November 2016 Volume 8, Issue 4

Inside this issue: Official Newsletter of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners

Upcoming Evse Age 222 Letter From The 1 Letter From The President President Agent’s Two Cents 3 Cool nights and changing Council of Gardens and by colors are sure signs that beautifying the Veterans Pictures of the Fall Plant 4 Sale autumn is upon us. The warm Memorial Park to honor our The Majesty of Leaves 5 scents of pumpkin, apple and Veterans. cinnamon fill the air bringing A group of 9 Master Norfolk Island Pine 6 with it an anticipation of the Gardeners represented JCMG Vegetable and Herb Sale 7 holidays to come. Autumn is at the State Conference in pictures also a reminder that 2016 is May where the Jefferson Fall Garden Chores 8 winding down, and the County Master Gardeners Poinsettia-Flower of the 9 nominating committee is received recognition with a Holy Night beginning the task of looking 3rd place in Projects, 1st Growing Greens 10 for new board members. I place in Written Education, 44th Annual Fruit & 11 encourage you to take their Vegetable Show pictures 1st place in Outstanding call with an open heart and Beating The Weather 12 Association and 1st place in With Proper Soil mind. Outstanding Individual. Preparation Our group has been Many Master Gardeners Falling For Bulbs 13 fortunate in 2016 to be under have enjoyed field trips to Planting Bulbs 14 the direction of a new the East Texas Field day in Extension Agent, David Oates. Announcements 15 Overton, Creekwood Farms in As I look back on the past year, I am proud of everything our Vidor and Southern Garden Meetings are the second Symposium in St. Thursday of each month, group has accomplished. Just 6pm in the Francisville, Louisiana, with Extension Office to name a few…. Auditorium We have served our plans in progress for a

Upcoming Meeting Dates: community by lending a November visit to the November 10 - David & helping hand to area groups Antique Rose Emporium. Patricia Lewis “Mushrooms and Fungi of the Gulf such as Nutrition & Services Several of our Master Coast” for Seniors, Best Years Center Gardeners became specialists December 8 — No Meeting Mardi Gras Celebration, and/or took specialist classes January 12 — TBA Campbell Global Group Tree in 2016 in the field of Giveaway, the Giving Field Irrigation, Rain barrel, Earth- Organic Workshop, Beaumont The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 2 Letter From The President (cont.)

Kind gardening. They will now be able to The Jefferson County Master share their knowledge with others. Gardeners is an exceptional Spring 2016 brought new life to organization. This group is bound our irrigation system at the together by many different people demonstration garden thanks to with different talents. With each volunteers who rebuilt and managed the plant sale, there are MG volunteers who advertise our sales with system which is successfully working newspaper, television and fliers; set up again. and break down tables and signs; Our number of plant sales grew by price, beautify and move plants; greet 2, making a total of 4 sales for the 2016 customers; answer customer year. All totaled, the sales were a great questions; write tickets; and cash out success. Many happy customers left our each customer. There are Master sales with their buggies, bags and arms Gardeners who work each week all loaded and ready to fill their gardens, year with propagating, growing and landscape, patios and homes with new bumping up plants and keeping all our plants. plants alive and watered. There are helping hands that show up regularly to keep the grass cut, weeded and ant- free. There are so many people who work behind the scenes writing for the paper and the newsletter, keeping our Facebook page updated, keeping drinks and snacks for us to eat….the list is endless. Each person makes our organization stronger by his or her presence, ideas and efforts. I want to offer a special thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of the Master Gardeners and enriching my life with your knowledge and friendship.

Tina Gonzales The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 3 Agent’s Two Cents By David Oates, CEA-Horticulture

