Innehållsförteckning för July/August 2019 från Garden Gate

The curved handle of a fingernail brush allows you to slip it over your hand and scrub freshly harvested vegetables with vigor and control. Plus, these brushes are more readily available and affordable than most vegetable scrubbers.Carlisle Hansen, IA Floriferous bird bath Cynthia Rodrigue, ME Here’s a pretty DIY bird bath idea that you will get to enjoy as much as the birds. Cynthia filled a hanging basket with a liner and potting mix, but instead of planting inside, she planted trailing annuals on the outside of the basket by cutting openings into the liner. In the photo above, you can see how she placed a plastic plant saucer on top of the potting mix and filled it with water for the birds. The basket hangs from a tree limb…

Jennie Smith’s grandparents couldn’t imagine the number of different tomatoes their granddaughter would one day grow on their old farmstead in central Iowa. And they wouldn’t recognize the range of tomato colors, shapes, sizes and flavors we can choose from today. That’s because we have an astounding selection of heirloom varieties that have been preserved through the efforts of generations of gardeners just like Jennie, not to mention the modern hybrid tomatoes developed by plant breeders. But Jennie definitely has a preference for historical varieties of heirloom tomatoes. DIVERSE LEGACY “The most I’ve ever grown in one season was 85 different heirloom tomatoes on 2 ½ acres,” says the market gardener with a devoted tomato following at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines. “The range of flavors and textures…

The term “heirloom” is defined a little differently from gardener to gardener. But whether it’s been in commerce for over 50 years, existed before World War II or has been open-pollinated and never hybridized, there’s one element that fits the definition of heirloom: A plant that has been passed on through family members, neighbors or entire communities from generation to generation. But how exactly does this work? DIVIDE AND CONQUER Most heirloom plants are preserved by collecting and passing along the seed. But it takes a long time to grow summer bulbs from seed. Instead, most of them produce more bulbs naturally. It’s easiest to dig up and divide plants to pass them along to friends and neighbors. Of course, it’s harder to depend on this process if the bulbs…

New Vintage ™ Violet Deep red-violet blooms stay that way longer than many other varieties and eventually mature to lavender-pink in early summer to fall. Plants grow 12 to 14 inches tall, 10 to 12 inches wide and are cold-hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. ‘Ritzy Rose’ Early blooming and compact, ‘Ritzy Rose’ grows just 10 to 14 inches tall and wide. Deep rose-pink blooms change to pale pink in late spring through summer. It’s cold-hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. ‘Snow Sport’ One of the best white varieties that holds its color, ‘Snow Sport’ has 2- to 3-inch flowers in early summer. Plants grow 24 to 30 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide and are cold-hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. ‘Peachy Seduction’ Peachy pink…

ROSE Rosa spp. and hybrids With repeating blooms in numerous shades, roses are important for a colorful garden! And there are so many newer varieties that are disease-resistant and low-maintenance. Plant a whole rose garden for noticeable and reliable color. Or just plant one good rose, and surround it with a few long-blooming annuals for a vibrant summer-long scene. ALLIUM Allium spp. and hybrids This is Lisa’s favorite color weapon in her garden. She plants multiple cultivars to extend the show. ’Summer Beauty’, ‘Millenium’ and ‘Cowslick’ are some of her choices. Leave the spent blooms for a fullness of texture. COLEUS Plectranthus scutellarioides You can’t beat the vivid saturation and versatility of coleus. He might plant purple-toned coleus one year, then rust-colored the next, but no matter if they’re mounding,…

It’s best to grow a milkweed that is native to your area so monarchs that visit find the habitat to which they are accustomed. You can grow other species, but the natives are suited to your region. Most milkweeds grow best in full sun, but they will tolerate some shade. With the exception of swamp milkweed, which prefers moist, rich soil, milkweed species will thrive in poor, dry soils and disturbed areas, fields, and ditches. Also keep in mind that milkweed plants have some toxicity—so keep them out of places where livestock may graze and don’t let pets or children chew on them. Many people consider milkweed a weed, so if you are worried about these plants spreading too much, there are a few things you can do. Since milkweeds…

