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1 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Landscape Gardening and OrnamentalsChecklist for December/January/February• PlanttulipsandhyacinthbulbsthatpreviouslyhavebeenrefrigeratedforsixtoeightweeksinlateDecemberorearlyJanuary.
• DaffodilbulbscanbeplantedthroughlateDecemberifyoufindthemonsaleatnurseries.Theydonothavetoberefrigeratedbeforeplanting.ExcellentcultivarsthatcomebackandbloomforyearsinLouisianaincludeIceFollies,Fortune,CarltonandUnsurpassable.
• Removeoldflowersfromyourcool-seasonbeddingplantstoextendbloomingandimproveflowerperformance.
• PlantgladiolusinlateFebruaryinsouthLouisianaandinearlyMarchinnorthLouisiana.Prolongthebloomingseasonbyplantingattwo-tothree-weekintervalsthroughearlyApril.
• Mulchshrubandflowerbedsto2to3inchesdeeptominimizeweedproblems.
• WatchazaleasinFebruaryforlacebugs.Theycausethefoliagetohavenumeroussmallwhitespotsastheyfeedunderneathlowerfoliage.Controlwithhorticulturaloilspraysoracephate.
• Alatewinterplantingofpetuniaswillprovideagoodflowershowforearlyspring.ConsidertheWave,TidalWaveandSupertuniaseries.
• Winterisagreattimeforplantingtrees.SomeexcellentnativespeciesforLouisianaincludenuttalloak,southernredoak,willowoak,redmaple,southernmagnolia,baldcypressandmayhaw.
• Februaryistheidealtimetofertilizetrees.Treesintheirfirst10yearsafterplantinggenerallybenefitthemostfromfertilization.Treesinlowvigoralsoshouldbefertilized.
• JanuaryandFebruaryaregoodmonthstoprunelandscapetreesandanydeciduousandevergreenplantsthatdon’tflowerinthespring.
• Cleanandsharpentoolsbeforeyouputthemawayforwinter.Wipethemetalbladeswithanoilycloththatcoatsthemwithathinlayerofprotectiveoiltohelppreventcorrosion.Coatwoodenhandleswithprotectantssuchasasealer,tungoilorvarnish.
• Februaryisagoodtimetoplantcontainerorbare-rootroses.Bare-rootrosebushesshouldbeplantedbytheendofFebruary.Earlyplantingallowsrosebushestobecomeestablishedintheirnewlocationsbeforetheybegintobloom.Thisincreasesthenumberandqualityofflowers,andthebushesaremorepreparedtodealwithsummerheatwhenitarrivesinMay.Plantrosesinsunny,well-preparedbedsthathaveexcellentdrainage
• LookforLouisianaSuperPlantsatyourlocalnurseries.Theseplantshavebeenselectedfortheiroutstandingbeautyandreliabilityinthelandscape.ParticipatingnurserieswillhavesignsandlogosindicatingtheSuperPlantsselectionstheycarry.Tofindtheclosestparticipatingnurserytowhereyoulive,gotowww.LSUAgCenter.com/SuperPlants.
• TrimbackdormantornamentalgrassesinlateFebruary.Itisimportanttoremovethebrownleavesbeforethenewgrowthemergesandmixeswiththedeadgrowth.Electrichedgetrimmersareagoodtooltouseforthisjob.
Plant tulips this fall for spring flowers.
Winter2012-2013
Horticulture Hints
2 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Holiday Cactus Available in November, December
ThanksgivingcactusesandChrist-mascactuseshavebeenhybridizedwitheachothertothepointthatwenowgrouptoday’scultivarstogetherunderthecatchallnameholidaycactus.TheybloomfromNovemberthroughJanuaryandgenerallyarepurchasedinNovemberandDecem-ber.
Whenyougetthemhome,placethemnearabright,sunnywindowandkeepthesoilevenlymoist.Itisquitecommonfortheseplantstodropflowerbudswhenyougetthemhome,butthereislittleyoucandoaboutthat.Still,manybloomsandbudswillholdon,andtheirgreatbeautyinshadesofmagenta,red,pink,orange,goldorwhitemaketheirpurchaseworthit.
