Caring For Poinsettia and Christmas Cactus

The holiday season has officially started. You may have already procured the best black Friday deals, decorated the inside and outside of your home, and for the most ambitious, put up your tree. Did you purchase live plants too? If so, holiday plants, with proper care, can bring pleasure for weeks or even months after the holiday season ends.

The newer poinsettia varieties retain their leaves and bracts remarkably well and may stay in good shape for several months. Keep a uniform room temperature for poinsettias between 60 and 68 degrees. Put your plant near a bright window, out of direct sunlight, and remove it if there is danger of chilling.

Try to maintain the soil moisture at moderate and uniform levels. Never let the pot stand in water for any extended period of time. If the plant came wrapped in foil or other water-tight material, be sure to punch holes in the bottom or remove the wrap entirely, so water won’t be trapped inside.

While the poinsettia remains the choice of holiday plants, the Christmas cactus is popular too. Most blooming plants will keep better in cooler temperatures and in a well-lit location away from sources of hot air. Watering seems to be the source of most problems with the Christmas cactus. Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch. Discard the excess; do not water again until the top half becomes dry. 

Well-drained soil is a must for Christmas cactus. Use a commercially packaged potting mix for succulent plants. Pruning your Christmas cactus after blooming will encourage the plant to branch out. Remove a few sections of each stem by pinching them off with a knife.

For more information on holiday plant care, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County, and request the free publications on poinsettias and Christmas cactus we can be reached at 570-963-6842 or email us: LackawannaMG@psu.edu

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Winter Bird Care

While the seasons to enjoy the home landscape for the most part are over for us, there are plenty of creatures who benefit from your yard in the worst months of the year. Birds, especially, need your space when you aren’t using it. With a little help, you can give birds a better chance of survival through the winter.

There are benefits to winter bird care, even though most of us never think about how our landscape choices will impact the outside world around us.

•A home landscaped to attract birds means planning and thought. A well designed yard increases property values.
•Trees provide shade in summer, and evergreens act as wind buffers for our homes, but both offer refuge for birds.
•Birds will eat nuisance insects
•Birds provide entertainment and a glimpse into a world outside the window pane.

Besides the tangible benefits of winter bird care, you can learn some things too. How easy is it to identify the birds in your yard? The top five birds observed at Pennsylvania backyard bird feeders are:

•The dark-eyed junco:  a dark grey to brown sparrow with a bright white underside.
•The mourning dove: this bird has a small head in comparison to its plump body, tan with black spots. Often seen sitting on telephone wires.
•The tufted titmouse: a small bird with a large head, big eyes and pronounced bushy crest. They are grey with a rust color down its sides.
•The northern cardinal: the males are bright red and can’t be missed. The females have red tinges to their crests and wings. They often sit with their tail pointed straight down.
•The blue jay: they have varying shades of blue on top with white or grey undersides. They are large birds and have a fondness for acorns.

Each bird you may find in your yard will have definite choices for food and shelter. All birds need water, and it is the scarcest to find in winter. Consider putting out a bird bath, or a simple bowl of fresh water every day.  Don’t be too quick to totally clean up the brush around your yard. Birds will use it for shelter and survival. Even letting the ornamental berries hang on through the cold months will provide for birds.

If you are interested in knowing more about identifying the birds in your yard, visit The Cornell Ornithology Lab’s website, allaboutbirds.org. And for help with winter bird care, the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have the free booklet “Winter Bird Feeding.” For a copy of it, contact us at 570-963-6842 or email:LackawannaMG@psu.edu


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Lackawanna County

Fall Chores

October is almost over. Like most homeowners, the list of gardening tasks is far from over though. Here is a list of common chores in case you forget:

Lawn care
Continue to mow your grass as long as it is actively growing. Generally, on the last cut, the grass should be cut short. Mulching the grass clippings, or as it is often said: “it’s ok to let it lay.” The clippings are a great source of nutrients for your lawn. Take a soil test and apply the recommended fertilizers. Now is perfect time to amend your soil so the grass will have all it needs for next year. If you have had a weed problem, Fall is another time to treat for certain broadleaf weeds like clover and ground ivy. Before any application of herbicides, know what you are trying to eliminate, then read and follow directions. The publication “Lawn management through the Seasons” can help you with fall grass chores.

Bulbs
This is a general term. It includes corms and tubers. Tender perennial bulbs like cannas, dahlias, and gladiolas should be lifted from the soils and stored. For most plants in this category, it should be done after the first frost. Loosen the soil around the bulbs first, then gently remove them. Canna and dahlias can be gently washed, but gladiola corms should be not be wash. The soil can be removed after it dries. Cannas can be stored in mesh bags, dahlias should be wrapped in newspaper with peat moss to prevent drying out, and gladiolus can be stored in paper bags. The Penn State Master Gardeners have the fact sheet “Winter Storage” for you with more tips.

Gardens
In order to prevent diseases next year, it is best to remove all spent plant material from your garden areas. Compost only that which is from healthy plants. Pull any weeds and discard them. Fall is a great time to add organic matter to your garden beds. Use up your finished compost pile and start a new pile for next year. Some perennials should be cut back to ground level for the winter, others will need winter protection, and most will need a layer of mulch to get them through the winter. If you are interested in starting new beds for next year, this is the time to get the areas ready. “Lasagna Gardening” and “Fall Perennial Care” guides can give you advice on prepping your gardens for fall and winter.

Please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu for the publications listed and we can help you finish your garden chores for the season.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Maize is Amazing!

There are few food items which proclaim loudly that it is summer more than corn. Sweet corn is highly anticipated all growing season. Its taste and color remind us of long sunny days, fun, and the bounty of fresh food we have. Where would summer be without sweet corn?

Another type of corn symbolizes the next season of autumn, that is Indian corn. Who really has given this kind any thought other than how it would look hanging on the front door? It can, though be just as symbolic of fall as sweet corn is in the summer.

History
Corn as we know it, is usually called maize in the majority of the world. And it has an interesting history. The plant as we know it started out as a tall grass in Mexico and cultivated ever since. Sweet corn, what we tend to eat in the summer is known for its high sugar content. It is generally picked early in its development (the milk stage) and cooked or preserved quickly, otherwise it becomes tough and starchy. What is unusual about sweet corn is, we consider it a vegetable this way. Other types of corn are grown, picked, and processed as a grain.

Dent corn is different than sweet corn even though it is yellow and is very similar-looking to sweet corn. When mature, a small indenture, or dent, is on each kernel. Dent corn is used to feed livestock. Corn  meal flour, corn chips, and other snack foods are usually made from dent corn. Because of its high starch content, dent corn is used to make corn syrup and even plastics.

Flint corn is so called because the outer shell is hard and tough like a flint. Indian corn is a type of flint. It has been used by Native Americans for centuries. It makes an ideal decoration because the kernels dry evenly. This is possible because there is a soft starch surrounded by a hard starch and dries slowly. Dent corn has equal amounts of soft and hard starch. They dry at different rates, giving the kernels an uneven texture. Indian does not spoil nearly as fast as the other type of corn so it is perfect for decoration. This quality made it an important food source for the early Americans as well. Some type of polenta and hominy are made from Indian corn.

So, as you are decorating your home with Indian corn, remember how versatile and important maize has been to history, not just fall. To learn more about Indian corn, the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have the free publication “Indian Corn”. Please contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Ew-w-w-w! Earwigs!

There are many superstitions; some are amusing if we give them thought. Like: a rabbits foot will bring good luck, but not if you are the bunny. And who hasn’t thought about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Some superstitions are curious, but most people won’t tempt fate. How many people take an elevator to the thirteenth floor? And who hasn’t seen that famous TV host/cook throw salt over her shoulder when she is in the kitchen prepping a meal?

Superstitions have led to the naming of a common insect found in the garden, and even your house, the earwig. The widespread lore of this bug is that it was thought to crawl into the ear of sleeping people, then bore into the brain. The name Earwig means “ear creature” coming from this superstition.

The most distinguishing physical feature of the earwig is the claw-like forceps on the end of the abdomen. Earwigs use their forceps mainly as protective weapons, but they also use them to capture prey. These pincers are straight on the female, and curved on the male insects.

While they are not brain invaders, they will enter the home by hitching a ride on laundry baskets, cut flowers and plants, newspapers, and fruits and vegetables. They will migrate indoors to find protection from prolonged heat and drought.

Prevention is the best and first line of defense to keep the earwig out of the home. They are attracted to lights, so minimizing the use of exterior lighting, if feasible, is a good way to start. Earwigs need, and are very attracted to, moisture. These scavengers are nocturnal, so they may be hard to notice during the day but are present around foundations, in mulch, under boards, etc. Be sure to eliminate damp, moist conditions around the house, such as under faucets and air conditioning units and around the foundation. Use caulking and weather stripping around doors, windows, pipes and other entry sites. Gravel or ornamental stones can be used to make a dry border, and act as an attractive barrier against earwigs.  These steps will serve as an inhibitor to the earwig as well as other pests.

If pesticides are used, please read and follow all the directions. Be certain to choose a product labeled for use on earwigs. For more information on earwigs please contact the Penn State Master Gardner Helpline at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu to request a copy of our fact sheet on this insect.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Lackawanna County

Pesticide Safety

Recently, Penn State Extension’s Department of Pesticide Education released some startling numbers on exposure to common kinds of pesticides. “In 2013, the Pennsylvania Poison Center received 1,125 cases of pyrethrin or pyrethroids insecticide exposures. Just over 15 percent (176 cases) of those reports resulted in the exposed person being treated in a health care facility. Furthermore, just under 22 percent (244 cases) were exposures to children under six years old.”

Pyrethrins are very easy to find and work quickly. These chemicals can come in concentrates, powders, sprays, and foggers. Generally, they are the go-to out of ease. What makes them more of a hazard is they can be marketed for indoor and outdoor pests. As a result, they are stored in close proximity to living areas, where children can find them. These are often labeled as foggers, home defense products, hot shots and so on. Many different products can contain the same active ingredients.  Remember, they are all poisons and can have severe health effects.

Here are some helpful tips to reduce the danger of pesticide exposure:
•Know what you are trying to eliminate:
If you have an indoor insect problem, then just the presence of a pest isn’t enough. Often times, holes in screens, cracks, and crevices will continue to invite bugs into your house, even after spraying. Ants can often be managed by keeping kitchen areas clean and food covered. Ant traps are much safer than a spray. Thoroughly inspecting shipping boxes for insects will help too. Remember to keep dry pet food tightly covered. Bedbugs, roaches, and termites should be handled by a professional.

If outdoor pests are a concern, first, you must identify the bug. Only about three per cent of insects are true pests. And there are lots of beneficial insects. Beetles, many times are confused with cockroaches, but are important elements in breaking down spent plant material. Larval forms of lady bugs do not look like the adult stage and you can unknowingly kill a good bug. Gnats and mayflies do not live long and don’t merit any kind of action on your part. Shooting a stream of water from your hose onto a plant is a great way to rid the plant of aphids. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are better alternatives to hazardous chemicals.

•Read the label:
Once you know you need a chemical, please read the directions and cautionary statements. Make sure the insect is listed. Wear protective clothing, a hat, gloves, long sleeves, and pants, no shorts.  Never use them on a windy day. And, it is illegal to use product in way not listed on the label.

•Be safe:
Buy only what you will use in a short time. Keep chemicals out of reach from children, in a locked storage unit away from the living spaces.

The Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County can help you with home insect control. We will be at the LHVA Heritage Explorer Bike Tour and Festival, Saturday June 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This will be held at Blakely Borough Park in Peckville, Pa. The Master Gardeners will have plenty of Mr. Yuk stickers to place on any household chemicals, educational activities on pesticide safety, and other gardening information. This is free and open to the public. Come visit us.

For more information, please contact us at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator

Memorial Day

Monday May 25th is significant because it is Memorial Day. We look forward to the unofficial start of summer. This holiday brings the beginning of barbequing, picnics, the end of school and the start of a lighter way of life. Plus, it is the date here in the Northeast we can generally plant without the threat of a frost. Our annuals are free at last!

Of much greater significance are the origins of the holiday and the traditions carried with it. While the exact beginnings are in debate, honoring those who gave their lives in battle dates back to around 1866 with around 25 different locations connected with the start of Memorial Day. By the end of the nineteenth century May thirtieth was the day set aside throughout the nation. Until the end of WW I, Memorial Day was observed for the Civil War fallen. Then it was expanded to honor all who died in military action. By an act of congress Memorial Day became a national holiday and the last Monday in May was set aside in remembrance.

Decoration Day is a synonymous term for Memorial Day and many take this day to honor family members who have passed away. Central to this holiday is decorating their cemetery site. Whether planting your own or purchasing a container to honor loved ones, here are some recommendations. Obviously, look for well cared for and healthy plants. They most likely will not have the constant attention given at home so they need to strong from the start.

Choose hardy low maintenance plants as well. Dusty miller and alyssum make nice white accent colors. Red is a very popular choice with geraniums and salvia being good choices. Ageratum and lobelia are often included because they are blue-ish in color. Using red white and blue is good reminder of the holiday. To make your decision more personal, include a favorite plant of the loved one to serve as an extra honor.

Now that the nice the warmer weather is here, we will be able to catch up with friends and spend peaceful times on the deck. Work in our gardens and landscapes. Life takes on a different dimension after Memorial Day. Please though, let us not forget those who gave the best they had so we can enjoy the best we have.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Ticks and Lyme Disease in Pennsylvania

Have you been reading the headlines lately?  The elections, the economy, world events, and more have vied for your attention.  Besides those stories, one little bug has made its presence known in the news, the tick.  While we are all glad winter is over, the nicer weather brings challenges.  Insect pests can spoil our outdoor activities, especially when our health is involved.

According to recent reports, Pennsylvania has reported the most cases of Lyme disease in the nation for the past five years.  Not all ticks carry Lyme disease but it is important to protect yourself and be able to determine what kind of tick you may encounter.

There are some 500 varieties worldwide, twenty five in Pennsylvania, with these being the four most common:

• Lone star tick: Most often found in the southern counties of the state in urban areas, and only known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever here.
• Groundhog tick: Least encountered but readily found in the western and northern parts of the state. As its name indicates, this species is host specific to groundhogs but occasionally found on birds, small animals and humans
• Dog tick: as the name indicates, commonly found on dogs, and humans too. It has distinct white markings on its back and becomes greatly engorged approaching the size of a grape. This tick is the major carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but does not transmit Lyme disease.
• Blacklegged tick: formerly known as the deer tick is the well-known vector for Lyme disease. Typically, this tick requires 24 hours of attachment to transmit the agent responsible for the disease.

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has noticed a dramatic increase in the presence of the blacklegged tick and as a result, a greater chance of exposure to Lyme disease.

The adult ticks can be active from fall through spring if temperatures remain above 28 degrees.  Ticks in the nymphal (immature) stages are active in May, June, and July.  Nymphs will attach to mice, chipmunks, birds and other small animals.  Adults typically attach to white-tailed deer or other large mammals. While awaiting a suitable host, the ticks usually are found on leaf litter or low branches in brushy, wooded areas, high grass, and even stone walls.

This nymphal stage of the tick is no bigger than a pinhead making them difficult to notice, and the mature adult is only slightly larger.  Research in the eastern United States has shown that ticks most often transmit Lyme disease to humans during the nymphal stages, probably because nymphs are so small they go unnoticed on a person's body.

If you are active in these prone areas, please take the following precautions as prevention is your first line of defense: Wear light colored clothing, tuck in pant legs. Check daily for the presence of ticks, Use repellents containing DEET, and carefully follow directions. If a tick is found, use tweezers in a slow constant retraction where it is attached. Be sure the tick is intact as you remove it. Seek medical attention if an adverse reaction is detected.

 For more information on ticks, contact the Penn State Master Gardener Helpline at (570) 963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu and request the “Ticks” fact sheet.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Earth Day and Arbor Day

Next week has some important dates to remember. Both Earth Day and Arbor Day will be celebrated, and for anyone interested in home horticulture, they are of great significance.

April 22 is the forty-fifth anniversary of Earth Day. Most consider this the beginning of the modern-day environmental movement. At the time, people drove big gas guzzling cars, industry grew without regard to any consequences, and air pollution was accepted as common and a sign of prosperity. Protests of many kinds merged with new energy of public concern for the environment.

Since then, Earth Day has grown to cover 184 countries, 5,000 environmental groups reaching hundreds of millions of people to promote a healthy, sustainable environment coast-to-coast.

Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. Forty-five years later, Earth Day is building world that is clean, healthy, and diverse for generations to come

Arbor Day in America was originated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. On that day, one million trees were planted. In 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation was founded, and currently has over one million members. Globally, the foundation has planted 250 million trees, helped preserve rainforests, and protected wildlife.

Each state has differing celebrations of Arbor Day. In Pennsylvania, April 24 is our day. We have over 43,000 members of the Arbor Day Foundation. In 2014, 370,000 were planted by them in the state.

In honor of both of these days, The Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County will be having a special event to mark the occasion, “Earth Day Is Your Day.”  We are committed to values of Earth Day and want to equip people to be more environmentally aware of the decisions they make in the home landscape. We will have the latest, research-based information on topics such as:

• Greener gardening
• Tree care
• Gardening in alternative spaces
• Using native plants
• Reducing pesticide use, and more.

