Shop Fifth Season Carrboro Open Monday-Friday: 10am-7pm • Saturday 10am-6pm • Sunday: 11am-6pm 106 S. Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 • (919) 932-7600 Toll Free: (866) 544-4358 • Email Us Grow organic and shop local this spring with plants, products and know how from Fifth Season Gardening. Stop by our store in Downtown Carrboro for everything you need: Organic Seeds & Veggie Starts Organic Soils, Composts & Amendments Fruit Trees, Berry Bushes, Perennials and … [Read more...] about Carrboro Organic Gardening
Search Results for: compost
Amending and Beyond!
-Mike Weeks- Every year, I find myself getting asked how to amend gardens and raised beds with soil amendments. This can be easy to do, but there are a few steps that should be taken before applying anything. The first thing that should be determined is what your soil type is. What is the percentage of sand, silt, clay, and humus? I like to perform what is called a mason jar soil test to get that information. This is an easy process that will involve mixing a soil sample into a jar and taking … [Read more...] about Amending and Beyond!
Clones vs. Seeds
-Luis Guerra- In the long debate over clones vs seeds, I’ll help shed a bit of light and help you figure out which technique to use in your next grow. Clone / Cuttings First off, you will need a mother plant to produce clones. Wikipedia defines clones as any organism whose genetic information is identical to that of a parent organism from which it was created. A mother plant can come from a seed source, be purchased from a nursery, or taken from your current garden. Usually a … [Read more...] about Clones vs. Seeds
Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
This time of year, we get asked a lot to recommend gifts for gardeners. We talked with our staff, and here are some of their favorites for people on your list who like to dig in the dirt: A tool they wouldn’t necessarily get for themselves, but will keep forever – A really nice quality garden tool will last for generations and makes working in the garden more enjoyable. We carry a few lines of truly high-quality tools that any gardener would love. Rogue Hoes are made from recycled … [Read more...] about Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
Bring ’em In!
-Chris Amaya- This summer has given our houseplants a huge boost of energy, but now it's time to start getting them ready to move back inside for the winter before freezing temperatures decide their fate. Because environmental conditions differ widely between the inside and outside of a home, a gradual reintroduction to the indoors is best for your plants. Sudden changes in temperature, light, and humidity can be stressful to plants, resulting in yellowed leaves, dieback, wilting, and even … [Read more...] about Bring ’em In!
Falling Back on the Basics
-Chris Amaya- Growing a productive fall vegetable garden takes thoughtful planning and good cultural practices. Although August is the main planting time for fall gardens, season extension practices can give you the flexibility of starting late. Garden cloches made from bottles or hoop house structures can greatly increase productivity for the avid gardener. Seeding of shorter-season vegetables, such as turnips and leafy greens, can be delayed until September 1 in the NC piedmont. Keep in … [Read more...] about Falling Back on the Basics
More About Marvelous Microbes
-Chris Amaya- Beneficial bacteria is the heart and soul in all living soil that lays beneath our feet, but when it comes to observing beneficials in hydroponics we learn that microbes are not only for organics. The constant interaction between bacteria and plants play a large role in factoring soil fertility and plant health. Although there are hundreds and hundreds types of microorganisms on this earth, plants especially thrive when they have a good mix of mycorrhizae, bacteria, and … [Read more...] about More About Marvelous Microbes
A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes
-Pam Scott- I love tomatoes! Canning them, freezing them, drying them, pickling them, roasting them and saucing them is my idea of fun. Tomatoes, basil and mozzarella define the taste of summer for me. Growing up in cool, dry, New England, I spent most every August canning tomatoes with my mother. You can imagine my despair when moving to the hot, humid,fungal jungle we call the South East. I found growing bountiful crops of tomatoes to be next to impossible.This went on for quite a … [Read more...] about A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes
To Organic, or Not to Organic, That is the Question
-Chris Amaya- As a home gardener, you have a lot to consider when choosing the right resources to fuel your hobby – everything from location, to fertilizers, to pest control, and even seeds. For years commercial farmers have used a variety of heavy salts to grow cash crops such as tobacco, corn, and soybeans to keep up with increasingly high demand. Unfortunately for the environment, these salts can build up over time and runoff into the water tables causing irreversible collateral … [Read more...] about To Organic, or Not to Organic, That is the Question
Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting
Here’s a great primer on planting bulbs in containers from our bulb supplier, Netherland Bulb Company: Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Planting bulbs in containers offers a solution to gardeners who lack the space to create a full garden. Spring blooming bulbs can be grown in decorative pots to add accents to patios, decks, and entryways. Bulbs planted in beds outside require little maintenance, however, with a few guidelines and commitment, container bulbs can prove equally as … [Read more...] about Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting