In winter, it is hard to find purchased greens that maintain freshness very long and are tasty. Swiss chard has a mild flavor and is easy to grow indoors, especially if started in late fall for a winter crop. Related to beets, Swiss chard is a member of Amaranthaceae that originated in the Mediterranean. Swiss … Continue reading
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day January 15th
Welcome to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for January 15th. Here at Plant Exchange on the Northern Plains, we are having the last warm January day before a week of predicted below freezing temperatures and chances for snow. Indoors, a sunny day adds welcome light and solar warmth. We’ll see blooms only indoors for the next … Continue reading
A Change at the Nurseries
We celebrate this year at Plant Exchange Blog with a story about a grown son, Mike Gurney, who chooses to come back to his home town to try the family horticulture business. His family name is associated with his grandfather five generations ago, who brought knowledge about how to grow apple and other fruit trees to … Continue reading
Season Favorites
About four inches of snow fell overnight; a reminder that Fall wanes as the holidays approach. Just thinking about a few moments of the past season. The half on/half off leaves of our Japanese maple was a marker for yesterday. A year ago, an early Fall cold event caused the leaves to turn from green … Continue reading
Flowers Attract People
Even in a city without a hurried pace, it’s a challenge to get people to slow down to see a storefront’s display the business offers. Rita Houska doesn’t sell flowers in her store, but the flowers at the front and employee entrances of her business allow her and anyone to see something beautiful as they … Continue reading
More Garden Diaries
These are some “Garden Diaries” or plant ideas being tried and shared by these gardeners of the region: Kathy Jorgensen, Janette Marker, Marlys Hauck-Fenner, Gary Idt, Gary and Cynthia Jensen, and Marilyn Kratz. Topics include tips for raising sweet potatoes in our region, wonders of easy-to-grow ornamental catmint, propagating and growing prized grapes, living ground … Continue reading
Look in the Greenhouse at Change of Season
Here at Plant Exchange it’s the end of September and this year the first frost could be within a couple of weeks. Outdoors in this USDA Zone 4-5a region, monarchs and other pollinators are busy gathering nectar in native Agastache, butterfly bush, some zennias, and asters in bloom around the yard. Soon we need to … Continue reading
Methuselah Monarchs
As Fall approaches, so many changes are around us. Days are shortening and humans transition into different kinds of activities. Trees display their colors. Pollinators flock to late summer blooming plants such as New England asters, many kinds of milkweed, goldenrod, sedum, and sunflowers, to name a few. We’re glad we have grown some of … Continue reading
‘Fresh from the Garden’ with Herbs
Welcome to Plant Exchange. Today we’re featuring how to cook with herbs that can grow in this region, right in your garden, flowerbed or planter such as this cilantro. Chef Staci Pederson of Yankton Hy-Vee Food Store shares her own entrée, appetizer and side dish recipes and preparation tips for herbs from your garden or … Continue reading
What About Compost?
Even in our busy lives, when we plant, we try to improve the soil as we go. Amending soil can be as simple as mulching with chemical-free grass clippings and turning under the clippings in garden clean up at the end of the season. When we plant, perhaps we add a scoop of compost to … Continue reading
