Air Dates: 1&4 | 8&11 | 15&18 | 22&25 | 29 & Oct. 2
Monthly Program Listing

Episode #1409
Air Dates: 9/1/05 and 9/5/05

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 #1410
Air Dates: 9/8/05 & 9/11/05

On this Volunteer Gardener, Marty DeHart marvels at all the beautiful blooms as she tours the gardens of a Knoxville rose enthusiast; Sheri Gramer strolls the long sunny border of a garden shared by neighbors; and Tammy Algood serves up a slice of summer with -
Fresh Berry Napoleons.

 

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Episode #1411
Air Dates: 9/15/05 & 9/18/05

We’ll take a walk with flying flowers on this episode of Volunteer Gardener as Julie Berbiglia visits a Nashville nursery that now features a butterfly habitat full of the foliage that nurtures them; Annette Shrader mixes up some fun as she treats kids to pudding pots; Troy Marden examines gardens at the peak of their fall splendor to see what he’ll choose for next spring; and Catherine Darnell tours a formal backyard garden featuring lots of beautiful hydrangeas.

Program Notes:

Julie’s segment:
Bloom’s Nursery
610 Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37204
615-256-4663

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Episode #1412
Air Dates: 9/22/05 and 9/25/05

It’s fun to peek in someone’s backyard, and that’s just what we do on this Volunteer Gardener. Catherine Darnell visits a woman who caught the gardening bug from her work at a retail store’s garden center; Sheri Gramer tours a backyard with a lovely pond and lots of great design ideas; Jeff Poppen, the barefoot farmer, shares his methods to successful grape production; and Tammy Algood goes back to basics when she demonstrates how to braise meats.

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Episode #1413
Air Dates: 9/29/05 and 10/2/05

On this Volunteer Gardener, Marty DeHart enjoys all of the delightful gardens just waiting for someone to stroll through as she tours an estate in Knoxville; Troy Marden showcases a variety of ornamental grasses at their peak in the fall; Annette Shrader demonstrates an easy way to brighten up an outdoor dead space with low maintenance containers; and Julie Berbiglia explores the commercial growing of endangered native species.

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