ANNUAL PLANT SALE

2011 Kent Co. Master Gardener Scholarship Plant Sale at the Delaware State University greenhouse will be on Saturday, April 30 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

“A plant-a-holic’s dream sale,” will offer annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, vegetables and native plants.

Sussex County Master Gardeners Spring Workshops

Workshops through June in the winter-spring series will be presented by Sussex Co. Master Gardeners. The workshops are free, except where noted, and are at the Carvel Center, except where noted. Please contact Tammy Schirmer to register at 302-856-2585 ext. 544/tammys@udel.edu or register online at http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/workshopreg.html. On the list are:

Gardening on the Cheap – Miguel Pirez-Fabar – Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m.

Native Plants – Brent Marsh – Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m.

Water Wise Container Gardening – Marjorie Lewis – Thursday, May 5 at 11 a.m. New Gardener in Delaware? – Master Gardener Panel – Thursday, May 12 at 1 p.m.

Accessible Gardening – Bob Williams – Thursday, June 9 at 10 a.m. in the Carvel Center and in the Demonstration Garden, weather permitting.

Hostas – Vickie Thompson – Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLE FACTS

March was a great month for gardeners and farmers; the week of March 14, was National Agriculture week, March 24, was National Agriculture Teacher Day and March 20, was the first day of spring. But my garden soil is too wet to start my gardening, so I thought I would share some interesting Agriculture facts before my growing season begins. The following are some fun facts about the fruits and vegetables we eat:

· Most of us snack on popcorn, but did you know the average American eats about 68 quarts a year.

· What is the nutritional value of popcorn? Like other cereal grains, it’s primary function is to provide the body with heat and energy

· Pasta is one of America’s favorite foods, last year 1.3 million pounds of pasta were sold in American grocery stores.

· America’s first large pasta factory was built in Brooklyn, New York in 1848 by a Frenchman who would spread out his spaghetti strands on the roof to dry in the sunshine.

· Pizza! Did you know that each man, woman, and child in America eats an average of 46 slices (23 pounds) of pizza a year.

· There are approximately 61,269 pizzerias in the United States and about 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year.

· We should all eat colored fruits and vegetables, did you know the plant pigment that gives fruits and vegetables that yellow/orange color contain Beta-carotene. The vivid orange color in Carrots is Beta-Carotene.

· Our bodies convert Beta-Carotene into Vitamin A which is important for good eyesight, and helps your body fight infection, and keeps your skin and hair healthy.

· Did you know that in the United States, lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable and Americans eat about 30 pounds of lettuce every year?

· The darker green varieties of lettuce are more nutritional then the light green varieties.

· Almost all lettuce is packed right in the field.

· Another green vegetable that we are eating more of is Broccoli. In 1970, consumption of broccoli was only a half a pound per person. Today, the average person eats four and one half pounds a year.

· Asparagus is a member of the Lily family and related to onions, leeks and garlic.

· California grows about70% of all the asparagus grown in the United States.

· Apples are members of the rose family and Washington State grows the most apples in the United States.

· Fresh apples float because 25% of their volume is air.

· There are more than 7,000 varieties of apples grown in the world.

· Blueberries are the second most popular berry in the United States. And are a good source of Vitamin C and fiber.

· Peaches are another source of Vitamin C, and are the third most popular fruit grown in America.

· The United States provides about one-fourth (25%) of the world’s total supply of fresh peaches.

· Michigan and New Jersey produce 66% of all the blueberries in the United States, followed by North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. We harvest over 200 million pounds of Blueberries every year in North America.

· One of my favorite fruits is the tart cherry; I go to a local farmers market and pick a big basket every June. There are about 7,000 cherries on an average tart cherry tree (depending on age of tree and spring weather conditions.) We all love Cherry pie, did you know it only takes 250 cherries to make a cherry pie.

