School Gardens Newsletter Jan 2026

• Zahir poppies
• 5 Tips for More Sustainable Growing
• Orchard care during the dormant season
• Compatible pollinizers
• https://www.groworganic.com/

Across the sun-washed landscapes of Central and Southwest Asia, where dry winds move freely and mountains give way to open plains, poppies have long been part of the land’s quiet rhythm. For centuries, these flowers have appeared after winter rains—brief, luminous, and unforgettable—dotting the earth with flashes of color that feel almost intentional, as if the landscape itself were celebrating spring.

Poppies trace their story to this heritage. Drawn from regions where resilience matters as much as beauty, these poppies reflect generations of natural selection rather than a single moment of breeding. Farmers and gardeners saved seed from the most striking plants—those with strong stems, dependable bloom cycles, and colors that held their intensity even under harsh sun. Over time, a poppy emerged that felt both refined and wild, shaped by human admiration and nature’s persistence working hand in hand.

The result is Zahir: a poppy with presence. Its blooms rise confidently above finely textured, blue-green foliage, opening into silky petals saturated with jewel-like tones—crimson, coral, rose, and glowing apricot. Each flower feels deliberate yet fleeting, catching the light for a few days before scattering seed and moving on, just as poppies have always done.

In the garden, Zahir poppies offer more than color. They bring a sense of place and timing—a reminder that some of the most beautiful moments are seasonal, earned, and best appreciated up close. Sown directly into cool soil, they establish easily, bloom generously, and return year after year through self-sown seed.

As the calendar turns, it gives us a natural moment to reflect on the year behind us and consider the positive changes we want to see in the world around us. In the garden and on our farms, that reflection often leads to questions about how our choices affect soil, plants, and the broader ecosystem. One area where many of us can make meaningful progress is adopting a more mindful approach to sustainability in our growing practices. With that in mind, here are five tips to consider when making your New Year’s growing resolutions for 2026—simple, intentional practices that, over time, support healthier soil, stronger plants, and more resilient landscapes. 1. Build soil health through regenerative practices. Healthy soil functions as a living ecosystem made up of microbes, fungi, insects, and organic matter that work together to support plant growth. Regularly adding compost and other organic materials increases soil carbon, improves aggregation, enhances nutrient availability, and supports beneficial microbial populations that improve long-term fertility. 2. Start plants from seed. Growing plants from seed allows for better selection of varieties adapted to your specific climate, growing season, and disease pressures, which can improve vigor and reduce losses. Seed starting allows gardeners to align plant genetics with local conditions rather than forcing plants to adapt after transplant. 3. Keep the soil covered all year round. Exposed soil is susceptible to erosion, compaction, and moisture loss, which can degrade soil structure and reduce biological activity. Mulches and cover crops protect the soil surface, moderate temperature fluctuations, suppress weeds, and provide a continuous food source for soil organisms. 4. Know your soil. Soil testing provides measurable data on pH, nutrient levels, salinity, and organic matter, allowing gardeners to apply amendments based on actual need rather than guesswork. This targeted approach improves nutrient use efficiency, reduces excess runoff or leaching, and supports more balanced plant growth. 5. Plan for biodiversity and protect nature. Diverse plantings support a wider range of beneficial insects, pollinators, and soil organisms, increasing ecosystem stability and resilience. By designing growing spaces as interconnected systems rather than isolated crops, growers can reduce pest pressure naturally and support long-term ecological health.

Why We Apply Dormant Sprays in Winter

Dormant sprays are one of the most effective tools for supporting healthy fruit trees during the quiet months of the year. Applied while trees are leafless and resting, these sprays work preventively—reducing pest and disease pressure long before spring growth begins.

Many common orchard pests, including aphids, scale, and spider mites, overwinter on bark as eggs or larvae. At the same time, fungal and bacterial diseases can persist on branches, buds, and in tree crevices. Dormant oils work by coating these surfaces and smothering pests before they have a chance to reemerge. When paired with good orchard sanitation—such as removing fallen leaves and rotting fruit—dormant sprays help reset the orchard and reduce problems later in the growing season.

The Three Key Times to Apply Dormant Spray

A simple way to remember dormant spray timing is to anchor it to three familiar points on the calendar:

• Thanksgiving (late fall, after leaf drop): Trees are fully dormant, and pests are settling in for winter. Spraying at this stage helps prevent overwintering insects from becoming established.
• Christmas (mid-winter dormancy): In regions with mild winters, a mid-season application adds another layer of protection. Choose a dry day with temperatures safely above freezing.
• Valentine’s Day (late winter, before bud break): This is often the most critical spray, targeting pests just before they become active as trees prepare to wake up for spring.

Dry weather, low humidity, and daytime temperatures above freezing are ideal conditions for application.

Missed One? Start Anyway

It’s common to miss one of the dormant spray windows due to weather, travel, or a busy season—and that’s okay. Dormant spraying is not an all-or-nothing practice. Each application builds on the last, gradually reducing overwintering pest populations and the diseases that carry forward into spring.

If you miss the late-fall spray, a mid-winter or pre-bud-break application can still interrupt pest life cycles at a critical moment. Likewise, if winter weather doesn’t cooperate, a well-timed late winter spray before buds begin to swell can still make a meaningful difference. Even two out of three applications can noticeably lower pest pressure, leading to cleaner foliage, stronger growth, and fewer problems once trees leaf out.

The goal is progress, not perfection. Starting where you are—rather than skipping dormant sprays altogether—helps support healthier trees, reduces the need for corrective treatments later in the season, and sets your orchard up for a more resilient and productive year ahead.

Imagine planting a young Stella cherry tree in an orchard. It leafs out beautifully in spring, covered in white blossoms, full of promise. Nearby, a Black Tartarian cherry does the same—lush growth, abundant flowers, the look of a productive future. But the real magic happens because they’re planted within reach of one another.

As bees move through the orchard, they carry pollen from the Black Tartarian blossoms to the Stella flowers and back again. This exchange strengthens pollination, improving fruit set and consistency across both trees. Instead of scattered cherries or light crops, the result is:

• Fuller branches
• More evenly developed fruit
• Better overall yields

This principle applies across many fruiting trees, not just cherries. When compatible pollinizers bloom together and are planted nearby, the orchard functions as a connected system, with each tree supporting better pollination, fruit set, and overall productivity.

This kind of pairing doesn’t just increase production—it builds resilience. Year after year, those trees settle into a reliable rhythm, rewarding the grower with healthier growth and more dependable harvests. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a tree is give it the right neighbor.