Feb 2012
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
The daffodils are beginning to bloom; tulips, hyacinths and crocuses should have been planted in the fall. So why are we talking about bulb planting in February? Because there are two bulb seasons – fall planted bulbs bloom in spring, and sometimes fall; but spring planted bulbs bloom in late spring and summer. So now is the time to plant MORE BULBS!! For those of us that are bulb addicts, we won’t talk about the more well-known dahlias, gladiolus, lilies and begonias. Let’s talk about the ones we aren’t so familiar with.
California has a great climate for Mediterranean and South African bulb varieties, those that like our cool, not cold, (and usually wet) winters and that tolerate our dry hot summers. Freesias and ranunculus are among the more familiar of these varieties. Freesias have a wonderful fragrance, are a great cut flower, and bloom for several weeks during the early summer. Ranunculus, an Asian native, and Anemones, prefer a very dry location in the summer, and bloom during the spring and fall.
Ixia are a favorite of florists and love our climate, naturalizing well in the foothills. Their clusters of flowers bloom on long stems in mixed colors. Tritonia bloom later than freesias, are similar to freesias in appearance, but lack the delightful fragrance of freesias. Another bright splash of color can be found in Sparaxis, a South African native which naturalizes well in our area. Crocosmia, with shades of red, orange and yellow, are becoming increasingly popular. This is also South African native that loves our foothill climate.
Another unusual bulb is the Crinum lily, which is actually an amaryllis in disguise. They are very tough plants, take a wide variety of locations (sun or part shade, wet or dry soil), and bloom all summer long. Another bulb in the amaryllis family is the Rain Lily or Zephyranthus species. They bloom after the first rains in the fall, and do very well in our area. And last, but certainly not least, is Brodiaea laxa, or Tritelia, a native northern California bulb that has been hybridized by bulb growers. Needless to say, it does great in our area.
So don’t be limited by thinking that the only bulbs are daffodils or tulips – try out some of these other exciting selections. It’s time to plant some more bulbs in the garden for enjoyment all summer long!
Jan 2012
Gettin’ Dirty with the Garden Goddesses …
Now that we have put away the holiday decorations, tossed out the poinsettias and eaten all the goodies, it’s time to start planning for Spring – OMG!! We have potted up all the new roses, and are working on the bare root trees as they arrive – always so exciting to see the new varieties and plan what to plant where.
So speaking of roses, we have several new ones as usual this year. Dorothy, our resident rosarian, has studied all the catalogs and selected the very best roses for you to choose from. Star Roses have the AARS selection for 2012, Sunshine Daydream, the first traditional garden rose to win under no spray trialing conditions. A grandiflora, it has large buttercream yellow flowers set off by dark green glossy foliage. Star’s other new offerings include: Lemonade and Pink Lemonade, both a new group of roses called Eyeconics, which combine old and modern rose characteristics; Tangerine Streams, a shrub rose growing 3 ½ -4 feet tall, has apricot-salmon blooms suffused with yellow and orange (Wow!), and it is perfectly suited for West Coast climates; and finally, Itty Bitty Pink, a delightful miniature (only 18” tall, fully loaded with tiny bright pink blossoms.
But that’s not all. We also get roses from Weeks’ Roses, and they five new featured selections: Sugar Moon is an elegant, pure white Hybrid Tea, with an intense sweet citrus and rose fragrance; Ketchup & Mustard is a hot floribunda, ketchup red/mustard yellow bicolor blooms with a mild fragrance; Koko Loko, another floribunda, starts out Koko latte tan and changes to Loko lavender; All a’ Twitter is an audaciously orange miniature rose, with a light fragrance, but enough pizzazz to brighten any location it is in; and last, but not least, Stormy Weather, a mid-size climber with large smoky purple/magenta blooms and a moderately spicy fragrance.
If you need some advice on selection, pruning, spraying and planting your roses, be sure and attend our Rose Pruning and Maintenance Class on Sat. Jan. 21, at 10:00 or at 2:00. Dorothy will be presenting the class, and the Gold Country Rose Society members will be on hand to assist in the demonstrations. Dress warm and bring your pruning shears!
