How to Plant a Spring Vegetable Garden in New Orleans

Gardening is arguably one of the most rewarding hobbies there is because it allows for such lush rewards. Not only does it require a fair amount of physical effort, it also requires quite a bit of strategic planning.

Depending on the climate you reside in, the weather patterns for the year, the soil you are planting in, and also what kind of vegetables you are interested in, you can certainly customize your garden in many ways.

With a few tips and careful planning, you can maximize your garden space this spring and reap the benefits for months. That is, of course, assuming you don’t have a pest, bug or disease problem in your lawn or garden. Contact us if you have any questions about controlling pests or diseases in your lawn or garden, or read more for our best tips and advice.

Spring Planting Dates (Feb to May)
Though the spring season doesn’t begin until March 1^st, there is ample opportunity to begin your garden work as early as January. A general rule for planting your seeds, is not to do so until after the last freeze of the winter—because frozen seeds will not produce—but with each seed, the most beneficial time can vary.

Even more important is your own climate in relation to recommended planting dates. Northern regions of Louisiana should plant seeds about four weeks after the earliest dates recommended, and Central Louisiana can plan for about two weeks after the earliest dates.

Hardier vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, can be planted earlier in the season around late-February. March is a great time to start adding in more water-heavy vegetables such as corns, melons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin and tomatoes.

April brings even more opportunity as temperatures warm up. Consider adding in okra, peppers, Swiss chard, Southern peas and sweet potato to your garden as you harvest other plants that may be ready.

As you add seeds to your garden throughout the Spring, you will also have the opportunity to harvest the vegetables from plants that were planted earlier in the season. Rework the soil and use that space to plant the later crop in the same space. This will allow you to maximize your garden space and the soil nutrition.

Tips on Planting

Seed depth
Not all seeds are the same, nor is the soil. How far to plant your seeds depends on both the seed size, and the soil type. Smaller seeds must be planted shallower than larger seeds. A general rule for depth is two to three times as deep as the seed is wide. Heavier soils, such as clay for example, warrant shallower depth. Lighter soil may require that you plant the seeds slightly deeper than normal.

Distance between plants
When planting your seeds, it’s easy to try to plant as many as possible, but this can actually do more harm than help. It’s important to allow for space to grow and cultivate your crop. If the plants are too crowded, they will not receive enough nutrients, thus producing mediocre crops at best. Melons and squash need the most space and require about 4-6 feet of space between plants. Otherwise, try to gauge the space based on the plant size, always allowing each plant enough space to grow without touching other plants.

Days until harvest
The number of days until harvest can vary for many reasons. Each seed will have different life cycles to begin with. In addition, the climate, soil nutrition and cultural practices will also influence the number of days to be expected. Check the seed packets for detailed expectations per seed in order to get an idea, but also know that the environment can also influence these things.

Fertilizer recommendations
Fertilizer is a great way to supplement your crops with additional nutrition and oxygenation. Depending on your crop, it is recommended to use anywhere from 2-3 pounds, to 6-7 pounds of fertilizer per 300 square feet. Recommendations are usually based on the pH levels of the soil, and the size of the plants, so be sure to test your soil first-before applying fertilizer.

Planting a garden can be hard work, but is incredibly rewarding when it produces what you’re aiming for. With enough research on the climate, soil, and seed requirements, you can get the best out of your garden each spring. Click here to contact us for any help.

The 10 best restaurants in New Orleans

New Orleans is known for a few things: a raging Mardi Gras celebration, the notorious French Quarter, the failed levee system of 2005, and the food. Situated just at the top of the Gulf of Mexico, and nestled in the Southern part of the United States, New Orleans is ripe for fresh ingredients and rich flavors. Even more so is the unique Cajun and Creole influence on both the culture and the cuisine, making the eating experience in New Orleans unlike anywhere else in the world.

At Fischer Pest Control, we have an insider’s view of the restaurant industry. With more than 50 years of providing commercial pest control for many fine New Orleans restaurants (click here to read more), we are proud to recommend these 10 restaurants as our favorites!

#1 Gautreau's
As if we could request that a restaurant pulls all of the best things about New Orleans into one kitchen, Gautreau seemingly fulfills our wish. The chef only uses fresh ingredients, and as a result, the menu changes quite often according to the season. The Cajun influence provides decadent flavors while its trendy place in the restaurant world keeps the dishes innovative. Be sure to bring both your appetite and perhaps your jacket, as this is a fine-dining experience.

#2 Commander's Palace
With over 2,000 reviews on Yelp, and 4.5 stars, this is undoubtedly a popular place to eat, and with good reason. Commander’s Palace is notorious for treating its guests like royalty, and the depth of flavor in each dish has a similar effect. The menu is classic Creole, but stands as one of the exemplary kitchens in the genre. Try the infamous gumbo for a quintessential Cajun experience, and splurge on the Turtle Soup to join the devoted masses.

#3 August
For a pinky’s-up experience, and decadent French flavors head to August. Described as approachable despite the high-class cuisine (and prices) August seems to be the well-known and reliably delicious place to treat your palate. What is especially great about the menu, is that the wine pairings with each dish seem to only excite its patrons, making it something of a draw in itself. It’s a bit on the pricey side, though, so be sure to come with a big appetite and deep pockets.

