JANUARY GARDENING CALENDER

For the First Half of the Month:

· On warm days, go outside and check your perennials and bulbs to see if they have been heaved out of the ground by freezing and thawing of the soil. If so, press down firmly and cover with at least two inches of organic mulch.

· Thoroughly check your houseplants for pests. If you find any, treat these immediately before populations get too high.

· Another common problem of houseplants this time of year is the low humidity that is in most homes during the winter. One way to increase the humidity is to place plants over, but not in, trays which have water in them.

· In addition, low-light levels in your home may be causing some problems and may need to be adjusted. Move plants that normally do best on the north side of the house to an east window. For those plants that are ordinarily in the east windows, move them to a south location.

· Review your vegetable garden plans for the upcoming season.

· If you bought a live ball-rooted Christmas tree, remember to water it. It can be planted outside as long as the soil can be worked.

For the Second Half of the Month of January:

· Sit down on cold, snowy, or rainy days with newly received garden seed catalogs. Compare new varieties. An important consideration is improved pest and/or disease resistant seeds over older varieties.

· Pull out and check your notes from last year’s garden. Reorder the varieties that you had success with and any new ones you may want to try.

· Start a pot of shamrocks to have ready by St. Patrick’s Day in March.

· Start pansy plants from seeds indoors. They should be ready to transplant outdoors in mid-March to bloom with spring tulips and daffodils.

· Begin bringing in the pots of bulbs prepared for forcing last fall. Place in a warm

60-65^oF shaded location. Move to a sunny spot when you see green leaves begin to show.

· Begin dormant pruning of fruit trees and grape vines now; try to finish before March.

· Apply horticultural oil sprays to kill over-wintering mites, aphids, and scale. Use this oil on deciduous plants and hardy evergreens, but not on needle-leaved species. Read and follow label directions.

· Spray oils when temperatures are above 40^oF, but not within 24 hours of a freeze (watch the local weather stations for this information). Read and follow all label directions.

· Check with your local county extension office for upcoming Master Gardener

workshops on Gardening in Delaware.

HOUSEPLANTS

Boy, wasn’t last week beautiful! But, unfortunately, winter is going to be around for another eight weeks yet. If you are getting some winter blahs, why not take advantage of some of the great house plant sales going on in local garden supply stores.

Or just treat yourself and your home to a new houseplant. First of all, before you leave the store with your new plant, be sure to ask the salesperson the name of your new plant so that you can look up care requirements from a house plant book.

The following are some considerations you should think about before and after you purchase a new houseplant: The most important factor in houseplant care is the light requirement. Study the light levels in your home or in the room where the plant will be living. Are you going to be displaying your plant in a sunroom or in hallway? Will the plant be next to a window or in a far corner away from a light source? Are you planning on providing an artificial light source?

Match the plant’s needs to your personal schedule. Certain plants require very little care, while others are very high. In addition, some plants can survive and grow well on an irregular watering schedule. Consider room and furniture dimensions. What size plant do you need? What is the maximum growth and height the plant will reach? Start out with the healthiest plants you can find. Go to a reputable nursery or florist. Examine the plants carefully. Plants should have only a few brown-edged leaves and only a few leaves should have been trimmed.

The plants should be full and bushy, with small spaces between leaves. Large gaps between new leaves can be an indication of over-fertilizing and crowded to induce rapid growth, or that it has spent some time under improper lighting conditions.

Inspect the leaves and stem joints on the plant for any evidence of insects or diseases. Bringing home an infected plant may be hazardous to any plant you already have. Flowering plants should have many buds that are just beginning to open. Plants in full bloom may soon lose much of their loveliness. More importantly, it may be impossible to get the plant to bloom again unless conditions are perfect.

Plants need to adjust to their new surrounding and may even go into a mild shock. Getting the houseplant use to its new home may take several weeks. Pay close attention to the plant’s needs. Try to have similar light conditions. Keep the plant moderately moist during this period, and do not allow it to dry out. To water your new houseplant, water thoroughly each time and discard the excess water from the drainage saucer. Once the plant has adjusted to its new living conditions, try not to move it.

These few points will help you select plants suited to your schedule, environment, and keep your plants healthier longer.

ROSEMARY FOR CHRISTMAS

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of my favorite Christmas plants. This dense, spiky leaf, grayish-green evergreen reminds me of a miniature Christmas tree.

It can be decorated at this time of year to use as a center piece on your dining table.

There are several different cultivars of this herb available such as: Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Albus’ has white flowers; Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’ has bright blue flowers; Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Roseus’ has a pink flower; and Rosmariunus officinalis ‘Severn Sea’ has brilliant blue flowers.

In Delaware, most cultivars are tender and must be brought in doors when the warm temperatures of summer end. However, there are two cultivars that are hardy; these are ‘Arp’ and ‘Very Oily.’

There are many stories and legends that have been told about the rosemary plant through the centuries. I thought for this holiday season I would share some of these with you.

Rosemary was also known as the Holy Herb and/or Rose of Mary by the Greeks. The Greeks told this legend. One day the Holy family was fleeing from Herod’s soldiers and the weary Virgin Mary needed to rest.

They came upon a grove of fragrant shiny leafed shrubs with white flowers. Mary gently placed her heavenly blue cloak over these rosemary bushes to dry and when it was removed the flowers had turned blue in her honor. This blue is the same color of blossoms on several cultivars of rosemary.

Another story is that a Rosemary plant will not grow any taller than six feet the believed adult height of Jesus Christ. After 33 years, (Christ’s age at the crucifixion) a Rosemary bush will grow in width but not in height.

It is also the herb associated with remembrance, love, and friendship. One tale I read took place in old England. This was that sweethearts would exchange a branch of rosemary when they parted, lest they be forgotten.

In the fable, Sleeping Beauty, rosemary was the herb tea used but failed to awaken the beautiful sleeping princess.

Besides all of these legends and stories associated with rosemary, this is truly one of the best culinary herbs. It is great for seasoning stews, sauces, soups, lamb, chicken, vegetable dishes, and jellies.

To conclude, next time you are thinking about giving a holiday plant to someone special, why not give this unique herb plant that represents love, friendship, loyalty and remembrance. Have a happy and memorable holiday!

FEEDING THE BIRDS IN WINTER

One of the best gifts I received for the holiday last year was a bird feeder from my nephew, Gordon. It was a gift that gave all winter. I hung it just outside of my kitchen window and, while I did kitchen chores, I could watch a variety of birds coming to feed. Some weeks, I would have to fill the feeder two or three times. Feeding birds in winter is a big responsibility because once you start feeding them, you should continue until warm weather returns and birds can find food in your neighborhood.

The following tips will be a guide for bird feeders and watchers this winter:

• Place your bird feeder or feeders near, but not in, trees or shrubs. A cat may use this area to hide in while waiting for a tasty bird on which to snack or dine.
• Place in a sheltered area or south side of the home out of harsh winter winds. Strong winds will cause the feeder to move back and forth, scattering and wasting the food.
• Place the bird feeder where it is easiest for you to see the birds. Keep in mind that if it’s too close to your house, birds may never come to it.
• Choose a bird feeder designed specifically for the food you plan to put in it.
• Fill the feeder with only enough feed for several days’ use. Seeds tend to spoil in certain conditions and may be harmful to the birds.
• Use a feeder that is constructed to protect the feed in any weather.
• Rake the ground under the feeder every week or two to prevent accumulation of spilled seed that may become moldy.
• Position the feeder to prevent food raids from unwanted animals like mice and rats.
• Place the feeder away from low-hanging branches that squirrels may use in order to have access to the bird feed. Keep in mind, there are commercial squirrel-proof hoods for bird feeders.
• Look around your landscape – you may have many natural platforms for feeders, for example, a tree stump, top of a fence post or slat-top rocks.

The following chart will be a guide for the kinds of feed to put out for specific birds:

Cracked Corn -- Cowbirds, red-winged blackbirds, starlings, tree sparrows, song sparrows, purple finch, and pine siskins.

Sunflower seed -- Cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays and purple finches.

Suet – Downy and hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, blue jays, brown creepers, starlings and mocking wrens.

Cut-up apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, raisins and wild fruit – Catbirds, bluebirds and wild brown thrashers.

Breads, cereals and peanut butter – Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees.

While the weather is cold and the natural bird food supply is limited, why not purchase a feeder or refill your present one? Then, you can enjoy the variety of feathered friends that will come and feast in your backyard, too!

If you are looking for a special present for someone, why not consider a bird feeder and a bag of feed? The recipient and the birds will thank you many times.

: Maggie L. Moor-Orth

Delaware Cooperative Extension

Delaware State University