Honeyvine milkweed Cynanchum laeve What it looks like Honeyvine milkweed is a perennial vine with 3- to 5-inch-long heart-shaped leaves with white veins and milky sap. Small clusters of white flowers are followed by 3- to 6-inch-long pods filled with feathered seeds that fly in the wind after the pod dries and splits open. Multiplying by seed and spreading by roots, this vine seems to pop up overnight and can completely cover shrubs and small trees in just a few weeks. Where to find it Honeyvine milkweed prefers moist, fertile soil in full sun. How to get rid of it Its stealthy habit of twining through other plants makes chemical control difficult. If climbing milkweed is smothering a desirable plant, cut it off at the ground and wait until the…

Catmint Nepetaspp. Lots of perennials bloom in mid-May, but come August, not many of those same plants are still blooming. Catmint, with a little help, blooms all summer long. But its longevity isn’t the only benefit. All catmints are heat- and drought-tolerant. They’re also extremely pest-resistant, as well as very hardy. On top of that, they’re fragrant. Brush the foliage and you’ll get a pleasant herbal scent. And did you know that catmint flowers are popular with butterflies and hummingbirds, too? ENJOY THE BLOOMS There’s a variety of flower colors, from the deep tones of ‘Six Hills Giant’ at left to soft pastel ‘Blue Ice’ in “Catmint Collection” at right. Add in the gray-green foliage and catmints make amenable neighbors for almost any perennial. Once the blooms begin to decline,…

Dwarf goat’s beard (Aruncus aethusifolius) is a petite cousin of the goat’s beard described above. It has the same creamy, astilbelike flowers and delicate feathery foliage, but on a plant 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. Hardy in cold zones 3 to 8, this is one tough plant. However, it can be slow to get started. Give it humus-rich, moist soil in part shade, and be patient. Even after it’s established, too much sun or very dry conditions will make the foliage burn at the edges. If you want, snip it off and soak the area thoroughly to encourage a new flush of healthy green leaves.…

Raspberry horntail Hartigia cressonii Adults are small, mostly black wasps with a few yellow markings and a spine at the tip of the tail. They lay pearlike eggs and their larvae, with white bodies and light brown heads, have a spine at the tip as well. Damage Adults themselves don’t cause any damage. But they lay their eggs in the canes of raspberries, blackberries and roses. Larvae hatch inside the canes and burrow in the pith, causing stems to girdle and new growth to wilt. Eventually they cause canes to die back. There may be one to two generations per year, with larvae overwintering in the canes. Control These pests are relatively easy to control, and the sooner the problem is identified, the quicker they can be eliminated. You may…

Tomatoes are the number-one homegrown crop. And it’s no wonder: After all, what captures the feel of summer better than a sun-warmed, juicy, just-picked tomato? There are scores of varieties to choose from, so we asked Jennie to share some of her favorites. When deciding, keep the various sizes of the fruit in mind: very small (1 inch or less), small (1 to 1 ½ inches), medium (1 ½ to 3 ½ inches), medium-large (3 ½ to 5 inches), large (5 to 8 inches), extra large (8 to 10 inches) and giant (10 inches and larger). All of these 10 are indeterminate except where noted. Take Jennie’s advice and grow one of these nearly lost treasures in your garden. ‘Rutgers’ Medium-large red fruit with wonderful flavor for canning developed by…

There are few flowers that can improve the look of your borders like yarrow can—its distinctive blooms are long-lasting, pollinator-friendly and deer-resistant. The broad flat-topped flowers create big pools of head-turning color in late spring to summer. Before they bloom, run your fingers through the soft, ferny foliage to enjoy its spicy scent. The path at left has warmth and intensity from the color of cultivars ‘Paprika’ and ‘Moonshine’, which draw you over to take a closer look. These two old favorites are just the right size to place near the front of a border. They’re big enough to make a statement but not so large that they look out of place. ‘Paprika’ grows 18 to 24 inches tall and wide and ‘Moonshine’ grows 12 to 24 inches tall and…

Of this planting, the junipers provide the multiseason muscle, which means they make a year-round backdrop for the statue. But cherry-red dianthus flowers and bright yellow cape daisies, when planted as annuals in midspring, start off the blooming season. Both plants flower best in cooler weather, so plant the cape daisies as early as possible in spring. Deadhead spent flowers to extend their bloom time; they might bloom less in the heat of summer but they’ll fill out again as temperatures cool in fall. The rest of the flowering perennials are stars of summer, and their bloom period will overlap just right with the rose of Sharon, whose flashy purple-pink blooms start in midsummer and last until frost. Unlike other varieties, Purple Pillar is very narrow and grows quite tall.…

