As we noted last week, August can be a challenging month in the garden, even when we aren’t in the middle of a drought. It’s always good to have a few jewels like bulbs that bloom in the late summer and fall to brighten our days.
One of the hardiest and easiest to grow is the rain lily, Zephyranthes candida. Small ivory crocus-like blooms appear on stems to 12 inches tall in August and September. This bulb is a prolific bloomer and much easier to grow in the ground than in pots. It’s green and rush-like foliage stands out in the winter landscape and provides a nice backdrop for the autumn flowers. Tuck it in at the edge of the border, on pathways, in a rock garden or in beds of groundcover like Sedum tetractinum. Rain lilies come in ivory to white varieties, a range of pinks and yellow. Now is the perfect time to plant.
Earlier, in mid- to late summer, a group of naked ladies is bound to attract attention. And – really – when WOULDN’T a group of naked ladies attract attention? No, really, I jest – Lycoris squamigera, with its soft pink trumpets appearing magically on sturdy leafless stems, are quite striking. The foliage, which appears in spring, ripens and disappears before there is any sign of flowers. Plant naked ladies in an open woodland garden with other perennials, such as hostas to help mask the ripening foliage.
The spider lily, Lycoris radiata, planted in combination with ferns like Southern shield or in a bed with ground covers, is resistant to voles, gophers and deer, like daffodils, rain lilies and naked ladies. June is the best time to plant Lycoris, but you can still plant them now for blooms next year.
Colchicum, planted in a bed of pachysandra or in combination with ferns make a beautiful display. They are often mistakenly called autumn crocus because of their flowers. Among the earliest to bloom is “Violet Queen”, with cup shaped purple flowers. One of the most free-flowering is “Lilac Wonder”, with amethyst flowers marked with white lines at the center. Another bonus is that they are poisonous, which means – as with daffodils, critters are not tempted to eat them. When planting these beauties, keep in mind that coarse foliage appears in the spring and dies back in the summer, well before the flowers appear on short, leafless stems.
Other fall blooming bulbs include a selection of crocus that is as easy to grow as its spring cousins and equally rewarding. Beautiful as they are ornamental, Crocus sativus is also edible. The red stigmas in the centers of these flowers is the source for the spice saffron, used to make saffron rice and other luscious edibles. Also blooming in early fall is the easy to naturalize Crocus speciosus, with large goblet-shaped violet-blue to mauve flowers (3 to 5 inches and up to 12 inches tall). Plant both of these as soon as you receive them in the fall along pathways in your rock garden or in combination with ground covers.
Plant Now For Fall Veggies…
Seeds germinate fast when the soil is already nice and warm. For delicious, picture-perfect fall crops of spinach, lettuce, peas, kale and broccoli, now is the time to plant. Here are 4 easy steps to fall veggie success:
Pull Some, Plant Some
As soon as any early season plants have passed their prime, pull them out and replant. Even little sections where a cucumber plant expired or the cilantro went to seed. Put the old plants in your compost pile, then aerate and replenish the soil by forking in some compost and organic fertilizer. Rake the surface smooth and sow something new!
Screen The Sun
For good late-summer germination, it’s important to keep the soil surface from drying out and not let soil temperatures rise over 80 degrees. Wire hoops and shade netting are an easy solution. Fall planted seeds should be sown twice as deep as in the spring. Natural shade from a trellis or tall plant can also provide a good spot for seeding a second crop. When cold weather comes, keep plants warm with a floating row cover.
Sow The Right Crops
Plants that thrive in fall weather include, carrots, beets, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale and all kinds of salad and Asian greens. Choose disease-resistant varieties that mature quickly. All can be direct-sown into your garden, though broccoli can also be started indoors under lights or in a greenhouse. If planting a fall crop of peas, choose bush peas rather than the traditional climbers.
Don’t Delay!
Summer-planted crops usually require an extra two weeks to mature since the days are starting to get shorter and the temperatures will start to get cooler. Using the days-to-maturity figure on the seed packet, count back from your fall frost date and add a 14-day “fall factor”. This will give you your fall planting date.
Be sure to drink plenty of water while you out in the garden to keep yourself hydrated and safe from heat related illness!
THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN…
Plant seeds for late varieties of beets, carrots, endive, fennel, radish, rutabaga, spinach, turnips, leeks and members of the cabbage family.
Set out leek, onions, potato and garlic plants now.
Remember to keep the tender seeds and young plants moist until the winter rains arrive.
Plant or transplant iris rhizomes, which may bloom next year.
Feed your mature fruit trees after harvest with a higher nitrogen fertilizer and water well.
Feed your strawberries a small amount of a general organic fertilizer.
Don’t forget to feed your established roses every 6 weeks.
Add mulch if needed to maintain even soil moisture.
Divide your irises every three years for improved blooms. Incorporate compost and a complete organic fertilizer when transplanting. Iris also likes calcium, so the addition of bone meal would be well received. These smaller plants will reward you with new vitality next year.
Stop pinching back your mums to allow the buds and blooms to develop. Stake them to keep from flopping over as needed.
