​Can you believe I am watering the wagons tonight?  With all the rain, but these little pots of dirt do dry out so have to start watering.  I can't do it all in the morning as we have 9 wagons full.  9 are all full.  Plus have 21 tall carts full of plants.  All of this has come out of the greenhouse which we have grown in this season. The exception would be 1/2 of wagon of annuals that I bought in from Swifts.  Most of the perennials came from Swifts.  But one wagon is perennials that have been planted here.  We have lots of plants yet, and they look just awesome.  The plants that were planted 2 weeks ago with the miracle of the greenhouse are ready to go into your garden believe it or not.  Air plants are coming in on Monday and that will be our first order of them.  Always excited to see what they look like.  I know a couple of gardeners are waiting for them to come in. We still have lots of peppers, tomatoes are here, all the vine plants are growing well.  We have rhubarb plants.  They were on the rack but I had one customer miss them, so if they are listening to this please come back and pick them up.  LOTS and lots of succulents, as I am n
ot saying too much we have around 1000 pots.  Ranging in price from .50 to $10.00.  Tomato plants are available, lots of peppers, the whole range of garden plants from cabbage to eggplant. Kohlrabi, cauliflower and all of these still can be planted in your garden.  Carnivorous plants are fun to grow with your kids.  In fact, I will show you one has a fly in the plant so it is working. Many kinds of herbs are still here.   Trees, fruit trees, shrubs, roses are looking great.  We have a selection of shrubs for only 15.00 because we want them in your landscape.  I am still using the punch card with every $100 you get &.50 off.  Hours Monday - Saturday 9-6, Sunday 11-4   We are worth the drive to Dougherty to look at the selection.  Plenty of room to social distance and enjoy all of the color that you see outside.  Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 

​I wanted to post a simple video about what we have here.  After the third try I got it.  It was upside down and found out on the iPhone and going to Microsoft you have to have the volume button down now up.  So I am learning all the time especially with all this technical stuff.  Hope it downloads OK on the website and doesn't take too long for you to load up.  I will be posting more today if I can get the camera and the website to work.  It has been raining and wet out and very humid.  But it is good today Friday.  Sun is out, then it gets cloudy, but it isn't raining out. 
So the video is about the 3 wagons we have full of perennials.  They are blooming, they are growing and they are ready to go into your garden.  Perennials are the ones that suppose to come back next year.  Some of them will not even though they say zone 5 and USDA has us in zone 5 still they are just an annual.  I will tell you that you pick those up.  If any questions about perennials you can ask.  If I don't know I will find out the answer. 
Open Mon thru Saturday 9-6, Sunday 11-4.  Come to Dougherty for a wide selection of perennials.   Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

      ​I just found flowering cabbage and flowering kale growing in the back of the greenhouse.  So it is out on the rack.  Sweet potato vines eatable are ready to go into your garden.  We have them planted so they are growing nicely. till next time this is Becky Litterer Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

      ​     So are you wondering about the supply of plants?  We have lots yet and believe it or not we are still growing.  Working on filling up the wagons, have lots of tall racks of plants that we have taken out of the greenhouse.  Remember one wagon of annuals, all the perennials, trees and shrubs have been bought it, all the rest 8 wagons and many tall carts have been grown here in this one greenhouse.  The 2nd greenhouse is for putting in the wagons if the weather is cold or turns bad.  9 wagons will fit in there.  Herbs, vegetables as in peppers and tomatoes, geraniums, bedding plants, perennials, lots of shrubs and trees including fruit trees, succulents like 1000 pots of them from .50 to 10.00.  We have been busy, sold lots but not out of things. As we were selling out of certain plants, I hurried up and ordered more plug trays, they came and have been planted for a couple of weeks.  In fact more tomatoes are growing to be planted in your garden.    With the miracle of this greenhouse, plants grow and they are ready to go into your garden.  I am open every day Monday thru Sat 9-6, Sunday 11-4.  I will post more pictures after you see this video.  If any questions about what we have call me  641-794-3337 email me at beckmall@netins.net  We are here to help with your gardening needs as I have talked about on the gardening radio show for over 23 years.  Gardening and You....We are here to help you with the different aspects of gardening.  Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 

image from dognews.com

       ​      I got this letter from the Old Farmers' Almanac and found it very true.  Enjoy their thoughts on gardening.
 
Of all the things that have been canceled or postponed as of late, gardening is not one of them. There are lots of reasons to garden—exercise, self-sufficiency, personal satisfaction, to name a few. Along with the fresh food and other rewards, we love the unexpected lessons that come from gardening. Here are a few we’ve learned over the years:
 
Beauty is everywhere. You just have to look. A well-maintained and -curated garden is a sight to behold, but don’t fuss to perfection so much that you miss the opportunity to delight in the untamed and wild.
 
Good things require hard work. Like so much in life, there are few shortcuts in gardening, but all that sweat and toil is its own reward. Sometimes, failure is necessary. No gardener is perfect. Setbacks come with the territory. It’s natural to be disappointed when things don’t work out, and it’s a chance to grow something new.
 
There’s more than one way. While there are rules essential for success, so much about gardening is trial, error, and a desire to learn. If something isn’t working, step back and look again with fresh eyes. You might be surprised to learn that the answer was right in front of you all along.
 
A healthy dose of optimism goes a long way. Pessimistic gardeners don’t last very long! If you aren’t already, we would like to suggest you stay calm and plant something!
 
 How about tomatoes? They’re a popular addition to any vegetable garden, and there’s a variety for every taste, climate, or landscape.
 
 With retail varieties in short supply these days, now is a great time to start a compost pile.
 
 Finally, for our U.S. readers, today is Memorial Day. Don’t forget to raise the flag and, no matter where you are, kick off the unofficial start to summer with a feast fit for a family picnic.
 
 Your Friends from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
taken from the Old Farmers almanac. com
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

image from Becky's Greenhouse

      ​Becky do you have peppers?  Yes we have peppers from sweet bell to Ghost peppers and all in between.  We have tomatoes.  What else in the garden plants?  Broccoli, cabbage, pak cho cabbage, early Jersey cabbage, lettuce ,kohlrabi, cauliflower, spinach, sweet peas, kale, swiss chard, celery, rhubarb, and eggplant.  Hours tomorrow Monday 9-6, Sunday 11-4.  Stop in if you need some plants for your garden.  Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

image from littlethings

      ​      Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  We had rain, clouds early morning, but around 2:00 PM the sun came out and it is lovely out.  BUT noticeable more humidity.  Farmers have been in and they are glad that it is getting warmer out.  The crops were planted a month ago in some great weather and tillage of the soil worked up great.  BUT then it turned cold and now wet.  BUT the crops will grow enjoying the moisture and the warmer temperatures.  That will also go for your gardens.  Most of the plants have been just sitting there ready to get some moisture and heat to grow.  I am thinking your radishes should be up, peas should be growing, cabbage and broccoli will love the cooler weather we have had.  Now the tomatoes and peppers will be happier with the temperature and the moisture.
      Now I know what else will grow but the weeds.  With the warmer temperatures and the moisture they will be coming up like crazy.  Here is going to be the challenge with gardening and keeping up with the weeds.  I will suggest this technique and you can do it after you weed for the first time.  You will put layers of newspaper down. Don't use the glossy paper as that will not decompose.  Then put something down to hold the newspaper down between the rows like grass clipping, leaves, or mulch.  If it is a dry year, it will  help keep the moisture in, and also help with the weed control.
 
      Here I found this article about newspapers.  They suggested using mulch but I will go one step further and say you can use grass clippers or leaves anything to hold down the newspaper. Now none of this can be done till the ground is dried up.  If you do it now, when the ground is wet you will create lots of lumps and they will stay with the garden all season lone. I know lots to understand about gardening but I want you to be successful especially if this is your first garden.
 
