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January
24, 2001
Autumn
Memories...
I hope that all of you had a chance to get outside either
Monday or Tuesday during our warm up. The boys and I set
out with rakes in hand to finish the task we had started last
fall. Of course I get to do most of the raking as the boys
busily jump in the piles that I seem to rake again and
again. All part of the fun. What a great feeling it
was to be outside in the yard. I seem to be the happiest
when I am working outside. The sun, fresh air, soft breeze,
I seem to stand in one place, motionless for several minutes just
so all of my senses can take everything in. I don't move
for fear that I will miss just one thing. That one thing
that I remember from last fall which seems to be an eternity
ago. I am certainly glad that it all comes back because it
makes me whole. Isn't it amazing what a nice Winter's day
can do for the soul?
While working outside I noticed that
things are quite dry. We
are in need of a good rain. If the temps get high enough
don't forget to pull out the hose to give everything a good
soak. Soon the Spring rains will be here to quench the
thirst of the plants that are not getting enough moisture. Until
then it is up to us.
The
Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show is February 9th - 11th at the
American Royal Complex. Be sure to mark it on your
calendar. We would love to see you there!
~
Shelly
How Hot
Is Hot?
As we peruse the seed and gardening catalogs on these cold
winter nights it's easy to be drawn to the allure of chili
peppers. Those of us that like to cook as well as garden
can always find a place in both garden and kitchen for home-grown
peppers. But which ones are right for your taste
buds? Well, a subjective measure, the Scoville Organoleptic
Test, was invented by W. L. Scoville in 1912 and relies on
trained tasters to rate chili heat. A more objective measure of the amount of
capsaicinoids (alkaloids that cause the heat sensation) present in chilies is measured by high-performance
liquid chromatography. Either way, peppers are rated in
"Scovilles" with higher numbers corresponding to more
"fire". Here's a breakdown of some of the more
popular types:
- 'Habanero'
and 'Scotch Bonnet' measure between 100,000 and 300,000
Scovilles.
- 'Thai'
measures between 50,000 and 100,000Scovilles.
- 'Pequin',
'Cayenne', and 'Tabasco' measure between 30,000 and 50,000
Scovilles.
- 'De Arbol'
measures between 15,000 and 30,000.
- 'Serrano'
measures between 5,000 and 15,000.
- 'Jalapeno'
and 'Mirasol' measures between 2,500 and 5,000.
- 'Sandia'
and 'Cascabel' measure between 1,500 and 2,500.
- 'Ancho',
'Chilaca', and 'Espanola' measure between 1,000 and
1,500.
- 'Big Jim'
measures 500 to 1000.
- 'Mexi-bell'
measures between 100 and 500.
- And for
those of us with highly sensitive pain receptors, bell
hybrids, 'Pimiento', and 'Sweet Banana' peppers have a 0
rating.
Source
Savvy
Citrus Crop?
Here's a mid-winter project that is sure to be fun for
Savvygardeners of all ages - grow plants from citrus fruit seeds.
Store-bought oranges, grapefruits, lemons and tangerines, may
have viable seeds. Try germinating them in a light, potting-soil
mixture containing half peat moss. Keep the seeds well watered and in
a warm location. If seedlings fail to appear in six weeks, try
again with new seeds. Citrus plants grown from seeds generally
will not produce flowers or fruit, but they do have attractive
shiny-leaved foliage.
Jade In
The Shade?
Many Savvygardeners grow Jade plants because of their
tolerance for low light conditions. However, while jade will
survive in low light, it needs as much direct
sunlight as possible to look its best. Insufficient light will cause
your jade plant to lose most of
its old, thick leaves and grow thin, new ones on spindly stems.
Not a good trade-off if you ask me.
Pruning
Primer...
If you take advantage of winter to get some pruning done
remember that when pruning large limbs, always undercut first.
This means cut from the bottom up, one-third of the way through the limb,
then finish by cutting from the top. The undercut keeps the limb
from splitting and breaking off, which could damage the trunk and
become an entryway for insects and diseases. Also, don't cut flush to
the trunk. The collar or enlarged base of a branch produces
hormones that help heal wounds.
Is Smooth
Patch Rough On Trees?
Have you ever noticed a smooth, light patch on the bark of a
tree? Certain saprophytic fungi (those that live on dead
organic matter) decompose the rough, dead outer bark of
trees. This results in smooth grayish patches that are
adjacent to the normal, rough bark. Small patches may
expand slowly over time, coalescing to form smooth grayish areas
that are several feet in length. Aleurodiscus oakesii
is one of the fungal species that can cause smooth patch and may
occur on trees such as American elm, sugar maple, and various
oaks.
Some of
these fungi can produce whitish fruiting structures that are
visible on the bark, which sometimes cause them to be mistaken
for serious wood decay. These smooth patch fungi, however,
do not cause cankers or internal decay. They cause no known
harm to the tree.
Source
Winter
Wisdom...
Many gardeners who brought their outdoor potted plants inside
are still facing some challenges as their plants cope with the
change. We've got lots of good advice for those struggling
plants in this
week's Winter
Wisdom...
Be
Savvy, Not Soggy...
Overwatering is a common problem with houseplants.
Remember, most indoor plants should not be watered until the soil feels
dry. Water thoroughly, let the water soak in, then water
again until water drains into the saucer. Empty the saucer
within an hour.
Finally... "The
flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our
hearts well out of proportion to their size." ~
Gertrude S. Wister, Horticulturist, 1905-1999 |
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