Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday November 16, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday November 16, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Monday November 16, 2009

Coreopsis, Lanceleaf (Coreopsis grandiflora)
Q&A: Forcing Bulbs
Q&A: Pruning Purple Sage
Tip: Plant Poppies
Advice from Carolyn Hax
Reader Photos

Coreopsis, Lanceleaf (Coreopsis grandiflora)

Today's Featured Plant
Coreopsis, Lanceleaf (Coreopsis grandiflora)

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Q&A: Forcing Bulbs

Question: Which bulbs are best for forcing, and how do I go about it?

Answer: You can force quite a number of spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth, and crocus. Forcing refers to pushing the plants for early bloom by putting bulbs through a chilling period to OtrickO them into thinking itOs spring. Pot up bulbs in a shallow container in moist potting soil, leaving the tips visible above the surface. Place them in a refrigerator or sheltered place where you can maintain a temperature in the mid 30's. Make sure the soil doesn't dry out completely, but donOt saturate it either. Eight weeks of chilling is adequate for some small bulbs like crocus and grape hyacinth, but most will do better with at least 10 weeks of chilling. After this chilling period, bring the container out into indirect light, and keep the soil moist. As soon as green shoots appear, apply more water and move them to brighter light. They should bloom within a few weeks.

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Q&A: Pruning Purple Sage

Question: Should I trim my three large purple sage bushes now (in the fall), or wait until spring? Can I harvest some of the sage now for drying?

Answer: Sage benefits from spring pruning to remove old growth and any branches that were damaged during the winter. You may find that the bushes become less productive after a few years, and need to be replaced. If you want to harvest the leaves for drying, it is best to cut them in early summer, just before the flower buds appear. However, you can certainly cut some now for use over the winter. Tie the stems in bundles and hang them upside-down in a shaded, well-ventilated place. When dry, rub off the leaves and store them in air-tight containers.

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Tip: Plant Poppies

In warm areas, plant Iceland and Shirley poppies now. Choose a sunny site with well-drained soil. Amend the soil with a 2 to 3 inch layer of compost, clean weeds and plant. Mulch over the young transplants with chopped leaves.

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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