Connie Mehmel

Joined: February 20, 2023
Articles: 16

April 17, 2024

Popular Master Gardener plant sale planned for April 27 at Pybus market

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener The Master Gardener Foundation of Chelan-Douglas Counties Plant Sale will be back at Pybus Public Market on April 27, the last Saturday in April. We’ll be there from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,…

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January 22, 2024

How does your garden grow?: Direct seeding vs. transplanting

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener Now that the days are getting longer, it’s time to think about the flowers and vegetables you will grow this year. Will you plant seeds directly into your garden soil? Will you buy…

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August 29, 2023

‘Let the good times grow’: Bring your flowers, fruits and veggies to the Chelan County Fair

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener Since 1952, the Chelan County Fair has been a place to showcase our communities, our many talents, and the wonderful things we produce in our region. The festive, family event is open to…

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July 11, 2023

Successful squash plant pollination could require you to work

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener Squash plants, a staple of home vegetable gardens, put forth many large, lovely flowers in early summer. But most of these flowers will never develop fruits because, for all their beauty, the flowers…

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March 29, 2023

Tarragon is an elegant garden herb — choose the plant best for you

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener If you haven’t yet discovered tarragon, a gastronomic adventure awaits you. Its aromatic leaves have a pungent licorice or anise flavor that is a complement to fish, meat, vegetables or salads. It is…

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February 28, 2023

Lesson learned: Sunflower bud moths in the Boswell Garden

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener Sunflowers are wonderful garden plants. They are easy to grow and offer a wide variety. Huge Mammoth sunflowers can grow 12 feet tall with 12-inch-wide flower heads heavy with seeds that can be…

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February 1, 2023

Lessons learned: The Boswell Garden at the Chelan County Fairgrounds

By Connie MehmelWSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener The Boswell Garden at the Chelan County Expo Center in Cashmere is a small garden space at the entrance to the county fair. It borders the Boswell Building, where flowers, fruits and vegetables…

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January 4, 2023

Seed germination – what makes it work?

Winter solstice has passed, and the days are getting longer. Now is the time to get out your saved seeds, or order new ones, and prepare to propagate vegetables and flowers for your garden. Starting plants from seeds is exciting stuff for a gardener, but it has its challenges. Often you will hear someone say, “I never have any luck starting (name your problem seed).”

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December 7, 2022

Helpful tips for finding your live holiday tree

If you plan to grace your home with a live Christmas tree this holiday season, Washington state is a good place to be. Our state is one of the Top 10 producers of live Christmas trees, with nearly 400 tree farms.

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October 12, 2022

Tips for saving and storing your garden seeds

Now that autumn is here, most gardeners are starting to put their gardens to bed. This is also a time to save the seeds from your best flowers, fruits and vegetables. With a little attention to handling and storage, seeds from open pollinated (heirloom) plants can repay your efforts with a satisfying harvest next year.

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July 6, 2022

Get ready for winter gardening at the Community Education Garden

Summer is here, so every gardener knows it’s time to get ready for autumn. With that in mind, the WSU Master Gardeners invite you to the Community Education Garden (CEG) from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 16 for some tips on winter gardening. As part of the 3rd Saturday in the Garden series, you can learn how to extend your harvest and have a source of fresh greens during cold months.

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June 1, 2022

Why Is there sugar on my tomato leaves?

In the summer of 2020, many home gardeners in Chelan County were surprised to find what looked like granulated sugar on the leaves of their tomato plants. This “sugar” was the excrement of an insect called the potato/tomato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), an aphid-like insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts that it uses to suck fluids from the leaves and stems of potatoes and tomatoes.

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May 6, 2022

Succession planting can help you maximize your garden space

Succession planting is a way to make the most of your garden space, growing two or more crops from the same area. It requires planning and careful timing but you may find it worth the effort, particularly if your space is limited and you love your home grown produce.

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April 7, 2022

Master Gardener Foundation plant sale returning to Pybus

The WSU Master Gardener Foundation is excited to welcome you back to an in-person plant sale at Pybus Public Market this year. The sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 30. Master Gardeners will welcome you to a forest of tomatoes, peppers, other vegetables and herbs that have been started and tended by our members.

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March 27, 2022

Now is a good time to test your garden soil

As you ready your garden beds for flowers and vegetables, it’s important to know some things about your soil. Soil supports and nourishes your plants, so you want to know if it has the nutrients your plants will need to get off to a good start.

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January 26, 2022

Garden dreams? The snow will be gone before you know it

January is a time to reflect on last year’s garden: what went well, what do you want to change, and what new things do you want to try. Maybe you want to try some vegetable or herb you haven’t grown before, or maybe it’s time to try a new cultivar.

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