Gardening Advice

We were all told by our mothers,  “Be sure to eat your vegetables.”  But today she might say, “Be sure to eat your greens.” . . . microgreens that is.

What Are Microgreens

Microgreens are seeds that have been sprouted and harvested at an early age after the first leaves have sprouted less than 14 days after germination.

A staple of the health food movement, microgreens are also a common ingredient and many gourmet meals in fine restaurants.  But being healthy doesn’t have to be expensive,  sprouting at home can actually be more affordable that buying the mature vegetable in the grocery store.

Benefits of Sprouting Your Own Microgreens

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the leaves of the sprouted plants contained contained up to six times the amount of nutrients than the leaves of the mature plants.

How to Sprout Microgreens

Growing microgreens is a viable option, even for those who are not avid gardeners or are constrained by space.   Minimal sunlight and space is required and can be grown on a kitchen windowsill.

If you would like to get started growing microgreens, stop by the Kingwood Garden Center.  We have microgreen growing kits and seeds available on hand and our knowledgeable staff can help get you on your way.

Additional Resources

• Why Sprout
• Sprouting - Wikipedia
• Introducing Microgreens: Younger, and Maybe More Nutritious, Vegetables
• Assessment of Vitamin and Carotenoid Concentrations of Emerging Food Products: Edible Microgreens
• Tiny Microgreens Packed with Nutrients – WebMD
• What are the Health Benefits of Microgreens

Congratulations to the Winners!

Revolutionary Customer Appreciation Days:  The winners of Revolutionary 100 Essay Contest were selected this weekend during our big Revolutionary 100 Customer Appreciation Sale.

• Steve Mazzone – Kingwood
• Nancy Svoboda – Kingwood
• Tammy Waldrop – New Caney

Third Annual Kingwood Garden Center Tomato Contest

Whose tomatoes have what it takes to be the best? Find out in this Tomato and Vegetable Contest hosted by Kingwood Garden Center on Saturday, June 8th, 1216 Stonehollow Drive, Kingwood. Registration begins at noon the day of the event. Free. 281-358-1805. www.kingwoodgardencenter.com

Categories are best quality tomatoes, biggest tomato, best vegetable basket and best tomato junior division.

Kingwood Garden Center Tomato & Vegetable Coloring Contest

Kids 10 and under can join in the fun with our Tomato & Vegetable Coloring Contest.

Rules for Contest:

Open to Children 10 and Under

Categories:

• 8-10 Years
• 5-7 Years
• Under 5

Prize for each Category:  Gift Card from “On The Park” Toy and Candy Store.

Finished contest pictures are to be presented no later than 12:00 pm on day of Tomato Contest, June 8, 2013.

Pictures can be picked up at Kingwood Garden Center or downloaded here.

If you choose to download the coloring page, please include the following information on the back:   Name, email, phone number, child’s age.

Grace your yard with the beauty and fragrance of a plumeria.

Also known as Frangipani, plumeria are compact trees that produce flowers in a variety of colors that produce a wonderful fragrance.  Easy to grow, plumerias are perfect for sunny locations.  While the tree form is most familiar, growers have hybridized more compact varieties as well as a profusion of color combinations.

We have just received a shipment of plumerias from Jungle Jacks, one of the top plumeria growers in the country.  Stop by today for the best selection.

Third Annual Kingwood Garden Center Tomato Contest

Whose tomatoes have what it takes to be the best? Find out in this Tomato and Vegetable Contest hosted by Kingwood Garden Center on Saturday, June 8th, 1216 Stonehollow Drive, Kingwood. Registration begins at noon the day of the event. Free. 281-358-1805. www.kingwoodgardencenter.com

Categories are best quality tomatoes, biggest tomato, best vegetable basket and best tomato junior division. 

Beautiful Bedding Plants

We have a new shipment of beautiful bedding plants to put a splash of color in any garden location including several varieties of coleus, crossandra, lavender, yellow shrimp plants, and mona lavender.

Revolutionary 100 Contest

Don’t forget to enter our Revolutionary 100 Contest  for a chance to win a $100 gift card.  Deadline to enter is May 22nd.  Click here for more details.

Stop by the Kingwood Garden Center this week for the best selection in bedding plants that will provide dramatic color for the spring and into summer!

Kardinal Hydrangea

Add a burst of color to your yard with the Kardinal Hydrangea.  This variety is extremely sensitive to ph change and produces vivid colors, the most popular being the red.

Peggy Martin Rose

If you love roses but have held off planting them because of the finicky reputation of hybrid teas, the Peggy Martin Rose may be the perfect choice to start your rose garden.

An old garden rose, it is a beautiful pink rambler that is thornless and disease resistant.  Once established, it becomes a double bloomer.

