Mark Honess has property in Cranberry that’s going to be sold and converted into townhouses or some type of development. He want’s people to come dig the daffodils and take them to a good home.

Just text Mark at this number and he’ll work out the details for you to get the bulbs, 412-389-7487.

I hope all these daffodils get saved and are enjoyed by their new owners from decades to come.

I recommend digging clumps, and doing everything possible to keep the foliage in tact. Dig some nice sized planting holes and gently tease them apart. Replant with the foliage in a mostly sunny spot and you should get blooms the next spring.

The post Free “You Dig” daffodils appeared first on Doug Oster.

It’s a place for gardeners to trade with each other. Bring divisions from your garden to swap, be sure plants are labelled and please don’t bring anything invasive.
I’ll also have lots of ‘Limbaugh Legacy Potato Top’ tomato plants to pass out while supplies last. One plant of each per family please. BE THERE AT 11 a.m., IT’S CRAZY!

The Limbaugh Legacy tomato is a huge, pink beefsteak that’s been grown in the Pittsburgh area for generations. I ask gardeners to grow out the plant and send me some seeds back to keep the program going.

Here’s how I found the ‘Limbaugh Legacy Potato Top’ tomato-

We meet lots of people over the years. Some come and go, but others always hold a place in our hearts. Fred Limbaugh was one of those special people.

I first met Fred on a warm day in the spring of 2000. After reading about my love of heirloom tomatoes, he was compelled to call and tell me about the tomato his family had grown for generations, ‘Potato Top.’ He invited me over to pick up a couple of plants to try.

“They’re the best-tasting tomato you’ll ever eat,” he bragged.

I listened with interest as he talked about the plant he loved and had given away to friends and family for years. Once they grew ‘Potato Top,’ they were hooked, said Fred, who didn’t even like to eat tomatoes but grew them for everyone else.

Over the years, Fred and I became good friends. We would visit at his home in Robinson, and on hot days he would offer me a cold beer but never drank one himself. We talked about gardening, his love of the outdoors, his beloved German shepherds and how he was getting along in his 80s.

Together, the two of us would walk down a steep embankment in his back yard to his cold frames filled with deep green tomato plants; they had thick stems and sometimes were covered in bright yellow blossoms. As he got older, he couldn’t get down there anymore. It was even hard for me to navigate, and I was 40 years younger.

Years ago, I started giving away the seeds of ‘Potato Top’ with the condition that gardeners send me some seeds at the end of the season so I would have more the next year to keep the program going. I wanted everyone to taste it and hoped that by sharing the seed, we could guarantee the survival of this tomato with potato-like foliage for a long time. Every year the project grew, expanding from Western Pennsylvania to other states and eventually to many other countries. One summer, I got 140,000 seeds back from readers all over the world.

Fred was never one for the limelight. As ‘Potato Top’ became more and more popular, he would call me and say with a laugh, “I never thought one phone call would turn into this.”

One time his daughters brought him to North Park, where I was giving away the plants. Wanting to recognize Fred for starting the whole project, I tried to make an announcement. But Fred wouldn’t hear of it, and in an instant he was gone, slipping away so he wouldn’t be noticed.

His health took a turn for the worse several years ago. When I went to visit him at a nursing home, he was figuring out a way to grow tomatoes on a windowsill so he could still provide plants for everyone who asked.

That was the year I started growing plants for him, as many as I could in my little home greenhouse. They never looked as good as Fred’s; he just had a knack for getting nice stocky, healthy transplants. Eventually, I turned the job over to friends at Soergel Orchards, who were able to produce quality plants.
Several years ago, Fred passed away at 86. He was out for dinner the night before with his family and then was gone early the next morning.

I always felt we were kindred spirits whose love of gardening transcended the boundaries of age. I’ll never forget that first day we met when he gave me two large plants, their roots surrounded with newspaper.

In memory of Fred and with the blessing of his family, I’ve renamed the tomato ‘Limbaugh’s Legacy Potato Top.’ For decades to come, I hope gardeners will search the name of the tomato and rediscover its origins. They’ll learn about a wonderful man who wanted nothing but to share a big, meaty pink tomato with some friends. Little did he know that he would be sharing it with thousands of strangers, too. That always made him feel good, to know so many people were enjoying the tomato.

I miss that old guy and always will think of him as I sit at home filling seed envelopes and giving away plants. It feels good knowing that his name will always be linked to a family heirloom that will live on in gardens around our area and the world.

The post 18th Annual Doug Oster Plant Swap and Gardening Hullabaloo 5/23/21 at Soergels 11am appeared first on Doug Oster.

I’ve got one filled with seeds right now at Hahn Nursery in Ross. I’d like you to go and get some seeds to see how the box works. If you have suggestions, let me know.

The nursery is located at 443 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

There’s also a secret compartment filled with some rare tomato seeds to entice you. There are some really interesting tomato varieties in there. You’ll be able to find the compartment.

Let me know what you think by emailing me at dougoster@comcast.net.

The post Testing for Doug’s Free Seed Shack at Hahn Nursery appeared first on Doug Oster.

I’m excited to partner with Farm to Table of Western Pennsylvania for my latest new project. I’m converting six old newspaper sales boxes into free seed libraries. They are the kind you would feed quarters to, open the front and pull out a paper.

This spring five of them will be placed around the area and one will be moved every so often around Western Pennsylvania to hopefully, give everyone has a chance to get some interesting seeds to try. Some boxes will be located in the city and others in the suburbs and beyond.

We’re just in the beginning stages of putting the project together and accepting seed donations from gardeners, nurseries, seed companies and anyone else interested in helping. Special varieties will be added throughout the season.      

I’m also looking for someone who might be able to paint all six boxes.

When the Free Seed Shacks are in place, I’ll have all the details of where they are listed here.

If you would like to donate seeds send them to:

Doug Oster
P.O. Box 11013
Pittsburgh, Pa
15237

The post Doug’s Free Seed Shacks appeared first on Doug Oster.

It was a joy to talk again with Kara Holsopple from The Allegheny Front. We discussed the hows and whys of seed starting. What seeds are you going to start this season?

Here’s the interview.

The post How to start seeds: Allegheny Front interview appeared first on Doug Oster.

It’s fun, easy and a great project for kids (of all ages). It’s something to keep you gardening all winter long. The microgreens are highly nutritious and tasty too.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/program/750/5223702-planting-microgreens/?fbclid=IwAR17OWVbZuVO8RlaOmtfSfqe8FeB5QjyU-wXTOaktXbPmNb99Df-uPnWL30

The post How to plant microgreens as seen on PTL appeared first on Doug Oster.

Snowdrops

These small, pretty white flowers have bloomed as early as Jan. 15 in my garden. You never know when they will flower; it just depends on the winter. I like to plant them close to the house, as they will sprout a little earlier. I’m head over heels in love with the double flowering ‘Flore Pleno.’ Snowdrops will make a nice colony after a few years and are one of the few bulbs that like being divided right after blooming. They are also deer resistant and have never been molested in my garden.

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to bloom in the late winter.

Crocus

There are lots of different cultivars of crocus. One trick I recently learned from Brent Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs is to soak the bulbs in a critter-repellent like Bobbex to keep the chipmunks from eating them. ‘Pickwick’ was released in 1939 and is a favorite for its blue-and-white striped flowers with luminous orange anthers.

Snow crocus blooms are always a surprise when they emerge. Photos by Doug Oster

Glory of snow

These low-growing blue flowers with white centers will spread over the years making a colorful montage quickly, blooming as the crocus finish. It’s deer resistant with some pink and white varieties available, too.

Chionodoxa or Glory of Snow have pretty blue flowers in the early spring and will form a colony in just a few years.

Puschkinia

One of the great things about gardening is discovering a new plant. I’m not sure where I got a hold of puschkinia bulbs last fall, but when the eight-inch tall white flowers with blue stripes emerged, I was hooked. Another deer-resistant colonizer, I’m planting a few more hundred this season.

Puschkinia have white flowers with blue stripes and will continue to expand through the seasons.

Daffodils

There are 13 different divisions of daffs, each one with a different flower shape. These harbingers of spring are my favorites. Daffodil season is like no other, once they get going, there’s no turning back. I’ve fallen in love with doubles, counting ‘Tahiti,’ ‘Sir Winston Churchill’ (smells like gardenias), ‘Gay Tabor’ as just a few favorites. I’ve ordered some rare bulbs from Joe Hamm’s Daffodil Hortus in Washington County. There aren’t many things tougher than daffodils; they will thrive for years.

Daffodils are the harbinger of spring. There are 13 different divisions of the flowers, each one has a different type of bloom. They are deer proof and easy to grow.

Tulips

These days I treat them as annuals and grow them in the fenced-in vegetable garden as they are a favorite food of the deer. The most perennial are Darwin varieties and species tulips.

‘Shirley’ tulip is just one of countless varieties. They are treated as annuals as they usually don’t come back in full form unless planted in the perfect spot.

Hyacinths

Not everyone one loves the fragrance of hyacinths like I do. A neighbor at work complained about the heavy perfume of the cut flowers in a vase. The next day they disappeared. Lesson learned, but these flowers might not be welcome at work, but are a must for filling the house with their wonderful aroma.

There’s nothing like the fragrance of hyacinths.

Fritillaria

It’s not seen in many gardens anymore, but they should be. Another deer-resistant plant, fritillaria has a wide range of cultivars. Three-foot tall ‘Crown Imperial’ puts on a show with orange flowers in consort with daffodils. There are a host of smaller varieties that deserve a place in the garden.

Fritillaria ‘Crown Imperial’ is one of the many cultivars of the species. The flowers are deer resistant and easy to grow.

Alliums

Although said to be deer proof, I caught a small fawn tasting the foliage last spring. Probably best known for tall stems supporting purple globular flowers, this plant from the onion family can take on many shapes, colors, sizes and bloom times. I grew Allium azureum and some other cool sky blue varieties last season and loved them. Before the blooms opened, I mistakenly nibbled on a flower thinking it was chives. Luckily I figured out what the plant was before making a salad out of this pretty plant.

Allium azureum is one of the varieties with blue flowers.

Lilies

Deer love them, so be careful when choosing a planting site. These tall plants are the queen of the summer garden, easy to grow and oftentimes intensely fragrant.

‘Stargazer’ hybrid lily is a winner for its beauty, fragrance and carefree nature. The bulbs can be planted in the fall for summer blooms.

Planting bulbs now builds anticipation for the spring. I’m already thinking about what the landscape will look like with the cheery additions I’m planting now.

Here are my favorite bulb sources-

www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
www.oldhousegardens.com
www.johnscheepers.com
www.vanengelen.com
www.colorblends.com
www.longfield-gardens.com
www.flowerbulbs.com

The post Doug’s favorite bulbs appeared first on Doug Oster.

PENNSYLVANIA RESOURCES COUNCIL ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE OF SEPTEMBER 2020 ONLINE CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS

The Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) has announced its September 2020 schedule of conservation workshops, now conducted as online webinars. 

The new format enables individuals living in southwestern Pennsylvania to take part in online instruction and then to make arrangements to pick up a composting bin or rain barrel at PRC’s headquarters in Pittsburgh’s North Side.  Individuals living throughout the Commonwealth can take part in a free online Recycling & Waste Reduction webinar.

“PRC now offers numerous webinars as a more convenient, flexible way to educate Pennsylvania residents who desire to learn about how they can take part in PRC’s mission to prevent waste and conserve environmental resources,” according to PRC Education Specialist Nancy Martin.

“Individuals taking part in the Backyard Composting and Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel webinars will receive the tools of the trade, specifically composting bins and rain barrels, following the webinars, so at this time we’re conducting these webinars for individuals living in southwestern Pennsylvania so that they can drive to the bin/barrel pick-up site soon after completing the webinars,” Martin explains. 

To register for a PRC webinar, visit www.prc.org/programs/webinars or call 412-977-6146.

PRC conservation workshop webinars are sponsored by Green Mountain Energy.

BACKYARD COMPOSTING WEBINARS

Learn the benefits of backyard composting, including the overall process, methods for setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance and ways to use finished compost.  Course fee includes instruction plus a FreeGarden EARTH compost bin, which features an 82-gallon capacity ideal for both urban and suburban settings. 

Cost: $70 includes webinar instruction and one composting bin.  Pre-registration is required.

BACKYARD COMPOSTING WEBINAR SESSIONS

Tuesday, September 8, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 23, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

BIN DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTHWESTERN PA BY APPOINTMENT

Individuals will register for a time to pick up a bin or barrel after completing online instruction.  Pick up will take place weekly on Mondays from 1 – 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at PRC’s North Side location at 828 W. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

WATERSHED AWARENESS/RAIN BARREL WEBINARS

Discover how to harvest rainwater from your roof, store it in a barrel and use it in the landscape.  Learn about problems associated with stormwater runoff and techniques to reduce your contribution to watershed pollution.  Course fee includes instruction plus a FreeGarden RAIN 55-gallon easy-to-install rain barrel.

Cost:  $80 includes webinar instruction and one rain barrel.  Pre-registration is required.

WATERSHED AWARENESS WEBINAR SESSIONS

Wednesday, September 2, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 30, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

BIN DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTHWESTERN PA BY APPOINTMENT

Individuals will register for a time to pick up a bin or barrel after completing online instruction.  Pick up will take place weekly on Mondays from 1 – 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at PRC’s North Side location at 828 W. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

FREE “RECYCLING & WASTE REDUCTION” WEBINAR OPEN TO RESIDENTS LIVING THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA

PRC will offer a free “Recycling & Waste Reduction” webinar on Wednesday, September 16, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  The online workshop will answer common questions surrounding recycling issues such as curbside collection, hard-to-recycle materials and pharmaceutical disposal.  Learn recycling best practices by joining the webinar from ANYWHERE in Pennsylvania.

Cost:  FREE.  Pre-registration is required.

The post Backyard composting classes, rain barrel workshops and more from PRC appeared first on Doug Oster.

I helped found the Tomato and Garlic Festival at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens over a 15 years ago. It’s a way to help the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, but I never could have imagined all these years later we would be meeting virtually. Phipps has been a wonderful partner and has figured out a way to still hold this important event.

In the past gardeners brought their extra produce, donating it directly to the food bank. Over the years we’ve collected over 10 tons of fresh garden vegetables to help feed the hungry. This time around the festival will be spread over four days, each night from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. beginning on Monday August 24, 2020. This year there’s a flat $50 fee for all four days or $15 a day.

I’ll kick off Tomato and Garlic Days at 6 p.m. on Monday presenting “How to Get Five Harvests from Growing Your Own Garlic.” The lecture will explain how easy it is to plant garlic next month and detail the five harvests that only a garlic grower can enjoy. On Thursday I’ll cook two dishes live, each using 50 cloves of garlic! The first is “Garlic Elixir” and the second is “Ultimate Garlic Linguini.”

There are lots of other greet demonstrations which include cooking, garden workouts and more.

Here are all the details of the schedule and how to register. I hope you’ll join me in an effort to help the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

In the words of my great friend, Pittsburgh artist Johno Prascak, “It would be a sad world without garlic.”

The post Virtual Tomato and Garlic Days runs from 8/24-8/27 benefits food bank appeared first on Doug Oster.

Farm to Table of Western Pennsylvania is sponsoring my latest seven week Summer Organic Gardening Webinar Series.

Here’s the schedule. The classes are free for anyone on Medicare or receiving WIC or SNAP benefits. Use the code COMPGARDEN.

Here’s the schedule and links to register-

• 6/25/2020 Fun Projects For Kids In The Vegetable Garden
• 7/2/2020 Summer Vegetable Garden Maintenance
• 7/9/2020 Bargain Hunting For The Vegetable Garden
• 7/16/2020 Summer Planting Tips To Extend The Harvest
• 7/23/2020 Dealing With Summer Pests And Diseases Organically
• 7/30/2020 The Right Way To Harvest
• 8/6/2020 Saving Seeds For Next Season’s Vegetable Garden

The post Summer Organic Gardening Webinar series appeared first on Doug Oster.