THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407010088
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
NO ONE AGREES on what the flower Touch-Me-Not really is. But Madge Taylor of the Pungo area is ready to let you try hers. She called to say she has tiny plants ready for transplanting. She got hers from a seed company as a bonus, and they were labeled ``TouchMeNots.'' Some believe they're impatiens; others say they're sultanas and still others say the right name is balsam. No matter what you want to call them, Taylor says they look more like snapdragons and bloom in colors of purple, pink and fuchsia. To get free plants, call her at 426-6425. HURRY UP AND WAIT
Be aware that during these hot days, many vegetables, including tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and squash, often refuse to set fruit. There's not much you can do except hope for cooler weather. IN PRAISE OF DANDELIONS
Dandelions - if you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. That's the slogan of ``The Dandelion Celebration: A Guide to Unexpected Cuisine,'' (Goosefoot Acres Press, 1994, $10.95 paperback). Author Peter Gail admits that when most people consider celebrating dandelions, they do so in much the same spirit as one celebrates houseguests who've overstayed their welcome. But this abundant wild vegetable is celebrated around the world as a delicious and nutritious food that also has medicinal value. The book is a guide to gathering, preparing and savoring the dandelion, and includes 75 recipes. It's available in bookstores, or order directly via Visa or MasterCard by calling 1-800-697-4858. CAMELLIA WON'T BLOOM
A few weeks ago a lady asked me why her camellia, several years old, did not bloom. She said it would form buds, but they would never open. Mel Stallings, past president of the Virginia Camellia Society, says they're planted too deep. He says the solution is to dig them up and replant them less deep. It may take them two years to bloom again. October or November are ideal months to do such replanting. REPOTTING TIP
When you repot houseplants, knock the soil or root ball out of the pot and cut off some of the root mass that has built up. Take your fingers or a knife and remove an inch or so of the roots in order to stimulate the plant. Repot the plant in either the same size pot or one a size or two, using a mixture of one part each of sand, peat moss and good garden soil. Be careful not to overwater after repotting. When a pot is larger, folks often water more and kill the plant. THE FACTS ON FERNS
There are few books on ferns, but the Brooklyn Botanic Garden just published one. BBG says, ``Despite their apparent delicacy, ferns thrive under conditions few plants tolerate. They are tough and adaptable. Best of all, they are beautiful.'' Brooklyn Botanic Garden's new 112-page handbook features scores of spectacular ferns. Their books are usually available at the Norfolk Botanical Garden shop for $6.95, or you can order by sending $10.70, to BBG, 1000 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 22335. FOR SNEEZING GARDENERS
Whether it's growing flowers, herbs or vegetables, gardening is the most popular hobby in the United States. The 1992 Gallup poll says 172 million American households participate in some kind of gardening. But for some, the arrival of garden weather means sneezing, runny noses and watery, itchy eyes. Seasonal nasal allergy sufferers can obtain a free brochure on gardening and managing seasonal allergy symptoms by calling 1-800-41-GARDEN. The brochure, published by Schering Corp., provides tips on planning your garden, and identifies prominent pollens in each major region of the United States. A PINCH OF SALT
Epsom salts have been recommended for growing roses, tomatoes and peppers. The latest use - your lawn.
Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) are an additive essential for plant health. Use four pounds of Epsom salts per 5,000 square feet of grass. This provides enough magnesium for one year and results in lush, green grass with deep, strong roots. Damaged or neglected lawns may require more.
For more information, call 1-800-251-5485. WATER LILY ADVICE
Tony Provenzano, writing in the June/July issue of The Water Gardener, notes:
``Chlorinated water can have an adverse effect on water lilies. Be sure to use a `dechlor' when refilling your pond with city water. Water treatment systems sometimes add extra chlorine to the system which can affect fish and plants. City water often has both chlorine and chloramine added. This is why you cannot just fill a pond with tap water and let it age a few days to make it safe for living things. A pond freshly filled with city water will burn the leaves off a water lily overnight and kill fish, snails and other flora and fauna within hours. You must use untreated well water or use a dechlorinating product when you first fill your pond.''
The Water Gardener is a fascinating newsletter. Cost is $15 per year, mailed to East West Specialties, P.O. Box 16004, Norfolk, Va. 23508.
Robert Stiffler by CNB