Newsletter Cochise County Master Gardener High on the Desert

Vol. 15, No. 10 OCTOBER 2004 The University of Arizona and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating

In a Desert Garden Sedum—Stonecrop have many of the hardier ones growing all over my yard. Several of the Stone- This month, I couldn’t make up my crops are considered autumn flowers mind what plant I wanted to feature in just like the Mums. My absolute favorite my article. As this series of articles is must be Sedum Autumn Joy or “Herbst about my garden, a garden in the high Freude” which means the same thing in desert, I like to write about plants native German. I think it is a German hybrid. I to the area or at least well adapted. This still can remember it growing in my month I will write about a plant family mother’s garden in Berlin. It is one of Inside this issue: that is at home all over the world and the taller Stonecrops, growing 2 to 3 feet Cuttings ‘N’ Clippings 2 can take different soils and weather tall and wide and its thick gray-green conditions as long as it doesn’t get over- succulent leaves are very showy. In late October Reminders 2 watered. summer, that is about now, it gets huge The Virtual Gardener 3 flower heads consisting of many small Mulberry Trees 4 The Sedums are a family of plants I star-shaped blossoms that start out pink Fall Plant Sales 4 absolutely love. I used to grow them in and as they age turn to copper and then my homes in Germany, in Alaska, I had to rust. The plant is hardy all the way Agent’s Observations 5 these plants in my garden in West- down to zone 5, but freezes to the Virginia, and of course I am growing ground after the lightest frost. It needs them now. The climate here is by far the good drainage and not too much water. better for growing Stonecrops, as long It makes a good container plant. There as they have good drainage and a little also exists a variegated variety, but I afternoon shade they are happy. These have not been able to lay hands on it yet. plants are considered succulents and there is a great variety of them in all Many of the Stonecrops are consid- sizes and colors. Not all of them are ered rock garden plants because they are hardy in our zones, but most of them very small and many of them make great make great container plants. The more low water use ground covers. As their tropical ones I take inside in winter but I (Continued on page 2)

Cochise County Cooperative Extension www.ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/ 1140 N. Colombo, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 450 Haskell, Willcox, AZ 85643 (520) 458-8278, Ext. 2141 (520) 384-3594 P AGE 2

(Continued from page 1) leaves are very fragile and usually Cuttings break or fall off when touched they ‘N’ cannot be walked on. When they get smashed or broken off, like Clippings most succulents, they quickly make more plants from their T The next meeting of leaflets. CCMGA is 5:00 p.m. October 7, kept as a houseplant or in a very 2004 at the University of Ari- This family of plants is huge and sheltered place It originated in zona South campus, Room 508 I will only describe a few. Every Mexico and forms long trailing (formerly Room 100). The very year I see more varieties available stems of light gray-green leaves special speaker is Colin Garland, in the nurseries. A very popular that overlap each other. Pink to founder of Global Classroom and little plant is S. angelicum. This deep red flowers may appear from the Aula Global Reserve in the one is from Western Europe. The spring to summer but are rare. My cloud forests of Costa Rica. He dark green leaves are very tiny. plant had only flowered when I is a professional wilderness White and sometimes pink flowers took it outside after the last frost. guide, animal tracker, and cover the plants in spring. This year I was too lazy and left it naturalist who leads wilderness in my sunroom and it did not trips all over the globe. Our From the Mediterranean comes flower. The leaves, as on most thanks to Valerie McCaffrey for S. brevifolium, another tiny Sedum sedums, are very fragile and bringing Colin to CCMGA. for rock gardens or containers. moving it usually takes off a lot of This plant has grayish-white, red- leaves. T Saturday, October 2, 2004 flushed leaves that are very small, from 9:00.—10:30 a.m. a free pink to white flowers appear in S, spurium is another lovely Water Wise workshop will be summer. It needs some afternoon groundcover, native to the Cauca- held at UAS. Dawn and Don shade. sus. The most popular variety is Long, American Septic Service, “Dragon Blood,” with purple- will present Septic Care and An uncommon variety is S. bronze leaves and blood red Greywater Reuse. telephium “Arthur Branch” with its flowers. bronzed leaves and burgundy-red T Angel Rutherford will be stems that makes a nice contrast to As you might imagine, I keep presenting two classes at Cochise gray-leafed plants. quite a collection of these lovely College in October— drought tolerant plants. They make October 9 Pond Building S. sieboldi, a Stonecrop grown good potted plants as accents and October 23 Pond Maintenance for deep pink flowers in fall and its nice ground covers under taller For information contact Cochise arching stems of succulent gray drought tolerant plants. Keep in College at 515-5492 green leaves. It is native to Japan. mind most of the Stonecrops are There is also a variegated variety very hardy but like a little shade available; the leaves are pinkish from the hottest sun. and very attractive. Angel Rutherford, Master Gardener S. confusum, a native to Mexico, has a spreading and branching October habit. The leaves tend to cluster in rosettes towards branch ends. It Reminders has clusters of yellow flowers in

spring. Robert E. Call ¨ Be ready for the first frost Extension Agent, Horticulture ¨ Thin the seedlings S. morganianum, Donkey’s or ¨ Over seed lawns Burro’s tail is a beautiful plant, but Carolyn Gruenhagen ¨ Plant spring bulb not hardy in our winters and best Editor ¨ Divide perennials ¨ Don’t let weeds go to seed P AGE 3

The Virtual Gardener—Kick It Up a Notch With Home-Grown Garlic If you’ve ever watched Emeril small aerial cloves, that grow on the the supermarket is not a true Lagasse’s cooking shows, you’ve stems. Although you can grow garlic but a close relative. likely heard him facetiously talk garlic by planting cloves from bulbs about kicking up a dish he’s you buy at the supermarket, that is Unless you already have a preparing by tossing in 20 or 30 not the recommended way to do it. favorite, Yavapai County Exten- cloves of garlic. This month I’m You can never be absolutely sure of sion Agent, Jeff Schalau, recom- going to tell you how to grow your the variety you’ll get there, the mends you try two or three own garlic so you too can “kick it genetic quality may not be the best, varieties to find out which grow up a notch.” and they may be infected with best for you and appeal to your viruses. The experts recommend taste. He suggests hardneck My interest in home-grown you buy bulbs (sometimes referred varieties Spanish Roja, Carpa- garlic began a several of months to as “seeds”) from nurseries that thian, or German Red or softneck ago when a friend of mine gave me specialize in producing stock for varieties Inchelium Red, Califor- a sample of several varieties of propagation. nia Early, Chet's Italian, Mild garlic he had grown in his garden. French, or Silverskin. It was wonderful. Before sampling his, I had never really given garlic Garlic needs four to six weeks a second thought and certainly of chilling at 32-50°F to induce never thought of planting any. bulb formation. For this reason it Now I’ve decided to grow some should be planted late in the fall myself. (October-November) in Cochise County. Planting at this time Garlic is a plant with an interest- gives the garlic a short period of ing history. For example, we’ve all growth before the chilling begins. heard that garlic protects against The bulbs can be harvested in vampires. (Just for the record a late June or early July. resident of Transylvania who believes in vampires said in a Garlic grows best in loose recent interview that garlic doesn’t It is said there are more than 300 loams that are high in organic work for that purpose. Drat!) varieties of garlic grown worldwide matter. It is not a drought-tolerant While we may dismiss stor ies of and about 100 of those are com- plant and requires constant vampires, it is a fact that garlic is a monly grown or available in the moisture during active growth. powerful antiseptic and was used United States. Although most Also, since the roots lack a dense for that purpose by military doctors vendors offer California Early or mass of root hairs that aid in the in World Wars I and II. Some California Late, the varieties you absorption of nutrients, the plants current research supports the idea find in the supermarket, other require fairly heavy feeding. that garlic lowers “bad” cholesterol varieties can be purchased from Applying a balanced fertilizer (LDL), raises “good” cholesterol specialty suppliers (check the (10-10-10) at the rate of 3-4 (HDL), and reduces high blood Internet for sources). pounds per 100 square feet to the pressure. bed before planting will get them As with many plants, the names off to a good start. Reapply In a more botanical vein, garlic applied to garlic by the horticultural several light applications of (Allium sativum) is a member of trade can be confusing. For exam- fertilizer when leaves are grow- the lily family and is closely ple, a variety called Creole is also ing but do not fertilize after bulbs related to onions, shallots, and sometimes also called Purple -Skin, begin to form. None of the Web leeks. Because it does not produce and another variety, Rocambole, sites I visited suggested using it, true seeds, it is usually grown by may be called Spanish, Serpent, but I think a timed-rele ase planting the indiv idual cloves that Bavarian, or Top Setting by differ- fertilizer would work well for make up the bulb. Some types can ent vendors. The Elephant garlic garlic. also be propagated from bulbils, or (Allium scorodoprasum) found in (Continued on back page) P AGE 4 and my neighbor’s leaves for water. They can take freezing My Experience mulch and compost. temperatures. With Mulberry Edible for humans? Most defi- I enjoy mine along with the Trees nitely. In many countries people Cedar Waxwings, Orioles, Quail depend on it to supplement their with their fledglings, White Wing Mulberry (Morus spp.) diet. Lay a clean cloth or sheet Doves, and Inca Doves to name Fam. Moraceae under the tree and give it a good just a few of the many birds that shake and only the ripe fruit will come. Mockingbirds are always Species: White Mulberry (Morus fall. You can do this continually welcome. They never eat from the alba L.), Black Mulberry (M. nigra for several weeks. Jam or tarts are bird feeder, but only bugs and of L.), American Mulberry, Red great. The fruit contains about 9 % course I make sure they all have an Mulberry (M. rubra L.). Hybrid sugar with malic and citric acid. It abundance of fruit. forms exist between Morus alba can be eaten right off the tree or and M. rubra. added to other fruits, especially Emily Boyd, Master Gardener pears and apples. White Mulberry is native to eastern and central China. The tree Do they get worms Correction: was introduced into America for (caterpillars)? Okay yes, once in a Due to a publishing error in last month’s silkworm culture in early colonial blue moon you may get them, but newsletter, the author of the Book times. They are quite tolerant of if they are planted at a distance Review, Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy drought, pollution, and poor soil. there won’t be any inconvenience. Landscaping by Thomas Leo Ogren Some are damaged at 25°F, while I have not had a problem since was omitted. The author was Emily others are unfazed at –25°F. The 1987. Boyd, Master Gardener. white Mulberries can grow to 80 ft. and are the most variable in form. My house had three fruitless The name white comes from the mulberry trees when I moved in color of its buds, not the fruit. and it was a mess. They all were Fall Plant Sales right up against the house