You may have seen exciting new cultivars of tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), with vibrant colored blooms and variegated foliage. Monarch caterpillars love the leaves, so they are great food sources. But plant them with a bit of caution. In warm regions, tropical milkweeds stay leafy later in the fall, or even all winter, so there is some concern that butterflies will linger at the nectar-filled flowers, laying eggs that hatch and mature too late to migrate. The evergreen foliage may also harbor spores of the protozoan parasite OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), which can cause butterfly deformities. Until more studies can determine if tropical milkweed’s year-round foliage is a serious factor in these concerns, just cut the plants off close to the ground in midfall. Foliage will grow back after monarchs have…

1 | Fiskars Multipurpose Garden Shears and Snips Guilty of using ordinary scissors for tasks they just aren’t cut out to do? Fiskars’ Multipurpose Shears cut wire, twine, small ropes and open bottles. Remove the black blade and use it as a knife. For heavier-duty garden tasks, the Multipurpose Snips have a serrated edge for sawing through rope or small branches. The included protective sheath is a must as this is one sharp tool! ggmagextra.com/essentials ($19.99 each) 2 | FlowerKisser™ Coral-Pink Sage A shocking and alluring bright pink, this salvia from High Country Gardens makes a cheerful addition to water-wise gardens in zones 6 to 9. It blooms from late spring to fall. It prefers soil that dries out quickly, and its nectar is a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators.…

Dig it out Stay about a foot from the center of the clump and dig out the phlox. A spading fork makes it less likely you’ll slice off as many roots as you would with the sharp blade of a shovel or spade. Knock it off Shake off most of the excess soil. Then you can tear the clump apart with your hands. However, a sharp knife comes in handy if the crowns are woody or if the roots are especially tough and dense. Sort the pieces Plant the divisions with three to seven stems where you want large blooming specimens. Sections that have just one or two stems are worth saving if you have a spot where they can take a year to recover. Soak it in On a…

Astrantia Astrantia major Looking for some unusual flowers to add zip to your garden? Try astrantia. The blooms last a long time in the garden or in a vase. You can even dry them to enjoy through the winter. Clusters of the round-topped flowers you see in the photos at left start to bloom in early summer and, with regular deadheading, can keep going into fall. (What other perennials bloom for a long time? See “More Long Bloomers” at right.) Each flower is surrounded by a colorful papery bract, often in a lighter or green color. For the best color and longest-lasting flowers, cut them when the uppermost buds begin to open. To dry the flowers, hang small bunches upside down in a cool, dark, dry room with good air…

Geraniums may fall apart in the center and their foliage may look a little ratty when the first flush of bloom is spent. Giving them a fresh start is easy! In the larger photo below you can see how to simply gather the stems up and cut them back with scissors to about 4 in. tall. After a couple of weeks, the plants will put out the fresh, new foliage in the smaller photo. Many perennial geraniums will rebloom after they’ve been cut back so you can enjoy them all over again! The varieties ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Wargrave Pink’ rebloom just as profusely as they did the first time around.…

If you’ve liked the look of gabion retaining walls or fencing but wondered how in the world to get something so big in your garden, these projects might just be the solution. They’re sized to fit in any space and easily go together in an afternoon. A trip to the home improvement store and a local flea market will supply you with everything you need. However, both projects are heavy—so it’s a good idea to take all the materials to the place you want it and build on site. MILK CRATE MAKEOVER Old wire frame milk crates like those at left make a sturdy table for your favorite beverage. Depending on your furniture, you might want to make it one or two crates tall. For a stacked table, set one…

Blossom end rot:A sign of calcium imbalance within the plant. Use a fertilizer that contains calcium and be sure to use mulch and keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season. Cracking:Dry weather that gives way to excessive watering or a rainy period can create radial (straight lines) and concentric (circles around the circumference) cracks. These are fine to eat. Tomato fruitworm:A visible black hole is a sign of tomato fruitworm damage. Collect and dispose of any infested fruit before the insect completes its life cycle. Cloudy spot:This is a late-season condition caused by stinkbug damage. Remove any nearby weeds to remove the invasive insects’ habitat. The tomatoes are safe to eat, however.…

You know a plant is well-loved, timeless and a good addition to any garden if it has been zealously passed on and preserved from generation to generation (and painted by artist after artist, and written about over and over). I love summer bulbs for their vivid presence, their splash of color and sudden appearance in the middle of a season when other plants are starting to whimper and fade. You can find them in elegant and over-the-top gardens, as well as planted in a line along the edge of a family’s vegetable patch, adding beauty to an otherwise ordinary spot. It’s not just that these beauties will look good in your garden, but they’ll have a reason for being there, too. Heirloom plants are rooted in story, embellished by a…

