS OF ANOTHER CLASS, AGERATUM.

IT HAS ALKALOIDS, BITTER ALKALOIDS THAT THEY DON’T LIKE, AND THEY ARE KIND OF TOXIC TO THEM.

YOU CAN DO THIS EN MASSE, IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND COMES IN A FEW DIFFERENT COLORS IN DIFFERENT SIZES.

AND THEY ARE KIND OF FUZZY, TOO.

ANOTHER THING THAT THEY DON’T LIKE, AND WE GET A LOT OF THIS FROM CUSTOMERS THAT TELL US THIS.

WAX BEGONIAS.

I’M GOING TO GUESS THERE IS SOME BITTER COMPOUND TO IT, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A HOSTA LEAF.

IT’S SMOOTH, IS NOT REALLY VERY FRAGRANT, AND OTHER THAN THERE MUST BE SOMETHING LIKE AN ALKALOID OR SOME KIND OF BITTERNESS TO IT THAT THEY DON’T CARE FOR IT.

AND THEN THERE ARE COLEUS.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT COLEUS, AND THEY DO NOT LIKE COLEUS.

THERE’S A LOT OF SERRATION IN THE LEAVES, AND THEY ARE IN THE MINT FAMILY SO THEY HAVE KIND OF SQUARE STAMPS.

I DON’T KNOW IF THAT GOES INTO WHY THEY DON’T LIKE IT BUT THEY DON’T SEEM TO.

COLEUS ARE GORGEOUS.

THEY COME IN EVERY KIND OF COLOR AND YOU CAN MIX THEM IN ANY KIND OF POT AND YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT WITH THEM.

ANOTHER GREAT ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL US IS SALVIA.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT SALVIAS.

THE BREEDING IS GETTING REALLY FANTASTIC ON SALVIAS, BUT THE DEER DON’T LIKE THEM EITHER.

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THEM THAT THEY DON’T LIKE THEM.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT COLORS AND YOU CAN DO SO MUCH WITH SALVIA.

ONE OTHER ONE THAT WE REALLY LIKE IS LANTANA.

I KNOW WHY THEY DON’T LIKE LANTANA.

IT’S VERY FRAGRANT AND IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE LEMON OR CITRUS.

PEOPLE EITHER LOVE LANTANA OR THEY HATE IT.

WE REALLY LIKE IT JUST BECAUSE IT CAN DO A GOOD JOB OF DETERRING.

ANOTHER THING I DIDN’T BRING, THE FOXGLOVE, TO TALUS, ALSO -- DIGITALIS ALSO HAS THE ALKALOIDS IN THEM.

WE’VE HAD CUSTOMERS TELL US, AND I CLASSIFY A LOT OF THE DIGITALIS AND THE FOXGLOVE AS AN ANNUAL BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT HARDY.

WE’VE HAD PEOPLE TELL US THAT THEY WILL KEEP DEER TWO FEET AWAY FROM THEM.

SO THAT MUST BE SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY BITTER TO THEM IN THAT THEY KNOW IS GOING TO GET TOXIC FOR THEM AND THEY JUST DON’T LIKE IT.

BOB: THIS IS GREAT.

THERE’S A LOT OF GOOD CHOICES AND A LOT OF COLOR THERE.

PEOPLE WANT REPELLENTS.

A LOT OF THINGS WE WANT TO KEEP -- CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT HIS ALWAYS KEEP REPELLENTS OFF OF ANIMALS.

AND ROTATING YOUR PELLETS IS A LOT OF GOOD OPTIONS.

THANKS VERY MUCH, VERY INTERESTING.

LET’S GET ONTO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE’VE GOT KATIE WHO ASKED THE QUESTION, WILL CHICKEN WIRE KEEP GROUND SQUIRRELS OUT OF MY GARDEN?

>> I DON’T THINK SO.

BOB: I DON’T THINK SO, EITHER.

NOT ONLY THAT, GROUND SQUIRRELS HAVE A TENDENCY TO DIG UNDER EVERYTHING.

>> THEY GET REAL FLAT, REAL THIN.

BOB: REALLY I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT TRAP -- TRAPPING FOR AN OPTION.

THERE ARE LIVE TRAPS BUT THEY ARE TRICKY.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY A LITTLE CHALLENGE.

>> HARDWARE CLOTH MIGHT WORK, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO IT DOWN.

BOB: IT CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE.

SHE ALSO ASKS, SHE MENTIONS THE FACT THAT SHE’S TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME KIND OF TRAPPING SYSTEM.

WE HAVE AMY FROM HERMANTOWN.

WHEN SHOULD I TRIM MY HYDRANGEAS, AND IF I WANTED TO MOVE THEM, WHEN IS A GOOD TIME?

>> IT’S A GREAT TIME TO MOVE THEM RIGHT NOW.

MY PHILOSOPHY ON HYDRANGEAS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY -- SO MANY VARIETIES, SO MUCH BREEDING GOING ON THERE, SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES.

ONCE THEY BLOOM, SHAPE THEM THE WAY YOU WANT.

YOU CANNOT SCREW UP ON SHAPING AT THAT TIME, ANY KIND OF THEM.

TRANSPLANTING NOW, YOU CAN DO THAT NOW.

BOB: AS YOU WELL KNOW, THEY CAN BLOOM ANY.

WHETHER IT COMES IN THIS YEAR OR FALL.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHERE THOSE BUDS ARE AND WHAT IS VIABLE TISSUE.

IF IT IS OLD AND DEAD, TAKE IT OUT.

IF NOT CUT IT BACK SO YOU HAVE LUSH, GREEN TISSUE.

A QUESTION HERE, THIS IS AN EASY ONE.

THIS CAME FROM SUSAN IN SAGINAW.

IS IT SAFE TO PLANT YOUR ONIONS RIGHT NOW?

>> HOW MANY HAVE YOU PUT IN, BOB?

BOB: NOT ENOUGH YET, BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT GOING IN THE GROUND.

THAT’S FOR SURE.

YOU REALLY WANT TO GET THOSE IN, YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THIS WONDERFUL SUNLIGHT WE HAVE IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

THIS CAME FROM MARY IN DULUTH.

IS IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE SOIL EVERY YEAR IN YOUR ANNUAL BEDS?

AND IF YES, WHAT KIND OF SOIL?

>> I DON’T THINK YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE A GOOD BASE, YOU NEED TO ADD ORGANIC TO IT EVERY YEAR.

THAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU FERTILITY.

I LIKE TO MIX IT UP.

LINT IT.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET DOWN BELOW.

I LIKE SOME NICE TOPCOAT.

A FEW INCHES OF A GOOD ORGANIC SOIL BIGS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

BOB: I THINK YOU’RE NOT GOING TO REPLACE, YOU ARE GOING TO ADD TO.

ONE THING, YOU ARE KILLING GARDENS WITH KINDNESS, ADDING SO MUCH YOU’RE CHANGING PH.

I’VE SEEN SO MANY SOIL TESTS WITH PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON.

I THINK YOU WANT TO ADD ORGANIC.

YOU NEED A NITROGEN SOURCE EVERY YEAR.

YOU WANT TO STIR IT UP, YOU WANT TO WORK THOSE MATERIALS IN.

USE EARLY WANT TO WORK IT INTO THE SOIL.

HERE’S A QUESTION FROM DULUTH.

HOW LATE CAN I PLANT TOMATO SEEDS IN POTS?

YOU CAN PLANT THEM ANYTIME.

>> WE DON’T PLAN OUR TOMATOES IN THE FIELD UNTIL JULY 1.

AND WE HAVE GREAT HARVESTS.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THEIR SOIL AND MAYBE JUST BACK UP ON WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING IN THEIR TOMATOES.

BOB: BETTY WAS STARTING FROM SEEDS RATHER THAN TRANSPLANTS.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE TO DART FROM SEEDS.

YOU WANT TO GET THEM HARVESTED BEFORE THE FROST, SO YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I USUALLY SAY BY ABOUT MAY 1 OR SO IS KIND OF THE CUT OFF DATE FOR STARTING FROM SEED.

OK WE’VE GOT KATHY IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS.

WHAT PRERENAL ORNAMENTAL GRASS IN CLAY SOIL, THEY MIGHT BE ZONE THREE AT THIS POINT.

>> THAT’S AN EASY ONE.

BOB: THAT IS DEFINITELY THE CASE.

NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE HEELS OF WEST DULUTH.

YOU WILL FIND SOME SPECTACULAR VIEWS DOWN BALLOU -- DOWN BELOW AS WELL AS LOOKING UP.

>> I GREW UP ON A FARM AND WE GREW CROPS.

MY MOTHER ALWAYS HAD FLOWERS.

HOWEVER, HER FLOWERS REPLANTED JUST LIKE VEGETABLES, THEY WERE IN STRAIGHT ROWS.

EVERYWHERE WE LIVED, YOU ALWAYS JUST DID SOME GARDENING, AND OF COURSE STARTED THIS 128 YEARS AGO.

ACTUALLY WHAT YOU SEE NOW AS YOU COME IN, PROBABLY ABOUT HALF OF THAT WAS LAWN, AND I JUST KEEP DEVELOPING AND MOVING OVER AND TAKING OUT THE GRASS AND ADDING MORE IN.

I SEE SOMETHING I LIKE, I’VE GOT TO HAVE IT.

SO THAT JUST EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

IT CERTAINLY DIDN’T LOOK LIKE THIS TO START WITH.

I STARTED OUT PRETTY MUCH WITH A BLANK SLATE.

THE FIRST YEAR, MY FIRST ONE WAS TOWARD THE ENDS OF AUGUST.

SO A LOT OF THE FLOWERS WERE KIND OF PAST THEIR PEAK.

THE SECOND YEAR I MOVED IT UP TO THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST AND THAT’S REALLY THE PEAK OF MY GARDEN.

>> THIS IS MY MOTHER AND DAD’S WEDDING PICTURE.

THAT IS THE ORIGINAL DOOR OFF THEIR TWO ROOM HOUSE WHERE I GREW UP.

LATER THERE WAS AN ADDITION TO IT.

SO THAT IS THE WEDDING PICTURE.

I’VE GOT A LOT OF, I CALL IT MEMORIES.

I GOT THINGS HERE FROM MY PARENTS FARM, FROM MY TRAVELS.

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS A STORY AND SOME OF THEM ARE LONG AND PROBABLY TOO LONG.

AND THEN PROBABLY SOME NOT SO LONG.

I’VE PROBABLY BEEN IN EVERY GARDEN CENTER AROUND THE AREA, AND EVERY TIME I GO BY ONE, I STOP.

EVERYONE HAS COME EVERYPLACE HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO I’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO TRY.

I WAS CHECKING FACEBOOK OR I WOULD WATCH FACEBOOK AND I WOULD SEE ALL THESE PAINTINGS FROM RENOIR AND MONET AND THEY ALWAYS HAD THESE POTTED GARDENS AND STREETS.

IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

THEN LAST WINTER I WENT TO PORT OF IR TO -- PUERTO VALLARTA AND I STARTED GATHERING POTS AND ROSES AND WHATEVER.

IF YOU WANT TO SORT THROUGH THEIR YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING FOR EVERYTHING.

THIS IS A WEEPING LARCH, DECIDUOUS, SO IT WILL TURN GOLDEN IN THE FALL AND THEN IT LOSES ITS LEAVES.

I JUST TOOK A FEW OF THOSE SEED HEADS AND JUST SPREAD THEM AROUND.

THE GREENHOUSE I BUILT EXACTLY 10 YEARS AGO.

I STICK BUILT THE BOTTOM HERE MYSELF AND OF COURSE I HAD CORRUGATED METAL FOR MY DAD’S FARM BARN ROOF.

I CALL IT A GARDEN PARTY, IT USED TO BE PEOPLE WOULD SAY ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE IT NEXT YEAR?

THEY WANT TO KNOW THE DATE.

IT IS WORK, BUT HOWEVER, I JUST CAN’T SIT STILL AND DO NOTHING.

I CAN BE OUT HERE IN THE MORNING .

I COME OUT AND MAYBE SOME DAYS YOU HAVE NO PLANS OF WHAT TO DO BUT YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THE DAY IS OVER.

YOU COME IN AND YOU HAVE DINNER, YOU SIT DOWN IN YOUR CHAIR AND FALL ASLEEP UNTIL IT’S TIME TO GO TO BED.

I DON’T KNOW, I JUST LOVE IT.

