Plants of the week

10/27/11
Newsletter Topics

#1 - Tips of the Week

#3 - Insects of the Week

#5 - Winterizer Lawn Food

#4 - Universal Watering

#2 - Plants of the Week

Plants of the Week

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

ANNUAL - CREEPING ZINNIA (Zinnia angustifolia).
Many gardeners tend to shy away from zinnias because of problems with leaf spots and powdery mildew; however, creeping zinnias are an excellent choice
because they don't have these problems. In addition, they keep blooming well into the fall, providing gardens with fall color.

These easy-to-grow annuals work best in sun and well-drained soils. They can be sown directly into the ground or planted from seedlings in the spring. They provide a spectacular display of small 1" flowers by late June.

The flowers are orange, yellow, gold, pink, red, or white, cover the entire plant, and don't require deadheading.

In addition, their flowers don't fade as some other zinnia flowers do and they maintain a bold color throughout the summer. The plants grow in a rounded mound and are around 1' tall by 1' wide.

PERENNIAL - JAPANESE BLOOD GRASS (Imperata cylandrica).
The red and green foliage of this ornamental grass tends to shine in the evening sunlight this time of the year. Japanese blood grass is an excellent grass variety for slightly shady and moist conditions, as it thrives in this climate. On the other hand,
given these perfect conditions, it might also have to be contained as it tends to spread prolifically. One might want to use containers to keep it in check in the landscape.

Japanese blood grass grows about 1-11/2' tall and spreads. It takes full sun to part shade and prefers moist soils.

The best foliage occurs in full sun. The upper half of the leaf blade turns a brilliant garnet-red in the summer, deepening to a burgundy in the fall. The cultivar 'Rubra' is considered "tamer" than the species and won't spread as much.

SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS (Clematis ternifolia).
The massive vine spreads at least 20' if given ample support and is covered in brilliant snow-white blooms at this time of the year. In addition, it's quite fragrant and is attractive to bees. Its aggressive growth habit can be controlled by regular spring pruning.

Seedlings can easily be pulled if found popping up in other areas of the garden. It takes full sun, but will bloom nicely in filtered shade as well.

VEGETABLE - ONION (Allium cepa).
One of the easiest plants to grow in your garden is the onion. Onions can be grown from seed, plants or sets in the spring, and are typically annual plants. Most require at least 100 days from planting until they are ready for harvest. However, the inpatient gardener may harvest onions early and consume them as green onions. Onions commonly grown are the mild types, like the White and Yellow Sweet Spanish, and the more pungent globe types. Other less common types are the potato onion (Allium cepa var. solanium), which forms a compound bulb underground, and the Egyptian onion (Allium cepa var. viviparum) that produces clusters of small bulbs called bulbils at the top of the seed stalk in late summer. Both
are referred to as winter onions and if planted in the fall, will overwinter with some protection against the cold.

Onions grow best in loose, well drained soil that offers sufficient nutrients and organic matter. It is best to keep nitrogen to a minimum so as to not produce excessive green growth. Onions grow best in a somewhat acidicsoil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8.

Harvest onions when the green tops have fallen over and dried. Cured onions store better. To cure, place in a warm, low humidity, well ventilated area until the necks are thoroughly dry. Once cured store in a cool, well ventilated, dark area and enjoy them all winter long.