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Six on Saturday: Scion Exchange

‘Beurre d’Anjou’ pear has been elusive. I visited the Scion Exchange of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers to find scions, but none were unavailable. I got the few other scions and cuttings of the first three of these Six instead. That was two weeks ago. Some other deciduous vegetation is beginning to demonstrate that there was not much time to spare. Oddly, one banana tree did not bother with dormancy this year. It seemed to be comfortably sheltered.

1. Pomegranate, persimmon, caprifig, white mulberry and black mulberry cuttings are a bit too numerous to cite with their botanical and cultivar names. Most lack labels since I can identify them as they grow. They are plugged into the same can to occupy less space.

2. ‘Allegheny’ pawpaw scion is hopefully happily grafted onto seed grown understock. It is longer, with more buds than I would have preferred, but is rather thin. ‘Mango’ to the left is even dinkier. Three other small seed grown trees remain ungrafted without scions.

3. ‘Seckel’ and ‘Beurre d’Anjou’ pear were what I came for. I did not find ‘Beurre d’Anjou’ but this is ‘Seckel’. The quince understock is big enough for a pair of cleft grafted scions. Basal scraps from the scions were plugged as cuttings. Redundancy could be useful later.

4. Sambucus racemosa, red elderberry reminds me that winter dormancy will be ending soon for most deciduous plants. Grafting, bare root planting and dormant pruning must therefore be done sooner. Norway maple might be the last deciduous species to refoliate.

5. Musa acuminata, banana trees look so shabby after even minor frost that their foliage gets cut back. This unidentified specimen stayed nicely foliated under the eave and close to those uninsulated walls of the associated building, which happens to be a coffee shop.

6. This happens to be on the menu board of the coffee shop, which happens to be within view from where the banana tree that did not get frozen is situated. Another banana tree that is just a few feet away but unsheltered was deprived of the last of its frosted foliage.

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/

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‘Minneola’ Tangelo

‘Minneola’ tangelo fruit is slightly tart like a grapefruit, but richly flavored like a Mandarin orange.

Of all the citrus that ripen about now in winter and early spring, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and mandarin oranges (or mandarins or tangerines) are the most familiar. (A tangerine is merely a mandarin that was developed in the Americas.) Kumquats, blood oranges, sour oranges, citrons and many of the odd citrus hybrids that are less common are becoming more popular as their fruit becomes more available in markets, and their trees become available in nurseries. Except for the very popular ‘Meyer’ lemon, which is actually a hybrid of an orange and a lemon, the most popular citrus hybrid is likely the ‘Minneola’ tangelo, which is a hybrid of a grapefruit and a mandarin orange. Other tangelos remain somewhat rare.

Like all citrus, ‘Minneola’ tangelo has appealingly glossy evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers. They can be grown in containers if their roots are dug, pruned and planted again every five years or so. They like regular watering, good drainage and mulch. Aphids, mites or scale can become problematic. Suckers from below the graft should be rubbed off as they appear. (The graft union can be identified by the change in bark texture and color on the main trunk just a few inches above the roots.)

‘Minneola’ tangelo trees get a bit larger than mandarin orange trees, but not as large or quite as full as grapefruit trees. The bright reddish orange fruit has all the flavor of mandarin oranges, and is just as easy to peel, but unlike the majority of mandarin oranges, has few seeds, and can be left on the tree through spring. The fruit is a bit smaller than that of ‘Valencia’ orange, and has a distended bump where the stem is attached. Flavor develops best in warmer parts of the garden, particularly after warm summers.

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Renee’s Garden Seed

‘Alaska’ is a popular variegated variety of nasturtium that is available from Renee’s Garden Seed.

There is no shame in growing nasturtiums. We all know how easy they are to grow, and that they can even naturalize. Some of us even consider them to be weeds. Some of us even know them as ‘dago pansies’! Yet, they are colorful, have an abundance of appealing foliage and never seem to have a bad day. Anyone who doubts this should look at Renee’s Garden Seed Catalogue online at www.reneesgarden.com.

Renee’s Garden Seed Catalogue is like a wine list of the finest nasturtiums, even though it also includes many of the more traditional types. ‘Buttercream’ is a new nasturtium this year that blooms with semi-double cream colored flowers! Pale yellow ‘Moonlight’ and bright scarlet ‘Spitfire’ are two climbing nasturtiums that get several feet tall.

Even those of us who primarily want to get vegetable and herb seeds will want to try some of the many unusual flowers, as well as some of the more traditional flowers that are available from Renee’s Garden Seed Catalogue. Besides nasturtiums, there are also many different kinds of sweet peas, sunflowers and morning glories. ‘April in Paris’ is an intensely fragrant sweet pea with large pale yellow flowers that become blushed as they mature. ‘Royal Flush’ is a new sunflower with bi-colored flowers in combinations of gold, dark red and brown. ‘Mailbox Mix’ morning glories have both clear blue and white flowers.  