We will be giving out seed packets and seedling trees as a take home gift. “Earth Day is Your Day” will have fun and educational activities for children from 4H.

Giving people the tools to better manage the home landscape is only part of our purpose for this event. The motive for Earth Day is to encourage people to be more involved in their community as well. We will have special guests joining us, to give people opportunities to both enjoy and be more involved in our area:

• The Greenhouse Project
• Lackawanna County Conservation District
• Lackawanna River Corridor Association
• Lackawanna Backyard Beekeepers Association
• Lackawanna County’s Office of Environmental Sustainability and Department of Community Relations

 “Earth Day is Your Day” will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Mall at Steamtown will be hosting us, and is free to attend.

For more information, please contact us 570-963-6842.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Lackawanna County

Tools Of The Trade

Gardening, no matter how much we enjoy it, is work. Cultivating, tilling, planting, weeding, and pruning keeps even the avid gardener busy.  Often overlooked, are the tools we use.  Choosing the right ones will make the tasks easier.  No need to buy every tool sold at the local garden center so here are some recommendations:

• A long handled spade, which is more important than a shovel. A spade is designed for digging whereas a shovel moves material from one area to another.
• A spading fork, which has flat square tines and is used for moving heavy soil, preparing it in the spring. It is different than a pitchfork, having rounded slender tines.
• A steel rake, used to break up clumps, smooth out the soil and stir in fertilizers and amendments. Also a leaf rake is handy for lawn care year-round.
• A hoe, needed to form rows, cover seeds, move soil, cut out weeds, and make holes for transplanting. They come in all sorts of sizes so find one that is a comfortable fit for you.
• A hand trowel, a small tool like this will become a gardener’s best friend. They are useful for marking rows, weeding, furrowing, and moving plants.

Remember to try before you buy.  Pick up the tool and make sure it is a good fit, well balanced and comfortable.  Bigger and heavier are not always better.  Take good care of your investments as well.  Clean and disinfect the tools after every use, and applying penetrating oil after will keep the tools of your trade in good shape.

For more information on this, the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have the free factsheet, “Tools of the Trade”, please contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackwannaMG@psu.edu  for a copy.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Managing Rabbit Damage

There is one familiar furry resident in your home landscape which does tremendous damage in the winter months, but it’s not the famous Phil from Punxsutawney. The groundhog is notorious for doing quite a bit of damage in the garden. Who hasn’t lost a tomato in its prime or noticed gnawed ornamentals in their yard? This time of year, in the dead of winter the groundhog is not to blame.  A fair amount of landscape injury comes from cottontail rabbit, and this creature can do extensive damage in winter around your home.
 
While rabbits live year-round in your garden, their behavior is more pronounced now. Protecting the trees, shrubs, and perennials from these varmints will help them cope with the seasonal struggles better. Rabbits chew off buds and stems of shrubs and other low-growing plants. Rabbits harm the bark of young trees, especially fruit trees. Damage is usually confined to 18 to 24 inches above ground or snow level. Stems are cut off cleanly, leaving a sharp 45-degree angle cut. Other tell-tale, or maybe bunny-tail, signs of a rabbit visit include elongated tracks in the snow and little piles of round brown droppings.

You can control rabbits by:

• Eliminating hiding places such as brush, tall grass, and weeds, and close up any openings in crawl spaces, under decks, and sheds.
• Protecting gardens with fencing. A chicken wire fence, with a one-inch or finer mesh at least two feet high, provides adequate protection. This time of year the fence cannot be buried, but when the ground is workable, extend the bottom of the fence at least six inches below the soil line.
• Using tree guards, wraps or hardware cloth around the trunks of young trees. The higher the snow, the higher the guards must be. Do the best you can with anticipating more snow.
• Using repellants. These are available at local garden supply stores. By law, all commercial repellents must be used according to instructions on the product label. This should be the last resort. Any kind of chemical control is a hazard to wildlife, humans, and pets.

If you would like more information on managing the damage done by these animals, The Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have the free publication “Wildlife Control: Rabbits.”  Please contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a free copy.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

How To Extend the Life Of Your Cut Flowers

One, if not the biggest time for cut-flowers is approaching quickly- Valentine’s Day.  Survey those special women in your life, and they will most likely remember the last time you gave them fresh flowers. And why not? A floral bouquet has an immediate positive impact on the recipient. Here are some tips for Valentine’s Day.

