Last week’s low temperatures may result in some problems for anxious gardeners wanting to get an early start with their veggie gardens and planting of some annuals. Some greenhouse plants that have been growing in the nice warm environment at 60º and 70º soil temperatures are planted in soil temperatures that are barely 50º and air temps getting down into the 30’s or 40’s there can be some setbacks. Just stop and think about how you would like to get out of your nice warm bed and get into a bath tub of 50º water, not cool at all. Tomatoes and peppers are two varieties that must have warm temperatures to do well. Tomatoes that are planted before the soil and air temps are warm will can develop calcium deficiency causing a situation known as ‘blossom end rot’ which distorts the shape of early fruit with a black bottom end of the tomato. This is not very pretty but the tomato is still edible.
Vinca, Zinnias, Impatiens and a few others are also of the warm weather family of annual flowering plants. The early start that gardeners are attempting to do will backfire and these “warm blooded” plants will be set back and sometimes plain give up or certainly exhibit their displeasure with yellow leaves and a lack of vigor. Hopefully any early planted plants of these varieties will not show these symptoms but if they do....remember where you received the news.
Another subject that is appropriate especially right after Mother’s Day is the care of the many hanging baskets that are purchased this past weekend for Mom. Here are a few tips to follow so these plants will do great for weeks and months to come.
Be sure the basket has the right light exposure, either in the sun or shade.
Keep baskets watered according to their requirements. Cool, calm, sunless days require less water. Hot, windy, sunny days possibly twice a day (especially in the heat and humidity of July and August).
Don’t let your hanging baskets dry out completely or it will stress the plant.
Fertilize every 2 weeks with half-strength MiracleGro OR use Osmocote, a granular slow-release fertilizer that will last up to 4 months after application.
To keep looking fresh, remove spent blooms as needed.. Gardening hint: Million Bells(Calibrachoa), Blanket Petunias, Fuchsia, Santa Cruz begonias self dead-head.
Hoping all of your gardening season goes well and your gardens produce a bountiful harvest this season.
Your gardening team at Meadow View
www.meadowview.com for more info