February 11, 2020 Penelope Hobhouse, Fertilizer Numbers, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, William Shenstone, Charles Daubeny, Winter Poems, A Botanist’s Vocabulary by Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell, Jute Twine, and February Folklore
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Curated News
Penelope Hobhouse wins Lifetime Achievement Award | @TEGmagazine
Fertilizer Numbers: What They Mean and How to Use Them to Grow Better
NPK stands for "nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium," the three nutrients that comprise complete fertilizers. The description of the fertilizer may not expressly say "NPK," but you will at least see a series of three numbers.
How do plants use N, P, & K?
Nitrogen promotes shoot & leaf growth. Adding it to a green, leafy vegetable plant, such as spinach or lettuce, makes sense.
Phosphorous generates fruit, flower, & root production. It's great for root crops, like beets, carrots, and onions, as well as for encouraging flower and fruit production.
Potassium affects a plant's heartiness and vigor.
Botanical History On This Day
1715 Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, the British aristocrat, naturalist, and passionate collector who turned her Buckinghamshire estate into “the hive” of 18th-century natural history and inspired artists like Georg Dionysius Ehret and Mary Delany, was born.
1763 William Shenstone, the English poet and early landscape gardener who transformed his family’s farm into the influential “ornamented farm” at The Leasowes—complete with walks, seats, and poetic inscriptions for visitors—died.
1795 Charles Daubeny, 19th-century Oxford professor of botany, chemistry, and geology, honored by the South African bulb genus Daubenya (“Jewel of the Desert”), was born.
Unearthed Words
Thoughtful, wintry reflections that remind us why this quiet season still has so much to teach us. Read today’s winter quotes
Grow That Garden Library™
Read The Daily Gardener review of A Botanist's Vocabulary by Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell
Buy the book on Amazon: A Botanist's Vocabulary by Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell
Great Gifts for Gardeners
KINGLAKE 328 Feet Natural Jute Twine – $5.99
- String diameter: 1 mm, 2-ply jute twine
- Packed on a convenient coil
- High-quality natural jute
- Perfect for garden tying, crafts, wrapping, and more
Today's Botanic Spark
Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart
February’s Flowers, Fruits & Folklore — A look at February’s name (“februa” for purification), its honorary plants (cherries and grapefruit), and the old countryside sayings that predict summer weather from snowy days, fogs, and even the shadow of a hedgehog.
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