Holidaycactuseswillrewardyouwithbloomseveryyearformanyyearsifgrowncorrectly.Afteralltheflowershavedroppedoff,allowthesoiltobecomefairlydrybetweenwaterings,andkeeptheplantinabrightwindow.Aneastorwestwindowwillprovideplentyoflight.Theyalsowillthriveonaporchorpatioinasemishadedpositionduringthesummer.
Theyaretriggeredtobloombylongnightsandchillynighttimetemperaturesinthe50s.TheeasiestwaytogetaplanttobloomagainistoplaceitoutdoorsinOctober(ifyouhavebeengrowingitinside).Leaveitoutside,allowingthepro-gressivelylongerandcoolernightstoinitiatebudstoform.(Donotleavetheplantoutonanightwhenafreezeispredicted,however.)Onceyouseelittleflowerbudsatthetipsofthebranches,movetheplantintoabrightwindowinsideandkeepthesoilevenlymoist.
There’s Still Time To Plant La. Super Plants
TheLouisianaSuperPlantsprogramisanLSUAgCentereducationalandmarketingcampaignthathighlightstoughandbeauti-fulplantsthatperformwellinLouisianalandscapes.
LouisianaSuperPlantsselectionshaveahistoryofoutstandingperformanceinLouisianaorhavegonethroughseveralyearsofuniversityevaluationsandobserva-tions.LouisianaSuperPlantsare“universitytestedandindustryapproved.”
Here are the Louisiana Super Plants for fall 2012:
‘Conversation Piece’ AzaleaFlowersizeon‘ConversationPiece’
azaleascanbenearly4inchesacross,andflowersofdifferentcolors,includingdarkpink,variegatedpinkandwhiteandnearlywhite,appearonthesameplant.Itisalow-growing,moundingevergreenshrubusefulasacoloraccentorinafoundationplantinginpartlyshadedareas.
Sorbet Series ViolaSorbetviolasarethebestflowering
violasinLSUAgCentertrials.TheyarecompletelywinterhardyinLouisianaandcomeinamultitudeofbrightcolors.
Evergreen Sweet Bay MagnoliaTheevergreensweetbaymagnolia
(Magnolia virginiana var. Australis)isanexcellentnativetreethatretainsitsleavesthroughthewinter.Maturetreeswillaver-ageabout30feettallwithaspreadof20feet,butlargersizesarecommon.
New Louisiana Super Plants for Spring
LSU A
gCenter RecommendedSUPERSUPERSUPER
Plants
Louisiana
Plants
Louisiana
Look for more Louisiana Super Plants announced each spring and fall
LSUAgCenter.com/SuperPlants
Begonia - BabyWing seriesHydrangea 'Penny Mac'
Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita'
University tested and industry approved
Superior performance under Louisiana growing conditions
Ask for Louisiana Super Plants where you shop.
3 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Louisianaisknownformanythings–spicyfood,CajunandZydecomusic,andpeoplewithfunnyaccents!Wearenot,however,knownforfallfoliage.TouristsaremorelikelytovisitLouisianaforalligatorsightingsthanprettyfallcolors!
Thatbeingsaid,however,thereareafewtreesthatboththriveinLouisianaandprovideexcellentfallcolor.SpeciesincludeTallowtrees(Sapium sebifera),someofyoumayrefertotheseaschickenseedtrees,Japanesemaple(Acer palmatum)andredswampmaples(Acer rubrum var. drummondii),amongothers.
Butfallcolorisnotthepremiseofthisarticle.Easygardeningisthepremise,andalthoughtheymaylackcolor,Louisianaleavesmakeexcellentmulchmaterialforyourvegetableandornamentalgardens.Collect-ingandplacingfallenleavesintothegardenismuchsimplerthanpullingweeds.
Notonlyismulchingwithleavesanexcellentsimplealternativetoweeding,thoseleavesalsohap-pentobefree!
Hereareafewtipstofollowwhenusingfoliageasmulchinyourgardenareas:• Iftheleavesfromthetreesinyouryardarelarge,suchaswithsycamoretrees,chopleavesuppriortoplacingtheminthegardensothewinddoesnotcarrythemaway.Hint:Foreasychopping,runoverthemwithyourlawnmowerafewtimes.
