Gardentalk

Master Gardener Ed Buyarski advises gardeners to thin out their apple and cherry trees, and start sowing spinach, peas, radishes, kale, and early mustards in their greenhouse or hoophouse.

Master Gardener Ed Buyaski says starting seeds indoors is a good way to get an early jump on the gardening season, especially if the ground is still frozen or it’s still too cold outside.

Master Gardener Ed Buyarski provides some advice for fall and winter care of begonias, dahlias and fuschias.

Clear out debris and old dying plants in your garden before they become prime habitat for slugs. Don’t put old potato and cabbage plants into the compost bin. Individual garlic cloves should be planted six inches apart and two inches deep, and with the pointy end up.

Peel off the scab and eat the potatoes immediately. They won’t keep very well in your root cellar. Master Gardener Ed Buyarski also has tips for mitigating potato scab, how to carefully harvest potatoes, techniques to harden or age potatoes before harvest, and setting aside small seed potatoes for next season’s planting.

Master Gardener Ed Buyarski recommends digging them up, hosing them down to wash off the soil, and using a hatchet to cut and separate each clump’s roots. Divide up the plant so that each tuber or gnarly root section has at least two to five buds.