Message #360 - THE_HERBALIST Date: 04-28-96 16:46 From: Buckmeister To: Durwydd Mac Tara Subject: trees and garden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:280/56 3183a752 @REPLY: 1:104/270.0 317f4c10 Greetings and Salutations, Durwydd! Wednesday April 24 1996 22:00, Durwydd Mac Tara wrote to Buckmeister: DMT> Thanks for the prompt reply. I am going to take the Wisteria DMT> Cuttings tomorrow or the next day. I'll get the Peony root pieces DMT> this fall when I dig and divide the Irises. I thank you for the DMT> idea about potting the roots and then transplanting next spring. After looking at the date, I didn't think I was that prompt. :) The thing about moving peonies and iris' this time of year is why chance it when a better window of opportunity will present itself a bit later. Just don't over water the pots, for when the foliage is gone just a bit of moisture can go a long ways to satisfy the root systems. I have seen peonies and iris' moved just about any time of the year and live, but why take the chance when you really do not need to. DMT> I am putting in 40 hybrid Poplars for windbreak, and adding 3 Red DMT> Maples in the front. The 75 Gladioli I planted in a bed last week DMT> are starting to come up and the Roses are leafing out like there DMT> was no tomorrow! My Onions are about 10" high, Green Peas about DMT> 4", Sweet Corn 3" and my early tomatoes are starting to bloom! Which red maples? There are about 20 versions that are labeled as such now days. Mmmmmm, green onions they should be ready in about three weeks, just thin them out and knock the tops over for your larger onions for winter storage. The peas should be ready in about four to five weeks from now, and be ready for when they do come, almost all of them come at once. Be prepared for almost a good solid week of canning peas when they are ready. DMT> Putting in the 36 Tomatoes, 12 Bell Peppers, Chilies, Egg Plant and DMT> Brussels Sprouts tomorrow (bought the plants today). Hopefully, DMT> I'll get the Turnip, Radish and Cucumber seeds in Friday, leaving DMT> the "Field Peas" (1 50' row each of Crowder, Purple Hull, and DMT> Blackeyes) for Saturday and the Melons for Sunday (Cantaloupe, DMT> Honey Dew & Watermelons). I am afraid that the radishes should have been put out a month ago, for your season is a bit longer than what it is up here. To date I haven't seen a tried and true method to store radishes that would allow the crispness to stay over any length of time. If you haven't set out the turnips, set half aside and plant in the later part of August/early September, for that you can grow and harvest all winter if need be. From personal experience turnips seem to taste better after harvesting them after the first frost. Your beans or "field peas" are a good choice in that they stay on the plant longer and can be harvested when they are dry, so there is no rush when other things are ready. A fear I have is that you may work yourself to death if you don't limit the size of your garden...but I do hope that this is not the case. DMT> I installed about 1,000' of electric fence (Dog and Rabbit control) DMT> this afternoon after planting Morning Glories around the dog pen DMT> today. Morning glories are a good idea to have for a shade there, it seems that the temperatures do get a tad bit warmer than up this direction. DMT> Max ordered Peach, Pear, Apple and Cherry trees today, but those will DMT> take a couple of weeks to come in, which will leave me some time to DMT> put in her herb bed and the irrigation system next week. I LOVE DMT> Springtime! After the trees arrive(if they are bare root and not showing leaves), here is something that I learned that will help, set the trees in a mulch and wrap clear plastic around the tops of the trees. Make sure that there is some moisture that can get inside the plastic and let them leaf out. Most trees and other stock are covered in a waxy film, what this does is melt the wax and force the trees to pop buds quickly. Since it is late April/early May you need to help the trees along quickly enough to compensate for being set late in the season(for your area that is). When the trees are ready to break bud, that is the time to plant them, remove the trees from the mulch and plastic and set each one in a bucket of water, the water does not allow the roots to dry out and also gives them a drink before setting them out. After planting each tree set a hose at each hole and thoroughly soak the ground around and in where the tree is planted. Do this at least once a week(more if the weather is dry and hot). Anything less that an inch of rain keep the watering schedule up for at least two years, for this is about how long it will take before the tree has enough root system to start taking care of itself. During the winter months where the tree is dormant water when the ground is dry and the temps get above freezing. A tree can handle cold/wet combination but not the cold/dry combination. Whew! I said a mouthful didn't I? May you be watched over and protected Blessings, Buckmeister Coming soon to a town near you, Bucky-Summer Tour '96!! Tee-shirts will soon be available :-) ... QWaK! QWak! SPLASH! Another QWaKer washed out by the Wave. --- D'Bridge/GoldED 2.50.A0611+ * Origin: Bucky, he came, he saw, he planted..... (PodsNet 1:280/56) @PATH: 9301/15 0 9300/0 9000/0 9004/0