Keith Farrand
Contact: info@farrandfarms.com
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Want to keep up on the latest things that are growing on at Farrand Farms? The man with the greenest thumb in Kansas City will help you with all his latest tips and share insight and info right here at Farrand's Notes. If you have some special questions or would like to suggest ideas for Keith to address just send him an email on the link under his picture.
Knock Your Socks Off!
Keith
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Have you driven by Farrand Farms lately? You really should. The greenhouses are becoming absolutely more beautiful by the day with Knock Your Socks Off color! Now is the time to witness the change and become inspired.
The third and fourth weeks of November are the perfect time to bring the family and take that special photograph to send to your loved ones for the Holidays. Our 13,000 poinsettias will set up an awesome background. We've even set up a special photo area where it is easy to take advantage of our color. It's yours for the taking!
It's a great time to start your amaryllis and paperwhites, too. The selection is good and the bulbs are perfect! Start them now for Christmas or give them as gifts to plant later and cheer up those late January wintery days. Older adults and folks unable to get out especially appreciate these types of gifts.
We'll be getting our fresh Christmas tress soon. I'm told they are exceptionally nice this season because, unlike here, they've had lots of rain in Michigan and Wisconsin. Of course we'll have a great selection of wreaths and fresh cut greens to choose from too. While you are here, be sure to pick up two or three Table Top poinsettias to help you add that special touch to your festive dinner settings.
A few other Tips for early November:
1. Don't trim your roses or perennials back yet. Leave them alone until they have frozen back completely. Begin to mulch them in early December - remember, mulch is not a blanket to keep them warm. It is a cover to keep them dormant (and cold).
2. Yes, you can still plant bulbs like daffodils, tulips and crocus. They can be planted anytime the ground is not yet frozen. Be sure to add a tablespoon of bulb fertilizer or bone meal for each bulb you plant to help get those roots growing. In fact, sprinkle it around all your established beds.
3. Yes, you've missed your opportunity to plant grass this fall, but it is not too late to dormant seed for next spring. The best time to dormant seed the lawn is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Farrand Farms has the seed you'll need.
Here's a great idea:
Plant some spinach, lettuce or radishes in a few of your unused pots and place near a bright, sunny window. What a gift you'll receive in January. It's easy and cost so very little.
Let's face it, we are all experiencing pressures from the current stressful economic conditions. It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom - come on out to Farrand Farms. One walk through our colorful greenhouses will bring you a relaxing smile. The freshness and color will help you remember the good things in life.
Farrand Farms is Knock Your Socks Off beautiful!
Keith
How about a DRINK?
Keith
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Sunday, October 16, 2011
Fall is usually our favorite time of the year here at Farrand Farms. So far, this fall has offered exceptionally pleasant weather to be outside enjoying your gardens and preparing them for a well-deserved rest.
We will soon be experiencing the first frosts and maybe even hard freezes of the season. Here's a list of good reminders to help you get winter ready:
1. Fertilize your shrubs and perennial beds now! At Farrand Farms, we recommend Hummert's 12-8-8. If you are into organics, we prefer the Espoma line of foods or Bradfield Organics.
2. Do NOT trim roses or other perennial foliage off yet. Believe it or not, even that tired foliage is still helping the roots prepare for the coming winter. Trim them back only after the first hard freeze (temperatures of 28 degrees F or below).
3. It's time to forget about reseeding the lawn, although dormant seeding of both fescues or blue grass can be done between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do apply the first application of Hummert's Winterizer now and again in 30 days to give you a great lawn next spring.
4. Turn the water ON! When you are done watering, do it again. This is the driest fall in memory. Perennials and shrubs must have water in the fall to prepare themselves for winter survival. Just because Mother Nature has been stingy with the water doesn't mean you have to be.
5. Plant tulips, crocus and daffodils now. We are finding a renewed interest in these favorite flowers of spring. They are easy to plant and offer the greatest of surprises come spring time. Be sure to sprinkle a tablespoon or two of bone meal or a mild bulb fertilizer per bulb to enhance their color.
6. We still have a limited, but very good selection of perennials that can be planted this fall. At Farrand Farms, we only grow them in one gallon or larger containers. Larger starts mean not only more and larger roots, but over 90% success rates. And don't forget, 2011 means a lot of water.
7. Got some large pots not in use? Try planting some pansies to add some color near the front door. We've got the fresh potting soil you'll need and the pansies to go with it. Remember pansies easily overwinter. Another good idea is to sprinkle some spinach or lettuce seed in an empty pot and watch what happens.
