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New Year's Resolutions- Gardening Edition
By Liselotte Vince, CCEDC MGV
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Article Photos by Liselotte Vince | |
January, the month of well-intentioned resolutions – usually involving gym memberships, going to bed on time or promises to eat more salads. But not me! No, I've embarked on a far more daring journey: the realm of gardening resolutions. Brace yourself, because instead of shedding pounds, I'm aiming to shed some light on my gardening endeavors, proving that a green thumb is just as impressive as a gym-toned bicep – but with less sweating and more mulch.
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Now, I must confess, the chances of me sticking to these resolutions are about as unpredictable as a weather forecast. But hey, you never know if some of them will stick! Tune in six months from now for the mid-year update, and then again at the end of the year for the epic conclusion of whether I was disciplined enough to follow through with my goals. Who knew gardening could be this much fun?
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Resolution Number 1: Stop Losing Gardening Tools
My trusty Felco pruners, with their gleaming red handles like a cardinal's crest, have a peculiar talent for disappearing – Houdini would be jealous. Despite my best intentions (and frequent garden-gnome-to-garden-gnome interrogations), they vanish into thin air almost weekly. And I am ashamed to admit, retracing my steps after a sun-drenched day of working in the garden just doesn’t appeal. I know that one day, like clockwork, they'll resurface. Maybe nestled in a rogue zucchini, or sunbathing atop a forget-me-not. Of course, it becomes slightly less amusing when every pair embarks on its own independent adventure. Imagine my horror discovering the entire pruner population mysteriously absent – talk about a pruning predicament! Luckily, I've learned to hoard a pair or two (or five) just in case. Nevertheless, I would like to keep better track of them, perhaps an Airtag would help?
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Resolution Number 2: Driveway Gardening
I am pledging an oath that all the plants that I receive, whether purchased, traded or given, will get the VIP treatment by being planted the same week. None of this “I’ll get to it later” business. Because we all know what later means in the gardening world. It means plants sit on the driveway for months on end, succumbing to a slow, avoidable demise. They deserve to be in a cozy corner bathed in dappled sunlight or a hanging basket swaying in the breeze. If you happen to stop by during the summer months and see a plant on the driveway, feel free to remind me of this oath.
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Resolution Number 3: The Garden & Literature Detox
My two favorite shops to go to are bookstores and plant nurseries. Much to the dismay of my family, I can spend hours perusing their aisles. If, by some cosmic anomaly, I exit empty-handed, it's a clear sign that either the store has lost its magic or there is something terribly wrong with me. There is always a gardening book or a plant or three (because a trio of plants look better in the garden, obviously) that manages to find its way into my shopping cart. I've devised a mantra for 2024: “No, you can’t come home with me!’' Double-decker shopping carts, consider yourselves warned—I'm armed with my mantra, and your spacious allure won't easily sway me.
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Resolution 4: No plant talk at dinner parties
I've bravely decided to tackle the most socially perilous task of all: not turning every dinner party into a horticultural seminar. Yes, you heard it right. No more hijacking conversations with tales of my prized dahlias or my epic war against Japanese beetles on my roses. I've vowed to resist the urge to transform casual chit-chat into a riveting discourse on my battles with invasive multiflora rose.
Picture this: a dinner table, good company, and not a single mention of making my own compost tea. I'll navigate through appetizers and main courses without steering the dialogue toward the fascinating world of the nightshade family. Can I do it? Only time will tell. Will my friends be grateful? Probably. Will I be silently yearning to share my latest gardening escapades? Almost definitely.
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All kidding aside, I do have some gardening resolutions that I plan to stick to:
Year of Sustainability:
Resolution: Implement eco-friendly practices in the garden, such as composting, water conservation, and choosing native plants to promote biodiversity.
Gardening Gratitude:
Resolution: Embrace a slower pace in the garden, savoring each moment and witnessing the beauty that unfolds in the little, often overlooked, details.
Green Thumb Upgrade:
Resolution: Commit to expanding my horticultural knowledge by attending workshops, webinars, reading, and learning from others.
Gardening Journal:
Resolution: Keep a detailed garden journal to track planting dates, observations, successes, and challenges so that it serves as a beautiful record of my garden's evolution.
May your garden in 2024 be everything you have dreamed of and more!
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Container Gardening: Indoor and Patio
By Anjali Nandedkar CCEDC MGV
Article Photos by Anjali Nandedkar
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Some gardeners ask me why do I grow many plants indoor in containers when plants usually do so much better in ground and outdoor in fresh air and under the sun. The answers I give are twofold.
One: I grew up in India and I am very attached to many tropical plants with fragrant flowers, delicious fruits and aromatic herbs. I really miss them and I can only grow and enjoy them in containers in this area.
