4 minute read
Are you thinking about your gardens?
What you can do in winter
My gardens look messy right now. Dried stems are broken by wind. I sprayed shrubs with a product containing blood to discourage deer. (I am tired of feeding them my hostas so in autumn, I dug some up and gave them away.)
The bird feeders are kept full. I have a heater in a bird bath placed close to the house so fresh water is available for visiting birds even in bad weather. Caring for and watching birds is a natural outcome of gardening. Project FeederWatch nudges me to keep records of visiting birds. Cornell University’s FeederWatch is a survey of birds that visit backyards or other localities. Participants count and identify and report visiting birds; this year, for the first time, participants can also report mammals (squirrels and deer in my yard, oh my!). The downloadable Merlin app offers ways to identify birds. It’s incredible—and free!
The stalks of the previous season’s plants provide some protection to perennial roots but once in a while, I take a walk in the garden to make sure there’s been no root upheaval. If the earth is frozen, it’s impossible to tuck those exposed roots back where they belong. To be honest, this seldom happens at this point in my gardening life. Previously, it did due to my inexperience, and I would cover and insulate the exposed roots with potting mix. (It worked!)
You’ve probably heard that beneficial insects overwinter in last year’s litter; the beloved bumblebees are an example. But these are actually next year’s queens; the rest of the bumblebees died at the end of the season.
However, lots of insects and arachnids, both “good” and “bad,” do overwinter. Some overwinter as larvae. The woolybear caterpillar (the larva of the Isabella moth) freezes and thaws out in the spring! Some grubs (larvae of beetles) burrow deep into the earth. Ladybird beetles overwinter as adults; you may have accumulations of them in parts of your home. (I like to believe they bring luck.) Some butterflies overwinter as adults, e.g. the Mourning cloak butterfly. Of course, honeybees overwinter by subsisting on stored honey and generating heat to keep the hive warm. Many fly species hibernate and wake up when it gets warm; I bet you’ve witnessed a fly or two in your home in the dead of winter! You may also have noticed “true bugs” in your home in the winter; these include conifer seed bugs and the infamous brown marmorated seed bug.
I start seeds of Lisianthus in January because they need a longer time to grow into plants suitable for the garden at planting time in late May. I’m including information in the following paragraphs because I had questions about Lisianthus from several readers (thank you!) and people who noticed them in my containers during Amherst Garden Walk.
I absolutely love Lisianthus (scientific name Eustomia)! Why not just buy them later in the season?
Because we’re gardeners and love watching glorious flowers that we knew from seedhood. Growing from seed means more colors and varieties as well! In addition, Lisianthus are often difficult to find and expensive.
I start seeds in early January. Thank goodness the seeds sold now are pelleted... as they are tiny! I don’t use heating mats or cables for these seeds or the resulting seedlings because young plants are sensitive to warmer temperatures. Instead, I start the seeds in moist vermiculite that has been spread out to fill the seed compartments of growing trays. Lisianthus seeds need light to germinate so they are not covered with vermiculite. I cover the trays with a domed top to keep moisture in. It takes several weeks for the seedlings to emerge. The little seedlings are placed within two inches of the grow lights. Since we want strong roots, the baby plants are watered from the bottom. And yes, I use tap water, which I let set overnight for two reasons: to dissipate the chlorine and to get the water to room temperature.
In about two months, I will transplant seedlings into individual pots. In mid-May, they are hardened off and ready for the garden, and pots toward the end of the month.
Isn’t January fun?
I love hearing from you: caharlos@ verizon.net FY
Carol Ann Harlos is an awardwinning retired math and science teacher, Master Gardener, beekeeper, writer, and speaker. She tends extensive gardens, including herbs, and loves learning from others and sharing her knowledge.
