Gardentalk

Gardentalk

By KTOO Public Media
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Gardentalk episodes

  • Gardentalk – When too much moisture is a bad thing
    Telephone Hill cherries ripen at the KTOO Agricultural Test Station and Garden of Science. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
    In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, master gardener Ed Buyarski encourages us to check out the latest bulb catalogs and place our orders now before this fall’s bulb season.
    When your bulbs arrive, set them aside until you’re ready to plant in September and October.
    “Keep them in a cool, dry place in your garage or something like that,” Buyarski said.
    Listen to the July 26 edition of Gardentalk about bulbs, garlic and cherries:
    https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/07/garden072618.mp3
    For garlic already in the ground and nearing harvest, Buyarski recommends gardeners avoid watering their garlic plants at least two weeks before harvest time.
    “Bottom line is quit watering your garlic if you still are,” Buyarski said. “That helps toughen up their skins, kind of like curing potatoes in the ground.”
    The garlic plant’s bulbs could also develop a fungus and rotten, thin skins if they get too much moisture or if they’re left in the ground too long.
    Buyarki also reminds cherry tree owners to pick their ripe cherries before Juneau’s summer rains start. Otherwise, cherries will crack and split, and quickly become inedible.
    “The rains will cause them to almost explode overnight. And then, they get rotten and they’re not good for whatever you want to use your cherries for,” Buyarski said.
    They’ve exploded. It’s way too late to eat these split and cracked pie cherries. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
    Are you interested in checking out previous editions of Gardentalk? Perhaps you have a question of your own that you’d like to ask Ed. Just go to the Gardentalk archive page where you can catch up on earlier segments from this season or submit a question that may be answered on a upcoming…
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  • Gardentalk – Here’s your primer on picking peonies
    Peonies (Creative Commons photo by Samantha Forsberg)
    If you have ever attended a wedding recently, then you’ve probably seen bouquets or arrangements of peony flowers.
    The long-lived plants are popular in the commercial floral industry because of their fragrance and big, beautiful flowers.
    Alaska gardeners love growing them because of their ability to endure long, cold winters in northern temperate climates.
    In the week’s edition of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski reminds us that local herbaceous peonies are now blooming with white, pink and red flowers.
    For those wishing to take part in the peony parade, Buyarski suggests ordering peony roots now before planting in late September and October.
    Peonies are available in single, semi-double or double-flower varieties which specify the number of petals for each flower.
    “From literally just five petals — like the single roses — on through the semi-doubles which might have 10, 15, even 20 petals,” Buyarski said.
    Peonies bloom either in early, mid- or late season.
    Herbaceous peonies either die back or need to be trimmed in the fall before they regrow in the spring. A different type, woody tree peonies, are more like shrubs and do not die back.
    “So, there are some incredible choices,” Buyarski said.
    When your peony roots or tubers arrive, Buyarski says be careful not to plant them deeper than 1- to  2-inches or they may never flower.
    Listen to the July 20 edition of Gardentalk about selecting peony varieties:
    https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/07/garden071918.mp3
    This set of peony roots or tubers with new buds must be split up before planting. You might need a hatchet. (Photo courtesy of Ed …
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  • Gardentalk — Trim a little now for a bigger harvest later
    Cucumber flowers fade and shrink for the night in a North Douglas greenhouse. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
    In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski explains that trimming a few side shoots from our greenhouse tomato and cucumber plants can enhance development of their vegetables over the rest of the season.
    Buyarski recommends erecting a trellis, tomato cages or other form of support that will allow the plants to grow upward.
    “Because those plants will grow lots and lots of side shoots off the main vine, we need to prune some of those out so that the plant will put its energy into growing more tomatoes, more cucumber fruits,” Buyarski said.
    “And, (it will) allow better ventilation, better airflow around the plants so we don’t have the mold and mildew infections that are so common with our normally moist conditions,” he said.
    For indeterminate tomato plants which may grow 6 feet or more until killed by frost, Buyarski recommends pruning the plant’s side shoots so there is no more than one extra stem off of the main stem.
    For determinate or bush tomatoes which are limited to 3 feet in height, he suggests leaving three or four stems instead.
    For cucumbers, Buyarski recommends trimming the side shoots and leaving no more than two or three shoots off the main stem.
    Listen to the July 13 segment of Gardentalk about trimming cucumbers and tomatoes:
    https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/07/garden071218.mp3
    Got a gardening question for Ed? Go to this page and ask away! We’ll try to answer your question in an upcoming segment.
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  • Gardentalk – How to juice your garden with weeds

    It’s not stinky yet. Fresh weed tea brews in a North Douglas garden. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)

    In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, master gardener Ed Buyarski describes how he makes weed juice or weed tea to feed our garden vegetables.

    • Fill a 5-gallon bucket about two-thirds full with weeds you just pulled, add a handful or two of fresh seaweed, and then top off the bucket with water.
    • Let sit for a few weeks until the liquid at the bottom of the bucket turns into a disgusting, stinky brown syrup.
    • Remove the weeds and seaweed and any chunks or solids that settle out. Don’t forget any weed seeds that may float to the surface.
    • Dilute the slimy liquid about 4 to 1 with water before applying it to your garden vegetables.