Keep in mind the personality of your Valentine. Dr. Terrill Nell, University of Florida professor of Floriculture, offers these hints, based on traits:

• Natural types, earthy and outdoors: tend to like flowering or green plants and meadow flowers.
• Romantics like pastel colors, ribbons, and light fragrances.
• Expressive personalities like exotic flowers, unusual combinations of shapes, colors, textures and creative arrangements
• Traditional people enjoy classic styles and lush arrangements
• Trendsetters favor styles in vogue right now, or a display of a few but large flowers.

Whether it is the classic and timeless dozen red roses, or a last minute dash to the store type arrangement (because I forgot it was February 14^th AGAIN), here are a few things to remember in choosing cut flowers:

• Look at the petals- there should be no marking, damaged, or brown areas
• Look at the foliage- there should be no wilting, and should be crisp
• Look at the stem- there should be no slime and should be in clean water

To make your bouquet last the longest, bring the flowers home as soon as possible. Remember, the stem is the bloom’s source of vitality. Cut a small portion of the stem off, underwater, and place them in your choice of a vase filled with fresh water. Most floral shops provide a preservative to enhance the life of the bouquet. Be sure not to use, aspirin, wine, pennies, mouthwash, and other lore, they do not extend the bloom time and may be harmful. Finding a suitable location helps, too. Choose one with bright lighting, even temperatures, and no draft. Keep the bouquet away from ripening fruit as they emit ethylene gas and will age the flowers faster.  Proper care can extend your colorful expression up to two weeks.

Most importantly, Don’t forget. February 14th is six days from now, so mark your calendars.

The Penn State Master Gardeners have information on making fresh flowers last longer. Please call 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu and request a free copy of Long Lasting Cut Flowers.

Steve Ward

Master Gardener Coordinator

Planning Your Spring Garden and Ordering Seeds

We are in the midst of the inevitable: winter. The short days, gray skies, howling, biting winds, snow, and ice are all around us. Winter comes every year, but we never get used to it. For many, the end of this season is the best part. For the home gardener, this time of year is best suited for planning for spring plantings. The seed catalogues have already started teasing us in the mailbox.

Whether you are a novice, thinking of starting your plants for the first time, or an experienced gardener, January and February are great times to think about what to grow and ordering seeds. In order to achieve the best results, there are some things to consider before making a purchase.

Know the USDA hardiness zone. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its hardiness zones. What this means is, after looking thirty years of records, a more accurate and precise tool is available to help determine what plants will grow best in your area. With the enhanced information, you find out by zip code in which zip code your garden is. For more information go to http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

Know the garden conditions. What kind of soil makes up your landscape: loam, clay, sandy? The quality of the soil will have an impact on the plants rooted in it. Do you have good drainage, or water pooling after a rain? Some plants thrive moist soils and other need dryer areas. The amount of sunlight is critical, vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun to produce a decent crop. But there are a lot of tender annuals that need shade.

Know the seed packet. Look at the information listed on the front and back of the seed package. It is too easy to get lost in the picture, with its promise of a beautiful harvest, but the information will help you decide if that particular seed is the best choice for you. Besides the basic description, the label will give you the light and soil requirements, spacing, plus germination, and maturity days. Germination days indicates how long before the first sprouts appear, and days to maturity means how long until the plant is ready to be harvested or in bloom.

Know the kind of seed you want. “Hybrid” are seeds cross between varieties, usually grown for specific reasons not found in nature by itself, like color, size or flavor. “Open pollinated” describes natural pollination, cloning or self pollinated. It can be a controlled situation though, by using plants with known characteristics. “Heirlooms” are seed produced through open pollination and grown for many years to keep their distinctive traits. These plants are not usually disease tolerant like hybridized seeds. “Treated” means the seed has been coated to protect it from diseases or insects. Usually, they are colored too, so they won’t be confused with untreated seeds. “Organic” are seeds grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. If being organic is important to you, look for the USDA Organic label on the package. These were once difficult to find but are becoming common place now.

The benefits of purchasing your own seeds and starting plants from them are numerous: you will save money, know the supply chain, the quality of their care, and give you a productive hobby in the middle of winter. For more information on purchasing and starting seeds at home the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have a free packet of information on this topic. Contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy of “Sowing Seeds at Home.”

Steve Ward

Master Gardener Coordinator

Penn State Extension

Lackawanna County