Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County Extension Education Center Phone: 856-451-2800 291 Morton Avenue Fax: 856-451-4206 Millville, NJ 08332-9791 www.njaes.rutgers.edu/extension Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County 1915-2015 “What’s Growing Inside this issue: Volume 21 Number 1 Spring 2018 Edition Published Quarterly

Rutgers on the Radio 1 RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Garden Gab 1 ON THE RADIO

Butterflies 2 For agriculture news and horticultural tips, listen to me, Pam Burton, on the RCE Agricultural Program on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Leaf Compost 3 Thursday on 99.9 FM SNJ Today announcing local workshops, seminars, and What’s HOP-pening? 3 horticultural tips. Note: Local TV Channel 4 and www.snjtoday.com simulcasts live radio spots as they are aired Signs of Spring 4 Mulch Mound Mania 4 Garden Gab International Eggplants 5 Recipe for Success 6 Yoga has many poses with names that translate to “things found in nature”, including animals. My golden retriever, Tessa does the best Bottle It! 6 downward facing dog pose that I’ve ever seen, taking her time in the pose Save The Date 7 and smiling while she’s at it. In yoga, we commonly practice poses with Herbs & Veggie plant list 7 names of wheel, plough, tree, sun salutations, mountain and lotus poses, all related to nature. This common thread between yoga and nature Flower Plant List 8 comes as no surprise to me, and I’ve had the pleasure of doing yoga Fancy Plants 9 classes in vineyards and in my own garden, at the beach and on a sail- Water Conservation 10 boat. Master Gardener Classes 11 An integral and important part of a yoga practice is meditation, and Kids Corner 11 that’s where I find my time in my garden serves me well. There is no bet- ter way to connect back to reality and reset priorities than to spend a day Creatures & Critters 12 in the garden preferably with Tessa and a few of my best friends. As Upcoming Calendar of 13 spring arrives and I once again feel the soil in my hands while I work the Events earth as the suns’ rays warm my soul and I breathe in the smell of green, Green Knight Newsletter 13 all is right with the world for that moment. Namaste (a salutation said at Soil Sample update 13 the end of yoga classes). Garden Tips for March 14 And so it goes, Gardening Tips for April 15 Pam Burton Gardening Tips for May 16 Available Fact Sheets 17 856-451-2800 Ext 4

Attachments: Monarch [email protected] Teacher Network flyer

Rutgers Cooperative Extension 100 Years of Service in Cumberland County “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 2

Butterflies

Host larval plants are less showy than the nectar plants, however, they do serve as an inte- gral part of the butterfly life cycle. Host plants can provide food, shelter, camouflage, and chemicals used for protection, courtship, and reproduction and are a vital component of a good butterfly gar- den design. Dill and parsley are two herbs that the New Jersey’s state butterfly, the black swallow- tail, use as host larval plants. Plant plenty of both in your gardens so the black swallowtail larvae can eat it and you can too!

In a butterfly garden nectar plants are showier than host larval plants and adult butterflies like to feed from purple, red, yellow, orange or pink blossoms. Flowers look best when planting in clus- ters, and that’s what attracts the butterflies as well. Your garden will look its’ best if there are blooms of varying height throughout the entire season.

Butterflies are cold blooded so they need to be warm to fly, choose plants that love full sun and plant your garden in a sunny location. Add a few rocks for them to bask on in the sun. Include some shelter for protection from windy days like a windscreen of flowering shrubs. Finally, add some wet sand or provide some puddles so the male butterflies can gift that to the females during the mating process.

Please take some time to visit the Pollinator Garden at the Extension Education Center, 291 Morton Ave., Millville. To learn more about butterflies come to the Monarch Teacher Network clas- ses on August 20th and 21st from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm each day. The cost is a reasonable $99.00.

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Cumberland County will have several host larval and nectar plants for sale at the Wheaton Arts Eco Fair on May 5th, including dill, parsley, beebalm, blackeyed susans, butterfly weed and coneflower.

Resources: http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/landscaping-for-wildlife/pa-wildlife-8 http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/categories/insect http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw057 http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/landscaping-for-wildlife/pa-wildlife-8

Photo taken by Pam Burton at RCE “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 3

Leaf Compost If you followed the recommendations on Rutgers Fact Sheet 074 this past fall on Backyard Leaf Composting, it’s likely that you will be able to reap the benefits of it this spring, as normally backyard leaf compost takes 4-9 months to be ready for use. The process of the microbial decom- position of the organic matter results in a decomposed substance similar to the natural organic mat- ter found in soil. The finished compost will not resemble a pile of leaves, it should be dark, friable and crumbly with an earthy odor. The primary use of leaf compost is as an organic amendment to improve the organic content of the soil and improve the moisture holding capacity and tilth. There are very little nutrients in the leaf compost so it should not be considered a fertilizer. Definitions per Mirriam-Webster: friable: easily crumbled or pulverized friable soil ; tilth: the state of aggregation of a soil especially in relation to its suitability for crop growth; cultivated land : tillage

What’s HOP-pening?

Home brewing is more than just a passing interest. If in doubt, google “breweries in New Jersey” and/or home breweries” and you will discover the ever-growing popularity of this brewing industry in New Jersey. Hops, Humulus lupulus, are used in making beer. Hops are perennial plants and it is the female that produces lupulins which contain oil and resins that produce the aro- ma and bitterness in beer. Rutgers fact Sheets specifically on growing hops which are FS 992 enti- tled “Hops in the Backyard” and FS 1276, “New Jersey Commercial Hops Production FAQs”.

Growing hops requires pre-planning with careful consideration given to purchasing disease free rhizomes, proper site selection, construction of the trellis system, and the time considerations neces- sary for training and pruning the plants. The plants can grow as tall as 15 feet so be certain that the site selection allows for adequate vertical growth!

While they are growing, there are watering and fertilizer re- quirements, as well as concerns of insects and diseases. In the 1920’s commercial hops production moved west primarily due to the disease of downy mildew, making selection of disease free plugs vital to your overall success.

Finally, the harvesting, drying and storage of hops have specific recommendations. Several senses are used to determine when the hops are ready to harvest. Look for a golden yellow color of the lupulin glands at the base of the cone petals. Squeeze the glands and feel for a sticky fra- grant residue. Squeeze the hop cones which will feel light and dry and will bounce back. Don’t be surprised if you feel the need to have a draft when harvesting, as the hops will smell like hops, or beer.

Hops are large plants and the light green hop cones are quite attractive against the dark green leaves. Consideration can be given to using hops as part of the home landscaping on a trel- lis or arbor.

Resources: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/DownyMildew.pdf Northeast Hop Alliance: https://www.northeasthopalliance.org/ “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 4

Signs of Spring

One of the first signs of spring is the sighting of skunk cabbage or Symplocarpus foetidus . These plants get a bad rap because of their well-earned common name and the odor that goes along with them but in reality they are quite fascinating. The perennial plants are thermogenic meaning that they actually produce their own heat as a byproduct of cellular respiration as they grow attracting flies to the heat, which assists with the pollination process. Nature has also provid- ed skunk cabbage with roots that actually grab onto the soil and contract the plant deeper to pre- vent heaving from freezing and thawing. In this area you will see them in their natural habitat where the woods meet the water and in places where the swamp mud threatens to suck down your boots.

You may also find the elusive Epigaea repens or Trailing Arbutus while hiking in an ever- green forest . This native plant is a low-growing evergreen with wonderful dark green leaf color. Trailing arbutus forms a dense mat and produces whitish fragrant pink flowers in spring. Trailing arbutus is a shade loving plant that prefers an acidic sandy soil. It’s extremely hard to transplant and is very slow-growing.

Resources: http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/skunkcabbage.htm http://ocvn.osu.edu/news/eastern-skunk-cabbage-early-sign-spring http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/detail.php?pid=164 https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/epigaea-repens/

Mulch Mound Mania

One of the most common practices that well-meaning homeowners employ is to create mulch mounds around their trees and shrubs, not realizing that they may be committing those plants to a slow death by oxygen starvation, disease susceptibility, an increase in excess heat, pH changes and the death of the inner bark for above ground root flares. Rutgers Fact Sheet 099 rec- ommends applying mulch to no greater a depth than 3 inches, depending on your soil type. Keep the mulch 3 to 5 inches away from young plants, and 8 to 12 inches away from mature tree trunks, making certain that no soil covers the root flare at the junction of the roots or the trunk collar. Prop- er mulching means the root flare should be visible and not buried under well-intended mulch. Rutgers Fact Sheet 376, “Transplanting Trees and Shrubs”, recommends transplanting de- ciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs in the spring or early fall. Some species of trees should only be moved in early spring such as the birches, beeches, most oaks, magnolias, and hemlocks. When transplanting, do not add fertilizer to the backfill hole. Wait until after the first growing season. Also, when mulching under the canopy or crown of the tree, keep the mulch several inches away from the trunk of the tree. Mulching too close leads to early decay or provides an overwintering space for hungry mice and chipmunks. “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 5

International Eggplants

Rutgers Fact Sheet 043, “International Eggplants”, proves that an eggplant is no longer just an eggplant. While we are all familiar with the dark purple color and large teardrop shaped egg- plant, many are absolutely beautiful and a basketful of varietal eggplants can make a lovely center- piece while waiting to be used in the Moussaka recipe. There are different sizes of international eggplants including tiny fruit clusters all the way up to large 5 inch round eggplants. The colors can vary from almost black to eggplants that are striped and highly ornamental. Additionally, research has shown that eggplants contain vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and nasunin, which is an anti- oxitant. All this and eggplants are low in calories, too. Consider some space in your garden for a bit of an international taste testing.

Moussaka There are several versions of moussaka - this one is meatless and easy to prepare and delicious. Great for those cooler nights at the end of the summer, when you don't mind running the oven - or you can do a version on the grill. 1 Jersey Fresh purple eggplant, sliced in rounds, ¼" thick 1 Jersey Fresh green bell pepper, sliced in rings 1 Jersey tomato, sliced 1 Jersey Fresh onion, sliced in rings olive oil or corn oil

Oven version: First the eggplants need to be fried or baked. Fry version: Fill a large pan with enough oil to fry eggplants until golden brown. Turn so both sides can brown. Bake version: Place eggplants on cookie sheet, brush with oil on both sides, and bake until slightly golden. Bake on both sides. If the eggplant is large, they'll have to be done in batch- es in the frying pan, or use 2 cookie sheets for the oven. After eggplants are done, place them in the bottom of a large baking dish, covering the bottom. It is okay to overlap and layer the pieces. Next, layer the pepper rings on top of the eggplant. Do the same with the tomato slices on top of the peppers. Then layer the onion rings on top. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven at 350°F for approximately 25 - 35 minutes until peppers and onions are translucent and the juices are boiling.

