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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:Our lead article this week is a bit different. We look at something you absolutely don't want to grow, and in fact, want to avoid. For anyone who has had contact with poison ivy, we don't have to tell you why you absolutely want to avoid it. We also have a few items on trees, as well as our reader mailbag, and more. ** We would like your opinion and feedback. We all know that our mailboxes are just getting stuffed. For quite some time we've kept the number of articles in each issue constant. Do you think it's too much, just right, or too little? We'd love to hear from you. gtt@rexseedco.com. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac:
These plants exude a sticky, resin like substance of plant oil called Usushoil oil. If any part of your body comes in contact with it, unless soon removed from your skin, it may cause a rash. In fact, anyone who has had "poison ivy" will attest to how miserable it can become. Another interesting thing is you should also avoid areas where the plant is being burned, or has any activity which will cause the oil to become air-borne; this can include lawnmowing, lawn trimmers, etc. Urushoil will stay active on any surface, including dead plants for up to five years. Unfortunately, poison ivy, oak and sumac does not grow with identification tags around their stems – so be very careful to properly identify the culprit. Poison sumac has seven to 13 leaves on a branch. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak have three leaves per cluster. The standard rule is "leaves of three – let it be." Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac is usually the most dangerous during the spring or summer months because this is when the plants and leaves can be easily bruised - thus making it easier for you to come in contact with the Urushoil oil. It is best to get a professional to destroy the source. But if you want to deal with it, Ortho Poison Ivy Killer (available at most garden stores) has an ingredient, triclopyr, that will kill Poison Ivy. You must avoid using it around shrubs, broadleaf ground cover or herbaceous garden plants because it will also kill them. POISON IVY:
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that if you attempt to remove Poison Ivy from your yard or garden you should wear long pants and long sleaves with rubber gloves and boots. Do not wear cotton gloves because the urushoil oil may soak through the cotton. You may also want to contact your local unit of government, they may offer to remove the Poison Ivy without cost. Again it is best to obtain the services of a professional whether it is a government agency or a professional gardener. *** 10% savings until July 31, 2003 *** Beutify your yard with wonderful fir trees. These are
pre-stratified abies seeds ready for sowing as soon as your receive
them. Enter the Store and Click on the Sale Link The discount will not show up in your shopping cart -- we will take care of it for you before finalization of your order. (No other discounts apply.) 3) Humor for Today:No matter how hard my mom tries, every plant or flower she has attempted to grow seems to wither and die an untimely death under her care. But she never gives up hope. While she was visiting home recently, my sister nudged me and pointed to a line of new plants placed by the kitchen window. "Look," she whispered, "death row." 4) Replace a Lost Leader:
Have you ever lost the leader from an evergreen to wind or ice, or even insects? What happens is a nearby branch will take over as the leader, but the tree loses its symmetry. You end up over the years with a tree that looks awkward. Years ago, there was a neighbor who had this happen, and they did nothing. As the tree aged it really looked bad. It was as if the top had taken a 45 degree turn of a couple inches and then grew straight from there. To this day I can't walk by that tree without noticing the weird shape. Here's a little trick to replace the lost leader without the tree looking funny. Cut off the damage stub. Pick the longest nearby branch and bend it parallel to the trunk; then splint it to the trunk with a long straight stick using plastic tree tape. In a year or two this branch will take over the functions of the leader. When you take off the tape and splint, the bend will be barely noticeable. As time goes along, you won't even notice. 5) Growing Peaches:
Because we live in Minnesota, we only have limited personal experience in growing peaches. But that doesn't mean we can't help. As a home gardener, you may want to try to grow the "American Peach," which is a hardy tree growing to about 12-feet tall. It will mature in about three to four years. The American Peach is a bushy tree with pointed leaves appearing in early spring. If your weather is warm enough, it will produce two to three-inch fruits. Your climate may limit the variety of peaches you are able to raise. Low winter temperature may hamper the first buds if the temperature falls below freezing during bud formation. However, the fruit will do very well in many areas without major problems. Many gardeners mistakenly believe that peach trees grow true to the variety of the seed. In reality if you collect seed from a fruit grown on a grafted tree - these seed will produce a tree that will also be a hybrid. The tree will look the same as the parent but will be “heterozygous”. Heterozygous means having two different versions of the same gene, one version on one chromosome and the second version on the other. Therefore, most peach trees are best propagated by either using grafting or budding methods. Grafting and budding requires that you have a compatible rootstock or a mother plant onto which you can attach your desired variety. An inexpensive way to obtain