• Putenoughleavesdowntocreatea4-6inchlayerofmulchmaterial.Youwanttopreventsunlightfromreachingthesoilsurfacesoweedseedsdonotgerminateandemerge.
• Don’thavetrees?Don’twanttopickuptheleavesinyouryard?Drivearoundongarbagedayandpickupotherpeople’scollectedandbaggedleaves!Youmayhavetosortthroughafewunwanteditemssuchaslargesticks,butit’swellworththemulch!
• IfenoughofusfollowthisLouEASYanagardeningtip,Louisianamightbecomeknownforitsmusic,food,accents,andclean,weed-freegardens.
Camellias in ContainersCamelliasarealmostindispensableinthesouthern
landscapeandarewelllovedfortheirlargecolorfulwinterbloomsfromDecembertoApril.Theirshinyevergreenfoliagealsostaysattractivethroughthewinter.
Evenmore,asbeautifulastheyareintheground,camelliasadapthappilytolifeincontainersandareparticularlyimpressivegrownthatway.
Growingcamelliasincontainersallowsgardenerstocultivatethemwheregroundspaceisnotavailable,suchasanapartmentbalconyoradeckorpatio.Italsoallowsyoutomoveaplantaroundtodifferentlocations–bringingittoaprominentpositionwhileitsflowersareattheirbestandplacingitinamoreout-of-the-wayspotatothertimes,forinstance.
Theircoldhardinessmeansyoucanleavethemoutsidethroughthewinter,exceptfortherareoccasionswhentemperaturesgobelow20degreesbecausetherootballmightfreeze.
Thetypeofpotyouchooseisasmuchamatteroftasteaswhatisbestforthecamellias.Blackplasticpotsfromthenurseryworkfinebutlookabittooutilitarianformostlandscapes.Decorativeplasticinmutedcolors,terracotta,fiberglass,glazedpotteryandwoodallmakesuitablecontainers(althoughtermitesmakewoodaquestionablechoice).Whatevercon-taineryouchoose,makesurethedrainageholesareadequate.
Thedrainagealsoisaffectedbythepottingmixyouuse.Donotusegardensoil.Instead,choosefast-drainingsoilmixesspecificallyblendedforuseincontainers.
Eventually,acamelliawillrequireacontainerabout2feetwideand2feetdeepasitreachesmaturity.Thistakesanumberofyears,however,anditisbesttogrowcamelliasinsmallerpotsthatareappropriatetotheirsize,graduallyshiftingthemtolargercontainersastheyoutgrowtheonestheyarein.Thecamelliaisnotoneofthoseplantsthatwillsuffertheminuteitgetsabitpot-bound,butyoushouldn’tallowittoremaininthatstateformorethanayearortwo.Otherwise,thegrowthwillbestuntedandflowersfew.
Whenrepotting,shifttheplantintoanewpotonlyafewinchesoronesizelarger.Plantingintoanexcessivelylargerpotcreatesasituationwhereoverwateringandrootrotaremorelikelytooccur.
Whenrepottingyourcamellia,donotplantitanydeeperthanitwasgrowinginitsoriginalcontainer.Also,thelevelofthesoilshouldbeaninchortwolowerthantherimofthepottofacilitatewatering.
Youdoneedtowaterregularly,evendaily,duringhot,summerweather.Camelliasarelikelytodroptheirflowerbudsifyouallowthemtobecometoodrybeforewatering.Fertilizationisbestaccomplishedwithasolublefertilizerforacid-lovingplantsappliedonceortwiceamonthduringthespringandsummer.Oruseaslow-releasefertilizerappliedonceinthespring.
Whenyouthinkaboutplantsincontainerstoem-bellishyourfrontentrance,patio,courtyard,balconyordeck,don’tforgettheoutstandinglybeautifulcamellia.
4 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Avoid Encouraging Termites
Whilefallandwinterareexcel-lenttimesforaddinghardytrees,shrubsandgroundcoverstothelandscape,theseseasonsalsoare
timestobecautiousaboutcreat-ingproblemsthatcouldbringter-mitesintoyourhome.
