January 2020 Turnip News ...all the news that turns up!
Master Gardeners
Prince William
Editor: Jan Doble, MGPW
Inside This Issue: President’s Message MGPW Social Media Links 2 Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings— 3 by David Robison, MGPW At A Glance appy New Year! Beginning Farmer Program Free Orientation 4
Pruning Class at the Teaching Garden 5 H I truly hope that you had a great holiday season Vegetable Gardening Series 2020 6 with your family and friends. We were able to spend the Piedmont Landscape Association Seminar 7 holidays with our, as yet, only granddaughter and loved it! Native Plant Symposium for Beginners 8 Our hope in this New Year is to spend some effort in The Basics of Gardening 2020 9 outreach to our underserved communities in Prince Doug Tallamy, Free Lecture & Book Signing 10 William County. Any ideas you might have or to volunteer Loudoun Co. MG Gardening Symposium 10 to get involved in this effort would be greatly appreciated. VCE-PW Drinking Water Clinic 11 Please reach out to me, any other Board member or staff to House Plant Longevity 12-14 discuss. Welcome MGPW Class of 2019 15 Upcoming Events & MGPW Meetings— 16 As always, at Recert in March we elect folks to various Details; MGPW Recertification Board positions. If you have any interest in serving on the You Might Be a Master Gardener If... 17 Board, talk to me or any other member of the Board. You might also consider attending our Board meetings on MG FAQ’s, Part III 18 January 8th or February 12th . There will be a Nominating Bloomin’ Bucks & AmazonSmile Fundraisers 19
The January Thaw and Seed Catalogues 20
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Committee in place soon and they may be reaching out to folks as well.
We have a wide variety of interests and programs allowing our Master Gardeners to find areas that provide a rewarding experience individually, and to serve the community in which we live. Our hope is to add some new opportunities to experience and grow in our MGPW world in the next year.
Please feel free to reach out if you want to discuss any ideas you might have or to express your interest in working on a project.
Thanks for all that each of you do for our community.
David
[email protected] (609) 658-1743
Social Media — keep in touch!
Blog: teachinggardenpwc.wordpress Instagram: mastergardenerspwc Facebook: VCE Prince William Master Gardeners Teaching Garden: VCE Master Gardeners Twitter: @MG_pwc Pinterest: Master Gardeners of Prince William Master Gardeners of Prince William Website: mgpw.org
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Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings—At A Glance
WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY SATURDAY 8 15 25 January MGPW Board of Beginning Farmer Pruning Class Directors Meeting Program (Teaching Garden) (All MG’s Welcome) (Free Orientation)
February
SATURDAY THURSDAY SATURDAY WEDNESDAY 1 6 8 12 Vegetable Garden Piedmont 2nd Annual Native MGPW Board of Series 2020 Landscape Assoc. Plant Symposium Directors Meeting (Siting the Garden) Seminar (For Beginners) (All MG’s Welcome)
SATURDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY SATURDAY 15 22 23 29 Vegetable Garden Basics of Gardening Doug Tallamy Basics of Gardening Series 2020 Series 2020 (Free Lecture and Series 2020 (Planting Calendar) (Session I) Book Signing) (Session II) March
MONDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY TUESDAY 2 7 7 10 MGPW Basics of Gardening Vegetable Garden HELP DESK RECERTIFICATION Series 2020 Series 2020 Training (Session III) (Managing Pests)
SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY MONDAY 14 21 21 30 Basics of Gardening Vegetable Garden 11th Annual VCE-PW Well- Series 2020 Series 2020 Gardening Symposium Water Clinic (Snow Date) (Snow Date) (Loudoun Co. MG’s) (Kickoff Mtg)
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2020 Master Gardener Christine Huseman
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37th Annual PLA Seminar: February 6, 2020 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Every February the Piedmont Landscape Association hosts an annual seminar. This event strives to bring gardening enthusiasts and landscape professionals together in an educational setting.
Visit this link for detailed information:
https://www.piedmontlandscape.org/seminar-2020.html
SPEAKERS:
• Catherine Bukowski Lecture (Morning): Community Food Forests: Growing Communities with Gathering Spaces
• Mark Weathington Lecture (Morning): Life is too Short for Boring Plants: Infusing Living
Architecture into the Garden
• Ellen Ecker Ogden Lecture (Afternoon): The New Heirloom Garden
• Kelly Norris Lecture (Afternoon): Planting for the Future: Lessons from Wild Plant Communities
Registration may be taken over the phone at 434-979-1333 or online at www.theparamount.net
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HERE https://pwcnatives.eventbrite.com
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www.pwcgov.org/grow www.pwcgov.org/grow
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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SAVE THE DATE!!! Free Lecture and Book Signing by
Professor and Award Winning Author Doug Tallamy
Sunday, February 23, 2020 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park, VA
Seating is limited. To register, contact the Extension Master Gardener Help Line at 703.792.7747 or email [email protected]
ON-LINE REGISTRATION OPENING SOON. PLEASE CHECK BACK.
