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B | C | D |F| H | I | M | N | O | Q | Z | More Commonly Asked QuestionsBacterial Spot
Last summer many of my annuals had brown spots with a yellow edge on the leaves. Some of my four o'clocks didn't even flower. What is the problem?
It sounds like bacterial spot. If you cut the stems of the four o'clocks you will find an oozing, sticky secretion? That is a great way of ascertaining whether you have a bacterial problem. The brown spots on the leaves start small but soon spread and merge together. The yellow edge on the leaf is called a halo, but sometimes it doesn't appear even when there are spots. These spots will eventually fall out of the leaves, leaving holes.
The pathogens of bacterial spot overwinter in soil, seeds, and plant material, and can even be found on tools and flower pots. Try to find seeds or plants that are resistant to this problem. Clean up and destroy all infected materials from your gardens and tools and don't plant in the same space as last year. There are some copper sprays that can be used as a last resort and this might help if the soil is severely infected with the pathogens. Read the label before purchasing any spray product and follow the directions carefully.
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Begonias
Are begonias easy to maintain in a garden?
Yes, if the soil is rich and well drained; always allow the soil to dry out between watering to avoid rotting stems. The wax, fibrous, and ever-blooming begonias (Begonia semperflorens) are colorful bedding plants that will thrive in full sun, except when the temperature goes above 90 degrees, and they do just as well in dappled shade. These particular types are almost untouched by disease or pests. Even the leaf colors vary, making an especially eye-catching contrast in your garden. A double-flowered form that resembles small rosebuds is also available.
Growing begonias from seed takes a lot of patience because the seeds are almost like dust and need to be started as early as December for planting in May. They take two to three weeks to germinate and require high humidity and warm temperatures. For this reason, many gardeners prefer to purchase potted plants. Once established, they will continue to bloom until frost arrives in late fall.
Tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberhybrida) have the biggest flowers with the greatest diversity of shapes. These plants need shade in the afternoon or the leaves will scorch. Some become top heavy and must be staked. Begonia tubers can also be stored over the winter like dahlias.
All my begonias look awful. They get lots of water and the soil was tested and is okay. I cannot find any insects either. Any idea what could be the problem?
Most likely, heat damage. When the weather suddenly goes from cool to hot, dry, and windy, water is evaporating from the leaves too quickly and the roots cannot take up water fast enough to replace it. Your plants will recover as long as you keep the soil moist. Try shading the plants (in fact, impatiens is a shade plant) and misting until the weather gets back to normal. I saw an excellent shade system where the gardener took black screening material and set it at an angle to diffuse the sun. At a glance, you couldn't even see the screening propped up with sticks.
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Borage
I'm looking for the name of a plant my mother grew that had rough leaves and blue flowers. She grew it in the vegetable garden and coated the leaves with sugar and used them to decorate cakes. I think cucumber was in the name.
She grew borage (Borago officinalis). This is a very tough annual that was grown in vegetable gardens to repel tomato hornworms. I can't find any scientific data on this but the crushed leaves do smell and taste something like a cucumber. Borage grows to about two feet high and wide, has a hollow, coarse stem, and equally bristly leaves that do get large. The flowers are star shaped and bloom all summer. Borage likes a rich, sandy, moist but well drained soil, a pH of about 6.5, and cool weather. It does self seed but moving the plant is risky once it is established. The best thing is to buy potted plants or plant seed outdoors where you want it to grow. There is also a white cultivar.
top of pageCarnations
Can we grow florist carnations here in South County?
Yes we can. Annual carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) take a long time from seed to flower. The seeds must be started almost four months before they can be planted outside so it's best to buy transplants from a nursery if you want flowers this year. The seeds need to be chilled in a freezer for about a week before placing them in a starting medium; then they need temperatures of about 70 degrees F to germinate. After two to four weeks, the seedlings will emerge and must be kept at a cooler temperature. After hardening off, they can be planted out in early April even though there may still be frost. They must have a soil that drains quickly or they will rot.
