Here are some ideas to make your greenthumb still work this winter if you are in a deep winter like we are here in IOWA>  Keep calm and garden on this winter! Here are six different plant ideas to help you through even the coldest months.
 
1. Buy New Houseplants.  If you haven’t been to the house-plant section of your garden center for a while, then it’s time to pay it a visit. Pick out something you’ve never heard of before, and give it a new home on your windowsill.
 
2. Grow Annuals Indoors.  If you didn’t bring your own annuals indoors for winter, find a friend who did. Take a cutting from theirs and start some plants of your own. You have nothing to lose, and they just might make good houseplants until spring.
 
3. Conquer Kitchen Scraps.   This is definitely experimental gardening at its finest. Try to get an avocado pit to sprout some roots, or put a pineapple top in a jar of water. It’s fun to see what happens.
 
4. Try A Few Herbs.  Challenge yourself to try herbs that are completely new to you. If your go-to options are basil and thyme, then try growing rosemary and tarragon instead. All your favorite soups will definitely benefit!  Always grow herbs here at the greenhouse.  Do you have a special ones you would like to have me grow?  Give me a note.  
 
5. Eat Microgreens.  Microgreens have been on the gardening scene for a few years. If you haven’t tried them, now is the time. Throw a handful of extra sunflower seeds (sprouting or organic) in a container. Once they sprout and have grown an inch or two, it’s time to harvest. And remember, those little pieces pack a punch of nutrients.  Now I am going to ask you have you eaten or made these?  How about growing young plants and eating the leaves when they are small?  I need help with the name of that. 
 
6. Experiment With Air Plants.  If you haven’t tried air plants yet, you’ve been missing out. Air plants practically grow themselves because they don’t even require soil to live! They brighten up a dark space, too.  It will not help you for the winter, but this spring we have a nice selection of air plants here at Becky's Greenhouse and they are fun to grow with out dirt but remember they need water and sunlight.
 
Bonus Tip!  Don’t have a bay window or ledge for plants? Don’t let that stop you. Just find a side table or stand instead. This is a great excuse to upcycle something from your local thrift store.
 
taken from      http://birdsandblooms.com/gardening/small-space-gardening/6-ways
till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

     One of my favorite annual plants is the pansy and this year it has been selected by the National Gardening Bureau as the plant of the year for 2017.  Here is some information about the pansy.
     Pansies are such a friendly-faced flower! But until the 19th century most people considered them a weed. Today, pansies are a hybrid plant cultivated from those wildflowers in Europe and western Asia. Much of the collection and cultivation of pansies can be attributed to plantsmen and women in the UK and Europe more than 200 years ago. For example, Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of the Earl of Tankerville, and her gardener cross-bred a wide variety of Viola tricolor (common name "Heartsease") and showcased their pansies to the horticultural world in 1813. Further experiments around the same time eventually grew the class to over 400 garden pansy varieties.
      Garden pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are a mixture of several species, including Viola tricolor. Oftentimes the names “pansy”, “viola”, and “violet” are interchangeable. However Modern pansies are classified by the American Violet Society as having large-flowered blooms with two slightly overlapping upper petals, two side petals, and a single bottom petal, with a slight beard in its center. They’re considered annual bedding plants, used for garden decoration during cooler planting seasons. Pansies come in a rainbow of colors: from crisp white to almost black, and most all colors in between. They are also a great addition to your spring or fall vegetable garden as they are edible and pair well with lettuces. They can also be candied and used to decorate sweets or other dishes.
      In the late-1830s the classic pansy “face” was discovered in a chance sport that produced a broad dark blotch on the petals. It was released to the public by James, Lord Gambier with the name “Medora”. Further hybridization of V. tricolor, V. Lutea and a blue-flowered species of Russian origin, V. altacia, lead to breeders selecting plants for more unusual pansy colors, different color combinations, and a larger flower size.
        Most pansies fall into a few categories: Large (3 to 4 in.), Medium (2 to 3 in.) Multiflora (1 to 2 in.) and a new category of Trailing pansy. Some modern Large-flowered pansy series are Majestic Giant, bred by Sakata (where Majestic Giant White Face was a 1966 All-America Selections Winner); Delta, bred by Goldsmith Seeds; and Matrix, bred by PanAmerican Seed. Medium-sized pansy series include Crown by Sakata and Imperial from Takii & Co., Ltd. (Imperial Blue won an All-America Selections in 1975). Multiflora pansy series like Maxim and Padparadja won AAS awards in the early 1990s. New on the scene for hanging baskets and ground cover are WonderFall from Syngenta, and Cool Wave® pansies, from PanAmerican Seed – the makers of Wave® petunias. These Trailing pansies spread over 2 ft. wide and overwinter in fall gardens. Today’s garden pansy varieties can fill any sunny space – large or small, hanging overhead or growing underfoot – with soft fragrance and happy blooms.
      For transplants or purchased finished plants, space your pansies 6 to 10 in. apart in a well-drained and fertile soil location. The best location is an area that receives morning sun. Adding granular or time-release nutrition to the soil is encouraged, especially for trailing pansies as this increases their vigor and number of blooms. Offer plenty of water at planting and during their adjustment period to help establish roots and minimize stress. Mulching can help retain moisture and reduce any weeds that may compete with your plants. Pansies planted in the spring will enjoy the warm days and cool nights of the season. Most V. wittrockiana will begin to diminish or go out of flower as nighttime temperatures begin to rise in the summer. When planted in the north for fall outdoor decorating, pansies will enjoy a shorter but colorful season of blooms and in many cases will overwinter to pop up again the following spring. Southern gardeners often use pansies as their winter color and enjoy them all season long.
     The National Garden Bureau recognizes and thanks PanAmerican Seed as author of this fact sheet. This Pansy fact sheet is provided as an educational service of the National Garden Bureau. There are no limitations on the use. Please credit the National Garden Bureau.
taken from
 http://ngb.org/year
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
 