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$65
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House Plant Longevity
by Abbie and Vincent Panettiere, MGPW
e have with us house plants that, scientists believe, house plants might be able to like loyal and faithful pets, have live forever. One lady in Pittsburgh, it was W uncomplainingly followed us through reported, left a sizable inheritance to her ‘42 the years. It is only now that the outdoor year old philodendron’ in 2014 so that it would gardens have been put to bed for the winter, that be well cared for after she died. our friends—these house plants—are getting more of their deserved attention. Some of them So far, the oldest known house plant, according were indoor pets and sat placidly in their own to the Guiness Book of World Records and corners and kindly purified the air and soothed every other source I checked, is a prickly cycad our eyes. The more adventurous ones we’ve now (Encephalartos altensteinii), having been brought in from the porch or from large pots installed in the Palm House, Royal Botanical outside, and are now given more special care Gardens, Kew, Surrey, UK in 1848 and has because they’ve gone remained at Kew since from outdoor sun- 1775—over 240 years. light—even the shade (Cycads have been ones—to sunlight around since Jurassic coming through times, more than 250 eastern-facing million years ago). The windows. They’ve plant, after being found gone from occasional in South Africa, spent rainwater and lots of several months on a our Virginia humidity wooden sailing ship to to an arid climate whose dryness is dictated by get to England and was kept on the deck all that how often and how long the heat is turned on. time to be sure that it got rainwater and sunlight. When it reached England, it was I began to wonder how long our friends—these barged up the Thames to Kew Gardens. There it house plants—were expected to endure in such grew slowly, some 2.5cm per year and in the 240 trying circumstances and discovered, much to years it has been at Kew, it has made exactly my amazement, that there is no expected life one cone, in 1819. In July 2009 it was lifted and span to house plants unless they’re annuals. repotted into a new container by a team of nine Their longevity rather depends on the care men (it weighs over 2,204.6 pounds). they’re given and the growing conditions they experience indoors, including the light they There are a good number of house plants whose receive, humidity required, being watered living and growing habits make them good enough but not too much and how well the house choices as long-lived potential heirs to a family plant owner can keep them from the ravages of fortune. Here are just a few examples and the insects and disease. Properly cared for, some proposed care: 12 Turnip News
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). plant isn’t fussy about being watered on time but Though it is a member of the cactus family, it is the danger is over-watering since it’s more likely actually a tropical rain forest plant and needs to rot if it stands in water. It could do with a humidity and to be watered when the soil feels houseplant fertilizer once or twice a year in dry. It needs direct sunlight, but should be spring and summer. It’s a slow grower but protected from summer sun so the leaves do not cutting back the plant will help to make it get burned. To promote flowering, the plant compact and bushy. If grown outdoors as a needs a cool night temperature between 50 and tropical perennial during warm months, it 55 degrees and 13 to 15 hours of uninterrupted should be kept in part to full shade and in moist darkness. but well-drained soil.
Jade plant (Crassula ovata). Too much or too Rubber plant (Ficus elastica). Needs bright, little water plus insects and mites are the main indirect sun, particularly if you have a problems. Root rot usually results from a soil variegated variety. For watering, do the two- mix that does not drain quickly or too-frequent knuckle test, putting index finger down into soil watering. Leaf drop can happen if the plant is to the second knuckle: if the plant looks dry and allowed to become extremely dry. if it’s dry that far down, water it. It likes to be drenched during its growing period but roots Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata). The ideal must not be kept wet. Humidity is not very much room temperatures for Boston ferns is between of a problem but if it’s very dry where you are, 60 and 75 degrees and no lower than 55 degrees. you can mist it from time to time. Avoid warm air from indoor heating and cold drafts. It prefers filtered, indirect sunlight but There are many more house plants that fit this growth is encouraged by a small amount of classification. What should be noted in the sunlight (when it's not too hot). Soil should be description of their care is that they’re all moist at all times but not soggy. Humidity, as classified as very easy to grow and in general, with all ferns, is a constant need. their requirements for temperature, light and water are easily manageable in the average Sanseveria snake plant (Sansevieria home. trifasciata). A member of the Asparagaceae family and famous for growing rapidly and being Of course, not all plants that can be brought difficult to kill. Let the soil dry between indoors are of a nature that they will last with waterings; water from the bottom of the pot, if us for a long time. Annual houseplants are possible. During the winter, water only about obviously short-lived plants since they die after once a month and wipe down the leaves with a flowering. Bromeliads are short-lived perennials damp cloth to avoid them becoming dusty. and flower once just before they die. Miniature roses, hydrangeas and living Christmas trees, Vining Philodendron (Philodendron tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs scandens). Philodendrons prefer medium to all are hardy perennials in our zone 7A climate bright light but will do well in low light. The and should be planted outdoors when the