The rose is named after Peggy Martin, a stalwart in the New Orleans antique rose community.  A resident of Plaquemines Parish, Ms. Martin’s home was under 20′ of salt water for two weeks in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  Visiting her home after the flood waters subsided, she discovered the Peggy Martin rose still blooming and standing.   The rose’s hardiness and reputation as a survivor has caused it to also become known as the “Katrina Rose.”

David Austin Roses

David Austin roses are famed for combining the hardiness and fragrance of old garden roses with the repeat blooming nature of modern roses.   We have just received several beautiful bloomers.  Stop by today for the best selection.

• “Darcey Bussell” Rose
• “Gertrude Jekyll” Rose
• “Lichfield Angel” Rose
• “Mary Rose”
• “Pat Austin” Rose
• “Lady of Shalott” Rose
• “Princess Anne” Rose
• “Wisley” Rose

Black Diamond Crepe Myrtle

The Black Diamond Crepe Myrtle is a unique addition to any landscape.  This new variety of crepe myrtle has black purple foliage with blooms in a variety of colors including: Best Red, Crimson Red, Pure Pink, Pure White, Red Hot,  and Blush.  The Black Diamond variety is low growing with a maximum size of 10 feet, perfect for smaller scale yards or as an accent plant.

 Microgreens Now In

The Kingwood Garden Center now carries Microgreen seeds and supplies.

• Healthy - Microgreens are extremely dense in vital enzymes, minerals and vitamins and chlorophyll.  There aren’t many foods you could eat that are fresher.
• Delicious - Enjoy a dazzling array of new flavors.  Plants are at their absolute peak of flavor intensity at the microgreens stage of life.
• Different - Your friends and family will be amazed at this new and exciting way to eat.  Microgreeens are perfect as a complete salad, additions to traditional salad, on sandwiches, in soups, as garnishes and much more.
• Easy & Fun - Microgreens can be grown hydroponically with virtually no mess. It is  perfect for countertop gardening.  Our step-by-step kits take the guesswork out of growing.  Experiment with growing all types of microgreens for an exciting and challenging new hobby.

Is Your Turf Looking Tired?

If your old St. Augustine lawn is looking tired and sparse, stop by the Kingwood Garden Center for patented turgrass with superior tolerance for shade, cold, frost, heat, and drought.

The Kingwood Garden Center is an authorized dealer for:

• Palmetto St. Augustine
• Empire Zoysia
• Celebration Bermuda

Grass Plugs – $8.99 a tray

Beautiful Bedding Plants

Stop by for a wide selection of beautiful bedding plants to brighten your yard.

Might ‘Mato tomato plants have arrived and are in stock now at the Kingwood Garden Center!

We are now carrying the new hibiscus Hibiskiss variety.  Bred for large, showy flowers with unusual variegation, they will be a showpiece in any garden.

 Peaches and Cream Fern

In the wooded yards of Kingwood, at times it can be a challenge to bring color to shaded areas.  The peaches and cream fern is an excellent option for shaded or partially shaded areas.  It can be planted indoors or out.

Most of us have fond memories revolving around from our childhood:  climbing them, building forts, hiding behind, and secreting things beneath.  Beyond the  sentimental and aesthetic value, there are practical reasons to plant trees in your yard as well.

Bringing Up the Neighborhood

As noted on Realty101.com, one of the characteristics of upscale neighborhoods are established and mature trees.   One recommendation for maximizing the resale value of your home is to plant an 8′ to 10′ tree rather than a smaller sapling.   In 10 years time, that tree can add as much as $1,000 to $10,000 to your home’s value.

Other Benefits:

Home Value:  Mature landscaping in general can add 10 to 20 percent to a home’s value depending on the neighborhood, especially if there are mature trees.
Neighborhood Appeal:Trees and landscaping add to the overall curb appeal and as mentioned above, increase the desirability of a neighborhood.  The Arbor Day Foundation found that:

“83 percent of Realtors believe that mature trees have a ‘strong or moderate imact’ on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,00, this perception increases to 98 percent.”

Energy Efficency:  Strategically placed trees can shelter your home from the extremes of heat in the summer and cold in the winter.  With our hot and humid summers and high energy prices here in Houston, a tree can literally be worth its weight in gold.

“The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 years a day” ~ U.S. Department of Agriculture

Emotional Appeal:  When selling a home, the first impression is important.  The welcoming sight of a blooming tree could just be the deciding factor for a buyer to make your house their new home.

Environmentally Friendly:  Not only do trees improve the air quality, but they also help prevent and reduce storm erosion and run-off.

Improving Your Mood:  Trees just make you feel better.  Research at Texas A&M found that looking at trees reduced stress within 5 minutes as evidenced by changes in muscle tension and blood pressure. So the next time you are feeling uptight, take a walk in the greenbelt.

More Privacy:  No one wants to feel like they are living in a fishbowl.  A properly design landscape with mature trees can screen your yard and home from neighboring views and provide that much desired privacy.

If you find your yard lacking with regards to trees, stop by the Kingwood Garden Center for a wide selection of shade and fruit trees ready for planting!