and The White Mulberry is on my list patio. This is not a good idea. They Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo of “trees to plant” if you have room were so big and because I needed del Norte, Tucson, 520-742-6455, and enjoy fruit and wildlife. Plenty sunlight to plant my vegetable and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2 & 3. of room is the real secret. herb garden we took them down. My neighbor had the Morus alba, Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 Do they cause allergies? If you (white fruiting) which I enjoyed N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, 520- plant the female Mulberry, you and I had a seedling start at the 326-9686, Ext. 22, Saturday and won’t even have pollen—just fruit side of my house. It grows several Sunday, Oct. 2 & 3. and birds that have never visited feet a year. It gives great shade, is your garden before. low maintenance and uses low Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 3 miles W of Superior off U.S. 60, Are they messy? Yes and no. The 520-689-2811, October 16-31 with fruit is messy, but if you can place special events on the weekends. your tree away from paths and patios, then I say, “No problem.” I Desert Survivors Nursery, 1020 actually sweep my sidewalk clear W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson, 520- of the fruit, sweep it back into the 791-9309, Saturday and Sunday garden where it dries and feeds the October 16 & 17. birds into fall, and if it is a good year they scratch for fruit into Pima County Master Gardeners , winter. Once the birds learn to rely 4210 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, on them, they bring their babies 520-626-5161, Saturday, October every year. I also use my leaves 30, 9:00 am—Noon. P AGE 5 The Agent’s Observations We have a hoard of khaki Arizona. & Insect Pests of Farm, deep shade they suffer. Half a day of green beetles that have been Garden and Orchard, 8th Edition. 1987. sunlight is not enough. Cannas enjoy Q attacking our fruit and Ralph H. Davidson and William F. organic soils. They may not perform landscape trees and shrubs. Lyon. John Wiley & Sons. New York. well in alkaline desert soils. Desert They have defoliated several plants. pp.485-486. landscapes may have a designated They seem to appear when the rainy high water use area devoted to plants season begins. What are they and how I have two large cannas, both that require more water than true can we control them? red/orange in color. One gets sun desert plants. These are the areas most of the day. The other normally devoted to plants that will After several samples were Q receives sixty percent sun and is shade the walls of the house or brought to the office it was in the shade by mid-afternoon. provide shade to outside living areas. A determined to be scarab beetles. Both plants have flowered twice with These are also the areas where tropical Specifically they are Macrodac- long colorful stalks. The last seven- looking plants like cannas will tylus uniformis. These insects are weeks neither has grown new flower perform best. Desert soils need to be associated with wild grapes but when stocks. The first plant is very burnt modified with lots of organic matter, “desert plants” are found in the desert around the leaf edges, while the second 3:1 ratio, in the planting hole and then they will consume them. This particu- plant looks very healthy. They are both surrounded with four inches of an lar genus is in the subfamily Mel- watered by a drip system. Both cannas organic mulch. Cannas are a clump- olonthinae which includes the genera were cut back to the ground last winter ing, herbaceous perennial that in- Diplotaxis and Phyllophaga among and started to grow last March. They creases its size by growing short others. These are the rose chafers, have been adequately fertilized with underground shoots called rhizomes. dung, May and June beetles. These Miracle-Grow. What seems to be the When planting a one gallon canna species normally have long clawed problem? expect in three years the plant to be hind legs. Feeding, mating, and egg eighteen inches across and double its laying occur in June and July. Eggs are Lets cover a little bit of general height, if properly maintained. Every deposited a few inches below the soil. canna lily (Cannaceae) care first. three or four years, in late fall, clumps Hatching takes place in a couple of Cannas are tropical to subtropi- should be divided. If not divided in a weeks. The grubs are root feeders and A cal plants originating in North timely manner the number and quality overwinter in the ground. They emerge America. Most in the nursery trade are of the flowers will be reduced, regard- in the early summer to repeat their life hybrids. They perform best in full less of how care they receive. The cycle. One generation occurs per year. sunlight, provided they have adequate clumps can be divided with a sharp Control: If they continue being a water. They can be grown as “bog” knife, allowing the wounds to callus problem excluding the beetles with plants or surrounding pond areas. The over by placing them outside in the netting, cheese or shade cloth or biggest problems growing cannas in shade for a few days after cutting. The window screen placed around the desert landscapes surrounded by rock rhizomes are replanted about three to plants. Hand picking and throwing mulch is not enough water. Other four inches deep and twelve to eighteen them in soapy water will decrease problems include too much shade, not inches apart. Fertilize with your populations also. Use gloves because dividing them every three to four years, favorite phosphorus fertilizer when you some species may cause blistering. not pruning out the old flowers regularly, replant. The remainder can be shared Harvesting nearly ripe fruit before the not fertilizing them regularly, and not with friends. Following the above beetles do should be done. If needed, using organic soil amendments and recommendations should revive your general use insecticides like sevin, organic mulch where they are planted. cannas. malathion, or a pyrethriod will protect Plant cannas in locations away from hot Source: Robert Morris, Nevada Clark foliage and fruit in the future. walls or reflected light but in full or County Cooperative Extension Source: Carl Olson, Curator, Entomo- nearly full sun. In our climate they also logical Collection, University of do well under very light shade, but in Robert E. Call Extension Agent, Horticulture

