Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Sunday November 15, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Sunday November 15, 2009

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Advice from Carolyn Hax

Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Sunday November 15, 2009

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum)
Q&A: Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes
Q&A: Preparing Tea Roses for Winter
Tip: Care of Winter Greens
Wine and Dine Daily Video
Reader Photos

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum)

Today's Featured Plant
Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum)

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Q&A: Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes

Question: I see the terms "determinate" and "indeterminate" in tomato variety descriptions. What do these terms mean?

Answer: Determinate describes a plantOs growth habit in which stems stop growing at a certain height and produce a flower cluster at the tip. Determinate tomatoes, for example, are relatively short-vined, early_fruiting, and have concentrated fruit set. These are the types you should grow if you want to harvest your main crop all at once for canning, drying, or freezing. Indeterminate describes a plant growth habit in which stems keep growing in length indefinitely. For example, indeterminate tomatoes are tall, later_fruiting, and require staking for improved yield. These are the types you should grow if you want to harvest fresh tomatoes over a long season.

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Q&A: Preparing Tea Roses for Winter

Question: Is there anything I should do to get my hybrid tea roses ready for winter?

Answer: of warm weather. You should do what works best for you.

Next comes the actual protection. There are many fancy contraptions on the market that you can buy to wrap around your rose, but you can also use good old soil and mulch. Basically, just shovel some soil into a mound at the base of the plant--the soil should go up about 12" above the bud union (looks kind of like a knob or a knuckle, this is where the rose was grafted to the rootstock in the beginning of it's life). Then, cover the mound of soil with about 12" of mulch. I use cypress mulch but you could also use compost or straw. This volcano like structure you have made keeps the ground frozen, and strangely enough, that is exactly what you want. If the rose is subjected to freezing and thawing, damage is sure to result. Many people wrap this mound with chicken wire to keep it intact over the winter. I've never done this, but if it makes you feel more comfortable, or, if your rose is in a spot where there is a great deal of wind or animals may dig at it, you should probably add this step.

Good luck with your roses!

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Tip: Care of Winter Greens

Check fall planted greens such as Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula for signs of aphids and white flies on the undersides of leaves. Spray these insects with insecticidal soap and cover the greens with a floating row cover.

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors