June 2017 Maquoketa River Botanist Newsletter of the Delaware County Master Gardeners Published each even numbered month DELAWARE COUNTY 1417 N. Franklin Street P.O. Box 336 Manchester, IA 52057 PH: 563-927-4201 FAX: 563-927-3744 Wowsa! June has come in hotter than a pepper sprout! I m right on track for getting my garden planted...late! Spring always gets away from me. I ve got the best intentions but the garden seems to wait until June for me as usual. This season I ve decided to not plant 20 different tomato pepper plants. I m going to grow beans and peas this year! I ve planted 3-4 different kinds of bean, of course not labeling the the rows after planting the seeds so I get to guess as to what it is thats growing in rows. Also new for me this year is growing spinach. I think the seeds are up, but of course no labels so I m guessing its spinach. I ll find out soon enough though. I hope your gardens are flourishing and taking off with the fast heat. Get those rain dances going though, we need some moisture already! Happy summertime! -Hannah Childs CHECK IT OUT! facebook.com/delawarecountymastergardeners Extension programs are available to all without regard of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability.
Add Fun to Your Garden Our garden has been well established for several years. (Of course, well established does not always imply well maintained.) There are successions of early blooming plants followed by flowering trees, planting the vegetable garden and the lushness of green foliage. A continuing pageant of change and beauty through the growing season. A lot of our time, both working and enjoying is spent in the yard or on the back porch. We observe the development of bud to flower to seed. The light patterns of early morning sun, searing midday and the golden glow of evening. All phases providing a richness to the gardening experience. But what about fun? Mary Ann likes to create flower arrangements in the birdbaths placed throughout the garden. They surprise and delight me although she claims to do it for the birds and as a easy way to keep the flowers watered. I like to add elements of surprise, usually hung with various strengths of fishing line. Such as as basket of pansies that seem to be suspended in midair, a geometric copper wire sculpture (Mary Ann calls it a icosahedron) that unexpectedly floats among a stand of lilac trees, and a cluster of small bird and frog bells that sing during a light breeze. The element of surprise makes for fun in the garden. Ed Poynor
Community Gardens The community gardens sponsored by the Master Gardeners are looking good. Denten Park has been cleaned up, Terrill has been cleaned up, mulched, and planted with annuals to enhance the many perennials there, and the fairgrounds entrance gates have been cleaned, planted where needed, and mulched. This year, some of the gardens and also the plant sale benefited from the elimination of the berm garden at Baum Park. Doug Foley from Parks and REC kindly allowed anyone who wanted plants to take them. Some plants were sold at the plant sale, and others ended up in community gardens. There were many nice phlox plants that found a new home in the fairgrounds gardens. Some hostas were sold at the plant sale. The fairgrounds west gardens have been planted with pink, purple, and white wave petunia's at the entrance. A couple of shrubs had outlived their beauty and were removed. Several phlox plants were added, and several other plants were relocated. In the north garden, we are still trying to create a butterfly and bee habitat. We haven't figured out why the common milkweed grows abundantly where it isn't wanted and doesn't multiply where we want it! Our work sessions at the fairgrounds are the first and third Thursdays at 7:00 P.M. Even though the garden is planted, the weeds continue to grow and need attention by-weekly. Thanks so much to the faithful crew that shows up to work. We got help with mulching from several Master Gardeners who helped at both the library mulching and fairgrounds planting and mulching. Your help was much appreciated. Carol Burke
Fairgrounds Gardens
You Know You're a Gardener When: by Susanne Reiter 1. You consider a load of decorative mulch a perfect anniversary gift. 2. In your opinion dirt under your fingernails is a badge of honor. 3. You prefer reading a nursery catalog to the latest issue of Cosmopolitan. 4. Dividing a prize hosta is a true indication of friendship. 5. Strolling your garden while holding the morning's first cup of coffee is your idea of the perfect way to start the day. 6. You and some friends have been known to fill an entire bed of a full-size pickup with plants while on a garden center road trip. 7. You mentally landscape the yards of houses you pass while driving down a street. 8. You admit to garden shed envy. 9. You can't resist pulling a weed from a landscaped bed near the door of a fast-food restaurant. 10. You smile inwardly when your adult child who moaned and groaned about helping weed as a child begins to show interest in gardening.
