Connecticut Gardener Meets CT Outdoors

We just drove up to Middletown to do “CT Outdoors” with Suzanne Thompson, a radio show that airs on WMRD 1150 AM in Middletown (and WLIS 1420 AM in Old Saybrook). It’s one of the few independent stations left in the country and the signal covers central Connecticut, on the shore from West Haven to Westerly, R.I., and north as far as Windsor Locks and south as far as parts of Long Island.

The show broadcasts live on Tuesday at 12:30 pm and typically replays Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 1 pm and Sunday at 7 am.

Suzanne Thompson 

We’ve never done live radio before but Suzanne made us feel at home. Thompson has degrees in journalism and horticulture so we share similar interests.

Yes, AM radio still exists and, in this case, is offering some interesting local programming. I know everything is digital these days but I got a nice analog feeling from the whole experience.

To find out more about Suzanne and CT Outdoors, visit www.wliswmrd.net/outdoors.htm or email Suzanne at

sthompson@wliswmrd.net

Tomatoes in December?

Last year we were left with a ton of green tomatoes at the end of the season and made Chow Chow (green tomato relish).

This year, we didn’t have anywhere near as many on the vine when the cold weather arrived so, no Chow Chow.

Still, not wanting to see them go to waste (well, to the compost pile anyway), I picked every tomato I could find -- that was large enough and in decent condition -- and put them in the garage. Mature green fruit or ones that have already begun to ripen are your best bet. If you have the right spot, you can try hanging the entire plant so the fruit ripens on the vine.

I inspected them periodically and pulled out the ones that shriveled up -- usually the smallest ones -- and the ones that rotted. A week or two ago I moved them inside to the breezeway so as not to overlook the ones that ripened. I missed a few while they were in the garage.

They don’t all make it through but it’s a treat when they do.

Here it is, Dec. 7, and I’m still getting tomatoes!

Some people just place the tomatoes blossom-side down in a sunny window. Other methods make use of various containers: brown paper bags, cardboard boxes lined with newspaper, mason jars and plastic bags with holes, often with the inclusion of an apple or banana to speed up the ripening process. Experiment and see what works for you.

And, of course, you don’t have to wait until they ripen. You can always grab a green tomato, slice it, dip it in flour and fry it up. (Don’t forget to add your favorite seasoning.)

WR

Fall Color with Staying Power

We had some rain storms and high winds blow through our area over the last week or so and the weather knocked out some of our fall color. Our weeping cherry, which sported a lovely palette of fall colors, lost all its leaves.

We have four notable examples in our yard that are still providing rich colors to our fall landscape: Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii), Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)  and Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica).

This native, ilex verticillata, which Anne planted along with its pollinator for birds, combines yellowish foliage with bright red berries and looks great against a green backdrop.

Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Even when it finally loses its leaves, the berries linger until hungry birds finish them off.

This dwarf variety of Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) displays a stunningly vibrant leaf color. It's also called Dwarf Witchalder.

Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)

Japanese Maples are ubiquitous but it’s easy to understand why. That deep, rich red is a fabulous fall highlight.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Parrotia persica is less well-known but one of our new favorites. It provides a mellow yellow that contrasts well with darker tones.

Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)

- WR

The Scoop on the “Poop Loop”

We recently had the pleasure of hearing Todd Harrington speak in the Brubeck Room at the Wilton Library. If you’re interested in organic land care, he should be high on your list. Harrington helped write the Northeast Organic Farming Association’s “Standards for Organic Land Care” and has been in the business since 1987. He’s a pioneer in the field.

Todd Harrington speaking at the Wilton Library.

Harrington’s lecture was necessarily technical at times but was full of insider tips and outlined a number of good reasons for adopting an organic approach. It’s obviously healthier but, according to Harrington, can be cheaper in the long run. He points out that chemicals supply a quick fix that ultimately results in addicted plants and poor soil. “The solution is science,” he says.


Unfortunately, transitioning from a chemically dependent landscape may take some time. The interrelationships between soil chemistry, soil morphology, living organisms, and what he calls the "Poop Loop" are complex. That’s part of the journey.

Going organic, especially as far as lawns are concerned, means forgetting about immediacy and rethinking expectations. The results, however, can be personally rewarding as well as being kinder to the environment. If you can't put in a lot of time, effort or money -- and aren’t aiming for a perfect lawn -- you can even opt for a low-maintenance “freedom lawn.”