The Fall season is finally here for to your lawn from the Sod Webworm those folks who have been looking forward this fall. This very aggressive insect to some cooler temperatures and some has damaged a lot of turf area this milder weather. For those folks that year in a short period of time. The braved the almost “pleasantly” cool comment that I have heard most weather at the recent Jefferson County often from folks is that they have Master Gardeners fall plant sale, the never seen such an extensive weather was perfect in almost every amount of damage from an insect. If respect. A cool fall morning that was the Sod Webworms did not affect followed by a bright and sunshine filled your lawn, you might have had weekend was the perfect backdrop for a damage from the caterpillar fantastic fall plant sale. A huge thanks infestation in other parts of goes out to all of those folks who Southeast Texas. These caterpillars participated and supported the fall plant showed up very quickly and have sale that was held recently. I would defoliated extensive amounts of encourage everyone to take advantage of trees in this area. If the insects were all the cooler days and evenings that we not enough, most lawns in these have been experiencing recently and to areas have become home to a huge work on their garden chore list. I know amount of Virginia Button Weed. that my own list is pretty extensive. Take This overly-aggressive weed spreads advantage of these cooler days to cross quickly and can begin to compete off some those daunting tasks on your with lawn grasses for nutrients. lists. As gardeners here in southeast Mother Nature is still throwing the Texas, we have learned to deal with Southeast Texas area some unexpected adversity on a daily basis. We never curveballs in the form unusual weather, really know what to expect from the and as a result, gardeners in this area weather or what major hurdle may have been hit with several unexpected lie ahead in the form of insects or and unwelcomed issues to deal with. weed damage. We also seem to defy Most folks or their neighbors have the odds every season and have a been fighting a battle with insect damage victory in the landscape despite all to their lawns and trees or have been over the challenges. -run with a nasty weed problem in their lawns and gardens. Depending on where you live in Southeast Texas, you have probably experienced some damage

The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 4 Fall Plant Sale

The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 5 The Majesty of Leaves By Eileen Slater, JCMG

Fall leaf majesty begins as leaves In a fall vegetable garden, change from green, to golden yellowish mulch with leaves in rows and orange or to brilliant crimson. The furrows. Leaves in the furrows majestic use of fallen leaves in lawns, provides a natural pathway and will trees, shrub beds and vegetable compost beautifully. During the next gardens is highly desirable. growing season the furrows become Leaves can be used as mulch for the rows ready with nutrients for your landscape. The benefits of using your plants. leaves are to curb moisture loss, An easy way to compost leaves discourage weeds, control soil is called bag composting. Collect temperatures, limit soil erosion and and shred leaves. Place in a heavy avoid soil compaction. Fallen leaves duty, plastic trash bag. Into a full contain 50-80% of the nutrients a plant bag of leaves, put 1 or 2 shovelfuls gets from the soil and air during the of garden soil and either 2 shovelfuls growing season. of manure or about one-half cup of The easiest way to incorporate a high nitrogen fertilizer. Apply leaves into your lawn is simply to mow enough water to thoroughly moisten over them and leave them in place. the leaves. Punch 10-15 holes in the Shredded or mown leaves will decay plastic bag to allow for air faster and are likely to remain in place circulation. Turn the bag once or than unshredded leaves. twice. Add water, if needed, to keep Mulch trees and shrubs by placing the leaves moist. Store in an out of a 3-6 inch layer around their base. In sight place. After about 2 weeks, shrub beds, you may directly till leaves open the bag to check on the into the soil during the fall. Add small composting process. The compost amounts of nitrogen fertilizer or will be ready for use generally in 6-8 manure to the soil to speed decay. A 6- weeks. 8 inch layer of leaves turned into heavy Beware that leaves which have clay will improve air circulation and been sprayed with herbicides

drainage. containing clopyralid and aminopyralid should not be composted. This compost will injure the growth of plants and can remain active for more than 2 years. Enjoy the majesty and benefits of leaves this season! The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 6 Norfolk Island Pine By Melissa Starr, JCMG

The smell of pine needles in the air iHowever, if you plant one in Central, and the smells of cookies baking in the West, or South Texas it should grow oven at Christmas are all childhood to 50 feet tall there. memories that will never be forgotten. I Norfolk Island Pines, on the remember Christmas trees during family other hand, do not have as much gatherings at my grandparents’ house dense foliage and have a more decorated with delicate, white, “Charlie Brown Christmas tree” look. crocheted snowflakes, but I also It can stay indoors longer than Italian remember Christmases when there wasn’t stone pines, but it cannot survive a traditional tree. A few times, when all Texas outdoor temperatures. Any the grandchildren were small, we had temperature above 95 degrees will something nontraditional such as a potted burn the needles, and anything below Norfolk Island Pine. My grandmother freezing will kill the top of the tree. decorated it with tiny ornaments and set If you decide to plant it in the it in the living room. Sometimes the ground, be aware that they grow 200 nontraditional moments are the ones you feet tall in their native habitat. remember for a lifetime. There are many With our cold and hot temperatures, potted plants sold as decorations at however, that should not be a Christmas time, but if you want to problem here. decorate a small tree, the Italian stone Growing trees in pots can be pine, Aleppo pine, and Norfolk Island pine rewarding, but tricky. These trees are the most common. can make beautiful patio plants, but I talian stone and Aleppo pines are they need to be cared for more than usually bought at the store already a tree in the yard. Make sure you let shaped as Christmas tree topiaries. the soil dry out some before However, they can only tolerate low light watering. Once the soil is dry to a 1 indoors for a couple of weeks. Unless you or 2 inch depth, it is time to water. have a window that allows direct sunlight Every year, gently pull your tree out for 6 hours or more, these trees need to of the pot and either repot it into a

