Master Gardeners
“One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.” — W.E. Johns, “The Passing show.”
Order your seeds now. If you don’t have enough seed catalogs, borrow some from a friend or go online and search for “garden seeds and plants.” There are dozens of great seed companies that will send you a catalog or take your order online. you can search for “garden seeds” and find a treasure trove of seed companies specializing in organic seeds, heirloom varieties, exotic and unusual seeds, as well as your favorite varieties of vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs. Don’t overlook the specialty companies, which feature potatoes, garlic or tomatoes.
Start onions from seed. How’s this project for a vault into spring? Nice stocky onion starts will help produce big onions. Seed 20 to 30 seeds in a 6-inch pot filled with seed starting mix. Give them lots of light, a cool temperature, water as needed and fertilize with weak, liquid fish fertilizer.
If they get too tall and leggy, trim them back and use trimmings for salad or stir-fry. when the weather warms a little, expose the whole pot to outdoor conditions gradually. when you get ready to plant them, dump out the whole pot and carefully separate the individual plants by teasing apart the roots. Starting onions this way protects against transported disease and allows you to try lots of different varieties, not just the ones available as starts at the nurseries.
Start perennials from seed. Yarrow, hollyhocks, purple coneflower, dame’s rocket, blanket flower, salvia, speedwell, pansies and others germinate readily. Other perennials have tricky germination requirements having to do with cold, light or scarifying (breaking down the hard seed coating). Don’t be afraid to try. do a little research and experiment. when growing plants indoors, be sure to provide lots of light either from sunlight or grow lights and slowly expose them to cold before planting them outside.
It is best to plant young perennials in a “nursery bed” the first year where you can keep track of them and baby them just a little. the next year they can be planted in their permanent home. Many will not bloom until the second year. This is a cheap way of adding perennials to your yard — if you have the patience.
Watch for a break in the weather when you can apply dormant oil spray. a well-timed application will help control over-wintering insects, such as aphids and scale. Avoid spraying when temperatures are below freezing, when it is raining or when the wind is blowing. Always read the labels for garden chemicals and follow all instructions. a second application close to bud break is advisable.
It’s not too late to build a cold frame to use this spring. a glass window or door set atop four bales of straw arranged in a rectangle makes a quick, nicely insulated place to acclimate plants and start cold-weather veggies and greens like lettuce and broccoli. Provide a way to prop up the top when it’s sunny. a little sun on a cold day can warm up a cold frame enough to damage plants unless vented.
Do some pruning while fruit trees are dormant. If you’re inexperienced, ask a knowledgeable neighbor or friend for advice. Well-pruned trees are easier to spray and maintain. for spring flowering shrubs like forsythia, put off pruning until after flowering.
Q. I am making out my nursery order and want to purchase a plant I saw in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden last summer. it was located in the xeric portion and was rather tall and had pink flowers. it was so fragrant and sort of smelled like candy. can you help?
A. we think you are describing Agastache Bubble Gum Mint. we have planted several of them and they really put on a show. Originally from the Southwest, they are drought tolerant, hardy, smell like bubble gum and the hummingbirds love them.
You have your choice of many varieties and colors of Agastache. Even though the word mint is mentioned in their description, they do not spread like mint, and are more of a clumping shape.
In a future column we will answer some of your questions about the care and reblooming of those Christmas Cactus and Amaryllis plants that are so beautiful in your home this winter.
* WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is an organization of trained volunteers dedicated to horticulture and community service. questions about gardening, landscaping, or this Program can be directed towards the Master Gardener Clinic at 509-574-1600 or visit us at the WSU Extension office on 104 N. First St. in Yakima. new volunteers welcome.
Yakima Valley Mushroom Society meeting on Tuesday
The first meeting of 2012 promises to be a fun evening of club business, a short movie and refreshments. take a walk in the woods with famed photographer, author and lecturer Taylor Lockwood to discover some of the most beautiful mushrooms in North America in the movie titled “Mushrooms of America.” All mushroom enthusiasts are welcome to attend.
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 17
Time: 7 to 9 p.m. (mushroom identifier available at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Yakima Area Arboretum, Gardenview Room
Tickets available for garden show
Tickets are now available for the annual Northwest Flower and Garden show which will be in full swing from Feb. 8-12 in the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. the theme for this year’s show is “A Floral Symphony.” Check out their website at gardenshow.com for further information.
Spring workshop series scheduled
The annual Master Gardener Spring Workshop series is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, March 7 through 28.
We have scheduled some wonderful presentations on a variety of topics, so mark your calendars now and watch for further details in the next column.
