HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-24, Page 40it
ric Yu 1.., r,.rxx
arden mums are
Garden mums, finer stars of the autumn
garden, are returning to favor, thanks to the
hybridizers' art, and to growers whfa,piroduce
plants for two seasons of bloom.
Hyb>,ridizers have developed many new
varieties with the widest possible range of
flower colors and Rowel shapes, ranging
from tiny buttons to fanciful Fuji flower
snapes.
In their former heyday, garden mums were
most often sold bareroot from mail order
nurseries, dormant plants which had been
dug and shipped before growth started in the
spring. Or they were potted up and sold out of
bloom.
This glaring, you'll find a wide variety of
Minn Millais for: sale in your local garden
center, but Many of the plants Will already be
in bloom. These small blooming plants, when
'pl*ntecl In the garden, are the foundation of
large blooming plants in the fall. (Although
some of these spring garden mums will not be
in bloom, they'll be identified with a color tag
showing the plant in bloom.,),
The reason this works is that chrysanthe-
Mums are perennials. Once planted, you
should be able to enjoy many seasons of
bloom from the same plant. They're also
short -day plants which means they set buds
when nights are longer than days. 1-lence,
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t Tropical Plants
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Shade Trees
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Available only until May 5, 1985
Phone 271-9478
Highway 7 8 8 (just out of Stratford)
towards Shakespeare
John and'tiz Van Goal, proprietors
• Gereen..Plants
O Shrubs
® Evergreens
• Rose Bushes
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• Fertilizers
• Potting Soil
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greenhouse growers start with young plants
which form, flower buds in March before the
days lengthen, :or else they shade them to
artificially proviije the long nights which
initiate bloom, .iardeners are the winners
from the. resulting double blooming, first on
small plants' the 'spring, then on the big
plants in the all...
These youn , vigorous, disease-free plants
become the mounds of lavish color at
summer's end,. .The technique is easy. As
soon as the epring blooms fade, pinch then i
off and wait until the new growth has at least
two sets`'nf leaves. Pinch out the top of each
new shoot. Repeat as the plant grows,
making the last pinch no later than July 15th.
By this time you will have built a plant with
many shoots, each of which, come fall, will
turn into a spray of blossoms.
Many of today's garden mums are bred to
come into bloom earlier in the fall than older
varieties which means many more weeks of
bloom before cold weather finally cuts them
clown. Pan. American Plant Company has .
developed 47 different varieties of, hi
performance chrysanthemums, with the
newest additions, the ''Mascot' Series, as
bountiful with their blossoms as the chrysan-
themums of yesteryear. No longer do you
have to be satisfied with just a few flower
colors and shapes.
Colors seem blended just for the harvest
season, when annuals tend to diminish.
There 'are hearty bronzes, rusty eo pers and
vibrant reds, a good foil for tree -leaf color
changes. Or choose from pinks of all shapes
and hues, shading from the hint of sunlight in
a dawn sky to rich twilight tones. Smoky
lavenders and lazy purples contrast with the
autumn landscape. And what would Indian
Summer be like without the clear, bright
yellow mums to set off the hazy sunlight?
Expect these mums to laugh at frosts that
curl tomatoes and blacken pumpkin vines.
The glory off fall is that garden mums start in
the spring.
New Coleus varieties,
compact and colorful
By John Hughes
Extension Horticulturist
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Each year we see wider use of shade -loving
bedding plants, such as impatiens and
begonias. Another popular bedding plant
that can perforin in sun or shade is Coleus.
Plant breeders have developed new
varieties of Coleus to suit almost any garden
situation. Some varieties, such as Scarlet
Poncho, are specially designed for hanging
baskets.
The Sabre series, introduced a couple of
years ago, was a major breakthrough for,
Coleus. This year, breeders are introducing a
new line of Coleus - Wizards - that is sure to
be popular with the home gardener.
The new Wizard series includes seven
separate colors ranging from pastels and
goldens to deep velvet red, and a mixture of
all of the colors.
The main advantage of the series is that the
plants produce many bottom shoots (basal
branches) naturally, so they do not require
pinching or cutting back. Many of the older
Coleus varieties tended to become long and
leggy over the summer, but the Wizards
remain compact throughout the growing
season.
The adaptability of Coleus to full and
semi -shade, and sun makes it an ideal accent
or border plant for the garden. Coleus also
grows well in window boxes, and patio pots.
Coleus should be treated with the same
care as all bedding plants. Attention to soil
preparation, watering and fertilizing ensures
that you get the most from your plants.
One of the most important requirements is
a loose, well -drained soil that does not allow
water to sit on the surface.
Several applications of a water-soluble
fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, are necessary
over the growing season. Apply at a rate of 15
millilitres (1 tablespoon) per 4.5 litres (1
gallon) of water.
Coleus is the type of plant that you can
easily transfer indoors in the fall. Although
the foliage may not be as vivid, you can take
cuttings and enjoy the colors all winter long.
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