Do you find yourself wanting gardening information NOW? Extension has a great new website, called "hortanswers". You can use this website to find out information on a wide range of plants and the problems that affect them. This site is designed to cover plants that are common used in USDA hardiness zones 4, 5 and 6. Give it a try. You can find it at:
We have had a pretty cold winter this year and it sometimes seems that it will be never ending. However, we usually have a little thaw every year, so let's be ready.
The most common thing that happens in a thaw, is that the spring bulbs start popping out of the ground. This tends to worry people. The spring bulbs are meant to bloom in spring and most of them tolerate cold very well, so if we get a warm spell and the bulbs break their dormancy, they will most likely survive a return to cold temperatures as long as they have not bloomed.
A warm spell may also cause fruit trees to bloom early and their blooms are at risk from cold temps. If you want to try to protect your fruit blossoms, you will need to be able to cover the entire tree down to the ground, to hold in heat from the ground on any night that frost is predicted. Not an easy task, but it can be done on dwarf trees.
Perennials that pop out of the ground early, will most likely be alright, unless a prolonged cold period follows the thaw (like last year). If that happens, cover perennials with a sheet at night.
When the thaw comes, enjoy it, but be ready to help your plants.
Garden Tidbit
A rite of spring seems to be scalping the lawn. This really does not need to be done. For the first mowing of spring, you may want to set you mower blade a little lower, but you NEVER need to scalp the lawn. Some rites of spring should just be forgotten.
Yes, shoveling snow is a pain in the neck, but remember that the water from snow melt is beneficial to our gardens.
A Few "To-Do" Items for February and March
February
late in the month, start seeds of cool season vegetables (they can be planted outside in mid-April)
bring branches of forsythia and pussy willow into the warmth of the house to force them into bloom
March
mid-late March start annual and warm season vegetable seeds inside
be sure your garden tools are clean; you may need them soon
Get Started with Summer Bulbs
Summer bulbs are summer-blooming plants that have some type of underground storage structure. They are not cold hardy and will not survive the winter outside. These plants need to be dug at the end of the season and the storage structure kept indoors until the following planting season (after the danger of frost has passed).
Tuberous begonias, (Begonia x tuberhybrida) grow from a tuber. The plants range from 12-18" tall (there are also trailing types) and come in a wide range of flower colors, from pastels to brights. Bloom time is from summer into autumn.
Begonias should be planted about 1" deep, with the concave side of the tuber facing up and spaced about 9-12" apart. They do best in partial shade. Keep soil evenly moist, but not wet. Avoid wetting the foliage since disease can be a problem with begonias
Caladiums (Caladium x hortulanum or Caladium bicolor) grows from a tuber. The plants grow 1-2' tall and have colored foliage in a mix of red, pink, green and white. These plants are grown for their beautiful foliage, not flowers.
Caladiums should be planted about 1" deep, with the knobby side of the tuber facing up and spaced about 8-12" apart. They do best in partial shade, although there are some newer varieties that tolerate sun. Keep soil evenly moist, but not wet.
Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia species and hybrids) grow from a rhizome that looks somewhat like a tuber. Plants grow 1-4' tall and have waxy, trumpet-like flowers in a wide range of colors. Bloom time occurs in mid to late summer.
Plant calla lilies about 1" deep and space the rhizomes about 1-2' apart. Callas like full sun. Keep soil evenly moist to wet.
Cannas (Canna x generalis) grow from a rhizome. Plants range from 2-7' tall, depending on the variety grown. Cannas are grown for both flowers and foliage; they come in a wide range of flower colors (red, orange, yellow, pink, some bicolors) and some cultivars have colored foliage as well. Bloom time is summer into autumn.
Cannas should be planted about 3-4" deep. Plant the rhizomes horizontally and space them about 18-24" apart. Cannas prefer full sun and the best growth occurs in a rich soil with a good supply of moisture.
Dahlias (Dahlia hybrids) grow from tuberous roots. Plants range from 12 inches to 8 feet tall. There are also a wide variety of flower types including anemone-flowered, ball, pompom, cactus, semi-cactus and others. Dahlias also come in a wide range of flower sizes and colors. Bloom time is from summer into fall.
Plant dahlias with the crown (the end with the buds) just above soil level. Spacing of the tuberous roots depends on the mature size of the plant; dahlias that will reach 3 feet or less should be spaced about 2 feet apart; larger plants should be spaced about 3 feet apart. Most dahlias will need staking.
Dahlias prefer full sun. Keep soil evenly moist, but not wet. To obtain larger flowers allow only one shoot to develop. Disbudding will also lead to larger flowers (flower buds come in threes, remove the two side buds).
Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta) grow from a tuber. Plants are 3-3 ½ ' tall, with large, tropical-looking leaves. They are grown for foliage, not flowers.
Plant the tuber 4-6" deep, with blunt end down and space the tubers 2-3 feet apart. Elephant Ears like full sun to partial shade and a moist to wet soil. Protect the plant from wind, as the large leaves can be easily damaged.
Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus) grows from a corm. The plants range from 1-5' tall, and the flowers come in a wide range of colors. Bloom time is mid-summer.
Plant corms 4-6" deep and space them about 3-6" apart. Gladiolus likes full sun. Keep soil evenly moist, but not wet. Protect from wind (staking may be needed).
Many of these bulbs will be showing up in garden centers in March. Buy them soon and start them inside for earlier bloom outside.