To obtain the single large blossom, trim off all side shoots as they develop. In our hot summers, keep them deadheaded and mulch to keep the roots cool. By covering the carnations with mulch it might be possible to winter them over for spring blooms.
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Coleus
I have an area beneath the overhang of a patio that is shady. Also, snow gets piled there during the winter so plants don't survive and I want something bright for this spot during the summer. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Coleus! The whole plant glows with color (though some varieties will be less colorful than others) and each leaf seems to be a bit different from the next, in fact, they come in so many leaf variations you could probably plant the entire area and not repeat. Coleus are excellent for growing on the north side of a building but will do just as well on the south side and there are even species that thrive in the sun. The deeper the color, the taller they will grow. As long as the soil is moist but well drained, and heavily mulched, coleus will continue to grow until frost.
If you want to plant seeds, they should be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. They like the temperature around 75 degrees to germinate and they need light, so don't cover the seeds. Cuttings can be rooted very easily in water and many gardeners keep them going as a houseplant all winter by this method. Be sure to pinch plants for bushier growth and pinch out any flowers that start to form.
top of pageCosmos
I need information about cosmos. The ones I planted last year didn't do well.
According to a major botanical tome, cosmos, is a composite plant (relative of the daisy) and a member of the Helianthus Tribe (which includes the sunflower). In the north they must be sown indoors in early spring in order to have flowers by fall. They do not like a rich soil. Do not fertilize! The most important thing is that once established, cosmos come back year after year. But because cosmos reseed so well, don't expect them to grow exactly where they grew last year. I speak from experience.
Cosmos are a fast growing annual that can reach 6 feet tall by summer's end. A native of Mexico and the southwestern United States, they have become a favorite in cottage gardens. Give them plenty of space to grow, preferably near something they can lean against as staking cosmos is next to impossible. It's best to put them at the back of any garden border.
You can start the seed outdoors after the danger of frost has past and the temperature reaches the 70s. Just barely cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate. However, for a guaranteed bloom the first year, purchase seedlings. The foliage is feathery and the stalks become hollow as they grow. The flowers range from purple to pink or white and are excellent in arrangements because they last a long time. There are also shorter varieties with different flower forms that are available.
top of pageDeadheading and Pinching
Why is it recommended that we pinch and cut off all dead marigolds and zinnias in the garden?
It's called deadheading or removing dead flower heads. As soon as a flower dies the plant sets seeds and it's life span is over. That's the physiological norm for most annuals - they must produce seed for survival as they don't have other means of doing so. When you remove the flower, the plant can't set seeds so it must grow more flowers and will continue to do so until seeds are produced or it is destroyed by other means, such as frost or being pulled from the ground. When you deadhead, snap off dying flower clusters and cut below single flowers where a node is present or just above a leaf.
Pinching is done for another reason - to encourage new growth. When you pinch off the tops of single stems, the plant responds by producing additional stems and more flower buds. This also helps the plant become sturdier and more resistant to wind and rain damage.
All flowering plants should be deadheaded to stimulate flower production.
top of pageDried Flowers
Can you give me a list of annuals I can grow and use to make dried flower arrangements?
Gosh, a lot of flowers can be dried but some of the easiest annuals are; statice (Limonium), strawflower (Bracteantha bracteata), cockscombs (Celosia), baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans), globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa), pincushion flower (Scabiosa stellata), moneywort (Lunaria annua), larkspur (Consolida ajacis), bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis), love in the mist (Nigella damascena) and rose everlasting (Helipterum roseum).
If you have a dehydrator, many other annuals can also be preserved though some will fade a bit. You may wish to try Swan River daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia) and pot marigold (Calendula officinalis). Immortelle (Xeranthemum annuum) flowers dry very well, holding their shape and color. Try experimenting with various flowers and drying methods. Oh, and don't forget to include some grasses.
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Drought-Resistant Annuals
What annuals will grow well without water?
