Sanhedrin Nursery – Garden Blog

• Naked lady amaryllis have lovely, fragrant pink flowers that bloom in late summer with little or no care. Plant the bulbs, available at local nurseries, now.

• Protect the pond from the worst of the leaf fall with a fine-mesh net over the surface of the pond.

• Plant pansies, snapdragons, stock, calendulas and primroses now to replace summer annuals.

• Look for rich, bright colors in the foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs. Burning bush, fothergilla, snowball bush and maple trees are beautiful right now.

• Garlic sets can be planted now for an easy crop that you can harvest next spring. Choose from hard-neck, soft-neck or Elephant garlic varieties now available.

Enjoy the Sweet Fragrance of Paperwhites

Paperwhites are miniature Narcissus that produce bunches of fragrant, white or yellow flowers. They are the easiest winter bulbs to bring into flowering indoors. In fact, doing so is a tradition for many people. Their bright flowers and sweet fragrance can brighten up even the dreariest winter day.

A point of confusion often arises over the use of the name Narcissus. Narcissus is the botanical name for the genus that includes many similar spring-flowering bulbs. The larger, trumpet flowers are commonly called Daffodils while the small flowered Paperwhites and China Lilies are commonly called Narcissus.

Paperwhites are quite easy to force into early bloom, as they are native to the Mediterranean region and don’t require cold temperatures to blossom. The first step is buying the bulbs. Bigger is better in this case, as these bulbs will produce more and larger flowers. Bulbs are sold by circumference: the distance around the bulb, like a belt. Narcissus which are 16-17 cm. (or 6-1/2 inches) around will be about 2-1/4 inches in diameter, and are a good size for forcing.

Narcissus can be grown in bowls with pebbles in water, or in pots with potting soil. To grow in water, select a bowl 4 to 6 inches deep; fill it with pebbles; nestle the bulbs into the pebbles about half way. The bulbs should almost be touching each other.

Add only enough water to just touch the base of the bulbs. Check the level twice a week and add a little water as needed to keep the level fairly constant. As the roots emerge, they will work their way down into the water.

To grow them in pots, select a shallow pot with drainage holes, and plant the bulbs so that just their tips are showing. Water the pot and keep it just barely moist until the bulbs sprout. Then keep the soil evenly moist.

Put the containers in a cool, shaded room until the leaves reach 3 inches tall. Then bring the plants gradually into the light over a period of about a week and watch them bloom.

They will bloom in 4 to 6 weeks from the time you plant them. Paperwhites are the fastest bloomers. You can plan ahead for lovely, fragrant table decorations for the holiday season by timing your planting correctly.

You might make two plantings a week apart to be sure of having flowers at the perfect stage for your holiday table.

Narcissus can also be grown outdoors in the ground. Plant them 5 inches deep and 6 inches apart in a sunny location. They will be some of the first bulbs to bloom in the spring, and will delight you with their fragrant blossoms every year.

• Garlic cloves can be planted now. Keep them watered and weeded through the winter and you will harvest healthy large bulbs next June.

• Crimson clover, fava beans and rye grass will fortify your garden soil over the winter. Seed these crops as you compost your summer vegetables.

• Fragrant Paperwhite narcissus will bloom indoors by Thanksgiving if planted now in rocks and water.

• Wildflower seed broadcasted with the first rains will take root over the winter and burst into flower next spring.

• Watch out for Jack Frost! On cold nights, cover summer vegetable plants that are still producing to extend the harvest.

Brilliant Fall Color from Climbing Vines

When it comes to fiery fall foliage, Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) puts on a spectacular show that’s unsurpassed by other deciduous vines.

This is one of the toughest vines around, thriving in poor soils, sun or shade, in both cold and hot climates and either dry or damp soils. This vigorous vine can be used as a groundcover, can shade an arbor or climb a stone or brick wall. This plant provides great cover for small animals because of is thick foliage.

But be careful where you use it, as Virginia Creeper does more than creep: it grows as much as 10 feet a year, and its tendrils will attach themselves to trees or shrubs as easily as fences and walls. It is an excellent covering for walls, trellises, arbors or fences. It may also be grown on the ground to cover old stumps, rock piles and other “eyesores”. As a ground cover it grows about 12 inches high.
Its leaves are made up of 5 leaflets and are up to 6 inches across. While its summer flowers are insignificant, Virginia Creeper produces small, blue-black berries that attract wildlife.

