Air Dates: 3/23 & 3/26 | 3/30 & 4/2
Monthly Program Listing

Due to special programming, Volunteer Gardener will not be seen during the first three weeks of March, 2006.

Episode #1409
Air Dates: 3/23/06 & 3/26/06

We’ll talk tomatoes on this episode of Volunteer Gardener. Marty DeHart shares her picks of tried and true varieties that perform well in our Tennessee heat. Marty also recommends solutions to common disease and pest questions that affect tomato production. Then Troy Marden spotlights some native shrubs and trees that will shine in the landscape. And Sheri Gramer visits Bennett Nurseries to get ideas for creating a tropical garden bed.

Program Notes:

Marty’s tomato picks for our Middle Tennessee climate:
Arkansas Traveler
Mortgage Lifter
Better Boy
Homestead
Caspian Pink
Giant Belgium
Bradley
Eva’s Purple Ball
Ozark Pink
Solar Set Hybrid
Creole
Mule Team
Tropic
Cherokee Purple
Boxcar Willie

Good paste tomatoes:
Amish paste
Opalka
Quimbaya Hybrid

More of Marty’s tomato growing recommendations:
*Pick the right variety.

*Cage tomatoes so there’s no need to sucker. Suckering wounds the plant, which invites disease.

*Mulch- Marty lays down a layer of cardboard then a layer of wheat straw. Do not do this until both the weather and the soil is warm. For Middle Tennessee this means mid-May.

*To keep early blight to a minimum, good mulching helps as this is a soil-borne disease. Water at the base of the plant. Ortho Garden Disease Control will combat this problem.

*Pests: Use Dipel ES (BT as main ingredient) for any type of caterpillar problem. Cucumber mosaic is spread by aphids, so insecticidal soap will work for this. For more serious pests, Pyola, (combination of pyrethrin and canola oil) or Rotenone/Pyrethrin.

Sheri’s segment:
Bennett Nurseries
7002 Memorial Parkway NW
Huntsville, Alabama 35810
256-852-6211
George Bennett, owner

Troy’s segment:
Beaver Creek Nursery
7526 Pelleaux Road
Knoxville TN, 37938
865-922-3961

Highlighted shrubs and trees:
Oakleaf Hydranga ‘Snowflake’—Dwarf hydrangea ‘PeeWee’ – Cotinus obovatus or native smoke tree – Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’ – Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’.

 

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Episode #1439
Air Dates: 3/30/06 & 4/2/06

On this episode, we’ll showcase that grand mainstay of the garden, the American boxwood, and learn tips for proper pruning; Catherine Darnell tours a stately residence where trees, shrubs and flowers complement outdoor sculpture; and Marty DeHart shares her picks for the best performing sweet peppers.

The products mentioned in ‘Lawn Additives’ were a pre-emergent crabgrass killer to apply the last week of February; a weed ‘n feed product best applied when the grass is wet like early morning; Perk Up, a lawn revitalizer to apply in the fall.

Marty’s sweet peppers for middle Tennessee:
Giant Resistant
Jupiter
Charleston Belle
Boynton Bell
Marty also recommended Ortho Garden Disease Control for bacteria or insect problems in the pepper bed.

 

 

 

 

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