All plants need some water, but there are drought-resistant annuals that would work fine. Because annuals are fast growers, they don't develop large roots that demand lots of water and most of them do well with no more water than from rainfall. They may not look as nice as those that receive extra moisture but these drought-resistant plants won't disappoint you.
Annual salvias are a wonderful choice - just like their perennial relatives. Morning glories (Convolvulus), the California poppy (Eschscholzia), Gazania, Marguerite daisy (Argyrathemum), and moss rose (Portulaca) are just a few. Look for annuals with thick leaves or stems, silvery leaves, or low, ground-hugging varieties. These are good physical characteristics for plants that will stand up to dry conditions. These plants usually aren't bothered by wildlife either, the leaves are usually taste bitter or, like cacti, are spiny.
top of pageFuchsia
I just bought a fuchsia and hung it on my porch. All the flowers fell off! I water it every day and feed it once a week. It gets sun in the afternoon. What is causing the flowers to drop?
Most likely the problem is a culture shock. That plant had been growing in ideal conditions and when you placed it outside – in the wind and with afternoon sun – it reacted. Many plants will do this because they need a transition period to adjust to all the environmental changes. Fuchsia needs to be in a wind-free area with some, preferably morning, sun. Then, water only when the surface of the medium dries out as watering too much can cause root rot. Feed the plant every other week with a balanced plant food. If your plant’s leaves look okay, clip off all the flowerless stems to the next leaf, protect it from the wind, and let it recover.
top of pageHeliotrope
I have a plant called Cherry Pie. Does it need a sunny window or will it be fine in a north exposure?
Assuming that you are talking about the heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens ‘Cherry Pie’, yes, it needs sun. Heliotrope is normally a bushy plant that is grown as an annual but is sold as a houseplant in some garden centers. It has purple flowers and hybrids are available with blue and white flowers. You can prune it as soon as the blooms fade. The foliage alone makes it worth keeping the plant going until next spring. Keep the soil evenly moist and the humidity high. Also, be careful as it is somewhat toxic and many people are allergic to the sap.
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Impatiens
All my impatiens look awful. They get lots of water and the soil was tested and is okay. I cannot find any insects either. Any idea what could be the problem?
Most likely, heat damage. When the weather suddenly goes from cool to hot, dry, and windy, water is evaporating from the leaves too quickly and the roots cannot take up water fast enough to replace it. Your plants will recover as long as you keep the soil moist. Try shading the plants (in fact, impatiens is a shade plant) and misting until the weather gets back to normal. I saw an excellent shade system where the gardener took black screening material and set it at an angle to diffuse the sun. At a glance, you couldn't even see the screening propped up with sticks.
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Marigolds
What are tagetes?
Tagetes is the botanical name (genus) for marigolds. The name derives from an Etruscan deity, Tages, the grandson of Jupiter, who sprang from the plowed earth. Marigolds came from Mexico and Central America and now we have four species: T. erecta, T. lucide, T. patula, and T. tenuifolia signata.
For most of us marigolds are a garden standby. They are easy to start from seed, readily available every spring at nurseries and garden centers, fast to bloom, and come in varying sizes and colors ranging from pale yellow to dark mahogany. The erect African marigold (T. erecta) was once thought to be a native but, like all the species, it came from Mexico. It's also the one with the typical 'odor' associated with marigolds. The bright colored marigold is T. lucide. The French marigold (T. patula) is a small but bushy plant that's always welcome in the front of flowerbeds and in window boxes. Tagetes tenuifolia , with finely divided leaves or ferny, lemon-scented foliage with smaller flowers that develop within the foliage, is the Signet marigold. There is also a sterile hybrid between the African and French marigolds that produces flowers resembling some dahlias - and they don't have to be deadheaded either!
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Moss Rose
Someone suggested that I plant moss rose around my stepping stones. Can you tell me more about this plant?
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a wonderful plant for trouble spots because it's tough and reseeds prolifically. It grows almost prostrate and forms a mat of fleshy leaves and stems topped with flowers in every color of the rainbow and then some. The flowers close at night and will not open on cloudy days. Also, there are double varieties that just sparkle.
Plant moss rose in full sun in a light, sandy soil that has good drainage. These plants like moisture and will develop into a lush heavily flowered carpet when water is available as long as the roots don't stay wet. However, they are very tender plants and will collapse at the first frost in fall…but, the seeds are already waiting for the return of warm weather.
Either purchase potted plants or sprinkle seed where you want them to grow. They will germinate when the temperature reaches the 70s. Seed may be also be started indoors for a quicker bloom, but don't put the seedlings into the ground until late May. Once established, they will reseed and come back for many years.
top of pageNasturtium
What is the vine that old timers used to plant with their corn? It had round leaves and orange or yellow flowers.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) was planted along with the corn and squash to repel insects. Nasturtium is a vigorous, vine-like plant with round leaves and bright flowers that have a long spur extending from behind. Today, there are varieties of nasturtiums that can be grown as bushy, compact plants about a foot high. They need to grow in full sun in well-drained soil. Excess water and shade create lots of foliage at the expense of the flowers. The old farmers, my dad included, used to put lots of manure into their gardens and nasturtiums thrived on this. They like cool, dry summers but they will grow anywhere only just not as vigorously. In our area they grow best in early summer and fall.
Nasturtiums will reseed but don't expect the same colors that were planted. The seeds need light to germinate so don't cover them with soil. Some gardeners soak the seeds overnight before planting them. They take anywhere from one to two weeks to germinate depending on how warm the soil is.
Don't restrict nasturtiums to the veggie garden, they look great in window boxes and mixed with foliage plants in planters. The flowers are delicious in salads and the small leaves can be utilized as well, tasting similar to cress. If you look in seed catalogs, you'll find a large variety of nasturtiums to chose from.
top of pageOrnamental Cabbage
Why didn't the ornamental cabbage I planted last spring have any color.
Ornamental cabbage and kale won't develop color until the weather is cold. That's only one problem with growing your own. Another is deciding where you want them to be when they bloom (that is, show color). For this reason, most gardeners buy them in the fall and set them where they want them. Besides, when purchasing a plant you can see the foliage already in color which makes it easier to choose. These ornamental plants will keep their foliage color right through most of the winter months. If you do wish to start your own, do so in pots and keep them under row covers to avoid the insect damage. Like all members of the brassica family, caterpillars like them and this can be a major problem during the spring and summer months. Keep these plants in shade during the heat of summer and mulch them to keep the roots cool.
top of pageQueen Anne's Lace
Can Queen Anne's Lace be grown in the garden?
Yes, but don't expect a bloom for two years because it's a biennial, producing a rosette of greens the first year and flowers the second. Once you have one established, there will be one in your garden every year. Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) has a long tap root, which makes it impossible to transplant, so wherever it germinates is where it will stay. There is a copycat - lace flower (Ammi majus) - that will give you lovely flowers the first year. Both plants attract beneficial insects and that is a plus. Lace flower likes a humus-rich, moist soil but it must be well drained. This plant will grow in either full sun or partial shade. It takes about 14 weeks to reach bloom so it is best to start plants inside. Light frost won't bother them but windy locations can be disastrous on their slim stems. These annuals also keep well in a vase, they dry nicely, and they make good pressed flowers for craft projects.
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Zinnia
My zinnia stalks have small holes in the stems and they are falling over. Some look like they are dying. A nursery worker said I had borers and I should pull them up. Is she right?
She might be, it depends on how far the damage has progressed. The stalk borer is a long, thin, striped (sometimes purple) caterpillar. The holes are where it (the larva) entered the stalk to feed; it feeds inside the stem and on the leaves, becoming quite a pest. You can cut the stems below the hole and hope that the plant will develop side shoots. You can also dry and remove the borer by slitting the stem. After removing the larva, bind the stem back together and keep the plant watered. Or, you can inject B.t.k. (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), into the stem and apply it on the leaves. If a plant is too far gone for trying any of the above, then rip it out.
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