Rhubarb on the River! By MG Lori Scovel Delaware County Master Gardeners answered questions about growing rhubarb, passed out delicious rhubarb recipes and shared wildflower seeds for pollinators at the first ever ʻRhubarb on the Riverʼ event in Manchester June 3. Marlene Anderson, Barb Recker, Susanne Reiter and Lori Scovel donned the new red Master Gardener t-shirts and talked with visitors who attended the vendor fair. Since even Master Gardeners can use a reminder on how to properly plant and take care of rhubarb, weʼve included the most recently updated ISU Extension publication on this topic. v the event was held in Baum Park and included some new activities, too, including a Talent Show and live music into the evening. Missing was Rhubarb Salsa the perfect condiment for the eventʼs signature Rhubarb Brats. In case youʼve lost your recipe itʼs included here. Also a big hit was Susanne Reiterʼs Sour Cream Rhubarb Coffee Cake recipe. Enjoy! The Delaware County Master Gardeners information booth can be found not only at ʻRhubarb on the Riverʼ each June but also at the Manchester Farmersʼ Market the first Saturday of each month during the growing season. The Farmersʼ Market is located next to the Delaware County Courthouse and is open from 7 to 10:30 am every Saturday. The MG Farmersʼ Market Committee includes Marlene Anderson, Mary Knipper, Barb Recker, Susanne Reiter, Lori Scovel and Bob Wendt but anyone is welcome to join in on the fun. Contact Lori Scovel at jandlori@iowatelecom.net if youʼre interested! This yearʼs ʻRhubarb on the Riverʼ moved the traditional Manchester celebration of ʻRhubarb Festʼ to downtown Manchester, where the MG Farmersʼ Market group set up our brand new tent in front of Widners on S. Franklin street, which was closed for the day. There were over 30 different booths for the event which featured some of the old traditions from when
RHUBARB SALSA 2 cups fresh rhubarb, finely diced ½ cup sweet red pepper, diced ½ cup sweet yellow pepper, diced ½ cup fresh cilantro 3 green onions, finely chopped 1 chili pepper, minced and seeded (I added 1 small can green chilies) 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice Brown sugar, to taste (Abt. 2 T.) Salt, to taste Ground Black Pepper, to taste Blanche rhubarb in saucepan in boiling water for 10 seconds. Strain under cold water, drain. Place in glass bowl. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Store in refrigerator no longer than 1 week. Makes 2 cups. Good with chicken and fish. SOUR CREAM RHUBARB COFFEE CAKE 2 cup sifted flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder ½ cup butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar 1 cup sour cream 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups chopped rhubarb ½ cup sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 inch baking pan. Whisk flour, baking soda and baking powder in a bowl. Beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a separate bowl until smooth, and stir in sour cream, egg and vanilla, mixing well. Stir flour mixture into sour cream mixture just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Spread rhubarb over batter. Mix white sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the rhubarb. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Rhubarb in the Home Garden The rhubarb leaf stalk is used in pies, tarts, sauces, jams, jellies, puddings, and punch. Although categorized as a vegetable, rhubarb is used as a fruit because its high acidity gives it a tart flavor. Only the stalks or petioles should be eaten, because the leaves contain moderately poisonous oxalic acid. Cultivars The cultivars Canada Red, Crimson Red, McDonald, and Valentine have attractive red stalks and are good choices for Iowa gardens. Victoria, a green-stalked cultivar, is another reliable performer. Planting Site Select a site that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day. Avoid shady sites near trees and shrubs. Rhubarb will have a difficult time competing for sunlight, water, and nutrients when planted near trees and shrubs. Soil Rhubarb performs best in well-drained, fertile soils that are high in organic matter. Heavy soils can be improved by incorporating organic matter, such as well-rotted barnyard manure or compost. The organic matter improves drainage and reduces the chances of root rot. Work the soil deeply (12 to 15 inches) and add liberal amounts of manure or compost before planting. Planting Spring is the best time to plant rhubarb in Iowa. Plants can be purchased at garden centers or from mail-order catalogs. Digging and dividing large existing plants is another source of plants. Plants growing in pots should be planted at the same depth as they are currently growing in their pots. Bare-root plants should be planted with the buds 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. Space plants 3 feet apart. Dividing Plants Dig and divide large plants in early spring before growth starts and as soon as the soil can be worked easily. Dig deeply around the rhubarb clump and lift the entire plant out of the ground. Divide the clump into sections by cutting down through the crown between the buds. Each division should contain at least two or three buds and a large piece of the root system. Replant the divisions as soon as possible. Fertilization Rhubarb requires annual fertilizer applications for good growth and large yields. Apply