LSUAgCenterexpertsofferthesesuggestionstoreducethepos-sibilityoftermiteproblems:• Placeguttersandslopeyourlandscapebedssowaterdrainsawayfromyourhouse.
• Keepmulchinbedsadjacenttothehousepulledbackabout12inchesfromthefoundation.
• Donotaddfilldirtaroundthefoundationorunderporchesorstepswithoutcontactingyourtermitecompanyforretreatment.
• Donotdisturbthechemicalbarrieratthebaseoftheslaboraroundpilingsbydiggingintoitduringbedpreparation.
• Promptlyremoveallscrapwoodandwoodendebrisfromthelandscape.
• Pinestrawappearstobethemulchthatisleastattractivetotermites.Avoidusingwoodchipstomulchbedsadjacenttothehouseorotherstructures.
• Usemetaledging,decorativebricksorborderplantstoedgeyourbeds.Avoidlandscapetimbers,railroadtiesorotherwoodenmaterialsthatmayserveasfoodfortermites.
• Whenwatering,avoidsprayingwateragainstthefoundationofyourhouse.
• Leaveatleast2inchesofspacebetweenyourhouseandadeckorotherwoodenstructureoutside.Builddecksandotherstructuresonconcretepadsandtreataroundthepadsandposts.
• Donotallowclingingvines,suchasEnglishivyorcreepingfig,togrowonthewallofyourhouse.
What Is in a Name?InwhatisprobablyoneofthemostquotedlinesfromShakespeare’s
play,Romeo and Juliette,Juliettesays,“Whatisinaname?Arosebyanyothernamewouldsmellassweet.”Thepointbeing,whatsomethingisdoesnotchangebasedonwhatwecallit.Aroseisgoingtolook,smellandbewhatitisregardlessofwhatnamewegiveit.
Butingardening,knowingthepropernamesofplantsisimportant.Weneedtoknowandproperlyuseplantnamesforavarietyofreasons.
Knowingthepropernameisthekeytofindinginformationaboutaplant.Thereisnotmuchaprofessionalcandotoprovidecareinforma-tionifthegardenerdoesnotknowthepropernameoftheplant.OrifyouwanttolookupinformationaboutanewplantinareferencebookorontheInternet,youhavetohavetherightnamefortheplanttodothat.Knowingtherightnamealsoisimportantinfindingandpurchasingaparticularplantyouwant.PlantsareknownbybothcommonandLatinnames.
Commonnamesareeasiertopronounceandremember,andmostgardenersgetbyusingthemexclusively.Buttheyhavetheirlimits.Latinnamesarethemostreliablenamestoknowanduse.Unfortunately,peoplegenerallydon’tlikeLatinnames.Everyoneisintimidatedbythoselong,unpronounceablestringsoflettersthatmakeuptheLatinnamesofsomeplants.
Why,youmightask,dealwiththeseunfamiliarandforeignwords?Althoughcommonnamesareuseful,theychangefromregiontoregion–andaroundtheworld–forthesameplant.Severaldifferentcommonnamescanapplytothesameplant,oronecommonnamecanapplytoseveraldifferentplants.Youcanseehoweasilyconfusioncancreepintothissituation.Eachplant,however,hasonlyoneofficialLatinname,anditisusedworldwide.
IntheageofinternationalInternetcommunicationaboutplants,Latinnamesarebecomingincreasinglyimportant.SoIwouldencourageyoutoputasidewhatIcallyour“nomenclaturephobia”andtrytouseLatinnamesmoreofteninyourgardeningefforts.Forthat,ithelpstounder-standalittlebitaboutLatinnames.
BinomialnomenclatureisthescientificsystemdevelopedbyCarlvonLinne(Linnaeus)inthe1700sthatgivesatwo-partnametoeachplantoranimal.Thefirstname,thegenus,isfollowedbyadescriptivename,thespecies.ThegenusandspeciestogetherformthescientificorLatinnameofaplant.
Thegenusisagroupofcloselyrelatedplantsthathavemanysharedcharacteristics,suchasQuercus–theoaks;Ulmus–theelms;andLilium–thelilies.Thegenusactuallycanstandalone.WhenyouseethewordQuercus,youknowitreferstooaks.
