GenAcres Homestead

Use of Epsom Salt on Hostas! Hostas continue to be one of the most popular perennials in shady and party shady gardens. It's no wonder. Hostas are easy to grow and care for, they don't require a lot of special attention and they come in a vast array of sizes, shapes, and great leaf colors.

Spring Care for Hosta Plants After a long, dreary winter, Springtime in the hosta garden seems like a magical time.  The hostas are sprouting their gorgeous green tips signaling the beginning of another great gardening season! Keep your hostas looking happy and healthy with these seasonal reminders and care tips for Spring!  

The Sun's Effect on Blue Hostas Blue hostas require the most protection from the sun because the blue color is actually a waxy coating on the top and or bottom side of the leaves. The leaves are actually a shade of green, but the waxy coating makes them appear those great shades of blue. Too much sun can cause the waxy coating on blue hosta leaves to melt off and expose the green leaf underneath. This is the reason it is recommended that blue hostas are planted in more shade than other hostas. The blue hostas are always very popular and there are several shades of blue-leaved hostas. Blue hosta leaves will become bluer and bluer each year as they move to maturity, usually about four to five years. 

Mustard greens are fast growing, nutritious leafy greens. They're perfect for gardens and containers in both spring and fall.  They are a  high biomass, nitrogen lifter for growing over the summer. It is one of the quickest growing, green manuring species and is very good at suppressing weeds. Used for creating short term green cover and game cover. Mustard Greens aka Mizuna, Mustard Spinach, Indian Mustard Annual plant Height:  6"       Width:  Up to 2' Mustard Greens are a leafy plant with a zesty mustard flavor that is a fiber and nutrient-rich addition to salads and stir-fries. Types: Curly Leaf.  Curled or frilled leaf edges resembling Kale.  It's a very spicy tender green used in salads. Flat Leaf.  Broad delicately flavored leaves are good for steaming or in soups. Mustard Spinach.  Smooth leaves.  This plant is more tolerant of heat, making it a good choice in warmer climates. Starting Seeds of Mustard Greens Seed Depth:      

aka Frisee Annual Plant related to Chickory Height:  6-12"       Width:  6-12" Endive and Escarole are different forms of the same plant.  Endive has curly or crinkly-edged leaves and a sharp, somewhat bitter taste.  Escarole is a type of Endive which is hardier with flat, somewhat thicker leaves and a less bitter flavor. Types: - Curled Endive with pointy leaves. - Smoother-leafed Escarole Starting Seeds of Endive/Escarole Seed Depth:                   1/4" deep. Seed Spacing:                3 seeds per inch. Days to Germinate:         5-7 days. Days to Harvest:             45 days as baby greens.  60-100 days as mature heads. Seed Longevity:              4-6 years. Sowing Indoors: Spring:  Sow 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sowing Outdoors: Spring:  Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked. Fall:  Direct sow 15 weeks before the first expected frost date. Salad Spinner Winter Sowi

   Growing Hostas From Seed So you're wondering, can I grow a hosta from seed? Growing hostas from seed is a tricky endeavor, but if you have patience and keep a few things in mind, it can be worth your time.

Why Hostas Drop Leaves Early in the Season Hostas are known as one of the most resilient and care-free perennials you can buy.  And that's only a few of the reasons hostas continue to be so popular in shady or semi-sunny gardens. But when hosta leaves die back early in the season, the culprit is almost always lack of water.