13 Turnip News weather warms. https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/oldest-pot- plant-in-world-eastern-cape-giant-cycad Royal Botanic Gardens Kew This time of year, when we look outdoors and see Meet the oldest pot plant in the world only grey skies above leafless tree branches and brown and withered plants that have died back, https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/ christmas_cactus it is nice to remember that inside the house we Chicago Botanic Garden have our good, loyal and patient plant Plant Information companions, who, just like us, are awaiting the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) approach of spring. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/jade-plant/ College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life House Plant Longevity Information: Sciences Clemson Cooperative Extension https://www.agweek.com/lifestyle/home-and- Home and Garden Information Center garden/4389612-long-lived-houseplants-often- Jade Plant become-heirlooms Factsheet Updated: Oct 16, 2015 AGWEEK Long-lived houseplants often become heirlooms https://www.houseplantsexpert.com/boston-fern- Don Kinzler care-indoors.html January 20, 2018 House Plants Expert Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/13/science/q-a- ‘Bostoniensis’) houseplants.html NY Times https://www.almanac.com Science: Q&A The Old Farmer’s Almanac Houseplants Gardening June 13, 1989 How to Care for Snake Plants https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/ https://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/rubber- decorating-with-house-plants plant Architectural Digest Our House Plants CLEVER Rubber Plant/Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) 8 Best Indoor Plants & How To Take Care of About the Rubber Tree Houseplant Them Eric Allen http://www.costafarms.com/plants/philodendron October 1, 2017 Costa Farms Passionate About Plants https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world- Philodendron (Philodendron scandens) records/oldest-pot-plant? Growing Instructions fb_comment_id=663633250412997_72685856409 0465 https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Indoor-Plants Guiness Book of World Records WikiHow Oldest Pot Plant How To Care For Indoor Plants Updated: March 29, 2019 http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens -gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home- gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/ problems-common-to-many-indoor-plants.aspx Missouri Botanical Garden Problems Common to Many Indoor Plants Qianni Dong 14 Turnip News
Welcome MGPW Class of 2019 Please extend a warm welcome to our newest Interns!
Cake by MGPW volunteer, Christina Hastings
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Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings—Details
MGPW BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS: Wednesdays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm—JANUARY 8, FEBRUARY 12, 2020. 102 D Sudley North Government Building 8033 Ashton Ave., Manassas. All MGPW volunteers are encouraged to attend. (Recertification meeting in March serves as that month’s Board meeting).
MASTER GARDENER RECERTIFICATION: MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020. 6:30 to 8:30pm. Required annual meeting for all MG’s, Interns and Staff. Edward Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Rd., Manassas, VA 20112. RSVP to the Extension Horticulture Help Desk (703) 792-7747 or [email protected]
HELP DESK TRAINING: TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2020. 1:00 to 3:00pm. Training will be held at the Cooperative Extension Office, Ashton Ave. — Suite 102, Conference Room D. Please register at (703) 792-7747 or [email protected]. Contact Jan Rice with questions [email protected]
You need to get your ideas published!
Would you like to share something in the newsletter? Favorite recipe? Book review—or just ‘recommend’ a book? Idea for an article? Photos? This is YOUR newsletter! Please email submissions to the Turnip News
by the 20th of any month to: [email protected]
You know you want to! So just do it!
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You Might Be A Master Gardener If...
by Janice Rice, MGPW
• your idea of a great outing is visiting an arboretum or nursery
• you can identify bugs but don't recognize the latest movie stars
• you know more about when to prune your shrubs than when the next sale starts
• you need to be called in from the garden when it is too dark to see
• you post more pictures of plants, insects and snakes on facebook than pic- tures of your family
• the local nursery knows you by your first name
• when buying a house you are more concerned about the garden than the kitchen or bathrooms
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MG FAQ’s and suggested answers:
Here is Part III (the final in a series) of the most frequently asked questions that we as Master Gardeners are presented with, along with research-based, appropriate answers that we should give to our clients.
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Our MGPW fundraiser with Brent & Becky’s bulbs supports our scholarship and com- munity garden initiatives. Please designate us as the 501c(3) charity to receive funds from your purchases. Order online anytime, simply by going to their website: www.bloominbucks.com Pull down a menu of all non-profit organizations registered and select Master Garden- ers of Prince William Inc. If you prefer, you can also request a catalogue and order over the phone, Toll Free at (877) 661-2852. Be sure to mention Master Gardeners of Prince William. Questions? Contact Jean Bennett, MGPW (540) 219-1440.
MGPW Fundraiser
We have teamed up with Amazon and started a new Fundraising Opportunity. It is called AmazonSmile and allows a small portion of each purchase you make to be donated to our organization— Master Gardeners of Prince William Inc.
It costs nothing to use and simply by using the link below you are taken to AmazonSmile’s web entrance:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-0008004
Please consider using this link as your Amazon entry—this fundraiser for our activities adds no additional cost to you. We will update you on the funds we raise.
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There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues. ~ Hal Borland
Read about: The ‘January Thaw’ Photos by MGPW volunteer Stephanie Johnson of her much anticipated seed catalogues.
Happy New Year! 2020
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