Insights & Inspiration
Indoor Seed Starting Guide: 9 Tips for Minnesota Gardeners
Starting seeds indoors in Zone 4 Minnesota allows gardeners to get a head start on spring planting. Key tips include timing seed starts 6-10 weeks before the last frost, using sterile seed-starting mixes, providing adequate light, and gradually hardening off seedlings before outdoor transplanting. This approach ensures strong, healthy plants.
Growing Microgreens
In Minnesota’s long winter, microgreens offer a quick and nutritious growing option. These young seedlings, ready in 7–14 days, are flavorful and easy to cultivate from various seeds, including radish and arugula. A simple setup with soil, a tray, and light is all you need to grow fresh greens indoors.
Food Plants for Birds
When Minnesota winter settles in and everything outside turns into a snow globe set to “permanent freeze,” our birds have to get creative about …
Poinsettias
The poinsettia is a festive plant, known for its vibrant colors and symbolic significance during the holiday season. To ensure a healthy poinsettia, select robust plants, inspect for pests, maintain proper lighting and temperature, water appropriately, and avoid winter drafts. With proper care, it can thrive beyond the holidays.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Cactus Care Guide
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti are distinct holiday plants with varying blooming times and leaf structures. Thanksgiving blooms in late November, Christmas in late December, and Easter in late March to April. Care includes providing indirect light, proper temperature, well-draining soil, and appropriate watering, ensuring vibrant flowers each season.
Why Professional Buckthorn Management Is Worth the Investment
Buckthorn, an invasive species in Minnesota, originally introduced as an ornamental plant, aggressively competes with native flora and disrupts local ecosystems. Attempts at DIY removal often fail due to its vigorous regrowth and seed persistence. Pleasant View Gardens offers professional buckthorn removal and restoration services, enhancing biodiversity and property value.