At the Farm is located on Highway 5 in Carver County, Minnesota - 2.5 m. East of Waconia - 4.5 m. West of Victoria - 10 m. West of Chanhassen
Donna Frantz, Proprietor - 8880 East Highway 5, Waconia MN 55387 - imthefarmer@earthlink.net - 952-442-4816

At the Farm Newsletter

Sent May 14, 2008 Hello, Planting in the fields is slow and it is muddy in most of the area right now. But my hanging gardens and beautiful planters are fabulous! I will plant up containers or baskets to order for you. You can choose from my selection of containers to boldly enhance the arrangement . . . THE MAGIC AWAITS YOU! I have fresh rhubarb and wonderful brown organic eggs for sale. Also, rhubarb roots, raspberry roots (fall heritage), onion plants, Ebenezer onion sets and Ostrich outdoor fern. Click here to go to my website for more availability information! Happy Spring! Donna

More Gardening Tips for May! To Move or Not to Move Our spring is very late this season so you still have time to divide your perennials. Some perennials are just coming up, like Hostas, so they can be divided and will grow just fine. Day lilies and most other perennials can be moved now if they are not too tall. Oriental poppies cannot be moved because the tap root is too long, so it's best to buy new. Peonies and iris need to be moved in fall, so wait on these. To Pinch or Not to Pinch To plant a hanging basket, start with fresh, good quality soil (It's not dirt, that's what on the floor!). Buy the very best plants you can find and look for some that are not so tall. If they are tall, pinch them in half. When planting, check the roots, if they are too tight cut them up the side a bit. They need to spread and not to grow in a circle like they did in the the container. PINCH off all blooms when planting for the best and fullest annual plants. I know its hard to do this but it makes the plant grow fuller instead of leggy. I don't do this with geraniums but I do with almost all other annuals. If petunias are too leggy cut them in half. For coleus the two small center leaves can be pinched off. This this really makes them bush out and also keeps them from setting seed. Don't forget to feed your soil. 10-10-10-fertilizer and bone meal is great. Work it into the soil and around the plants. Instead of of putting them out in the sun right away after planting , set the basket or planter in the shade or garage for a day. This reduces the stress to the plants. They need to readjust. Feed half strength fertilizer the first feeding. This is liquid fertilizer I'm talking about. HAPPY PLANTING!