Can you remember the first time your child came home from school with a "treasure" and the excited comment, "Look what I made!"? Some times we forget the joy that comes to a little one from the successful completion of a project and the complete happiness from saying, "Look what I made." The project didn't have to be perfect; what was perfect was the realization that "I did it myself and I'll be able to do other things by myself"--thus realizing one of the first steps toward independence and enhancing self-esteem.

As a retired teacher of horticulture, Mr. Ed could wax philosophically for hours on the role of gardening in enhancing self-esteem and independence. But how does this fit in with young people at home? The younger you can start with the child, the better and the more chance for success although Mr. Ed has seen it happen to 15 and 16 year olds who previously had never gotten dirt under their fingernails.

Let's start with a four- or five-year-old. There has to be a little verbal preparation first. Start at home with vegetables that the child can recognize. Ask if the child knows where vegetables come from and then explain briefly that much of our food grows from the ground. Then work into the idea of "How would you like to make some food grow from the ground?" If this works, the next step is to explain that plants are living things, just like little animals (or babies) and have to be taken care of so they will grow. They have to be fed and watered and weeded. If it was a puppy or a kitty and you didn't take care of it, the puppy or kitty would go away. The little plants can't go away, so if they are not cared for, they will die. Now, if everything is still in a "Go" mode, it's time to start the garden.

The garden should be small enough for the child to handle. A four by four-foot or four by six-foot plot is about right. If you can do it, a raised bed will be more successful. A six-inch high bed will work; a 12- to 18-inch high bed will be better. Better because it will be filled with good soil (so you and your child will not be fighting the heavy clay soil) and plants will be easier to reach. A four by six foot plot, one foot deep will require about one cubic yard of "Nursery Mix" soil. Each year as the organic matter in the soil is used up, a bag or two of Gold Rush compost can be added to bring the soil up to the proper level.

The understanding must be that this is the child's project. Mom or Dad must, of course, help or explain what needs to be done or how to do what needs to be done. But, Mom or Dad must not assume any of the tasks which the child forgets to do. A small Gilmour sprinkler which sprays a square or rectangle should be placed in the center of the plot and connected to a hose. The hose and sprinkler is preferable to hand watering, which can become boring. The sprinkler can be turned on and left to run for as long as necessary. Try out the sprinkler and water the garden plot a day or two before planting the veggies.

Most veggies can be purchased in cell packs of six plants or even as singles in 2-inch or 4-inch containers. In a four by six-foot garden, you can plant two tomatoes, side by side; a row of bush beans; some lettuce; one squash or pumpkin placed at the edge of the plot and allowed to trail out onto the lawn or driveway or whatever; and maybe a few plants of basil or cilantro. Radishes and carrots have to be planted from seeds; they can be planted in rows or in the spaces around the tomatoes or beans or other crops. Finally, half a dozen or twelve dwarf cosmos or bachelor buttons planted around the border will make for cutting flowers to give Mom as a surprise!

Some vegetable fertilizer, regular or organic, should be sprinkled throughout the area every six weeks. The young gardener should be able to handle this with a bit of guidance from Mom or Dad. Very young children (4 or 5 years old) have a short attention span; if nothing seems to be happening in the garden, they may get bored and lose interest. Don't visit the garden every day. Skip a few days and when the radish seeds sprout, check them more frequently. Watch the tomato flowers become fruit and grow and change color. Don't pick too them too early, though. Beans should be picked every two days when it's time-- and we all know what happens if the zucchini is left too long before being picked! When the vegetables are brought into the house, a big production should be made of growing one's one food and then having it cooked and served to the family. Do you remember eating uncooked, raw string beans? That would be something else to introduce to the mysteries and joys of gardening.

If things go well, expect that in some future year a teenager will be secretly working in their garden and then bring in several two or three pound tomatoes! Just a little friendly competition to show Mom or Dad that the "child" is no longer going to take second place in the gardening club.

If sparrows nibble the young shoots or snails and slugs chew the plants, teach the young gardener where to look for solutions--or bring them into the nursery for guidance from one of our CCN Pros.

When the summer garden has succeeded, introduce the idea of a winter garden. When the young gardener finds potatoes below the vines or spreads the leaves on a 12 inch cauliflower you will see eyes enlarge with disbelief. If all goes well, ten or fifteen years later, grandma and grandpa can watch the next generation learn some of life’s lessons through a small vegetable garden that begins more fond memories.

Although George Washington may or may not have chopped down a cherry tree, now would be an excellent time for you to plant one or two in your garden. Since George Washington was the ‘Father of our Country,” plan ahead for for the upcoming holiday and purchase a cherry tree for the father in your life. Father’s Day is coming up soon (June 15) so it’s not too early to scout out the availability of just the right cherry tree. Mr. Ed remembers as a youngster the cherry trees growing in many back yards as high as 35 to 40 feet tall and as wide. By midsummer, they were loaded with cherries--except for the branches within reach that had been picked bare.

Most gardens and properties today cannot handle a 35-40 foot fruit tree. Fortunately, with proper pruning, cherry trees can be held to any height so that they will fit in much smaller lots.