#4 Brigtsen's Restaurant
For the best seafood, easily head to Brigtsen’s Restaurant located on the river in the Carrollton neighborhood. Frank Brigtsen takes traditional Cajun-Creole flavors and amplifies them in a unique spin unparalleled elsewhere in NOLA. Order the Butternut Shrimp Bisque for a taste of heaven (seriously) and try your best to save room for the Pecan Pie with the insanely delicious caramel sauce.

#5 Clancy's Restaurant
Clancy’s is every bit an atmospheric experience as it is a gastric experience. With the trendy, whitewashed main floor comes also an innovative and contemporary Creole-inspired menu. The well-stocked bar offers strong drinks, which makes this a popular spot for trendy locals. Though it is trendy and energetic, it is also comfortable, like coming home when you first walk in. Do not forget to order the Fried Oysters with Brie if you want the full experience.

#6 Cochon Butcher
For a more casual eating experience, stop by Cochon Butcher and pick up a few sandwiches. It may be impossible to leave with only that, though, because the shop offers Cajun inspired charcuterie and a plethora of sides as well. The sandwiches are sinfully decadent: order the Muffaletta to get an idea of just how impressive they are.

#7 Bayona
For the ultimate Louisiana experience head to Bayona and get a table on the patio, where the foliage provides the perfect ambiance for this slow-food restaurant. Everything is made from scratch, and creatively so, making the entire dining experience a delectable treat from start to finish. The menu changes daily based on new inspirations, and wine pairings are always seemingly spot-on. It’s bound to be a high-end meal with at-home comfort.

#8 Restaurant R'evolution
R’evolution is known for its creative, and sometimes strange, menu. It manipulates Cajun-Creole cuisine by twisting the traditional dishes into something that can only be found in this high-end Royal Sonesta Hotel restaurant. Try the crab beignets with four different sauces for a memorable NOLA inspired meal. The Turtle Soup is arguably the most popular dish here and worth a taste, as well.

#9 Boucherie
Perhaps the cutest place on this list is Boucherie, a tiny cottage dining room that pumps out big flavors. The ambiance is comforting and many people head here for the hip atmosphere, relatively lower prices (under $20 per entrée, on average) and the funky twists on Southern classics. Order the Duck Confit Po’Boy, and if you are in the mood to try something spectacularly decadent and giddy-invoking, then order the Krispy Kreme bread pudding.

#10 Rue 127
Possibly the cutest combination of high-end and casual can be found at Rue 127. The atmosphere is intimate, but casual, and the food is creative and unique. The flavors of each dish are groan-worthy, but the most infamous dish at Rue 127 is, undoubtedly, the deep-fried cupcakes.

Without a doubt New Orleans has become a competitive foodie central, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Chicago, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Atlanta. The difference in New Orleans, though, is that the cuisine is heavily influenced by the Cajun-Creole culture, making the restaurants even more impressive. Any of these top 10 is bound to impress, so start with one and have fun eating your way through NOLA.

5 Ways to experience Mardi Gras like a New Orleans local

Mardi Gras is by far the biggest and most famous celebration in New Orleans, loved by both locals and tourists alike. The tricky part, however, is to know where to spend your time and precious money in such an overwhelmingly exuberant weeklong celebration.

It can be quite difficult securing a place to stay—or even a place to eat—and getting from Point A to Point B can be a downright nightmare if you aren’t prepared.

So plan ahead, way ahead, and show up early if you want to get the best spots in town during this celebration.

#1 Eat Something
Being in the Southern part of the United States, New Orleans, naturally, has a lot to offer by way of food. Add to that the Creole influence and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and you will find yourself in gastric heaven.

Perhaps the most famous of all the eateries in the area is Café Du Monde, where you can find beignets covered in powdered sugar and the perfectly sized mediocre cup of coffee. Located just off the French Quarter and with plenty of outdoor seating, this place is the perfect spot to rest and indulge, simultaneously.

Don’t forget to pinch some tails and suck some heads- that’s local speak for eating crawfish.

#2 Watch the Parades
The biggest events of all are centered on the parades that run through town. The parades begin an entire month before the actual day of Mardi Gras, with the most popular ones taking place in the days leading up to it. They are called krewes by the locals, and the super krewes are the most popular and popularly rambunctious parades. These include Zulu, Rex, Bacchus, Endymion and Orpheus. Show up early (as in, several hours early), grab a spot for viewing and wait for the spectacle to begin. It will undoubtedly be the highlight of your Mardi Gras experience.

#3 Dress Up
Outside of Halloween, Mardi Gras is one of the other days that not only allows for unwarranted costumes, but also actually encourages extravagant dress up. After many of the parades are after-parties, and many of them may even require a costume.

So start thinking about your attire, now, and plan accordingly. Bring a (cheap) camera and take pics of all the interesting and creative costumes you see!

#4 Catch Beads
Perhaps the most notorious part of Mardi Gras is the never-ending bead throwing.
While it has been said that one must flash the parade members for beads, this is not true. Simply hold out your hands, wear your biggest smile, and wait for the outpouring.

Each parade has dozens of floats, and each float is littered with dozens of people, each holding hundreds of beads, all to be thrown into the crowd. Don’t pay for beads, in any manner, and enjoy your growing collection.

#5 Adults Head to the French Quarter
While Mardi Gras is incredible fun for the whole family, there comes a time when the children must stay home. This is definitely true for the French Quarter, as well.

Though it is certainly loads of fun, it is for adults.

There is a lot of promiscuous behavior, plenty of drunk people, and a little bit more crime than in the other areas of the city.

Considering that most travelers head to New Orleans to check out the debauchery at one point during Mardi Gras this seems like the perfect place to explore when you’re ready: just leave the kids at home.

Whether you’re a local, or a tourist, you can easily enjoy the best that New Orleans has to offer during Mardi Gras. The key is to become familiar with the layout of the city (i.e. safe areas versus seedy areas), plan way ahead, make reservations, and stay hydrated. Things book up months in advance, so be sure to start early. If you do follow these 5 tips, then you will certainly see the city with the same enamored eyes the locals do.

Fischer Pest Control is proud to be a part of the local New Orleans community for more than 50 years. We hope to find this guide helpful and we’ll see you out at the parades in the metro area!

5 Top New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades

New Orleans is undoubtedly known best for its Mardi Gras celebrations. Though worlds over can certainly identify New Orleans as the Mardi Gras destination, there still seems to be a bit of information lacking as to what the celebrations actually are.

The parades—or more locally known as krewes—are listed as the most common ways to celebrate. In fact, there are many krewes that star in the celebrations, each with their own unique historical significance. This makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans a historical celebration, just as much as pure entertainment.

Here are 5 of the top krewes (or parades) to see.

#1 Rex
If you ask any of the locals which parade takes precedence in New Orleans, they will likely name the Rex parade. The Rex Organization was founded in 1872 for the sole purpose of bringing more order to the rambunctious parades that had come to take over New Orleans. The Rex is responsible for donning the flamboyant regalia of a pseudo-king in the traditional Rex colors of purple, gold and green. Complete with the Rex parade, is an elegant Rex ball that draws equally tantalizing attention throughout the Mardi Gras celebrations. If you can’t snag a coveted invitation, then you can view the ball as it is streamed live on local television.

#2 Orpheus
The Krewe of Orpheus is the newest parade to hit New Orleans. Harry Connick Jr. and his father founded the parade in 1993 in order to honor the Greek mortal Orpheus, who was known for his powerful musical talents. His musical talents, it is said, could calm the world over, and overcome any task at hand. In a twisted love story where Orpheus ironically loses the love of his life after using his music to save her, his name has become synonymous with music. The benefit as a parade-goer is that it takes place on Lundi Gras, or the Monday before Mardi Gras, allowing you the opportunity to attend it, as well as a traditionally held Tuesday parade.

#3 Bacchus
The Krewe of Bacchus is most notably the party parade, as the name itself honors the Roman god of wine. It was the first krewe to introduce celebrity riders in the parade, and recently invited the fictional and egregiously flamboyant character Ron Burgendy to host the event. The Bacchus also is known for its over-the-top floats, including the Bacchasaurus (a giant dinosaur), the Baccawhoppa (a large whale) and the more recent addition of the Baccamore, a love-themed boat. The parade is traditionally held the Sunday evening before Mardi Gras, drawing massive crowds, and even grander participation of over 1,400 members each year.

#4 Thoth
Another parade that is held on the Sunday before Mardi Gras is the Krewe of Thoth. The parade is the only one to maneuver the more narrow streets of New Orleans, as is true to tradition, in order to pass by the institutions that house the elderly and ill person that would otherwise miss out on most of the parades in town. Though originally created in order to bring the festivities to those that couldn’t easily attend, the Krewe of Thoth has grown into one of the biggest attractions in the weeklong Mardi Gras celebration.

#5 Endymion
Perhaps the largest and most popular Krewe of all is the Krewe of Endymion. It is notoriously the parade with bragging rights for bringing the most enviable celebrities in to lead as honorary grand marshals. The parade is held the Saturday before Mardi Gras, and following the parade is the Endymion Extravaganza which, this year, will have Pitbull and Steven Tyler as the entertainment. For obvious reasons this is said to be the highlight of Mardi Gras 2016.
Though Mardi Gras literally translates as “Fat Tuesday” and is centered around the beginning of Lent, a time of fasting before the Christian holiday of Easter, Mardi Gras celebrations have expanded far beyond the single day. In New Orleans, in particular, Mardi Gras has developed an identity on its own, drawing thousands of people each year. It is a spectacle, to be sure, and if you absolutely have to choose only five parades to attend this year, then these five will surely show you the best of Mardi Gras.

Fischer Pest Control is proud to be a part of the local New Orleans community for more than 50 years. We hope to find this guide helpful and we’ll see you out at the parades in the metro area!