How to Use Newspaper in the Garden for Weed Control
Once gardeners have planted a garden and the tender young vegetables begin to emerge from the soil, most gardeners turn their attention to weed control. Weeds cannot grow amongst the desired vegetation because they will eventually choke out the good growth and take over. Weed prevention is a wise course of action, with mulch being a gardener’s most effective tool for accomplishing this. Choose newspapers as an affordable and effective mulch to control weeds in a vegetable garden.
 
Hoe the soil area between the growing plants to break up the soil and break loose weeds that may be growing.
 
Lay down a thick layer of newspapers around the plants and between the rows. Stack approximately 10 pages of newspapers so that the layer is at least 1/4 inch thick; cover all of the soil areas between plants and rows with layers of newspaper. Fold or cut the newspaper layers to fit into smaller areas, if necessary.
 
Use the hose and the spray nozzle to spray all of the newspaper layers after laying them down. This will keep the newspapers from blowing away before you apply the mulch.
 
Apply the shredded mulch over the newspaper to cover the newspapers completely. The shredded mulch serves to hide the newspaper and make the garden more attractive. It also holds down the newspapers and hastens the decomposition of the newspapers.
 
Work the newspapers into the soil in the autumn after harvesting all of the vegetables. Use a rototiller or a garden spade to break up the newspapers into smaller chunks. The next spring the newspapers will be sufficiently decomposed and the soil will be ready for planting again
taken from https://www.gardenguides.com/81359-use-newspaper-garden-weed-control.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net
 

images from Becky's Greenhouse

    Here we are Saturday of Memorial day weekend.  This weekend has came quickly on the calendar.  It is earlier this year but May has gone quickly.  Larry and I want to thank all that has come out to the greenhouse.  It has been a great time seeing all of you.  BUT we still have lots of plants. This morning another order of perennials from Swifts' greenhouse Gilman Iowa.  Lyle and Ann have been planting more plugs so we have a great variety of annual plants here.  Memorial day planters we have in 3 different sizes for you to take to the cemetery.  Hanging baskets are available. 
     It sounds like next week will be warmer even with rain predicted each day for the first part of the week.  BUT it will be all the things we need to keep on gardening and the plants will grow.  Warm air temperatures, warming soil temperatures and moisture.  All the things we need to have our gardens, flower beds and lawns grow into a great areas. 
     We have all the vine plants growing as in squash, melons, cucumbers, and the warming temperatures will be time to plant them.  This is my advice with planting vine plants.  Plant them from June 1st to the 15th will be the best time to plant these.  The vine plants don't like cool night, and if you wait the first round of bugs are gone.  Just some food for thought.  Another garden vegetable to wait till it is warmer soil is the eatable sweet potato plant.  So soon it will be time to plant them.  Again they like warm soil and warm air temperature especially at night.  We have them planted so they are growing well.  Easy for you to plant in your garden.
     We have a selection of bushes on sale for $15.00 they are nice but need to be planted in your garden so that is why we have lowered the price to see that happens.  We still have apple peach and cherry trees.  Our landscaping trees are looking good, and we have many new bushes and shrubs that look great for that area you want to plant them.  Peony bushes on sale and they are good size.  But looking for peony plants that will grow in your garden we have them for $10.00.  Outdoor ferns are growing and fun to see them come up with their little fronds stems.
      Large selection of lilies ranging in price from $4.00 to $10.00.  Daylilies are looking good to be planted in your garden beds.  We have some iris here to add to your cut flower garden beds. 
     Herbs selection is good.  AND we still have tomatoes plants along with many different kinds of peppers.  We have bulk garden seeds with the popular bush green beans. 
    Hours today from 9-6 and Sunday 11-4.  I will be at the greenhouse all day Monday from 9-6 to start another week of gardening.    

​till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

image frompepperjoe.com

      ​I wanted to share with you some information about planting peppers.  As I am learning there is a time to plant and not everything can be planted at the same time.  When I talk about different times to plant some of the gardeners look at me, like what are you thinking?  Like they never have heard this before.  I found this out very interesting a bout peppers.  LOOK at the soil temperature should be.  I don't know what our soil temperature is, but with the cool nights and cooler days it can't be very warm.  So what this is saying you have time to plant your peppers.  If they don't grow very fast or well this is one of the reasons.  Hope you find this interesting. 
 
•Soil temperature should be at least 65°F, as peppers will not survive transplanting at temps any colder. taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/bell-peppers
 
Did you know the pepper is a nutritional powerhouse? A serving of the most popular type in the USA–the sweet bell–contains more vitamin C than the average orange, a generous amount of vitamin E, and many antioxidants with only 29 calories. Peppers have high nutrient levels at any stage but are the most beneficial when eaten fully ripe. The few colors of bell peppers in the average supermarket are only the beginning–blocky shaped bell peppers can ripen to many colors; ivory, pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, and chocolate. Sweet peppers come in many shapes as well; the elongated banana, the blocky bell, the oblong or “half-long” bells, flat “cheese” shapes, and smooth cherry types.
We asked our NGB breeder members to answer 15 of the most often asked growing peppers questions we receive. We hope that these answers will bring a delicious pepper season to you.
 
1. I started bell pepper seeds indoors and they looked great. Hardened them off and transitioned outside. Still great, just zero growth in 3 weeks. Is that normal?
Peppers thrive in warm weather and really struggle under cool, wet conditions. If the soil temperatures are too cool and/or too wet, peppers grow very slowly. So when the weather warms up, the pepper will grow more quickly.
 
2. My peppers were nipped by frost, I cut the damaged leaves off and they are showing new growth. Will they be stunted?
The amount of re-growth will depend on the severity at which they were damaged. If only slight damage, then they will recover. If more severely injured remove and start with fresh plants as it is most likely still early in the season. Plants that are damaged and experiencing slowed growth are more susceptible to plant diseases
 
3. I am growing/planting sweet and hot peppers! It’s still a little too cool to plant. Should I chance it and plant it? Should I take the blossoms off?
I would pinch off the blooms and if your plant is too tall and lanky pinch back the terminal bud on top and let it grow out from the side nodes. But see notes above…do not plant when it’s too cool.
 
4. How do I plant my pepper plant in the garden?
Bury them a bit deeper than the root ball to encourage additional root growth that will make them sturdier.
 
5. Is it better to trim or pluck flowers off pepper plants?
It is not necessary to remove flowers from pepper plants. Peppers will abort flowers in instances where the plant is under stress thus avoiding excessive fruit loads.
 
6. Do I need pollinators like bees to fertilize my pepper flowers?
Peppers have perfect flowers, meaning each flower has both male and female parts and the plants can self-pollinate. Bees and other pollinators are not absolutely necessary for fertilization and fruit production.
 
7. About how many peppers does one plant produce?
This varies by type of pepper you are growing. Most large bell peppers will produce fewer fruits, like 8-12. AAS Winner Cornito Giallo produces 25-35 6″ long sweet yellow peppers. Emerald Fire jalapeno pepper produces 25-30 3 1/2″ peppers per plant. Aji Rico pepper produces between 50 and 75 3-4″ long peppers! The smaller the fruits, typically the more peppers per plant. Newer varieties, like these AAS Winners, are bred for productivity, taste and disease resistance so you can count on more fruits per plant.
 
8. My pepper plants do not produce a lot of peppers and the ones I get are small. What am I doing wrong?
Remember peppers, in general, like a lot of sun and heat. Make sure they are getting at least 8 hours of sun per day. A general use of garden fertilizer is helpful to the plant’s health and can help keep the plant producing all season. Also, peppers can handle a little stress so watch your watering and don’t overwater.
 
9. What is the typical root pattern for pepper plants? I’m experimenting growing some in large flower boxes this year to see how it works out but generally, if the container volume is the same is it better to have something deep but less surface area or shallow but more surface area?
Deeper pots would be preferred. Peppers do grow deep. Pepper plants grown in containers are often small but usually mature earlier. Each plant should have a 2-gallon or larger container, deeper than it is wide. The baby plant will look a little lonely at first but will grow to fill the container quickly.
 
A benefit of container growing is that the plant can be introduced to cool nights or warm days gradually to avoid shock. In the spring, bring plants indoors when nighttime temps are below 55 degrees. Introduce the plants to warm days (over 85 degrees) a few hours at a time until they are acclimated to their final location. Once plants are established, water every few days (or when soil is dry and pulling away from the side of the pot). Fully soak the soil and avoid spraying water on the leaves. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package or add mature compost as flowers are setting. Taper off on fertilizer, especially nitrogen after plants flower. Nitrogen encourages the plant to put its energy into the leaves and not setting fruit.
 
10. Can you plant peppers in a garden with other vegetables?
Some plants are allelopathic releasing compounds that can inhibit the growth of other plants. Though peppers can produce allelopathic compounds, these will not be at the level to impact other vegetables in the garden. So yes, peppers can grow with other vegetables in the garden.
 
11. Do I have to worry about pests on peppers?
Pepper plants are fairly hardy and not as attractive to insects as other vegetables in the garden. To avoid conditions spread by water it is best to keep the leaves as dry as possible by drip-line watering or giving the plants time to dry in the sun if they are watered from overhead.
 
12. My pepper leaves look a bit pale, why is that?
Pale leaves can indicate that the plants need fertilizer. Big, healthy plants that fail to bloom can indicate over-fertilization. Space plants as instructed by the plant tag or seed packet. Plants that are planted too close will lack air circulation. Proper air circulation improves pollen distribution which is needed for fruit set. Crowded plants are disease-prone and do not set as well as those that have been properly spaced.
 
13. When should I harvest my peppers?
Sweet peppers can be harvested at any stage of maturity. Less mature green peppers will generally be green or pale yellow, smaller, crunchy, and have thin walls and a slightly tart flavor. A benefit of harvesting early is that it triggers the plants to produce more fruit. Mature peppers will change color, have thicker walls, and a mild sweet flavor. No matter the stage of harvest cut the peppers from the plant with clean pruners or kitchen shears to avoid damaging the plant.
 
14. Growing green bell peppers in zone 8 Pacific Northwest is it possible? Or do peppers need a warmer climate? Sun or shade? Do they need a trellis for support?
Bell peppers can be grown in the Pacific Northwest. To maximize harvest potential, start indoors 8 – 10 weeks before the last frost date or purchase plants from a garden center. Plant peppers in full sun as they need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. They may require light staking as the fruit matures.
 
15. We live in Florida, what’s the best variety of peppers since we have direct Florida sunlight all day long. We also have an afternoon rain every day.
Peppers thrive in warm weather so the direct sunlight is great. Look for varieties that have resistance to multiple races of Bacterial Leaf Spot (BLS) as it is one of the most common and destructive pepper plant diseases in Florida
taken from https://ngb.org/2020/05/14/growing-peppers/
 
Planting Day  Our frost date is May 15th just saying
Two to three weeks past the last spring frost is the target date for planting outdoors, but the real test is whether the soil has warmed to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. To give the seedlings or nursery transplants the best start, plant during a spell of warm weather. In mild-summer regions, you can add warmth by planting in a protected place in front of a south-facing wall. Before planting, cut 4-inch circles in landscape cloth, spaced about 18 inches apart, so you can set the plants in the ground within the holes. This promotes good air circulation and provides protection from weeds and diseases. Water the plants well with a mild fertilizer solution before setting them out. For the first month, remove any flowers that appear, so the plants can concentrate on developing strong root systems.
 
Harvesting for a Long Season
Depending on the cultivar, bell peppers mature in 60 to 95 days. Early in the summer, when the first green peppers show up, you can begin picking the ones low on the plants. This will ward off fruit rot and force the plants to keep setting fruit for later harvests. After August 1, if you stop picking immature green peppers, the rest will mature to their true colors. When a pepper achieves maturity, its texture is smoother and sugars in the fruit fully develop. Harvesting can continue until fall's first frost.
taken from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/time-plant-bell-peppers-57449.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net