Mixed seeds may not seem like a good idea for those of us who like organized gardens; but Renee’s Garden color coded vegetable seed mixes have a distinct advantage. The seeds of different varieties within a mix are dyed different colors so they can be separated if desired. It is like getting a few packets of different seed within each mix. Individual packets of seed typically contain more seeds than necessary anyway. (Not all mixes are color coded.)

(Outdated information has been omitted from this recycled article.)

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Horridculture – Mail Order Glitch

Of a dozen or so items of a mail order purchase that included various cane berries, mulberries, grapes and mayhaws, only a ‘Cumberland Black’ raspberry was less than exemplary. Unfortunately, it was majorly less than exemplary. It was broken at the base of its newest cane, just above where it extended from the older cane that the cutting was made from. If only it had not been broken, it would have been an excellent bare root specimen, with more roots than typical, and a substantial cane with several plump and turgid buds. I realize that it could either extend new canes from latent buds just below where it broke, or extend new roots from the base of the younger cane just above where it broke; so I should simply wait to see what it does. It could even do both, to provide me with two specimens for the price of one. However, I also realize that it could potentially do neither, but instead succumb to its damage. Regardless, its recovery from such damage should not be my concern. It is not in a condition that I intended to purchase it as. The provider should either provide a replacement, or refund what was paid for this particular item. Instead, I was instructed to wait to see if this damaged raspberry cane recovers. Well, at least I got a response. Perhaps that is all that is necessary. I am now more intent on keeping this raspberry cane alive, partly because I doubt that its purchase would be refunded if it succumbs to its damage, and partly because I would likely be to embarrassed to request such a refund if it becomes justifiable. Besides, as I mentioned, all other items of the purchase are of exemplary quality. I should be satisfied with that.

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Canna

Cannas are as foliar as floral.

Not many summery bulbs provide as much immediate gratification as Canna. They grow very fast as soon as the weather begins to warm at the end of winter. They could become a bit too invasively vigorous for some situations. Canna are almost too easy to propagate by division. They probably perform better with annual thinning, preferably while dormant.

Dormant canna rhizomes are now available from nurseries. Potted specimens should be available a bit later. Canna, though, might be as available from friends or neighbors who grow too many. They crave frequent irrigation, and can inhabit riparian situations such as ponds. Although they are not too discriminating about soil, the prefer organically rich soil.

Canna foliage is about as lush and striking as its bloom. It can be green, various shades of bronze or variegated with white, yellow or bronze. Flowers can be thin and ribbony, or big and billowy. Floral color is various hues of yellow, orange, red, pink, or rarely creamy white. Flowers are commonly spotty or blotchy. Some canna grow higher than eight feet. Dwarf cultivars bloom splendidly without growing taller than two feet.

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Summery Bulbs After Spring Bulbs

Many summery bulbs bloom only once.

Spring bulbs prefer an earlier start, and several appreciate a bit of winter chill. Summery bulbs, or summer bulbs or late bulbs, prefer a later start to avoid such chill. Most tolerate minor frost, but none benefit from it. If too early, some can start to decay while waiting for warmer weather. Some can grow prematurely, and perhaps incur damage from late frost.

Summery bulbs are in season now because they take a bit of time to grow. The potential for frost should be minimal as their foliage emerges above their soil. Once established in their first seasons, many could stay in their gardens indefinitely. They should be resilient to minor frost by their second seasons. Most that incur damage should recover efficiently.

However, many summery bulbs are not reliably perennial. Cannas and gingers can grow aggressively enough to become invasive. Gladiolus, though, may bloom half as much for subsequent seasons until none remain. Some who like to grow dahlias prefer to dig and store the tubers through winter. This is more likely to protect them from rot than from frost.

Incidentally, few summery bulbs are actually bulbs. Most are perennial rhizomes, corms, tubers or tuberous roots. Some, especially those that grow from tubers or tuberous roots, bloom longer. Those that grow from bulbs, corms and rhizomes mostly bloom only once. Succession planting prolongs their first bloom seasons, but they synchronize afterwards.

After their summer bloom seasons, most summery bulbs defoliate for a winter dormancy. This is actually why they are in season now. After all, winter dormancy is the best time for transplanting, division and thinning. Cannas and gingers could try to retain some foliage through winter. Cutting it all back might be easier than grooming it from new foliage later.

Dahlias might be the most popular of summery bulbs. Cannas and gingers are likely the second most common. Alliums and old fashioned tuberous begonias are becoming more popular. Tuberous begonias are not so easy to grow, though. Crocosmias are too easy to grow, and are invasive. Alocasias and colocasias provide colorful and boldly big leaves.