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our most popular fruits and vegetable we eat weekly. And with April here and warmer weather soon approaching you will be going to your gardens to harvest fresh vegetables. Or traveling to your local farmers markets to buy locally grown and Delaware produce.

LATE WINTER PRUNING

Late winter—when deciduous plants are dormant—is the ideal time to prune summer and fall-blooming shrubs. Pruning is best at this time because the bare branches allow you to achieve the desired effect and look and the plant will suffer less shock and damage to the leafless plants.

There are many misconceptions about pruning, for example: plants will die if pruned at the wrong time of year (plants may be injured, but seldom die as a result of poorly-timed pruning); and all cut surfaces must be treated with a tree paint or tree sealer (there is conflicting evidence regarding this long held belief, and if pruned correctly, this is no longer needed).

Pruning is the selective removal of parts of a plant for one or more purposes. Following are several reasons to prune:

• To control growth and/or to direct growth for a special effect
• As a result of transplant injury
• To rejuvenate or restore
• To repair damage
• To promote flowering and fruit production and size
• To promote plant health

What and how much should you prune? In most cases, you should never prune more than one-third of the top growth of a shrub (or tree). The list of what to prune includes:

• Dead, diseased and damaged branches
• Vertical shoots from branches (water sprouts)
• The unwanted shoots growing from the base of the tree or shrub (suckers)
• Branches that are crossing
• Long, awkward limbs
• Branches that are dangling
• Insect and/or borer insect infested wood
• Spent flowers (deadheading)
• To renovate multi-stemmed shrubs, it may be necessary to prune the plant to ground level.

There are several pruning techniques used to accomplish different tasks. Pinching is used to promote the development of many branches. This technique is used to promote bush growth.

Heading back is the specific shortening of branches and is usually used in combination with thinning to give the best effect.

Thinning is the removal of the entire stem at the point of origin and stimulates new growth at this point. It removes old unproductive stems, it allows light to reach the center of the plant, and it improves air circulation within the plant.

Shearing is pruning to create an even-shaped surface, on hedges, topiary, etc. If you grow rhododendron, you should be familiar with deadheading (no, it’s not about the Grateful Dead).

Removing the old blooms allows the plant to direct its energy into growth rather than seed production. Several commonly grown summer flowering shrubs, which should be pruned in late winter before spring begins, include:

• Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) flowers are formed on wood from the previous season. To prune, pinch the most vigorous new growth in spring and remove one-third of the oldest growth.
• Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) flowers on the new growth. Prune back to the ground.
• Sweet shrub or Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus) is a multi-stemmed shrub. Trim and thin to shape. During the growing season, pinch it back to keep this shrub small.
• Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) should have the old wood removed at the ground level from time to time. Major pruning should be done in late winter; however, to maintain shape, pruning can be done anytime.
• In contrast, spring blooming shrubs such as lilac, sweet mock orange, hydrangea, forsythia, spirea should be pruned after flowering has finished in late spring.
• Lastly, before pruning your landscape shrub, know the correct identification and determine when it will bloom. If you are not sure of the name and flowering time, allow it to grow and make note when it blooms during the growing season, then prune it next year at the proper time.

KENT MASTER GARDENERS SPRING 2011 WORKSHOPS

Sow it. Grow it!

Tuesday, March 22 6:30 p.m.

Everyone can be successful when growing a vegetable garden.

We will give you some helpful tips and cover a variety of planting methods

to help you grow your most successful garden ever!

The Nitty Gritty of Soil and the Value of Compost

Thursday, March 31 6:30 p.m.

A garden needs good soil and what better than to use your kitchen and yard waste

as a source of organic matter to improve your soil. In this workshop, you will learn what

garden soil is composed of, how to improve the quality of your soil and different approaches

to composting. This knowledge is so much fun that even the kids will enjoy composting!

All supplies and step-by-step handouts will be provided. To help understand your soil,

please bring two cups of garden soil in a one quart jar with a screw on lid.

Children are welcome to attend with their parents.

