Print edition: 
Garden show's top gardens — In case you were wondering, Scenic Landscapes' great garden won People's Choice Award, and Johnson's Legacy Landscapes won the vote of its fellow contractors at the Wichita Garden Show. Among the midgardens, the Extension Service won people's choice, and the Kansas Pond Society won the vote of fellow contractors.
Getting ahead of the weeds —"Though mulches and hoeing are usually all that is needed for small vegetable gardens, homeowners with large areas may need the help of herbicides to keep ahead of the weeds," Ward Upham of K- State says. Trifluralin is an herbicide that kills weed seeds as they germinate, Upham says. It usually has no effect on weeds that have emerged. It is sold under the trade names of Treflan, Preen, Miracle-Gro Garden Weed Preventer, Gordon's Garden Weed Preventer Granules and Monterey Vegetable and Ornamental Weeder.
Sethoxydim is an herbicide that kills weedy grasses that have already germinated. It does not kill broadleaf weeds. It can be sprayed directly over the top of many vegetables. Sethoxydim is sold as Poast, Monterey Grass Getter and Hi-Yield Grass Killer. "A second postemergence herbicide called fluazifop-p-butyl is labeled for commercial growers as Fusilade, but I haven't found vegetables listed on the homeowner labels, Over the Top Grass Killer and Grass-No-More," Upham says.Check product labels to be sure the vegetable you are planting is listed on the label of the product.
Tarp it — I'm reading — and writing — this advice a little too late for our rainy week. But Upham has a good hint for the future to try to ensure some dry garden ground for planting: "If you have a small garden, consider spreading a tarp over the area when rain is forecast. You may also want to use a tarp to protect a small area of a large garden in which cool-season crops can be planted. Remove the tarp after the rain to allow the soil to continue to dry. Remember to never work garden soils that are wet. This will destroy the structure of soil and will form clods that are slow to break down."
St. Patrick's equals potatoes — Next time you can get into the soil (or if you're like me and plant a Potato Planter) it's time to plant seed potatoes. Each seed piece should be between 1 1/2 and 2 ounces to ensure there is enough energy for germination; most seed potatoes yield four pieces. Each pound of potatoes should yield eight to 10 seed pieces, Upham says.
Cut the seed two to three days before planting so freshly cut surfaces have a chance to toughen and form a protective coating. Storing seed in a warm location will speed the process.
Plant each seed piece about 1 to 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart in rows. "Though it is important to plant potatoes in March, emergence is slow," Upham says.
"It is often mid- to late April before new plants poke their way through the soil. As the potatoes grow, pull soil up to the base of the plants. New potatoes are borne above the planted seed piece, and we don't want sunlight hitting the new potatoes. Exposed potatoes will turn green and produce a poisonous substance called solanine. Keeping the potatoes covered will prevent this."
Grow cole crops boldly —Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are cole crops that have a tendency to bolt (go to seed) or button (produce an extremely small head) if they are not kept actively growing through their production cycle, Upham says. This can happen if they're not fertilized enough or are stunted from overgrowing their container, he says. If you are buying plants, look for small, stocky dark green plants. Fertilize at transplanting with a starter solution and continue to fertilize every two to three weeks until harvest. Once a seed stalk starts to form, nothing can be done to force the plant to produce a normal crop, Upham says.
A new strawberry patch — Plant strawberries in mid- to late March; mother plants become established while the weather is cool, Upham says. Expect to remove flowers the first year, for a much better crop the second year.
If you have an established patch, remove mulch, but keep it nearby in case of a late freeze that could injure or kill blossoms.
African violet show and sale — The African Violet Study Club will have a show and sale of plants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Botanica. Admission to the show and sale is free.
Day of free gardening info — The Hutchinson Horticulture Club is having its annual Gathering for Gardeners today at our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. The church is at 407 E. 12th St., just west of the Cosmosphere.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the public is invited to attend any and all events. Here's the schedule of talks:
* 9 a.m., hot and ornamental peppers
* 10 a.m., do-it-yourself vegetable gardening
* 11 a.m., tomatoes: something new and something old
* 1 p.m., easy water features for patios or gardens
* 2 p.m., mow less/relax more: think shrubs and ground covers
* 3 p.m., new and old perennials at Botanica.
Program on reblooming iris — The public is invited to a meeting of the Wichita Area Iris Club at 7 p.m. Monday at Botanica. The program will be on reblooming iris.
Bird walk at Botanica — You can join a walk through Botanica in search of birds at 9 a.m. Tuesday. It's included in Botanica admission.
Ornamental grasses talk — Master gardener Kathy Bagwell will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about ornamental grasses and their uses in the landscape. The lunchtime lecture will be from 12:15 to 1 p.m. and is included in Botanica admission. Sweet Basil will have lunch for sale for $7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Plein air painting —Botanica will have a watercolor class open to all levels of painters taught by John Lokke from 1 to 4 p.m. April 3, 10 and 18. "Come sit outside and paint Botanica in the spring," Botanica says. Limited to 10 painters. Register by March 25. Fee is $55, $45 for Botanica members. Call Karla at 316-264-0448 to register.
Project Beauty luncheon — Photographer John Eilert will give a photographic tour of Italy set to music at Project Beauty's luncheon Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Airport Hilton. The cost is $17. Make a lunch reservation by calling Dorothy Forsberg at 316-733-5217 by noon Monday.
