Month: May 2008

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Mike McGrath will be in Princeton on June 7th


Sustainable Lawrence Presents: An Afternoon with WHYY Radio Host Mike McGrath “You Bet Your Garden”

A Rare Sighting in the Greater Princeton Area

Organic Gardening, composting, Organic Lawn, & Organic Tomato lovers
Come to hear, see, and ask questions of Mike McGrath – Lecture
and Demonstrations, Q &A, A Book Signing Organic Afternoon

WHYY/NPR Radio Host of the Nationally Syndicated Garden program
“You Bet Your Garden” Tomato and Compost Expert Supreme

MIKE McGRATH

“Get Your Lawn Off of Drugs” and Container Gardening, Compost, the Best Organic Tomato Plants”

Former Editor in Chief of Organic Gardening Magazine
Garden Editor of WTOP Washington DC
Columnist for GreenPrints Magazine
Author of McGrath’s Book of Compost; You Bet Your Tomatoes, and
Kitchen Gardening

June 7th 1 PM 3 PM

The Lawrenceville School Kirby Arts Center
Rt. 206 Lawrenceville Boro

$5.00 donation at the door
Rain or Shine

For more info go here.

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Soil for Knockout Roses

TheGardenLady received this question from Pat:

I am getting ready to plant Knockout Roses in my garden in northern South Carolina, and wonder how to best prepare the soil? We have very dense red clay mixed with some sand. Any recommendations on how to get these roses off to their best start in this type of soil?

Sorry it took so long to get back to you with a response, but TheGardenLady went right to one the sources of KnockOut Roses (see here) to get you the answer. I added a link to Permatill, a product mentioned in this column.

Here is the advice from a spokesperson for Novalis Plants that Work:

Continue reading “Soil for Knockout Roses”

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Diseased Marigolds

                                              Alternaria

TheGardenLady received this question from Helen.

I just put in marigolds next to my tomatoes, as companion plants. I think I’ve overwatered them and it’s been rainy in Ithaca this year…White spots are forming on them. I don’t have a digital camera handy, or I’d show you what they look like. My daughter says they have the chicken pox! Do I dig them up and replace them with new ones or do I just try to dry them out? I worry if they stay, that they are diseased and will just get worse-maybe attracting pests… What’s your advice?

Not seeing your marigold plants TheGardenLady thinks you have diseased marigold plants. Heavy rains and winds can carry a disease called alternaria to ornamental plants. See here.

Even though TheGardenLady has not seen the marigold plant and the problem, TheGardenLady would pull out the sick looking marigolds which are cheap to replace. The reason for this suggestion is because you might get a similar fungus, a fungus in the same genus, on your tomato plants and this alternaria or Tomato Early Blight damages the tomato plants and fruits. See here.

Continue reading “Diseased Marigolds”

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Oklahoma Rose

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Leah:

Isnt the Oklahoma rose the state flower for oklahoma?

According to all the websites on Oklahoma, in 2004 the Oklahoma Rose became the state flower. Oklahoma Rose is Rosa Odorata, a hybrid tea rose. This is a very fragrant rose developed at Oklahoma State University.

Oklahoma also has a state floral emblem – Mistletoe- Phoradendron serotinum.  This became the state floral emblem in 1893, 14 years before Oklahoma became a state. See here and here.

And Oklahoma has a state wildflower – the Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella.  See here and here.  

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What to do with your plants when you go on vacation

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Steph.

I am going away for 4 weeks from mid-July and I don’t know what will happen to my plants! I can’t get anyone else to water them and I am afraid they will die…I’ve been nurturing them for about 1-3 years now…I have a ficus/rubber plant (Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’), a yucca (not too worried about this one) and still young/small Cycas revoluta/Sago palm. The sago palm is already suffering as one of its leaves is turning increasingly yellow, and I never know if this happens because of sun burn or lacking/excessive water. How can I ensure my beloved plants (I’ve even named them!) do not die while I am away? The only outside space I have is a small balcony which is west-facing and is battered by the sun from the early afternoon onwards (and is subject to temperamental UK weather).  

Going on vacation and leaving plants can be a serious concern. 4 weeks is a very long time to leave plants untended. Two weeks is about the longest time that plants seem to be able to tolerate. You are really trying to “push the envelope.”

I have been told that bonsai growers will rent a van and pack all their bonsai in the van and drive with the bonsai wherever they go when they go on vacation. Of course, this is an extreme measure, but it is a suggestion.

Continue reading “What to do with your plants when you go on vacation”