Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Friday November 6, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Friday November 6, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Friday November 6, 2009

Laurel, Mountain (Kalmia latifolia)
Q&A: Container Citrus Culture
Q&A: Companions for Spring Bulbs
Tip: Harvest Leeks
Advice from Carolyn Hax
Reader Photos

Laurel, Mountain (Kalmia latifolia)

Today's Featured Plant
Laurel, Mountain (Kalmia latifolia)

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

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Q&A: Container Citrus Culture

Question: I have three dooryard citrus trees -- an orange, a lemon and a key lime. They winter in the greenhouse. The lemon is ok and usually bears nice fruit. The lime suffers in the greenhouse, frequently losing many leaves during winter. My orange looks pretty good but the fruit usually fall off when they reach the size of a large pea. What am I doing wrong?

Answer: There are many factors which could be involved in your citrus problems. First, citrus trees need good drainage but fairly moist soil. In a container grown plant this can be difficult to achieve and maintain. Container size, especially in relation to citrus species and rootstock, can contribute to a plant prone to stress. Small containers, growing media that is too "airy" (dries out too fast), and vigorous citrus species are likely to result in stress due to lack of moisture. Most citrus needs a very large container to stay happy and productive once they reach a mature, bearing age. However, it can be easy to overwater large containers. Citrus trees will drop fruit whenever stressed, especially when fruit is very still small. Lack of pollination will also result in fruit drop when the fruit is smaller than a pea. Loss of leaves in the greenhouse is most likely due to moisture stresses and/or the lower light levels of winter.

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Q&A: Companions for Spring Bulbs

Question: How long do the leaves of daffodils continue to grow after blooming? Can I plant large annuals on top or around them for summer color? How about a flowering ground-cover?

Answer: Daffodil leaves usually begin to die backl within several weeks after bloom. It's best to grow smaller annuals around the daffodils, such as alyssum, calendula, small marigolds, nasturtium, salvia and dusty miller -- their shallow, fibrous roots won't disturb the deeply planted bulbs. A flowering perennial groundcover, such as vinca, would also be a great companion.

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Tip: Harvest Leeks

When harvesting leeks, pull soil away from the stem, cut off the top and use the white, blanched stems in soups and stir fries. To clean dirty leeks, slice the shaft in half, then spread the shafts under running water.

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Advice from Carolyn Hax

Advice columnist Carolyn Hax is famous for her ability to get to the root of people's problems -- not just what they say, but who they are and what they're thinking.

The resulting advice is often ruthless, sometimes controversial, and always hilarious.

See for yourself what great advice Hax has to offer. Subscribe to ArcaMax's Carolyn Hax ezine, and receive her witty, helpful advice free by e-mail!

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-- From the ArcaMax editors

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors