Happy Garden - September 25, 2008

This week we have two new articles by Ellen Brown, one about Finding Your Frost Dates and another about How To Make Your Own Sun Dried Tomatoes. Ellen also answers more of your questions and we have tips from readers.

We would love to see what your garden looks like this fall. Feel free to submit a fall gardening tip or photo.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Garden: Yard Spiders

Tips and Articles:

• Lavender Plant Not Growing
• Tomato Plant Leaves Turning Black
• Transplanting Orchids
• Finding Your Frost Dates
• How To Make Your Own Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Link: Organic Mole Formula
• What To Harvest From Your Flower Garden
• Orioles No Longer Visiting Feeder
• Esperanza Bush Not Blooming
• Gardening: Use a Disposable Cake Platter as a Mini Greenhouse
• Reuse a Bird Bath Base
• Reuse Prescription Bottles As Plant Filler
• Take a Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

New Requests:

• Caring for an Arbicola Plant (Peace Lily)
• Killing Grass in Rock Ground Cover
• When Will My Hydrangeas Bloom?
• Making A Cheap Compost Bin
• Red Tomatoes Are Green Inside
• Transplanting Climbing Rose Bush
• What Is This Plant?
• Vegetables For Potted Garden
• Citrus Trees Not Producing Fruit
• Killing Grass Around Spruce Tree
• Weed Killer That Is Safe For Rabbits
• Starting New Magnolia Trees
• Something Is Eating My Garden!

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Garden: Yard Spiders

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Lavender Plant Not Growing

Question:

I need help with my lavender plant. I bought it in early May, an already established plant, Munstead variety. I re-potted it together with rosemary in a nice size pot, because I heard that they are good companion plants. Rosemary is doing beautifully, while lavender has not grown a single millimeter, it looks exactly the same as the day I bought it!? No flowers, no new growth, nothing! It does not show any signs of disease or dying, but not growing either. Please help!

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Zoe from New York City

Answer:

Zoe,

Your lavender plant is probably just settling in and focusing its energy on establishing roots. As long as it isn't showing any signs of disease or dying it's probably just fine. Here are some tips for growing it in containers:

• Lavender prefers a location that receives 7 to 8 hours of sun each day.

• The plants prefer crowded roots, so when you are growing them in containers, shoot for a pot size that is just an inch or two larger than their root ball.

• Good soil drainage is a must so use a light, well-aerated soil.

• Lavenders are fairly drought tolerant plants, but like all plants grown in containers, attention to watering is required. Water your lavender only when the soil appears dry.

• Lavenders grown in containers deplete nutrition from the soil quickly, so mix a slow release organic fertilizer in with some fresh potting soil each spring.

• L. angustifolia cultivars such as Munstead' are slightly larger plants and should either be moved to a larger container or planted out in the garden after a couple of years.

• A light pruning in the spring (before budding) and again in the summer will encourage air circulation and keep your lavender looking good.

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Tomato Plant Leaves Turning Black

Question:

In my greenhouse last year my tomatoes leaves went black and crispy. Now I have noticed the same is beginning to happen again. How can I stop this before I lose my plants? Would I need to disinfect the greenhouse?

A Northwood

Answer:

A Northwood,

I've included some links below to some websites that may help you identify exactly what is going on with your tomatoes. From what you have described, it sounds to me like you have some type of blight problem going on. If that is the case, disinfecting your greenhouse is going to be essential to preventing further spread.

• Repair tears in screens and seal cracks around doors and windows where airborne pathogens can enter.

• Mulch walkways near your greenhouse to reduce weeds and help prevent the spread of soil-borne pathogens.

• Always make sure all discarded fruit and dead plant debris is removed from your greenhouse promptly.

• Sanitize hands, tools, pots, floors, shelves, etc., on a regular basis.

• Wash greenhouse clothing and shoes regularly in hot water.

• Keep houseplants out of the greenhouse during tomato production.

