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Growing Garlic, Plant Rhythm & Shade Style

air date: October 28, 2017

This fall, let’s add some garden rhythm with grasses, succulents, and flowering perennials. Michelle Pfluger from Green ‘n Growing styles designs for wildlife, drought, sun and shade. On land framed by heritage trees, Sandy Stone and Joe Brown added outdoor living vignettes and garden art among native plants to restore wildlife diversity. Daphne explains when to collect seeds and shows off viewers’ plant picks for wildlife. John shows how to plant garlic, shallots, and the leek known as elephant garlic.

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Episode Segments

On Tour

Shady Style for Wildlife Habitat: Sandy Stone and Joe Brown

On land framed by trees, architect Sandy Stone and Joe Brown designed outdoor living vignettes and handmade art among native plants to restore wildlife diversity. As habitat around them is razed for construction, they offer refuge for wildlife while creating opportunities to engage with them. Working with designer Leah Churner, they’ve added drip irrigation from rainwater collection and livened shady nooks with colorful accents.

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Question of the Week

When should seeds be collected? And can they be collected after they freeze?

First, let’s address the issue of freezing. Since most plants will complete their flowering and fruit production prior to any freezing conditions, this is normally a moot point, since you’ll collect them from the plant before they fall to the ground.

Dried seeds really aren’t susceptible to freezing temperatures. Since they’re dry, there’s no water inside them to freeze. But if for some reason the seeds are not mature and dry, yes, they would freeze if left on the plant too long, and thus most likely would not be viable.

For plants that have dry fruit at maturity, like beans and most annual and perennial flowers, you’ll leave them on the plant until they dry completely. Harvest, remove the seeds from seed pods and spread them out to completely dry indoors.  

For plants that have wet fruits at full maturity, like squash, pumpkins, and tomatoes, you’ll harvest the fruit at the “normal” time, then remove the seeds from the fleshy fruit and allow them to dry.

For all seeds, it’s best to keep them in a cool, dark, dry place, either in small paper sacks or in plastic containers.

Then plant according to life cycle, in either fall or spring. For specific information for particular plants, contact your local county Extension office.

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Plant of the Week

Wildlife Plants from Viewers

Wildlife Plants from Viewers

This week, we feature some of our viewers’ great garden plants to attract pollinators! Thanks to Sandra Bakyasa, Deby Contesse, Jeff and Lori Ferris, Alicia Maria, Diana Saunders, and Laura Burns’ students at Stone Forest Preschool! Watch Daphne's video on when to collect wildflower seeds below.

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