BOB:WOW, BILL JUST KEEPS ADDING TO THE BEAUTY OF HIS GARDEN AND OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT TOUR AND FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW.

NOW IT’S TIME TO ANSWER A FEW MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEY ARE COMING IN, SO KEEP SENDING THEM.

HERE’S A QUESTION, THIS IS BARRY FROM HOLYOKE.

WE WANT TO PLANT EVERGREENS TO GROW 15-20 FEET.

SUGGESTIONS TO DETER DEER.

I THINK YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR ORARBOR VITAE >> >>.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW BIG YOU WANT THEM TO GET.

BOB: MANY THINGS, I THINK YOU WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT FAMILY -- THE CEDAR FAMILY.

THEY JUST DON’T LIKE THE SHARP NEEDLES.

BLACK SPRUCE, WHITE SPRUCE, THESE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISEASE, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MINIATURIZED SO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THE LOW SO -- LOCAL NURSERY.

SPRUCE WILL BE A GOOD OPTION FOR THAT.

HERE’S KATHY, SHE HAS A CIRCULAR WHITE MOLD ON HER SQUASH LAST YEAR.

CAN I PLANT IN THE SAME SOIL?

SHOULD I REPLACE THE SOIL?

>> SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO REPLACE THE SOIL AT ALL, NO.

BOB: THIS IS POWDERY MILDEW.

>> THERE ARE NEW VARIETIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT ARE MORE RESISTANT.

BOB: SOMETIMES IS NOT A REAL AGGRESSIVE FUNGI THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

CLEAN ALL THAT MATERIAL UP BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM, REALLY.

A GOOD QUESTION WITH THE MOISTURE, IT HAS BEEN DRY RECENTLY.

THIS IS ERIC FROM DULUTH.

HOW LATE SHOULD I START WATERING?

EVERYTHING LOOKS SO VERY DRY.

>> I’M NOT SURE WHAT LOOKS REALLY DRY.

BOB: THAT’S NOT MY EXPERIENCE.

THE SURFACE IS DRY BUT WE ARE REALLY PRETTY MOIST.

IF YOU’RE PUTTING ANNUALS IN, I THINK IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

THERE SEEMS TO BE PLENTY OF MOISTURE CERTAINLY IN THE TOPSOIL PAYMENT ANY TIME YOU’RE PUTTING A PERENNIAL IN, LET’S GET SOME WATER IN AT TRANSPLANT TIME, VERY DEFINITELY.

HERE WE GO, MAKE SURE WE GET THIS ONE COVERED.

THIS IS SHARON, SHE WANTS TO CONTROL CUT WORMS ON HER AZALEAS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF CUT WORMS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT VARIETIES THAT CLIMB AND CUT A LOT OF TOMATO PLANTS OFF.

BUT THEY ARE NOT PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVE ON WOODY’S.

SO SHE HAS ANOTHER ISSUE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INSECTS THAT ARE PROBABLY WORSE OF A PROBLEM.

>> AND IS IT REALLY A PROBLEM?

BOB: CALL US AGAIN, SHARON, AND GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL AND WE WILL TRY TO FOLLOW UP ON IT.

THIS FROM DULUTH, THE SECRET TO GROWING RIGHT ONIONS.

THE TYPE OF SOIL, HOW DEEP, ETC.

I THINK ONE OF THE SECRETS IS GETTING STARTED EARLY.

AND YOU CAN START FROM TRANSPLANTS, THAT WORKS REAL WELL.

GREENHOUSES ME TIMES WILL GROW THEM OUT FOR YOU.

TYPICALLY YOU DON’T GET QUITE AS LARGE THAT WAY BUT I’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL WHO START EARLY.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE MOISTURE THEY NEED IN THE UPPER 2-4 INCHES AND KEEP THE WEEDS UNDER CONTROL.

WEED, AN ADEQUATE WASHER AS YOU GO THROUGH THE SEASON.

SHE PLANTED TOMATOES FROM SEED.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT FERTILITY.

VERY GOOD QUESTION.

SHE HAS THE TRANSPLANTS, LET’S ASSUME THAT.

WE GET SO MUCH FOLIAGE AT THE PLAN DOES NOT SET FLOWERS AND YOU DON’T GET FRUIT.