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The Univ ersity of Arizona and Arizona Counties cooperating. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cooperative Extension is implied. Any products, services, or organizat ions that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension PRSRT STD Cochise County US POSTAGE PAID 450 S. Haskell Avenue WILLCOX, AZ Willcox, AZ 85643-2790 PERMIT NO. 70

(Continued from page 3) After harvesting allow the your browser at the following Do not separate the cloves bulbs to cure for 2-4 weeks in a sites: from the bulbs until you are dry location out of direct http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/ ready to plant them. Place the sunlight. The leaves of softneck horticulture/g 1425.htm cloves vertically in the ground varie ties can be braided after 2-3 with the pointy end up, space days of curing, if desired. If you http://www.extension.umn. them no less than about 6 inches do not braid, trim the leaves to edu/distirbution/crop sys- apart, and cover them with 2-3 about ½ inch and the roots to ¼ tems/DC7317.html inches of soil. During the fall inch after curing. Garlic will and winter most of the action store for 3-5 months at 32°F but http://cals.arizona.edu/ will take place underground. will sprout in the refrigerator. yavapai/anr/hort/byg/ When the soil warms up in the archive/growinggarlic.html spring leaves will begin to Before I wind this up, I must appear above ground. For warn you that infusing garlic in Until next time—Happy hardneck varieties you should oil at home is extremely danger- Surfing. cut off the seed stock when ous and can lead to your un- bulbils begin to form. Cut back timely demise. The oil provides Gary A. Gruenhagen, Master Gardener on water for about a week before an ideal environment for grow- [email protected] you are ready to harvest the ing the botulism bacterium bulbs. The garlic is ready to (Clostridium botulinum). Con- harvest when the lower third of suming oil contaminated with the leaves have turned brown botulism toxin can KILL you. and the bulbs have segmented into individual cloves that can If you would like to find out easily be separated (dig up a more about growing garlic, do a couple of bulbs to check on this). Google search on garlic or point