 

     How are your houseplants doing?  Check for insects on your inside plants. Insect pests multiply very quickly indoors. There are no natural predators to keep the insects in check, so you have to be very diligent about checking for symptoms. Keep an eye out for leaves that become discolored or curled and for plants that look limp even when they're watered.  Spider Mites leave telltale webbing, especially on the inner joints of plants and in plants with lush foliage. The tiny mites are about the size of a pinhead and injure plants by sucking their juices. Attacked leaves will have yellow stippling. As the infestation gets worse, the leaves will turn totally yellow and brittle and quickly die.  To get rid of spider mites, thoroughly spray the affected plants with insecticidal soap. Repeat as recommended on the label.
 
2.  Mealy Bugs are small cottony white blobs, usually attached to the plant at the stem joints, but they may also be found along the stems.  They make themselves at home and slowly feed off the plants by sucking. Plants infested with mealy bugs often look like they are drying out, even when they've been watered.  Mealy bugs are very hard to get rid of. If you catch the problem early, cut out the infested branches. You can also dab the mealy bugs with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. If you plants become severely infested, it would be best to just get rid of them. The mealy bugs are only going to spread.
 
3.  Scales are small insects that attach themselves to the stem of a plant and cover themselves with a hard, oval-shaped shell. Like mealy bugs, they slowly suck the sap from plants, leaving them too weak to sustain themselves.  Also like mealy bugs, they are very hard to get rid of. Pesticides often don’t penetrate their hard shells. You may have some luck rubbing the scales off with your nail. Young scales have to crawl unprotected to a new location to set up shop, and can be sprayed at that time with insecticidal soap. The soap has only minimal use against the protected adults.
 
4.  Aphids look like small green, white, yellow or black spots that can surface on all parts of a plant. Aphids can reproduce so quickly that an infestation will cover the plant in days.  Aphids are soft-bodied insects and can be killed quite easily by a strong blast of water or repeated sprays of insecticidal soap. But they are persistent and you will need to remain diligent to rid your houseplants of these pests.
 
taken from  http://gardening.about.com/od/houseplants
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

     Today will talk about eggplant and the new varieties  that we will have here.  Of course the stand by of eggplant Dusky. This will be a winner in your kitchen garden giving you lots of tender 6–7″ fruit with glossy black skin and excellent flavor. 'Dusky' has that classic oval Eggplant shape and is an early variety (58 days), making it an ideal choice for gardeners with shorter growing seasons. We love it baked with olive oil, minced Garlic, Onions, and freshly chopped Oregano and Parsley. Bon appétit!
      A new cultivar we are growing this year is Eggplant Amethyst which  is a strong growing, compact plant producing a heavy crop of vivid purple fruits right through the growing season. Amethyst has been specially developed to suit the garden environment and will thrive in pots, containers and in the border.
       Attractive purple flowers are followed by an abundant crop of 3oz (90 grams approx) amethyst coloured fruits.  The unique compact habit of Amethyst makes it a perfect choice for mixed flower and vegetable planters.  Traditional eggplants can be tall and require staking and are difficult to handle as they are very thorny.  Amethyst stays compact and does not require staking and unless stressed is thorn less, making it much easier to handle and harvest.  Amethyst has a great bitter free flavour and does not need to be salted before cooking.  Harvest when fruits go bright purple.  Amethyst is great cubed and added to casseroles and ethnic dishes.  It is also fabulous sliced and grilled, perhaps as part of an Italian menu.
     Growing Tips The first flowers will appear when the plants are quite small. When this happens feed weekly with a liquid feed high in potash, such as tomato fertilizer but at about half the rate of that recommended for tomatoes.   Ideal container size is at least 1 gallon (3-4 litres), remember too small a container will stunt the plants development and cause them to dry out very quickly.
     The third cultivar is  Eggplant Ivory which  is a strong growing, compact plant producing a heavy crop of pure white fruits right through the growing season. Ivory has been specially developed to suit the garden environment and will thrive in pots, containers and in the border.  Attractive purple flowers are followed by an abundant crop of 3oz (90 grams approx) pure white fruits. 
     The unique compact habit of Ivory makes it a perfect choice for mixed flower and vegetable planters.  Ivory has a great bitter free flavour and does not need to be salted before cooking.  Harvest when fruits go bright purple.  Ivory is great cubed and added to casseroles and ethnic dishes.  It is also fabulous sliced and grilled, perhaps as part of an Italian menu.  So food for thought to add to your vegetable garden.  Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa

    

            I am still working on the planting book which contains all the plants we will be planting, what size containers to plant them in, how many to plant in each, price to sell them for and any combinations of planters.  It has pictures, problems that could be with the plant on the grower side, and marketing information for the gardener.  I will help this spring, so I have planted dichondra before but last year did the green leaf besides the silver leaf.  Here is where I am always learning, but one of the 4-hers planted the plants in the middle of the pot instead of the side for trailing.  I didn't say anything and it turned out to be a great planter.  It filled in the pot and then went over the side.  It is designed to do that and here is some information about it.
       Freewheeling Dichondra has just gone a bit more formal with this beautiful new addition to the Falls series of foliage plants. Instead of a loosely trailing habit, Emerald Falls is full and very trim, with deep green leaves and a dense, symmetrical habit that looks like you just clipped it back! If you're looking for a "go-anywhere" sun-loving foliage plant, Emerald Falls is the variety you MUST try!
       Vigorous and easy to grow, this Dichondra boasts thick, super-soft deep green leaves (about an inch wide) arising profusely on very well-branched plants that need no pinching. Emerald Beauty will cascade about 3 feet from your baskets, windowboxes, or other containers, but it will also form a nicely domed shape that fills the available space beautifully!
       Very heat- and drought-tolerant, Emerald Falls recovers quickly even if wilted, and looks fresh all season long. Try it in a large container behind super-cascading Silver Falls, or among trailing flowering plants from Periwinkle to Sweet Pea. Emerald Falls thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Start the seeds indoors in late winter (about 6 to 8 weeks before last anticipated frost) and then set out when the weather warms up in spring. Till next week, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

          So one of my bloggers wrote about seeing a Tufted Titmouse at her feeder which she  hasn't seen for a long time.  With all the snow we are having now, the birdfeeders are busy which I don't have to tell you that feed them.  Have you seen this bird?  Also check out the website I found this article in, the link is at the bottom of the article...it is an excellent for bird lovers. 
     A little gray bird with an echoing voice, the Tufted Titmouse is common in eastern deciduous forests and a frequent visitor to feeders. The large black eyes, small, round bill, and brushy crest gives these birds a quiet but eager expression that matches the way they flit through canopies, hang from twig-ends, and drop in to bird feeders. When a titmouse finds a large seed, you’ll see it carry the prize to a perch and crack it with sharp whacks of its stout bill.
     Tufted Titmice look large among the small birds that come to feeders, an impression that comes from their large head and eye, thick neck, and full bodies. The pointed crest and stout bill help identify titmice even in silhouette.   Soft silvery gray above and white below, with a rusty or peach-colored wash down the flanks. A black patch just above the bill makes the bird look snub-nosed.
      Tufted Titmice are acrobatic foragers, if a bit slower and more methodical than chickadees. They often flock with chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers and are regular visitors to feeders, where they are assertive over smaller birds. Their flight tends to be fluttery but level rather than undulating.
     You’ll find Tufted Titmice in most eastern woodlands below 2,000 feet elevation, including deciduous and evergreen forests. Tufted Titmice are also common visitors at feeders and can be found in backyards, parks, and orchards.  Tufted Titmouse are regulars at backyard bird feeders, especially in winter. They prefer sunflower seeds but will eat suet, peanuts, and other seeds as well.  
      Tufted Titmouse build their nests in cavities, so putting up nest boxes is a good way to attract breeding titmice to your yard. Make sure you put it up well before breeding season. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young.
     Look for Tufted Titmice flitting through the outer branches of tree canopies in deciduous woods, parks, and backyards. A quiet walk through woodlands will often turn up the twittering of a mixed-species foraging flock, and you’ll likely find titmice in attendance. You’ll often hear the high, whistled peter-peter-peter song well before you see the bird.
Taken from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa

     Big begonias for containers and borders  Think that fibrous-rooted begonias are dinky little plants just for edging summer bedding displays? Think again, says plantsman Graham Rice.  We always tend to think of fibrous-rooted begonias as small, bushy little plants for window boxes, small containers and edging.  Big Leaf Begonias are great plants to use in the landscape and containers.  Dragon Wing will not go well in sun, but the big leaf begonia will do well in sun very easy to grow.  Give it some thought for your garden.

       The most dependably colourful of summer bedding plants, their neat, waxy, bronze or green leaves coupled with red, pink or white flowers just keep coming from June to the frosts. But it was rare to see varieties taller than about 23cm (9in), and 15cm (6in) was more common.  Now, all that has changed, and developments are heading in the other direction..
      In recent years big and bold varieties reaching almost 3ft (90cm) tall have been developed. They make very impressive plants. These large fibrous-rooted begonias are valuable in two situations. As specimens in containers they are superb; in terracotta pots up to 45cm (18in) across they have real presence, with a nice balance of attractive glossy foliage and pretty flowers. They grow quickly, making bushy plants that branch repeatedly and produce showers of flowers until frosted in autumn. You can even bring them into the conservatory to flower into winter.  They can also be grown in half barrels and in very large pots in sumptuous mixed plantings with cannas, dahlias, colocasias, foliage helichrysums and tumbling calibrachoas, and their repeatedly-branching growth ensures that every space is filled with foliage and flowers.

       In sunny and partially-shaded borders they are also valuable. In the middle ground their informal style allows them to blend well with perennials and other annuals. They fill space quickly and, being much larger than other begonias and many other summer annuals, relatively few plants are needed. Begonias are one of the more difficult annuals to raise from seed, so buying plugs or young plants is a more viable option.  Plants of this type are now found in catalogues and garden centres, in increasing order of height:

• Dragon Wing Series is spreading in growth and has green leaves and red or pink flowers. 30-40cm (12-14in).

• Baby Wing Series is upright and comes in two green-leaved colours, pink and white, plus a bronze-leaved white. 35-45cm (14-18in).

• Big Series is upright with two bronze-leaved colours, red and pink, and a green-leaved red. 50-60cm (20-24in).

• Whopper Series, the largest, is upright and comes in both green and bronze-leaved forms, with red or pink flowers.  75-85cm (30-34in).

 taken from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/graham-rice/big-begonias-for-containers-and-borders
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty, Iowa

