megram - Index

megram - 55JulGTA - Index

In the Garden
By Irene Morton
Warm-Weather Gardening
Keeping the brilliance of summer in your plants
Luther Burbank, the famed
American horticulturist, conducted
world-renowned experiments
to improve the quality of plants and
thereby increase the world’s food supply.
He introduced more than 800 new
varieties of plants, including over 200
varieties of fruits,many vegetables,nuts
and grains,and hundreds of ornamental
flowers. Perhaps some of the plants
you have in your garden are the result
of his love and passion for plants and
for making this world a better place.
July and August have traditionally
been the months our gardens come
into their own with fullness of beauty,colour and fragrance,but
with the significant weather changes we have seen this year
only time will tell how our gardens fair this year. Some years, as
we near the middle to end of August, there is a tired look to
some of our plants.Many of the vegetables we have planted are
ready for harvest; strawberries are readily available from mid-
June to mid-July;some fruit trees products are ready for harvest;
and of course, our gardens are in full colour.
To-do list
✔ Take the time to enjoy what you and Mother Nature have
created this season!
✔ Deadhead repeat-blooming annuals and perennials to
encourage new blooms as well as keep them looking
their best.
✔ Remove worn-out annuals and vegetable plants; shearing
some annuals and perennials back will encourage new
growth, giving them a fresh, healthy look for the fall.
✔ Cut flowers for indoor and patio enjoyment.
✔ Water deeply, not superficially.
✔ Water planters regularly.
✔ Thin vegetable crops such as beets, carrots, turnips.
✔ Share extra vegetables with family, friends and neighbours
or donate them to homeless shelters or food banks.
✔ Train new shoots on climbing vines; continue to stake and
tie plants as they grow.
✔ Weed regularly.
“Flowers always
make people better,
happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine,
food, and medicine
to the soul.”
- Luther Burbank
July/August 2008 • 67 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
✔
✔
Work your compost pile.
As the end of August nears, begin
moving houseplants back indoors;
ensure they are not infested with
unwanted insects.
Seed collecting
If you enjoy collecting seeds for
next season,there are a few suggestions
for successful harvesting:
Collect ripe seeds — but before they
fall to the ground.
Remove capsules, pods or heads as
they begin to dry and seeds can be
removed later when completely dry.
Dry seeds on a paper-lined tray in a warm, dry location for
a couple of weeks.
Separate and store seeds in containers (preferably glass) in
a cool, frost-free location.
Gardening myths
I’ve included some samples of some gardening myths
taken from Demystifying Garden Myths found at
www.taunton.com/finegardening/plants/articles/demystifying-garden-myths.aspx.
Myth: If a plant is under stress, it should be fed.
Truth: Fertilizing plants that are not nutrient deficient can lead
to additional stress. Add fertilizer to plants growing in poor
soils and to plants that show symptoms of lacking a particular
nutrient. Generally, when plants are stressed, it is not from lack
of food. Compacted soil, heat, salt spray, faulty planting, and
improper placement are usually the culprits that stress plants.
It is important to rule out other environmental conditions
before deciding a plant is under-fertilized. When fed, stressed
plants use up energy that is better spent on growing roots,
warding off decay organisms, or defending against insects.
Myth: Cover newly pruned areas with varnish, tar, or paint.
Truth: There really is not a way to keep fungal organisms out
of a new cut. In about half of the situations where these
wound dressings are used, the tree’s heartwood decays faster