Tomato Old German courtesy Terra Organic

Heirloom tomatoes aren’t pretty, but can be fun to grow

by Connie Oswald Stofko Heirloom tomatoes may look weird to you. They’re purple or creamy yellow or even striped. And that’s why some people like them. “From that angle, they’re really fun,” said Jen Weber, retail manager at Mike Weber Greenhouses, 42 French Rd., West Seneca. You can buy heirloom tomatoes now at Mike Weber Greenhouses, and if you want to plant them now, go for it, Weber said. She has checked with Western New York  farmers and they are…...

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May 13, 2014
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How to find a garden center that has the plant you’re looking for

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately from readers who want to know where they can buy certain plants. Whenever you want to know what garden centers have a particular plant in stock, it’s best to contact them directly. While some common plants might be carried by all garden centers, you’d be surprised at how widely the stock varies from shop to shop. In addition, garden centers will try out new plants each year and stop carrying other plants…...

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May 13, 2014
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el at Pelion Garden in Buffalo NY

Grow tunnel and herb garden under leaves: Did the plants survive this cold winter?

by Connie Oswald Stofko In November, Caesandra Seawell, garden manager, showed us how she extends the growing season in the Pelion Community Garden at City Honors School in Buffalo. She insulated the herb bed by adding a thick blanket of leaves and, after two frosts this fall, the parsley was still green. On another raised bed with a grow tunnel, the broccoli, kale and cabbage were still doing well even though the temperature had dipped to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. But…...

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May 13, 2014
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Find a good home for your extra plants by donating them to nonprofit gardens

When you’re thinning out your perennials, you probably feel sad when you have to throw those extra plants on the compost pile. Two Western New York organizations that would be delighted to find a good home for those plants are the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford and Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo. Genesee Country Village & Museum The Genesee Country Village & Museum recreates a 19th-century country village with costumed interpreters in restored historic buildings. This season the gardeners…...

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May 13, 2014
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Impatiens courtesy Margery Daughtrey

Update: Impatiens might do okay in WNY this year, or they might not

by Connie Oswald Stofko If this summer is like last summer in Western New York, you might be able to plant impatiens and have them perform well, perhaps into August, anyway. But there are still a lot of ifs involved, and there are certainly no guarantees. Margery Daughtrey, senior extension associate with Cornell University who co-wrote a fact sheet on how downy mildew affects impatiens, gives us an update on what Western New York gardeners might expect from impatiens this…...

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May 6, 2014
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Things you can do in your garden now & tips to push the season

by Connie Oswald Stofko The weather will be warmer this week and it will be great to get outside and work in your garden. There are many things you can do in your garden right now, and, if you’re an impatient gardener, we have a few tips on how you might try to push the season from Teresa Buchanan, garden center manager at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg. Now is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, Buchanan…...

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May 6, 2014
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June 6 is deadline to register your garden for Ken-Ton Garden Tour

The Ken-Ton Garden Tour is now accepting applications to have your garden on this year’s tour, which will be held Friday through Sunday, July  18 through 20. New this year: The Night Lights tour will be held on Friday as well as Saturday; in the past it was held on Saturday only. Hours are 8:30 to 11 p.m. both nights. The daytime tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Applications to have your garden…...

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May 6, 2014
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Sign up by June 20 to show your garden on West Seneca Tour of Gardens

The deadline is June 20 to sign up to have your garden on the third annual West Seneca Tour of Gardens.  To sign up, contact the organizers, Dave or Sharon Pulinski, at  824-3995 or email sharonpulinski@yahoo.com. This year the garden will be held for two days instead of just one, said Sharon Pulinski. That way even if the weather is bad on one day, there’s still a chance for better weather the next day. A gardener can choose to show…...

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May 6, 2014
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Garden Walk Buffalo awards grants to community groups

Garden Walk Buffalo has awarded a total of $8,945 in 2014 Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants to block clubs, non-profits and neighborhood associations for beautification projects in the neighborhoods of Garden Walk Buffalo. Award amounts are based on the overall project cost. Eligible projects are required to include matching funds from government, private contributions or volunteer sweat equity. The grants have helped to fund more than 80 garden beautification projects for a total of more than $60,000 since they began in…...

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May 6, 2014
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bee from Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens

You can help protect bees from toxins; learn more at Honey Bee Festival

by Connie Oswald Stofko Let the clover and dandelions grow in your lawn. Minimize your pesticide use, too, especially on flowers that are attractive to honey bees. Those are ways gardeners can help with the problem of Colony Collapse Disorder, said Reed Johnson, assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at the Ohio State University. Dr. Johnson will speak at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3 at the Honey Bee Festival at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South…...

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Apr 29, 2014
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