 |
||||||||||||||||||
| #8 - Get Garden Info | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Two Great Plants
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Taken from the B.Y.G.L. (Buckeye Yard and Garden Online) Newsletter
Contributing Authors: Pam Bennett, Joe Boggs, Cindy Meyer, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke, Gary Gao, David Goerig, Tim Malinich, Becky McCann, Bridget Meiring, Amy Stone and Curtis Young |
||||||||||||||||||
|
White Fringetree
(Chionanthus virginicus). White Fringetree, otherwise known as grancy gray-beard, or old-man's beard, is grown in the landscape as a small tree or shrub. White Fringetree is generally rounded in form and is grown primarily for its beautiful white spring flowers. The flowers are produced in terminal 6" long panicles that have the look of puffy white clouds.Each flower on the panicle is strap-shaped with four petals. Individual plants are dioecious (either male or female), with male plants being more showy because of their longer petals. Dark blue, grape-like clusters of fruit make a nice show in late summer, but only on female trees. The Fringetree belongs to the olive family and prefers moist well-drained soils. In the landscape, Fringetree reaches 12-20' with a matching spread. Some cultivars to look for include 'Spring Fleecing' and 'Emerald Knight'. |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||
| Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables that can be harvested from the garden. A member of the lily family, this perennial produces pounds of edible spears from a crown planted 5-6" below the soil surface. Each crown eventually produces about 1/2 lb. of spears every year. Since a one-time planting of asparagus bears for many years (even decades) care should be taken in its installation. Asparagus plants are usually sold as roots. The recommended planting method is to dig a trench 6" deep, working in copious amounts of compost. Asparagus grows best in soils with a pH between 6.5-7.5, adjust pH as needed. Place the roots 18" apart in the bottom of the trench, fertilize and cover with soil. To allow the crown and roots to develop do not harvest asparagus spears in the first season of growth. One can make a light harvest (over a few weeks) in the second season. A full harvest normally begins the third year after planting. Fresh asparagus spears emerge daily and can be harvested over a six or seven week period. When spear diameter begins to decrease significantly, the harvest should cease to allow the plant to produce mature ferns. The ferns spend the remainder of the year preparing for next year's harvest |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||