• Tobacco users should be extra careful to sanitize their hands before touching tomatoes to avoid introducing tobacco mosaic virus to plants.

• Good ventilation and proper temperature control are critical for reducing humidity and controlling airborne fungal diseases. To ensure good ventilation, allow several feet of airspace above the plants and use proper spacing between them.

• Prune the suckers just below the first fruit set to maintain good air circulation within the plant's canopy.

• http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1266.pdf

• http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tomatoproblemsolver/leaves/index.html

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Transplanting Orchids

Question:

I am looking for tips about transplanting orchids.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Gaye from High Point, NC

Answer:

Hi Gaye,

Repotting orchids is really only necessary when the plant has outgrown its pot, or the growing medium needs refreshing. This is best done at the beginning of the active growing season so that the orchids have as much time as possible to settle in and establish themselves.

1. Gently remove the orchid from its old pot, taking care to keep the roots intact as much as possible. If necessary, use a knife to loosen the plant from the sides of the pot.

2. Remove as much of the old potting soil from the roots as you can and trim off any dead or damaged roots.

3. If your plant is generally healthy, choose a new pot that is one size larger than its current pot. If significant portions of the roots are dead or damaged, go with the same size pot or even one size smaller.

4. Place coarse gravel or small stones in the bottom of the new pot to ensure adequate drainage.

5. Add a little growing medium on top of the rocks and set your orchid into the pot so that it is at the same height as it was in the old pot. Use a growing medium that is formulated especially for orchids.

6. Fill in around the orchid with additional potting soil, carefully working (not forcing) soil down around the roots. Do not bury the plant's rhizomes. Pat the soil down gently around the orchid so it stays firmly in place.

7. Water in lightly, and if necessary, add a stake to the middle of the pot for support.

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Finding Your Frost Dates
By Ellen Brown

Every growing zone has an average number of frost free days-days between the last frost in the spring and the first frost in the fall. These frost-free days are our growing season. Our chance to nurture flowers, vegetables, and fruit to maturity. For gardeners living in the coldest zones, the threat of frost never completely goes away. For gardeners living in the warmest zones, the threat of frost sometimes never comes. For the rest of us, it's a bit of a guessing game.

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How To Make Your Own Sun Dried Tomatoes
By Ellen Brown

Sun dried tomatoes are one of the most useful gourmet ingredients for cooking. They are also expensive. If you grow or pick your own (or even if you buy them) sun drying them yourself is easy to do at home.

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Link: Organic Mole Formula

I ran across this recipe for getting rid of those nasty moles and thought there's others out there that have a yard full of mole hills like I do that may find some use in it. I haven't tried it yet myself, but if you have tried this recipe or others that have worked, please post a quick note and let us know how it worked for you.

• http://www.humeseeds.com/mole1.htm

By Cyinda from near Seattle

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What To Harvest From Your Flower Garden

Grab some freebies from your garden for next year!

I pick off dried marigold flowers and save in a paper bag (labeled) to plant next year. Each dried flower contains tons of seeds!! Also, you can root sprigs of rosemary and impatiens in water and keep in a sunny window, to plant next year.

Also, look around for pretty or fragrant herbs and flower heads, pine needles, little pine cones and leaves for a homemade potpourri. Just dry (the simplest way is to put them in a basket and leave in a dark dry space. Shake now and then). When they are dried, you can add dried orange peel, cinnamon sticks broken, or whole, bay leaves, etc. then shake a few drops of essential oil (I like cinnamon) and put out in a pretty bowl for your own homemade welcome to fall!

If you have hydrangeas, pick off flowers now, and put them in a basket, they will dry naturally and look gorgeous!!

By Carol from Landisville, Pa

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Orioles No Longer Visiting Feeder

Question:

I have been feeding about four Baltimore Orioles since spring and now my feeder has sat untouched for days. I was re-filling it every other day as they were literally waiting in line to feed, now it looks like they've moved on. I'm kind of disappointed as they really brightened up my backyard. Is this typical?

