In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Seth Young about President Lincoln's Cottage. The plant profile is on Bat-faced Cuphea and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Putting the Garden to Bed" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
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Another week of gorgeous fall weather. However, we are starting to go into a serious rain deficit again. I have been watering the seedlings and other fall crops every-other-day, but soon we will have our Cistern access turned off for the season. That means we need to store water in the plot or haul it from home.
Everything is humming along -- including the Peas, Cilantro, Lettuce, Radish, and Carrots. The interns thinned the Carrot seedlings and the Radishes need thinning again soon as they are still too close together to get to theor mature size.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that the 'Fairy Tale' Eggplant growing in a container had set flowers so late in the season. Well, today I saw at least 3 small eggplants forming! I'm going to leave the plant in until either we get a freeze or they are big enough to pick them.
The Basil is out now, so we planted the Garlic in its spot. (See the Instagram live video above.) I had to tie up the neighbor's Zinnia that was sprawling over there. I didn't mind it at all these last few months, but it made access to planting a bit hard now.
What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?
About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).
Montauk Daisy (Nipponanthemum
nipponicum) is a perennial plant that has white daisy-like blooms from late
summer into fall. It is a member of the Aster family.
It is native to the coastal areas of Japan. It is also known
as the Nippon Daisy and Japanese Chrysanthemum.
It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9. It grows to about
one-and-a-half to 3 feet tall and wide.
Montauk Daisy can be grown in full to part-sun. It is
drought-tolerant and prefers to grow in well-draining soils. It is also fairly
salt-tolerant.
Because it tends to shed its lower foliage, the bottom of
the plant can look unattractive and it is best to plant it with a low-growing
and spreading companion plant such as New England Aster or ornamental grasses.
To keep it from getting too leggy, you can pinch the plant
back in mid-spring.
It is a good cut-flower and attracts pollinators including
bees and butterflies.
Keep it deadheaded to encourage reblooming.
It is considered to be fairly deer- and rabbit-resistant as
the foliage of Montauk Daisy is bitter-tasting and has a thick texture.
To propagate it, dig and divide it into clumps every few
years. You can also start new plants by taking stem cuttings in late spring.
Montauk Daisy: You
Can Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Video and Editing by Jackson Wantman
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In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Krystal Duran, author of More Than Just A Plant*. The plant profile is on Montauk Daisy and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Seed Saving" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!
And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!
Lettuce greens in salad spinner by Jennifer Baxter.
We had several frost/freeze alerts, but remain unscathed. The Dahlias and Basil do not even show a touch of blackened foliage and are not slowing down (for now.) I had a cover cloth over the Lettuces and Cilantro, but they probably would have been fine without it.
The weather is clear and in the 60s each afternoon, with no rain in the foreseeable forecast. I am watering the Radish and Carrot seedlings along with the Peas, Cilantro, and Lettuces. Our cistern will be turned off for the season in the next week or so. That means we will need to start hand-carrying jugs of water from home for the plants that still need it.
Speaking of the Pea seedlings, they are being mowed down by something (I think rabbits), so I put a makeshift wire cage around them, which I hope will allow them to grow up again.
The interns thinned the 'French Breakfast' Radish seedlings and the Carrots will need to be done next as they are emerging in great numbers and far too close together. They also cut some of the Lettuce as it is ready to harvest and hopefully we can get a second cutting in before it gets too cold.
We brought the bale of chopped-up straw over to cover any bare soil for the winter and will need to add fresh woodchips to the pathways as they are starting to get thin again. I'm looking forward to getting the Garlic in the ground soon too!
What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?
About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).
Strawflower (Bracteantha
bracteatum) is also known as ever-lasting flower. It blooms from late
spring until frost in a variety of colors (yellow, orange, red, pink, and
white).
It is a short-lived tender perennial that is
native to Australia and grown in our region as an annual.
It is hardy to USDA Zone 8 to 10.
Plant it in full sun and average to dry, well-drained soil.
Once established, strawflower plants are heat- and drought-tolerant.
The long-lasting flowers attract bees and butterflies. They
are deer-resistant.
Pinch plants when young to promote more branching and more
flowering. Continue to deadhead them throughout the growing season for
continuous flowering.
Strawflowers are ideal as cut flowers and in dried flower
arrangements as they keep their petals and coloring well.
The new Granvia series from Suntory Flowers has been
described as a Supersized Strawflower and is a cultivar we recommend you try
out.
Strawflower: You Can
Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio, Photos, Videos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Editing by Jackson Wantman
➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to our Youtube
channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new
videos are out