What’s the best way to use these long-lasting blooms that pollinators love? Here are some design ideas, along with growing tips for the best-looking yarrow displays. VERSATILE DESIGN Yarrow has long been a favorite in traditional cottage gardens, where its flat-topped flowers and ferny foliage add to the diverse shapes and textures in these packed plantings. But this versatile perennial is really a must-have for any sunny border. You can see the interest ‘Paprika’ creates next to the catmint in the photo at left—its wide, flat-topped flowers supply some structure to catmint’s loose mound of airy spikes. One of the neat things about yarrow is those rigid flowers are supported by stems covered in soft, ferny foliage and on a plant with a relaxed, casual habit. It’s a choice pick…

While shade may feel like a limiting factor when it comes to a colorful garden, it simply is not true. There are many excellent shade-loving plants that bloom and, when combined, can add a lot of pizzazz to a shady situation as you can see above with astilbe and gooseneck loosestrife.…

Have you noticed that fewer monarch butterflies are visiting your garden in the last few years? You’re not alone: Monarch populations are declining all over North America, and one reason is a loss of habitat. Want to help stop the decline and bring more of these fluttering beauties back into your garden? Plant milkweed! A BENEFICIAL BEAUTY The milkweed family is the sole host plant for monarch caterpillars. Adult butterflies eat nectar from many species of plants, including milkweed flowers, but they search out milkweed plants to lay their eggs singly on the undersides of the leaves. Hatching caterpillars easily devour up to 20 leaves each as they grow. Milkweed foliage contains a toxin that caterpillars ingest that deters predators with its bad taste. A single caterpillar may defoliate a…

We saved room in our new raised beds for a fall crop of spinach and lettuces. When should I plant them to ensure a harvest before frost or freezing temperatures? Jo Hay, MA Q A few years ago, I threw some peach pits (Prunus persica) on the ground and several have sprouted and are growing. Are the trees worth keeping? Carlos Herrera, MI A Yes, but they may not produce fruit just like the peaches you ate. Even so, a peach grown from its seed has a better chance of being tasty than many other fruits. Getting a 15-foot peach tree from a peach pit only takes four or five years. And since peaches are self-fertile, you won’t need a second tree. Peach trees are not the same the country…

Looking to light up your shade garden with some floral fireworks? Take a good look at ‘Bottle Rocket’ ligularia. Virtually indestructible if sited in damp shade, ‘Bottle Rocket’ sports large, leathery serrated leaves that unfurl to form an attractive, billowing mound. But that’s not the best part. In midsummer it sends out graceful wands of loosely packed little golden daisies that shoot up like rockets to the sky. DEPENDABLE GROWER Just like hosta, handsome-leafed ligularia deserves a place in the garden just for its leafy show. But the bouquet of yellow flower spikes (a rare flower color for the shade garden!) held just at the top of the foliage is icing on the cake. Although it’s slow-growing (it may take a couple of years to reach maturity), it will certainly…

Planting Plant young hibiscus in spring. If you plant in fall, they may spend more energy trying to bloom than in forming roots, and they might not make it through the winter. In zones 6 and colder, give the plant some extra mulch anyway to help it survive its first winter. Cutting back In areas with cold winters, hardy hibiscus dies back to the ground. Cut stems back to 4 or 5 inches high in spring and let the plant regrow from the base. (They can be late to leaf out.) Even in areas with warm winters, cut back stems to tidy up the plant. Dividing Hibiscus doesn’t need to be divided, but if you want more, spring is the best time to divide hardy hibiscus. Lift the clump and…

Kalimeris Kalimeris pinnatifida White flowers from early summer to late fall; full sun but prefers afternoon shade in hot summer climates; 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide; cold zones 4 to 9 Knautia Knautia macedonica Ruby-red flowers from early summer to midfall, pick or cut flowers to prolong bloom; full sun; 18 to 24 in. tall and wide; cold zones 5 to 9 Pincushion flower Scabiosa columbaria Lavender, yellow or pink flowers from late spring to early fall, snip stems below foliage to keep it blooming; full sun; 12 to 24 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 8 Spiderwort Tradescantiahybrids Purple, pink or white flowers all summer, deadhead to keep it blooming; part shade; 12 to 24 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide;…