Two: Weather in our zone is too cold for most plants for eight months out of a year. So, indoor growing season is a lot longer than outdoor one.
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That said, what are the other advantages of growing plants in containers?
Container garden is inexpensive, portable, productive, suitable for indoor and small patio. It also has year-round growing season with no critters, no weeds and very little labor. Furthermore, container gardens are great for growing tropical plants in our zone.
To start a container garden, you need containers, potting mix, water, fertilizer, seeds and/or seedlings, light source, and, heat (room temperature between 65 – 70 F).
Any potting soil mix works fine for container plants.
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Here are samples of what I grow in containers on lighted racks and/or near south facing windows. | |
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For leafy vegetables, you can easily grow Microgreens in containers. Microgreens are harvested in eight days from sowing seeds. You can harvest several pounds per week on one 1’X4’ rack. Needs very little space and work.
…. More about this valuable technique later in another essay.
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Plastic, clay or cloth containers are all suitable materials for growing plants. Plastic and clay pots need to have holes at the bottom. Plants benefit from elevating the pots on some half inch pedestals. It helps plants to have air circulating under the pots, because roots need to breathe too. I use pieces of stiff lattice panels I buy from, of all the places, lighting sections in hardware store. They use these panels under four feet long tube lights. It lifts the containers about half inch from bottom of trays.
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Watering is very tricky for container plants. General rule is the soil in containers should be fairly dry before watering again. Wet and cold soil promotes root rot. Once root rot sets in, it is very difficult to save the plant. Most container plants that perish; die because of over watering. Never water a container plant if soil is already moist.
When containers are indoor in winter, soils tend to stay moist a lot longer than in summer. You need to water small containers every day in summer. Bigger containers every other day. However, when same containers are brought indoor for winter, watering is done strictly on need basis. Check if top one inch of soil is dry before watering. I also lift the pot to check if it is very light or heavy. Light pot gets water.
It is desirable to dry out soil quickly from pot. I find it helps to have more than one plant in a container. More foliage dries out the soil rapidly. In the picture you see volunteer Impatiens growing happily with Madagasker Jasmine. I like to think they enjoy the company and extra foliage dries out the soil quicker.
Container plants need frequent fertilization. Follow instructions on the bag. Usually, full strength every two weeks in summer and half strength in winter. I get decent results from Miracle Grow fertilizers. We need to do thorough search on which plants need specific type of fertilizer. Examples: Flowering plants benefit from Bloom Boosters. Jasmines and Curry Leaf plant prefer Miracid.
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Indoor plants get their light from two sources. South facing window and/or artificial light.
Starter plants for containers come from direct sowing of seeds or buying seedlings in nurseries. There are specific varieties of all plants and seeds that are designed for containers. They are called bonsai or dwarf varieties.
Some tropical plants like Jasmines and Guavas are large vines or trees. However, they can be successfully grown in containers by pruning frequently. (For Microgreens, I use seeds available in grocery stores. More on this in another essay.)
Since we are in the northern hemisphere, south facing windows receive sunlight for many hours per day in winter. Artificial lights are placed on timer and lights stay on for 14 hours per day.
Room temperature between 65-70 F agrees with most plants, even tropical plants. A small fan in the room improves air circulation.
Move the container plants outdoor in spring when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50F. Move the container plants indoor in fall when nighttime temperatures start dipping below 50F.
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Apart from Microgreens, most container plants often acquire harmful pests.
Some of the common pests are Brown Scale bugs, Powdery Mildew, Spider Mites, Mealy bugs., Aphids, Gnats.
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Pests can be reduced or eliminated by simple mechanical methods like keeping the plant clean with frequent showers, pruning, removing debris, deadheading, proper watering etc. | |
Below we see blooms of Azores Jasmine, Arabian Jasmine, Yellow Jasmine, Belle of India, Oleander, Hibiscus and Cypress vine from my indoor garden. All except Hibiscus and Cypress vine flowers are very fragrant. | |
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It is very gratifying to grow lovely fragrant tropical flowers in containers. Many bloom throughout whole year.
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2024 Schedule
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January 5: Winter Tree & Shrub Pruning | 2023 First Friday Recap
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February 2: NYS Plant Regulations | Choosing Native Plants
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March 1: Changes to Home Garden Insecticide in NY| Tick Blitz
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April 5: Weed ID | Rats in Vegetable Gardens
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May 3: No-Mow May | What to do with Grass Clippings
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June 7: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants
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July 5: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects
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August 2: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update
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September 6: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice
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October 4: Identifying Pests in Your Home
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November 1: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed
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December 6: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree
Click to Register
If you want to rewatch one of our seminars you can find them in our youtube playlist.
Youtube playlist.
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The Spongy Moth in Our Yards and Forests
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Thursday, January 11 at 7pm
On Thursday, January 11 at 7pm ET, join Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a presentation on spongy moths, an invasive forest pest that has recently resurged. Outbreaks of very hungry caterpillars have defoliated trees in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Will this happen again in 2024? Will defoliated trees recover? Can we do anything to protect our trees and forests?
This event will feature Cary scientists Clive Jones and Charles Canham, who bring deep expertise on the topic. Jones studied the spongy moth for 30 years as part of a long-term project on Cary’s 2,000-acre research campus. Canham has been researching the ecology of Northeastern forests for 40 years.
Spongy moth caterpillars prefer to feed on oak trees but will defoliate a wide variety of deciduous species, and sometimes conifers. Learn where the spongy moth came from, how it was introduced, how it spread, and the history of outbreaks and defoliation in the US. Discover how outbreaks get started and why they collapse. Find out about forest pest impacts now and in the future.
Free and open to all, this hybrid event will feature time for Q&A.
Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance during registration, so they can be woven into the presentation.
Register for in-person seating at the Lovejoy Auditorium in Millbrook, NY.
Virtual Registration Link
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SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS
Would you like information on an upcoming gardening event to be shared in this newsletter?
Please include the date, time, location, a short description, cost and contact information for more details.
Send an email to:
Francheska Kuilan at fk232@cornell.edu by the 20th of each month to be included in the next month’s newsletter.
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MASTER GARDENERS SPEAKERS BUREAU
Master Gardener Volunteers offer lectures on a wide array of subjects for gardeners.
Favorite topics include: Vegetable Gardening; Pollinator Gardens; Home Composting; Sustainable Gardening Best Practices; Gardening in Small Spaces; Deer Defense; Bulbs for All Seasons; Spotted Lanternfly; Jumping Worms, Putting the Garden to Bed in Fall; and Nature in Winter. Additional topics can be prepared to meet a particular group’s needs or interests.
The talks are 45 minutes in duration, followed by 10-15 minutes for questions from the group.
A fee of $100 per lecture (or 3 for $275) helps support our numerous community projects.
To arrange for a speaker and get more details on offerings, contact Francheska Kuilan at fk232@cornell.edu
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UPCOMING LIBRARY & GARDEN CLUB TALKS:
Note: We have a brand new presentation on 'Spongy Moths'. Let your local library know you are interested in hearing it and find out what you can do at home to help minimize the damage next year.
January
Pleasant Valley Library
Tuesday, January 23 - Native Seed Sowing 6:00 - 8:00pm
Presenters: Janice Novet and Mary Ellen Durkin
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Need Soil pH Testing? Need Lawn or Plant Diagnosis?
Have any gardening questions?
The Horticulture Hotline, (845) 677-5067 is now CLOSED for the season.
Live Hotline will reopen in April.
NEW!
We now have our own email
Horticulture and Diagnostic questions can be emailed 365 days a year and 24/7 to:
CCEDC Horticulture Hotline & Lab*
Include as much details of the issue as you can. See CCEDC Form for all details needed.
Photos should be included.
Please ensure it is well focused, shows whole/larger section of the plant and a closer view of the issue.
Please call before dropping off diagnostic samples at 845-677-8223
or
email fk232@cornell.edu to arrange a drop-off when the lab is open.
*The CCEDC Lab is not "staffed" by our volunteers daily.
Please allow up to 72 business hours for response (may be slightly longer on off season or during inclement weather).
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we get this up and running.
For more information, including required forms and a listing of our current service fees:
CCEDC Horticulture Diagnostic Clinic
Cornell University Diagnostic Services:
Gardening Information:
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Websites for Gardeners - many topics, including bees, nuisance wildlife, mushrooms, invasive plants, certified arborists and weed ID.
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Was your last heating bill higher than you expected?
There are ways to bring those costs down — let us help you.
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Was your last heating bill higher than you expected? There are ways to bring those costs down — let us help you. Visit the Regional Clean Energy Hub to learn more.
https://midhudsonenergychoices.org/
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You are the reason that our organization has been able to play a pivotal role in community and economic development in Dutchess County for over 100 years. Your continued participation and support of CCEDC has made direct impact this year.
Together, we can lay the foundation for a successful year ahead, ensuring the lasting impact of our programs and our ability to navigate challenges while seizing new opportunities.
Will you join us now in making this happen?
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Websites mentioned in Dutchess Dirt are provided as a courtesy to our readers. Mention of these websites does not imply endorsement by Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension or by the author.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess.
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