Before plants go into the ground, there is plenty to do in the garden. Plants take up a lot of minerals and nutrients from the ground and throughout the growing season, especially if they are producing vegetables. These both need to be replenished in the spring if you want keep an equally well producing garden. [...]
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 [...]
We are all familiar with the classic Black-eyed Susan look featuring yellow ray flowers around a dark brown or black center cone, but we may not be aware of the many types of Black-eyed Susan plants available. Black-eyed Susan plants come in many different varieties including upright growers and vines and ranging from annuals to [...]
The 4th of July is just around the corner. Here at Hook’s we have red, white and blue planters ready to help decorate for Independence Day celebrations. We will be closed tomorrow to spend time with our families, so be sure to stop by the greenhouse today for these quick and easy patriotic centerpieces!
Sweet William Barbarini comes in two stunning bicolored varieties, 'Purple Bicolor' and 'Purple-White Bicolor'. These two fabulous plants feature large clusters of eye-catching flowers. Sweet William flowers are known for their beauty, easy care needs, drought tolerance, deer resistance and long blooming bicolored flowers. In addition, Sweet William's fragrance attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. [...]
Hardy Hibiscus (Rose Mallow) has an amazing tropical look but is hardy to zone 4. Hibiscus plants have breathtaking 12-18 inch blooms making them a striking addition to any garden. This easy maintenance plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and many other pollinators while deer typically leave it alone. These awesome perennials survive in wet soil and [...]
Russian Sage, produces lacy lavender blue flowers from mid summer all the way through mid fall. The delicate blooms of Russian Sage make great cut or dried flowers. In spite of its delicate appearance, Russian Sage is hardy, drought tolerant and deer resistant. Russian Sage also features fragrant foliage and attracts hummingbirds. Russian Sage is [...]
Dill is a wonderful plant that is useful in the kitchen, fragrant and easy to care for. Its wonderfully refreshing taste is enhanced by vinegar or lime juice. Dill is an annual herb that is easy to grow and can reach the staggering height of 3 ft! This versatile herb can grow in containers or [...]
Basil is one of the most widely used herbs and is found in cuisines worldwide. It is commonly associated with Italian cooking and pairs well with both garlic and tomatoes. On top of its appeal as a culinary herb basil is aesthetically appealing and has a fabulous aroma. The name basil comes from the Greek [...]