Agenusissubdividedintospecies.Whenaspeciesnameisaddedto Quercus,youhavethenameofaparticulartypeofoak,suchasQuercus virginiana,theliveoak,orQuercus shumardii,theShumardoak.Thespeciesnamemustbepairedwithagenustomeananything.Itismeaninglessbyitself.
Sincetheyareinaforeignlanguage,Latinnamesgenerallyareitali-cizedorunderlinedintext.Pronunciationoftenisachallenge,butyoushouldjustdoyourbest.Andyoudon’thavetoknowhowtopronounceaLatinnametorecognizeitorwriteit,soit’snotaninsurmountableobstacle.Thesedays,thereareevenwebsitesandmagazinesthatprovidehelpfulpronunciationguides.
Soalthoughyoumayhatethem,scientificnamesoftenarecriticaltoproperlyidentifyingplants.Andwheneveryouareaskingquestions,doingresearchorlookingtobuyaparticularplant,therearemanyinstanceswherehavingtheLatinnamewillmakeyoureffortsmoresuccessful.
Dan Gill, Horticulturist
5 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Avocados for LouisianaColdhardinessisthesinglemostimportantlimitingfactorfor
avocadoproductioninLouisiana.Unfortunately,research-basedinformationonthistopicisnonexistent.Thereareseveralinflu-encesthatareknowntoaffectcoldhardiness,however.
Theacclimatizingtemperaturestheplanthasexperiencedpriortothepotentialdamagingtemperaturescanbeimportantinensuringthattheplantisatmaximumhardiness.Aquickcoldsnapafterweeksofwarmtemperaturesmakestheplantmoresusceptibletoinjury.Thedurationofthepotentialdamagingtem-peraturesalsocanbepartofthedynamicthatdetermineshow
muchdamageissustained.Andthefinalfactoristheminimumtemperaturestheplantactuallyexperiences.
Collectively,thesedetermineiftheplantisdamaged.Addition-ally,youngtreestendtobelesscoldhardythanmaturetreesbysomethinglike1to6degreesFahrenheit.
Ihaveheardthatsomevarietiescantoleraterangesaslowas15-18Fforafewhoursandalsothatdamagecanbeexpectedat25-26F.
TheracesofavocadosareWestIndian,GuatemalanandMexican.Ingeneral,theMexicanandMexicanhybridecotypesarethemostcoldhardyofthethreeecotypes(alsoknownasraces).
TheMexicantypehasrelativelysmallfruit,75-300grams(2.6-10.6ounces)inweight,athin,smoothblackskin,andalooseseed.Thistypehasthehighestoilcontent(sometimes30percent)andgrowsinthedriestandcoolestlocations.Thevarietiesthataremostoftenmentionedasbeingthemostcoldhardyinclude‘Pryor’(‘Fantastic’),‘Lila’,‘Joey’,‘BrazosBelle’,‘Pancho’and‘WinterMexican’.
Avocadosareeasilypropagatedbygerminatingthelargeseed(pit).Thiswillproduceatreeofunknownquality,however,whichwillhavequestionablecoldhardiness.Homeownersshouldpurchaseonlyknowngraftedvarietiesfromthelistabove.
Floralinductionoccursduringthefallandwinterfollowingcessationofsummervegetativegrowth.Floralinitiationrequiresexposuretocooltemperaturesbelow68F.Optimumday/nighttemperaturesduringfloweringfornormalfloweringbehaviorarearound75F/68F.Cross-pollinationbetweentwodifferentvarietiesprobablyisnotnecessarybutdoestendtoincreasefruitsetandfruitsize.
Thisfruitistrulyunusual,notonlybecauseitisoilyandnotsweet,butalsobecauseitneversoftenswhilestillonthetree,whereitremainshardandcontinuestogrow.Avocadoskeepfairlywellwhilehardbutcanturnsoftovernight.Toripenanavocado,placethefruitintoasmallpaperbag,includinganappleorbananaifyouareinahurry.Anyonewhohaspreparedguacamoledipknowsthegreenfleshblackensfairlyrapidly,andthiscanberetardedbyimmediatelymixingwithlemon(acidic)juice.Tokeepthegreenfleshofacutavocadofromturningblack,youcanimmediatelywashthecutsurfacewithcoldwaterbeforewrappingitinaplasticbag.
