Go Gardening and Nature

sunflower

retired outlaw — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:58:51

the other day there was a pic. in local paper of sunflower with many heads i just counted the heads on my single plant i have 35 on mine,i guess same story bout planting 3 years ago we planted some in planter ,last year bout 6 or 7 came up from seeds dropped on ground ,this year only 1 with many heads

tomato blight

cruisin momma — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:33:47

Has anyone heard what the status of the blight is this year? I spray my plants with a fungicide and I clipped all the lower leaves off today and retied my plants up so that air can circulate around them. I hope this helps as I lost every plant last year and really need to restock my shelves.

Crab apple tree needs help.

un4given_sin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:17:37

Ignorant kids attacked my crab apple tree with a hatchet, and peeled a few places down to the white part. Any way I can help it heal faster? Thanks.

hoya

dyna99 — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:48:03

I captured a picture of my hoya in bloom.......this plant is over 20 yrs old and this is only the 2nd time it has bloomed..........and only 1 bloom each time.....what should I be doing to get more out of this plant? I do have a start of it hanging outside on my porch.......this plant that gave birth to the bloom is too big to keep moving in and out........

Bush Honeysuckle

Petee — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:48:56

Here's a picture of the plant and the fruit:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/bush_honeysuckles.htm

Yes, it wil make you sick. Find the Autumn Olive instead and enjoy!

asparagus

Big TO — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:59:05

I planted asparagus sets sometime ago, and I've got spindly plants about 16" high. Should these be staked? Should I cut these back? Help!!!! I need guidance!!!!!!!

Rabbit problems

climrick — Mon, 5 Jul 2010 21:34:29

Anybody have any ideas on how to keep rabbits out of a garden? I have a fence (they dig under it), tried deer and rabbit repellant (works for a day or two). I've been trying to give them a taste of lead, but i swear for every one I kill, two more show up!

Hens and chicks ( plant)

rank63 — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:19:30

Anyone ever have them do this before grow upwards? I even enlarged the bed for them this year and they are growing up and not spreading outward like the past 3-4 years

wild garlic

steelergirl — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:09:29

I have, what i thought were wild onions..... now that i have let a patch grow i now know they are wild garlic.
I'm a little excited because i LOVE LOVE LOVE garlic....

Anyone know much about it? is it good to eat? can i plant it in a pot for next year and expect it to grow?

any info you can give me would be appreciated!

Another mystery plant

Petee — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:45:39

Several teeny pots of this plant were delivered to my house but the name I was given is a nickname for Virginia Creeper. This is a really teeny charmer that I'm happy to have.

Killing a Morning Glory?

old3dogg — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:14:12

I have sprayed this thing with tons of weed killer. I've pulled it out of various places and even burned parts of it.

It wont die!

Help.

Mystery Plant

Petee — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:26:21

OK all, I bought this years ago, know its name and can't think of it. I was going to rip it out but it finally bloomed!

Permanent Plant Markers?

Petee — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:51:46

Does anyone have a good suggestion for making PERMANENT plant markers that will not fade out over the winter? We've been doing the venetian blinds with a heavy permanent marker but it's still a total blank in the spring. Then till it blooms again and is identified we have no idea what's what.

Iceland Volcano

Petee — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:09:19

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html

I wondered why there would be lightning in a volcano? Apparently the scientists wonder too!
http://geology.com/articles/volcanic-lightning/

Ants..

rank63 — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:54:56

How can I keep them off the hummingbird feeders already have tehm suspended from out on tree braches by a piece if wire.

Mother elephant kick-starts baby

Petee — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:12:36

Fabulous video! Mothers will understand better than men.
http://videosift.com/video/Elephant-Gives-Birth-and-Kick-Starts-Baby-Breathing

Hardier Crape Myrtle

Petee — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:04:36

http://henryfields.com/product.asp?pn=10596&bhcd2=1276549278

Yes, there are varieties bred to withstand more cold, and Brookville is definitely warmer than DuBois. However, DuBois is generally Zone 5 and these are only hardy to Zone 6 so my guess is that your plant is something different or they were planted in a very sheltered location, or might be a plant that just looks like Crape Myrtle.

Korean Tree Lilac

Petee — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:24:40

This is my next acquisition:

http://www.naturehills.com/product/tree_form_dwarf_korean_lilac.aspx

As far as I know they come in white and pink.

Rhubarb

Big TO — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:43:59

Does anyone in the area sell Rhubarb sets? How about asparagus sets?

Anise Hyssop

Petee — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:16:20

Plunked it here so I can find it again:

Hyssop Purple Haze , Agastache 'Purple Haze', brings a new color palette with its long racemes of smoky blue violet flowers that rise above aromatic foliage. The striking color is the darkest we have seen for an Agastache. 'Purple Haze' blooms prolifically from July until a hard frost! It remains compact in a container with an early pinch. 'Purple Haze' is very tolerant of heat and dry conditions and prefers well-drained soil. The name originates from the Greek word aga, meaning "very much," and stachys, meaning "spikes," referring to the many flower spikes. One of the easiest and most rewarding perennials to grow, this award winning 'Purple Haze' is a tremendously long bloomer. It is useful for adding a spot of color to the garden late in the season when many other plants are finished. Its foliage smells distinctly like black licorice when crushed, thus its common name, Anise Hyssop. If you'd like to restrict the height of this tall perennial, pinch back its blue-green foliage in spring before the flower buds are formed.

Plant Facts:Mature Height 2 to 3 feet
Mature Spread 1 to 2 feet
Soil Type Well drained
Moisture Moderate
Mature Form Upright
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full sun
Flower Color Blue violet
Foliage Color Green
Zones 6-9

What kind of bird?

Tiramisu — Sun, 6 Jun 2010 16:22:17

I haven't seen him before.

What are these flowers?

crazysmom — Sun, 6 Jun 2010 13:06:54

These are growing in the front yard of our project house.

They came up on their own this spring, and they seem to spread. They get pretty little lavender flowers on them.
They bloom in the morning, but when the summer comes over in the afternoon and it gets hot, they close up.
They also close up at night.

Middle School Green House Club

dsmyhubby — Sat, 5 Jun 2010 19:51:00

A great big THANK YOU to the teachers and students who grew the plants in the green house behind the school, and then took them around town to plant them at various businesses. I know the day they walked around town doing it was brutal hot..one of those 90+ degree days, but they all made it work! What great kids and what a great service for the community!

American Swallowtail Caterpillar photo

Petee — Fri, 4 Jun 2010 22:17:32

Thank you to Bon who provided the ID and info for our find at the BUDS plant sale. Some people were looking at the Dill and found him.

Black swallowtail

Common Name: Black swallowtail
Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll
Order: Lepidoptera
Description: The black swallowtail is a black butterfly with yellow markings near the margins of the forewings and hindwings and more limited blue and red markings on the hindwings. Its wing span can reach 4 ½ inches. Full grown parselyworms or caterpillars can reach 2 inches in length and are smooth and green, marked with black bands and yellow spots.

The black swallowtail mimics the bad tasting pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor (Linnaeus), which is all metallic black-blue on the upper surface of the wings, lacking the yellow and blue markings. Caterpillars feed on pipevines, Dutchman’s-pipe and Virginia snakeroot.

Life Cycle: Winter is spent in the chrysalis (pupa) stage. Adults emerge in the spring and seek host plants. Females lay round, yellow to cream colored eggs on the leaves. Caterpillars hatching from eggs are initially black with a white saddle. After molting several times, each larvae transforms into a pale green chrysalis that is suspended from a plant stem by a thread.

Habitat and Food Source(s): Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. Host plants of the caterpillar include members of the parsley family (Umbelliferae) including carrot, parsley, dill, fennel and Queen Anne's lace and some members of the Rutaceae (Ruta graveolens and Thamnosma texana). This caterpillar is bad tasting to birds and other predators because of toxins absorbed from the host plants. Like other larvae of swallowtail butterflies, parselyworms have a defensive structure, called an osmeterium, right behind the head. This structure is usually concealed. However, when disturbed this "Y" or "V" shaped organ is inverted. It emits a strong odor that is apparently distasteful to predators. This butterfly is easy to attract and raise by planting dill or fennel in your vegetable garden.

Pest Status: Caterpillars feed on dill, fennel and some other plants; medically harmless.

For additional information, contact your local Texas AgriLife Extension agent or search for other state Extension offices.

Literature: Howe 1975. Wright 1993.

Tomatoes going fast!

Petee — Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:06:47

I thought I would have hundreds of tomato plants left over to give away but it appears they are now going out in droves, so tomorrow may be the last day we have the large plants. After that it will be smaller but just as viable plants but not as many varieties we had in the beginning.

Chocolate Peppermint

Petee — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 12:07:13

Someone asked me about this plant:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56869/

butterfly bush

dyna99 — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 21:03:41

I am looking for one, but dont know the real name so I can have a friend order one......can anyone help?

All I know is that this bush attracts butterflys, and I so want one for my rock garden! TIA......

my holly bush!!

Bon — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:31:22

The rabbits have been eating our holly bush for the past 2 winters. It is really bad this year. What can we do???? Besides take out the rabbits. I bought the blood stuff, and I bought liquid fence. haven't used the fence yet. Does it work?

African Violets

Jennifuel — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:06:39

Hey all! I received an african violet as a gift.  It is a pretty mature plant that used to be in my grandmother's house, then my mothers and now *sigh* in mine.  I am pretty novice when it comes to plants. I have managed to keep a few plants and herbs alive in my kitchen window but I am learning as I go.

