Aurora Ridge Gardens

05/08/2026

Q: "How do I care for Amaryllis bulbs after they bloom?"
A: Keep them growing and fertilize well with either liquid fertilizer like Miraclegro or a pelleted fertilizer like Osmacote. During the summer, they can be put outside in a shady spot with the pot sunk in the ground or somewhere they can easily be watered if there hasn't been rain. Bring the pots inside before cold weather, place them in a sunny south window and continue to water and fertilize. Most varieties will bloom in late winter. Apple Blossom, the variety shown in the photo usually blooms around Easter.

05/08/2026

Want a unique and unusual Mother's Day gift? What about a Brown Turkey Fig? You can find them at Morgan's Half Acre Produce 6169 Half Acre Road west of Auburn NY. They will even produce figs this year!

04/13/2026

Beware of a vine with branches! The only vine growing in the Northeast with horizontal branches reaching around one to two feet is POISON IVY!

09/27/2025

A surprise picking of figs!

07/29/2025

Yes! We have figs!

07/13/2025

Still waiting for the first ripe fig

05/11/2025

Advice on growing tomatoes:
- Wait to plant until the soil temperature is above 60F. Black plastic mulch will help to warm the soil faster, or better yet use red plastic mulch as research shows that it helps tomatoes to produce more fruit.
- Avoid planting when the soil is wet. Working the soil or even walking on it will cause compaction and the roots will struggle to grow.
- Plant tomatoes deep or lay them down and cover with soil. The stems will grow roots, the plants will establish quicker and be less apt to be damaged by the wind .
- Stakes or cages and plastic mulch will help to prevent diseases that could remain in the soil and splash on the plants and fruits when it rains.

05/01/2025

Planters for sale. $10 each or two for $15. Great for vegetables, herbs or flowers. Available at 1935 Lake Road Aurora New York.

02/02/2025

How to prune your fig tree, Aurora Ridge version:
In Central New York fig trees need winter protection. I grow mine in pots and move them to the greenhouse in the fall. They can also be overwintered in an unheated barn or garage.
Since figs can grow to be a very large tree, they need some severe pruning to keep them small and productive. Repot in a larger pot once a year before they leaf out in the spring or 'root prune' to stay in the same pot. If you remove 20% of the roots, remove at least 20% of the shoots

Steps for pruning:
1. Shorten long branches.
2. Promote branching by removing select terminal buds.
3. Thin branches and twigs on the inside of the tree that are small and weak or shaded by upper leaves.

And most importantly:
4. Remove "suckers". These are branches that grow straight up and have long spaces between nodes. They will not produce fruit but they will root easily and give you a new tree. (remove most of the leaves and stick them in moist soil. They should produce roots in a month or so).

Happy gardening and please, when listening to anyone's advice please use critical thinking and check your sources. Even question my advice! ❤️

02/02/2025

Seriously Martha? Stay tuned for my advice on how to prune a fig tree.

Learn how to prune a fig tree, including young and mature trees, with these tips from gardening experts. Pruning will keep it healthy and fruiting for years to come.