Grill version: Brush eggplant rings with oil and place right on grill. Grill until slightly burned, not charbroiled. Do both sides. Grill the tomatoes and peppers. Grill the tomatoes and peppers whole until skin is slightly burned. Slice tomatoes and peppers. If tomatoes are too juicy, place them on aluminum foil. Layer eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and onions in baking dish as described above. Cover with aluminum foil and place baking dish on grill and close cover. Cook until onions and peppers are translucent and juices are boiling.

This can be served as is, or with a dollop of plain yogurt. Try eating it the Middleastern way - warm a piece of pita bread right on your stove burner or on the grill. Tear off 2 inch pieces of bread and use the bread to "pinch" bite-size portions of moussaka (letting the bread absorb the juices). http://njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/moussaka.asp

“WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 66 Recipe for success

Rutgers Fact Sheet 1215, “Outdoor Container Gardening with Flowering and Foliage Plants”, recommends that when potting up our outside containers to start with a clean container washed with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. You can tap into your creativity by putting old wa- tering cans or boots to use, as long as you keep in mind the mature size of the plants and growing habits. It’s recommended to utilize the thriller, fillers and spillers “formula” as a design concept. For an unusual container garden, try using grasses, or more specifically, sedges. Consider Cyperus papyrus Prince Tut for the thriller at 30 -38 inches tall sporting large happy poms at their ends. This plant enjoys full sun in moist to wet soil and can be grown in a container with other plants that have the same cultural requirements. Likewise there are unusual grasses that can be used for the fillers and spiller to create a truly unique container garden. In this zone many of these awesome orna- mental sedges and grasses are annuals.

Elephant’s Ear, or Colocasia esculenta can also be considered as an unusual annual foliage plant option for an upright plant with a dramatic tropical flair. Plant the tubers 2-4 inches deep after danger of frost in well-drained soil and keep them well-watered. Elephant ears come in a variety of foliage colors that run from burgundy black all the way through chartreuse green and some have a variation in vein or margin colors. They are not hardy in our area and will need to be taken inside for overwintering. Elephant ears like sun to partial sun, so be certain to chose fillers and spillers with the same cultural requirements.

Resources: http://wimastergardener.org/files/2015/12/Cyperus_papyrus.pdf Birds & Blooms Vol. 23, No. 2, RDA Enthusiastic Brands, LLC publisher; April, May 2017; The Latest and the Greatest, by Crystal Rennicke https://extension.umd.edu/learn/featured-plants-elephant-ears http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/elephant-ears.html

Bottle it!

Surely you’ve seen a bottle tree in someone’s yard. Who knew there was so much history regarding bottle trees? This ancient concept is believed to date back to at least 9 A.D. when people in the Congo thought the bottles would capture evil spirits at night and then be destroyed by the morning light. Traditionally blue seems to be a favored color perhaps because the color blue is as- sociated with the spirit world or because blue is associated with calm and relaxed feelings. There is no right or wrong way to construct a bottle tree and I’ve seen many examples of them in my travels to & fro although I wonder if the homeowner is aware of the history and meaning behind what they thought was just another lawn decoration.

Resources: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/palette/110522.html https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2005/5-4-2005/elephantear.html “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 77 See you in front of the Museum!

Reminder: May 13th is Mom’s Day! Mom’s LOVE plants! More listed on Pg. 8

Herbs: Scienfic Name Common Name Culvar Ocimum Basilicum Basil Genovese & Crimson King Allium Schoenoprasum Chives Common Chives Anethum Graveolens Dill Bouquet Foeniculum vulgare Fennel Bronze Hyssopus officinalis Hyssop Lavendula angusfolia Lavender Munstead Monarda citriodora Lemon Mint Origanum Vulgare Oregano Petroselinum crispum Parsley Triple curled & Italian Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Rutaceae Rue Salvia officinalis Sage Thymus pulegioides Thyme English Thymus serpyllum Thyme Mother of Thyme

Vegetables: Scienfic Name Common Name Culvar Zucchini Cashflow & San Marzano Solanum Lycopersicum Tomato KC 146, Super Beef Stake, Ramapo, Rutgers 250, Grape, Italian, Super Sweet 100 Capsicum annuum Pepper California Wonder Pimiento Picante Pepper Jalapeno Early & Habanero Pumpkin

Pimiento Dulce Pepper Sweet Banana available at the 2018 plant sale!!! Eggplant Black Beauty Cucumber Garden Sweet Plant listing of the Vegetable & Herbs that will be Vegetable Plant listing of the “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 88 Continued listing of plants available for sale at the 2018 plant sale at Wheaton Arts Eco Fair on 5/5!!!

