Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2006
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/gardentips.html

Garden Tips
April 2006
Marty Johnson, President, Johnson's Garden Centers 
                & Kansas Certified Nursery Professional

Spring Greetings
    I guess we had to wait until the calendar said it was spring until
we were fortunate enough to have any measurable rainfall. What a week 
we had in mid March. From rainfall ... to watching the Shockers in the
NCAA basketball tournament ... it was a great week! Then we started the
spring ritual of forecasting the last frost of spring. Go to the NOAA
web site http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/ and you'll find that the average
last killing frost is April 9th.

Spring Planting
    Usually by this time of the year you can safely plant most annuals
if you are prepared to give the plants some protection from the cold
weather, if necessary. Customers ask how soon can they plant items such
as tomatoes. I usually advise them that if they are planting just a few
plants, maybe six, it should be OK. If you're planting a large garden
with 12 or more plants, I would wait until later in April. Part of the
fun of gardening is to see how soon one can get their plants into the
ground. Many of our summer vegetable plants are warm-season plants,
meaning they really don't do too much growing until May. I usually wait
until the soil temperatures warm to 65 degrees or more to plant items 
such as peppers, cucumbers, squash and melons.

Cucumbers
    I am encouraging gardeners to be sure to try a cucumber called Diva
in their gardens this year. This 2002 All America Selections winner
matures in only 32 days from transplants; from seed it will take about
58 days. Diva has a thin, tender skin with a very sweet taste. It has
been called the finest burpless cucumber on the market. When picked at a
young age, the 4-5" cukes are spineless and packed with flavor. There is
no need to peel the tender, semi-glossy skin because it is packed with
flavor and nutrition as well. Diva will be a great garden performer. It
is tolerant of scab, powdery mildew and other diseases that attack vine
crops. We will have Diva as transplants and in seed packets.

Annuals & Perennials
    Our greenhouses are filled with annuals and perennials just waiting
for your selection. We are growing many plants in our production
greenhouses that will be ready in late April. One of the best parts of
being in the garden center business is caring for and watching the small
transplants grow from infants into plants for your garden. At Johnson's,
we take great pride in offering you plants that will perform well in
your landscape. We work with the best growers in the area to offer you
new varieties that will stand out in your garden. With regards to our
trees and shrubs, we rely on the best growers in the nation.

Radius Garden Tools
    New this year is a line of tools which have truly been thought out.
Radius hand tools are designed to work with normal hand and arm
movements. They have an unusual, green, banana-shaped handle which is
very noticeable at first glance. The angle at which the head of the tool
is attached is just right for tending to your garden. There are several
tools designed for several tasks in the garden from planting transplants
and bulbs to cultivating the soil. These are sturdy tools designed for
years of service in the garden. Our gardening friends with tough soil
will appreciate the strength of these tools.