Now Is The Time To . . .

	Transplant tender vegetables started indoors into the garden around mid-May. Tender herbs such as basil and dill may also be direct seeded outside at this time.
	Direct seed squash, cucumbers, melons and beans outdoors in late May.
	Allow leaves of spring-flowering bulbs to turn brown before removing. Green foliage stores energy for next year's flowers.
	Keep newly planted trees and shrubs well watered - a good soaking once a week if mother nature does not.
	Fertilize the lawn about mid-May with a 10-6-4 formula, at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet or other fertilizer grades at a rate to deliver equivalent nutrients.
	Mow the lawn at 2.5-3 inches high, removing only 1/3 of the blade. Allow grass clippings to remain on the lawn to add nitrogen back to the soil.
	Follow the spray schedule for fruit trees, but do not spray insecticides while they are in bloom.
	Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom fades.
	Beware of bagworms which hatch in late May to early June.
	OK to seed lawn grasses at this time of year. The sooner the better. Do not apply pre-emergence crabgrass control to newly seeded areas.
	Most pre-emerge crabgrass treatments must be applied and rained in before crabgrass germination, in most cases before the end of April in Bucks County.
	Dithiopyr, sold as Dimension, is a crabgrass control product that will control newly emerged crabgrass.
	Find fresh Bucks County produce, meats and other farm goodness in our directory, Fresh From Bucks County Farms. Hard copies available in mid-May or click here for the web page.

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Grow Your Own Fruit
Scott Guiser, Sr. Extension Educator

Interest in home food production is booming. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe it’s an interest in locally produced food. Hey, even the president (or his wife and kids) now has a garden!
Most folks start with vegetables and then graduate to fruit production. All of the fruit producing plants are perennial. This means more planning and more attention to site details. And complications such as cross pollination and rootstock emerge. Let’s face it…anyone can grow a tomato. It takes dedication and skill to produce your own apples, blueberries and peaches. But it can be done.

Before I get into details about some specific fruiting plants, here’s some good news. Penn State has produced an outstanding publication called Fruit Production for the Home Gardner. You can read the whole thing on line at http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/, order a copy from Penn State at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/orders_CAS.asp (814-865-6713) or stop by our office and pick up a copy for $12.00. It’s 186 pages packed with practical fruit growing information.

If you are itching to try your hand at fruit production, here are some suggestions.

• Start small. Make your mistakes on a small scale and add more if things are going well.
• Make a realistic assessment of your site. You’ll need at least 8 hours of sunlight a day and soil that does not retain excess moisture. How can you tell? The sunlight part is easy. As for moisture…if your site has standing water for more than 24 hours after rainfall, it’s probably too wet for perennial fruiting plants.
• Think about deer. Deer will absolutely destroy new fruit plantings. If not in the growing season, then during the winter. Do not underestimate them. There are no shortcuts to deer control. If you have deer pressure only an 8 foot fence or hot lead will stop them. Don’t think about fencing individual plants. Think about fencing the entire fruit planting. Not always a pretty picture. If deer pressure is low to moderate, the odor repellents offer some temporary help.
• Use dwarfing root stocks to control plant size wherever it make sense. Good size controlling rootstocks exist for apple, pear, and sweet cherry. Not so for peach and other tree fruits. I know, they sell them…but we don’t recommend them. You can control peach size by proper pruning.
• Consider the brambles (raspberry and blackberry), blueberries, currents and strawberries before the tree fruits. They require less space, yield very well and come into production more quickly. They even tolerate a little shade.
• Soil test, adjust soil pH and nutrient levels and work organic matter into the entire planting site prior to planting. Dropping some amendments into the planting hole does not do the job. Spend the time and money to prepare the site well, even if this means delaying your planting one year. In the long run, you’ll be ahead.
• Our local garden centers are great places to buy many kinds of plants and supplies…but in my opinion, they are not the place to buy perennial fruit plants. Buy directly from the best mail-order nurseries (not those listed in the Sunday newspaper). The Penn State fruit publication has an extensive list of good nurseries.
• Plant as early as possible in spring. Frosts are not a problem for the plants. Frosts will potentially affect bloom…but that’s down the road a bit.
• Be realistic about pest control. Strawberries, blueberries, currents and the brambles have minimal pest problems and they are generally manageable with organic or low impact pest control measures. The tree fruits and grapes are a different story. Be prepared to make multiple pesticide sprays on these species or you will not be rewarded with anything edible.
• Pay attention to cross pollination needs. There is not enough room here to go into the details. See references for guidance. Don’t worry about bees. Plant it and they will come.

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Container Gardening

Would you like to grow flowers or vegetables but have little or no space? Do you have limited time or energy? Then why not try growing plants in containers. These movable gardens can add color and interest to a deck, patio, entrance or table top. They may be made of terra cotta, plastic, wood or metal. As long as it provides good drainage and is compatible with plant growth, it will work. Potting mix for containers is “soilless”, containing materials such as peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. Do not use garden soil which could contain weed seeds or disease organisms. Chose plants which will suit the site where the container will be displayed, either sun or shade-loving. Vegetables and herbs grow best in full sun, but lettuce and salad greens will accept some afternoon shade. Flowers can be selected for color combinations, leaf shapes and textures or varying heights. Before planting, consider the addition of slow release fertilizer to the soilless mix to help maintenance. Leave some space between the plants to allow for growth and air circulation. Container gardening is versatile and portable...give it a try !

Join the Master Gardeners in the Demonstration Gardens!

May 5, 6:30 PM—Learn how to save money by dividing your perennials. We’ll show you how to tune up your garden tools for the season, and then how to use them to divide perennials in the garden.

June 24, 6 to 8 PM—Come learn about the pollinator garden and enjoy a honey tasting with the Master Gardeners. Craft activities for kids.

Registration required, call 215-345-3283.

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Seeking 4-H Horticulture Club Leaders

Do you like gardening and enjoy working with kids? Bucks County 4-H needs YOU! A new children’s gardening club is looking for a leader or co-leaders to head up this exciting opportunity! Meetings are held once a month at a location of your choice in the county. Contact Nancy Stephenson 215-345-3283 or njs15@psu.edu for more information.

Master Gardener Corner

The 7th Annual Bucks County Master Gardener Plant Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 from 9 AM to 1 PM Rain or Shine!
The Sale will take place at our office at 1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA (corner of Route 611 and Almshouse Road).
We will have an exciting selection of vegetables, herbs, and annuals, great perennials and woody plants and pond plants. Come early to shop our Master Gardener donation plant area, the best plants sell out fast!
All proceeds go to support the Master Gardener Program, including the demonstration gardens around the building.
The Master Gardeners will be present to assist you with your selections and/or gardening advise. We look forward to seeing you there!

Horticultural Happenings

• Master Gardener Plant Sale Saturday, May 2 from 9 AM to 1 PM Rain or Shine! The Sale will take place at our office at 1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA (corner of Route 611 and Almshouse Road).
• The Garden Conservancy Open Days for Bucks County have begun. Visit The Garden Conservancy at www.gardenconservancy.org for the schedule of open gardens in Bucks County.

Scott Guiser, Extension Educator/Horticulture
and
Susan Schneck, Master Gardener Coordinator

E-mail: bucksext@psu.edu
Phone: 215-345-3283
Fax: 215-343-1653

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