Dec:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
We think it is a great time to talk about “the other Christmas flower” Schlumbergera truncate (in doctor language), Zygocactus (in garden language), and depending on the Holiday coming up or when the Zygocactus is in bloom, Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, & Easter cactus (in everyone else’s language). The genus is named after Frederic Schlumberger, a French cactus collector from the 19th century. There are half a dozen varieties of Schlumbergera (Zygo) native to southwestern Brazil. Zygos are Epiphytic cactus, with flattened, leaf-like stems. Epiphytes are not a parasite since they receive no nourishment from the host plant. Epiphytes grow on another plant for support only. The original hybrids had cherry red flowers. Worldwide hybridization has made a color palate of light pink, dark pink, salmon, fuchsia, white, red, and yellow blooms available. An easy care houseplant, Christmas cactus will bloom naturally once a year around Christmas if kept in a cool spot (60-68) where there is no light during the night. Zygos set buds when the days start shortening. Zygos like the soil to be kept moist, but not soggy. After they bloom, reduce water somewhat to give them a recovery period. Fertilize regularly with a liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion or Cactus Juice every month throughout the year, except during the blooming period and just after blooming. Re-pot after flowering each year to replenish the soil nutrients. Zygos can be kept outside as long as it is in a shady area and will be protected from frost and our hot afternoon sun. However it is safer to keep them inside during our winter months just to make sure they will survive to bloom again year after year. Propagation is quite easy, best done during the Spring and Summer. Carefully remove segments with at least three joints and allow them to dry for a couple of hours at least; best would be to let them dry for a few days. Then push the bottom segment into the soil allowing the other two segments to be above the soil. Propagate different colors into the same pot for a great show of color.
Nov:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
We have camellias in bloom now—but, no, it’s not an oddity nor an aberration. Many sasanqua and hiemalis Camellias begin blooming in the fall and some continue their bloom periods through the winter months. Sunset’s Western Garden Book lists 12 species of the genus Camellia and many hybrids. One species often neglected i the most famous Camellia, Camellia sinensis (formerly classified as Thea sinensis), which is the tea plant; thus the name of the family Theaceae. The sasanquas and hiemalis (often included with sasanquas) differ from the more well known japonicas and most other species by its smaller flower size. Many sasanqua and hiemalis are low growing and wide spreading (some grow to only 18 inches high and as wide as 6 feet). Adding to their usefulness in the landscape is their tolerance of sun compared to the japonicas. Some of the varieties of sasanquas we have in stock are: Cleopatra, which has rose pink semi-double flowers; Hana Jiman, with semi-double white flowers with pink edges and with its fast open growth is an excellent variety for training as an espalier; Kanjiro, has larger semi-double rose pink flowers, shading to rose red at the petal edges. It has an erect growth habit; Setsugekka is another upright bushy grower, with large white semi-double flowers with fluted petals. Shishigashira, often listed as a sasanqua, is really a hiemalis— but, who really cares? Now, this is a great shrub that we Garden Goddesses highly recommend. The plant grows to about 3 feet high and 6 feet wide, with arching branches that grow in lovely tiers. When these splendid horizontal layers of branches are covered with the rose-red semi-double to double blooms—what a beautiful show! Christmas is coming up and we have the Yuletide sasanqua camellia to celebrate with its profusion of small single, bright red flowers on a dense, compact, upright plant. Camellias need well-drained soil rich in organic material. We have Master Nursery Camellia, Azalea, Gardenia Planting Mix which should be used straight out of the bag and into the planting hole or in the container if planting in a pot. Be sure to keep your plant watered regularly but don’t over do it.
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
Oct:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
All of you gardeners out there know that, no matter the time of year, there is something that can be done in or for the garden. October and November in the Foothills is the ideal time to spreading out wildflower seeds for next spring’s blooms. It’s wonderful to see California poppies, lupine, clarkia, and so many other varieties flowering along the roadsides, as well as in our yards and wild areas.
We generally recommend mixing the seed with 3 to 4 parts of mulch, sand or potting soil, and then sprinkling the mix in your desired area. Seed mixes may contain plants that prefer both sun and shade, and that are annuals and perennials. If so, the ones that prefer the area where they have been planted will thrive, and the others may die out gradually. So spread the seed generously, just before we expect the rainy season to begin. Plant too early and critters may eat much of the seed; plant to late and the soil and temperatures will be too cool for good germination and rooting.
Please don’t dig up natives and try to bring them home. Generally speaking these plants will not survive the move, so you have deprived that plant of reproduction for the future, and upset the micro ecosystem where that plant was living. Pollinators and small animals may be depending on that variety to survive, so you can really do some ecological damage. Instead get your plants from a reliable source, nurseries or seed companies which do not collect plant material from the wild.
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163
Sept:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
Well, we had a slightly warm tomato tasting and salsa contest last weekend (Aug. 27), but even tho’ it was hot, we had a nice turnout and lots of good eats. The Bowman School DC Troopers sold hot dog lunches and had a bake sale as a fundraiser for their 8th grade school trip. Thank you to all who supported their efforts.
We had 18 varieties of tomatoes for the taste test, which, although’ in many years we have had more, this year we were fortunate to have that many varieties ripe considering the weather we have had. Out of 92 ballots cast, the winners were: 1st place, Great White; 2nd place, Cherokee Purple; 3rd place, Brandy Boy; and 4th place, Abraham Lincoln. The majority of the tomatoes for the tasting were provided by Pierce’s Family Farm in Loomis. They also were there to sell their fresh produce and olive oil. Needless to say Earlene was a happy girl after seeing the results because, after all, Cherokee Purple is her favorite.
And then there was the 3rd Annual Salsa Contest. We had 13 entries in 4 categories: Hot, Mild, Green and Fruit. In the Hot Category, Erik Ebert of Meadow Vista won 1st place, and Hilda Bernadou of Auburn won 2nd place. In the Mild Category, Genevieve Lauman of North Highlands won 1st place, and Melissa Aylstock of Loomis tied with Carole Boyer of Loomis for 2nd place. In the Green and Fruit Categories, we only awarded first prizes: Laurie Cassidy of Meadow Vista won 1st place in the Green Salsa category, and Gina Taylor of Lincoln won 1st place in the Fruit category.
We want to thank everyone who turned out to taste and vote; and to the salsa contestants, thank you for taking the time and effort to participate in the contest, and helping to make the event a success. Now on to planning for next year’s garden!!
For those of you that missed out on the Houseplant class taught by Earlene and Cyndi last month, you can sign up through ARD and take a class from Cyndi and Earlene to learn how to select the right Houseplant for your home or work environment. Hope you can join us!!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
August:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
We are always asked how to prepare the soil for your flowers and vegetables, as well as how to plant larger plants such as trees and shrubs. Although there are some differences depending on what you are planting (for example acid lovers as compared to general flowers), there are some basics that remain the same no matter what you are planting. We often think of Fred Edwards, a long-time employee, when he would say that plants are a living thing, just like pets and people, and that they need the same things: a good home, fresh air, water, food and sunlight.
Most of us have poor soil in the foothills, requiring the addition of organic materials, such as compost, mulch, manures, leaf mold, peat moss, etc. All of these add nutrients and texture to the soil, making it a
“good home”, easier for the soil to hold water, oxygen and nutrients for the plants to use, and also making it drain better.
As you prepare to plant, the first thing you usually do is dig the hole – be sure to test your hole for good drainage. A plant’s roots need oxygen in the soil – if it is kept constantly wet, it will drown, just like any other living creature. Fill the hole once with water, let it drain; then fill the hole again and see how fast it drains the second time. If it isn’t empty in 6-8 hours, find another place for your plant, or figure out how to create drainage for the water. Another option is to use raised beds or containers, or plant on a mound if drainage may be an issue in your yard.
Next add your amendments (think food and drainage) to your pile of native soil (assuming you have something besides a pile of rock excavated from your hole). Generally add ¼ to 1/3 amendments to 2/3 or ¾ of native soil. As mentioned before, this can be homemade compost, manures, mulch products or a planting mix. The idea is to provide the plant with a well-draining mixture which will also still hold water, air and nutrients long enough for the plant to absorb.
Finally, a plant, like any other living thing, needs nutrients (again think food) as well as air and water. So it is ideal to work in some nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) into the soil mix as you prepare your planting area. Other nutrients, such as calcium or iron, are also important to some plants, so use fertilizers suited to your specific plants. Whether you use organic, organic-based or processed fertilizers, your plant will benefit from some kind of food. A plant will absorb the food best if it is worked into the soil, since some nutrients do not leach through the soil with water, but must be broken down by soil organisms, such as worms and insects.
