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February 16, 2005

'Tween Seasons...
Here we gardener's are, riding the wild weather roller coaster. Cold one day, warm the next. Mother Nature is teasing all of us who want to be working outside. She gives us a really nice day like last Friday and then turns around Saturday and throws two days of cloudy, gloomy, "it's going to rain forever" weather our way. Needless to say I was thrilled to see the sun on Monday.

I have been out poking around underneath the blanket of leaves in the gardens looking for bulbs and other perennials starting to make their way to the surface. Sure enough there are signs that spring is on its way. Thanks to large amounts of precipitation, lawns are greening up and trees are budding out. Do you think the plants could be as eager we gardener's?

If you plan on attending the Johnson County Home & Garden Show February 25-27 at the Overland Park Convention Center, stop by to see our friends (and sponsors) at Missouri Organic Recycling, Prestige One Landscaping and Water One. Please thank them for supporting Savvygardener.com. Without their support it would be impossible to do what we do.

~ Shelly  

Getting A Jump On Spring...
Savvygardeners know that getting a jump on spring growing means tricking Mother Nature a little.  Cold frames and hotbeds are the best way to do it.  These nifty devices allow you to get your seedlings in the ground weeks earlier than normal.  That means earlier growth, earlier harvest, earlier eating!  Learn how they work (and how to build them) in our feature article, Cold Frames & Hotbeds.  

Get Jumping Some More...
Get an even bigger jump on spring this month.  What you can and should be doing now:

  • Sow the seeds of larkspur, sweet peas and snapdragons where they are to grow outdoors. For best bloom, these plants must sprout and begin growth well before warm weather arrives.
  • Start seeds of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage indoors, late in the month, for transplanting into the garden later this spring. Start onion seed indoors now.
  • Daring gardeners can take a chance on sowing peas, lettuce, spinach and radish. If the weather stays mild, you will be rewarded with extra early harvests.

Source

Cutting Clematis...
It's time to prune certain types of clematis.  These can be a confusing group of plants to prune, since they are not all pruned the same way.  Most large-flowered varieties bloom in mid-June on short stems from the previous season's growth and often again in late summer on new growth. Prune them in February or March by removing dead and weak stems, then cut back the remaining stems to the topmost pair of large, plump green buds.  This cut could be six inches to 18 inches from the stem tips.  Varieties in this group include:

Nelly Moser Duchess of Edinburgh Henryi
Miss Bateman Mrs. Cholmondeley Elsa Spaeth
Lasurstern Dr. Ruppel General Sikorski


 


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Checking In...
Check stored cannas, dahlias, and gladiolus for rot and shriveling.  Cannas, and dahlias can be spritzed with water if they appear to be drying up, or you can add a few drops of water to wood shavings, sawdust, or peat moss and store them in this material to help them remain viable until spring.  Check gladiolus that are stored in the open air for signs of mold or decay.  Discard all corms that have black spots or gummy brown spots at the base.

Don't Dig In (Yet)...
A few sunny and unseasonably warm days may have you champing at the bit to get digging in the garden.  You're better off staying inside!  Our soils are pretty wet right now and any digging will result in "clumping" and compaction  that will ultimately take the fun out of spring gardening.  Patience.

Holey Moley...
Mole activity is becoming more apparent with the recent warm weather. Large piles of soil on the lawn surface are evidence of the moles subterranean mining. Unfortunately, according to the turf experts at Purdue University, control of this pest still depends on trapping or possibly a mole-hunting cat or dog. Techniques such as drowning with water, poisoning with car exhaust, shocking or vibrating devices, poisons, chewing gum, human hair, underground electric fence, or other “sure-fire” remedies simply do not work. Adventurous gardeners that want to pursue trapping techniques can find more details here...

Cracking The Code...
Savvygardeners buying seeds from a catalog can be forgiven if they are confused by all the codes and abbreviations that accompany a seed packet.  These important notes differ with the plant and should be explained in good seed catalogs.  For example, here is an explanation of the abbreviations used to describe a tomato cultivar: 

'Quick Pick' (F1) V FF N T A (I) 60 days. 

  • 'Quick Pick' = the cultivar name 
  • (F1) = the plant is a first generation hybrid 
  • V = resistant to Verticillium Wilt 
  • FF = resistant to both strains of Fusarium Wilt 
  • N = resistant to nematodes 
  • T = resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus 
  • A = resistant to Alternaria or Crown Wilt 
  • (I) = an Indeterminate or vining growth pattern as opposed to a Determinate or bush habit.
  • 60 = this cultivar typically requires 60 days after transplanting to produce a crop.  This is an approximate period that is influenced by local weather conditions. 

Remember, these and other abbreviations will be listed and explained in good seed catalogs.  Take time to pay attention to them as they can be very important to the success of your garden crop!

Source

Finally...
flower arrangement:
just two yellow daffodils,
the first to bloom

~ L.A. Davidson, The Shape of the Tree

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