All posts by Gary Antosh

Gardening

Growing Sweat Peas

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For years, raising fine sweet peas has been. a soul-trying experience to gardeners. Particularly in parts of the country where hot weather comes on suddenly in early summer, the strains available seemed to blossom just in time to die. Well aware of this, plant breeders set the task of developing a type that would grow successfully anywhere.

In color, Sweet-peas range from white and cream through the shades of salmon and rose-pink to crison, then blue, scarlet, mauve and lavender.

Planting time – Time of sowing seed Varies in different parts of the country. In the southwestern states, southern Texas and southern Florida, September and October are suitable months. Gardeners in the lower southern states, from Texas to the Atlantic Seaboard, may plant in November, December and January. August or September is the proper planting time for producing early spring bloom in California. In the Pacific Northwest, it is practical to sow the seed outdoors in March or April.

In the East and Middle West, sweet pea seed should be sown in spring just as soon as the soil can be worked after danger of severe frost is past. While the seedlings can endure some cold after they come up, they cannot stand freezing. By sowing the seed as early as possible, the plants have a chance to develop a strong root system before hot weather sets in.

If you find it convenient to start sweet peas indoors, sow the seed in ft flat or pot of very light soil or pure sand two or three weeks before outdoor planting time. Seeds are placed an inch apart and three-fourths inch deep. Seedlings can go into the open ground as soon as freezing weather is over. Even the tiny ones can be moved safely if holes are made in the soil with a pointed stick.

Location – For a long flowering season and satisfactory stem lengths, the location of sweet peas is important. If possible, select a spot where the vines will get sunshine during the morning hours and shade in the afternoon. The rows should not he too close to a building or underneath overhanging trees.

If you don’t care for sweet peas in rows, they are attractive set in groups of about three plants at intervals along the sidewalk or garden path.

Soil preparation and fertilizing. It is always best to spade the ground some time before sweet pea seeds are planted. Dig straight down the full length of the fork and leave the soil turned over in the rough state as long as possible. When planting time conies, however, make sure it is fine, firm, level and moist. Outdoors the seed is sown about an inch apart and 1 to 1% inches deep. However, white seeded varieties are better planted very shallow and not kept too wet.

In most soils sweet peas are benefited by proper applications of fertilizer. One good method is to dig a shallow trench three or four inches from the plants and extending along the row. About three times during the sweet pea season, make a fairly heavy application of superphosphate, cover with soil, and always water outside the trench. Fresh cow manure may be used instead of superphosphate.

Watering and mulching. Sweet peas need moisture and should be watered if soil at the base of vines begins to dry. A thorough soaking once or twice a week is better than a daily sprinkle, and if there is danger of soil baking afterwards, the surface should be stirred with a hoe occasionally.

 

Landscaping

The Unique Gardening Tool

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In January, come what may in weather, the “kiss at the gate” (Lonicera fragrantissima) blooms its perfumed small cream flowers that lure the bees from the Hives. A few warm days and the sweet olive bursts into many bunches of tiny, white, sweet blooms. A small spray of either will perfume a room.

It is a good time to move dormant plants. If care is used almost anything may be moved. Many flowering trees, if planted now, will bloom this spring. Crabapples fit into almost any garden. ‘Bechtel’s Double’ makes a small round tree with two-inch double pink blooms. ‘Flopa’ makes a larger tree with pink clouds of single blooms. `Florence’ has large white blooms and bears small apples which may be spice pickled. ‘Almey’ has red foliage and deep pink blooms. By planting several varieties the bloom season can be stretched.

It’s time to fertilize trees. Use a crowbar to make deep holes under the tips of the branches. Use a balanced fertilizer. Fertilizer placed under the tips of the branches makes the roots come out and go wider and deeper.

Camellias will be lighting up the landscape this month.

Gladiolus corms may be planted this month. As protection against thrips and bulb rot soak them for three or four hours just before planting in a solution of one teaspoon of Lysol to a quart of water. Glads should not be planted in the same location every year. Try planting them in clumps of five or seven in front of the shrubbery border.

Now is the time to take fig cuttings. Plant eight-inch fig cuttings six inches deep, just the terminal bud above ground, about a foot apart so that they can remain for a year. Trim all dead wood from fig trees and scatter lime over the ground under the spread of the tree.

In late January many low limbs on favorite shrubs and old roses may be layered. Scrape the bark on the under side, put, the branch on the ground, hill over with sandy soil and put a brick or rock on top. After the new plants are growing and well rooted, cut from the parent and place where wanted.

Zephyr Lilies

Zephyranthes or zephyr lilies are small charmers. It is time to plant them now. A clump of these surrounded by Johnny-jump-ups under a crabapple tree will be an exciting combination. They grow well in any good garden soil. They make nice plants in the border or in clumps in out of the way places.

Plan to use more vines. Mexican potato vine (Solarium Seaforthianum) grows easily from seed to 15 feet high, bearing large clusters of star-shaped blue flowers which turn into red berries. Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) not only makes a dense vine on supports, but is a good ground cover on banks or terraces. It blooms most of the season and usually reseeds itself.

Plant roses before February 15. The old hybrid tea ‘Etoile de Hollande’ is still a great favorite. For pastel colors and monthly bloom plant the old teas, like ‘Marie van Houtte,”Catherine Mermet,”Duchesse de Brabant’ and `Rosette Delizy.’

February is fertilizer month down South. It’s best to lay in a supply of your favorite along with super phosphate, and be ready about mid-February to feed everything.

 

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