Rather than get generic info off the web, I know there are many very knowledgeable people on here I hope can help me with real experiences, tips and tricks.  How much sun do they need?  How often should I water and do I need to feed it special plant food? There are no blooms on it and I do not remember seeing any in some time.  Anything I can do to get it to bloom again?

Thank you for your help in advance   I REALLY don't want to be the one to kill Grandmom's plant lol

Problem(?) with our pond water

kanimal — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:40:34

Once again, I feel there's something wrong with the water in/coming in to our pond(have some yr.old bull frog tadpoles floating ! The fish ,we have 3 "Koi"(sp?)and the big frogs are fine. I can't find the phone number for water analysis.Thank you !

Blooming pictures!

Petee — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:50:35

I was shocked to see the Chinese Tree Peony blooming so early, and then it got all covered by snow that made it look silver. I doubt the picture did it justice.

Anyone know why my Microsoft Photo Editor won't open? This is full size because I can't resize it!

Wildflower I.D.

junk — Sat, 8 May 2010 03:10:08

I cant find any info on this wildflower I found near Parker Dam . Very small , flower is maybe 1/2" across with plant standing only maybe 6" high.

Old fashioned ground cover name?

Petee — Thu, 6 May 2010 16:07:21

Does anyone know the name of the old fashioned ground cover that you sometimes see on banks. There is some on Maple Avenue in the Oklahoma section. I'll have to look to see which house it's at. It's a foot or more tall, has light green foilage, yellow flowers, and could almost be mistaken for wild mustard.

Transplanting extras

Petee — Wed, 5 May 2010 21:27:20

The BUDS Gardeners will be holding the annual plant sale on the last weekend of May and the first weekend of June, plus there may be some extra sale days in June.

If you are transplanting and have extras that you would be willing to donate, then please let me know.  I will come to get them, and I will even help dig easier plants such as Hosta.  We always have a huge demand for them.  You can also drop them off in the donation box on the left front porch of the DuBois Medicine Shoppe on Park Avenue in DuBois.  I can't dig the harder stuff because I still have one knee that needs replaced but I can haul!  Please give me a call to let me know if you leave anything live because I will want to get it before the sun gets hot.

Every penny of what we earn goes back into the projects in DuBois.  We're hoping to add some huge planters this year but they are expensive.  We will get free shipping but the initial cost is high.

Our website is new and isn't complete but if you would like to see some of our past projects then take a look at http://www.budsgardeners.com

We are working to make the city better for everyone.  Children are always welcomed at our meetings too!   Check the website for meeting dates.

woodpecker

Tiramisu — Tue, 4 May 2010 23:48:57

I keep moving my trail cam around and today I put it on the birdfeeder. This guy is quite the acrobat.

Strawberries?

Victoria — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:22:40

I want to do strawberries on my porch. Any tips or pointers? Should I buy a plant or plant seeds?

Pruning?

old3dogg — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:22:02

Would it be okay to prune my apple tree this time of year? It already has blossoms on it.

I heard one should only prune during months that end in "r". True or old wives tell?

I was out mowing and noticed the tree needs shaped up.

Thanks.

Peregrine Falcon live cam at nest in Pittsburgh

Seuly — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:43:30

http://www.wildearth.tv/web/nav-per-campus?streamId=nav-per-campus

There is a chat where you can keep up with the latest news and find out more info.

There are also hotspots listed under the chat, where you can quickly view previous video highlights.

Here is more info about these Peregrines: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/category/peregrines/

Garders What Kind of tree is it?

rank63 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:10:51

Ok GoDuBois gardeners, we have lived here 16+ almost 17 years this tree has bloomed in our yard every year. We have yet to actually know officially what it is. some say flower almond. bark almost looks birch family. never gets any fruit or pods or anything other than these pink flowers and once they are gone just green leaves.

corn amount

mcac — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:41:00

I have a 100x30' plot. anyone know how much sweet cor i will need?

What should I plant here?

eimilesmom — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:01:30

I have a new little fountain, the two openings next to the place the water pours into are for plants. Covered porch, partial shade. There is a lot of splash over from the fountain so whatever I plant will get a good bit of water. Suggestions? My only guess is that ferns would do well but I really want flowers.

Ants

wildflowerpa — Fri, 9 Apr 2010 21:50:38

My flowers are coming up and blooming amist this stupid snow. But under the rock border there are thousands of little black viscious ants. Fpr little critters they sure bite hard Now they are coming into the house. Any suggestions on what to use? I was using Terro but it doesn't seem to work on these ants. I need something that is safe for animals to be around. don't want my snoopy furbabies getting sick.

Tips for Healthy Tomatos

junk — Fri, 9 Apr 2010 17:34:54

Penn State Expert Offers Tips on Growing Healthy Tomatoes

April 4, 2010

UNIVERSITY PARK – Last year an epidemic of late blight disease on tomatoes not only forced many home gardeners to throw out their plants, but also threatened the crops of thousands of growers throughout the state. Along with cool, wet weather, the distribution of infected plants through big-box stores spurred along the widespread outbreak.

Led by Beth Gugino, Penn State assistant professor of plant pathology, the University responded with targeted, timely information to Extension educators, growers, master gardeners and the media. Among the advice was to throw out the plants and move on — eating a tomato from an infected plant is generally discouraged, and canning carries the risk of botulism.

With springtime approaching, Gugino offers some tips that home gardeners can start thinking about now.

– Kill the Potatoes. The disease hits spuds, too, and while the winter will kill off any infected tomato plants, potato tubers can survive the cold and therefore, so can the pathogen. Make sure potato plants are pulled up and thrown out in the trash (if composted improperly, the potatoes can be a source of the disease this year).

– Rotate crops. Arrange your garden so that you rotate out of a plant family for two to three years. For example, the nightshade plants include eggplants, tomatoes and peppers. “The idea behind rotation is that many pathogens tend to be problems on multiple members in a given plant family, not just individual crops,” said Gugino.

– Avoid Overhead irrigation. It’s best to water from below to keep leaves as dry as possible. This helps prevent the spread of the fungus as well as other common tomato diseases. If you only have access to overhead irrigation, water by mid-morning so leaves dry quickly.

– Plant healthy transplants. There was a gardening boom last year (seed companies reported an increase in sales) and infected transplants were sold. Look at transplants for unhealthy characteristics such as pale green or brown lesions.\

Melissa Kaye, Penn State University

Bumble bees

monroefiles — Wed, 7 Apr 2010 13:52:50

When we moved into our house over a year ago, there was a flower bed next to the back porch. The porch was concrete and we have since built a deck over top. I dug up the bulbs and planted them out front.

Now we have a huge bumble bee (those green/yellow ones) that just hovers over the deck. Do bumble bees go to the same flower bed year after year? It really seems like he's flying around scratching his head thinking to himself, "I KNOW there were flowers here...where the heck did they go?" I watched him for at least an hour yesterday. He'd fly off really quick and be back with in 5 minutes and just buzz around in a lazy circle. Very strange. There are other bumbles of the same kind and they aren't putting on this display of behavior. Weirdo.

Is there any way to get him to go some where else? hubby says they won't bug you if you don't bug them...but my luck I'd walk out the back door and run right into him.

Lavender...Daisys?

steelnut — Sat, 3 Apr 2010 20:41:03

I need your help again!
Hubby made me another flower bed and I would love to do daisys. Are Shasta daisys the only true perennial?
If so, I'll have to re-think it, I just love daisys, but I love color too.

Btw, re-thought the idea of going dormant for a year with the garden, just couldn't do it. We got the onions and peas in today!
I love spring!!!

When to till the garden

Petee — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:08:58

Tilling your garden is a mixed bag of opinions. A lot of it depends on what approach you're going to take on gardening and the amount of square footage you're going to plant.

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm

Pine Needle Mulch

Petee — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:06:26

http://www.ehow.com/how_2150271_mulch-garden-pine-needles.html

I haven't seen it sold around here because most of it is bagged from Florida pines and it doesn't make much sense to ship it this far when you can make a neighbor happy by raking theirs. You'll also have less chance of importing some pathogens that only live in warmer climates.

Gardening newbie

Her78TA — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:03:15

With all the talk about leading a healthier lifestyle and saving money, I have decided I would like to start a vegetable garden. I know absolutely nothing about growing vegetables! I know the first step is getting the ground ready, but after that, I'm clueless. All you gardening pro's out there, please lead me in the right direction. Thank you!!!

BEST POTTING SOIL ???

Zilch1 — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:31:41

I am going to try planting tomatoes upside down in 5 gallon plastic containers. Go to youtube and search "upside down tomato plants" to see how to do it. I was wondering if anyone can recommend what kind of bagged soil to get. Should I get cheap potting soil at $2.50 per bag and amend it of get a brand name soil for $5 to $7 per bag. I was trying to keep costs down if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Poinsietta WHat to do with it now?

molly — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:44:34

May sound silly, but my husband bought me a small one at Christmas. The stems are still very healthy and the leaves have almost all fallen off. Can they be planted outside here or should I but it in the basement until next winter>>> helo I dont want to kill it now, LOL

Peach Tree

Greg — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:55:59

Which to plant??

1. Crest Haven
2. Red Haven
3. Reliance

Cat poo =(

monroefiles — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:23:07

I have a flower bed outside the front of the house by the porch.

The neighborhood cats like to poop in it. Gross. Plus I am pregnant and I can't be breathing it anyways.

What is a good deterant to keep them from pooping in there without being harmful to the flowers and our two dogs?

Train through a Tornado

Seuly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:18:55

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azV5bC2br-Q&feature=rec-fav-watch-cur_emp-exp_stronger_r2

Trains nowadays mount cameras in their cabs, facing forward and backward, the same way police cars do. This video is a rearward camera.

This is video of a train that ran through a tornado. Be patient as the video runs a bit before the action.

First there is the normal rearward view from the last of three engines, with the trees looking normal. Then you begin to see rain, and then, halfway through the video the trees begin to sway violently and branches are flying . . . and then "it" begins. (Amazing...)

More info & pics here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=20080107tor

Railroad surveilance video captures train derailed by a Tornado January 7, 2008 in Havard, IL
The tornado moved across the Chicago and Northwestern railroad where it blew 12 railroad freight cars off the track. The train was moving at the time the tornado hit it...so as the main engine stopped...the remaining cars on the track continued along it and slammed into the front part of the train. This caused a few more cars to derail...including one containing hazardous materials that caused the evacuation of the town of Lawrence.

Local news article
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said no one was injured when one locomotive and 12 freight cars derailed Monday around 4 p.m. in Harvard in McHenry County.One tank car, which leaked for hours before being contained Monday night, contained shock fluid, Davis said.

Another tank car that ended up on its side contained ethylene oxide, a flammable material widely used to sterilize medical supplies, but a Union Pacific manager on the scene determined that tank was not leaking,

Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 500 residents in the nearby unincorporated town of Lawrence because of the potential for a hazardous materials situation, said Capt. David Shepherd with the McHenry County sheriff's office. No injuries were reported, he said.

Three other derailed cars on the train headed to Janesville, Wis., from North Lake contained auto parts, and seven more were empty, .Crews prepared Monday night to move the cars away from the tracks."It's very muddy conditions in the area, so it'll take a while,"

Bluebird houses?

Petee — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:27:50

What is a good amount to ask for a well built bluebird house? This is for a local garden club fundraiser.

Peregrine Falcon live cams in Pittsburgh

Seuly — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:39:57

You can leave the cam on in the background while you do other things. When the birds come to the nest, they are very vocal, so you will know when to watch. I have both cams going at the same time!

Pittsburgh's peregrines are getting ready to nest and are very active right now.

Here is a Peregrine Falcon live cam at the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. Because there are infrared lights, you can watch both night and day.

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php

There is more info on the page. You have to click on the alternate view to see it refresh every 15 seconds.

Alternate view info is below:

If your computer can't handle streaming, or if you want to capture snapshots, the Cathedral of Learning has a snapshot camera here:

http://aviary.org/cons/FalconCam/Cathedral_refreshCam.php

Good Peregrine info here: http://www.wpconline.org/pittfalcons/facts.html

Frequently updated info here at a Bird Blog with Kate St. John: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/

____________________________________________________________________________________

The Gulf Tower Peregrine cam in Pittsburgh is here: http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php

tulips

tuangels — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 23:02:50

While out enjoying the sun this afternoon, I noticed that my tulips are starting to poke their little selves out of the ground. It is too early for this right? I am afraid that all my backbreaking work last fall will amount to stunted or frozen stems, not the glorious, drifts of tulips that I envisioned....is there anyhing I can do, or will Mother Nature just have to take her course?

Mosquito Plants

NikonSniper — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:41:18

My dad and his girlfriend have two mosquito plants. Actually they look like bushes they are so big.
The question I have is can you do "starts" from them in water??
They make their sun porches smell so good when they have them inside.
Thanks for the help!!

CCCD Tree and Shrub Sale

Petee — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:16:16

Be sure to check out this sale by Friday, Feb 26 which is the last day to send order forms.
http://www.clfdccd.com

sweet peppers?

mcac — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:12:31

is it too early to plane seeds? a friend planted hers but my mom says too early, I have a teired plastic covered indoor greenhouse, any input? thanks.

16 week seeds!

Petee — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:42:15

It's almost time to start the 16 week seeds! Yeah, something will be growing and getting ready for spring. Can't wait!

SAD

steelnut — Fri, 8 Jan 2010 20:33:32

I'm dreaming of spring and green, green, green!
This white stuff gets old real quick.

I seriously think I'm a victim of SAD, Seasonal Affected Disorder.
I need sunlight and for long periods. It gives me the get go that I need.
In the summer, I can go all day until 9pm outside and feel great. Go to bed at 11ish and get up at 5am, go to work,
come home and have tons of energy to go at it again.
In the winter, at 5pm, I feel like I should go to bed and read?
When it's dark, I fell just blah, ick, crappy...

I'm already thinking of the flower beds. Can't wait. Hubby bought me a gazebo last fall and it's all prepared to plant around it,
I'm just trying to decide on what I want to plant. I think I have lots of time to figure it out, looks like a long winter, ugh!

Christmas Cactus Memories

Petee — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:09:42

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09360/1023541-47.stm

Onion Spoilage

lavender — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:45:10

The topic at the Oct. meeting of the Down to Earth garden club was what makes our onion spoil. The general consensus was improper storage. That isn't always the case as further research for a newletter article proved. For those with rotting onions here are some possible causes. The entire article is up on our website at http://www.downtoearthgardenclub.org which I'm finally getting updated.
I also put up my notes from the gardening seminar in Clearfield sponsored by the Clearfield Center for Active Living and the PSU County Extension. The subject was Planting Trees So They Survive. The speaker was Tom Butzler and he was well worth listening to.
Here is the onion stuff but the tree seminar is too long to post here.
Here are some of the conditions that can spoil your onions.
• Blue green mold. Caused by several species of the genus Penicillium, the mold starts under the outer scales of the onion and in the neck of the bulb. It is more common when the weather is rainy or storage conditions are humid.
• Black mold. This results in black sooty appearance under the surface scales of the onion. High temperatures and humid conditions encourage the growth of black mold. The culprit is the fungus Aspergillus niger.
• Neck rot. This rot is another fungal disease caused by Botrytis allii, B. squamosa and B. cinerea.  It causes a softening of the neck of the bulb and a change in tissue color. Contaminated tissue becomes brown or grey. In severely infected bulbs, a grey mold appears and the entire bulb is involved.  Harvesting during wet weather increases the chances of neck rot.
• Smudge, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum circinans, is responsible for the black spots or concentric circles on onion skin. The damage is mainly cosmetic, although it can cause shrinking of the bulb and premature sprouting.
• Fusarium basal rot.  Fusarium rot occurs in the field but the bulbs may appear normal when they go into storage. Basal rot, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cepae, begins at the base of the bulb and spreads upward turning the bulb soft and brown. A white mold may eventually appear.
• Bacterial soft rot.  This is a bacterial infection caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. Carotovorum (this bacterium has a number of different synonyms). The symptoms of bacterial rot are one or more watery internal scales, which turn yellow and eventually become a light tan. The entire bulb can become involved during storage, although the continuing physiological changes may be due to secondary infections. It will become soft and foul smelling. Squeezing the bulb in the advanced stages will cause the center to pop out. Again, the infection occurs in the field and the bulb may appear normal when stored.
• Sour skin.  A bacterial rot almost identical to the above but caused by a different bacterium (Burkholderia sp.).

Grape Vines

steelnut — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:45:06

We also planted grape vines this year, do we need to any thing special to them over the winter?

Thanks so much for all of the help!

Blueberry bushes

steelnut — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:42:25

More advice please?

We planted 6 baby blueberry bushes in May. They're only on average 18 inches high. Do we need to do anything special over the winter to protect them? I thought about covering them up with hay?

Any advice is very much appreciated as always, thanks!

CCCD Tree and Shrub Sale

Petee — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:42:08

This is the sale you should all send orders to for next spring.

http://www.clfdccd.com It's the Clearfield County Conservation District 2010 Tree Sale. Phone, 765-2629 However, they sell a LOT more than just trees and you definitely get your money's worth, especially if you are willing to nurse your plants along for an extra year.

The order deadline is Feb 26, 2010 and the pick up date is Friday, May 21 from 9 AM - 8 PM at the Multi-service Building on Leonard Street in Clearfield. Enter at the large white pillers.

Sapling question

rank63 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:35

I know someone can give me a good answer. my sister just yesterday received saplings from the Arbor Day foundation that she has been expecting since spring. what should she do with them now? It would be to cold to putt into groun right? And then there would be a chance of animals eating them off right. TIA

Fabulous, free, leaf mold

Petee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:14:06

If you are building a garden and need tons of leaf mold then check with your municipality to see if they have squirreled away a huge pile of leaves from previous years.  http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/frederick/2001/compost_leaves.htm

I went to Punxsy today and in two loads hauled away about a ton of the most beautiful black soil that a gardener would ever want, and it was free for the hauling.  They even load it for you!

I forgot to bring the phone numbers to post them but I will get them and add them later.

Last Harvest

BigT — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:17:34

I just came in from cutting the last of my broccoli. I never expected to still be able to grow broccoli this late in the year.

Does anyone else grow anything in their garden in November?

A Gardening Revolution

nails4u2c — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:19:26

A Gardening Revolution

Makes me wish it were spring.

Could someone post info here on Gardening Seminar

Smokefree — Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:47:17

Can someone post the information here for the gardening seminar in clearfield on Nov 12? I need to print it and this is the only way that I can do it today. Thanks.

Another question

steelnut — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:33:43

Last week when we were cleaning up the flower beds and planters, I was shocked to see that the dahlia's that I planted had big bulbs.
Can I somehow save them for next year? I always planted them in planters and pitched them in the fall, this year I planted some in front of the baby blueberry plants and assumed that they would be pitched, too We put them in a big container in the garden shed.

If it's possible to save them, what do I do?
Thanks so much in advance!

Rose tree pruning !!!

kanimal — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 13:14:37

My husband wants to prune them back almost to trunk and down to trunk from top. I think it's too much.I can see pruning where they are dead but some of the branches he wants to cut have what looks like an apple at the end ,any help would be greatly appreciated !

Overwintering tender bulbs

Petee — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:21:22

I always stash my summer bulbs in onion bags, packed in peat, in a big plastic storage bin, in a basement closet, for the winter. Is that enough commas for you?

Since I stopped buying bagged onions I don't have plastic netting and the produce departments in the markets don't have them any more either. So, I bought a bath "poof" and disassembled it. Presto, yards of netting unrolled! I can make dozens of bags of bulbs for next summer. Ninty nine cents!

Autumn Olives

Petee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:13:40

If you learn what the bush looks like then you will also recognize them on the sides of the roads where birds and animals have dropped the seeds. The berries strip right off the stem into a container. Just wash them in cold water, pick off any remaining stems and cook them. From 8 cupsof fruit I got 11 4 ounce jars of jam. I made hubby a slice of toast last night and spread it for him. He agrees.....Raspberry Jam!

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2525.htm

http://psa-rising.com/eatingwell/wild-foods/autumnolive.htm

Cleveland Pear Trees

curwensville — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:30:37

I just purchased 13 five to six foot Cleveland Pear trees to plant between the road and my house. They are very healthy looking. I'm wondering if the salt they put on the roads will harm them. I couldn't find any information about this on the internet, any help is greatly appreciated.

Katsura Tree

Petee — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:46:02

This is a tree we learned about today at the Master Gardeners class. It's similar to the Redbud but hardy for our area!
http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_katsura.htm

Canna Lily

slk59 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:09:51

Has anyone ever tried to dig up a canna lily and pot it as an indoor houseplant?

Square Foot Gardening in Sept.

nails4u2c — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:01:11

Square Foot Gardening in Sept.

help identify............

mcac — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:59:02

beside my grape vine and rose of sharon i have another grape like vine, no grapes just star shaped pods that have pricklys on them. anyone know what these are? i will get a pic in morning if it will help. thanks Ann

bulb planting

slk59 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:55:30

is it too early to plant spring bulbs? ie. tulips, daffodils, etc. (dubois area)

Free garden produce! Like craigslist/freecycle 4 veg fruit

nails4u2c — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:05:49

I thought this was a really great idea.It is a site to share your abundance of fruit and veggies. It is mostly on the west coast but the more people that can post and share the more of a good thing it can become around here. I just wish I had found it sooner.
http://www.veggietrader.com/
is a"craiglist"/"freecycle"

Didn't know groundhogs would go up stairs....

Smokefree — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 23:36:20

I covered my high deck with containers of tomato plants to finally get away from the massive groundhog and other critters that ate them all last year. Thought "problem solved" up until today. This morning I noticed several half-eaten tomatoes right on the plants and I thought what would have done that?
Well I found out when I was walking one of my two little dogs this afternoon in the backyard. I suddenly heard an animal running down the stairs that go up to my deck and thought my other dog had gotten loose. As I stared at the bottom of the deck stairs waiting to grab my other dog before he made a dash for freedom, what do I see bound off into the yard? A huge groundhog!

Where to find Heritage Seeds

nails4u2c — Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:36:16

Do any of you keep your seeds from year to year? So many that are sold in the stores now are genetically modified. It is very hard to find "Heritage seeds. I had some tomatoes from Germany but lost them, along with the seeds in the blight.
I found this site which is located in Lancaster County. It would be great to have local greenhouses grow these seeds, so we are not purchasing genetically modified plants. If you know of anyone who specializes in this please post. There looks like there are some interesting varieties here.
http://www.amishlandseeds.com/

Plant winterizing?

rbk6573 — Mon, 7 Sep 2009 16:58:26

This is the first year that I have planted Meadow Sage " Sensation" in my flower bed. Is there anything I need to do to help it survive the winter,such as pruning or trimming? Any help would be appreciated.

mums

slk24 — Mon, 7 Sep 2009 12:37:24

I know you can plant mums outside, but yesterday my son asked if they will come up again next year or they considered annuals. If you can leave them in the ground for next year, do you cut them back later in the fall like you do day lillies?

More advice, please?

steelnut — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:48:09

After much painstaking and difficult thought, we've decided to let our garden go dormant next year.
I honestly don't know what I'll do with myself, I'll be lost for sure, lol!

Anyway, the decision is made so I would love any advice or suggestions on what exactly to do.
We bought black plastic to cover it with. Should we cover it this fall or wait until spring?
Should we put manure on or any other fertilizers first and then till it in before tarping it?

As always, I welcome any and all suggestions.
Thanks to everyone.

Books on Gardening in PA

Smokefree — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:20:34

I just ordered several books about gardening in Pennsylvania by Liz Ball and I was wondering if anyone here had read anything by her and if they found the books useful. One is about gardening month-to-month in PA and the other is just a general gardening book about what grows well in PA. Are there any other books that you have found useful?

Black-Eyed Susans

cruisin momma — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:40:08

I have been noticing how nice these are looking in everyones yards this year and want to plant some for myself for next year.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Do I plant seeds in the fall or plants or wait til spring?

Thank-You

What are you doing now outside?

Smokefree — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:17:53

Now that most of us have spent the summer killing some or all of our tomato plants what is everyone concentrating on now? I am trying lasagna gardening in a part of my yard and weeding a lot so I don't have it all waiting in the spring. I have set up some logs to make a flower garden inside them and am putting good soil and compost, along with manure to start getting that soil ready for spring planting. Also cutting some brush and getting rid of a few volunteer maple trees that have been growing along my house for years. Eating tomatoes on my deck and looking forward to the end of trying to grow tomatoes this year. At least I have some but nothing like what I hoped for. I signed up for the Master Gardner class that starts in September so I will now more about what I am doing in the spring and hopefully be able to help others.

Easiest way to freeze peppers

domino — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:24:30

This is my first time ever of freezing them...i've been told to blanch them and i've been told to put them on a foil and stick in the freezer until they freeze?? What is the best way to do them?

Tomates from Late Blight Stricken Plants

lavender — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:34:25

According to the original report on the late blight the fruit was safe to eat. We were advised to rinse it in a solution of bleach although ingesting the fungus was said to be harmless. At Ag Days this week the Master Gardeners at the County Extension booth were advising against using them. I contacted our county extension agent to find out what was now the official position. The Department of Food Sciences is taking a different position than the disease specialists. They are not saying that it is not safe to ingest the fungus but they are saying that if the tomato itself is infected the pH may be raised so they are not safe to can. As you may have heard this is also a concern with low acid tomatoes.
The second problem is that if the skin is actually broken secondary infections may occur or the tomato may be more heavily infected than is visible. The secondary infections could be harmful.
Tomatoes that come from blighted plants, as long as there are no visible lesions on the plant,are OK. They should be used immediately though as even the bleach apparently does not kill enough of the fungi to keep the tomatoes from spoiling. Any tomatoes that have visible lesions should be discarded.
Here is the website that carries the information http://foodsafety.psu.edu/LateBlight.htm
I did ask if it would be safe to use the green tomatoes as a relish which would be highly acidic and I'm still awaiting an answer on that one. Will keep everyone informed.

Ground Cherries

Smokefree — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:46:38

I had heard of these through my internet gardening groups but never thought I would have a chance this year to try them. Last saturday at the DuBois farmer's market Muth's had them and they are so tasty! They are about the size of a small grape and are encased in a papery light grey cover. They are a vegetable but are so sweet and it is impossible to describe it. I definetly want some more this next weekend.

apple trees

WMJ77 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:58:40

when do you prune them

brussel sprouts

wildflowerpa — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:02:42

Every year I plant brussel sprouts andnothing botheres them. This year something has eatenoff just the tops, not the baby sprouts, of the plants. Will the sprouts still grow the way they should or are they done? I know from what I have read that the top leaves act like an umbrella and keep the sun off of them. Thats why you pull off the lower leaves so they can grow. I thought that the deer got them but there are no foot prints. And the wind pushed my corn over. At least we have tators and green beans so far. We won't discuss the carrots.

I need some more advice...

steelnut — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:44:35

First, a big thank you to all that have helped me with my gardening questions!

I've posted many times that I just got into planting perennials three years ago. Now I'm up to six beds and they all look wonderful thanks to all of the help that I've recieved.

The only mistake that I've "found" that I've made so far is with the Helenium Mardi Gras. I had no idea that they got so tall. Where I have them planted is not good. So I want to transplant them.

The question is, do I transplant them in the fall or in the spring? Hubby and I have a bet riding on this, so I hope that I'm right! TIA!

Amaryllis and grapes

jettavwdrvr — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:43:01

Here are a few pics of what I have blooming right now.

Close up:

what is this

Bon — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 10:58:29

this was taken yesterday at Niagara Falls. They look like cherry tomato's. These are all over the park.

Asiatic Lily Question

curwensville — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:59:40

They are done flowering and I want to move them. Is it safe to cut the stalk and move them to a new location?

Sunflowers, Tomato Trees???

Petee — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:47:48

I've seen a plant growing in Penfield and on the way to the Gateway Humane Society after Falls Creek that looks like a huge sunflower that never flowers.

Anyone know what they are? I've wondered for years, and I think they almost have to be a hardy perennial.