yarn around tomato cage in Buffalo NY area

Help a reader: Is it safe to use concrete reinforcing wire around tomatoes?

by Connie Oswald Stofko A reader sent me this gardening question that I can’t answer, but I hope one of my readers can. Can we use concrete reinforcing wire in our gardens? If you can answer his question, please leave a comment below. Here’s the whole question: Hi Connie.  I have a question for you or one of your readers.  I’ve read a lot about using concrete reinforcing wire to make sturdy tomato cages.  All I’ve ever seen about that wire is…...

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chives in garden in Western New York

Master Gardeners set sale in Buffalo

The Master Gardeners of Erie County will hold a plant sale at Central Park Methodist Church, 216 Beard Ave., Buffalo. Times and days are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 29, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Admission to the sale is free. There will be a selection of sun and shade perennials, native plants, herbs, annuals, shrubs and vines direct from the gardens of Erie County Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners will be on hand throughout…...

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garden at Schofield Residence in Tonawanda NY

Garden volunteers needed at Schofield Residence in Tonawanda

The Schofield Residence, a not-for-profit organization located at 3333 Elmwood Ave., Town of Tonawanda, needs garden volunteers. They need people with a knowledge of gardening, specifically tending their rose garden. Weekly or bi-weekly help is needed for dead heading and grooming rose bushes, plus light weeding of other plants. Other long-term, flexible volunteer assignments such as visiting are also available. Extensive training is provided. For more information, contact Schofield’s volunteer department at 874-1566, ext. 324…....

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Eggplant Patio Baby from AAS

Grow tomatoes & eggplant in a small space, or try the hottest peppers in the world

by Connie Oswald Stofko People often tell me they have no room to garden, but if you have room for a pot or hanging basket, you have room to garden. Gardening in containers counts as gardening! Today the folks at Lockwood’s Greenhouses tell us about a smaller, compact version of eggplant that’s well suited to containers, as well as a cascading cherry tomato that you can grow in a hanging basket. Then they tell us about bhut jolokia, the hottest…...

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'Ultra Blue Star' petunia from Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

Close-out plant sale at Botanical Gardens Friday & Saturday, May 22-23

You can get up to a 40 percent discount on plants left over from the Great Plant Sale in a close-out sale to be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23, in the Administration Building at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission to the sale is free. The sale will offer annuals, perennials and shrubs. A lot of plant material was offered this year at last week’s…...

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hanging baskets at Lockwoods in Hamburg by Stofko

Invest in plant tags, plus three more tips for shopping & planting

by Connie Oswald Stofko Spring is so unpredictable in Western New York. In early May, we had temperatures in the 80s, and it was tempting to get our tender annuals and vegetables in our garden beds. But last week we had frost warnings. That’s why it’s a good idea to follow the rule of thumb and wait until Memorial Day to plant anything that might be damaged by frost. Some people are even more conservative and wait until the end…...

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Impatiens Bounce courtesy Ball Horticultural

Shade gardeners: new ‘Bounce’ may be good alternative to impatiens

by Connie Oswald Stofko Gardeners who are looking for colorful flowers for the shade have a promising alternative to impatiens called ‘Bounce’. A few years ago, downy mildew began killing impatiens walleriana, the regular old impatiens that shade gardeners depended on for decades. Ever since then, gardeners have been looking for alternatives. See some alternatives to impatiens here. I know it’s confusing, but one of those alternatives that we’ll be talking about has a similar-sounding name, New Guinea impatiens. ‘Bounce’…...

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false eranthemum from Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

Get unusual plants from collection at Botanical Gardens; sale opens Saturday to public

by Connie Oswald Stofko Some unusual plants from the collection of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will be included in the Great Plant Sale, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17 in the Administration Building, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission is free. The quantity of each variety is limited. A plant that you really want may sell out, so aim to get there early for the best…...

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lawn problem from Martha Neri of Williamsville NY

Can you help this reader with a lawn problem?

by Connie Oswald Stofko A reader came to me with a gardening question. Do you have any suggestions on how she can resolve her problem? If so, please leave a comment. Here’s her question: I have an area of my lawn that has had moss, bare spots and grayish/brown grass for several years. It isn’t getting smaller despite suggested treatments from my lawn maintenance company. They recommended lime but it didn’t work. They tested the pH and it is within…...

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tomato seedlings from ECC garden

ECC offering farm-to-table courses this summer at Canalside in Buffalo

Two farm-to-table courses, which will teach people how to grow food in an urban setting as well as cover the nutritional aspects of growing your own food, will be offered this summer by Erie Community College. There will be demonstrations by local chefs and speakers from various garden backgrounds. Classes will be held in a learning garden in a 2,000-square-foot donated plot of land in the Canalside development next to Harbor Center, 100 Washington St., Buffalo, as well as at…...

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