Cherry trees have relatively few insect pests or diseases. There is no need to spray for coddling moth or curly leaf. They may get some aphids in late spring which you can spray or ignore. Aphids will do no harm to the tree or its fruit. Similarly, once established, cherry trees require relatively little pruning.

The following varieties of cherry trees are available or can be ordered from Wegman’s: 'Bing', 'Black Tartarian', 'Craig’s Crimson', 'Montmorency Sour', 'Royal Ann', 'Rainer', 'Stella' and 'Utah Giant'. In addition, there are some two-on-one and four-on-one varieties available, such as 'Black Tartarian', 'Bing', 'Lapin' and 'Van' all on one rootstock.

Some of these cherries are self-fertile which means that the flowers will pollinize themselves and produce fruit. Others require a different variety of cherry (within one or two blocks) to provide a different pollen for fruit to be produced.

'Bing' cherries are the big, dark cherries we buy at grocery stores and the number 1 popular sweet cherry. It needs a pollinizer such as 'Black Tartarian', 'Ranier' or 'Stella'.

'Royal Ann' produces a sweet yellow cherry and requires a 'Black Tartarian' pollinizer.

'Craig’s Crimson', 'Stella' and 'Montmorency' are all self-fertile. 'Craig’s Crimson' is a taste-test winner and a natural semi-dwarf variety. 'Montmorency' is the most popular pie and dessert cherry in North America. It is tart, has bright red skin, yellow flesh and is a heavy producer. 'Stella' is similar to the 'Bing' cherry.

See our Care Guide for the planting and care of cherry trees and look forward to a smacking good time!

In the eyes of many gardeners, impatiens are the perfect garden plant. They thrive in partial to heavy shade. The plants are virtually pest-free and provide continuous bloom throughout the summer. They are suited for mass planting in beds, window boxes, containers, hanging baskets, and as indoor flowering plants. Flowers are available in white and a variety of pinks, reds, oranges, and purples. Some are bicolored or starred; others have eyes. Impatiens foliage is a beautiful dark green. Below are three varieties available in the Bedding Department at Wegman’s.

New Guinea Impatiens
New Guinea Impatiens can take more sun than the other types. In fact, New Guinea Impatiens have to have some sun--a couple of hours a day, early or late in the afternoon--to bloom well.

In coastal areas you will sometimes see regular impatiens growing and blooming, planted in the ground in full sun. How do they do it? If you start your impatiens early in the growing season and let them get hardened off to the sun they can take a surprising amount. (Compare it to your going to the beach to get a tan.)

Fertilizing: Use Master Nursery Rose and Flower Fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Impatiens
If you are looking for shade lovers, Impatiens is the plant for you. They do well in the shady parts of your yard and are very showy in hanging baskets. They provide non-stop, show-stopping color from spring until frost. You can take your pick of a wide variety of colors, and some bi-colored varieties
Impatiens grow well in partial to full shade. They prefer rich, moist (not wet) soil that drains well. Water them regularly. And Impatiens grow well in partial to full shade. They prefer rich, moist (not wet) soil that drains well. Water them regularly. Add Master Nursery Rose and Flower fertilizer once a month. In containers, pots and baskets, water every 3-4 weeks with a liquid fertilizer in place of dry fertilizers.

Impatiens grow 16-18 inches tall. In the garden, space plants 12-18 inches apart.

Double Impatiens
Double impatiens are becoming more popular each season. Their performance is best in pots or baskets rather than for bedding purposes. They grow 10 to 16 inches tall; space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. Double impatiens have an abundance of rose like blooms and are available in soft rose like colors. The double impatiens have a mounding tendency so they are perfect for pots or baskets. They also attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Many gardeners refer to double impatiens as rosebud impatiens.

Double impatiens grow well in morning sun and afternoon shade. Water them regularly. Add Master Nursery Rose and Flower Fertilizer once a month.

Give your plants the 1-2 punch! First use Master Start fertilizer when planting any new plants and then keep your plants and flowers producing and healthy with Formula 49 or Rose & Flower Food.

Master Start 5-20-10
Use Master Start for all new plantings of sod or seeded lawns, shrubs, ground covers, flowers, or bare root plantings. The 1:4:2 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium ratio provides the right nutrient mix to develop a sturdy root system and strong top growth.

Master Nursery Formula 49 8-4-4
Use Master Nursery Formula 49 for fertilizing your flowers and shrubs year around. It has an organic base and is all purpose fertilizer for shrubs, trees, flowers, vegetables and lawns throughout the year. Master Nursery Formula 49 turns lawns a rich green color without rapid growth. It is non-burning when applied as directed.

Master Nursery Rose & Flower Food
Master Nursery Rose & Flower Food is designed to promote growth and flowers on annual and perennial flowers in flower beds or containers. Plants should be fed monthly for optimum results. Master Nursery Rose & Flower Food contains calcium, sulfur, iron, manganese and zinc as well as three forms of nitrogen including nitroform.