These days, Harrington is a consultant and president/owner of Harrington’s Organic Land Care. Anne and I hope to visit him in Bloomfield soon. His facilities include a lab that offers biological and chemical soil testing. “If you’re not testing, you’re guessing,” he says. Harrington’s also makes their own compost, compost tea and compost extract and sells a number of other organic products.

For more information, visit www.harringtonsorganic.com

NOFA’s “Standards for Organic Land Care” is available online as a PDF at www.organiclandcare.net/sites/default/files/upload/NOFA_Standards_4th_ed_2009.pdf


WR

Pruning Arborvitae: Taboo or Maintenance?

We have an arborvitae hedge on one side of our driveway that is almost as high as our house. I was eyeballing it one day and decided it needed to be cleaned up. Nothing drastic, a little trim here and there and maybe a little off the top.

Anne was skeptical, being of the general opinion that arborvitae (Thuja) shouldn't be pruned.

Well, I didn't really want to PRUNE them, I just wanted to neaten them up a bit.

When I researched the subject, I discovered a wide variety of opinion ranging from prune them whenever and however you want and prune them in the spring before new growth to don't cut back into wood more than a year old and arborvitae don't need to be pruned. Hmmm. That covers all of the bases.

Some say topping will encourage bushier growth, some say it won't. I guess the former is more likely with younger, smaller plants. If I were buying, I'd certainly be looking for bushy, not tall and spindly.

There is one recurring piece of advice: beware of pruning out all of the green growth in an area or you may be looking at a bare spot for some time, perhaps permanently.

After discussing the results of my research with Anne, we decided to go ahead. I did a subtle trimming of "fat spots" and took a little off the top. I made no attempt to equalize the height. In my opinion, the individual plant heights varied too much for that approach. And, besides, I didn't really want a straight edge anyway.

The hedge was looking a little ragged and I just wanted to smooth out the look. The amount I took off the top ranged from nothing to a foot or so.

The result was subtle but it accomplished exactly what I set out to do and I like the rounded-dome look on the tops. So far, there are no negative side-effects to report.

Maybe next year I'll try growing clematis on them …

WR

Birch Envy

Here is the beautiful and beckoning entrance to a birch grove walk in a "secret" area at a nearby beach.

Will has a bad case of birch envy, there was a gorgeous specimen in the front yard where he grew up.  We've purchased two so far -- a weeper and an ostensibly white variety (I think it was swapped with another while young) -- and they both are susceptible to leaf borers and lose their leaves during the summer, looking scraggly and bare by late August. The weeper is white but the other one isn't giving any indication of being inclined in that direction.

Our weeping birch. We hope it likes its new location.

Being the organic gardeners we are, we went only as far as to spray the leaves on both with dormant oil at the time the borers were hatching. They made it through OK this year, but though they may have kept more leaves, they both were summarily moved to other, less prominent, locations. Unfortunately, the heat of the summer and the stress of transplant left them both alive, but not at their best.

We gave this ostensibly white birch a
second chance in a less prominent spot.

Someday our birch will come -- a beautiful, white, multi-trunked specimen that will never need spraying and will rustle in the wind, cast dappled shade and play host to chickadees. Sigh.


AR

Tri-State Hosta Society Picnic

After visiting John O’Brien at O’Brien Nurserymen (www.obrienhosta.com ) in Granby with a friend earlier this summer, I told Will that we should go up for the Tri-State Hosta Society (www.tristatehosta.org) picnic being held there in August.

We both like Hostas and have a number of them thriving in our yard in Fairfield. A couple of them are a bit more special (not the plain-vanilla ones found at big box stores or supermarkets) and after my first visit to John’s the great variety available became evident. I think he has upwards of 2,000 varieties.

Hosta 'Liberty' at O'Brien Nurserymen in Granby.

The picnic gave us the opportunity to be among hostaphiles doing what they love – adding to their collections, swapping stories and sharing a common passion. On the way up, we even got behind a pickup truck with the license plate, “HOSTA.”

The food and company was good and we had a great time. Ignoring warnings, Will even managed to play with John’s cat without shedding any blood. He managed this feat with the judicious use of a long stick.

Matt Sanford was most helpful to us relative newbies and John -- what can one say about John -- he’s the mayor of Hostaland. A personality as big as the sky, with a thorough knowledge of his subject.

One of the three Liberties we got from John O'Brien.