THE OBJECTIVE IS NOT BIG PLANTS, THE OBJECTIVE IS FRUIT.

SO THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

HIGH IN PHOSPHORUS, HIGH IN POTASSIUM, VERY LOW IN NITROGEN.

OK, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

WE HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS OVER THE SPRING SERIES ON RHUBARB.

IT IS A GREAT NORTHERN VEGETABLE.

IT’S NOT A FRUIT, IT IS A VEGETABLE.

WAIT FOR US BECAUSE IT IS VERY HARDY.

IT ORIGINATED IN SIBERIA.

IT IS VERY EASILY GROWN AND HAS FEW TESTS.

THE DER DON’T -- DEER DON’T LIKE IT.

IT’S VERY NUTRITIOUS, IT HAS SOLUBLE AND INSOLUBLE FIBER, POTASSIUM AND VITAMIN K AND IT’S VERY VERSATILE FOOD, DIVIDED YOU AT ENOUGH SUGAR TO IT IN MANY CASES.

BUT THE CULTURE IS PRETTY EASY.

YOU CAN START FROM SEED AND THERE’S A LOT OF BREEDING WORK BEING DONE THERE.

WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE VARIETIES.

THIS IS THE UNDERGROUND RHIZOME, THAT’S EASIEST, CUT THEM AND MOVE THEM.

YOU WANT TO DIVIDE THESE CROWNS RIGHT NOW IN EARLY SPRING.

EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD THAT RHUBARB PATCH FOR YEARS, IF YOU GET IN THERE AND YOU OPEN IT UP AND SPLIT THE CROWNS, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT THE NEW VIGOR.

IF YOU WANT TO SELECT A SITE THAT HAS FULL SUN AND GOOD DRAINAGE AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THE COMPETING WEEDS.

SO DON’T HESITATE.

VERY GOOD INDICATION THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SEASON AHEAD FOR RHUBARB.

YOU CAN SEE THE LEAVES NOW BEGINNING TO UNFOLD.

HERE’S A COUPLE OF TIPS.

PEOPLE ASK ABOUT FERTILITY.

YOU WANT FERTILE SOIL TO BEGIN WITH BUT YOU WANT TO FERTILIZE ONLY IN THE EARLY SPRING.

YOU WANT NITROGEN, PLENTY OF NITROGEN.

YOUR CHOICE, ORGANIC OR SYNTHETIC OR INORGANIC.

EITHER ONE, BUT LET’S GET THAT SPREAD RIGHT NOW.

YOU WILL SEE SOME SEED STOCKS, YOU WANT TO CUT THOSE OFF AS SOON AS THEY EMERGE.

THEY TAKE ENERGY FROM THE PLANT.

YOU WANT TO STOP HARVESTING BEFORE JULY 4, THAT PLAN HAS TO RENOVATE ITSELF.

HERE IS A SEED HEAD, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THOSE OFF.

THE SOONER YOU GET THEM OFF, THE BETTER YOU ARE GOING TO BE.

HERE AGAIN YOU CAN SEE A COLEUS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY CUT THEM BUT LEAVE A STOP.

ANYTIME YOU LEAVE A STUMP, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ENTRY OF DISEASE.

IT IS VERY INTERESTING, THESE ARE OUR BIG ONES IN THIS AREA.

VICTORIA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

CANADA RED, KNOWN FOR THE RED STOCKS.

THEY ARE GREAT IN PIE.

YOU CAN HARVEST THAT WHEN JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SEASON.

IF YOU LOOK AT EUROPE AND ENGLAND, THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENCE OF -- HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

I THINK THIS IS AN UNDERAPPRECIATED VEGETABLE, YOU HAVE YOUR NICE, READ STEMS HERE.

THIS IS CANADA RED AND THIS IS PERPETUAL.

WE WANT TO CAUTION A LITTLE BIT THAT THESE ARE POISONOUS, THEY HAVE OXALIC ACID, BUT JUST DON’T CONSUME THEM.

THE STEMS ARE NEVER POISONOUS EXCEPT DURING A HARD LATE SPRING FROST.

IF THE PLANT WILTS IT FORCES SOME OF THE OXALIC ACID BUT -- DOWN IN THE STEMS.

HERE ARE THE LEAVES THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO STAY AWAY FROM.

