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August 27, 2003 |
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I Felt A Drop
Of Rain...
It is Tuesday afternoon at about 6:00 PM and the sky if full
of threatening clouds. I am crossing my fingers as I type in
hopes of any kind of rain! I was walking Sam Parker earlier today
and it started to sprinkle. I noticed many of my neighbors
outside with hands raised in the air. Many in disbelief commented
as we walked by, "What is this?", "Can you believe it is actually
raining?". Unfortunately the small shower - if we can call it
that, lasted about two minutes. There,
for a brief moment, it all came back to
me! The feeling of rain, the smell of rain! My senses were
thrilled! Hopefully by the time this newsletter is published the
brief showers will have turned in to something a bit more
substantial. I sure miss the rain!
I have to
tell you that although it is been too hot to be in the garden we
have been watching quite a butterfly show just outside the doors
of our family room. Our butterfly bush has
become home to many delicately-winged
friends. We have thoroughly enjoyed watching the different types
of butterflies fluttering about. We
have even had a few humming birds! Needless to say, the butterfly
bush has been the highlight for this horribly hot month for both
the viewers and the beautiful winged insects and birds.
Don't
forget that cooler weather is right around the corner! Pick your
gardening spirit up, get out and spend some money on pansies,
mums asters and perennials! Fall is the perfect time for
planting!
Hope to be
in a sweatshirt soon!
~
Shelly
Heirloom
Tomato Seeds...
Heirloom Tomatoes have been increasing in
popularity recently. Saving seeds from these
oldies-but-goodies is a great idea but
maybe not as simple as you think. First of all you
need to take some precautions to prevent cross-pollination from
other tomato varieties nearby or the seeds may not produce the
tomato you wanted. If you grow more than one variety of tomato,
they should be planted at least 20-25 feet apart. In addition, a
tall barrier crop (corn, pole beans, fruit trees, etc), or a
continuous pollen-producing crop (squash) should be planted
between varieties to distract the bees. These precautions will
prevent most wind caused cross-pollination, and cause bees to
visit only one tomato variety at a time before returning to the
hive to clean off their collected pollen.
Save
the seeds
from healthy plants with the best fruit quality. Pick the fruit
when ripe, scoop out seeds and pulp into a bowl with a little
water then leave to ferment for 4 days (no longer or some
heirlooms will begin to sprout). Separate out seed from pulp,
rinse the seeds, then dry them on paper towels or a screen in a
warm, dry place with good air circulation (try outdoors on warm
summer or fall days). After 5-7 days, place seeds in airtight
containers (plastic film canisters are good) and store indoors in
a dark, cool, dry place. If properly stored,
your seeds should remain viable for 3-5 years.
Source
Savvy Strawberry Strategy...
It may be difficult to think about next year's strawberries
already but this is a critical time for the 2004
crop. In August and September the cell size of next spring's
fruit bud is determined. The more favorable the growing
conditions now, the bigger the cells this fall, which means
bigger berries in the spring. Yes!
Unfortunately just a week without water can stress the plants and
reduce next year's berry production. Plants require one to two
inches of water per week through the summer. Take extra care in
watering so that the soil does not remain soggy for any prolonged
period of time.
Oak Wilt Worries...
This time of year always seems to bring
lots of questions regarding "oak wilt".
This troubling tree disease can really
devastate our beautiful oak trees, but
thankfully it's actually quite rare.
In case you've got an oak and are worried about oak wilt we've
unearthed an excellent resource published by the USDA Forest
Service. How to Identify, Prevent, and Control Oak Wilt
can be found here...
Colorful Closers...
Mums are a gardener's best friend in the fall. As the latest
blooming flowers they provide color and beauty to a garden that
has otherwise been worn out for the season.
When
choosing mums from your local retailer buy healthy looking plants
that have been taken care of - no broken stems, wilted leaves,
etc... Plants with existing blooms will be limited in their
ability to provide much more flowering. Those with buds about to
bloom will provide you with flowers into the fall. We usually
buy several plants in bloom for immediate gratification and quite
a few more that we expect to bloom over the coming weeks. What a
great exclamation point at the end of the season!
Tater Tidbits...
If you're harvesting potatoes remember that they will
continue to grow as long as the tops are green. So dig only as
many as you need for immediate use. The ones left in the ground
will actually keep better there than in your home.
Making The Cut...
When your plants fall victim to disease one of the first
courses of action is the removal of the diseased portions.
Careful! The same pruners that you use to cut away diseased
foliage can then transfer the disease to otherwise healthy
plants. It is generally recommended that a one in ten solution
of bleach and water be used to disinfect pruners. Rather than
keep a bucket of solution nearby try mixing the solution in a
small spray bottle. Carry it with you and spray your pruners
after each cut.
What's Hot On The Hotline...
Everyone's a little stressed by the recent
weather. Who wouldn't be? Even the trees are
succumbing to the stress of recent weather and other
environmental factors that have accumulated over the past couple
of years. Are your trees stressed? Find out in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
Wake-Up
Sleepy Turf...
If all or parts of your cool season grass have gone dormant
this summer you should prepare for a fall comeback now by
starting a deep watering program. Make sure your lawn gets a
morning soak twice a week and you will be rewarded with stronger,
more lush growth later this fall.
Finally... "Children of a
culture born in a water-rich environment, we have never really
learned how important water is to us. We understand it, but we do
not respect it." ~
William Ashworth, Nor Any Drop to Drink |