We asked advice from these two on what to plant under some newly limbed-up hemlocks (a project inspired by a visit to Richard Bergmann’s place in New Canaan), and received two recommendations: Liberty and Brother Stefan.

We went with Liberty because we had already taken notice of a truly stunning example that turned out to be Liberty and Will is not a huge fan of the puckered varieties. We look forward to seeing how our new additions do in our garden.

If you like hostas and are ever in the vicinity of Granby, pay John a visit.


-- AR

Ballek's: More Than Three Centuries on the Same Land

We paid a visit to Ballek’s Garden Center (www.balleksgardencenter.com) in East Haddam a couple of Saturdays ago and met with Nancy Ballek MacKinnon and her mom, Anita Ballek.

They are so completely tuned in to the soil, the plants, and Connecticut -- 340 years on that piece of land -- talk about history! It is such a pleasure to hear what they have to say.

The garden center has a wide variety of plants. The old barn contains a diverse group of more exotic plants, meant for the house or a greenhouse most of the year. Here’s a pineapple that was started from a store-bought pineapple top. That would never happen for me!

I was intrigued by the old barn itself and the various zones it contains -- from plants on the floor that need the cooler temps to those hanging up high that need more warmth.

It was also impressive to see their solar panel array. Anita says this type of an installation is less expensive than roof mounting and doesn’t cause problems when it’s time for a new roof.

Solar panels not only reduce your carbon footprint, they can be a smart investment. Unused electricity can be sold back to the power company or taken as a credit and federal tax credits are also available. For more information, call Rob Ballek with BeFree Green Energy at (860) 873-9440.


AR

Walking Blues?

Diseases and invasive species spread and evolve in myriad ways. There's a good chance you've heard that plant shipments, mulch, firewood and boats can sometimes play a role. The permutations are plentiful. In a sense, it’s Pandora’s Box for modern society. Even the shoes you wear can get into the act.

The first time I became aware of this is when I had the opportunity to play a round of golf at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard.

The club takes pride in being organic. They don’t use synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. In fact, that’s the only reason they were allowed to build the course some 8 years ago. I suspect they use every trick in the book and probably a few of their own invention. They may be the only truly organic golf course in the United States.

When I showed up at the club, they asked for my golf shoes. When I asked why, they patiently explained that they needed to clean and disinfect them so that I didn’t introduce any intruders. They relented only when I explained that it wasn’t really necessary because the shoes were brand new and had never been worn.

As a family whose yard has been organic for at least 24 years (17 credited to the previous owner), we understand. It’s not the easiest path to take.

Recently, I read in the Portland Oregonian (www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/) that fishermen who use waders with felt-soles can spread microorganisms from one stream, pond or lake to another. Apparently, the microorganisms can survive in the felt.

Modern modes of transportation get us quickly from place to place but we need to keep in mind how important it is to take common-sense precautions. It seems a trivial thing but the consequences of ignorance (or, worse, indifference) can be substantial.


WR

A Century of Plant Science

The 100th Plant Science Day was held at Lockwood Farm in Hamden on Aug. 4. The annual event features talks, demonstrations, exhibits and field experiments. It’s sponsored by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES).

If you’ve never been, I recommend it. There were dozens of exhibits, ranging from booths with a wide array of information and expertise, to demonstrations and field experiments.

I attended the technical demonstration about control options for invasive plants, expertly handled by Todd Mervosh and Carole Cheah, both with CAES’ Valley Laboratory.

I had lunch while listening to an interesting lecture, given by Jeffrey Ward, head of CAES’ Dept. of Forestry & Horticulture, on the changes seen in Connecticut’s forests over the last 80 years.

Next year, the event will be held on Wednesday, August 3.

If you attend, remember to bring a bag for all of the informational material you’ll want.

For more information, call (877) 855-2237 toll free or visit www.ct.gov/caes

WR

Pondering Peppers

In the spring I purchased a pepper plant for Will -- he likes the hot ones, and I brought home a plant labeled Burpee Home Gardens Hot Pepper Jalapeno Gigante. They are supposed to be the largest jalapeno, but instead of a large green fruit we got medium-sized pale yellow/green peppers that are now, as you can see from the picture, turning orange.

After googling "Yellow jalapeno" and looking at the Burpee website, I believe we actually have a Hot Mariachi Hybrid. They are fairly mild, as hot peppers go, so I'm quite pleased. Will has given them a thumbs up, too (probably because he knows I'll never cook with the really hot ones, so it's better to have a little heat than no heat at all!).

