Over 30 years with O’Toole’s! A true gardening expert! Email Chris Favorite plant: Evergreen
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 Garden Giveaway contest! It’s so fun to see how your gardens take shape after meeting you while shopping in our stores. First Place @js_customs8 View this post on Instagram A post shared by John (@js_customs8) “I’ve been working on my garden and landscape for 25 years,” says JS, …
Did you know that after May 2, there’s a still 50% chance of frost in Denver? Don’t let that stop you from getting your garden started now! O’Toole’s offers frost blankets and other products to help protect your plans from hard freezes. If you’re a vegetable gardener, we recommend this Insulated Plant Protector/Mini Greenhouse from Dalen. Tubes of water to insulate young …
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Plant outside when soil is warm, usually 1 – 2 weeks after last average frost date (May 15th)
Start indoors 6 – 8 weeks before transplanting outside
Basil is very sensitive to cold air and soil temperatures
Unless soils are very nutrient depleted, do not fertilize – fertilizing tends to deplete taste
It’s recommended that you do 3 – 4 successive plantings at 3 week intervals
Harvest the leaves anytime
Fresh, young leaves taste the best
Harvest in the morning for the best flavor
Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before last average frost (May 15th)
Hardy perennial that blooms mid-summer
Dry leaves or use fresh leaves for tea
Dry leaves for cat toys
Start seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before last average frost date (May 15th)
Transplant outside 2 weeks after last frost
Harvest leaves at any time
Use fresh leaves for best results – can be dried or frozen
Start seeds indoors 8 – 10 weeks before the last average frost date (May 15th)
Use 3 – 4 seeds per cell
Seeds are very small and should be scratched into the soil just below the surface
Harvest flowers when fully opened and dry on a screen covered in cheesecloth in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place
Great for herbal tea and easing indigestion and inducing sleep
Plant indoors 6 weeks before the last average frost date
Harvest when foliage is at least 6” long and cut back to 2” above the ground
Shearing once or twice a year keeps new and tender foliage available for use
Drying is not recommended because it loses too much flavor
Best when used fresh
You can freeze on a cookie sheet and store in a jar in the freezer
Plant chives next to other plants to keep insects off
Can help keep rabbits out of the garden
Plant seeds directly in the soil in mid-May
Doesn’t transplant well
Conventional wisdom says dill enhances the growth of cabbage, onions and lettuce
Harvest foliage anytime up until the plant flowers
Harvest seed 2 – 3 weeks after flowering begins
Cut flower heads with stem attached and place in paper bag before seed becomes too mature and falls to the ground
Store seeds in an airtight container
Plant seeds indoors 4 – 6 weeks before frost to produce a bulb for fall harvest
Easy to grow by seed for foliage production
Harvest the bulb after it begins to form
Attracts Ladybugs
Don’t plant near Bush Beans, Caraway, Tomatoes and Kohlrabi as fennel can damage their growth
In the same way, cilantro planted near fennel can prevent fennel’s seed formation
Flat leaf or Italian parsley is one of the two main cultivars of parsley. It tends to have a more robust flavor than curly variety which is used more as a garnish
Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before last average frost and plant outside 2 weeks after last frost – or when soil temperature reaches 50 degrees
Germination of seeds is unpredictable. Soaking the seed for 24 hours will help speed up the germination
Although parsley is a biennial, the second year foliage is not as good tasting
Plant seeds indoors 4 – 6 weeks before frost
Requires light to germinate
Sow on surface and press lightly into the soil
Excellent for fresh or dried floral bouquets, potpourris and sachets
Dry or fresh leaves are great for tea
Tea can help with cold and fevers
Attracts butterflies
Plant 10 – 12 weeks before last average frost
Best results if sown on top of soil at 60 – 70 degrees
Seeds will sprout in 3 – 4 weeks
Use in soaps, potpourri and sachets
Keeps unwanted insects and rabbits away
Good, hardy drought tolerant perennial
Lemon Basil is known for its sharp lemony taste and is popular in Asian cuisine.
Plant outside when soil is warm, usually 1 – 2 weeks after last average frost date (May 15th)
Start indoors 6 – 8 weeks before transplanting outside
Basil is very sensitive to cold air and soil temperatures
Unless soils are very nutrient depleted, do not fertilize – fertilizing tends to deplete taste
It’s recommended that you do 3 – 4 successive plantings at 3 week intervals
Plant outside 2 – 3 weeks before average last frost date
Plant inside 8 – 10 weeks before last spring frost
Use like celery and it’s easier to grow
Needs large area to grow and is a hardy perennial
Fresh or dried leaves can be added to soups and stews, but when cooking with lovage a little goes a long way
Good companion plant to many vegetables including beans, cucumbers and parsley
Lovage flowers attract beneficial insects
Plant indoors 6 – 8 weeks before last average frost
Plant on top of soil or lightly pressed in soil
Plant outside after last frost
Plant in clumps
Harvest leaves anytime and use fresh
Dry leaves then crush and store in an airtight container
Milder than oregano
Seeds are easy to start and can be planted at anytime
Harvest leaves at anytime and can be dried for later use in cooking or for teas
Repels insects and rabbits
Can be invasive
Plant in a pot then place the pot in the ground
Start indoors 6 – 8 weeks before last average frost and plant outdoors 2 weeks after last frost
Seeds need light to germinate
Sow seeds by pressing into soil surface
Harvest when plant is at least 6” tall and cut stem
Use the leaves fresh, dried or frozen
Repels bugs and rabbits
Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before last average frost and plant outside 2 weeks after last frost – or when soil temperature reaches 50 degrees
Germination of seeds is unpredictable
Soaking the seed for 24 hours will help speed up the germination
Re-plant every year
Although parsley is a biennial, the second year foliage is not as good tasting
Harvest the outside stalks whenever and as needed
Start seeds indoors 8 – 10 weeks before last average frost date
Rosemary is very slow growing and is very slow to germinate
Harvest sprigs as needed
Dry and then freeze for later use
Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before last average frost date
Seeds are easy to germinate
Harvest leaves when plant is at least 6”
Leaves can be used fresh
If dried, keep in an airtight jar for later use
Planted among other plants, keeps unwanted insects away
Start seeds indoors 4 – 6 weeks before last average frost date
Use like lettuce and spinach
Very high in vitamin C
Harvest outer leaves regularly even if you don’t need them, it will encourage new young, tender growth
Leaves will freeze well for later use
For salad greens, you may pick a few of the inside young tender leaves
Hardy perennial that could become invasive if left unkempt or unused
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