While new varieties come out every year, don’t forget the tried and true favorites.  Here are a few easy to plant bulbs that are proven winners for Houston gardens:

• Blackberry Lily
• Acidonthera
• Gloriosa Lily
• Hymenocallis
• Polianthes
• Crocosimia

Caladium Bulbs

Living in the “Livable Forest” is a blessing; however, the wooded lots can sometimes create challenges when choosing plants for your garden beds.  One versatile plant that can be grown in either sun or shade is caladiums.   Easy to grow and available in a number of varieties and colors.  Stop by the garden center for bulbs available to plant now.

New Addition for Sun Groundcovers

If you are looking for a new option for a ground cover in a sunny location, try the new variety of Lysimachia, “Lysimachia Superstition.”  Also known as moneywort, this annual creeping plant is great for beds, walkways, patios, and container plants.

Ready for Planting

• Avocado Trees
• Fruit Trees
• Citrus Trees
• Grapes
• Berries

We have a number of recommended varieties for the Houston area ready for planting.

Garden Time!

Plant now for summer time harvest:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Onions
• Seed potatoes
• Asparagus
• Vegetable garden seed

Get ready for our annual Tomato contest with the new Mighty ‘Mato grafted tomatoes!

Designed to grow stronger, faster, and more able to fend off threatening foes!

Arriving the first week of March.

Our third annual Tomato Contest will be on June 8th.  Mark Your Calendar!

If your gardening plans include adding trees to your garden or landscape, now is a great time to plant fruiting trees and shrubs including:

• Avocado Trees
• Citrus Trees
• Fruit Trees
• Berries and grapes
• Pomegranate

Stop by the Kingwood Garden Center and choose from a selection of varieties recommended for the Houston area.  One of our garden specialists can advise you on the best mix of soils and compost mixes for planting.  Root stimulators are also available.

Garden Time

Prepare for a bountiful harvest this summer by planting some of these garden favorites:

• Tomatoes - Just arrived!  15 varieties
• Seed potatoes
• Onions, broccoli, bok choy,  lettuce, celery, cauliflower, herbs, and strawberries
• Fresh garden seed

Get your garden up to full speed with organic soils, compost, organic fertilizer and sprays.  We also have tomato cages, stakes, fencing and shade cloths available.

Spring Garden Color

Add some bloom to the gloom with a splash of color.  Geraniums, New Guinea impatiens and color bowls are in stock now.

Lake Houston Garden Show

Be sure to stop by our booth #113 at the Lake Houston Garden Show the weekend of February 16th and 17th!

Apples as a fruit have a special place in the hearts of Americans.    The saying goes, “It’s as American as apple pie” is well known.  One of the first American legends was  Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman, the wandering nurseryman who spread apple trees throughout the early American Midwest.

But the advantages of eating apples go beyond fond memories.  A recent study from The Ohio State University has found that the saying, “Eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away” isn’t just an old wives tale, it is actually true.

Health Benefits of Apples

As Americans become more health conscious, we become more familiar with issues related to health and incorporate that into our shopping choices.  We look for “low cholesterol” foods and labels with “No Transfat.”

The irony is that we need to look no farther than our own backyard (if one has an apple tree that is) to find one of the best nutritional food choices available to combat heart disease.

The study from Ohio State found:

 In a study of healthy, middle-aged adults, consumption of one apple a day for four weeks lowered by 40 percent blood levels of a substance linked to hardening of the arteries.

Other power nutritional foods that can be grown in a home garden are: blueberries, broccoli, beans, beets, spinach, and sweet potatoes (most of which are or will be available in our garden store.)

 Learn How to Grow an Apple Tree in Texas

Are you convinced that no backyard should be without an apple tree?  If so, we invite you to join us for our Saturday seminar,  “Citrus and Fruit Trees with John Panzarella” from 10 am to 12 pm on January 26th here at the Kingwood Garden Store.

John will cover how to grow fruit trees, including apple trees, in Texas and some of the best trees to grow in Texas and our Houston microclimate.

If you can’t make the Saturday seminar, check out our other upcoming gardening seminars, visit our Facebook page, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for notifications of other events.

Perk up your yard with the vibrant fall colors of Cyclamen, pansies, violas and snapdragons!  Stop by the Kingwood Garden Center for a wide selection!

This Week’s Specials!

Save 25% off of all fall decor and 50% off all Halloween decor including pumpkins!

Sale limited to stock on hand.

FALL’n temperatures are just Perfect for our first batch of Cyclamen

Halloween is “creeping” up on us but we not backing down on our FALL sales.

• Trees and Shrubs are now 70% off
• Tropicals are now 50% off
• Houseplants are 30% off
• All Halloween decor is 50% off.
• Selected pottery is 50% off.

All discounts are off of the regular retail price. Hurry in to take advantage of these Falling priced.

 Just in! These beautiful Pelee’s exemplify the essence of Fall.