Over the Garden Gate: Master Gardeners prepare for annual plant sale
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Beaver County are excited to host their annual spring plant sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in front of the Penn State Extension Office, 1000 Third St., Beaver.
This year's sale promises to deliver flowers and plants to brighten every garden!
Looking for a Mother's Day gift? No problem! There will be a variety of hanging baskets, houseplants, and loads of annual flowers to choose from, including beautiful Lisianthus plants and Gladiolus bulbs.
Many gardeners are currently planning their summer flower and vegetable garden beds. The Master Gardeners have been busy growing several varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers at a local greenhouse since early March, and will be available at the sale to help you shop and discuss issues you may be facing in your garden.
Flowers from rain: Over the Garden Gate: Gardening on the rainy side
Many kinds of well-known and unique vegetables will be available. For several years, tomatoes have been one of the most popular veggies at the sale. We are all familiar with Beefsteak tomatoes, but have you heard of Green Zebra, Hillbilly or Tomato Berry?
Green Zebra is a cultivar with dark green and yellow stripes. It is a smaller tomato and the taste is a mix of sweet and tart.
The Hillbilly tomato, an heirloom cultivar with fruit weighing 1-2 pounds, has a sweet, fruity flavor. This tomato originates from the mountains of West Virginia.
The Tomato Berry resembles a strawberry and is very sweet. This small tomato is deep red with a thick flesh. It is juicier than some cherry tomatoes and is great for snacking.
Other tomatoes available at the sale will be Roma, Chadwick Cherry, Red Cherry Heirloom, Brandywine Pink, Yellow Pear, Brandywine Red and Black Cherry.
Tomatoes don’t have to take up a lot of space in the garden and can even be planted in containers on a sunny porch or patio. Cherry tomatoes are especially great for containers.
Tomatoes are members of the Nightshade plant family. Other nightshade plants include eggplant, peppers and potatoes.
Good companion plants for tomatoes include basil, parsley, carrots, garlic, marigolds and nasturtiums. Basil, garlic, marigolds and parsley can all repel insects and even enhance the flavor of tomatoes. Carrots planted near tomatoes can help loosen the soil. Nasturtiums are beautiful next to tomatoes and act as a trap for aphids. The flowers of nasturtiums are also edible and can be added to a salad for color and flavor.
Several varieties of peppers will be available for sale along with kale, which is great in salads or smoothies. There are several varieties of basil to complement your garden including lemon basil, lime basil, cinnamon basil, opal basil and sweet basil.
Additionally, Master Gardeners will share favorite perennials from their own gardens, including many native plants, pollinator attractors, shade lovers and houseplants!
Have questions about these plants or how to grow them for maximum benefit? New to gardening and need advice? Master Gardeners will be there to answer questions about your purchases or any general gardening matters.
This sale benefits the many educational and beautification gardening projects throughout Beaver County, including demonstration gardens at Vicary House, the Beaver Train Station, Senior Gardens and many more. Cash and check only, no credit cards accepted.
Carole Snider is a Master Gardener with Penn State Extension and this year's Plant Sale Co-Chair (along with Karen Trzcinski).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Over the Garden Gate: Master Gardeners' annual plant sale set for Saturday