fertilizer in early spring before growth starts. Broadcast one-half cup of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, around each plant and lightly work it into the soil. Avoid getting fertilizer directly on the crown. In most garden soils, only nitrogen is needed after using a complete fertilizer for four to five years. Harvesting Do not harvest rhubarb during the first two years after planting. This allows good crown and root development. During the third season, harvest for a four-week period. In the fourth and following years, rhubarb can be harvested for eight to ten weeks, ending in mid-june. If harvested over a longer period, the rhubarb plants will be weakened and less productive the following year. Do not remove more than one-half of the fully developed stalks from any plant at any one time. Harvest rhubarb by grabbing the base of the stalks and pulling up and slightly to one side. Rhubarb also can be harvested by cutting the stalks at the soil surface with a sharp knife. After harvest, trim off and discard the leaves. (The discarded leaves can be safely placed in the compost pile.) PM 719 Revised December 2013
Fresh rhubarb stalks can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for two to four weeks. Culture and Care Water rhubarb plants during dry weather to maintain healthy foliage throughout the growing season. Healthy plants are able to store large amounts of food in their roots, resulting in a good harvest the following year. During dry weather, a deep soaking every seven to ten days should be adequate. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch (dry grass clippings, shredded leaves, etc.) around rhubarb plants. A mulch helps conserve water and control weeds. When controlling weeds with a hoe, cultivate shallowly to avoid root injury. Rhubarb plants occasionally produce flower stalks that should be removed as soon as they appear, because flower and seed formation reduces plant vigor and inhibits leaf stalk formation. Infertile soil, extreme heat or cold, or drought may cause production of flower stalks. Also, old plants tend to flower more than young ones. Rhubarb crowns often become overcrowded after eight to ten years. When this happens, the plant produces numerous small stalks and yield is decreased. This problem can be solved by dividing the plant. After dividing the plant, wait two years before harvesting again. Transplanting Established rhubarb plants can be transplanted in early spring and early fall (mid-september through early October). Rhubarb transplanted in fall should be mulched with 8 to 12 inches of straw or other coarse material. Mulching provides additional time for the plants to get reestablished at their new site before the ground freezes. Diseases Phytophthora crown or root rot is a serious disease of rhubarb. Slight, sunken lesions at the base of the stalks enlarge rapidly, resulting in wilted leaves and collapse of the entire stalk. The crown and roots turn brown or black and begin to disintegrate. Control root rot by planting disease-free plants in a location where rhubarb has not been grown for four to five years. Problems also can be reduced by planting in well-drained soil. If drainage is poor, mound soil up and form a raised planting bed. This improves drainage. While a number of other diseases may affect rhubarb, most disease problems can be avoided or minimized by planting in a well-drained soil in a sunny location. Good cultural practices also help prevent diseases. Insects The rhubarb curculio is a large, rusty snout beetle about three-fourths inch long. It causes minor damage by puncturing rhubarb stalks. The rhubarb curculio lays its eggs in the stems of wild dock and other weed hosts. Elimination of weeds in and near the rhubarb planting in July, after the eggs are laid, will aid in controlling this insect. The stalk borer also punctures rhubarb stalks. Elimination of grassy and large-stemmed weeds around rhubarb plants also helps control the stalk borer. Revised by Richard Jauron and Ajay Nair, extension horticulturists. Originally prepared by Linda Naeve. Photo credit: thinkstock.com. and justice for all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Wash - ington, DC 20250-9410, or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cathann A. Kress, director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Member Recommended Plant If you're looking for shrubs for foundation planting or a focal point in a border, consider planting one of the cultivars of ninebark. Diablo is a variety with wine-colored foliage and white blooms and a more upright habit. Summer Wine is somewhat smaller with cascading branches covered with lovely pale pink blossoms in late May to early June. For smaller spaces, Little Devil works well. All three varieties have the wine-colored foliage and exfoliating bark which gives the shrub it's name. Photo is of my Summer Wine ninebark. They do require occasional pruning to keep them the desired size though I haven't needed to prune the Little Devil in three years. Susanne Reiter
Tidbits from the Master Gardener Plant Sale At 9:18am on the day the plant sale, the tables were already empty. Only a few minutes after the start of the sale, a sure sign of success! There where approximately 640 plants for the sale. Thank You! Thank you to those who sent me cards and prayers for my surgery 3 weeks ago. I sure appreciated it! - Sue Fenton