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The Garden Plot
Hosted by Adrienne Cook
Special to the Washington Post
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001; 11 a.m. EDT
Whether you remember her as the "Backyard Gardener" or know her as the "Gourmet Gardener," Post columnist Adrienne Cook is one of the area's authorities on organic horticulture. Cook was online to field questions, concerns and comments regarding gardening.
A self-proclaimed "practical gardener," Cook's love for horticulture stems from her roots, starting with a grandfather who bred day lilies and camellias. An organic gardener, Cook has been putting her heart and soul into the soil for 30 years. In her job as a Post columnist, Cook has been offering "real and simple solutions for basic problems" for the past 20 years. Practicing what she preaches, Cook balances her time between her numerous backyard projects, including a batch of perennials, fruit trees, a cut-flower garden and a burgeoning green house. Currently she is growing apples, cherries, apricots and various berries, but her favorites are the veggies: peas, tomatoes and herbs.
Over the years Cook has contributed her green-thumb knowledge to several publications, including Organic Gardening, Good Housekeeping, Southern Accents and Fine Gardening.
Home & Garden: The Washington Post Home staff will talk about ways to improve and decorate your home Sept. 27 on Home Front.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Falls Church, Va.:
I'm having a heck of a time getting rid of poison ivy in my English Ivy bed. What can I do to get rid of it once and for all?
Adrienne Cook: Have you tried Roundup? In the spring, when the poison ivy first appears, use one of the stronger solutions of Roundup, available ready-mixed in spray bottles. Select the jet-spray setting rather than the fine mist, and aim right at the new growth, coating as much of the leaf area as you can while not getting any on the surrounding English ivy foliage. You should see results within a week. If the poison ivy returns, do it again. I was able to get rid of the all the poison ivy in one of my densely planted mixed perennial beds with this judicious spraying.
Bethesda, Md.:
Is it cool enough to plant lettuce now? Too late to start from seed?
Adrienne Cook: If you have ameans of covering when snow or frost hit, you sould plant lettuce now from seed. It certainly is plenty cool enough. The only question is if there's time to get a harvest before frost/freezing hits. The fastest growing lettuces, such as Bibb or Boston or any of the leaf lettuces, are also the most tender when it comes to the ravages of winter. Sow seeds in a protected bed; cover with garden fabric to speed germination and development of seedlings. Or, better yet, so your seeds in a cold frame; if you do that, you can probably harvest lettuce most of the winter.
Arlington, Va.:
While going to the beach a few weeks ago, I passed a sign for "The National Arboretum" in SW Washington. What is it? Open to the public?
And, also passed a sign for the D.C. Farmers Market in the same area. Any good? Size?
Adrienne Cook: The National Arboretum is one of DC's most overlooked treasures. It is a 400-acre spread of some of the most stunning plantings you'll ever se. It also is the repository of thousands of rare, ancient and revered trees and shrubs. There is an azalea garden that will take your breath away in the spring. There's a marvelous open field lorded over by the old pillars that held up the Capitol before additons and changes were made on that building in the last century. The conifer garden is recognized the world over. It is free and there are many, many wonderful programs offered there.
I have not been to the DC Farmer's Market in about 20 years. It used to be a wonderful source of the the most unusual foods. It is located in the wholesale district where merchants and produce vendors come together to buy and sell for Washington's retail market. I'd suggest you contact the DC Extension agency to learn more about it.
Washington, D.C.:
Argh! When is it going to get cold enough for the mosquitos to finally go away?
Adrienne Cook: First frost date for the region is October 15. Does that help?
Falls Church, Va.:
I notice the garden centers are carrying tons of bulbs. Is it cool enough to plant them yet?
Adrienne Cook: Oh my yes. You can begin planting daffodils and crocusses (crocii?) in August! Tulips go in in September, October and November. The problem is not the coolness/warmth; it's the fact that ground is so dry. I'm so glad to see today's rain; I hope that the ground will be workable this weekend, because that's when I plan on planting bulbs.
