BLEEDING HEART

Last weekend the bleeding hearts ( Dicentra ) where at their best.

Bleeding hearts require a cool, medium-wet, well drained soil. Now, those conditions are not likely her in Delaware. They grow in part or full shade and like lots of organic matter. Mulch them and keep them well-watered all summer. Don't be concerned if the foliage dies back in the summer, that means they are not getting enough water or are too hot. The bleeding hearts, however, will usually return next spring.
Mary Sue Colaizzi

STARTING MY POTS

The past few days have been good garden days. Our night time temperatures, here in are pretty much above 50`. I began to plant some of my more-hardy container plants. Some of my winter pansies remain as fillers as the new annuals go in. Keep in mind the design concept of needing a thriller, the tall plant that dramatically catches ones eye; a spiller, short plants that cascade over the side of the pot; and a filler, all those in between. As you begin planting, place the plants in the pots so when you later add some tropicals and more tender annuals everything is in the correct place. Planning is the key!

Mary Sue Colaizzi

EARLY APRIL GARDENING CALENDER

The first half of April:

· Feed shrubs and roses - read label directions for special instructions.

· Take a soil sample to determine exact amount of nutrients the soil needs to grow and produce flowers or fruit.

· Mow lawn if grass is over 2-1/2 inches tall. The ideal mowing height is two inches. Closer cutting weakens the lawn and opens it to invasion by crabgrass and other weeds.

· Allowing the lawn to grow too tall gives it a ragged appearance, may create problems with accumulated clippings, and will cause matting if played or trampled on.

· Prune and shape spring flowering shrubs after blossoms fade.

· Prune roses before April 22.

· Prepare garden soil for spring planting.

Begin regular scouting program for fruit trees. Pesticides should be used only when pest populations are high enough to cause damage to plants and damage reaches the economic injury level.

Maggie Moore-Orth
Delaware Cooperative Extension, Delaware State University

WINTER PANSIES

A couple of weeks ago the pansies were buried under the snow and today, with a shot of fertilizer, they are heralding in spring.

If winter pansies are given a dose of fertilizer now and then again about the third week in April, they will vigorously last thru Memorial Day. I use teaspoon of water soluble fertilizer per gallon of water for the winter pansies in containers. The ones planted in the garden soil get 1 Tablespoon per gallon.

SEEDS ARE GROWING

All the seeds are prospering in my green room including these peppers which will be ready to plant in the garden around about May 15. Early cole crops, in my case broccoli, cabbage, kale and cauliflower are beginning to be hardened-off. These cool season veggies sat out of doors for 2 hours today, basking in the sun.
I took advantage of this sunny afternoon to fertilize my Alliums, Globemasters, A. christophii with a 10-10-10 plus a sprinkling of bonemeal.
Mary Sue Colaizzi

CORRECTION

“Those aren’t green peppers!” I have always promoted adequate marking of seeds because many look alike immediately after germination. Well, peppers don’t. They have pointy little first leaves. Unfortunately, I couldn’t snap a picture of new green pepper seedlings as they have already sprouted their second leaves.

In my defense, the popsicle stick marker was marked G. P. Could it have been geraniums, pink? My system needs a little fine tuning or bigger popsicle sticks that accommodate more than initials.

Thanks you, Anna. It's good to see that this blog is getting read!

FERTILIZING DAFFODILS

Fall is the best time to fertilize daffodils. Root development takes place until the soil temperature fall below 40` and resumes in the spring. However, if you forgot to do it then or couldn’t recall their placement in the garden, this weekend is the last opportunity to fertilize daffodils. It’s been my experience that raking back the mulch and broadcasting a granular fertilizer , then replacing the mulch will boost the energy for producing foliage and flowers.

In the fall it is best to use a 5-10-12 or bone meal but now a 5-10-10 is best.

Mary Sue Colaizzi

Grow it Eat it

Below is an excerpt from an interesting site from the University of Maryland that you may want to check out. Link to the site is posted under Gardening Links. Do you want to eat fresh organic food?; get more exercise?; reduce stress?; be more self-reliant?; have fun? We can show you how to grow your own vegetables, fruits, herbs, and salad greens. The Grow It Eat It campaign is a joint venture between The Maryland Master Gardener program and the Home and Garden Information Center - to address the growing need of Marylanders to learn how to start and maintain successful food gardens. This initiative is driven by the deep recession and the public desire for locally grown food and a connection to the soil.

Growing Greens in a Salad Table

A shallow frame filled with compost and soil less potting mix.	You can grow lettuce, arugula, Asian greens and other tasty salad greens.
Cut the greens when 6-8 inches tall. The plants will re-grow for a second harvest!	Salad boxes are great for decks, porches, and balconies!