Tomato Growing School

Wednesday, April 6 6:30 p.m.

Please join us to go deeper into the science and art of the most popular

and nutritious garden vine. Starting with seed germination thru the proper

way to remove fruit from the vine, we will give you practical guidance

and inside tips. We'll discuss varieties, fertilizers and problem solving.

All tomato aficionados should save this date.

Container Vegetable Gardening

Thursday, April 14 6:30 p.m.

Don't you just love the taste of just picked tomatoes and other vegetables! If you want to

grow vegetables, but your space is limited, consider growing them in containers.

This workshop will show you how.

Beauty and the Beets

The Art of the Potager

Tuesday, May 3 1:30 p.m.

This workshop will explore the history and design elements of this

ancient art of combining vegetables and flower gardening in artistic designs.

Curb Appeal Containers

Tuesday, May 31 1:30 p.m.

Front porch containers give your home curb appeal. Set some great ideas

on how to make lovely containers,. add to the appearance of your home.

You must pre-register by calling
(302) 730-4000

All classes are free and will be held at the
University of Delaware,Cooperative Extension,
Paradee Center, 69 Transportation Circle,Dover.
We are located just south of the Delaware Dept of Transportation on Bay Road (Rt. 113).
Please call if you need directions or have special needs

MARCH GARDENING CALENDER

For the first half of March:

• Finish pruning shrubs and ornamental trees, except spring flowering shrubs before growth starts. Prune spring flowering shrubs (lilac, forsythia, etc.) as soon as they finish flowering.
• To prevent the infection of fungal spores and bacteria into the plant as a result of fresh cuts, do not prune in damp or wet weather.
• If soil is dry enough, begin primary soil tillage.
• If weeds are beginning to grow in flower bulb beds, pull them by hand to prevent disturbing the bulbs and roots.
• Spray home fruit trees (apples and pears) with dormant oil before buds swell and when temperatures are not likely to drop below 40 deg. for 24 hrs.
• Fertilize trees, roses, shrubs and evergreens.

For the second half of March:

• Plant cool-season crops (peas, lettuce, cabbage, onions, kale, broccoli, radishes and turnips), if weather permits.
• Harden off young tender plants, even hardy varieties, before transplanting in the garden to reduce the chance of frost damage. Place them outdoors in a protected spot from the cool spring winds. Gradually reduce water and temperature to allow plants to toughen up so they will be able to tolerate their new living environment.
• If a pre-emergent weed control is going to be used on the lawn, apply it now. Read and follow all label directions.
• Leave mulch over strawberries until the plants begin to grow. At that time, the mulch must be removed to allow leaves to develop in the light.
• Prune hedges before new growth begins.
• Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons with acid-type fertilizer.

A GOOD READ

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Here is a list of books recommended by Kent and Sussex Master Gardeners. Great for winter reading and garden planning

Mike McGrath’s Book of Compost (Sterling Publishers, 2006).

Easy Garden Projects to Make, Build and Grow: 200 Do-It-Yourself Ideas to Help You Grow Your Best Garden Ever, edited by Barbara Pleasant and the Editors of Yankee Magazine (Rodale Books, 2006).

Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire by Margot Berwin (Pantheon Books, 2009).

Weeds of the Northern U.S. and Canada: A Guide for Identification by France Royer and Richard Dickinson (University of Alberta Press, 1999).

The New Oxford Book of Food Plants, 2^nd Edition (Oxford University Press, 2009).

Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Propagating Native Flowers of North America by William Cullina (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000).

“English Garden Mysteries” series by Anthony Eglin includes The Blue Rose, The Water Lily Cross and The Trail of the Wild Rose (Minotaur Books).

Gardening for a Lifetime: How to Garden Wiser as You Grow Older by Sydney Eddison (Timber Press, 2010).

The Nonstop Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Plant Choices and Four-Season Designs by Stephanie Cohen and Jennifer Benner (Timber Press, 2010).