In our first edition of “Around the Garden Center,” we want to discuss edible gardens! Edible gardening is becoming very popular now, and for a good reason. It’s a great way to get your hands in the soil, raise healthy food, introduce kids to the joys of gardening, and have the whole family Come Alive Outside. It’s also fun and teaches everyone involved a lot about how plants grow. So whether you are starting from scratch or a gardening pro, we have some great information to help you make your edible garden a success!

First, let’s talk about how to prepare your edible garden. Here are some tips to help you see great results in your garden:

• Add cotton burr compost or organic soil conditioner before you plant. Simply apply a thin layer on the top of the garden bed or mix in if you prefer.
• Use string guides to help make your rows straight.
• Think about the sun and how it hits the garden plot; plant cool crops on the shadier side.
• Work the soil in the rows when planting tiny seeds, like lettuce, so it is fine and mixes well with the seeds. Avoid the temptation to plant seeds too deep. Follow packet guidelines.
• Rotate your crops – especially tomatoes – to help prevent the spread of disease.

At Lurvey’s, we have all the tools and supplies needed to get your garden ready. So stop by the Garden Center and let us help you get started!

Now that you’ve prepared your garden, what do you want to grow?

Columnar Apple Trees

Of special interest this year is the columnar apple tree. The Urban series is a highly versatile group of Apple trees. They can be planted in containers, hedgerows, groves, or small spaces of just about any property.

There are four different cultivars with different fruiting characteristics, and two varieties are required for cross-pollination. The varieties are:

• Tasty Red
• Blushing Delight
• Golden Treat
• Tangy Green

Columnar apples are perfect for small gardens and grow well in our area!

With all the new varieties of fruit trees, it’s now possible for home gardeners to grow apple, cherry, peach, and pear trees. We have all types, so come and see our selection!

BrazzleBerries

Another great fruit to consider are BrazzleBerries. BrazzleBerries are compact, thornless blueberry and raspberry plants for the home gardener. You can’t go wrong with these lovely small shrubs that yield juicy berries. All are small enough for patio containers. Here are a few examples of BrazzleBerries that we think would be great for your garden:

• Raspberry Shortcake is a thornless raspberry shrub that gets 2 to 3 feet tall and forms a dense bush full of berries with a hint of vanilla flavor.
• Peach Sorbet is only 2 feet at maturity, producing medium-sized blueberries in summer and dark purple fall color.
• Jelly Bean, the smallest in the series this year, grows to 2 feet but provides large sweet blueberries in summer.

If you have always wanted raspberries and blueberries in your garden but were hesitant because of the space requirements or the thorns of raspberry canes, BrazzelBerries are for you! This new collection of berry plants is just for the home or patio gardener.

Herbs & More

No matter what you choose to grow in your garden, we have what you need at the Garden Center. We’ve discussed a few options above, but we can help you with whatever you choose to put in your garden, such as:

• Herbs, including Basil, Dill, Cilantro, Parsley, and much more, in both plants and seeds.
• Vegetable plants including Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Bell Peppers, a complete array of hot peppers, Zucchini, Squashes, Cucumbers, and more.
• Fruit trees, including a full selection of Apples, Pears, Peaches, and Cherries.
• Berries including Grapes (white and red), Raspberries, and Blackberries.

Whether you’re growing one plant or a whole garden, stop by our Des Plaines location for all the edibles you need, and as always, we’d love to see you “Around the Garden Center!”