• Plant cool season flowers such as Ornamental cabbage & kale, cyclamen, pansy, viola, snapdragon, stocks, primroses, cineraria, Iceland poppy, and dianthus for winter and spring bloom. Fertilize cool season bedding flowers with Dr. Earth #6 Flower Garden.
• Continue planting winter vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, onion, shallots, and peas, as well as herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Feed vegetables with Dr. Earth #5 Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer.
• It is also a great time to plant onion sets and garlic. In stock now yellow & red onions and Spanish Roja garlic. White onions will be in week of Nov. 9th.
• Remember to chill your tulips & hyacinths for 6-8 weeks before planting. Feed with Dr. Earth Bulb Food when you plant.
• Sasanqua camellias are just starting to show color. Shop now for best selection.
• Enjoy fall color with Liquidambar trees. We have several to choose from such as ‘Burgundy’, ‘Palo Alto’, ‘Festival’ & ‘Cherokee’ (a new selection produces little to no seedpods). Also consider Koelreuteria, Chinese Pistache, & Ginkgo.
• Get your weeds under control. Dig up and remove weeds from your garden. Apply a pre-emergent like Amaze or Concern Weed Prevention Plus (contains corn gluten) to prevent any seed germination or try our Master Nursery Pre Emergent Weed Preventer & Lawn Food (pre-emergent & fertilizer combo).
• Snails and slugs will start to become more active with the cold, wet weather. Protect your plants with Sluggo Plus.
• If you haven’t already done so, apply mulch to your flower & vegetable beds.
  

Nothing is more beautiful in the garden than a large display of cyclamen. They are among the best winter-blooming plants. You can use them in pots on tables, by the front door, or planted in a nice shady spot outdoors. And they're great for atriums.

A few notes on growing cyclamen:

General:
• Try to keep water away from the crown area (they can get crown rot).
• Do not bury them too deep; keep the top of the tuber just slightly above the soil line.
• Keep your plants well fed; feed every couple of weeks while they are in full leaf.
• Pull out the stems that have gone to seed. (Hint! The seeds are hard, the new buds are soft. They look very much alike so this is an important little fact.)
• Pick a few flowers to go into a bud vase. They are lovely and last quite well.
• As the flowers begin to fade, gradually allow the plant to dry out for 2-3 months; don't feed during this time.
• Resume feeding when new growth appears.

Outdoors:
• Cyclamen like cool weather (that's why they make great winter-bloomers). That means outdoors in a shady to semi-shady spot. If you have a spot that is full shade in summer and gets more light in cooler weather, that is ideal.
• Make sure they are planted in a well-draining area.
• They like cool weather--but not severe cold. Some are more hardy than others, but most need some protection against cold.

Indoors:
• Pick a cool spot. Make sure they have good air circulation, but keep out of cold drafts and hot, dry air.
• High humidity, especially during winter, is very important. Try putting the cyclamen on a tray of water with a layer of pebbles to form a shelf for pot to sit on. Don't put the cyclamen itself in the water. You want humidity around the plant, not soggy soil.
• Let the cyclamen have plenty of light in winter; sunburn is rarely a problem. In summer keep it in indirect light.
• Repot when the tuber fills the existing pot; it's best to repot it while it's dormant. Use a pot just a little larger than the old pot.

Many gardeners are saddened when the weather begins cooling, because they believe the colder weather will hail the end of color in their garden. A yard filled with beautiful flowers in summer and fall suddenly seems impossible to duplicate when the weather is cold and the sun is hiding. But there are two plants that are becoming increasingly popular for cheering up winter gardens.

Let us introduce you to "flowering cabbage" and "ornamental kale." These ornamental plants look much the same as their cousins bred for the table, but have been bred specifically for their showy colors and ruffled foliage. They come in a variety of colors, ranging from white to pinks, purples, or reds. (The ornamentals are edible, but not bred for taste.)

More important, these plants can survive winter temperatures as low as 5 degrees (and with some protection, they can survive even lower temperatures). While a sudden severe cold can be deadly to seedlings or new transplants, these plants will do just fine if given time to acclimate. What is more interesting, a light to moderate frost will even help intensify their brilliant colors. They actually prefer the cold and don't do at all well in the summer months.

Both flowering cabbage and ornamental kale prefer to be planted in the full sun but will tolerate some shade (although their colors might not be as intense). As with all other annuals, they do best when planted in rich soil. So, for best results, amend the soil before planting. We also recommend feeding them every two weeks to keep them looking their best. In addition, they do very well in pots, making them great for adding a bit of color on patios and around entrances.