Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday October 5, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday October 5, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Monday October 5, 2009

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
Q&A: Growing Ranunculus Indoors
Q&A: Harvesting Pumpkins and Squash
Tip: Cut Back Perennials
Free Pet Cartoons from the New Yorker
Reader Photos

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

Today's Featured Plant
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

Interested in reading about other plants? Search through hundreds of plant profiles and helpful articles by keyword.

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Q&A: Growing Ranunculus Indoors

Question: What can you tell me about Ranunculus? Can these be grown indoors in containers?

Answer: Ranunculus are members of the buttercup family, related to those favorite flowers found in overgrown fields. Though many related species are quite hardy, the ones you generally see for sale are "tender bulbs," meaning they cannot overwinter in the ground in cold areas. Ranunculus prefers cool temperatures, so it can be a challenge to grow them indoors. If you have a spot that would provide the proper environment -- nighttime temperatures in the 40s and 50s F, daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F -- you can always give it a try. The plants need bright light, but should be shielded from direct sun during the hottest part of the day.

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Q&A: Harvesting Pumpkins and Squash

Question: How can you tell when pumpkins and winter squash are mature and ready for harvest?

Answer: Harvest pumpkins and winter squashes after they change to their expected color and after their skin is thick enough that a thumbnail doesn't puncture the fruit when you press on it. If you plan on storing the squash, don't let them get hit by frost or they will rot. Also, leave 2 inches of the stem attached for best storing.

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Tip: Cut Back Perennials

As the weather cools, cut back perennial flowers such as phlox, coneflower, and bee balm to 6 inches from the ground. Remove and destroy any diseased foliage, but compost the foliage without serious disease problems.

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Free Pet Cartoons from the New Yorker

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-- From the ArcaMax editors

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Today's Reader Submitted Photos

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors