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August 25, 2004 |
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False Starts...
Kevin and I thought we would get a jump on re-seeding the
lawn so most of the day Sunday was spent diligently making sure
that the bare spots were adequately covered. Unfortunately it
looks as if we are going to have to start over. Most of the seed
washed away with the heavy rains we received on Monday. The good
news is two-fold, it will be easy
enough to do again and there is still plenty of time to do it. In
past years we have typically waited until the first week of
September but cooler than normal temperatures and plenty of
moisture were the signals for our go ahead
this year. It is nice to know that one of many things to
do on our fall garden checklist is out of the way (or soon to
be).
If you have
run out of ideas for things to plant this fall give some thought
to peonies. Now is the perfect time to plant bare root peonies.
The place to purchase any kind of peony is
Bannister
Garden Center. Owners, Neva & Tony Mistretta, known as the
Queen and King of Peonies, have been
growing peonies for over 37 years. Wow, 37 years of experience
and knowledge. Why would you want to buy your peonies from any
place else?
Rain, rain
go away come again another day. Enough already. We have received
over 2½
inches so far this week and it is only
Wednesday. Some time to dry out would be nice. Tomorrow is
supposed to be steamy hot with a
possible chance of rain again on Friday. It sounds as if cooler
temperatures are headed our way for the weekend. Something to
look forward to.
~
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 2005
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.
Tell Your Friends About
Savvygardener.com!
You
Could Win A $50 Gift Certificate
Details...
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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Despite a relatively mild and wet summer
there remain signs of environmental stress among many of the
area's trees. This is largely due to the accumulated
effects of several stressful summers prior to 2004. Got
stressed trees? Read more in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
Terrific Turf...
Each year K-State Extension rates the
varieties of tall fescue and bluegrass that are best suited for
our area. With grass seed sowing time upon us we thought
you would like to know about the top performers. Note that
most seed is purchased in blends or mixes. Look for mixes
with one or more of these varieties:
Tall Fescue
- Falcon IV, Avenger, Scorpion, Cochise III,
Coyote, Grande II, Picasso, Raptor, Millennium, Finelawn Elite,
Legitimate, and Matadory
Bluegrass
- Moon Shadow, Langara, Sonoma, NU Destiny, Freedom II, Misty,
Award, Liberator, Awesome, Awesome, Champagne, and Glenmont.
Source
Finally... "I have learned that
if you must leave a place
That you have lived in and loved,
And where all of your yesterdays are buried deep --
Leave it any way except slow;
Leave it the fastest way you can.
Never turn back and believe that an hour you remember
Is a better hour because it is dead.
Past years seem safe ones, vanquished ones,
While the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance.
The cloud clears though, as you enter it.
I have learned this, but like everyone,
I learned it late" ~
Beryl Markham, Aviator, 1902-1986 |