New Castle Gardens previously produced a series of videos in order to allow for garden education while social distancing is necessary. Check out our full list of class curriculum PDFs and watch for more videos below.
Fall Garden Prep
In this hands-on, interactive class we will learn about how to put your garden to bed for the Winter. We will clear out old or unwanted growth, prepare the soil, mulch the plants, and learn about Winter Watering.
Saturday 4/10 at 10 am
Suggested donation of $5
Masks & Social Distancing
Learn by doing! We will cover proper pruning techniques. Then we will work on pruning perennials and roses.
Hands-on Class
Bring Your Tools
We have expanded our selection of goods in the Garden Center. We are happy to say that we are carrying Briarwood Lanes flags, spinners, and windsocks. Add some whimsy to your garden or house.
I like to use what I can from my kitchen in my garden. If you can eat it, it is generally safe to use in the garden.
When you hard-boil eggs, save the water. Calcium leaches from the shells when they are boiled. Calcium is especially important for tomatoes. It prevents blossom-end rot.
Add Epsom Salts when you add Calcium. Epsom Salts are not a true salt, this is a misnomer. They are almost pure Magnesium. The Magnesium is needed to make Calcium bioavailable.
When you boil or steam veggies or pasta, save the water. Let it cool and water the plants you are growing. The nutrients in the water feed your plants. The vitamins in the water are bioavailable after soil microorganisms break them down.
Put left over coffee and coffee grounds in your garden. Coffee is high in nitrogen and lowers the pH (especially important with our basic soils and water).
Save your banana skins and let them dry outdoors. Plant them next to your plants. You can also soak them in water and use that water on the plants. As they steep or decompose, they add potassium as well as small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium.
Chamomile tea helps to prevent fungus on seedlings. Chamomile tea is high in sulfur. Sulfur fungicides work best in our high pH climate. Spray your seedlings with it either before sunrise or after sunset.
Save your fruit and vegetable peelings and scraps. Not only can you add them to your compost, you can use your blender or food processor to make a slurry. Use this when you water your plants. The nutrients from your scraps add valuable nutrients to your plants.
Remember, you can always add these items and many more to your compost pile.
George W. Cutting III is a gifted photographer. We are lucky to have his work in our store. George has been incredibly involved in our community. We all miss him, but wish him well in Alaska. Now we all have the perfect reason to visit Alaska. We love you so much George.