Washington, D.C.:
How much longer can I expect to get tomatoes from my container plants?
Adrienne Cook: Since you're in DC, you should get them longer than the rest of us. Tomatoes produce until frost. However, ripening is slowed considerably by nights that go below 60. Snip out new flowers or very tiny fruit that will never develop. This will encourage the plant's remaining energy to go into building up the existing tomatoes. Frost date in DC? Generally the first week of November.
Landover, Md.:
Hello Adrienne!
My father sent me some tulip bulbs last year, but I missed the window to plant them. I still have them in the storage room which is climate controlled and the plastic bag containing the bulbs has air holes. Do you think that I should try and plant them this year or should I just start with fresh bulbs?
Adrienne Cook: If your bulbs are still firm when you squeeze them and they are free of mold, they should still be viable. The "window" for tulip bulb planting is really a door: They can go in anytime after Labor Day as long as the ground can be worked. One year, I have planted tulips in January that bloomed in the spring. I don't recommend that, because it was quite unpleasant trying to dig holes deep enough; but it can be done.
Rockville, Md.:
Hi Adrienne, I have two questions:
1. Is it too late to plant radicchio seed this weekend?
2. I have a landscape rose (Blanc Double de Coubert). I have noticed a stalk coming out of the root. It looks like a hybrid tea rose stem (red stalk and leaves) rather than the light green crinkly leaves that the landscape rose has. I'm thinking that the nursery grafted the landscape rose on a different species. Should I cut it?
Thanks
Adrienne Cook: Yes and yes. Well, it's too late to get a good, full head of radicchio, but if you don't mind some baby radicchio, go ahead, there's time for this cool-loving green to produce a short harvest. Yes to the second question too.
Arlington, Va.:
How can I tell the difference between annual and perennial mums?
Adrienne Cook: Actually, all mums are perennial. When mums die in the winter it is becuase they are planted in the fall as large, often root-bound plants and never get a chance to get a good root system going in the ground; lack of water and nutrients kill the plants. The best mums are planted in the spring as small plants and take a year or two to really establish themselves. If given space, one or two tiny plants will spread into a lovely mound within two years. To keep them looking bushy, cut mums back to about six inches in June.
Capital Hill:
We just moved into a house that has a lovely tangle of tomato and pepper plants in the front garden. They have produced quite well and I'd like to make sure that they are around next year. What should we do in fall and winter to prepare for their successful return in the spring?
Thank you!
Adrienne Cook: For better or for worse, tomatoes and peppers are year-round (perennial) only where winters are as warm as our summers. Even on Capitol Hill, they will die out once winter hits. Enjoy them for the next few weeks and pull them out when frost kills them. Prepare your soil by covering the beds with compost and mulch and next spring, buy new plants to put in. Obviously, they thrive in your new garden. How lucky you are!
Washington, D.C.:
My grape hyacinth bulbs (planted last fall) have recently sprouted green growth! Will they still bloom in the spring? Should I dig them up and bury them deeper next summer?
Adrienne Cook: Grape hyacinth as an utterly carefree plant that naturalizes freely and brightens any spring day with its intense blue color and enourmously pleasing, petite form. It is not uncommon for these free-flowering bulbs to produce a last bit of green before winter. Leave it alone and it will reward you with splendid blooms in the spring.
Capitol Hill:
We have a large (3 foot tall) basil plant that is amazing! What should we do to make sure it comes back in the spring? Cut it down? Trim? Thanks!
Adrienne Cook: How wonderful. Basils are not perennial; they naturally die off after they have bloomed and set seed. If it is not in a pot, there is little you can do to prevent this natural occurence. If it is in a pot, you may be able to delay the inevitable by cutting it back now to its main stems, leaving about one-third of the foliage still on, and then bringing the basil plant inside to a bright, sunny window. The warmth will stimulate a burst of new growth before it dies completely. Obviously you are doing something right; buy new plants next spring and do the same thing again!
