It's Planting Time!

With the arrival of spring — and a very nice spring, indeed — all of my friends are in collective garden frenzy. They've been out mucking around in the dirt for weeks now, getting their beds ready for planting. For the most ardent, root vegetables and early season greens are already in. When we get together for dinners, an announcement that someone has gotten their first load of fresh cow manure delivered is met with the same excitement as a suburbanite announcing to their golf buddies the delivery of their new Porsche. Being late for a dinner or party this time of year because you couldn't get out of the garden is met with understanding nods.

Yes, it's planting time in the country. As those of you who've read my blog over the years know, I'm a reluctant gardener and don't have this same ecstatic response. But I appreciate it, and enjoy their passion. I wish I had it. They get such joy from their gardens.

While I'm not a genetic gardener, for those of you who are, I want to pass on some Sullivan sources for the plants, shrubs and perennials you'll be looking for over the next month or two. The source for heirloom vegetable starts is Silver Heights Farm located at the Gorzynski Farm, 7381 State Route 52, Cochecton Center, New York. Passionate vegetable gardeners venerate Silver Heights, and its incredible selection of carefully curated and tended heirloom vegetable starts, the same way a Mormon thinks of the Temple in Salt Lake City. The biggest selection is at the Cochecton location, open in May and June on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10AM to 4PM. But they also sell at the Callicoon and Barryville farmer's markets, and for those of you who want to grow tomatoes or herbs on your terrace, they're at the Union Square Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

For flowers, shurbs and perennials, I like Everlasting Spring Garden Center and Nursery  on Route 52 west of Liberty, between Liberty and White Sulphur Springs. They grow their own trees, shrubs and perennials right here in Sullivan County. I also like Catskill Perennials, owned by Mary Tonjes (who you may know from the Tonjes Cheeses you find at Peck's and at the local farmers markets.) It's a more home grown operation, no slick website or even regular opening hours. But great trees, shrubs and perennials. If you want to check out what she has to offer, give Mary a call at 845-482-4514 to find out when she'll be open.

There are a number of small nurseries and garden centers around Sullivan County. I don't know them all, but you might have a favorite or two. Please post any other suggestions in a comment of other sources your fellow gardeners may want to check out.

Comments

[Nick]

hi david! some nearby good nurseries, though slightly outside of Sullivan county are:

Catskill Native Nursery in Kerhonkson
Fair Acre Farms in Suffex (right near high point off route 23)
Manza Family Farms in Montgomery

the first two are very nice. the last one is more conventional, but nice they do have some nice gems tucked away. there's a nice hiking spot right near the native nursery, if you want to more fully amortize the driving time.

nick from eldred

[Rachel]

I also love Mary Tonjes' place, as well as Korwan's Tree Farm on Eggler Road in Jeffersonville. They have a great selection of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Mountain Laurel and other good shrubs and trees. For annuals, Liberty Agway is hard to beat. Catskill Harvest Market on Rt 52 often has great stuff. I garden for a living in the city so I scour these places regularly.
Rachel of Youngsville

[Jeanne]

Does anyone know where one could go in Sullivan County for strawberry picking?