live outdoors as soon as you are finished bigger pot, or add an inch or two of using them as a Christmas tree. While fresh potting soil mixed with the indoors, check the soil daily to see if they recommended amount of organic need water. Even though they are fertilizer to the bottom of your drought tolerant, they will dry out quickly current pot. Organic matter in the indoors. If the top one inch of the soil is soil breaks down over time, and dry, water them. Because these pines organic fertilizer won’t burn the like alkaline soil, they will not survive roots. planted in the ground in our area. The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 7 Vegetable and Herb Sale The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 5 Fall Garden Chores By Micah Leigh, JCMG

Since summer has ended, and our plant into a small area and first cool front has come and gone, what watching that plant get too big too are you doing with your garden? Some of fast. After your trees and shrubs are us have had quite enough of the heat and in place, add annuals and will be cleaning tools in preparation for perennials. Take into consideration winter storage. Then there are those of us bloom times, color combinations who are planting a fall garden complete and foliage color. with broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts With careful planning, your and spinach. Whatever you plan to do, garden will be blooming year round. make sure your soil is well prepared with Good choices for fall and winter lots of organic material and plenty of color are mums, pansies, mulch. This will feed your fall garden or snapdragons, petunias, cyclamen be ready for your spring garden. and Bright Lights Swiss chard. Don’t Easter comes late next spring, which forget to add ornamental grasses. means we could have a long cold winter. There are several varieties to Do you have plenty of protection on hand choose from that add texture and for delicate citrus and other plants that movement to the landscape. could get hurt in a freeze? It’s not fun to Gardens are the perfect place be driving around before a hard freeze in for pictures of special moments. search of frost covers. Watch for them One such garden has recently early in the box stores or order online now opened as a location for bridal, and be prepared. family, graduation and prom Fall is a perfect time to plant trees pictures. I am proud to say that is and shrubs. Take some time to research my garden at Leigh Manor. For the plants you like. Make sure they are more information contact Micah suitable for Zone 9. Learn the water and Leigh at [email protected]. light requirements and make certain you know how large the plant will get before selecting a planting site. Many gardeners have made the mistake of putting a young The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 6 Poinsettia: Flower of the Holy Night By Eileen Slater, JCMG

The poinsettia is known as “La Flor de la To care for poinsettias, the foil Nochebuena” or “Flower of the Holy sleeve from which it was packaged Night”. Poinsettias grow about 8 feet should be removed. The soil should tall in protected southern flowerbeds of be checked daily; properly watered the South Texas homes in which we soil should feel cool to the touch and were raised. Every Christmas they not soggy. The potted plant should welcome our family back to our be placed in the kitchen sink until childhood homes with their red flowers. the water runs freely out of the In Mexico, priests first used drainage holes. If the plant is already poinsettias in Nativity processions. Joel wilted, it will need to be watered Robert Poinsett, the first US Ambassador again 5 minutes later. Allowing the to Mexico from 1825-1830, sent plant to stand in water in a saucer or clippings to his home in South Carolina. the foil sleeve will encourage root Poinsettias, named for Poinsett, is the rot. Poinsettias also need to be most popular Christmas plant sold in the protected from cold windows and hot United States. or cold drafts from air ducts and The brightly colored parts of the radiators. Constant temperatures of plant are actually modified leaves 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit keep a known as bracts. The flower cluster is plant in bloom. Bright light, without the center part that eventually turns full sun, is needed for at least 6 yellow. hours. The plant should receive twice When purchasing a poinsettia, the as many hours of fluorescent light if bracts should by completely colored, no natural light is available. and the flower cluster should be tight If using cut flowers in an and non-blooming. If the flower cluster arrangement, the end of the stem is yellow, the plant will not hold as can be burned in a candle flame to long. Poinsettia shoppers should look stop the milky sap from flowing out for dark green foliage with multiple of it. stems at the base of the plant, choose Poinsettias are available in red, plants that are not wilted or droopy and white, pink, burgundy, marbled and check the undersides of leaves for flecked colors. insects (whiteflies and aphids). A wilted plant and wet soil may indicate root rot. The plant should also be 2 ½ times taller than the diameter of the container.

The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 10 Growing Greens By Tim Schreck, JCMG

When I was growing up, I was not in Southeast Texas. It is best to plant exposed to too much culinary three areas of greens two weeks apart. diversity. My dad and mom were from This way there will be a continuous Missouri, so my dinners were meat, supply of young leaves until the first potatoes, corn or green beans. That was frost. Mustard green plants are not too the way my dad liked it, and no one particular but do not like heavy clay questioned it. Even after I moved out on soils or soggy areas. The soil should be my own, I slowly added some variety to prepared with a general fertilizer my diet with Mexican and Chinese foods. before planting. If seeds are planted, Over the last ten years, my wife has three seeds should be placed in each exposed me to so many different types hole, ten inches apart, and as they of food and flavors. One of the dishes sprout, they need to be thinned out to she cooks very well is mustard greens. one plant. The seeds are very small and My mom tried them once when I was a should not be planted any deeper than teenager, and it was bad, really, really 1/8 of an inch. bad. After that, I was reluctant to get The best leaves to harvest are the near them. My wife showed me that if outer leaves from the stalk that are you pick the leaves young and cook them about as long as your hand. It may with bacon grease, they are very tasty. depend on the variety, but it is a good Mustard greens, or Indian Greens, length to start. As the leaves and stalk originated in India over 5,000 years ago get bigger, the flavor becomes spicier. and then migrated into China. Both In the spring, the flavor also gets places extensively use greens to add spicier as the days get hotter and spice to cuisine and medically for its anti longer until the plant finally bolts and -inflammatory properties. Greens produces seeds. migrated to Africa, Europe and then to In addition, growing in the cooler America in many African-American weather decreases insect and disease dishes. The word mustard, Latin, comes issues. Usually a light dusting will keep from the use of the seeds in the ‘must’ the insects under control and mulching or the first step in making wine. will keep the rain from splashing soil Mustard greens are a staple in the onto the plants reducing the impact of south during the winter. The plants grow diseases. well in the cool weather, and the leaves Since greens are easy and fast are also not as spicy during the cooler growing, try growing greens in your season. The seeds can be planted from garden, in a pot, or in a bare spot in now through the end of December here your flower garden this year. The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 11

44th Annual Fruit and Vegetable Show

Winners: Best Vegetable, Audrey Fulton; Best Fruit, Glynell Winston; Best Processed Food, Donna Hopkins; Best Herb, Eileen Slater; Youth Cate- gory, Audrey Fulton; Best of Show, Audrey Fulton. The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 12 Beating The Weather With Proper Soil Preparation By Melissa Starr, JCMG

The weather this year has been a rock, brick or concrete blocks. Raised challenge for many gardeners. While beds should be at least 6” tall for some have been successful, other gardens good drainage. A semi-permeable have failed. Flooding rains this spring weed barrier can be placed at the were followed by a month of hot, dry bottom of the bed to prevent grass weather. When it seemed there would be and weeds from growing; however, it relief, inches and inches of rain fell in will not prevent nut sedge from August. What is a gardener to do during this type of weather? The key to success growing. That is the reason weed is proper soil preparation and raised bed removal is important before building construction. your beds. Now would also be a good time to install any irrigation Gardens in Southeast Texas need to be able to drain well after heavy rains, hoses/pipes that will be used. Drip but still hold enough water for plants to irrigation is the best way to efficiently survive during periods of dry water plants without wasting water. weather. Texas A&M’s Earth- Next, add a high quality landscape soil Kind® program provides a method for mix, leaving 2” to 3” of space at the building raised beds that not only allow top of your edging material. Work in drainage of excess water, but also 3” of fully finished compost, which conserve water during times of drought. looks like coffee grounds, to your When building a raised bed, the goal mix. DO NOT till the native soil is to have healthy soil. Healthy soil underneath; tilling will activate any allows drainage of excess water, while leftover weed seeds. The soil will retaining the nutrients and water drain better if it is slightly higher in necessary for plants to grow expanded root systems. To build a raised bed, start the middle of the bed. Pat the soil by marking out the space for the raised down slightly, put in your plants and bed and removing the top 3” to 4” of add 3”-4” of mulch on top of the soil. native soil and sod to prevent weeds from Mulch helps retain water and prevent growing later. Line the bed with an weeds from growing. Mulch breaks edging material such as landscape timbers down over time, so add more mulch about twice a year. Do not allow the level of the soil to fall below the edging of your bed. This will prevent the bed form draining adequately. The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 13 Falling For Bulbs By Eileen Slater, JCMG

Visiting a local big box store, I spied Daffodils or narcissus are beautiful spring flowering bulbs-tulips, known for large trumpet shaped hyacinths, daffodils and lilies! Buy bulbs flowers. In Texas daffodils provide while they are fresh with no blemishes. a dependable and longer bloom Dried up and moldy bulbs will not bloom period, requires no special properly. handling and some will come back Chill tulips and hyacinths bulbs in year after year. Remember to let the lower part of your refrigerator as soon the leaves remain on the bulb until as you purchase them and before planting. they are entirely dry to restore Tulips and hyacinths require refrigeration their food bank. for 60 days before planting. No other Plant after the soil spring bulb needs this treatment. Place temperature is 55 degrees the bulbs in a paper bag and away from Fahrenheit. Higher soil fruits as apples and bananas. These fruits temperatures will cause the bulbs give off ethylene gas which can kill the to rot. Planting time is usually in flower bud inside any bulbs. Warmth and November through January. Most moisture will signal the bulbs to start planted bulbs need 4-6 hours of growing. Check every two weeks to be sunlight each day and do well in sure they are not getting moldy or soft. slightly acid soil. The soil texture Tulips and hyacinths provide early spring should be porous and crumbly. The blooms. Tulips are beautiful but seldom well-drained soil needs well-rotted repeat blooms. Discard tulips at the end manure mixed in it. Tulip bulbs will of the blooming season. Hyacinth flowers rot in wet soil. Planting depth for have a pleasant aroma. New tulip and most bulbs in Texas is 2 times their hyacinth bulbs must be purchased and height. If you add mulch, factor it planted every year. into the planting depth. Position it The JCMG President’s, Tina so that the peaked end points up. Gonzales, favorite bulb is the amaryllis. That’s where the flower stems “They have bold, intricate, huge flowers. emerge. The flatter, usually larger The long leaves stay green throughout the end, goes at the bottom of the year. They have been multiplying for 15 planting hole. years in my yard, and I can move them whenever I want.” She has planted the bulbs in masses for spectacular color in her yard.

The Latest Dirt Volume 8, Issue 4 Page 14

Planting Bulbs

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3 4 To force an amaryllis bulb to bloom, place in a warm, sunny place above 70 degrees The Latest Dirt MISSION STATEMENT To encourage and support the horticultural Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service community of Southeast Texas through 1225 Pearl Street, Suite 200 education and example. Beaumont, TX 77701

Phone: 409‐835‐8461 2016 Officers Fax: 409‐839‐2310 Hotline: 409‐835‐8742 President—Tina Gonzales Vice President—Alina Blanchard We’re On The Web: Secretary—Eileen Slater http://txmg.org/jcmg/ Treasurer—Joyce Logan http://jefferson.agrilife.org At Large— James Butaud, Lisa Hitt, Glenn Watz Past President—Toni Clark

Announcements Golden Triangle Citrus Show Enter November 16, 9-4 or November 17, 9-Noon Christmas Party and Entries are free Intern Graduation Program November 17 December 10th 6-8:30pm $10/person Beaumont Botanical Garden Appetizers 6pm; Dinner 7pm Master Gardener Shortcourse $10/person by Nov. 29 January 17 through 27 Pay at November meeting or 9am—4pm Cost $175 send to Extension Office Registration due by December 16 Call for registration form or get it on the website www.jefferson.agrilife.org

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating