Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Thursday December 24, 2009 |
Blazing Star, Gayfeather (Liatris spicata 'Kobold') | Today's Featured Plant
Blazing Star, Gayfeather (Liatris spicata 'Kobold')
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Q&A: Planting a Strawberry Barrel Question: How should I prepare a new, wooden strawberry barrel for planting strawberries? What soil mix should I use? Should I put stones in the bottom, and use screen to keep dirt from coming out holes while planting, etc? Would you recommend planting alpines, everbearing, or standard strawberries?
Answer: Everbearing strawberries are the best for a strawberry barrell, since you are putting so much effort into the ornamental aspect of the project, you should get a more consistent edible reward! When I plant them I simply fill them up as I go...add a little soil, put a plant or two in the holes, move up to the next layer until I have filled the whole barrel, and then plant the top of the pot. To keep soil from sifting out the holes, use sphagnum moss used in hanging planters and pack this gently around the plant. I like to use potting soil that has been mixed with compost. Here is one of my favorite tips: Before planting, get a piece of PVC pipe about 2" in diameter, cut it to be about 1" taller than the soil line of your pot and drill small holes in it all along the length (perhaps 12-15 total). Place this in the center of the pot before you plant, be sure you have a lip sticking out of the soil at about 1" in height. Fill the tube with peastone or gravel. This creates a very efficient watering "tube" to insure all the plants get ample water all the way down the pot...you simply pour your water down the tube. Keep the soil moist, but not saturated, and feed the plants with a mild plant food (such a seaweed or fish-based liquid fertilizer) in the spring and during fruiting period. Place the pot in full sun, and protect the plants from frost. As the young plants are getting established, picking off their first round of buds can help them put energy into rooting. Be sure to keep an eye out for birdies....they adore strawberries! |
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Q&A: Starting Petunias Early Question: When should I start my petunias from seed indoors? If I started them now, would I get flowers sooner?
Answer: Petunias are wonderful for their range of flower color and long season of bloom. In generaly, you should start your petunia seeds about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Since the last frost is around the end of April in your area, start seeds in mid to late February. You could probably sow them as early as late January, as long as you have an excellent growing environment for the seedlings -- a cool place with bright light. Otherwise, the plants will likely falter before you can get them in the ground. Petunias can take up to 3 weeks to germinate, so patience is required. Sow the seeds on the surface of the growing medium and keep the seed flats in the light and in a warm location (70-80F) until germination, then place them under bright lights in a cool (60-70F) room. Transplant the seedlings when they have the second set of true leaves and pinch back the young plants to make them bushier. |
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Tip: Prevent Small Citrus Fruits If your orange and grapefruit trees are producing small fruits there's little you can do now. Next summer consider watering more often, thinning the young fruits, and adding more fertilizer to increase the size of next year's crop. |
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Holiday Trivia Do you know how Chanukah started? Or where the first Christmas lights came from? Get fun holiday trivia like this and more at the ArcaMax Holiday Feature.
The feature has everything from new twists on traditional recipes to fun holiday facts, quick decorating ideas, and more. Catch it this season and make your holidays the best yet!
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-- From the ArcaMax editors |
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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors |
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