Month: April 2007

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Honey Bee Crisis

TheGardenLady received this question from Joy:

Are you aware of the honeybee crisis and do you think that it will have an
effect on gardening and domestic plants?

The Garden Lady has been hearing about the bee crisis for a number of years.  The Garden Lady has noticed fewer and fewer bees on her property even though she never uses pesticides nor herbicides; both can harm beneficial insects like honey bees.  Alas, my policy of not putting toxic poisons on the ground is a rareity. Most people prefer lawns without “weeds” like clover. Clover to TheGardenLady is welcome in her lawn. Clover is a honeybee attractant. The GardenLady also tries to plant flowering plants that will attract pollinators. The oregano and mint area of my garden is one spot that is filled with nectar sipping insects that are pollinators.

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Global Warming and Gardening

 

TheGardenLady received these questions from Jen:

Are there any plant related reasons to worry or any precautions to take about the unseasonably warm November and December we’ve had on the East Coast so far this year? Is the weather going to mess up the natural cycles of native trees and plants? I’m mainly concerned because I see buds on some trees already.

As TheGardenLady wrote, this issue is of major concern to scientists.  TheGardenLady is interested in what scientists are saying and will periodically report on this topic.

The other day a Rutgers professor was quoted as saying that in NJ gardeners are to expect more flooding because of more major rains yet he said there will be more droughts.

Today there is a 3-day symposium  at the New York Botanical Garden called “Gardening in a Changing Climate,”  This is open to the public.  In this week’s New York Times  there was an article by ANNE RAVER about some problems entitled Must Tulips Wither as the Climate Changes?  It is about nursing plants through new highs and lows in a changing climate.

Here is a website to check on the impact of  climate change in all areas including agriculture in your state is EPA Global Warming by State.

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Window Gardens – Planting in Windowboxes and Containers

                                                                            

TheGardenLady received this question from Karen. 

I am planning on moving to Florida this year, and I would really love to grow a window garden in the warm weather.  Coming from Alaska and having no prior experience with gardens, I’m not really sure where to start.  What kind of window boxes are available that are low-cost?  Are window gardens really high maintainance?  What sort of flowers should I choose that will thrive in Florida’s enviroment?  

Welcome to the East Coast. After the short growing season of Alaska you may think you have arrived in flower heaven when you reach Florida. After all Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who  first saw Florida on Palm Sunday, April 2, 1513 thought he had so he named the state “Pascua de Florida,” meaning “Feast of Flowers.”  The state has a nickname that is The Sunshine State.  Sunshine is great for growing flowers. However the state  has unique growing environments. 

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When to Plant a Vegetable Garden

                                                               

TheGardenLady received this question from Jenna - 

When should I start planting my vegetable garden?…I live on the east coast of the United States but we’ve had unseasonably cold weather this spring.

Different vegetables need different times to be planted.  Depending on where you live on the East Coast will determine when you will plant the vegetable seeds.   There are what are referred to as warm or cool season crops which refer to the necessary weather conditions for growing the vegetables. Warm season crops require soil that is warm when the seeds are planted and then need long days and high temperatures to ripen fruits. For warm season crops you will have to know when the last killing frost will occur in your area.

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Vegetable Gardens

                                                                

TheGardenLady received this question from Bob –

Does a vegetable garden want more acidic soil or less? I was going to put lime in should I?

TheGardenLady has no idea where you live. Different areas of the country can have soil with different soil requirements.  Check out this site.

When starting a vegetable or any garden, one should first have a soil test taken of the area that you want to use. This way you are not guessing about the wants/ needs of your garden. You will know what the ph of the soil is. To test the soil, you can buy an inexpensive ph kit in your local garden center or you can go to your local Master Garden extension office and purchase a soil kit.

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