Virginia Creeper is sometimes confused with its close relative, Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), which has three leaflets, as opposed to Virginia Creeper’s five.

Boston Ivy covers the exterior walls of a number of prestigious northeastern universities and is probably responsible for the term “Ivy League.”

It is a deciduous, self-clinging vine with large glossy leaves 4 to 8 inches across. The color of the leaves changes with the season starting with light green in spring, dark green in summer, and peach to scarlet crimson in fall.

It is also an excellent climber. It can grow and spread 30-60 feet and is one of the fastest growing vines. On buildings a north or east wall works the best, but it will also climb tree trunks, arbors, trellises or retaining walls. It is a tough vine that tolerates urban settings and easily handles most conditions including shade and drought. It will make a thick ground cover about 9 inches high.

Boston Ivy flowers are small, green, and difficult to locate. They develop into blue-black berries on red stalks, which become apparent after the leaves fall. Birds typically consume the berries before winter arrives.

The foliage of Boston Ivy looks similar to maple leaves, especially when it turns deep red in autumn. This ivy makes an excellent backdrop for summer flowers, especially reds, yellows, oranges, and whites.

Fall is an excellent time to plant vines, which will get established over the winter and be ready to take off next spring. So if you need a vigorous vine for a difficult situation, or just want to enjoy the beauty of their fall foliage, consider planting Virginia Creeper or Boston Ivy.

• Holland flower bulbs are now available for fall planting. These lovely gems will bloom for you next spring.

• Plant lawns now to have them ready for next summer enjoyment. Ask at your nursery for the best grass seed for your situation.

• Divide overgrown water lilies and irises. Repot using heavy soil with no organic matter.

• Compost your leaves as they fall, don’t burn them! Leaves make wonderful compost that breaks down into rich humus by next summer.

• Apples, pears and other fruit trees can be planted in the fall from containers to get a head start on next spring.

Crisp and Juicy Asian Pears

Asian pears have been cultivated for centuries throughout China, Japan and Korea. In the 1850s, Chinese railroad laborers brought Asian pear seeds to California. They now flourish in orchards from northern California to Oregon and Washington. More than 25 kinds are grown commercially in this country.

Shaped like an apple, the Asian pear tastes like a familiar European pear with hints of melon or apple. Crisp in texture, it is juicy like a pear with a rich aroma. It is known by many names, including apple pear, salad pear, Oriental pear and Chinese pear. It is not a cross between apples and pears, as common names like apple pear may suggest.

The fruit is delicious right off the tree, and makes a great addition to salads. Like apples and peaches, they should be left to ripen on the tree for best flavor. Once harvested, they will keep very well in cold storage where they retain their crisp texture for several months.

Asian pear trees are easy to fit into the landscape. Their beautiful white flowers are a delight in the springtime. Where European pears usually have clusters of five blossoms, Asian pears have clusters of 10 to 12 blossoms, making a dazzling display. Some varieties, like ‘Ya Li’ and ‘Chojuro’, display brilliant red to wine-colored fall foliage.

Asian pears bear fruit in just two to four years, and there are many fine varieties to choose from. ‘20th Century’ was the first variety available in western markets. It is juicy, sweet and mild-flavored and is the most popular Asian pear in both Japan and California. ‘Hosui’ is a very flavorful pear that scores very high in taste tests. It has a brownish-orange, russeted skin and is very tasty.

‘Shinseiki’ is a round, yellow-skinned, firm fruit that is sweet, juicy and refreshing. It stores well for up to three months. ‘Chojuro’ is an old variety with golden-brown skin. It is not as juicy as other varieties, but stores well for up to five months.

‘Ya Li’ and ‘Tsu Li’ are classified as Chinese pears. They are shaped like European pears, tapered at the stem end. The green fruits are sweet and mild, and store for many months. They are very popular in China.

Asian pear varieties are partially self-fruitful but better crops are set where two or more different Asian pears are planted together. They can also be pollinated by European pears if the bloom periods overlap. ‘Anjou, ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’ are good pollinators.

Asian pears ripen in August, September and October in our climate. Since they are always firm, squeezing them will not tell you if they are ripe. The best test is simply to taste a sample fruit from the tree. If they are sweet and have a nice fragrance, they are ready to harvest. Handle them carefully to prevent bruising.

Explore these exotic Asian fruits and you will enjoy the beauty of their flowers in spring, the flavors of heir fruits in summer and the warm colors of their leaves in autumn.