New England Gardener

Lovable Lulu

Like many New Englanders, my family spends part of every summer at a small “camp.” If I were sensible, I’d forego gardening at a place where we spend just a few long weekends and a week in August, but I’m a gardener and I can’t relax without having at least a few plants to fuss over. That said, vacation home gardens must fend for themselves most of the time. Through trial and error, I’ve learned what plants are up to the challenge in our windy oceanfront location.

When it comes to perennials, Hostas, DayLilies, and Rudbeckia can’t be beat. I’ve also had very good luck with Astilbe and Delphiniums, but I put them in a spot where they’re guaranteed shade for at least a few hours a day. In fact, I don’t grow anything, besides a few ancient Rhubarbs, on the side of the house that gets sun all day long.
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Filed under: Flowers

We finally have some nice dahlias in the garden and I wanted to share some pictures with you! They are beautiful…but overall the season has been a disappointment. Several of our plants have no buds on them….it looks like a bug has been eating them. I have sprayed them with no success. And, I have yet to see an actual bug on the plants. I am stumped. I have included a photo of one of the distressed dahlias at the bottom of this post.

I estimate that only about a third of the dahlias we planted have bloomed. In past years, I have always had a vase full of flowers on my desk at work in August. Not this year! It has definitely been a difficult summer with all of the rain and the lack of sunshine. I’ve also been dealing with rotting rosebuds and rose bushes that have black spots.

I hold out hope that more of the dahlias will bloom in the next month or so. They usually last through October. I don’t know about you, but I’m hoping for some dry, hot days. I’ll continue to give them lots of tender loving care!

Filed under: Flowers | Photos

August 12 Pest Report From MOFGA

LATE BLIGHT
What to do with a field infected with late blight
[Reprinted and modified a bit from an article by Becky Grube Sideman, UNH
Cooperative Extension, Sustainable Horticulture Specialist]

Late blight is now in potato and tomato fields throughout the state. From
what I have heard, those using preventative fungicide programs have kept
the disease at bay thus far, but many who did not apply fungicides are
having fields go down. Once symptoms are widespread in the field, it is the
time to cut your losses and kill the plants to prevent the disease from
spreading into other fields or high tunnels. For tomatoes, this will mean a
crop loss. For potatoes, however, it may still be possible to get a decent
crop.

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Filed under: Vegetables

Question:
I have been reading about these proven winners plants after a friend of mine picked up some items at a local store. What are your thoughts on proven winners and is it all hype? I found a site that sells proven winners online at a reasonable price, it’s shop.pwfourstar.com. They have something called a waterwise for home irrigation. I am going to buy one and check it out since it’s only $30. However, i figured i might as well try some plants out if they are worth it. They look good in pictures, but do they perform? Just curious.

Answer:
Hi James,
Most of the plants in my garden grow from the smallest, non-brand name sprouts, I find at the local nursery. I count on Ron and Cindy Simon at R&C’s in Scituate MA to buy and sell quality plants and vegetables. They do sell Proven Winners, but I am not looking for labels. The only reason I do not start from seed, is the time and effort it takes to do it myself. Once I get the plant home it is up to me to become a proven winner. That is, I make sure the ground is wet, (or as is the case this summer, not too wet), and the soil is well tilled with plentiful worms, and not too many weeds. I will do more hand pruning and pest removal, and feeding, than application of chemicals or letting growth go out of control. Like anything else, the more love you give, the more love you get. In my opinion, our TLC will take a plant to Proven Winner Status. Please let us know if you see better results from the Proven Winners you may have purchased.

Many Happy Returns, Tim

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Filed under: Ask The Garden Team

Gardeners,
Here are some preventative treatment options for Late Blight suggested by Tom Eickenberg at Johnny’s. I’m posting his email to me in response to my question, “Is there anything to be done to treat plants that are already infected…”

From Tom:
I am sorry, once a plant has late blight it should be removed from the garden, as it will die shortly and can infect the remaining plants. The Maine Cooperative Extension is recommending you put a plastic bag (to prevent the spreading of the spores) over plants with late blight, then remove them from the garden. Throw the plants away do not compost them.

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Filed under: Vegetables

The same fungus blamed for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s is now doing a number on crops in Vermont. “Late Blight” thrives in cool, wet weather and targets tomato and potato plants.

It shows up as dark spots on foliage and fruit, spreads easily and does its damage rapidly.

The disease poses no threat to humans.

Filed under: Vegetables