      • Buyarski says the liquid contains essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium that were picked up by the weeds.

      He says use grass clippings in your tea sparingly because they are usually very high in nitrogen content. Buyarski also cautions against using grass clippings or weeds in which weed-and-feed or a herbicide was recently applied.

      Listen to the July 6 edition of Gardentalk about weed tea:

      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/07/garden070518web.mp3

      Buyarski has already embarked on another round of planting for late summer crops of broccoli, cabbage, rutabaga, kale, and lettuce. He will wait until late July before planting additional crops of spinach and radish.

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    • Gardentalk – Go big with garlic and deadhead those scapes
      It’s too late. This garlic scape from last season is all curled up in a North Douglas garden. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
      In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski suggests a little mid-season garlic maintenance to enhance the size of our bulbs at harvest time.
      Buyarski explains that a garlic’s scape or long center stem usually grows with a bulbous section designed to help with the plant’s propagation. But those scapes consume a significant amount of energy as they grow. Buyarski suggests trimming off the scape before it starts curling so the garlic plant can devote more energy to bulb development.
      Listen to the June 29 segment of Gardentalk:
      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/06/garden062818web.mp3
      And, don’t just chuck those trimmed garlic scapes into your compost pile. Buyarski says there plenty of recipes to make a garlic scape chimmichurri or pesto.
      Recently harvested garlic scapes. (Photo by Matt…
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    • Gardentalk – Green thumb Ed answers your questions
      Tomato flowers blossom in a North Douglas greenhouse. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
      During the current warm and dry spell, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski issues his usual advice to vent your greenhouses and water your plants.
      In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, Buyarski described how the temperature in his greenhouse recently pegged the gauge at above 120 degrees. And, his greenhouse is covered by clear single-layer plastic sheeting, not double-paned windows which can more effectively retain heat.
      He suggests leaving the doors and vents open to ventilate your greenhouse in warm or humid weather.
      Buyarski also described how one local gardener started watering her hanging tomato plants twice a day because they dried out so quickly in Juneau’s recent 70-85 degree temperatures.
      Also, a reminder that the Southeast Master Gardeners Garden Tour will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Seven gardens will be on display.
      You can find a map and more information about tickets at this page.
      Listener questions on garden bed covers and rhodies –
      Buyarski answered a few questions submitted by local gardeners.
      John wrote: “I have beds (4×16) and salvage single-pane storm windows (metal frames). Building covers, leave lots of vent to dry or little to hold heat?”
      Buyarski recommends John consider the plants that he wants to grow before constructing the framework to hold the windows.
      They will work better than clear single-layer visqueen to warm up the plants and the soil, but Buyarski said designing options for adequate air flow and ventilation is essential to prevent fungus development during high humidity.
      “Whether that be screens on the ends or if he can somehow put hinges on the windows to lift one up on each end to let the hot air out while also still shedding rainfall,” Buyarski said.
      Julie wrote: “We live in Gustavus and think that our Rhododendrons are beyond help. The leaves are covered in rust-colored spots.”
      Buyarski said it sounds like a fungus.
      “Certain rhododendrons get those brown fungus spots,” he said. “It is a variety issue, unfortunately.”
      Buyarski suggests Julie research rhododendron spots, fungicide treatments and fungus-resistant rhododendrons if she has internet access.
      He recommends that Julie do not use the usual fungicide treatment of a baking soda spray since the sweetness can have an adverse affect on rhododendrons.
      It’s also essential that any old, dropped leaves be cleaned up and removed.
      A layer of sand or spruce needles placed under the rhododendron will prevent more fungus spores from splashing up to new leaves on the plant.
      Listen to the June 21 edition of Gardentalk:
      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/06/garden062118b.mp3
      You have a gardening question of your own? Go to this page, fill out the form on the right, and we’ll try to answer your question on the …
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    • Gardentalk – Is it dead yet? Some plants may still cling to life
      This cucumber plant suffered from severe sunburn and windburn damage because it wasn’t properly hardened off before it was planted outdoors. Overnight temperatures also hovered just a few degrees above freezing. But new growth suggests that this plant is on the rebound. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
      Like a plague-infected character in a Monty Python movie, some of your plants and trees may look sickly and sad while proclaiming that they’re not dead yet.
      Branches of recently planted shrubs and trees may droop if they’re suffering from moisture stress. Inadequate snow cover that would normally protect the ground during a severe freeze can kill a plant’s roots, which affects how much moisture it takes up during the spring.
      Leaves of greenhouse plants and vegetables may also wilt or shrivel if they don’t get enough water.
      Tender vegetable starts may turn yellow-white and die if they suffer from cold shock or if they were planted outside before overnight temperatures warmed up enough. They may also become discolored if they get sunburned or windburned before they are hardened off properly.
      Master Gardener Ed Buyarski says it’s possible to check whether your vegetables and trees will last the rest of the season or if they should just be replaced.
      Check for new growth. Some leaves may be brown or falling off. But if the plant is still leafing out or shows evidence of new budding, then it may have a chance.
      Do the knife or thumbnail scratch test for larger plants, shrubs and trees. Some shrubs and trees may appear green at the top. But if they appear brown under the bark at the base, then it’s likely dead.
      Listen to the June 14 edition of Gardentalk:
      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/06/garden061418.mp3
      This okra plant dropped many of its leaves after it was transported to a new environment. But abundant new growth at the base suggests that it is far from dead. (Photo by Matt…
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    • Gardentalk — Your vegetables, flowers thank you for your support
      A hops plant climbs up a portion of a wire trellis in a North Douglas yard. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
       