Capitol Hill:
Thank you for your answer about my tomato and pepper patch. When I replant in the spring I would like to avoid the tangled mess of vines that we have now...how can I best do that?
Thank you!
Adrienne Cook: Plant them three feet apart and stake or cage both tomatoes and peppers.
Clifton, Va.:
Can I plant creeping thyme from seed?
Adrienne Cook: Thyme is a slow and poor germinator. It can be propagated from seed, but you'll have much more luck taking cuttings.
Washington, D.C.:
Hello! I love this chat and your advice has been so helpful. I have what I hope is not a silly question: Last year as a first-time gardener I bought too many bulbs (crocuses, tulips, daffodils) and have stored them in my refrigerator for the past year. Will the bulbs still produce flowers if I plant them this fall?
Adrienne Cook: Thanks! If you look at a previous similar question above, that should answer yours. If not, ask again.
Washington, D.C.:
Are there any perrenials on sale at the garden center right now that it's really too late in the season to plant?
Also, do perennials start to go on sale as the temperature dips? I'm just wondering about good finds.
Adrienne Cook: Fall is a great time to plant perennials. Shrubs, trees and tough plants like day-lillies, hostas and many others can go in now. There are many great buys in the area too. One caveat: Be sure your soil/beds are prepared before you buy. Fall-planted perennials need enough time to get their roots established before winter, so any delay in getting them in will turn a bargain into wasted money very quickly.
Alexandria, Va.:
I'm a newbie at gardening so forgive me if this is a stupid question. We recently bought a house and I was turning the soil over to prepare it for some tulip and daffodil bulb planting later on this month. I noticed that there were no bugs or worms in the soil -- nothing but roots from weeds. Is this good thing or bad?
Adrienne Cook: Heavens! This is a great question! You have learned one of the most important rules of gardening: Look at the soil to figure out what you've got. I can't tell you how many people don't do this. Worms are always a good sign; grubs are not, but you wouldn't be seeing grubs at this time of the year anyway, since they are active only in the spring and early summer. I'm guessing that the lack of worm activity in your soil is due more to the dryness of the soil than its overall health. Worms dig deep to reach moisture, which is one of their great benefits ot gardeners. As you examine your soil, look for color-- the darker the better--and texture--it should be crumbly, not packed. As you plant your bulbs add a commercial bulb food or bone meal, an organic nutrient that feeds bulbs. And if you see grubs when you are digging in the spring, get rid of them.
Norfolk, Va.:
Oh no - hope I'm not too late! It's not cold yet, but wondering if my hens & chicks, well-established in a strawberry pot, should/could come inside for the winter? They have been hard to find, and I love the look so much -- will they work indoors or outdoors in the cold til the spring? Many thanks!
Adrienne Cook: They'll be fine. They are hardy even north of Norfolk.
Linden, Va.:
I asked this question last week (bad timing).
I have deciduous azaleas that are setting blooms now (I don't know how they got "off schedule") Will blooming now zap their strength to survive over the winter, or should I pick off the blooms?
Adrienne Cook: I'm guessing you are seeing an occasional bloom here and there and not a bush-full. This should not hurt the blooming in the spring.
Arlington, Va.:
Adrienne, Welcome back! Is it time to plant grass seed? Also, I've been all over the place and can't find zoysia grass seed anywhere. What's the deal?
Adrienne Cook: Zoysia is a warm-season grass that should be sown in May. Cool-season lawn grasses are fine to be sown now. Take a look in today's Wash. Post for an article in the Home section about lawn care at this time of the year.
Nani, Tex.:
Good morning Adrienne and may God Bless America. My 12 year old granddaughter tasted her first pomegranate in her Greek mythology class and now wants me to plant a pomegranate tree. What can you tell me about the planting and care of this tree? I have a nice area that gets full sun all day.
Adrienne Cook: Pomegranates grow on bushy trees, six to eight feet tall. They should fruit in Texas. Check at local nurseries for trees. Try to get one that is two or three years old. Once you have planted the young tree, it will take another three years to get any fruit.
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