Let's Play a Game!

This is going to be fun! If you've followed me on Instagram you may be familiar with these kinds of "games" that I have been known to post in my stories from time to time. I thought it would be fun to bring this to a newsletter!

So, here is the game play for the "Who am I" game --

1. I'm going to show you a picture, and give you a series of "clues" and hints to help you identify it... that is, if you even need them, you plant pro you!

2. Then, I'm going to share some tips and extra information about each picture and what makes them timely to share NOW.

3. And then, I have a little question to ask you at the end but don't skip ahead! Take things as they come.

4. Have fun, enjoy, and let me know how you do!

Who am I?

I am the flower stalk.

I am part of a plant that you sow from seed mid-fall.

If you let me bloom, my roots/bulb would get smaller.

When you see me, the plant is considered "hardneck".

Who am I, with the initials G.S.?

If you guessed a garlic scape, you're correct!

See that cute, curly stalk at the center of the plant?! That's the soon-to-be flower of the garlic plant.

If you planted seed garlic at the end of October last year, keep your eyes peeled for these "scapes" on your plants. You'll only see these on "hardneck" varieties. There is also "softneck" garlic which does not produce a scape.

When this sweet curly-Q forms a complete circle and looks more like a pig's tail, cut it at the base of the full curl. This will send all the energy the plant was going to put into flower back down into the bulb. We want the biggest bulbs our garlic can produce, right?

This is also how you know it's almost time to harvest. Once you cut the scape, wait two weeks, and then pull all the stalks to reveal the tasty bulbs... Oh, and the scapes are edible! So, it's like a bonus harvest for you!

pssst... I'm obsessed with homegrown garlic. I planted LOADS of it last fall. It ruins you for all the store bought bulbs.

Who am I?

I am a baby insect.

I am seen as symbol of luck, to some.

I like to eat other bugs, like aphids and whiteflies.

I look much different when I'm all grown up... I have spots, I am round, and a different color. Oh, and I fly.

Who am I, with the initial L?

If you guessed a ladybug, you're correct!

This is what baby ladybugs look like, before they molt and transform into the round, bright red, black spotted, winged, beauties we all recognize and love.

I usually squeal with excitement when I see baby ladybugs at home (the same way I do when I see an earthworm). They are such beneficial insects. They are carnivores and eat all the soft-bellied insects like aphids, whiteflies, mealy bugs, spider mites, and sometimes even scale (like on your citrus trees).

We loooove seeing these babies in our spaces. But it should also make you a little curious. They could be there because there is a food source aka one of those bugs I just listed, hanging out on your plants.

It's a great practice to gently look under the bottoms of your plant leaves, especially as temperatures begin to warm. I've started seeing light green aphids on spring snap peas this week.

pssst... did you know you can buy ladybugs at some local garden centers to release for you plants? My favorite local retailer that sells ladybugs is Renfrow Hardware in downtown Matthews.

Who am I?

I am a warm-season vegetable.

I grow quickly when planted from seed, but you can also plant me as a seedling.

I produce a flower, and then a fruit.

I protect my green fruit with a papery outer shell.

Who am I, with the initial T?

If you guessed tomatillo, you're correct!

These fun, unique summertime fruits are top of my planting list for this week and next.

These are a cool, refreshing, crop to sow in May for the summer season ahead. Tomatillos are fairly pest and disease resistant, which makes them a welcomed oasis come mid-summer while you're managing squash bugs, powdery mildew, early blight, hornworms, and other summer plant conditions. For this reason, tomatillos make great companion plants, adding glorious bio-diversity to your space to slow the spread of pests and disease.

Tomatillos produce 4 foot tall plants that need minimal staking. Their fruits are covered in a papery outer shell that will turn brown and split when the fruit is mature. These papery shells look like little lanterns growing on the plants.

We're growing tomatillos in May through my monthly subscription service called Plant Club by The Patio Farmer. The May Grow Kit (for members joining at the GROW level), includes a packet of tomatillo seeds, a 7-gallon grow bag, a small bag of Certified Organic plant food from Windcrest Farm, a copy of the book Companion Planting for Beginners by Brian Lowell, a small journal for taking notes, and pencils you can plant. Yep, there are seeds embedded in the pencil!

pssst... we're also doing a deep dive on all things companion planting in May in the weekly Plant Club newsletters. If this is something you're interested in learning more about, this would be a great month for you to join!

See you in the Club? You can read more about Plant Club, and join, here.