So as we begin to pull out the tired summer plants, it’s time to start working some amendments into your garden area for your fall garden. Each season we need to replenish what our plants have used, and then let the worms and soil micro-organisms begin their work.
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
July:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
We’ve talked in our articles mainly about outdoor plants, but this month we decided to help out all of you houseplant and indoor plant lovers. So many people spend hours every day in their home or office without the benefits of fresh air and sunshine, so we bring the outdoors in with “houseplants”. These are mainly tropical plants that can take indoor conditions. These plants provide the benefit of increasing the humidity in the room to a comfortable level, as well as filtering out all the “Bad Stuff” in the air.
Indoor plants, like outdoor plants, require a good soil, light, water and food. Most indoor plants are from tropical zones so, in general, they need temperatures in the range of 50-85°F, a good draining soil, bright indirect light, higher humidity, and regular watering and feeding. But there are plants for a variety of locations if you have a low light or very bright area. Some plants, such as many ferns, love the low light and high humidity in bathrooms.
Many of these plants can be moved outdoors to a shady patio or porch in the summer, but must be moved indoors before temperatures become too cold in fall.
Some of the best plants for filtering out a variety of pollutants are: Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifritzii), Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.), several varieties of Dracaena (Corn Plant), Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria sp.), Pothos (Epipremnum sp.), and two Figs, Ficus benjamina and Ficus elastica (rubber plant). Surprisingly there are two flowers that are also often listed: pot or florist mums and gerbera daisies – so you can enjoy their color while benefiting from their filtering process.
Studies suggest that a typical 1,800 square foot home would benefit from having 15 to 20 plants, while a small office should have at least one plant near your work station, preferably on the desk where you spend most of your day. Just don’t put them right near a heating vent or air conditioning unit, and remember to water them regularly. Indoor plants can really improve your living space in many ways!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
June:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
We’ve talked in our articles mainly about outdoor plants, but this month we decided to help out all of you houseplant and indoor plant lovers. So many people spend hours every day in their home or office without the benefits of fresh air and sunshine, so we bring the outdoors in with “houseplants”. These are mainly tropical plants that can take indoor conditions. These plants provide the benefit of increasing the humidity in the room to a comfortable level, as well as filtering out all the “Bad Stuff” in the air.
Indoor plants, like outdoor plants, require a good soil, light, water and food. Most indoor plants are from tropical zones so, in general, they need temperatures in the range of 50-85°F, a good draining soil, bright indirect light, higher humidity, and regular watering and feeding. But there are plants for a variety of locations if you have a low light or very bright area. Some plants, such as many ferns, love the low light and high humidity in bathrooms.
Many of these plants can be moved outdoors to a shady patio or porch in the summer, but must be moved indoors before temperatures become too cold in fall.
Some of the best plants for filtering out a variety of pollutants are: Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifritzii), Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.), several varieties of Dracaena (Corn Plant), Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria sp.), Pothos (Epipremnum sp.), and two Figs, Ficus benjamina and Ficus elastica (rubber plant). Surprisingly there are two flowers that are also often listed: pot or florist mums and gerbera daisies – so you can enjoy their color while benefiting from their filtering process.
Studies suggest that a typical 1,800 square foot home would benefit from having 15 to 20 plants, while a small office should have at least one plant near your work station, preferably on the desk where you spend most of your day. Just don’t put them right near a heating vent or air conditioning unit, and remember to water them regularly. Indoor plants can really improve your living space in many ways!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
May:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
Living with herbs, as far as we’re concerned, is one of the essentials of a happy, healthy and tasty life. You can eat herbs, smell herbs, design a garden with herbs, and use herbs for health and beauty – what more could you ask of them!
Herbs make great container gardens if you have limited space. They can be used for a fragrant border along a path, or mixed into a perennial bed to add a contrast of color, scent and texture. We both interplant them with other vegetables in the garden, both for convenience and also for interest, plus it confuses the bugs so we don’t get so many bad infestations of hornworms and such.