a seedling is rootstock collected seed from a true variety. The pits of all common tree fruit (apricot, peach, or cherry) require a chilling period before they will germinate. Next, the pits go through a period known as dormancy or after ripening. It is during this period that the seed embryo develops and matures. You may want to experiment with several seeds from different peach varieties. It is best to place the pits in a glass jar, or other suitable container, to which a loosely fitted lid is placed. You'll want to store the seeds in a cool place until early January. In January, remove the pits from the jar and place them in either moist (not wet) peat moss or sand. Return this mixture to the container and replace the lid. Put the container in your refrigerator until after the last severe spring frost. The seeds should remain in the refrigerator for at least 60 days. In mid April prepare your seed bed and plant the seeds (pits). In mid April prepare your seed bed and plant the seeds (pits). Before you plant the seeds, you should soak the pits at least over night to soften their hard shells. I prefer to start the seeds in a six-inch container filled with garden soil, and place the container in a warm, sunny location. Sometimes the seeds have a difficult time germinating because they might find it hard to break through the hard shells, but be patient. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. You'll also NOT want to fertilize when planting! Peaches grow best in warm temperate regions where the winters get enough cool weather to allow the tree to sleep during the winter days. It will take about three years before the peach tree will bear fruit. For more specialized information you may want to click here or visit http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/caes/gapeach/publications/physiology.htm Click Image for Our Angels Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992
because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you.
You may
re-apply if there is a change in your circumstances." 7) Reader Mailbag: Impatiens with Variegated Leaves"I have an impatiens with variegated leaves. I hear it is uncommon. Is it?" ----- If you are referring to New Guinea Impatiens, whether uncommon, it depends on what part of the country you live. If the nurseries or greenhouses in your area have not promoted impatiens with variegated leaves, they may well be something new and different in your area. On a recent visit to a greenhouse in another state, the owner very proudly showed the varieties he grew. He was particularity proud of his New Guinea Impatiens. He didn't have a single variety with variegated leaves. When asked about it, amazingly, he wasn't familiar with them. With the extremely large number of cultivars and the wide variety of colors now available, impatiens growers can choose whatever they like to grow and have a substantial number from which their customers can choose. Almost all the cultivars have good garden performance. In Minnesota, bright red, red-violet, lavender bicolor with dark green leaves are preferred; but, the orange, dark pink, and salmon, with variegated leaves are a strong second choice. New Guinea Impatiens have become one of the most important crops for many growers and gardeners. Those with variegated flowers and plant leaves have found their place with many home gardeners. 8) Fast Growing Tree?What is the fastest growing tree? Another frequent question we receive, and a difficult one to answer. There are many factors that need to be considered before a good answer can be given. Why? Because categorizing tree characteristics is difficult. In general, when asked this question, we almost immediately need to ask our own question -- such as, are you interested in an ornamental or a shade tree? As a rule, under normal conditions, most shade trees will grow about two feet per year. Of course, normal conditions vary greatly depending on your location and what the tree's needs are for normal conditions may not exist in your locale. Even the fastest growing tree requires patience and care in order to have a beautiful tree in your front yard. And, not all trees may meet your standards on what makes a beautiful tree. When it comes down to actually giving an answer, most often we'd recomment the Hybrid Poplar tree. This is a decidious tree that will grow in Zones 2 through 10 - this includes the entire United States. These trees grow to over 80-feet tall and their branches will extend as far as 30 feet in diameter. The Hybrid Poplar will grow up to TEN FEET per year and will live for about 40 years. They also make a good privacy screen or windbreak. They can be cut for firewood within five years or be used for sawn logs within eight to 10 years. Generally, they are the most inexpensive tree you can purchase. 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times Click Here or send email to subscribegtt@goalsmint.com To unsubscribe Click Here or send email to unsubscribegtt@goalsmint.com Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
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[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ]
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One thing about gardening, there are times when we have to deal with
the pleasant, as well as the unpleasant. A real unpleasant time is
if you have to deal with an infestation of poison ivy, oak or sumac.
Replace a lost leader? What the devil is a leader? Well, for you anglers,
you might be thinking of fishing tackle, but what we are talking about
is topmost tip of an upright tree, such as a pine.
One question we sometimes get is how best to grow a peach tree from
seed. To start, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries are
known as stone fruits because of their hard, stony pit - which is the
actual seed.