The interesting thing, though, is that over the past seven summers we have NOT ONCE grown a hot pepper that was what the label purported it to be. There must be some kind of poor quality control going on with the growers or the distributors. Be more careful, out there! It's pretty hard for us consumers to tell one hot pepper plant from another in their early stages.


AR

Bird Attacks 'Celebrity'

We aren't used to having our tomatoes attacked by birds, or just haven't sustained much damage over the years from the local bird population.

There are three birdbaths on our small property, freshened daily (or more often during hot weather). I assumed that our feathered friends had plenty of water to refresh themselves. One, apparently, has more exotic tastes.

I caught sight of an unusual bird on one of the tomato plants (a Celebrity) in our back yard, and when I went to look more closely it flew away. It may have been a female oriole. I've heard orioles while home on vacation and I was sorry to miss her. But who knows. Judging by the damage to the tomato I found, this particular birdie had a pretty sharp beak!

Looking online for similar instances, it appears to be a routine problem and folks suggest anything from bird netting to shiny CDs. [What about whirligigs?] My favorite was slipping fruit into sections of nylon stockings. Chic!

We'll be keeping an eye on the many ripening red orbs.


AR

Hibiscus Returns

Last summer I purchased a beautiful little hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) at a local farmer’s market. The young man who sold it to me off the Twombly Nursery truck assured me it would be back the following year without much effort on my part, as long as I planted and watered it.

I dug the hole and placed it in the garden next to another Twombly truck purchase (he was an excellent salesman, or I was an easy mark) and enjoyed a few more flowers. I anxiously waited for it this spring, and it did come back – slowly, as is its habit – and now in the serious heat of midsummer it has popped. The photos are of the first two days flowers. Today, on day three, I see only one lone flower, facing the back fence as if ignoring me.

For years I’ve passed an auto body shop in Southport that has an east-facing bed of beautiful hardy hibiscus. I wondered what these exotic plants could be, with their dinner-plate sized blooms of red and white. Now I know – our garden is host to a beauty, and there’s a good possibility there will be more of them by next spring.


AR

Pumpkin Pollinators

In our Northfield Road garden we are often presented with opportunities in the form of volunteers and self-sown seedlings, and this year we allowed two pumpkin vines that sprang up on either side of our front entrance to remain. Never having raised them before, we weren't quite sure how they'd behave, and though they were in a "public" zone in front of the house, we gave them a chance. Arising from a discarded jack-o-lantern, they grew quickly in the extreme heat from tidy little bright green seedlings to twisted, sinewy vines with enormous leaves.

When flowers appeared to be dropping off and no fruits were yet visible I was distressed, thinking there was something wrong and they might never set fruit. I learned that the male flowers sit high up on tall stalks, and female flowers with their telltale bulge of nascent fruit stick close to the vine. Flowers open in early morning and the bees are all over them. I assumed that the bees would pollinate the female flowers, but the bees appeared to favor the male flowers and just loll around as the flowers slowly closed up. (I wonder if there were bees trapped inside all the closed-up, spent male flowers that dropped daily from their stalks.) One morning, after observing a fruity and promising female blossom beginning to close and no bees in her vicinity (they were all hanging out in two slowly closing male flowers), I grabbed an old paintbrush and made sure the pollen was transferred. That was my first foray into helping the pollination process, and when the fruit set and started growing I was delighted.


It turns out that the only fruit that ever did set on these two vines is the one I assisted with, so we have left the one vine with its pumpkin to develop. I learned that the vines can be "pruned" (a method used in growing giant pumpkins), and though we had hoped that the vine and fruit would stay on the relatively soft bed of juniper it rambled across, it kept going onto the hard walkway. An upside down terra-cotta flower pot base serves as a "cradle" (though it's just as hard as the walkway, but seemed a good idea at the time) and as you can see, the pumpkin in late July is already ripening. Notice the very thick neck attaching it to the vine.


Incidentally, research on the web revealed that some folks grow their pumpkin vines vertically. They are up to it (no pun intended) as our other vine had began its ascent into a nearby shrub, using strong tendrils to grab and pull itself up. Some train them to their roof (one-story houses with low-pitched roofs, you would think), pruning out the side shoots. The heavy fruits in a vertical situation can be rested in a makeshift sling. The pumpkin experience has been fun and I'm musing about a vertical pumpkin patch next year.


AR