Mary M. from Wilmington, IL

Answer:

Mary,

Yes. It's quite common for Baltimore Orioles to perform a disappearing act during the late spring and summer. When the birds first arrive in the spring, they seem eager to refuel on fruits. Then after a month or so they suddenly seem to disappear. The birds are probably still in the area, but as soon as they start breeding and raising their young, their nutritional needs switch from high sugar foods like jelly, to high protein foods like insects and worms. Once baby bird season begins, Baltimore Orioles spend more of their time high in the canopies of trees or low in thickets where they are busy "feeding and breeding".

One suggestion you might try is to set out a tray of mealworms at your feeder once you see their numbers starting to dwindle. If it doesn't keep the orioles around, you're sure to make plenty of other backyard birds very happy.

Ellen

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Esperanza Bush Not Blooming

Question:

My Esperanza bush is not blooming. I purchased 5 of these bushes with tiny clusters of trumpet like yellow flowers, 2 months ago. One bush has never blossomed. It is growing taller and spreading, but no flowers! What could be the problem?

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Sharon H. from Bonita Springs, FL

Answer:

Sharon, you did not mention how old the Esperanza bushes were when you purchased them. Plants are like people. Each one is unique and and reaches maturity at slightly different rates. Perhaps your non-blooming Esperanza is still in a bit of shock from being transplanted. From the sounds of it (growing taller and spreading) it's doing just fine. It's common for plants to focus on foliage and root growth the first year or two after being planted. Be patient. Give it some time to sort out its new environment and settle in and it will probably turn out to be the best bloomer in the bunch.

As popular as these plants have become, it can be difficult to find information on how to grow them. Here are a few tips:

• They prefer full sun and well-drained soil (the same as most plants). Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal.

• They can be grown in the ground or in large containers. Poor soil should be amended with plenty of organic matter to facilitate good drainage.

• Container plants should be given a diluted organic, water-soluble fertilizer (20-20-20) every two weeks, and landscape plants fed every four to six weeks.

• Removing the seedpods as they form will encourage plants to produce more flowers.

• Plants can be propagated from seeds or cuttings.

• Frost tolerance varies according to the variety you are growing, so if necessary, mulch outdoor plants or bring potted plants indoors to protect them from cold damage.

• Hummingbirds and butterflies love them.

Good luck!
Ellen

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Gardening: Use a Disposable Cake Platter as a Mini Greenhouse

This is just a frugal idea that popped into my head while doing dishes? (Ha Ha Ha)

I bought a cake for my daughter's birthday and I was trying not to waste anything. So I decided upon using the cake platter and clear plastic lid as a mini greenhouse. I can start some of my perennials in January, so by mid June I should have quite a bunch of plants to plant.

By Alice from Big Lake Ranch, B.C., Canada

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Reuse a Bird Bath Base

Recycle that base from your broken bird bath! Many times I have rescued the bottom portions of those broken concrete bird baths that are out for the trash.

Just turn them over and sink the narrow top end into the ground by using a narrow bladed shovel or a post hole digger until it is sitting stable in the dirt. The solid concrete bases can be used as a plant display stand or you can put a large clay pot saucer on the top for a bird bath.

The hollow bird bath bases can be used for a plant holder by sitting the pot in the base, or fill the base with potting soil and planting a plant in it, or, you can put a clay pot saucer on the top for a bird bath. Use your imagination!

You can also paint or decorate the base before you place it in the ground to give your garden extra zing.

By MaryCrane from Orange Park, FL

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Reuse Prescription Bottles As Plant Filler

I am on several different medications and every month I would throw the bottles away, because I did not know of any use for them, other than beading. The other night, I thought maybe they can be used in the bottom of plant jars, along with rocks. I haven't tried it yet, but I wanted to share the idea before I forgot about it. Take care all.

By Nancy from Dover, DE

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Take a Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

(Originally posted 10/2007 - Updated 9/21/2008) Here are some links to a few pumpkin patches. Pumpkin Patches are great not only for pumpkins but other fall crops as well. If you have one near you, please post it in the feedback and we'll add it to the list. We went to one last year for my grandson's birthday and had a blast!

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Caring for an Arbicola Plant (Peace Lily)

When my husband passed in June I was sent a large arbicola plant (Peace Lily). The leaves have been falling off and the florist told me to put it in a bigger pot and give it miracle grow once a month. We did that and they are still falling off. My plant is getting really bare. What can I do I love the plant. Hope you can help.

Alice

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Killing Grass in Rock Ground Cover

My back yard is landscaped with rocks. Grass has grown through huge patches. How can I kill the weeds/grass? I need a home made remedy. Some kind of solution that I can make at my house. I am not well off.

Cindy from Arizona

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When Will My Hydrangeas Bloom?

When will my hydrangeas bloom? Hardiness Zone: 6a Don from Archbold, OH

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Making A Cheap Compost Bin

How do I make a cheap compost bin?

Casey from Sherman, TX

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Red Tomatoes Are Green Inside

Our beautiful red tomatoes are green and hard inside, especially around the "wall" of the tomato. What causes this? This has happened for the past two years. The tomatoes are practically inedible even though we let them ripen on the vine (or appear to ripen.)

Pat from Traverse City, MI

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Transplanting Climbing Rose Bush

How and when can you move (transplant) a climbing/trellis rose bush? I don't know the name of it, but it has beautiful, bright magenta roses about the size of a tennis ball when it blooms. We have it at the end of our house but want to move it in order to pour a patio. Any advice is much appreciated!

Hardiness Zone: 7b


Leah from Shelbyville, TN

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What Is This Plant?

Does anyone know what this plant is? It appeared in my flower bed this summer. It has very fragile stems and leaves and has just started to get small yellow flowers

Hardiness Zone: 7a


Maxine from Westampton, NJ

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Vegetables For Potted Garden

I'm in an apartment. Does anyone know what vegetables that would grow well on a deck in pots? They would get a fair amount of sun. I'm planning for next year. Also, what are some frugal ways to accomplish it? Dollar store pots, etc. Do most farmer's markets have heirloom seeds? Any insights would be appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 8b


Bethany from SC

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Citrus Trees Not Producing Fruit

We have one each lemon, pink lemon, lime, tangelo and grapefruit tree in our yard. We planted them from 1-3 yrs ago. So far we have gotten 2 lemons and a lime. The trees are growing, just not producing fruit. Do I need to have 2 of the same tree to get fruit?

Hardiness Zone: 10a


Darlene from Southwest FL

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Killing Grass Around Spruce Tree

I have an 8 year old Colorado blue spruce with 2' tall quack grass growing up through the bottom branches. If I pull the grass out it comes back thicker. I cannot dig it up as the roots are up to 15' long. I thought about cutting the bottom branches off the spruce and spraying Round Up on the ground to kill the grass but not sure. Can anyone help with killing this grass?

Denise from Macomb, MI

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Weed Killer That Is Safe For Rabbits

Does anyone know of a weed killer I can use that is non poisonous to my rabbit. I've tried vinegar with no effect.

Chris from Uk

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Starting New Magnolia Trees

Anyone know if and how you can cut branches off a Magnolia tree and replant?

Linda from Bealeton, VA

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Something Is Eating My Garden!

First of all, I lost my entire garden to the severe hail we experienced. I have babied back what plants I could salvage and have been very protective of them. I was able to produce 1 pumpkin that I have promised to my granddaughter, but when I went to check on garden this morning something has eaten the whole side of it off. I spread blood meal all over the garden. They're even getting into the tomatoes, ate the lettuce and the carrot tops. Now what can I do, except raise my arms in defeat? I have worked so hard on this garden this whole summer.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Grammamare from Charlotte, MI

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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More Information:
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