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 March / April 2003 |
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March / April 2003 |
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(greyed articles available in printed version - subscribe now!)
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It is almost spring again and I can hardly wait! Although I had a nice winter garden - lots of broccoli, turnips, lettuce, cauliflower and beets, I'm ready for the real stuff - tomatoes, berries, peaches, beans. It seems like we should have a good spring. There has been plentiful rain and adequate chilling for things that need to be chilled. Of course, Texas weather is always dependable in its undependability, so I'm not betting on anything. Sometimes a blessing is a curse in disguise. The late rains we had in the fall were a real problem for the garden industry. Just about the time people were ready to put in fall plants, the rains came. Eventually, the nurseries sort of gave up on fall and began hoping for spring. Which brings me to an important point I'd like to make. The past several years have been tough on independent nurseries. The weather has been weird, and people have been cautious about spending their money. To add insult to injury, Home Depots, Walmarts, and other giants offer plants at apparently reduced prices. You can't blame a person for wanting a bargain. BUT, nine times out of ten, those bargain plants are not bargains. They are not healthy because they haven't been taken care of. They are not well adapted to your garden because they are purchased by a national buyer. You may find a great peach tree - for Georgia or a fine oak - for New Hampshire. And don't even think about asking for advice or help from the employees. They are nice and interested, perhaps, but they don't know about Texas gardens and what they need. Most importantly, if you don't support the independent nurseries, they will go out of business. Then the only choice you'll have is that faded Walmart posey. So shop locally, buy locally, support the small, independent, locally-owned nurseries that will be there when you need good advice and a copy of Homegrown!
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