Scienfic Name Common Name Culvar Agastache foeniculum Agastache Anise Agastache Agastache Arizona Sunset Monarda Bee Balm Bergamot Iris domesca Blackberry Lilly Rudbeckia Hirta Black Eyed Susan Thunbergia Black Eyed Susan Vine Asclepias tuberosa Buerfly Weed Campanita Cardinal Climber Cuphea ignea Cigar Flower Matchmaker Pink Citrosa Geranium Citronella Echinacea Cone Flower ‐ Purple Coreopsis Coreopsis Early Sunrise Silphium perfoliatum Cup Plant Oenothera lamarckiana Evening Primrose Gaillarda Gaillarda Arizona Red Shades Helianthus annuus Helianthus Common Sunflower Heliotropium aborescens Heliotrope Deep Marine Hibiscus lasiocarpos Rose Mallow Dolichos lablab hyacinth bean vine Eupatorium maculatum Joe Pye Weed Lobelia siphilica Lobelia Scarlet & Fountain Blue Tithonia rotundifolia Mexican Sunflower Torch Asclepias incarnata Milkweed Swamp Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Milkweed Common Milkweed Ipomoea Alba Moon Flower Ipomoea Morning Glory Heavenly Blue Aster novae‐angliae New England Aster Arachis hypogaea Peanut Jumbo Penstemon Penstemon Rocky Mountain Rudbeckia hirta Rudbeckia Cappuccino Salvia farinacea Salvia Victoria Blue & Blue Queen Hibiscus coccineus Scarlet Rose Mallow Margarita Shasta Shasta Daisy Alaska Helianthus annuus Sunflower Dwarf Sunspot & Yellow Disk Achillea millefolium Yarrow Summer Berries “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 99

Fancy Plants

Many people think of camellias as a southern plant, but specimens of Camellia japonica have been noted as growing quite nicely in Cumberland County. Careful planning in choosing the location of planting a camellia will go a long way in the chances of survival. One of the most beloved things of camellias is that they bloom when very little else is blooming. Choose a spot that has partial shade and if that’s shaded by pine trees that’s all the better for this acid-loving plant. Dig a large hole to make certain the roots of sur- rounding trees don’t compete for water. They are shallow rooted shrubs that want shelter from full sun and high winds. Well worth it if you have the right location. Resources: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/hgic1062.html https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/camellia-japonica/

Gossypium herbaceum or cotton can be grown successfully in our region as an annual, but is best started indoors and then transplanted after the last frost in an area of full sun. Cotton is in the Malvacea or hibiscus family and has a beautiful flower by late summer that develops into the cotton boll. This conversa- tion piece can be grown in containers and the white cotton bolls make excellent wreaths or can be used in dried arrangements. Resources: https://extension.umd.edu/learn/cotton https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-322.html

If you are considering luring in hummingbirds with cypress vine make sure you have a trellis, arbor or support of some kind ready in your garden as this vine can grow 20 feet in a single season and can overtake all in its path if not trained. It is listed in the south as an aggressive invasive plant, but acts as an annual in our zone. It is also a self-seeding plant so take care where you put it in your homescape. Resources: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2010/sep/ humvine.html https://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/howto/mapping/invexse/cypress.html

Eucalyptus cineria is also known as the silver dollar tree. It can be grown in our area as an annual and as many of you are aware, there is a distinct aroma to the leaves. The branches with the opposite round shaped leaves are well known for use in arrangements but those that you find in craft stores most likely have been treated with glycerin. The plant prefers a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Take care, as eucalyptus oil is toxic if eaten and you will want to use gloves when cutting the stems for ornamental use. Resources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/eucalyptus-spp/

There are many species of shamrocks, but two in particular always catch my eye this time of year and they can both serve as houseplants which make the transition to the outside porch table very well. They are Oxalis regnellii with pretty white flowers nestled amongst trifoliate leaves and Oxalis triangularis, which sports rich purple leaves. Both prefer bright indirect sun but take care with watering as they don’t like wet feet. If you do move your plant outdoors note that the bulbs will go dormant and lose their foliage when exposed to temperatures over 80 degrees. The shamrock plants remain small and not quite over 6 inches tall so they make a lovely centerpiece for a St Patty’s party. Resources: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/shamrock http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/the_care_and_feeding_of_purple_leaf_shamrocks

“WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 1010

Water Conservation The website for Jersey-Friendly Yards, www.jerseyyards.org, has tips on how to create envi- ronmentally sound landscaping for a healthy homescape. The site provides recommendations via an Inter-active Yard that provides suggestions on how to decrease the amount of turf in your yard while increasing the number of garden beds, including pollinator and rain gardens*. The Plant Data- base provides a search engine for New Jersey native plants and Jersey-Friendly non-native plants and then uses search filters to identify plants that will work in your yard. The interactive plant list changes as you make selections and you can take the list with you to the garden centers as you become a Jersey-Friendly yard. Chris Perez, a landscape architect with the Rutgers Water Resources Program, designed the Jersey-Friendly landscape used in the Interactive Yard and Rutgers is listed as a source of in- formation on this website, including the notation “…Rutgers Cooperative Extension county agents and Master Gardener volunteers are the experts answering the gardening questions submitted to “Ask an Expert…”. Rutgers Fact Sheet 513 on Rain Gardens* offers an alternative to allow rain and snowmelt to be collected and seep naturally into the ground. The captured water slowly percolates into the ground decreasing sediments and flooding while pollutants are being filtered out and microorgan- isms are breaking down pesticides. Rain Gardens are landscaped and can be quite beautiful while creating a habitat for birds, bees and beneficial insects. In addition to the Jersey-Friendly Yard website, Rutgers offers several free fact sheets re- garding water conservation. Water is one of our most precious natural resources and there is work being done in the world of agriculture to help conserve and manage water. Rutgers Fact Sheet 924 gives recommendations for Home Landscape Practices for Water Quality Protection. Polluted run- off can carry soil, leaves, trash, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, and other contaminants into the states’ lakes, rivers, groundwater, reservoirs and wells. How can we make a difference as a home- owner in our own corner of the world? By making some changes to our landscaping practices that will help reduce the amount of nonpoint source polluted runoff. Examples of this? Plant garden beds and naturalistic landscapes using organic mulches. Recycle rainwater (References: FS329, Rain Barrels Part I: How to Build a Rain Barrel; FS1118, Rain Barrels Part II: Installation and Use) Rutgers Fact Sheet 1197 provides An Introduction to Green Infrastructure Practices. Ac- cording to the Fact Sheet “…At the local scale, green infrastructure is an approach to managing stormwater by infiltrating it in the ground where it is generated using vegetation or porous surfaces, or by capturing it for later reuse.. Green infrastructure refers to the techniques used to implement low impact development with regard to stormwater. ..” The various types of green infrastructure in- clude infiltration systems, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, downspout disconnection and tree planting. More specifically, Rutgers Fact Sheet 1177 entitled Green Infrastructure Practices: An Intro- duction to Permeable Pavement provides detailed listings of the environmental and economic ben- efits of permeable pavement. Environmentally, permeable pavement reduces stormwater volume and helps spread the storms flow over a longer period of time. There is the potential to help break down pollution and contaminants such as oil and grease while helping to recharge the groundwater. Lastly, it can provide better air circulation leading to improved air quality and a cooling effect, partic- ularly if light colored surfaces are utilized.

“WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 1111

2018 Rutgers Master Gardener of Cumberland County Class Schedule

Join us for the following Master Gardener classes that will be held at the Extension Education Cen- ter, 291 Morton Avenue, Rosenhayn, from 9am-12pm. These classes are open to the public and the cost is $20.00 per class

For more info: Call 856-451-2800 Ext 1 or 4; [email protected]

Dates Topic Speaker

March 6 Turf Culture Steve Rettke, IPM Program Associate

March 13 Composting Priscilla Meyers & Susan McKenna, Master Gardeners

March 20 Pesticides Pat Hasting, Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator for NJ Pesticide Credits: 1A, 3A & PP2 = 3 credits each; and CORE = 6 Credits

March 27 Tick & Mosquito borne diseases Heather Lomberk, Mosquito Control Division Pesticide Credits: 7A = 6 Credits

April 3 Turf Pest Management Steve Rettke, IPM Program Associate Pesticide Credits: Pending

April 10 Weeds & Vegetable Garden Wes Kline, Agriculture Agent

May 1 Helpline 101 & Diagnostics Bill Martin & Bill Rafferty, Master Gardeners

May 8 Status of Beekeeping in NJ Ned & Doris Morgan, South Jersey Beekeepers Association, www.njbeekeepers.org

May 15 The Power of Flowers Susan McKenna, Master Gardener

May 22 Environmental & Resource Mgt Sal Mangiafico, County Agent & Associate Professor

May 29 Tree Identification by Leaves Jack Wasilewski Via computer search engines

June 5 Soils & Fertilizer Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent, Gloucester Co.

June 21 Agritourism in Cumberland Co. Pam Burton, Home Horticulture & Master Gardener (THURS) Program Coordinator

Kids Corner: All sorts of questions come into the Helpline including how do you root a pineapple top? When enjoying grilling your pineapple, remove the leaves from the top of the pineapple where they are coming out at the top. Don’t include any of the fruit. Pull off the lower and outer leaves until you get to about 5 to 10 larger leaves left, revealing about ½ - 1 inch of stem. Put that into a glass of water, making sure no leaves are touching the water and change out the water every couple of days. Keep it out of sunlight until the roots form and then transfer it into a pot with well- draining soil. References: https://.extension.iastate.edu/2003/12-5-2003/pineapple.html “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 12

Creatures & Critters: Based on FAQ of Helpline clients

Bagworms: The young larvae of bagworms begin to feed immediately as they hatch from the bags in mid-May to early June. If you are considering using chemical manage- ment strategies Rutgers Fact Sheet 1144 on Bagworms recommends applying the insecticides as the larvae have just emerged. The type of insecticide may vary dependent on the host plant. Bagworms can be found on 125 trees and shrubs in NJ and a few of the common hosts include arborvitae, juniper, cedar, fir, pine, spruce, birch, boxelder , elm and willow, sycamore, black locust, honey locust, persimmon, poplar, maple & sweet gum. Often times, the bags are high up in the trees, and consideration needs to be given to hiring a professional certified pesticide applicator.

Box Turtles: Box turtles get their common name from the fact that they can withdraw their arms and legs, tail, and head into their shell and close up tightly so tightly that not even the blade of a knife can be wedged in to open the box. These are long living creatures whose numbers have declined in the wild for various reasons, including car hits. They have a range of about a football field in their quest for food, which is carnivorous in the younger years and turns more herbivorous as they age. It’s suggested that box turtles are strongly one-way directional so if you rescue them from a certain death on the road, put them to the side in which they were heading. Resources http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/boxturtle.htm http://www.marshall.edu/herp/Old/boxturtle.htm

Robins: Male robins will attack their own reflections in windows in spring and early summer while defending their breeding territories. The bird sees its’ reflection and thinks it’s a territorial rival and pro- ceeds to enter into an exhausting battle with the other non-existent bird. If this occurs, the best solution is to actually cover the outside of the window with netting or screening so the bird cannot see its reflection in the window. Placing a stuffed animal in a chair near the window is not effective. When the robin has found a ma- te and has his own nest with eggs or youngins this behavior usually stops. Resources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/ http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/faqs/birds/bird-hitting-window

Atlantic Sturgeons: In agriculture you will often hear people talk of the good old days and one topic where that is applicable is the decrease in the number of Atlantic sturgeons that populate the Delaware River. As with many cases, there is not just one reason for this decline but the fact is there were an estimat- ed 180,000 female sturgeons spawning in the river over a century ago and now those numbers have dwin- dled to mere hundreds. Part of the reason is the overfishing of sturgeon for their delectable caviar. The good news is that there is research being done by several organizations using state of the art satellites, acoustic transmitters and underwater robots in an attempt to study the sturgeons and use that information to help this endangered species. Resources: http://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2013/may/sturgeon-050313.html http://e360.yale.edu/features/atlantic_sturgeon_an_ancient_fish_struggles_against_the_flow

“WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 13

2018 Rutgers Master Gardeners of Cumberland County Upcoming Calendar of Events

March 7: Philadelphia Flower Show Motor Coach Trip @10:00 am (Sold out!) Be on the lookout for additional trips! May 5: Plant Sale, Butterfly Tent, Education Station and Helpline on the Road at Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center; 10am-5pm May 11: Plant sale at Bayshore Center at Bi-Valve; 5:30pm - 8:30 pm August 20 & 21: Monarch Teacher Network (see enclosed flyer) September 15 & 16: Butterfly Tent at East Pt Lighthouse (Time: T/B/A) September 29 & 30: Butterfly Tent, Education Station & Helpline On the Road at Greenwich Artisan’s Fair; Sat 10 am – 5 pm; Sun 10 am – 4 pm October 7: (tentative): Helpline on the Road at Wheatons Arts & Cultural Center Festival of Arts (Time: T/B/A) October 9: Master Gardener Monthly Meeting at Extension Education Center with Speaker (T/B/A); 10 am; Cost: $3.00 for public November 13: Master Gardener Monthly Meeting at Extension Education Cen- ter with Speaker (T/B/A); 10 am; Cost $3.00 for public November 24: (tentative) Helpline on the Road at Wheatons Arts & Cultural Center “Open Arts” Sale (Time: T/B/A) December 6: Annual Master Gardener Holiday Wreath Make & Take at Extension Education Center; 2 classes offered: 10 am AND 6 pm

Green Knight Newsletter

Pat Rector and Sal Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Environmental and Resource Management Agents, are co-editors of The Green Knight Newsletter which provides News of Envi- ronmental and Resource Management Issues and Events from throughout New Jersey.

 View the newsletter online @ http://salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/greenknight/

 To receive an electronic copy only (one email per month please) email: [email protected]

 For the latest events, visit the news and events blog: http://greenknightnewsletter.tumblr.com/

IMPORTANT UPDATE on Soil Samples:

Effective Immediately: The cost of a soil test kit remains $20.00. However, due to rising postage costs, you will now be given the option at the time of purchase to  Pay an additional $7.00 s/h for RCE to mail the kit …...or ……..  You may elect to mail the sample to the lab yourself

For more info on soil samples: FS 797Soil Testing for Home Lawns and Gardens “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 14

.Garden tips for March:

