Vegetable Patch

Fall Pansies & Mums Ornamental Kale

Coming in Late September: Pumpkins, Gourds, Straw, Corn & Corn Stalks

248-887-5101 1525 Bogie Lake Rd. / White Lake 1-1/2 Miles S. of M-59 • Across from Lakeland H.S.

ECOLAWN 250 FOR RENT!

The Ecolawn 250 is used to put compost into lawns. It should be used in conjunction with an aeration unit which is also available to rent .

Compost will add to lawns:

Organic Matter

Water Holding Capacity Lessen the Amount of Herbicides and Fertilizer Needed for Application

Add Microbial Activity

Did you know that adding compost to lawns will lessen the amount of water needed for waterings and helps with erosion control.

www.CountryOaksLandscapeSupply.com Clarkston 248.623.2640 | Burton 810.743.1920 Vegetables that are perennial

Michigan vegetable gardens are bers fairly quickly and need to be harvested predominantly annual vegetables. on a regular basis. Tubers may be dug anytime That is, they complete their life from September until the ground freezes and cycle in one growing season. However, we do again in the spring before new growth occurs. have at least three perennial (surviving more It is a good idea to reset the beds periodithan one year) vegetables that can tolerate cally to control the spread of the plants and to our winter climate. Asparagus, Jerusalem prevent overcrowding. Not all garden centers artichoke (not a true artichoke), and rhubarb carry Jerusalem artichokes, but the popular are the three hardy perennials for the Michivariety and most likely available is “Stamgan garden. Each vegetable has some specific pede.” growing needs. More information can be found at “JerusaAsparagus com/y6xsn7sk.

Asparagus plants are grown from crowns planted in early spring. They prefer a sandy soil Rhubarb with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The crowns are On this very hardy perennial, only the petiplanted in trenches about six inches deep, are oles (leaf stalks) are eaten. Rhubarb leaves covered with a couple inches of soil, and as the and roots are toxic due to the presence of oxplants grow taller, the balance of the trench alic acid in them. In early spring, crowns are is filled in. The asparagus is allowed to grow planted with the crown bud about two inches without harvesting in the first and second deep in well-drained soils with high organic years. In the third year, some harvesting may matter. Rhubarb can get by with 5 to 6 hours begin. Never harvest every spear of sun, so it is suitable for areas reas that may kill your plant. Some ceiving partial shade. spears are needed to grow through Plants should not be harvested in the summer and provide nutrithe first year and only sparingly in ents to the crown to survive until the second. After that, only about the next growing season. Properly one third of the leaf stalks should maintained, asparagus plants can be harvested to maintain the health survive in excess of 20 years. and vigor of the plant. Rhubarb

It is important to note that asplants may remain productive in paragus has male and female plants. Female plants produce seed that may result in many asparagus Mary Gerstenberger excess of 10 years. Most varieties of rhubarb have red petioles, but be aware that there are a few varieties, plants growing where they are not such as “Victoria,” that have green wanted. The “Washington” varieties have stalks with perhaps some shading of red. been around a long time and are more likely For more information, visit “How to Grow to give you a mix of male and female plants. Rhubarb” at tinyurl.com/y289fxvf. If you The “Jersey” varieties are mainly male plants. happen to already have rhubarb growing in

For more information on growing asparayour yard, you may want to read “Renewgus in the home garden, go to “How to Grow ing Old Rhubarb Plants” at tinyurl.com/ Asparagus” at tinyurl.com/y3dvepo2 and y2694lw6. also “Growing Asparagus at Home” at tinyurl. These three perennial vegetables are delicom/y3wxnqo4. cious and nutritious, and can even look lovely Jerusalem artichokes Just be sure to plant them with the long term

Also known as sunchokes or sunroots, Jein mind! rusalem artichokes are actually members of the sunflower family and are native to North Mary Gerstenberger was the Consumer HorAmerica. The portion eaten is the tuber and it ticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State is used in much the same way as a potato. The University Extension in Macomb County, MI. tubers contain inulin, which is considered For vegetable and gardening information from beneficial in a diabetic diet. The plant may MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. grow to a height of 6 to 8 feet and produces lem Artichokes: Tasty and Versatile” at tinyurl. in a flower garden or as a border planting. bright yellow flowers. Tubers should be plantCall the toll-free Michigan State University ed in spring and prefer a well-drained garden Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 soil with high fertility. They can produce tufor answers to your gardening questions.