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY.

JUST AS THEY ARE EMERGING RIGHT NOW.

IT’S THE NICE THING ABOUT DOING A LIVE SHOW LIKE THIS.

GOOD DARK TUB OVER IT AND FORCE THOSE PLANTS TO STRETCH.

THERE IS NO SUNLIGHT SO YOU WILL GET ELONGATED STEMS THAT ARE HIGH IN SUGAR AND TENDER.

THEY WILL BE RIGHT RED BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHLOROPHYLL IN THEM.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL.

THIS HAS BECOME A REAL FEATURE INTERLUDE.

JUNE 2 SEVEN, 9:00 TO 3:00, AS BEAR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON GRAND AVENUE.

GREAT TIME.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

THIS IS LORI IN TOULOUSE.

SHE HAS GARLIC UP.

SHE’S WONDERING WHEN AND WHAT SHOULD I FEED THEM WITH?

>> ORGANIC MATERIAL.

BOB: AGAIN, GARLIC IS ONE OF THOSE THAT HAS THESE SULFUR COMPOUNDS, THE ALKALOIDS.

THERE IS A DEER PROOF PROP.

A LITTLE BIT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER, YOUR CHOICE AGAIN, YOU CAN USE THE SYNTHETIC, OR YOU CAN USE AN ORGANIC.

OK, HERE’S A QUESTION.

AND FROM DULUTH.

HOW CAN I GET RID OF GROUNDHOGS?

I’VE HAD TOO MANY EXPERIENCES WITH GROUNDHOGS.

THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET AGGRESSIVE WITH SOME KIND OF TRAPPING SYSTEM.

IN RURAL AREAS MAY BE A 12 GAUGE OR SOMETHING.

THEY CAN BE VICIOUS AND THEY CAN TAKE DOWN AN AWFUL LOT OF PRODUCTS.

I HAD THEM TAKE DOWN MAYBE A QUARTER ACRE OF CABBAGE.

I TRY TO GET THEM UNDER CONTROL.

I WISH I HAD BETTER ADVICE FOR YOU.

THEY WILL DIG UNDER FENCES.

THEY ARE A CHALLENGE.

KNOW IF GOT JAKE BY THE LAKE, I’M ASSUMING IT’S THE BIG LAKE.

GOOD TIME TO PLANT AN APPLE TREE?

PERFECT TIME.

THE SOONER YOU CAN DO THIS THE BETTER.

>> BE PREPARED WHEN YOU PUT IT IN.

BOB: LET ME CAUTION ABOUT HONEY CRISP.

MOST OF OUR AREAS NORTH AND AWAY FROM THE LAKE ARE ZONE THREE.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FOR OTHER VARIETIES UNLESS YOU ARE DOWN NEAR THE LAKE.

WHEN THEY GROW IN CLAY SOIL, HE HAS MULTIPLE QUESTIONS.

THEY WILL.

IDEALLY YOU WOULD LIKE A SANDY LOAM BUT AS LONG AS THERE IS DRAINAGE.

THE OTHER THING IS, BE PATIENT WITH THE CLAY SOIL, IT TAKES A LONG TIME BUT IT WILL GET ESTABLISHED.

ANY OTHER VARIETIES FOR CROSS POLLINATING?

>> STATE FAIR, SIMILAR GLOOM TIME.

CHECK OUT THE BLOOM TIME AND GO WITH THAT.

BOB: ANOTHER OPTION IS HARDIER FOR PEOPLE AS WELL.

BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS.

EVEN A CENTENNIAL CRAB, GOLDEN CRAB.

HERE WE GO.

THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS JOHN FROM DULUTH.

HE SAID THEY ARE EATING MY RHUBARB.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, THEY WILL EAT THE BUDS, IT COULD CERTAINLY BE DEER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THAT’S IT FOR OUR REGULAR SEASON, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL ONE HOUR SHOWS COMING YOUR WAY.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AGAIN AT 7:00 P.M.

ON JUNE 4 FOR OUR SUMMER SPECIAL.

UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN’T GET TO ALL THE QUESTIONS, WE WILL TRY TO MAKE THOSE UP ON THAT SHOW.

TILL THEN, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING AND A WONDERFUL SPRING PLANTING TIME.

♪