Lift spent gladiolus, discarding diseased ones. Store them in a cool dry place.
One of the hardiest and easiest to grow is the rain lily, Zephyranthes candida. Small ivory crocus-like blooms appear on stems to 12 inches tall in August and September. This bulb is a prolific bloomer and much easier to grow in the ground than in pots. It’s green and rush-like foliage stands out in the winter landscape and provides a nice backdrop for the autumn flowers. Tuck it in at the edge of the border, on pathways, in a rock garden or in beds of groundcover like Sedum tetractinum. Rain lilies come in ivory to white varieties, a range of pinks and yellow. Now is the perfect time to plant.
Earlier, in mid- to late summer, a group of naked ladies is bound to attract attention. And – really – when WOULDN’T a group of naked ladies attract attention? No, really, I jest – Lycoris squamigera, with its soft pink trumpets appearing magically on sturdy leafless stems, are quite striking. The foliage, which appears in spring, ripens and disappears before there is any sign of flowers. Plant naked ladies in an open woodland garden with other perennials, such as hostas to help mask the ripening foliage.
The spider lily, Lycoris radiata, planted in combination with ferns like Southern shield or in a bed with ground covers, is resistant to voles, gophers and deer, like daffodils, rain lilies and naked ladies. June is the best time to plant Lycoris, but you can still plant them now for blooms next year.
Colchicum, planted in a bed of pachysandra or in combination with ferns make a beautiful display. They are often mistakenly called autumn crocus because of their flowers. Among the earliest to bloom is “Violet Queen”, with cup shaped purple flowers. One of the most free-flowering is “Lilac Wonder”, with amethyst flowers marked with white lines at the center. Another bonus is that they are poisonous, which means – as with daffodils, critters are not tempted to eat them. When planting these beauties, keep in mind that coarse foliage appears in the spring and dies back in the summer, well before the flowers appear on short, leafless stems.
Other fall blooming bulbs include a selection of crocus that is as easy to grow as its spring cousins and equally rewarding. Beautiful as they are ornamental, Crocus sativus is also edible. The red stigmas in the centers of these flowers is the source for the spice saffron, used to make saffron rice and other luscious edibles. Also blooming in early fall is the easy to naturalize Crocus speciosus, with large goblet-shaped violet-blue to mauve flowers (3 to 5 inches and up to 12 inches tall). Plant both of these as soon as you receive them in the fall along pathways in your rock garden or in combination with ground covers.
Plant Now For Fall Veggies…
Seeds germinate fast when the soil is already nice and warm. For delicious, picture-perfect fall crops of spinach, lettuce, peas, kale and broccoli, now is the time to plant. Here are 4 easy steps to fall veggie success:
Pull Some, Plant Some
As soon as any early season plants have passed their prime, pull them out and replant. Even little sections where a cucumber plant expired or the cilantro went to seed. Put the old plants in your compost pile, then aerate and replenish the soil by forking in some compost and organic fertilizer. Rake the surface smooth and sow something new!
Screen The Sun
For good late-summer germination, it’s important to keep the soil surface from drying out and not let soil temperatures rise over 80 degrees. Wire hoops and shade netting are an easy solution. Fall planted seeds should be sown twice as deep as in the spring. Natural shade from a trellis or tall plant can also provide a good spot for seeding a second crop. When cold weather comes, keep plants warm with a floating row cover.
Sow The Right Crops
Plants that thrive in fall weather include, carrots, beets, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale and all kinds of salad and Asian greens. Choose disease-resistant varieties that mature quickly. All can be direct-sown into your garden, though broccoli can also be started indoors under lights or in a greenhouse. If planting a fall crop of peas, choose bush peas rather than the traditional climbers.
Don’t Delay!
Summer-planted crops usually require an extra two weeks to mature since the days are starting to get shorter and the temperatures will start to get cooler. Using the days-to-maturity figure on the seed packet, count back from your fall frost date and add a 14-day “fall factor”. This will give you your fall planting date.
Be sure to drink plenty of water while you out in the garden to keep yourself hydrated and safe from heat related illness!
THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN…
Plant seeds for late varieties of beets, carrots, endive, fennel, radish, rutabaga, spinach, turnips, leeks and members of the cabbage family.
Set out leek, onions, potato and garlic plants now.
Remember to keep the tender seeds and young plants moist until the winter rains arrive.
Plant or transplant iris rhizomes, which may bloom next year.
Feed your mature fruit trees after harvest with a higher nitrogen fertilizer and water well.
Feed your strawberries a small amount of a general organic fertilizer.
Don’t forget to feed your established roses every 6 weeks.
Add mulch if needed to maintain even soil moisture.
Divide your irises every three years for improved blooms. Incorporate compost and a complete organic fertilizer when transplanting. Iris also likes calcium, so the addition of bone meal would be well received. These smaller plants will reward you with new vitality next year.
Stop pinching back your mums to allow the buds and blooms to develop. Stake them to keep from flopping over as needed.
Lift spent gladiolus, discarding diseased ones. Store them in a cool dry place.
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