Q. I WAS AT THE MARKET ON 10-6-07. I WAS VISITING FROM MARYLAND. A FELLOW HAD SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT STRANGE FLOWERS FOR SALE. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE, BUT WAS TRAVELING ON A MOTORCYCLE. HE TOLD ME WHAT THEY WERE, AND I THOUGHT HE SAID 'COMSTOCK'. I CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING ON THE WEB WITH THAT NAME. IT WAS VERY LARGE WITH RED TO ORANGE MOUNDED FLOWER WITH A 4 OR 5 INCH WIDE AND FLAT STEM.  VERY STRANGE LOOKING!! ANY IDEA HOW I COULD FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE? THANK YOU, SANDY        CHARLOTTE HALL, MD
A. After talking with several of the flower vendors we have at the market, I believe the flower that you are talking about is called cockscomb (or coxcomb as some web pages spell it).  It belongs to the Celosia family and is an annual flower in this part of the world.  It can be dried and put into floral arrangements. 

Q. How can I kill lambs ear?              pahumphreys from Ankeny, Iowa        July 31, 2007

A. Lambs Ear is a very hard plant to kill.  It has the habit of taking over everything and spreading to places you wouldn't think it would spread.  You have to be very diligent when it comes to getting rid of plants like this.  The best way to do it is to get down, on hands and knees, and dig it up from the roots.  It will take a lot of hard work but every spot it has started to grow, needs to be pulled.  Another thing you could try is using Roundup but making sure to only put it on the plants you want to kill.  But then you still need to pull the dead plants out.

 

Q. I have recently become committed to trying to eat fresh and support local!  I've been enjoying the Saturday Farmers Market regularly this year, and plan on continuing.  Can you tell me...How long does the Market run each year? Does it "close" when the harvest is over until it reopens in the Spring?  Please let me know the yearly schedule.
                                              Laura from Bowling Green, Ohio        July 30, 2007

A. The Market is technically a year round market, however, since many of our vendors are farmers, they only sell when they have fresh produce  which normally goes through November then it gets too cold.  This year, through a grant we received, we were able to enclose a small section of the market so that during the winter months, you will be able to shop and still stay warm.  There are vendors that have produce (such as apples and winter squash) that will be selling at the market in the winter months this year.  And several of our non-farmer vendors have shown an interest in selling during the winter.

Q. How many organic farmers are at the market? Are they marked?  Also, are locally grown goods clearly marked?                                                kdavis from Toledo, Ohio        May 31, 2007

A. We currently have one vendor who sells certified organic items.  They are the Phoenix Food Co-Op that is actually a group of organic producers offering a variety of organic merchandise.  It is up to the vendors to mark their stalls with what they grow. Most of the local growers (which account for more than 80% of what is sold on the market) mark their stalls with signage to let you know where their farm is.

 

Q. What is the best way to replant potted plants in the ground?    kajar00 from Kingsville, Texas    May 23, 2007

A. There are many different ways to replant potted plants in the ground.  If the plant is in a biodegradable pot, all you need to do is cut slits in the pot with a knife and then plant the whole thing in the ground, making sure to cover the entire root of the plant.  If the plant comes in a plastic or other non-biodegradable container, you need to grasp the plant firmly at the base of the stem with one hand, and the container in the other hand and pull until they separate being careful not to pull the plant from the root.  Then, put the plant in the ground making sure to cover the entire root.  It is always good to give the newly planted garden a good watering and a little plant food.

 

Q. I had planted some spearmint in my flower beds and now I want to get rid of it as it has taken over the whole area and the same with lambs ear. What can I do to get rid of them and not kill the other plants?       Debbie from Martin Ohio             May 10, 2007

A. Plants like that are very hard to get rid of once they have taken over an area.  Unfortunately there is no simple cure for the matter either.  The best way to do it is to get down on your hands and knees and dig them out.  Make sure you get the entire root or it will just grow right back.  One farmer here at the Market did have another suggestion: if there are not too many other plants in the area it might be easier to dig up the other plants then you can round-up the mint, kill it all, and replant the other plants.  If you want to have a plant like that at your house, a good rule of thumb is to grow it in a container or build a wooden box in your garden so the plant can only get so big.  Good luck!

 

Q. What greenery or small flower would work best between a privacy fence and a sidewalk that gets full sun between 10am and 6pm? 

        Denise 4-10-07
A. Sedum is one perennial that would work best for your situation.  There are two main types grown in our region: Golden Carpet (green leaf with  yellow flowers) and Dragon's Blood (red leaf with lavender flowers).  There are several vendors at the Toledo Farmers' Market that sell sedum .

                                   

Q. How do I secure myself a space each week for the farmers market?        Deanna 4-16-07
A. We have two different types of vendors who rent spaces: Daily and Annual vendors.  The difference is this, Daily vendors rent a space week by week, not always guaranteed the same location, and Annual vendors pay for an entire year (April 1 through March 31) and are assigned a stall location for the year. 

Follow this link for more information on both types of vendors and for applications for each.

Q. Are there vendors currently down at the Market?            Kathy from Swanton, Ohio        3-25-07

A. The actual opening day of the market is scheduled for May 12, 2007, but Vendors plan to start coming to the market on April, 14.  They will have their best bedding plants, potted plants, annuals and perennials for sale. 

Q. Can I get some information about Flower Day?            thegardenperson from Toledo, Ohio        3-05-07

A. Flower Day is the biggest weekend of the year the the Toledo Farmers Market.  We partner up with the Toledo Area Vegetable and Flower Growers Association’s to have the biggest selection of flowers and plants in the area.  Over 60 vendors will be selling their best plants, yard art, plant accessories and crafts.  This is an event for the entire family. For more information click here.