     Here is a plant to think about for your containers.  Bacopa
     Masses of white flowers cover this beautiful, small ground cover, making bacopa an increasingly popular choice for those who are looking for the best container plants for their garden.
     Who doesn’t love a container filled with colorful, flowering plants?  This is one of my favorite ways to decorate my outdoor spaces, which I change seasonally, creating an entire new look.  When planting flowering annuals/perennials, I like to use a trailing plant.  In the past, alyssum and lobelia were the typical standbys for most gardeners, but there is a new kid on the block – Bacopa (Sutera cordata).
     Masses of small, 5-petaled flowers cover bacopa in summer and fall on plants that reach 3 – 6 inches high. Grown as a perennial in zones 9 – 11, bacopa is grown as a annual n in zone 8 gardens and below.  Flowering most frequently occurs when temperatures range between 50 – 85 degrees.
    Bacopa is a great alternative for alyssum as it isn’t as messy although it isn’t fragrant like alyssum is – it is self-cleaning, meaning that it doesn’t need deadheading.  Simply allow it to cascade over the side of your favorite container.  Whether you use a single bacopa or fill the entire container with this white-flowering beauty – you can’t go wrong.
     White-flowering plants help to show off the brighter colors of the other flowering plants you add to your containers.  In addition, the trailing habit of bacopa, adds texture as it grows down the side of pots.
     For an interesting effect, plant hanging baskets with bacopa, which resembles baskets of baby’s breath.  The uses of bacopa aren’t limited to containers – use it as a small groundcover, leaving enough room for it to spread up to 12 inches.  In general, use it as you would alyssum or lobelia.  Bacopa is not a fussy plant – it thrives in full sun, filtered or light shade.  The only requirement it has is evenly moist soil.  If the soil dries out, flowering will be decreased.
     There are several varieties of bacopa, including a purple variety called, ‘Snowstorm Blue’.  If variegated foliage is your thing, try ‘Olympic Gold’. The variety ‘Giant Snowflake’ has larger flowers. 
taken from http://www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/best-container-plants-bacopa/
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

      I am taking a leap today.  I have had several that know me why I haven't been putting in devotions.  In my radio show I always end with scripture and devotion about our Lord.  It is a part of me, so I thought it was time to share that with you.  I will do this only on Sunday so don't mean to upset anyone, so take it as my caring about the Lord and how he can help you.  Just remember it will only be on Sunday.  Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy.  Becky
     Scripture reading from Galatians 6:9 Let us not weary in during good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 
     One of the most important truths you can be grateful for is That God has promised to never leave you, He will always by your side!  That's why it is important to remember this. No matter how difficult the circumstance may seem around you, don't give up.  God is for you, and He is bigger than any trouble you may be facing.
     You can regain the territory the devil has stolen from you.  If necessary, regain it one inch at a time, being thankful for and always leaning on God's grace and not on your own ability to get the desired results. In Galatians 6:9 the apostle Paul encourages us to keep on keeping on!  Don't be a quitter! Have an " I can do all things through Christ attitude. " God is looking for people who will go all way through to the other side with Him. 
  Dear Lord, Thank you Father that You give me the strength to never quit.  I am grateful that You are always with me and that You fight my battle. Amen
Taken from the Power of Being Thankful from Joyce Meyer Faith Words.
 
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa

        I have been doing research on some new combination planters and found this flower.  Wallflower.  So here is the information about it.  I will be growing it to see how it grows in the planters.  Share any information about this flower.
      Fragrant and colorful, many varieties of wallflower plants exist. Some are native to areas of the United States. Most gardeners succeed at growing wallflowers in the garden. Wallflower plants can brighten containers as well. Learn how to plant a wallflower and what is needed for wallflower care.
       Most wallflower plants are of the genus Erysimum, with some types being from, Cheiranthus, sometimes called Gillyflower. Wallflower plants have perky spring blooms, often in shades of yellow and orange. Newer cultivars of the wallflower garden plant come in shades of pinks, purples and blue; some varieties have chocolate or crimson blooms.  Most wallflowers are drought tolerant. Some are short-lived perennials, others are annuals or biennials. Perennial wallflower plants are grown as annuals in colder zones. But they retain evergreen foliage in USDA gardening zones  8-10, which may have a silvery tint.
        When growing wallflowers start them from seed which may be sown right into the garden or started indoors. Plant wallflower seeds in spring or in autumn. Cover seeds lightly or simply press them into moist soil. Seeds of wallflower need light to germinate. They may also be covered with perlite  or vermiculite. Once sprouted, some gardeners cover with netting about 8 inches above the plant to keep the 3-feet specimens upright.
      Grow wallflower plants in a sunny or partly shaded location. When growing wallflowers, make sure to plant them in well-draining soil. In the right location and with the right conditions, growing wildflower blooms may last until fall. Plant wallflowers in masses with summer flowering bulbs or include a few in containers planted with summer blooms.
      Water the plants regularly until established, then water occasionally if there is no rainfall.  Wallflower care includes the pinching back of spent blooms. Deadheading encourages more flowers on the growing wallflower.   Now that you’ve learned how to plant a wallflower, give them a try in the garden. You’ll find growing wallflowers is a simple, colorful and sweet-smelling addition to the garden.
 
Article printed from Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa