Goffle Brook Farms – “a garden blog”
Celebrate Mom
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, 2023. Moms should be celebrated every day of the year, but especially on Mother’s Day! If you’re searching for gardening gift ideas for Mother’s Day, look no further! A mother who loves to garden would love any of these thoughtful gifts.
Plant Protection Tips
When weather forecasters issue a frost advisory in late spring and early fall, that’s your heads-up to protect annuals and other vulnerable plants. You might think temperatures have to get to the freezing point (32˚F), but actually, a frost can occur between 36˚F and 32˚F.
Celebrate Earth Day 2023
This Earth Day, April 22, create a pollinator garden within your space to help butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators overcome habitat loss and urbanization. Help the environment by creating your own eco-system and reap the benefits when your wildflowers bloom.
Hippity Hop Over To The Garden Center
Hippity Hop Over To The Garden Center. We have potted lilies, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils that are sure to brighten up any Easter display! If you are looking for something to put outside right away, Tulips and Hyacinths are great choices (Hyacinth smells amazing!!)
Ornamentals & Flower Seed Sowing Dates
Get ahead on your gardening by starting ornamental and flower seeds indoors and producing your own transplants. With a little planning, a few supplies and tools, plus some know-how, you’ll be on your way to seed starting success. Plant these flower seeds indoors, under lights, six to eight weeks before transplanting into the garden.
Vegetable and Herbs Seed Sowing Dates
Starting seeds indoors has many benefits, including an earlier harvest. While some crops can be direct seeded, you can start them indoors and move up the harvest date. Another perk of starting seeds indoors is the ability to grow long season crops in short season climates.
Frost Hardy Annuals
Focus on frost hardy annuals. Some of these annuals that can withstand 20 degrees or so, including pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum, dusty miller and osteospermum. Keep in mind that flowers may be a bit ragged after such cold but the plants should make it through ok. Annuals able to tolerate a light frost include varieties of petunia, nicotiana, calendula, Victoria sage, and verbena canadensis.
Pansies – The Flower With A Face
Pansies are a popular spring flower because they’re not only early bloomers but they come in a collage of colors that actually prefer the cooler months of the gardening season. Pansies are happy looking plants with their bright petals contrasting in a “face-like” appearance. Whatever the pattern looks like, the pansy is a type of viola that gardeners have grown for hundreds of years. Shakespeare mentioned them in Hamlet.
Welcome Springtime
On the threshold of spring, we begin to notice a quiet awakening within. The intentions that we set during the long days of winter, both for ourselves and our children, may have lain dormant these past months, but now we see the first green heads pushing through and realize that the dawn of something new is upon us.
Kiln Dried Firewood
The garden center is closed until Mid-March. Kiln dried firewood is STILL AVAILABLE. For firewood sales phone 201-755-7959 or contact us via email.
A Sincere Thank You
Our sincere thank you for another wonderful year. All of you are the reason for our continued growth and success. The garden center is closed until Mid-March of 2023. Be sure to check our website for updates about what’s new for 2023, upcoming classes for the gardening season and other timely tips and recipes. For firewood sales phone (201) 652-7540 or contact us via email.
Holiday Traditions Begin Here
Holiday Traditions Begin Here. You will not recognize the inside of our store ! The elves have been very busy getting ready for Santa and this year they created some very unusual displays of decorations and gifts. We have unique garden and holiday gift items and decorations that are sure to impress many on your gift list.
Fresh Cut Fraser Firs
Buying a real, fresh-cut Christmas tree at a local business is as much about the experience as it is about the purchase; and shopping for one at Goffle Brook Farms is a memory you’ll cherish for years. We have a large selection of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees, all fresh cut and of different sizes to suit all your holiday decorating needs.
The Christmas Collection
Turn Your Home Into A Festive Holiday Land Of Enchantment With Interior Christmas and Holiday Décor from Goffle Brook. One Stop Holiday Shop! Everything you need to decorate your home for the holidays is here. From fresh cut trees, greens, wreaths and roping to poinsettias, lights, window & wax candles, ornaments and decorations – you’ll find it all here!
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Santa Is Bringing His Holiday Magic to Goffle Brook Farms again this holiday season. Jolly Ole Saint Nick will be here listening to your wish lists and offering tidings of comfort and joy to one and all. Nov 27th - Dec 4th & 18th
Pumpkin Patch
Each year, we create an Autumnal Wonderland full of one-of-a-kind displays and locally-grown pumpkins of every shape and size. Whether you need a small pumpkin that weighs less than a pound or a large pumpkin, we’ve got the perfect pumpkin for you. You’ll find all shapes, sizes and colors of pumpkins and gourds as well as corn stalks, hay bales and autumn garden decorations.
Lawn Maintenance: The Importance of Autumn Overseeding
The Importance of Autumn Overseeding - If you love your lawn (which we are sure you do), then you realize and comprehend the importance of lawn care and that it goes beyond watering and mowing.
Autumn at the Garden Center
Fall into Goffle Brook Farms for Autumn Beauty. Autumn in northeastern New Jersey is a spectacular display of Nature’s palette. Splashes of reds, oranges, yellows and burgundy create awe inspiring scenes to be enjoyed all across the region. Take a Sunday drive to the mountains or country or just take a short hop to see us in Ridgewood and you’ll revel in an atmosphere of autumn color and décor. Here at Goffle Brook Farms Garden Center we’ve enjoyed experiencing Autumn with our customers for over 54 years now and we’ve come to know what they love about the Fall Season.
Capsicum annuum – Ornamental Peppers
Within the scope of gardening, some plants blur the boundary between being simply and stunningly beautiful and being edible. Capsicum annuum, ornamental pepper, is definitely a case of an edible, making the crossover to the ornate.
Late Summer – Early Fall Lawn Care
Jonathan Green Winter Survival Fall Lawn Food is the ideal fall lawn fertilizer to spread anytime from early September through mid-November
The Beauty of Begonias
Begonia is an amazing genus. There are well over 1,800 species. They add constant color and beautiful foliage throughout the season in places with little to no direct sunlight.
Echinacea Adobe Orange
The flowers of Adobe Orange rise about 18 to 20 inches above the dark green foliage in an upright shape. Echinacea Adobe Orange has compact habit and slingshot rocket sled blooming power, producing lightly-scented orange daisy flowers for months.
What’s New In The Farmer’s Market
Fresh Local Produce available at the Farmer's Market. The main health benefit of locally grown food is that it’s fresher. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients within 24 hours of being picked, so fresher produce is more nutritious. In addition, locally grown food is picked at its peak ripeness, when it’s most dense with nutrients.
Meyer Lemon Tree | Citrus × meyeri
Meyer lemon trees combine the best of lemons and mandarin oranges into one hybrid, fruit-bearing tree. If you haven’t heard of a Meyer lemon before, you’re missing out on this farmers market favorite
Bee Balm – Monarda
The bee balm plant is a North American native perennial herb. Bee balm is very attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Incredibly beautiful, medicinal, and edible, it’s no wonder the birds and the bees love it!
Chosen as one of the TOP 9 Garden Centers in New Jersey
We are pleased to announce that Goffle Brook Farms has been chosen by AMERICAN TOWNS MEDIA as one of the 9 BEST Garden Centers and Nurseries in New Jersey. Imagine our surprise when we received this news. As elated as we all were; Kurt and Donna Dorsey and the entire staff would like to express our deepest gratitude and thank each and every one of you
Stachys Big Ears
Remember going to the petting zoo with your kids and touching baby lambs? This the feeling of the leaves of Stachys byzantina, also known as Lamb’s Ear. If you love growing perennials, you need to give this hardy plant a try. It is easy to grow, has a lovely texture and the prettiest flowers on tall graceful stems.
Flowers For Hummingbirds
Is there anything more magical than espying a hummingbird, seemingly suspended in midair, dip its long beak into a flower? Sometimes you’ll hear these tiny birds before you see them, their wings making a distinctive whirring sound.
Candy Cane Oxalis Versicolor
Fancy a new look in the garden beds or perhaps within your porch/patio containers? Have we got something for you! Check out these Candy Cane “oxalis versicolor”. Having stunning two-tone blossoms they make for a fun, unique and visually beyond belief addition to any garden setting from container gardening, as an accent/companion plant or as a border planting or rock garden.
April Showers Bring May Flowers
TEN PERCENT OFF ALMOST EVERYTHING (when it's raining)- The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” is a popular saying used often during the month of April. This is typically the time when the last bit of snow turns to all rain as temperatures climb, and increased rain shower activity sparks the beginning of flowers and plants to really start blooming.
Frost and Freeze Warning Plant Protection Tips
Unexpected frost and freezes can devastate landscapes and gardens. They can leave a gardener wondering how to protect plants from freezing, and question what is the best way to cover and keep plants from frost and freeze warnings.
Stop ALL the Presses – Santa Spotted in Ridgewood N.J.
Awaken the good will and magic of the Christmas spirit into your life with a delightful, heart-to-heart Visit with Santa. This enchanting experience for the child in all of us fosters enduring belief while creating timeless and priceless memories.
Poinsettias and Plant Care Tips
If you're looking for a beautiful potted plant for this Christmas season to have around the home, poinsettias are a perfect choice. These plants provide a beautiful mix of red and green, perfect for Christmas decor in any home. Along with their holiday appeal, they are also quite easy to tend to and will last for quite a bit of time. They make for a great gift around Christmas too for anyone who enjoys gardening!
Wreaths
Get your home ready for the return of children who have flown the nest, visiting family, and cherished friends. Growing up in Ridgewood I did a lot of shopping at the little mom-and-pop businesses that were in town. As a kid, this is where I would buy my Christmas presents and learn about money and spending. It was perfect because the stores were all nearby, each had a unique atmosphere, I knew the people that worked there, and sometimes I would even see my friends at the store. I loved this shopping experience, and have very fond memories of finding treasures to give my family over the holiday season.
Splashes of Autumn
Splash your surroundings with modern artistry of festive Autumn colors of burgundy, pumpkin orange, warm yellows surrounded by the foliage of fall with our seasonal color / autumn decor choices.
Mid Summer Lawn Care
If you have noticed many beetles around your yard this summer, you'll want to utilize some type of grub control to control dead patches in your yard. There are many types of beetles such as June beetles, Japanese beetles, and many others that can be easily controlled with some type of grub control. You'll want to eliminate the problem before too much damage is done, and to help prevent future infestation.
JUNE IS PERENNIAL GARDEN MONTH!
June is Perennial Gardening Month. June is the perfect time to purchase and plant perennials. In June, the garden center will feature larger, more mature flowering plants than those available in the spring. June 11th thru June 20th get 15% off your perennial purchases.
Jonathan Green Lawn Care Academy
If you’re like us and you love your lawn, you want to learn the best tips and tricks to care for it. Jonathan Green has created seven Lawn Care Academy videos to teach you about important topics like soil compaction, balanced pH, how to choose the right grass seed, weed control, and fertilizer. You too can have a lush, green lawn.
Crabgrass Problem
The arrival of springtime means dazzling displays of seasonal color annual flowers, blossoming bulbs, and green grass. Unfortunately, with this abundance of Mother Nature’s beauty comes sprouting weeds as well. Crabgrass is one such weed that continually frustrates homeowners year after year.
What Can I Plant Now?
What Can I Plant Now? Planting spring vegetables and flowers is a task many gardeners relish. After spending a long winter indoors, gardeners are anxious to step outside and get their hands in the dirt. There’s a numerous variety of both vegetable and flower seeds that you can plant right now. With a stretch of warm and above average temperatures on the horizon, now’s the time to plant vegetable and flower seeds.
National Mom and Pop Business Day
National Mom and Pop Business Day - Just in time for the weekend, as a local business we are offering a 15% discount savings Saturday, Sunday and Monday (March 27th, 28th and 29th of 2021) on your purchases. Stop in our garden center / farmer’s market and mention this discount offer at the checkout register counter to receive your savings.
Spring Soil Preparations
Wow time flies! We are only a month away from our re-opening for the 2021 garden seasons. There are plenty of different types of soil and it’s important to ensure you have the right soil for the right plants. So get your garden books out and your thinking caps on. Recall what worked last year and what didn’t; but irregardless of whether it worked or not, it won’t work unless the soil is ideal for plant growth.
Starting Vegetables From Seed
Growing your own vegetables from seed is a great way to start gardening earlier in the season. With the right light and some simple equipment, it’s quite easy to grow some seedlings. The main ingredients are a proper growing medium, the right containers, light, warmth, water and your undivided attention.
Ocean Forest Potting Soil
In last week’s “develop a plan for your vegetable garden” blog post we recommended as a potting soil/growing medium our Coast of Maine Ocean Forest Potting Soil. Herein is a summary of that recommended garden product as well as a full review by Gardens of Cascadia.
Develop a Plan for Your Vegetable Garden
We all need to face the facts. In lieu of this health crisis many families are now turning to growing their own vegetables and herbs in home vegetable gardens. While gardening is a fantastic way of life, coming to grips with some of the basic fundamentals can be a tad bit challenging for the newbie. Fret not, Goffle Brook Farms in Ridgewood N.J. can steer you in the right direction for success.
Easy To Grow Herbs with Powerful Health Benefits
Herbs are the leaf part of a plant that is used in cooking – these can be used fresh or dried. Any other part of the plant, which is usually dried, is referred to as a spice. These include, for example, bark (cinnamon), berries (peppercorns), seeds (cumin), roots (turmeric), flower (chamomile), buds (cloves) and the stigma of a flower (saffron). Herbs are a fantastic way to add flavor and color to any sort of dish or drink, whether sweet or savory, without adding fat, salt or sugars. In addition to flavor and color, they each also tend to have their own set of health-promoting properties.
Companion Plants – like a good neighbor
Try to think of your garden beds as your neighborhood. Just as in the area you live in, good neighbors make for a pleasant atmosphere to live within. One helps the other, this one can do that and that one can do this; and we all prosper. Well, plants are the same way…
Its A Winter Wonderland
Starting in November we begin transforming the Garden Shop into a fully-fledged Christmas Shop that's a winter wonderland filled with decorations for both inside & outside your home, gifts for everyone in the family, & gift plants including Poinsettias. From the moment you walk in the door, you’re immersed in the charming sights, scents and spirit of the season.
Ridgewood Landmark Ornaments
Goffle Brook Farm has the perfect ornaments in stock this year, our Ridgewood landmark ornaments make perfect hostess and teacher’s gifts! Limited Edition RWD ornaments featuring Village landmarks including the Ridgewood Tree Lighting, Warner Movie Theater, Ridgewood Post Office, Schoolhouse Museum, Ridgewood Station, Ridgewood High School and the Kasschau Memorial Bandshell.
Help, my flower beds are a smorgasboard!
What’s Eating My Flowers? Depending on where you live, you might be dealing with critters and squirrels nibbling your flowers and eating your plants. So, how can you keep squirrels away out of your garden beds?
A Frightfully BOOtiful Halloween
“The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween.” Our Halloween displays are looking frightfully BOOtiful! Welcome trick-or-treaters to your home with a unique Halloween themed setting created from the decor found at Goffle Brook Farms in Ridgewood. We celebrate Halloween in a big way at the garden center.
The Pumpkin Patch
The staff of Goffle Brook Farms in Ridgewood N.J. love fall for many reasons, but playing with pumpkins is one of our favorite reasons! Coming in so many different shapes, sizes and colors, pumpkins are so versatile and can be carved, painted, used in cooking and as planters; making the creations endless in nature.
There is still time
Have you been debating whether or not to reseed or over-seed your lawn this fall? Well, we’ve got great news: it’s not too late! Fall seeding is always preferable to waiting until next spring! Our recommended product for this is Jonathan Green Black Beauty Fall Magic Grass Seed, containing turf grasses specially bred to ensure a successful fall seeding and can be used on both sun and part shade lawns.
1st Annual Porch or Yard Decorating Contest
Are you crazy about decorating your yard or porch for fall/Halloween? Goffle Brook Farm & Garden Center is having a contest to pick the best decorated front porch or yard. Contest runs from September 25th to October 28th.
Have we got a sweet deal for you
Have we got a sweet deal for you. Frank's Honey is now available in our garden center/farmer's market. Produced locally by Ridgewood's own beekeeper and best selling author Frank Mortimer. Frank’s Honey is 100% pure, raw, all-natural, local honey, hand-harvested and hand–extracted from his family cared for hives. Plus, it’s the best tasting honey you'll ever have!
We Hung Our Prices Out To Dry!
It’s true! Planting perennials in late summer and early fall is an excellent way to get a jump start to enjoy a bigger, more beautiful, and more bountiful garden the following year. While most gardeners are more accustomed to planting in spring, now is also an ideal time to get perennials established in your garden. Plants planted at the end of summer enter a hospitable environment due to more reliable rainfalls and lower, less hostile temperatures.
Autumn Lawn Care
Late August through early September is the perfect window to establish a new lawn (or repair an existing one) with seed. The warm soil insures fast germination and the cooler fall weather that follows mimics the climates these grasses are native to. Grass is a plant and plants need water to survive, especially in the hot and humid summer months, and coming off the August we’ve just experienced we all were more than a little thirsty this year.
Mid August at the Garden Center
Mid to Late August is a collage of colors at the garden center / farmer’s market. The perennials are bursting with a mesmerizing display of hues and colors, accented with the seasonal color of annuals in their most productive stage of flowering before cooler weather sets in next month.
Honey – Mother Nature’s Super Food
Honey, specifically raw, pure and unpasteurized, is considered a super food. Raw honey comes straight from the honeycomb. Most of the honey you see in the grocery store is processed and the pollen is removed and it is a far cry from the health promoting powerhouse of its raw, pure unpasteurized counterpart. At our farmers market in Ridgewood N.J. we have the “real deal“ Nina's Red Barn Farm Honey.
Did you know? – Interesting Plant Facts
Here’s a selection of unique, bizarre and interesting plant facts. I got the idea for this post when my good friend Mags was browsing our website and espied an image of Yarrow on the herbs page. She said “why’s yarrow on the herb page? Aren’t they flowers?” I replied “Yes they do flower, however they are classified as a medicinal herb.” To this she replied “oh, I never knew that. That’s interesting”. We both shared a smile and some laughter over that little conversation. She then said; you should do a blog post called “did you know that”.
Farmers Market Produce
Fresh produce is available in our farmer’s market. Here is our produce availability list. We are looking forward to enjoying nature’s nutritious bounty with you. The food you purchase at our farmers market is seasonal. It is fresh and delicious and reflects the truest flavors. Incorporating a local farmers market into your routine will help you to reconnect with the seasonal cycles of nature in our region.
Kurt Says Water Wisely
Looks like we're in for a run of scorchers the next two weeks. Temperatures climbing into the high to mid nineties for quite a stretch with little or spotty rain forecast. Man those iced teas are gonna quench your thirst while relaxing on the patio. Don't forget your porch/patio containers and your garden beds. Chances are those plants are going to be mighty thirsty also.
A Father’s Day Message to our Founder
A Father's Day Tribute by Donna Dorsey for her beloved father, Richard Osborne, our founder. Lately I’ve been noticing I say the same things he used to say And I even find myself acting the very same way I tap my fingers on the table To the rhythm in my soul And I jingle the car keys When I’m ready to go
Mandevilla
Oh my gosh! What is that? It’s beautiful. These common statements are often heard around the patio during summer gatherings or family get-togethers. Mandevilla has become a common and stunning patio plant. It’s brilliant flowers of reds, pinks and whites add a tropical flair to any landscape and/or garden setting.
Custom Garden Containers
Container plantings are a simple and elegant way to change the look of a terrace, outdoor living area, front porch or entry. With all of our annuals, tropicals, perennials, and houseplants, the possibilities are endless. Be sure to check out our ready made seasonal selection of containers. It is one thing to sell plants, it is another thing to know how to combine them to make stunning and successful combinations that will last for months at a time.
4 Inch Potted Geraniums
Geraniums are one of the most popular plants in the garden. You can plant a mass of them in a bed for a stunning focal point, planted in containers they put on a stunning display of elegance. And when the weather turns chilly, start to move them inside to a sunny window sill and they’ll make a lovely houseplant. And last but not least, they are so easy to care for.
Areca Palm – Dypsis lutescens
A native plant of Madagascar, the areca palm is also known as golden cane palm, yellow butterfly palm and bamboo palm. Being a tropical plant it is only hardy in zones 10 and 11; however it's slow growth rate and graceful foliage make it an excellent container plant
Its a Bugs Life
Implement biological pest control with the addition of beneficial predatory insects to any garden and landscape bed. Practicing sustainable landscaping by releasing beneficial insects provides an excellent learning opportunity for children to learn how Mother Nature naturally builds an eco-system and at the same time reduces the need for chemicals and/or pesticides usage.
Celebrate Mothers Day
Celebrate Mother's Day with Goffle Brook Farms. In the garden center you can select from stunning hanging baskets of Fuschia, Petunias, Ferns, Impatiens and more in a diverse selection of color, texture and foliage. Or perhaps a potted container for the porch or patio from a dazzling display of elegant and unique containers and floral selections
Porch – Patio Containers
Add a stylish accent with one of our unique garden containers that are sure to please any Mother. From crafty wicker baskets planted with gorgeous seasonal color to patio containers planted with cascading and lavish displays of annual and perennial flowers, grasses and accents.
Annuals and Perennials
If your Mother is like mine was then she’s an avid gardener with a green thumb and have we got the solution for you. Annuals, Perennials and Fruit Trees. Let Mom liven up her garden beds and displays with our seasonal color annuals available in flats and paks. Mix and match the paks to create that perfect choice of her favorite colors in lovely flowers.
Decor and Gifts
Celebrate the special mom in your life with a heartfelt garden decor gift from Goffle Brook Farms. Choose from our unique selection of garden and outdoor decor, or select one of our pre-planted cloche displays. We also have unique planted baskets and containers for both indoor and out...
Hanging Baskets
This year we have the perfect Mother’s Day gift: Ready-to-go hanging baskets with a mix of beautiful summer annuals. Perfect to brighten your mothers day! Our lush hanging baskets are filled with beautiful annuals that will last all summer long.
Fuschia Flowers
Hanging baskets are here in a diverse variety of flowers. One that we frequently get asked about is our Fuschias. Such a delicate and elegant exotic flower with striking and eye-catching two-tone colors. Simply put these gorgeous flowers are ideal no matter where in the garden, but have them in a hanging basket and they just profusely put forth exceptional beauty.
Gardening Promotes Healthy Living
Gardening Promotes Healthy Living. Call it the “gardening glow”—working with plants provides serious stress relief and positive sensory stimulation, suggests an experiment done by NASA in 2016.
Bumper Crop Soil Builder
Bumper Crop Soil Builder is the PERFECT Raised Bed Mix. A premium soil builder created exclusively by MASTER NURSERY® Garden Centers, this soil amendment contains only the finest all natural, rich, organic composted ingredients. Bumper Crop® Soil Builder has been formulated with the vegetable, herb, and flower gardener in mind!
Spring Flowers Are Here
With sunny weather forecast for the first week in April and warmer temperatures on the horizon, now’s the time more than ever to get some fresh air and work around the house. You can plan a planting project to do with the youngsters to dress up the beds or add a touch of class to any porch, patio or outdoor living area.
Crotons
Crotons come in a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors. Leaves can be short, long, twisted, thin, thick, and several of these combined. Colors range from green, variegated, yellow, red, orange, cream, pink, and black to a combination of all these. They make an excellent choice for container gardening on the porch, patio, or in outdoor living areas. They work well in tropical-themed containers or alongside annuals in the ground.
Grow a Victory Garden
Victory Gardens, also called “war gardens” or “food gardens for defense” were gardens planted by ordinary citizens during World War I and World War II to provide some relief in the public food demands. As it is now as it was in World War II when the nation fell on hard times, this is the time we can help the nation and ourselves to persevere. With store shelves bare and nutritious foods in short supply, if there is any good to be found in these trying times, let one of them be the fact that we are now in the growing season.
Lets Grow Lettuce
Lettuce is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), vitamin K, folate and molybdenum. It is also a very good source of dietary fiber, manganese, potassium, biotin, vitamin B1, copper, iron and vitamin C. It is also a good source of vitamin B2, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, phosphorus, chromium, magnesium, calcium and pantothenic acid. There are only 15 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of lettuce.
Kids Gardening Club
Fun, experiential learning for kids to share with siblings, parents, grandparents and caregivers during these upcoming beautiful spring days! Goffle Brook Garden Center will be posting a project to do with your children every three days. The first project has to do with growing beans. You can either use beans in your pantry or stop in at our store today and get a free pack (while supplies last).
Its Time To Garden
Now in our 52nd year, Goffle Brook Farms has developed into a full-service garden center offering a quality selection of shrubs, annuals, perennials, roses, vegetables, bulbs, herbs, houseplants, tropicals, pottery, soil, mulches, and lawn care products, and a diverse and unique selection of garden decor, complete with our own “potting shed” for classes and events throughout the garden seasons.
Spring Cleanup
Whoa! Did that winter fly by that fast? Was it because we were anticipating the snow and it never came? None the less, it was still icy cold, windy and at times a tad bit rainy. March has come in like a lamb so it’s time to pull out the rakes, brooms, and wheelbarrow, etc. and do the Spring clean up.
Get Your Gift Card
Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays - Here's a little something to spread some cheer with this season. Get your free $5.00 Gift Card to use at Goffle Brook Farms in Ridgewood N.J. Shop Christmas Trees | Garland and Roping | Wreaths | Poinsettias – Holiday Home Decor and much much more.
The Christmas Holiday Collection
Get your home ready for the return of children who have flown the nest, visiting family, and cherished friends. Growing up in Ridgewood I did a lot of shopping at the little mom-and-pop businesses that were in town. As a kid, this is where I would buy my Christmas presents and learn about money and spending. It was perfect because the stores were all nearby, each had a unique atmosphere, I knew the people that worked there, and sometimes I would even see my friends at the store. I loved this shopping experience, and have very fond memories of finding treasures to give my family over the holiday season.
Why we do what we do
When we first saw this facebook post on Stacie Cahn Greenhouse's Facebook page our jaw dropped. I thought to myself "Oh my gosh, this is exactly what Mom and Dad strived for when they started Goffle Brook Farms 51 years ago. A place where happiness flourishes, where their's growth and friendships made, a place where their is love, kindness and laughter in the air."
Should I fertilize my lawn in the fall? Absolutely! Here’s why and what to use.
Most lawn experts agree that a fall fertilizer application is a good idea in cold-weather climates where winters are a period of dormancy. While lawn care companies and manufacturers of granular and liquid fertilizers recommend fertilization, independent scientific studies from university programs do confirm that late summer and fall are especially good times to fertilize turf lawns.
Apples for Eating and Baking
It’s not my imagination, those crates of apples at the Goffle Brook Farm’s farmers markets are looking might tasty. There’s Honeycrisps, McIntosh, Golden Supreme and Cortlands to choose from. Nothing says nutrition better than freshly picked apples. Apples are a simple, delicious and nutritious choice for a snack or dessert.
Decorate with Pumpkins This Fall
Everyone loves the jack-o’-lantern. Spooky, silly or just plain cute, the carved Halloween pumpkin is a staple for the front porch in October. Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is a popular Halloween tradition that originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland. Back then, however, jack-o’-lanterns were made out of turnips or potatoes;
Spring Bulbs
Daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and tulips are welcome sights for the winter-weary. If you’ve ever looked at a swath of colorful spring bulbs with envy, plant a bed of your own. Fill your garden with beautiful bulbs that bloom in spring
Fall Containers for Home and Business
Ah autumn is in the air, the nights are getting cool and soon the trees will begin to transform into displays of reds, purples, oranges and yellows. Sometimes we lament this passing of another garden season, but why. Instead welcome a new one. Use Mother Nature's palette of autumn colors to your advantage and extend your gardening season by providing color and interest in an otherwise-subdued landscape.
Mums the word
With summer coming to a close and autumn in the air, you may find yourself recalling the many colors of the summer garden beds. Fret not, an easy way to extend the colorful displays of nature is to plant chrysanthemums.
Bacon Honey Sriracha Corn On The Cob
During the dog daze of August nothing screams “grilling season” more than corn on the cob. Fresh, local grown, juicy and bursting with flavor, this summertime staple is a must have at any cookout. Granted you can’t go wrong with butter, salt and herbs; if you want to add some pizzazz to the meal try this twist on corn on the cob using sriracha, bacon, honey and hot peppers.
Super Summer Sizzlin Sale
Our Super Sizzlin Summer Sale is heating up! Save on garden decor, pottery, containers and plants. We have merchandise in almost every department on sale!!! If you want to spruce up your porch, patio and/or beds on the cheap, the best time to buy plants, containers (potted or not) and garden decor is now. Again, these deals will remain while supplies last or through August 5th! So make sure to stop by and visit us soon!
Cherry Fluff Echinacea
Gardeners who love unusual and unique contrasting color take note, this coneflower, Echinacea Cherry Fluff, will add pizzazz and interest to any garden bed. With an explosion of bi-colored blossoms from mid-june through September it will provide interest all season long. The centers of the blossom are bright lime green radiating outward and having pale pink colored petals with contrast with its stunning olive green foliage.
Mid July in the Farmers Market
The food you purchase at our farmers market is seasonal. It is fresh and delicious and reflects the truest flavors. By incorporating a local farmers market into your routine will help you to reconnect with the seasonal cycles of nature in our region.
Garlic Scapes Pesto
Garlic stalks, commonly called “garlic scapes” are available in our farmer’s market. Perhaps you’ve seen them but weren’t familiar with what they are and their many uses. These thin, curly, vibrantly green stalks come into season in the late spring and early summer, and often are sold by the bunch. Garlic scapes are the stalks that grow from the bulbs of garlic plants.
Pollinator Week
Join us in celebrating pollinators! Monday, June 17 marks the beginning of Pollinator Week, a national celebration of the amazing invertebrates that are vital to the health of ecosystems and agriculture. It’s a perfect time to celebrate the birds, bugs and lizards that are so essential to the crops we grow, the flowers we smell, and the plants that produce the air we breathe.
The Potting Shed
New this year at Goffle Brook Farms is our Potting Shed wherein you can create your own stunning containers for the porch, patio, or garden with expert help and advice right at your fingertips. Choose your plants, select your potting mix and/or soil, don't forget the fertilizer, add a tad of mulch to help keep the growing medium moist and if you want to fancy it up you can choose a small unique piece of garden decor to liven it up.
Give the Gift of Gardening
Father’s Day is approaching and this is an excellent time to show the dads and father figures in your life how special they are to you. Whether you’re celebrating a dad, stepdad, grandfather or other father figure, make sure he knows how special he is and what he means to you. Spend the day at the Garden Center: We’re not just a store, we’re a destination for plant lovers everywhere. We’ll be open on Father’s Day and you’re welcome to bring your dad and spend as long as you like enjoying the fresh air, the stellar garden displays, and just being yourself…
Tropical Plants
Tropical plants are plants that originated from the tropical regions of the world and are known for their bold textures, vivid colors and rich scents. These plants are the perfect way to add a tropical flair to your gardens and patios. Tropical landscapes are known for their wide mix of leaf and flower diversity. Our Garden Center is fully stocked and you can find everything from unique foliages and blooming tropicals such as Hibiscus, Mandevillas or Bougainvillea, to Dipladenia and more.
Homemade Herb Butter
This Homemade Herb Butter is a delicious way to add fresh flavor to almost any dish! Many of us already have our herbs planted now that the weather is superb and there are still those planting herbs yet and filling in spaces while its early in the growing season. The other day in my garden bed while applying mulch around the herbs in my raised beds I caught a whiff of rosemary and oregano from my young plants, and oh was it a delightful and enchanting whisper of things to come.
Citronella Mosquito Plant
Citronella (Mosquito Plant) is actually a citrus-scented geranium, which is a great patio plant, especially in containers. You may know it under a variety of commony called names such as citronella plant, mosquito plant geranium, citrosa geranium and Pelargonium citrosum. The plant produces a pleasant smelling citronella-like scented aroma that wafts upon a slight breeze adding a delightful scent to the air.
Late May at the Garden Center
Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, our garden center is bursting at the seams with spectacular displays of colors, hues, textures and foliage; provided by Mother Nature herself. From annuals and perennials for planting in beds to potted container plants for the porch and patio, plus all the garden necessities to ensure your selections grow to their full potential, Goffle Brook Farms is your one stop shopping destination for all your lawn and garden needs.
Gifts for Mom
If you’re searching for gardening gift ideas for Mother’s Day, look no further! A mother who loves to garden would love any of these thoughtful gifts. From plants to planters, unique and stunning garden decor, helpful tools, and more, everyone is sure to find something for their mother at our garden center/farmer’s market.
Easter Flowers and Decor
Goffle Brook Farms celebrates the start of the spring season with a beautiful assortment of Easter flowers. We sell breathtaking lilies, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils that are sure to brighten up anyone’s day! In addition to our individual plants, we have pre-made Easter flower arrangements and baskets that serve as an easy decorating piece. During your Easter flower shopping, be sure to browse the store for all that’s new this season!
Earth Day 2019
Celebrate Earth Day 2019 and get a free pack of seeds to plant. Make it a family affair and involve the children. Earth Day is a valuable educational resource for children to be explored and experienced and what a better place than at our garden center.
Garden Decor and Accents
Show off your style and add the finishing touches to your landscape and garden beds with our unique selections of art to suit any style, from cottage garden to classic estate. Home design doesn’t end inside your home. When it comes to adding style to your property, don’t forget your yard, porch, and patio and garden beds.
Early April at the Garden Center
They say “A picture is worth a thousand words” and we’re just getting started. Just a hodgepodge of what’s new and what’s here this year at the Garden Center.
Patio and Porch
Enjoy nonstop color all season long with these container gardening ideas and plant suggestions. With potted patio plants, container gardening allows you to reap the benefits of a broad range of garden plants even in the smallest spaces
Container Gardening Success
Pots and planters are for more than just decoration – container gardening can be a great way to grow vegetables easily and successfully. Container gardening is also a great and educational way to interact with children, after all what child doesn’t like getting their hands dirty and learning at the same time?
Getting Ready for Spring
February feels like a turning point in the garden. Sure it is still cold outside, but there are signs heralding spring’s imminent arrival all through the garden beds. The garden seems to slowly start coming to life again, after a few months of dormancy. At first glance you sometimes see no change, but upon looking closer, ahh there it is. A tiny stem with an unfolding leaf basking in the late winter's sunlight.
Thank You for 2018
Our sincere thank you for another wonderful year. We are especially happy to see how involved the younger generation is getting into gardening! During the past year we’ve made so many new friends, welcomed old acquaintances, and were blessed with a multitude of memories and smiles and good spur of the moment chat sessions.
Holiday and Christmas Decor
What would Christmas be without the wonderful fresh greens accompanying your house? Thankfully we at Goffle Brook Farm have a large selection of greens and other wonderful holiday decor for decorating your holiday home.
Fresh Cut Christmas Trees and Decor
Buying a real, fresh-cut Christmas tree at a local business is as much about the experience as it is about the purchase; and shopping for one at Goffle Brook Farms is a memory you’ll cherish for years. We have a large selection of both Fraser and Concolor Christmas Trees, all fresh cut and of different sizes to suit all your holiday decorating needs.
Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
It’s almost time. Santa’s helpers at Goffle Brook Farms are getting ready for fresh cut and live Christmas Trees which will be available starting November 22nd for your holiday decorating. Donna and Jen are looking forward with gleeful anticipation to seeing all the new friends they made this summer at the garden center farmer’s market shopping this holiday season.
Thank You Bergen County
Back in the dog daze of summer we asked for your vote and you sure responded. Local moms & dads just picked us as the Best Family Destination in Ridgewood in this year’s Winnie #FamilyFavorites awards!
Autumn Decorating and Seasonal Color
Fall is right around the corner, but backyard entertaining is still in full swing. Whether you’re hosting a mid-morning brunch or an early evening cocktail hour, it’s time to update the outdoor décor to make it festive for the season.
Hawthorne NJ 8th Annual Green Fair
Goffle Brook Farms was honored to be a participant in the Hawthorne N.J. 8th Annual Green Fair. The purpose of the fair is to educate the community about sustainability—social, economic and environmental aspects—as well as buying locally, resource conservation, and health and wellness. Goffle Brook Farms shared a booth with Lincoln Landscaping of Franklin Lakes, promoting native plants in the landscape.
Vote For Us!
Goffle Brook Farm has been nominated as a top family destination in the 2018 Winnie Family Favorites awards! We work hard each year to provide our neighbors and customers with quality, delicious, and healthy foods for them and their families to enjoy each day. We take great pride in what we do for our community, and if you're wondering how you could help us out just by making a few clicks, here's how...
Fresh Bean and Corn Salsa
One way you could use up our tomatoes and Jersey sweet corn is in a fresh home-made batch of salsa! There are so many ways to make salsa the way you like it, our recipe we'll be sharing is black bean and corn, but you can make this recipe any way you'd like by adding or removing the corn, beans, cilantro, and whatever else you might not like in salsa. If you do like all of those ingredients though, you're in for a treat with this tasty salsa.
How do butterflies pollinate plants
But the best part of sharing your plants and flowers are when welcome visitors such as this lovely butterfly pay us a visit for a sip of nature’s nectar in its purest form. Putting on a dazzling display of aeronautics they dart to and fro choosing what color tickles their fancy. The numbers of these pollinators are being reduced in alarming rates by habitat loss, through urbanization and the overuse of pesticides.
Preparing Cucumbers and Pickles
Cucumbers can bring great yields in a garden and it can be a hard task to figure out what you’re going to do with all of them. Thankfully there are a lot of great and healthy ways to gain all the health benefits cucumbers offer us while also making them even tastier in the process. There are many types of cucumbers you can choose from either at farmers markets or when purchasing seeds, but for these recipes we recommend using kirby or persian cucumbers as they will typically provide you with quality, crunchy pickles.
Fresh Produce
There's nothing else like it to put a smile on your face. Shopping at a Farmer's Market. The sights and sounds of customers chit chatting while divulging in locally grown produce. The aromas of fresh fruits and vegetables wafting on a summer's breeze. Children grabbing a grape to munch on when no ones looking. And then there are the benefits...
Useful Herbs in the Garden
There are plenty of useful and beneficial herbs you can grow in your garden. Herbs can be used in many ways, whether culinary, medically, or enjoyed in a cup of tea. Aside from the common uses of herbs, you can use certain herbs while they're growing in the ground. Some herbs can provide protection within your garden by repelling certain insects from attacking other important plants. Just placing your herbs near certain plants can be a great way to organically control pests while also providing yourself with fresh seasonings for many meals!
Plants that are new on the horizon
One of the greatest pleasures I get out of my chosen profession is getting to meet with the local growers and distributors of plants and flowers. Herein is a list of my six favorite new and seldom used flowers for seasonal color and container gardening.
What to do with Easter flowers
So you brought home or someone gave you an adorable pot of miniature daffodils or extremely fragrant hyacinth or maybe you received a potted Easter Lily at church and they produced gorgeous blooms for a week or two. But now what do do with these beautiful indoor bulbs after flowering?
Celebrate Easter
In our spirit; both Spring and Easter are looked upon as seasons of rebirth: the first, a birth into the earth world of the beautiful bounty of mother nature’s harvest; the second, a rebirth into the spirit world.
It is time to garden again
As anyone who travels Goffle Road knows, it isn’t spring until Goffle Brook Farm in Ridgewood puts out its pansy display. That’s been the tradition since Richard and Dancy Osborne opened the place in 1968. Our reopening this year is special, both within our hearts and with our many customers and friends as this marks our 50th Anniversary serving Bergen County.
Check out Our Gardening Calendar!
Timing is a key to a successful garden that produces plentiful blooms or plentiful fruits. Starting and maintaining a garden can seem very overwhelming, as there are many tasks that need to be done during the upcoming spring months. However the winter is the best time to start planning ahead, and with proper preparation, research, and by planning ahead of time, you will have great success in your garden this year. To help you along the way with your planning, Goffle Brook Farm has created a garden calendar for Spring 2018 in the Mid-Atlantic area.
New American Lawn Program
Gone are the days that four bags of fertilizer are purchased in the spring to JUST feed your lawn. Over the course of time we have learned that taking care of your soil is just as important, no more important, than feeding your plants. Okay I am going to get a bit technical here so stick with me. It has taken me years to sum up what I am about to share with you. So here goes:
Perennials, Biennials, and Annuals
One important aspect of gardening is understanding the differences between certain plants. One key distinction between plants includes their life cycle, which effects when you will have to replant. Understanding the differences of plants' life cycles will help you better understand the growing cycles of plants
Fragrant Indoor Lavender
The scent of lavender is one very prominent quality of it, but besides that, there are many other forgotten qualities of the plant. Being one of the easiest herbs to grow, lavender requires little in terms of pest control or fertilizer products and once it's established, rarely needs water. Its scent is very soothing and prominent, making it a great indoor plant just for the fresh scent it brings with it. Its essential oil is also an ingredient in many aromatherapy products, such as lotion, perfume, and candles.
Chicken and Dumplings
While this freezing weather keeps you inside, chicken and dumpling soup is a perfect way to warm everyone in your house up and make the best of the winter. Chicken and dumplings are a hearty, delicious and a classic dish for many. There are many different ways to enjoy chicken and dumplings, so feel free to experiment and add your own favorite spices or vegetables to suit your own tastes.
Closing Time
With the year about to wrap up, Goffle Brook Farms would like to thank anyone who helped out by supporting our business this year. We have met so many great people in the store this year and hope to see you all next year, along with new faces. We loved being able to provide you with fresh, tasty, and healthy locally grown food
Christmas Decor
Decorating for the holidays is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit. For any last minute holiday decor needs, Goffle Brook Farms has plenty of decor you can add in around the home to add more holiday cheer. No matter what holiday style you are going for, we have plenty of varying decor perfect for all and any Christmas needs.
Caring for your Christmas Tree
Caring for a live Christmas tree doesn’t have to be a stressful event. No one wants to spoil the holiday season, but Christmas trees in the home can present a fire safety issue. A primary concern with a Christmas tree is fire danger, often brought on by the combination of electrical malfunctions and, in the case of a real tree, a drying tree.
Christmas Tree Care
Looking for a dense, lush, and green tree for Christmas? A fraser fir tree is a perfect candidate for all of those. This gorgeous looking tree serves for a classic Christmas look and is a perfect tree for decoration. While there are many choices to pick from when choosing a Christmas tree, a fraser fir is the best tree to choose for anyone looking for a large, visually appealing tree this Christmas.
Ridgewood Holiday House Tour
The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood will be holding its Holiday House Tour on Thursday, November 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The tour, which is a charity event, will feature unique homes located in Ridgewood and the surrounding communities, dressed up for the winter holidays. The House Tour is the largest fundraiser hosted
Thanksgiving Honey Treats
Honey is a perfect way to sweeten up any dish you choose this Thanksgiving. Whether you choose to use it on the turkey, the stuffing, or the rolls, Goffle Brook Farms has all the honey you could possibly need for this Thanksgiving and any other cooking needs. The honey available at Goffle Brook Farms comes right out of New Jersey and is absolutely delicious. Spread it on your toast, drink it with your tea, or maybe try it with one of these irresistible honey treats?
Winter Squash Orzo
Winter Squash Orzo Pasta is such a simple, delicious dish full of healthy goodness that is squash. The best part about winter squash orzo is that there are so many different types of different winter squash flavors for you to change this recipe to your liking. For this recipe we will be using butternut squash, but you can swap it out and adjust the spices for any other type of winter squash you want to try in this recipe.
Indoor Autumn and Winter Herbs
With the autumn coming to a close, and the first frost approaching, you might want to salvage all of your herbs this winter. Thankfully, you can! One great option is to move your herbs indoors, however only a few herbs will be able to survive indoors.
Autumn Decor Contest
Goffle Brook Farms is happy to announce that we are having a raffle open to local residents! The winner of the raffle will be chosen on October 25th, and on the 26th or 27th the prize will be awarded. The prize includes a $250 value exterior home autumn decor bundle
Crafting Autumn Decor
Autumn is a great time to decorate not only your home but the interior of your home. This year Goffle Brook Farms has plenty of great autumn decor in store. Along with that, Goffle Brook Farms is going to be teaching how to make pumpkin centerpieces and let you make your own at Goffle Brook Farms.
Pumpkins for Carving and Eating
It's the time of the year to carve spooky pumpkins... Goffle Brook Farms has all sorts of shapes and sizes of pumpkins for this fall season. Pumpkins are not only great as a Halloween decoration, but you can cook many delicious recipes with pumpkin... here are just two we thought we would share for you pumpkin lovers!
Apple Pie Bites
Here's a delicious and quick recipe for miniature apple pie bites. You can make these in thirty minutes, These snacks not only look appetizing but are so simple to make. This recipe uses an apple pie spice which can be made easily at home with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
Outdoor Autumn Color
You might not think so, but autumn can actually be one of the most colorful seasons in some areas. Fall can be hospitable to a great amount of colorful plants. Depending on where you live, you will be able to plant lots of beautiful, vibrant plants in the fall months. So here is a big list of ten vibrant flowers you could add to your garden right now!
Outrageous October Specials
Even though it's fall Goffle Brook Farms is still taking advantage of this nice early fall weather, and has lots of great deals and lots of produce in stock... we have so many great fruits, vegetables, and flowers in store, with great deals to go with them
Autumn is for the Lawns
Fall is one of the best times to start planting cool season grasses in your lawn. Early autumn retains the warm soil temperatures from summer months, which is great for cool season grasses. Cool evenings paired with warm soil will let your grass germinate and establish quickly, making fall the best time of the year to grow cool season grasses.
Caring for Autumn Mums
Whether you decide to plant them now, or planted them in the spring, chrysanthemums are a great flower to keep in your garden through out the fall for it's beautiful and varying color schemes, or for it's many uses in foods and teas.
Mexican Style Sweet Corn
Here is a great recipe for Mexican Style Sweet Corn on the Cob.These are quite easy to make, and make for a very delicious and quick way to use up all your corn.
Down at the Farmers Market
What better time of the year to visit your local farmers markets and help support local food producers than National Farmers Market Week? Farmers markets have a lot of history to be celebrated
Thrifty Thursday
At Goffle Brook Farms we encourage anyone interested in a wide range of produce, fruit, and herbs to come and check out what we have available this week. Right now is a great time to support farmers markets as well as enjoy some organically grown foods. We hope to see you all this week!
Avocado Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are a great as well as simple way to enjoy corn. If you can make pancakes, you can make these. However an even better way to enjoy corn fritters is by adding in some avocado. Adding avocado to your corn fritters will add an amazing smooth creaminess to the fritters and enhance the flavor even more, if you enjoy avocados.
Mason Jar Cherry Pies
If you're a big fan of cherry pie, using mason jars to hold the pie makes for a very quick and just as easy alternative for making delicious cherry pies! These treats are great for a small snack and are just as good as any cherry pie.
Preserving Tomatoes
If your tomatoes are beginning to ripen in the garden, you've probably been thinking of how you're going to preserve all the tomatoes you get. While there are many ways to preserve tomatoes, here are our favorite ways to preserve them and ensure they're fresh for a long period of time and taste great!
Mid-Summer Annual Tips
One great way to enhance your garden this time of year is by adding in lots of containers full of summer annuals. Doing so can help revitalize summer landscapes by bringing your yard together with the addition of vibrant, easy to grow, and inexpensive annuals.
Avocado, Black Bean, and Corn Salad
Here's a great recipe with many ways to enjoy the final dish. This salad goes great with tortilla chips, on bagels, or just eaten as it is. Not only that, but you probably already have most of the ingredients you need for this dish!
Mid-Summer Perennials
There are many flowers that can thrive in the mid summer months, so choosing just a few to plant can be tough. We've picked out four of our favorite perennials to share growing tips on. These flowers are all fairly easy to grow, especially around this time of the year. These vibrant and bright colored flowers are sure to bring nice colors into your garden and attract birds to your yard.
Grilled Sweet Peaches
Grilling fruit is a great way to make an easy summer treat. Peaches are a great choice to grill and serve with ice cream on a hot summer day, here's what you need:
Have a BLAST July 4th
Celebrate the fourth of july with our prices which just exploded at Goffle Brook Farms, open July 4th til 4:30 pm
Growing Three Great Herbs
Starting a herb garden can be a great way to ensure the herbs you consume are fresh, and it can help save you money! But picking a few herb to start off with can be hard, because of how many unique flavors and different cultivars there are. We've picked out three favorite common herbal seasonings to provide growing insight for, so you can get your very own herb garden going.
Summer Plant Care for Perennials
One of the best ways to keep your perennial plants looking their best during the hot summer months is to prune your plants consistently. This is especially important to do at all times of the year regularly, but it is most important following a spring with a lot of rain, as your perennials will grow rapidly, sometimes doubling in size, depending on how much rain you get.
Gardening Gifts for Father’s Day
Father's Day is right around the corner and is a great way to show appreciation for your father, and Goffle Brook Farms has a wide variety of gifts in stock for any father who enjoys gardening. We carry a variety of lawn ornaments and garden decor
Changing Color – Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas have an interesting property that causes them to change color depending on the chemistry of the soil it's planted in. Here's what you'll need to know if you are trying to manipulate your hydrangeas colors.
Cooking with Herbs
Fresh herbs can take a dish from good to great. Imagine bruschetta without basil or salsa without cilantro. These fresh herbs add prominent flavors to these foods and they just wouldn’t be the same without them
Free Soil Test!
We have your lawn covered! Bring us your questions, and bring us a sample of your soil to Goffle Brook Farms (425 Goffle Road, Ridgewood, NJ) on May 7th for a free soil test. We will be joined by Rich Inlay of Jonathan Green, lawn expert, and he will be here from 11am-2pm with lawn care tips, advice, and will also answer any lawn questions you have for him.
Pots o’ Berries
There’s nothing like some homegrown strawberries. They are a fairly simple fruit to grow, they don’t take too long to grow, and harvesting them and then tasting them makes it all worth it.
Good Heavens My Hydrangeas
The winter of 2016 and 2017 was a “hydrangea flower killing winter” because of two things. First of all, it was mild, mild, mild for a long time. But then, after such warm weather it suddenly dropped below zero over one weekend in February.
Hanging Basket Care
Now that the weather is finally breaking and the days are filled with sun and the nights just a tad cool; hanging baskets are making their presence known with spectacular displays of colors, hues, textures and foliage. Hanging baskets, they’ve come a long way and aren’t just for hanging on the deck anymore.
Arugula – its oh so good
Arugula is an aromatic, peppery-flavored salad green. Also known as rocket, roquette, rugula and rucola, it’s delightfully pungent leaves have been cultivated in the Mediterranean since time was recorded. Arugula is very low in calories and is high in vitamins A and C. A 1/2 cup serving is two calories. This is one of those great, simple greens to grow at home.
Regal Geraniums
Regal geraniums, also known as Martha Washington geraniums are a plant bursting with very colorful blooms. They're simply great for any garden, and they're fairly simple to grow even with minimal gardening knowledge. These plants look spectacular when put in any containers, hanging baskets, or when planted in flower beds.
The Gardening Library
Spring is a great time for gardeners to catch up on their reading. There’s nothing as relaxing as laying back in a hammock, having a cup of lemonade, and reading an informative organic gardening book. And they make excellent Mother's Day Gifts.
Easter Plant Planting Tips
Many a Mother is gifted with a beautiful pot of tulips to celebrate Easter. Her smile is priceless and the flowers gorgeous; but sadly, all good things must come to an end and after enjoying the flowers for a few weeks, you are left with a pot of dying leaves topped with wilted buds
In the News
As anyone who travels Goffle Road knows, it isn’t spring until Goffle Brook Farm in Ridgewood puts out its pansy display. That’s been the tradition since Richard and Dancy Osborne opened the place in 1968. On Friday, one week after a blizzard, Kurt Dorsey, plant manager and buyer, laid out the first flowery color riot of the season. “Pansies like it cold,” he said.
Perennials in Bergen County
Perennial flowers and plants are often considered the backbones of the flower beds. Unlike the annuals we plant each year, herbaceous perennials die to the ground at the end of the growing seasons and then next spring they grow back from their same root systems.
Gardening with Native Plants
Native vegetation evolved to live with the local climate, soil types, and animals. This long process brings us several gardening advantages. Native plants provide multiple benefits to people and wildlife, while contributing greatly to healthy soil and water in urban and rural areas. Native plants attract a variety of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife by providing diverse habitats and food sources.
Vegetable Gardening
With more and more families wanting to try growing their own vegetables it is more important than ever to have the best products and knowledge to help them do so with success. Here at Goffle brook farms we carry a wide verity of non GMO seeds, seed trays and seed starting soil. Pretty much everything you need to start your own vegetables seeds.
Why shop at a local garden center
There are several ways to approach the acquisition of plants for your new or established garden. You can shop on the internet and see enhanced plant offerings, head over to one of those box stores and hope Bozo the Clown doesn’t offer you advice, don’t laugh, I’ve heard it happen.
Master Nursery Garden Center
We’re really proud of being a Master Nursery Garden Center. You’ve probably heard us mention it. But, you may not know what that really means and why it matters to you as our customer. Here are a few facts:
Hostas – workhorses in the garden
Hostas - a great perrenial for any garden in the shade. Hostas are great plants for adding texture to any garden and come in a variety of greens, blues, purples, and some variations will have white, yellow stripes. And with so many different sizes of hostas (over 2500!) there is sure to be a spot in your garden for this workhorse of a plant.
Spring Gardening tips for Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses ask so little from gardeners and give back so much. They offer nearly four seasons of interest to our gardens and require hardly any maintenance. That is until it’s time for some spring cleaning in the garden. Most ornamental grasses are perennial performers, and after winter they need to shed their old foliage so they can start growing again.
Crocus – Heralds of Spring
When the crocuses bloom, spring is here. Gardeners know this in their hearts, even though the calendar may say otherwise. There is something about this beguiling springtime flower that sets the emotions astir and reassures those who have been waiting through the long winter that the new season has arrived.
Gardening with Deer
White tailed deer are beautiful animals, graceful and elegant when in motion however to the homeowner trying to grow a garden they can be destructive pests. How is a gardener to cope with these adversaries? A blend of deer-resistant plantings and repellants can help to maintain your garden. Deer-resistant planting is not an exact science. There are a few hard and fast rules because deer behavior and taste preferences vary from place to place, and even season to season.
Impatiens and Downy Mildew
Impatiens are one of the standby color selections for shady regions in the landscape. They are also under threat from a water mold disease that lives in soil, so check those shade annuals carefully before you purchase. There is a tough disease of impatiens (called downy mildew) that is species specific and will kill the plants.
Gardening in Dry Conditions
Gardening in Dry Conditions. No one ever anticipates a drought but some years we go in to the season dryer than others. Here are some tips to help you garden in either a dryer location or during a drought as well as some drought tolerant plants to utilize in your garden designs.
Pollinator Gardens
Pollinators, such as most bees, some birds, bats, butterflies and other insects, play a crucial role in flowering plant reproduction and in the production of most fruits and vegetables. Examples of crops that are pollinated include apples, squash and almonds. Without the assistance of pollinators, most plants cannot produce fruits and seeds
Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable Gardening in Bergen County With more and more families wanting to try growing their own vegetables it is more important than ever to have the best products and knowledge to help them [...]
Orchid Care
Orchid Care Stereotyped as being difficult plants that require the temperature and humidity extremes of a tropical rainforest. Although some orchids do need these conditions, most can be grown under normal household conditions. [...]
