Archive for February, 2012

Blueberries for All

Posted February 14th, 2012 in Container Gardening, Edibles & Recipes, Shrubs & Vines, Small Yards

Delicious, nutritious blueberries are easy and rewarding to grow in nearly any space.  In larger yards, you can plant attractive rows of full size blueberry plants to create bountiful harvests each summer.  If you have a deck or patio to garden on, you may also grow blueberries wonderfully in containers.  All you need is a location that has full to part sun, and well drained, evenly moist soil.  They are not drought tolerant plants so remember  to provide water during our dry summer months.

Select a container that is at least 24 to 36” high and wide when growing blueberries in a pot.  Fill your pot with potting soil for proper drainage.  Our favorite varieties for containers include ‘Sunshine Blue’ which typically keeps its leaves year round (evergreen) and grows 3’ tall and wide with tasty, medium sized berries.  ‘Bountiful Blue’ also has evergreen foliage and boasts large tangy, sweet berries.  ‘Top Hat’ grows only 1’ to 2’ high with a wonderful wild blueberry flavor. 

In addition to bearing delicious fruit the whole family will enjoy, many varieties boast beautiful fall foliage colors and are attractive plants mixed in the landscape. 

 

Blueberries at Squak Mt. Nursery

(supplies are limited)

Variety

Notes

Berry Size

Harvest Period

Fall Foliage

Bluecrop

Great yields, classic / sweet flavor, disease resistant

Large

Mid-season

Red

Bluejay

Delicately sweet flavor, beautiful in landscape

Medium

Mid-season

Orange, yellow

Bountiful Blue

Great for containers, super sweet berries,

semi-evergreen foliage

Medium

Mid-late

Blue-green

Darrow

Robust flavor

Large

Late season

Orange, red

Duke

Savory, sweet berry, heavy producer

Large

Early season

Orange, yellow

Elliott

Zesty flavor, bountiful yields

Med / Lg

Late season

Red, orange

Hardyblue

Aromatic, very sweet

Medium

Mid-season

Bright red

Northsky

Fresh, wild berry taste. Only 18” tall, great for containers

Small

Mid-season

Red, burgundy

Pink Lemonade

Deep pink (!) berries, pleasant flavor

Medium

Mid-late

Golden, orange

Sunshine Blue

Great for containers, delicious berries,

semi-evergreen foliage

Medium

Mid-late

Blue-green, burgundy

Top Hat

Delicious taste. Only 18” tall, great for containers

Small

Mid-season

Red, orange

Toro

Abundant fruit clusters, sweet flavor

Large

Mid-season

Crimson red, yellow

‘February Flair’

Posted February 10th, 2012 in Container Gardening

Squak Mt.’s 2012 Early Spring Recipe for Container Beauty

Bright yellow, green, metallic purple and black combine to create a striking, contemporary wardrobe for your containers.  The designers at Squak Mt. have created this exclusive design to inspire you as you welcome the first hints of spring to our neighborhoods.

All of these plants in are grouped together at our nursery to make their selection quick and easy.  This recipe is designed for a container about 15-18” wide.  Our friendly staff would be pleased to assist you in adding or subtracting plants to fit a pot of any size. We also have some stunning black or mirrored silver containers pre-planted with this design to allow you to take home instant beauty for your front porch or patio.  Light conditions are not as important during the first months of the year.  In future months, many of the plants in this recipe can either be transplanted to your landscape, or kept in the pot for year round interest in a sun or partial sun location. Come outfit your pots with eye catching style and color at Squak Mt. today.

(This recipe and the suggested layout for this pot is available as printed handout at Squak Mt. Nursery today.)

A.   Ceanothus ‘Diamond Heights’-1 plant: Attractive chartreuse leaves with a dark green center, pale blue flowers in April or May. Low growing evergreen shrub grows 10-12” high, trails nicely in containers.  Hardy to 20 F.

B.   Heuchera ‘Shanghai’-1 plant: Shimmering metallic silvery-purple leaves on a tightly mounding plant. Evergreen foliage performs well through winter. White flowers above dark purple stems in the summer. 10” H x 12” W.

C.   Dwarf Hinoki Cypress ‘Meroke Twin’-1 plant: Gold-green evergreen foliage. Slight twists of branches lend movement and individuality to upright growth. Excellent for tight spaces or containers.

D.   Black Mondo Grass-1 plant: Glossy black grassy foliage with a dense, clumping habit. Spikes of tiny lavender flowers are followed by black berries in the autumn. 6-12” H.

E.   Emerald Isle Spike Moss-1 to 2 plants. Small mounding moss with bright green foliage. Good groundcover for shade to part shade.

F.    Obconica Primrose-1 plant: Upright growing clusters of lavender, pink or purple blooms, soft green round leaves. This primrose grows to 9” tall.

G.   Primrose-2 to 3 plants: Rosettes of green foliage and cheery flowers in an array of colors on this perennial. Orangey-red or purple hued blooms recommended.

H.   Dwarf Narcissus-1 plant: A sure sign of spring when these cute daffodils are blooming. Tete-a-Tete or other dwarf varieties will work best. 6-12” H.