I'll be back in about 3 weeks and we can share plans for the holidays. Until then, water well!
KeithLabels: How about a DRINK?
Fall is the Best Time!
Keith
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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Turn off the computer and bring the kids outside. The fall is an awesome time to create long remembered fall experiences. It doesn't really matter what fun you'll discover or rediscover, it matters that you'll be sharing it together.
Cheerful Color. We have all been stressed by the recession and brutal weather of summer. Fresh fall color is a great remedy. Bring the kids out to Farrand Farms and let them choose their favorite color mums, asters or pansies. Don't forget, pansies are winter hardy and will return to smile again next spring!
The children can also help you choose and plant fall bulbs like tulips and daffodils. What a great surprise they will create next spring.
Improve the Lawn Now. We agree with Toby Tobin that now through mid-October is the absolute best time to start and repair your lawn.
We have all the best products to do it right: Hummert's famous RTF Plus grass seed and all of their great fertilizers that include 'Nutri-Life' root enhancers. We'll help you do it right.
Great Ideas:
1. This is a great time to plant and divide many perennials. We also recommend fertilizing right now. I believe granular fertilizers, organic or otherwise, when added now, can make next spring and summer gardens the best ever.
2. Be careful not to cut or prune back plants until after a good hard frost or freeze. They need to keep growing so they can store energy for next year's growth.
3. Water often. Plants will appreciate the help and perform better in coming seasons.
4. Don't want Japanese beetles coming inside? This is a great time to spray Spectracide Triazacide around your house. Apply the spray about 4 ft up from the ground all around the house and you won't have these unwanted guests visiting you all winter long.
5. Review. This is a great time to review this past summer's outstanding performers. Keep notes so you'll remember the good things. In general, vegetables were just average. Don't beat yourself up about the tomatoes! It wasn't you and it wasn't the tomatoes that failed. It was the extreme and prolonged heat conditions that caused them to perform poorly.
6. Outstanding performers. As far as flowering plants, these plants not only took the heat, but thrived: Sun Coleus, Pentas, Vincas (periwinkles), Celosias, Angelonias (especially 'Angel Face Blue') and Lantanas of all varieties. We were also pleased to see many varieties of Petunias prosper when they were fed and watered well.
Come on over for a visit and bring the kids. No matter what stresses we experience, gardening and the time shared together can only improve the soul. Let's create fun worth remembering!
Keith
Already time to plant the fall garden!
Keith
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Monday, August 15, 2011
Folks,
Now is the time to get started on planting your fall garden. This week, the weather has improved and seems like paradise when compared to a week earlier. This is a great time to involve the kids and grandkids in a fun learning experience.
By this weekend (August 21), you should plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and collard plants. They grow fast now and are ready to harvest in October. Since they finish when temperatures are cooler, they are the most tender and flavorful of the year. Be sure to add a bag of cotton burr compost to renew and improve your garden soil. Teaching children to renew the soil is a great learning opportunity for them.
It's also time to plant seed crops that do well in the fall. Favorites include turnips (both for greens and bottoms), mustard greens, radishes and spinach. Remember that spinach will easily overwinter and provide a tasty treat in late February and early March.
Speaking of spinach, I must let you know that we have discovered a fantastic variety that is great in Kansas City throughout the summer and fall. 'Malabar' is a vining spinach reaching up to 5 ft. The edible leaves stay shiny and green and the stems maintain a rich purple color. 'Malabar' stays tender and healthy throughout our punishing midwest summers. This is a MUST for next spring!
It's also time to be thinking about fall flowers. You'll appreciate the opportunity to refresh those tired and heat stressed annuals. We'll soon have fall pansies and colorful mums to help build spirits!
Here's a good tip if you are growing strawberries:
*Fertilize them now with Hummert's 12-8-8 granular fertilizer. They are deciding right now how many berries they are going to bear next spring. Remember to mulch them with straw around mid-December. Straw will protect them through the winter and also keep the berries nice and clean when you pick them.
It's nearly time to get grass seed planted and fertilized. Let us help you do it right. Farrand Farms carries fresh Hummert grass seed as well as all the Hummert fertilizers to get it going.
Thank you for helping make our 2011 Tomato Fair a resounding success. Jasper was great! Larry Moore offered awesome tips. The Herb Lady, Lenora Wuattoux, was inspirational and creative. Our chefs Aubrey and Chris were well appreciated. Thanks to the Boy Scout Troop 469, Girl Scout Troop 5042 and all of our friends who helped make it a great experience.
I'll be back to visit in a couple of weeks. Until then, have a great time in the garden!
Keith
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