Dr. David Himelrick
Fruits Louisiana Master Gardener Volunteer Program
TheLSUAgCenter’sLouisianaMasterGardenerVolunteerProgramoffersthepublicawonderfulcombinationofhorticulturaltrainingandleadershipopportunities.
Designedtorecruitandtrainvolunteers,theLouisianaMasterGardenerprogramisopentoanyonewithawillingnesstolearnandadesiretohelpothers.TrainingfortheLouisianaMasterGardenerprogramistailoredtoinstructionforbeginnersaswellasexperiencedgardeners.
Classesareofferedinmorethan21parish-esacrossthestate,with54parishesbenefittingfromMasterGardenervolunteerinvolvement.MasterGardenerclassesoffer40to50hoursofinstructiononavarietyofinterestinghorti-culturaltopics.AsaMasterGardener,youwilllearnaboutinsectsanddiseases,ornamentalplants,fruitsandvegetablesandsoilfertility,aswellashowtodiagnoseplantproblems.
Inexchangeforhorticulturaltraining,Mas-terGardenerscontributetimeasvolunteers,workingthroughtheirparishLSUAgCenterEx-tensionServiceofficestodevelopandenhancecommunityprogramsrelatedtohorticulture.ParticipantsintheMasterGardenerprogramnotonlybecomebettergardeners,theylearnhowtohelpyouthsandadultswithgardeningneeds.Dependingonthecommunityneeds,thismayincludeenvironmentalimprovementactivities,parishfairs,planthealthclinics,civicmeetingsandcommunityandschoolgardeningprograms.
Enjoythesatisfactionthatmorethan2,000citizensacrossthestateareexperiencingascertifiedLouisianaMasterGardeners.FormoreinformationontheLouisianaMasterGardenerprogram,contactyourparishLSUAgCenterof-ficeorvisittheLSUAgCenterMasterGardenerwebsiteatwww.LSUAgCenter.com/MasterGardener.
Rene’ G. SchmitState Master Gardener Coordinator
6 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Vegetable GardeningCrop Highlights
Onions: Transplantpencil-sizeonionplantsfrommid-DecemberthroughJanuary.Fertilizewith6to7poundsofacompletefertilizersuchas8-24-24or13-13-13per100
feetofrow(about0.6-0.7poundsper10feetofrow)abouttwoweeksbeforetransplanting.Spaceplantsabout3inchesto4inchesapartintherow.Severaldrillsmaybeplantedon
arowwith6-inchto12-inchspacingbetweendrills.Side-dressonions,shallotsandgarlicwhengrowthstartsinearlyFebruary.Use¼
teaspoonofammoniumnitrateor½teaspoonofcalciumnitratebetweeneveryotherplant.Twoadditionalside-dressingsattwo-weektothree-weekintervalswillincreasebulbsize.
ControlweedsduringearlyNovemberandDecember.ControlthripswithMalathion!Shallots: Shallotsetscanbeplantedanytimeduringthewinter.Ifyouhavesomegrow-
inginthegarden,replantseveralasyouharvestbycuttingbacktopsandseparatingbulbsandtransplantingthemagain.SeparateplantsduringDecemberandJanuaryfornextyear’ssets.
Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Chinese Cabbage: Cabbageplantednowmayencounterlowtemperatures.Temperaturesinthelow20swillinjuresomeofthecabbage,andlowertemperatureswillfreezemanyvarieties.RecommendedvarietiesforwinterproductionareBravo,Cheers,BlueVantage,Emblem,VantagePointandRioVerde.Forreds,tryCardinal,RedRookie831,RedRookieorSaladBowl.
Boltingmayoccur.Boltingiscausedwhenplantsgodormantbecauseofprolongedexposuretocoolertemperatures(45Fandlower).Boltingofthecool-seasoncropsalsowilloccurwhenlate-seasoncropsareexposedtohottemperatures.
EachofthesevegetablescanbeplanteddirectlyintothefieldduringJanuary,butcauli-flowerandChinesecabbageshouldnotbetransplanteduntillateJanuaryorFebruary.
Irish potatoes: BeginplantingIrishpotatoesaroundmid-JanuaryinsouthLouisianaandaboutthefirstofFebruaryinnorthLouisiana.Fertilizeattherateof7to8poundsofacompletefertilizer(8-8-8,13-13-13)or8-24-24per100feetofrowbeforeplanting(0.7-0.8poundsper10feetofrow).
Cutseedpotatoesintoblockypiecesthatweighabout1½to2ounceseachorareaboutthesizeofanegg.Besureeachseedpiecehasatleastoneeye.Thatiswheretheplantwilloriginate.Irishpotatoplantsmaybenippedbackbyalightfrost,butdamageusu-allyisnotserious.
Plantseedpieces10to15inchesapartintherow.
Transplant ProductionSeedsofcolecropssuchascabbage,broccoliandcauliflowerwillgerminatewellincool
soils(temperaturesfrom45to50Fdegrees)buttheyhaveearliergerminationtimesathighersoiltemperatures.Aftergermination,growplantsat70to80degreesFahrenheitforabouttwomonthsforbestresults.
Transplantsrequiresunlight.Providefullsunlightalldaywhenseedlingsfirstappear.Ifstartingtransplantsinsideahouse,keeponabrightwindowsill.Mostcolecropswillbereadytotransplantfivetosixweeksafterseeding.
Makesureyouhardenoffyourtransplantsbeforemovingthemintothegarden.Removetheplantsfromyourhomeorgreenhouseandkeepoutsideforoneweek.Waterlessfrequentlythanyoudidwhentheyweregrowingindoors.
Planttransplantsintothegardenearlyinthemorningorearlyintheevening.Donotwaitanylongerthanonehourafterplantingtowater!
Justanaside,everytimetheLSUAgCentergivesfertilizerrecommendations,theyarebasedona100-footrowthatisapproximately4feetwide.Forinstance,ifourrecommenda-tionssay6poundsper100-footrow,itrepresentstheamountfora400-square-footarea.Ifyouhaveagardenthatis10feetwideand10feetlong,youhave100squarefeet.So,6poundsper400squarefeetwouldbe1.5poundsfor100squarefeet.Apoundof13-13-13or8-8-8is1pintor16ounces.
Dr. Kathryn Fontenot, Community/School Vegetable Gardens
Thefallseasonisagreattimetogrowvegetables.Theweatherispleasant,andinsectandweedpressuresarelesssevere–withtheexceptionofcaterpil-lars.Watchoutforthesepeskypestsonallcrops,especiallyyourcabbage!
Prepareyoursoil,andstartseedingupcrops.Ifyouactquickly,youmightevenpulloffacroportwotoaddtoyourThanksgivingandChristmasfeasts!Peopleoftenbragoftheirhomemadereci-pes.Yourswillbeevenbetterifthey’rehome-grownandhomemade!
Read the vegetable crop highlights, and give winter vegetables a try!
7 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Decemberbeginsableaktimeforwarm-seasonturfgrasses.MostlawnsshouldbedormantoratleastclosetothisstagebyChristmas.
Becauselawnsarenotactivelygrowing,fertilizerapplicationsarenotneededduringthewinter.Infact,nitrogenfertilizationshouldhaveceasedonhomelawnsbylatesummer(mid-tolateAugustforSt.Augustinegrassandcentipedegrass).NitrogenfertilizerondormanttosemidormantSt.Augustine,centipedeandzoysialawnscanleadtoincreasedbrownpatchandwinterkill.Also,nitrogenapplicationsduringthistimehaveagreaterpotentialforleachingormovementintonontargetareas.
Soil Sampling and LimingWinterisanexcellenttimeto
collectsoilsamplesandsubmitthemforanalysis.
Samplesshouldbeacompositeofsoilcollectedfrom3to4inchesdeepatvariousplacesaroundthelawn.ReducethesampletoaboutapintofsoilandtakeittotheLSUAgCenterExtensionServiceofficeinyourparishortoaparticipatinggardencenter.Makesuretospecifythetypeofgrass
Turfgrasses and Lawnsyouaregrowingonthesoiltestform.
SoilsamplessubmittedtotheLSUAgCentercostonly$10,buttheyprovideawealthofinformationconcerningtheoverallfertilityofyoursoil.
IfresultsofthesoiltestindicatethesoilpHistooacidic,limewillbeprescribedinthesoiltestrecom-mendations.Winteristhebesttimetoapplylimesoitcanbefullyactivatedbythefollowingspring.ThecorrectsoilpHisextremelyimpor-tantandhaseverythingtodowithnutrientavailabilitytoyourlawn’srootsandtofertilizerperformance.
Turf Establishment Postponeanypermanentwarm-
seasonturfgrassestablishmentfromseeduntilnextspring.
Sod,suchasSt.Augustineandcentipedegrasses,canbelaidduringwinterandestablishedsuccessfullyduringthespring.Butremembertokeepitmoisttopreventitfromdryingoutanddying.
Evenestablishmentofsodiseasi-est,however,whensoddingisdelayeduntilthemiddleofspring,wellafter
springgreen-up.
Winter Weed Management
Broadleafweedsandannualbluegrassinfest-ingSt.Augustine,centipede,zoysiaanddormantBermudagrassescanbemanagedwithapplica-tionsofatrazineherbicide.
FebruaryandMarcharegoodmonthstospraywinterweedswhiletheyarestillactivelygrowing.Also,herbicidescontainingthree-waymixturesof2,4-Dplusdicambaplusmecopropcanbe
usedforwinterbroadleafcontrolinallsouthernturfgrassesthistimeoftheyear.
Sinceweed-and-feedproductsusuallycontainhighlevelsofnitro-genfertilizer,applicationshouldbedelayeduntiltheappropriatetimesforapplyingnitrogen-containingfertilizersforyourarea.(Seearticleaboutbrownpatchaboveforrecom-mendationsabouttimingoffertilizerapplication.)Weed-and-feedproductscanbesubstitutedasyourfirstap-plicationoffertilizerduringtheearlyspring.
Brown PatchBrownpatchdiseasecancome
andgothroughoutthewinteriftheweatherismild.
Treatmentwithfungicidescon-tainingmyclobutanil,propiconazole,pyraclostrobin,thiophanate-methyl
andtriticonazolewillreducethespreadofbrownpatch.Inaddition,azoxystrobinisnowavailableasgranularfungicide.Azoxystrobinisoneofthebestfungicidesonbrownpatchdisease.
Damagefrombrownpatchwillslowspringgreen-up,andaffectedareaswillremainunsightlyuntilwarmerspringweatherconditionshelpwithturfgrassrecovery.
Lawnsmayshowsignsofgreen-upinsouthernLouisianainlateFebru-ary.Donotpushturfgrassgrowthwithfertilizeratthattime.Fertilizerappliedtooearlywillfeedwinterweedsandwillresultinlushturfgrassgrowththatismoresusceptibletoinjuryfromlatefrostsorbrownpatch.LawnsmaybefertilizedintheNewOrleansareabylateMarch,butdelayfertilizingareasnorthofBatonRougeuntilearlytomid-April.
Ron StrahanTurfgrass Science
8 Horticulture HintsWinter 2012-2013
Visit our LSU AgCenter Store
www.lsuagcenter.com/OnlineStore
Prepared quarterly by:
Kathryn Fontenot, Ph.D., Community/School Vegetable GardensDan Gill, Consumer HorticultureCharles Graham, Ph.D., NutsDavid Himelrick, Ph.D., FruitsRon Strahan, Ph.D., Lawns
Parish agents, please adapt these suggestions to your area before disseminating.
School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences155 J. C. Miller Hall - LSU, Post Office Box 25100, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70894-5100
(225)578-2222; Fax: (225)578-0773The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
School of Plant, Environmental and Soil SciencesHorticulture Division155J.C.MillerHall-LSUPostOfficeBox25100BatonRouge,Louisiana70894-5100
Winter2012-2013
Horticulture Hints