      Some vegetables and flowers may need a little extra reinforcement as we nurture and care this season.
      In the latest edition of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski suggests creating a trellis to help them reach for the sun and stay dry.
      “We have to provide something for them to climb on so they’re not just flopping on the ground, and their fruit or vegetables, whatever parts that we want to eat aren’t instead being eaten by the dreaded slugs,” Buyarski said.
      Propping up plants also helps with air circulation, which mitigates mold and mildew issues.
      Tomatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, raspberries and kiwis benefit from a trellis to hold them up or keep them from falling over.
      Flowers such as peonies, monkshood and delphiniums also need some support.
      “It seems like the timing of opening their blooms and tall flower spikes seems to coincide with rain and a windstorm, and then over they go,” Buyarski said.
      A simple trellis might include sinking unstripped alder branches into the ground or running a string or wire between old posts, he said.
      Tomato cages found in local retailers can also be used for peas, cucumbers and peonies.
      Recycled gill net or seine webbing also can support plants that climb or may have heavy vegetables or flowers.
      Buyarski suggests checking with the harbormaster or looking through the recycle bins down at the docks.
      However, such netting may trap robins and other unwary birds, he cautions.
      Listen to the June 7 edition of Gardentalk about trellis construction:
      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/06/garden060718.mp3
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    • Gardentalk — When it comes to pollination, some plants need help
      A bee gets dusted with pollen in a Ketchikan flower bed. (Creative Commons photo by gailhampshire)
      Many perennials, vegetables and trees are already blooming.
      In this week’s segment of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski explains some basic pollination concepts and techniques.
      “We don’t really care about the carrots having sex,” Buyarski said. “But we really do (care) about the zucchinis, the apples and the cherries.”
      For apples, Buyarski said cross-pollination from another variety is best.
      “We can’t just plant two yellow transparents,” Buyarski said. “We need two different varieties.”
      Buyarski said pie cherry trees are self-fertile, but sweet cherries — like apples — need a different variety for pollination.
      For manual pollination of zucchinis and other members of the squash family, Buyarski recommends first identifying the male and female flowers of each plant. Female flowers usually have a small zucchini attached to it.
      “Pollen needs to be moved from the male flower over to the female flower,” Buyarski said.
      He suggests tearing off a male flower’s petals and dabbing the male stamen with the pollen onto the female flower’s pistols.
      Cucumbers and tomatoes are common examples of self-fertile plants that do not need any bees to do the work.
      “Just shaking the plant when they are flowering is enough and moves the pollen within itself, within that one flower,” Buyarski said.
      He also has tips for identifying kiwi plant gender, which is important for moving pollen from a male kiwi plant to a separate female plant.
      Female kiwi plants can be identified by the small white fruitlets forming under the pistol inside the flower while male plants, instead, have yellow stamens and more colorful pink and white leaves.
      Listen to the May 31 segment of Gardentalk about pollination:
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    • Gardentalk – Starting saps and sprouts to sculpture and stabilize soggy soil

      Primrose bloom in a North Douglas flower bed. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)

      Landscaping in Southeast Alaska’s rainforest might seem downright daunting for novice gardeners or recent transplants who are not used to the nearly year-round precipitation.

      Poor drainage can also inhibit the growth of some perennials, bushes, and trees.

      “If we can’t drain it away, then let’s plant something in it,” says Master Gardener Ed Buyarski. “To beautify it. To make it look nicer.”

      He says there are plenty of varieties that grow well in soggy soil, including wild and Siberian iris.

      Ligularia and primrose – especially some of the red, orange, and yellow varieties – are also well-suited to growing in damp conditions.

      “A lot of these are later blooming to give us more color longer in the season,” Buyarski says.

      Highbush cranberry, red twig and yellow twig dogwoods, cottonwood, and golden willow are common shrubs and trees that can stabilize a stream bank while also pulling in water and drying out an area.

      “You take cuttings of these and just stick them in those damp areas and their roots will spread,” Buyarski says.

      In most cases, Buyarski says it’s not required to supplement your planting area with gravel or sand to improve drainage. Compost may be all that is necessary.

      Listen to the May 24 edition of Gardentalk:

      https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/05/garden052418.mp3
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    About Gardentalk

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    Gardening tips and information from KTOO in Juneau