jessicagavin.com

       ​    I have been asked what kinds of peppers we have here at Becky's Greenhouse.  So  here is a list.  Today I will work on the tomato list.  We have many of both of these for your gardening needs.  It is cool out again and without the sun really feels cool.  How is your gardens doing?  We have the moisture now with the nice rain over the weekend, now we need some heat for the plants to grow.  Sounds like later this week that will happen.  That will be nice.  We have 9 racks full plus many tall racks of plants.  We are still growing as gotten in 9 plug trays last week.  Wave petunias, marigolds, inpatients are being planted this week and they are growing.  Soon out to your gardens.  We will be getting in moss roses and more zinnias this week to plant.  We have tomatoes growing on for the 4th crop this season.  Peppers also for the 5th crop.  It is good as we are growers so when we need more plants we will just grow them.  I have two great people that are planting for me.  I can't do it when the retail part of the greenhouse is open.  I am it for the retail part so you will always get to see me.    We have been getting orders each week for perennials.  We have two racks of perennials.  So you remember perennials, trees and shrubs we buy in, and one part rack of annuals but all the rest that you see we have grown out of this greenhouse.  Hope all is well with you and gardens are growing.
Peppers we have here at Becky's Greenhouse
 
Anaheim chili    Poblano pepper that are relatively mild ,  Mature pepper pods are somewhat to a length of 3-6 inches, becoming dark red.
 
Ancho 101 tapered to blunt end, 2 x 4", 3000 sco, 77 days
 
Banana Sweet  a prolific bearer of long, sweet peppers that mature from yellow to red.  Matures in 75 days
 
bell pepper orange Blocky bright orange 3 1/2" x 4", 3-4 lobe, thick flesh, very sweet, heavy yield 75 days
 
bell pepper purple  green to purple, thick wall, fine for patio, 74 days
 
bell pepper yellow  Classic tasty yellow pepper, thick wall, 4 1/4" to 5 1/2" 70 days
 
California pepper  Sweet pepper glossy green fruit is blocky and think walled.  Matures re, in 72 to 75 days
 
Fatalii Super Chili pepper  Habanero  compact plant for patio, crinkled 1 x 3" lime to gold, intense fruity fragrance for fruit salsa, super hot 95 days
 
Ghost Bhut Jolokia  One of the hottest! Clusters of 2-3" orange red fruit.  Maturity 85-100 days, plant 18-24 inches apart in rows.
 
Gualjillo Guajillo chilies are bright, tangy and spicy sweet.  They are popular Chile pepper to meat marinades, mole sauce, Chile con carne, tortilla soup, and homemade salsa. 
 
Habanero red  Hot pepper Ultra hot pepper can be used fresh or dried maturity 90 days Plant in full sun 18" apart
 
Jalapeno sausage shape, blunt end, thick wall, green to red, 1 x 3 1/2: 30" tall plants, long bearing, popular in Mexican foods, 400 sco, 73 days
 
Jalapeno Emerald Fire Jalapeno pepper, high yields of flavorful hot, 3" dark green peppers, matures to red in 90 days
 
Jalapeno Nacho Macho  F1, Jumbo Jalapeno, 4" heavier, milder thatn others, green to red, virus resistant, fine for patio, 69 days
 
Jamaican Red  Hot pepper Fiery hot flying saucer shape, high yield maturity in 90-100 days plant in full sun 18" apart
 
Marconi Italian Red  3 lobed, green to red, sweet, thin skin, 1 1'2" x 8", 80 days
Pepperoncini hot pepper  Smooth mild flavor for picking or fresh use.  Use green or red ripe 65 days. Plant in full sun 18" apart.
 
Poblano produces mildly hot fruit, rips from dark green to red.  in 65-70 days
 
Shishito Japanese sweet prolific plant bears shiny green peppers with sweet mild flavor matures in 70-80 days.
 
Sriracha Pepper Chili Produces large, unifromly green, thick walled fruit with good heat content.  Matures in 65-70 days
 
Trinidad Scorpion  Hot pepper fiery hot at 800 to 1000K SH ripesn to bright red, salsa, hot sauce maturity 110 days . Plant in full sun 18" apart
taken from Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net