HINT on RHUBARB from Marilyn Lahr
Rhubarb plants can live well for 8 to 10 years and some are growing in our mothers back yards for much longer than that. Rhubarb likes well-drained soil rich in organic material. It is a heavy feeder and likes a bit of fertilizer early in the spring with a top dressing of compost in spring and fall. Water regularly during hot weather. When planting place the root crown two inches below the ground. Leave about three feet between plants. Don't harvest stalks from a new plant its first year of growing. The second year you may harvest but never more than a third of the stalks at a time. Pull the stalks from the plant rather than cutting them. A gentle pull and twist should free them. Discard the leaves in the compost pile. The leaves contain oxalis acid which can cause severe poisoning (but the deer don't seem to be affected). Pull off any flower stalks that may develop - or leave them on for cutting and include in flower arrangements during the Summer.
Gardening Tips & Techniques
Garden Web Three new forums have just been added to the Garden Web. The first one covers peonies, the second is on heaths and heathers and the third is for those living in Canada. If you're looking for garden societies, botanical gardens and other garden-related organizations, be sure to visit the GardenWeb directory! The directory is divided into general categories (membership organizations, arboreta/botanical gardens, etc.) and can be searched or browsed. Looking for something to do this weekend? Stop by the Calendar of Garden Events and see what's listed for your area!Fertilizer Recipe: from Bob Colwoll of "Ida Rose" via Connie DeSort 8 parts alfalfa meal (check label to see that there is no salt) 2 parts cottonseed meal 2 parts rock phosphate 2 parts bone meal 1part blood meal 1 part epsom salt The bone, blood, and fish will attract cats and dogs so a litter ground pepper dusted around the dripline will keep them away till the smell is less attractive. After watering apply this mix at pruning time around the drip line and gently work into the top one or two inches of soil. The ground here is usually quite wet at pruning time so the watering may not be needed. The recommended rate is one cup per foot of bush but as our growing season is short I use the following: 1 cup for medium size roses 3-5 feet, 2 cups for larger roses and climbers, and a little less for small roses.
Deer:
Danna says that the only product that works for keeping deer away from plants is:
Wireless Deer Fences
Begonias:
If you would like magnificent begonias like the ones we saw at
Dayle's house at our August 13 meeting, here's what she has to say:
The best source I've found to order bulbs is Antonelli Brothers in Santa Cruz, CA. Their website is: Antonelli Brothers
I start my hold-over bulbs in Feb or March, but Antonellis send their bulbs in April.
Put them in flats on top of peat moss or planting soil and put them in a dark warm spot. (Furnace rooms are good) It takes approximately a month before the sprouts start,, and when they become quite noticeable, plant them fairly close together in flats and use a soil mixture of 4 parts compost - 1 part potting soil (not planting mix) and 1 part coarse sand. Make sure the bulb is slightly covered and water sparingly. When the leaves get to be 3", plant them in plastic 6 1/2" pots with the same soil mixture. It is important that you DO NOT OVERWATER. Let them slightly dry out between watering. Place these pots in a warm area in filtered sunlight, or I use grow bulbs. They can be kept in the pots or planted in good drainage soil -the above mix. A NE direction is excellent as they do like some morning sun. When they start to bloom, I pinch off the 2 side blossoms to create a larger bloom. This is optional as some of the side blooms are doubles. The stems are very brittle and require support staking. I use Antonelli's fertilizers -one for growing (24-14-14) and one for blooms (18-18-18) or 15-30-15 is also good.
In the fall, let a light frost zap the plant - dig the bulb with the stems, and put them on flats to completely die back before you remove the bulb. Dust with sulpher and store them in peat moss or saw dust.
Interesting Bonsai Information