It is time to delve into the dark dirty secrets of soils! This series of blogs are dedicated to demystifying the many varieties of soil and help you pick which one is best for your garden and budget. Here at Hook’s we know that choosing what type of soil to buy can be tricky considering [...]
Watch for early spring frost, freeze or just plain cold nightly weather. If you have an early itch to plant flowers, start with containers on a protected porch or that could easily be moved in. Use cold hardy annuals such as violas, pansies or alyssum. Outside grown perennials or harden off perennials make great container [...]
It's time to look forward to spring! Are you already thinking about your garden? We'll be ready for you! Here's an article to get you in the mood.... Perennials —Fuss-free plants that flourish for years What’s the big difference between an annual and a perennial? Annuals die when it gets too cold out. Perennials appear [...]
There is a connection in folklore and popular culture between pumpkins and the supernatural, so it’s no wonder that carving pumpkins at Halloween has become tradition in the U.S. The custom of carving lanterns from pumpkins derives from folklore about a lost soul wandering the earth. In Ireland, a man called Stingy Jack was so [...]
October is Pumpkin Month! Fall is symbolized by great warm colors and harvest abundance. One of the most symbolic icons of the fall season is the pumpkin. Found in greens, whites, yellows and oranges, the pumpkin is synonymous with fall decor and cuisine. Pumpkin is native to North America (Southern U.S. and Northern Mexico) and [...]
You’ve been a busy gardener. You’ve planned, you’ve gotten down and dirty preparing your soil, you’ve added all the goodies your plants needed, you’ve spent numerous hours pulling weeds and keeping things neat and tidy, you’ve given each plant the best start possible and in turn, they are producing fruit and blooming beautifully for you. [...]
Need to fill in flowerbeds quick? Want low maintenance flower beds? Choose high impact annuals such as Kong Coleus, Wave Petunias, Zinnias and fast-growing Sweet Potato Vine. Kong Coleus is an easy-to-care for plant, adding unique color to shade or part sun flowerbeds or containers. This plant thrives in the heat when planted in good [...]
Onion is an ancient food dating back to 5000 B.C. It was introduced to North America by the pilgrims and was one of the first crops planted by the colonists. A large number of varieties can be found today ranging from large sweet onions to scallions. With the ability to enhance many foods, onions are [...]
When it comes to summer flavors, the strawberry is maybe the first thought that comes to mind. Juicy and sweet, these fruits can be used in many ways from homemade ice cream and jam to toppings for cakes and refreshing summer drinks, but eaten straight from the vine, is undeniably an experience in itself. There [...]
If you love fresh picked tomatoes but have no room for a full garden, don’t worry, there is a way to grow your own! Tomatoes are one of those fruits that are best picked fresh. While they travel just fine to the grocery store, there seems to be nothing quite like a vine ripened tomato, [...]
Growing Beautiful & Healthy Succulents Indoors Succulents have always been popular as indoor plants not only because of their glorious shapes and forms but also because these plants can survive in moderate light, and low humidity. They are quite sturdy as they can endure weeks of neglect by storing water within their fleshy leaves, stems, [...]
Hook’s Tips Starting your potatoes. Seed potatoes are grown specifically for starting new plants. They are usually smaller in size than you may find in the grocery store and have not been treated with a growth inhibitor (meant to stop or slow sprouting). Here’s How: You can Chit your potatoes about two to three weeks [...]
Grow Some Fun this Spring Spring is here and now is a great time to start introducing your kids to gardening! This can be done with things you probably have laying around the house and is as much fun for adults as it is for children. A large part of gardening is the magic that [...]
Foxglove, also known as digitalis, are gorgeous woodland plants that attract birds, bees and hummingbirds to the garden while also being deer and rabbit resistant. These showy plants feature tall stalks of distinctive bell shaped flowers in late spring to mid summer. Digitalis makes a wonderful addition to any garden by adding eye-catching height and [...]
It is not too late to get vegetables planted. If the poor weather this spring has delayed planting or damaged your vegetable garden this year, do not fret! There is still time to get a garden planted or replant a garden damaged by the storms. Tomatoes, peppers and many other vegetables have a short enough [...]