Posted on by tonytomeo · 19 Comments

Six on Saturday: Eric

Ericaceae is a prominent family here. Rhododendrons, azaleas and pieris inhabit several of the landscapes. Manzanitas, madrones and, within some situations, huckleberries, are common within the surrounding forests. Even two of my associates, although unrelated to Ericaceae, are named for two members of the family that are popular for landscaping. Half of my Six for this Saturday are azaleas. Just one other is another ericaceous species. Later, I can get better pictures of azaleas as well as rhododendrons. Several impressively large rhododendrons bloom spectacularly in season. Heather would be nice, but is quite rare. I know where abandoned fields of it grew wild, but I have never seen it available in nurseries.

1. Heath is a masculine name. It is of the Erica genus, though; and Erica is the feminine form of Eric. Heather is a similar but feminine name, but is of a different Calluna genus.

2. ‘Coral Bells’ Azalea, like all azaleas, is of the Rhododendron genus, so like heather and heath, is in the Ericaceae family. All of them are also related to madrone and manzanita.

3. Azaleas generally bloom for early spring. These that bloom somewhat too early during the rainy season can get a bit thrashed. They would be prettier if they could delay bloom.

4. Florist azaleas are delightful as fully blooming potted specimens, but generally do not adapt well to landscapes. This specimen is floppy, but otherwise performs impressively.

5. Heather is named for Calluna, which, actually, I have not seen in many years. It grew as a cut flower crop in Montara more than half a century ago. It was abandoned by 1980.

6. Rhody is short, and his name is short for Rhododendron. But of course, he is a terrier, so ignores me regardless of what I call him. He can actually ignore me in four languages!

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/

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Pork & Beans

If it appears to be related to burrow’s tail, it is because pork & beans is the same genus.

The tender succulent foliage of pork and beans, Sedum rubrotinctum, is as squishy as it appears to be, so is safest where it will not be disturbed. Although it sprawls around without getting much deeper than six inches, it does not fill in reliably enough to be a real ground cover over a large area anyway. It can instead add color and texture in small doses between larger plants or stones. It is a nice addition to urns of mixed perennials, rock gardens and dish gardens. It propagates very easily from stem cuttings or even leaves that break off, so can be tucked into gaps in stone walls.

The plump three quarter inch long leaves resemble jelly beans more than pork and beans, since they are green where shaded. More exposed foliage is more bronzy red or brown, especially at the tips. Small clusters of tiny yellowish flowers are held above the foliage on reddish brown stems in spring.

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Rock Gardens

Succulents that would not survive in alpine gardens where rock gardens were originally popularized are quite popular for rock gardens here.

Rock gardens, as they are known now, evolved from more traditional alpine gardens that were designed to display specimens of small plants found in the mountains of Europe. These plants were mostly compact and slow growing to be adapted to the harsh climates and rocky soils of higher elevations, but do not compete well with more aggressive plants. They consequently need their own space, and are quite happy surrounded by rock or gravel to insulate the surface of the soil and control weeds. Slight slopes, as well as the abundance of rock, enhance drainage to replicate mountainous conditions.

Compact plants from all over the world now find homes in rock gardens. The compact nature of rock garden makes them practical for small spaces, particularly where slopes make other gardening difficult. Sculptural, colorful or lichen covered rocks, as well as garden sculpture, can be as ornamental as the plants that surround them. Larger stones can substitute for low retaining walls.

Plants for rock gardens do not need to be from mountainous areas, but should be compact. They must also be appropriate to the particular microclimate. For example, small succulents and cacti want to be as exposed in a rock garden as they would be in a real landscape. Lily-of-the-valley shrub conversely prefers sheltered cooler spots.

Trees for rock gardens are generally very small. Pendulous (weeping) and dwarf Japanese maples are more desirable than those that eventually grow into mid sized trees. Dwarf forms of spruce, eastern hemlock, cedar, fir and false cypress all work well. There are also several dwarf pines to choose from, including dwarf cultivars of Scots, Japanese red, tanyosho, mugho, white and pinon pines.

Dwarf forms of cotoneaster, hebe, holly, rockrose, germander and Japanese barberry have become as popular in rock gardens as the more traditional small heathers and heaths. There are several compact junipers as well. Some rock gardens plants grow into small shrubbery. Others sprawl about as mats or dense ground cover.  

Thrift (sea pink), campanula, snow-in-summer, fleabane, coral bells, plantain lily, evergreen candytuft, carpet bugle (Ajuga spp.), and small herbs like thyme and oregano are some of the more popular perennials for rock gardens. Mat forming penstemon, columbine, cranesbill, saxifrage, rockcress and dwarf types of dianthus and primrose are more difficult to obtain, but worth trying. There are of course many small succulents like aeonium, echeveria, stonecrop (sedum) and ice-plant.

Crocus, grape hyacinth, snowdrop and wild freesia are the only common bulbs that are well suited to rock gardens. Uncommon dwarf cyclamen (not Cyclamen persicum), small types of narcissus and diminutive iris that can sometimes be found by mail order catalogues, online, or occasionally in nurseries that stock unusual plants are actually more proportionate to rock gardens than they are in more typical types of gardens.