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Cherry, Higan (Prunus subhirtella) | Today's Featured Plant
Cherry, Higan (Prunus subhirtella)
Read the full profile of this plant
| | | Q&A: Improving Drainage with Raised Beds Question: My vegetable garden is located on the lowest part of my property because that's the area that receives the most sun. Unfortunately, it's also the last place to drain in the spring and after rain. Sometimes it affects the performance of my crops. I could have drainage tiles installed, but am looking for a less expensive option.
Answer: Depending on how you build them, it can be a lot cheaper to create raised beds. When you raise the soil it will drain more quickly and create better conditions for root growth. You can build up the volume of soil for the beds with compost and organic matter. The deeper your beds, the better, but they should be at least a foot high for most crops to truly thrive. Frame beds with timbers or other building material or simply heap the soil in a mounded row. | | | Q&A: Pruning Joe Pye Weed Question: Do I need to prune my Joe Pye weed back this fall? I read somewhere that the plants require a light pruning in late fall, but I've been told that with our cold winters, the plants will die back to the ground and regrow next spring.
Answer: This is not a woody plant or shrub but rather an herbaceous perennial, meaning it dies back to the ground each winter.
The old stems should be removed at some point once they have been frozen back, it can be done in either fall or spring, for sanitation purposes. Trimming off just the spent flowers (deadheading) promptly in fall will prevent the plant from reseeding; however some gardeners feel they add winter interest and so leave them until spring.
Next spring, be very patient in waiting for the plant to come up--it usually gets a late start and you won't see new shoots until long after your other perennials have begun growing. You might want to mark its location to avoid stepping on it or planting something else on top of it by accident while you are waiting. | | Tip: Harvest Root Crops Harvest root crops such as carrots, parsnips, beets, and turnips as needed. Pull the largest roots first, giving room for younger roots to continue to grow and increase size. Carrots and parsnips taste sweetest after a light frost. | |
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Harvest root crops such as carrots, parsnips, beets, and turnips as needed. Pull the largest roots first, giving room for younger roots to continue to grow and increase size. Carrots and parsnips taste sweetest after a light frost. |
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