When planning an herb garden or planter, start with the varieties that you know you like and use; then add some others for variety and experimentation. Plant varieties that prefer the same sun, soil and watering together. For example, basil, catnip, mints, sorrel, sweet violets and nasturtiums all prefer moist, rich soil and partial shade or filtered sun. Lavender and thyme prefer full sun, and well-drained and fairly dry soil, while borage, rosemary and sage can tolerate poor soil, fairly dry environments and full sun.
Fast-growing annual herbs like basil, dill and cilantro do best when planted in 2-4 week succession planting. That way you won’t be facing the end of summer, with bushels of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and cucumbers, but no fresh herbs to cook with. Perennials, such as sage, oregano, rosemary and thyme, will last several years and so should be planted in an area or planter that doesn’t need to be disturbed or replanted, and thus, can be harvested whenever you need some flavor! Parsley, a biennial, goes to seed and dies the second year, so it is best replanted fresh each year for a continuous supply.
We know you can buy all of these herbs at the grocery store, both fresh and dried, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a continuous supply from your own garden year around? And remember, the tender annual herbs can be grown indoors during the winter, giving you something to play with during those cold dreary days, plus the fresh scent and flavor for spaghetti, salsa, salads, or whatever, year-around.
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
April:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
April begins planting season for just about everyone. The days are getting longer and warmer, the rainy season is beginning to wind down, and the soil is beginning to warm up. Yahoo!!! April is also when we celebrate Earth Day, April 22nd this year, and National Arbor Day, April 29th. So what a perfect time to plant some trees, whether for fruit or shade, evergreen or deciduous, tall or short – let’s get planting!
Why do we love trees? They give us color in the fall, shade in the summer, flowers in the spring, and sometimes fruit during the summer and fall. They can provide privacy barriers and sound buffers around our homes. The tree roots help hold soil in place and prevent soil erosion and mud slides. Trees also provide homes for birds, insects and other wildlife. Just one tree can shade your house in summer and insulate from the cold in winter, give homes to birds, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, and help prevent erosion. Plus under our new tree we now have a place for shade loving plants like azaleas, hostas, primrose or ferns. And maybe a garden seat and birdbath to enjoy!
Just remember, when you’re planting your new tree (or trees) prepare your spot by digging a hole a few inches deeper and 2 or 3 times wider than the container the tree came in. Then amend the native soil with some compost or mulch to create a transition zone for the roots to grow out into. Set the tree slightly higher than the original soil level, so it can settle without sinking too deep. We usually recommend adding some Master Start fertilizer to the soil, and watering in your new tree with a solution of RootMaster B-1. Then water regularly, and remember that deeper soaking a couple times a week is much better than a sprinkle every day.
Check with our friendly staff for specific information on watering and fertilizing your new tree, because each variety can have slightly different requirements, and we want you to have the right information so you will be a happy and successful gardener! Now let’s go get dirty!!!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
March:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
You say ‘pa-TAH-toe’, we say ‘pa-TAA-toe’! Who cares how you say it, just enjoy them! March is potato planting time in the foothills. Some people plant them on the full moon (March 19-20 this year), while others say to plant on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, and still others say to plant about 3 weeks before your last average frost. But any way you look at it, March is potato planting month.
Potatoes were first recorded in the Andes Mountains in Peru and Bolivia, where they formed the basis of the Inca Indian diet. The first record of European use of potatoes was in 1553, when explorers noticed that sailors who ate potatoes didn’t get the dreaded scurvy due to a lack of Vitamin C. Sir Francis Drake brought potatoes back as did other explorers. But King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were the first to make potatoes a coveted delicacy in Europe.
The horrible Potato Famine occurred in Ireland in the 1840’s and 1850’s when late blight attacked the potato crop in Ireland. Through experimentation and exploration, resistant varieties have been developed, letting us continue to grow potatoes for our enjoyment and health today. An average (~5.3 oz) potato with the skin contains: 45% of the daily value for vitamin C; 620 mg potassium, comparable to bananas, spinach and broccoli; trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, foliate, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and zinc; all for only 110 calories and no fat. So let’s grow some in the garden. Just like other home-grown fruits and vegetables, potatoes have a much better flavor when you grow and harvest your own.
We have many varieties for you to choose from. Early varieties such as Cal White, Red Cherry, Yukon Gold and Russet Norkotah ripen in 50 to 65 days; All Blue, Island Sunshine, Red LaSota, and Yukon Gem ripen mid-season, 60 to 80 days; and Desiree, Red Chieftain and Yellow Finn are late varieties which ripen in 80 to 95 days. Any of these can be harvested earlier as “new” potatoes when the plant starts flowering, while some tubers can be left in the ground to continue sizing up for later meals.
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
Feb:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
So you have limited time and/or space and you think you can’t grow fruits and berries. This month we want to talk about growing fruits and berries in containers, whether you are considering it because of limited space, poor soil, or deer and pest issues. Apartment and condo dwellers can grow fruit trees too!
Citrus trees are evergreen and generally smaller, so they make a great container plant on a porch or deck, where they may be given a little protection during the cold weather.
While peaches and nectarines are considered large trees, if you plant them in a large container and start pruning the first year to keep them small, they can be grown in containers. But if you doubt your ability to keep after them, try the very cute genetic dwarf and miniature trees that are available. They stay smaller than a rose bush!!
Other fruits can also be grown in pots such as apricots, cherries, plums, apples and pears. Choose varieties on semi-dwarf root stock and, as mentioned above, start immediately to prune them in order to keep them small. In containers, a fruit tree will not provide as large a harvest as it would in the ground, but the flavor will be great and the joy of picking fruit that you have grown yourself is endless. A few genetic dwarf or miniature apples and cherries are available by special order if you are planning ahead for next year.
The important factor in growing fruit in pots is the necessity to amend the potting soil with a little perlite and fine bark to make sure it drains well, watering thoroughly and deeply two or three times a week in the summer, and once a week during the winter, and feeding regularly. We would suggest a granular or time-release fertilizer twice in spring and once in fall, just as you would your trees in the ground, but supplement in between with foliage feeding of fish emulsion monthly. Also, thinning the fruit early in the season is important so that the smaller tree can support the fruit until harvest time.
Blueberries are wonderful in containers. Try a fairly large pot and put two varieties in the same pot to lengthen your harvest and get better production. Since blueberries need an acid soil, keeping them in containers makes it easier to provide them with the acidity they need but adding peat, soil sulfur and proper fertilizers.
Blackberries and strawberries can also be grown in containers. Just follow the same guidelines as we’ve discussed and enjoy your fresh fruit all season long.
So if limited space is cramping your style, experiment with growing a couple of your favorites in a container – and share the bounty with your friends at harvest time!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
Jan:
GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…
By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis
Welcome to an exciting New Year and another season of gardening! This is the time for preventive maintenance in your yard. Even though it may be cold and rainy, it’s the time to be applying dormant oil and copper spray to protect your plants from bugs and diseases later in the year. Roses suffer from black spot, rust and mildew during our warm and wet spring weather, as well as infestations of aphid, thrip and other pests. So spraying in the late winter and early spring can be your first line of defense against these problems.
While you are out spraying and pruning your roses, you may identify one plant that needs replacing or that never performed well in your garden. Or you might find a new spot to plant in. January is the month to get the best selection of new roses at nurseries and garden centers. Plants in containers, like ours, will begin developing their new feeder roots, while plants held as bare root or wrapped in plastic bags will not be able to start root growth until you get them home and planted.
There are always many new selections to choose from both in the stores and from catalogs. This year at Eisley’s we have the two All-American Rose Society selections: Dick Clark, a grandiflora with cream & cherry bi-color blossoms blushed with burgundy, and with a moderate spice fragrance; and Walking on Sunshine, a floribunda with bright yellow inner petals and lighter yellow outer petals, and having a moderate anise fragrance. Both of these have good to excellent disease resistance. There are also three exclusive 2012 introductions which can only be found at Eisley’s: Koko Loko, a floribunda with milky chocolate to lavender blooms and a mild fragrance; Sugar Moon, a hybrid tea with bright white flowers and an intense citrus & rose fragrance; and last, Stormy Weather, a climber with deep purple blossoms and a moderate spice fragrance. The last three varieties are in limited quantities this year. These are only five of the many new introductions, so if you’re shopping for roses this year, come in and walk through the rose area to see all the choices. There is sure to be one with the color and fragrance to satisfy everybody!
So get out and do your chores, and then get dirty planting some new roses in your garden!
Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.