 Till or turn the vegetable garden soil when it’s at the proper moisture level. FS129  Submit a soil sample for testing to determine how much lime and fertilizer your lawn and garden areas need. Soil sampling packets with instructions are available at Extension. Cost is $20.00. Add lime to lawns and gardens only when a soil test recommends it. FS797  Use dormant oils to combat scale insects and mites when the temperature is above 40° and when freez- ing temperatures are not predicted for a few days and before the buds begin to open. FS866  Watch for sale prices on fertilizers and pre-emergent crabgrass killer.  Sow grass seed as soon as possible. FS584  Avoid walking on grass or ground covers while they are frozen. Rake and remove debris from the lawn when it’s dry.  Have the lawn mower serviced and the blade sharpened.  Fertilize your lawn. FS633  Purchase new 40 watt, cool-white fluorescent bulbs for starting your seedlings. Start broccoli, cabbage and other cabbage family crops indoors in March for planting outdoors in April. FS 787, FS 129  Remove dead asparagus shoots from last year’s growth. NE221  Plant peas by seed in March. FS129  It’s much easier to succeed growing fruits of grapes, raspberries, or strawberries than with tree fruits, and you’ll get much faster results  Prune grapes, raspberries, blueberries, fruit trees and summer-flowering shrubs early in the month when the temperature is above freezing. Grapevine prunings can be made into attractive wreaths.  Remove black knot fungus 18” below the growth on cherry, peach and plum trees.  Fertilize woody plants and fruit trees.  Late winter is the time to prune many deciduous trees. Look over your plants now and remove dead, diseased, damaged or double-crossed limbs, unsightly parts of the tree, sprouts growing at or near the base of the tree trunk, and v-shaped crotches. FS 1221  If the soil dries out against a house under the eaves where rain rarely reaches, water well during a thaw to prevent loss of plants.  Pinch off early buds from developing pansies to encourage plants to branch and form more buds.  Cut back the dried foliage of ornamental grasses.  Check stored bulbs, tubers and corms. Discard any that are soft or diseased.  Branches of forsythia, pussy willow, spirea and dogwood can be forced for indoor bloom. Make long slanted cuts when collecting the branches and place the stems in a vase of water. Change the water every four days. They should bloom in about three weeks.  Mulch heaved perennials; replant them when the weather is more settled.  Repot and begin fertilizing houseplants.  For geraniums overwintered using the hang & dry method, when they begin to sprout, remove the dead wood and prune the stem and roots. Pot them in sandy soil, water in and keep them in partial sun for a week, gradually moving them to full sun. Grow as houseplants until after the last frost date. FS 1156  Keep the bird feeder filled.  Longer and brighter days means new growth on indoor houseplants. Apply fertilizer per label instruc- tions which may differ for foliage plants and blooming plants. Remove dead leaves and flowers for more blooms and a nicer appearance.  Watch for blooms of early spring bulbs such as daffodils, squill, crocus, dwarf iris & snowdrops.  Mulch should be removed from strawberry beds when the plant resumes growth in the spring (typically late March). The straw is removed from on top of the bed to the side of the row where it will then serve as a mulch against weeds. FS 098  Enjoy the early spring season! “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 15

Gardening tips for April:

 Seed bare spots in the lawn early in the month. FS584 & 108  Rake winter debris from your lawn before mowing.  For control of crabgrass, application of preemergence herbicides are generally more effective and easier to apply than postemergence herbicides. Preemergence herbicides must be applied prior to crabgrass germination to be effective. E233  Sharpen the lawn mower blade. Mow the lawn at a height of 2½-3” while never removing more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. Leave the clippings on the ground.FS102  Prune ornamental grasses.  Prune your roses, except the climbing varieties. FS944  Prune early flowering shrubs immediately after flowering and before new growth begins. FS 1221  Remove the winter mulch from roses after the middle of the month. FS 944  Follow Extension’s fruit spray schedules. FS112, 101, 115, 113, 114 and 116  Divide summer and fall blooming perennials.  Start celosia, cosmos, marigold, annual phlox and zinnia seeds indoors at mid month (Apr).  Sow hardy annual flowers like calendula, clarkia, larkspur and sweet pea.  Plant gladiolus corms every two weeks for continuous bloom.  Plant daylilies, delphiniums, painted daisies and phlox.  Remove spent flowers from spring flowering bulbs. Fertilize with 5-10-10 at 2 pounds per 100 square feet. FS 1220  For earlier bloom of dahlias start tubers in 8” to 10” pots in April using commercial potting soil. FS1153  Direct seed beets, carrots, leaf & bibb lettuce, swiss chard, collards, endive, kohlrabi, turnips and radish- es. FS 129  Start eggplant, pepper and tomato seeds indoors. FS787 & 129  Plant bedding plants of cabbage and broccoli.  Harden-off or condition transplants prior to moving them to the garden. FS 787  Plant strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus, and small fruit plants as early in the month as possible.  Plant sections of certified, disease-free potato seed tubers  Apply dormant oil sprays for insect control when the temperature will be above freezing for at least 24 hours. FS866  Prune, clean repot and fertilize your houseplants.  Are those swarming insects termites or ants? Can you tell the difference?  Fertilize established trees and shrubs. FS031 Do not fertilizer newly planted trees or shrubs. FS 376  Scope out a spot in the yard to start a compost pile. If you already have one, turn the compost pile and keep it moist. FS074 & 811  Protect well-developed strawberry buds from frost injury by applying straw mulch when freezing tempera- tures are forecast.  Research rain barrels to help save on water bills and protect plants during periods of drought. FS 1140  Plan a rain garden for a low spot in your yard that will allow stormwater to infiltrate slowly into the ground rather than running off into the nearest storm drain. FS513  Control euonymus scale now before their hard shells forms. Bulletin E 014  Plant a tree for Arbor Day! “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” PagePage 1616 Garden tips for May

 Water the lawn deeply, applying a half to one inch of water at a time. Your lawn needs one inch per week during dry periods. FS 921  Apply broad-leaf herbicides to control weeds in the lawn. FS119  Remove flowers from newly established strawberry plantings. Let them become established this year and form fruit next year. FS 097  Remove seed stalks from rhubarb as soon as you see them. Harvest rhubarb through early June.  Remove unwanted suckers in raspberries when new shoots are about a foot tall.  Thin fruit on apple trees to 8” apart about three weeks after their flower petals fall.  Lift and divide old chrysanthemum plants or set out new plants purchased or grown from cut- tings. Pinch back mums when they are about 6” tall for bushier plants; Continue to pinch back the mums until mid-July.  Remove daffodil and tulip flowers as they fade. Leave the foliage in place until it turns brown and dies. Dig bulbs for storage after the leaves die. FGS 1220  Plant dahlia and canna tubers mid to late May. FS 1153 & FS 1155  Time to plant caladium tubers, impatiens, coleus, begonias and pentas in shady areas.  It is not too late to sow directly into the soil seeds of sunflower, zinnia, morning glory, portulaca, marigold, cosmos, periwinkles and gourds. Achimenes and other summer-flowering bulbs can also be planted in May.  Tender annuals can be direct sown now, but don’t delay. Try your hand this year at impatiens or gaillardia from seed. Definitely sow abundant amounts of zinnia seed of several varieties for bright color in the late summer. Asters are wonderful too and make great, long lasting cut flow- ers.  Stake your flowers now. They will be much easier to train.  Replace and replenish mulch materials in flower beds and shrub borders to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.  Prune spring-flowering shrubs after the flowers fade. FS 1221  Prune climbing roses as they complete their spring bloom season. Remove dead or weak wood as needed. FS 944  Harvest early plantings of radishes, spinach and lettuce.  Harvest mature asparagus beds for 6 to 8 weeks only.  Once there is no threat of frost, usually by mid-May, plant tender plants such as tomatoes, corn, and eggplant. FS 129  Make successive plantings of beans and sweet corn to extend the harvest.  Check beans, carrots, cucurbits, eggplant, tomato for Two spotted Spider mites. If you find them, wash mites off plants with a soap-and-water solution applied under enough pressure to break the webs. FS 235  If you see pests on shrubs or plants, eliminate them now. If you aren’t familiar with the insect you see, take it to the local Extension Center for identification.  Pinch back the terminal growth on newly planted annual and perennial plants. This will result in shorter, more compact, well branched plants with more flowers.  Transplant on cloudy days and make sure you keep the delicate exposed roots of your seedlings and plants protected from drying out.  Utilize vertical space for vine plants such as scarlet runner beans and gourds.  Move houseplants to a shady location outdoors when danger of frost has past, usually mid-May. The soil in the pots will dry out faster outdoors, so check it frequently.  Thin seedlings of early planted crops to spacing specified on seed packet or plant tag. “WHAT’S GROWING ON…” Page 17

Call 856/451-2800 x4 ask for Pam Burton. When calling to request a fact sheet refer to the Fact Sheet by FS# or by name. All fact sheets are free unless otherwise noted. Fact Sheet 2 Brown Marmorated stink bug-a non-native insect in NJ Bulletin E 014 Pest Management for Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers on Homegrounds $3.00 Fact Sheet 20 Weed control around the home grounds Fact Sheet 3 How to fertilize shade trees Fact Sheet 58 Mulches for vegetable garden Fact Sheet 7 Backyard leaf composting Fact Sheet 9 Strawberries in the Home Garden Fact Sheet 98 Strawberries in the Home Garden II Fact Sheet 101 Bramble Pest Control Schedule for Home Gardens Fact Sheet 102 Your lawn and its care Fact Sheet 108 Renovating Your Lawn Fact Sheet 112 Apple Pest Control Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards Fact Sheet 113 Peach and Nectarine Pest Control Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards Fact Sheet 114 Pear Pest Control Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards Fact Sheet 115 Cherry Pest Control Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards Fact Sheet 116 Plum Pest Control Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards Fact Sheet 117 Using leaf compost Fact Sheet 119 Weed control in home lawns Fact Sheet 129 Planning a vegetable garden Fact Sheet 214 Raspberries in the home Garden Fact Sheet NE221 Asparagus tips for the home gardener Bulletin E 233 Crabgrass and Goosegrass Control in Cool Season Turfgrass Fact Sheet 235 Two-spotted Spider Mites Fact Sheet 376 Transplanting Trees and Shrubs Fact Sheet 513 Rain Gardens Fact Sheet 523 Grow your own vegetable and flower seedlings Fact Sheet 584 Seeding Your Lawn Fact Sheet 626 Fertilizing the home vegetable garden Fact Sheet 633 Fertilizing the home lawn Fact Sheet 681 Varieties for NJ home vegetable gardens Fact Sheet 684 Turfgrass seed selection for NJ homes Fact Sheet 787 Starting Vegetable Seeds indoors Fact Sheet 797 Soil testing for home lawns and gardens Fact Sheet 811 Home Composting Fact Sheet 866 Using horticultural oils Fact Sheet 921 Conserving water on home landscapes in NJ Fact Sheet 944 Roses and their care Fact Sheet 1155 Cannas Fact Sheet 1140 Incorporating native plants in your residential landscape Fact Sheet 1153 Growing Dahlias Fact Sheet 1156 Keeping Geraniums Over Winter Fact Sheet 1163 Mail order vegetable seed sources for the NJ gardener Fact Sheet 1220 Spring Flowering Bulbs Fact Sheet 1221 Pruning Flowering Shrubs

What’s Growing On is prepared by Pam Burton, Horticultural Assistant, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County. Sincerely,

Salvatore S. Mangiafico, Ph.D. Wesley L. Kline, Ph.D. Agricultural Agent Agricultural Agent Environmental & Resource Management Agent Vegetable & Herb Production Internet: [email protected] Internet: [email protected] For important announcements concerning the Cumberland County Extension Center visit: http://Cumberland.njaes.rutgers.edu

If you have any questions concerning the website, please call our office at 856-451-2800 x1 for agriculture and 856-451-2800 x4 for Home Horticulture and Master Gardeners

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