Garden Chat

GARDEN CHAT

By Jean Lundquist

Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize and no blooms

Ihaven’t yet learned all I was taught during the 2020 nitrogen, the less they bloom. The foliage goes nuts but growing season, but I’ve learned enough to get me no blooms. started on this year’s journey. At the top of this 20-foot tree skeleton, the vines are

Last summer I decided to plant morning glories waving at the sky looking for more limbs to grow on. around a dead Canada red cherry tree in the yard. While But no blossoms. alive, it had the most beautiful scent of any plant I have What kind of a plant hates to be fertilized? ever inhaled. Better than lilacs, better than lilies of the I still have high hopes of seeing a tower of morning valley, and right up there with tomato plants. glories of all colors surrounding the trunk of this Canada

After it died, it still carried sentimental value in my red cherry before it falls over. It might take a few years, heart, so I decided to use it as a trellis. Bring in the though, as I was quite liberal with the fertilizer. morning glory seeds. I planted them. They grew, and I have consoled myself with the idea that I had hoped with coaxing, wound around the trunk and into the for a column of color, and I got it. The color is green. branches of the Canada red cherry tree. Speaking of green, my first season of using my

No blooms. So I fertilized. Still no blooms. So I greenhouse held a few surprises and provided a learning fertilized some more. Though morning glories are curve. famous for reseeding for the next year, with no blooms, I spread out the rug we had purchased when we and therefore, no seeds, I had no hope of any new plants bought our camper. Turns out those rugs kill grass in this spring. campgrounds, and therefore, are not allowed in most.

Bring in a new packet of seeds, nick the hulls, soak Since the problem in campgrounds is grass killing, them overnight and sprinkle them at the base of my I thought it would be a good weed barrier in my Canada red cherry tree. This year I hoped for a blooming greenhouse, and just about the right size, too. I thought column of color out my kitchen window. A few blossoms I was pretty smart to have thought of it. appeared, then no more. So once again I fertilized. And During one of our torrential rains last summer, my fertilized. No blossoms at all. greenhouse flooded. The rug got wet. The plants got

Now, I’ve always claimed I know nothing about moldy. flowers. This proves it. Mostly just the fruits of the tomatoes molded, not the

I don’t know how I’ll amend the soil now that I’ve foliage. That cleanup job is a disgusting one. The rug learned that morning glories hate to be fed. The more came out as soon as I could get it out. It was not moldy.

I guess it’s treated with something that I probably didn’t want in my greenhouse, anyway.

I did have a few grass seeds germinate in the greenhouse that were easily pulled out. The only other volunteer I had growing in there was something that, after I pulled out, I realized was a beautiful celosia plant — also known as cockscomb.

The very second I saw it, I grabbed it and yanked it out. After, as I looked at it and realized what it was, I felt almost immediate regret. The plant and its flower are beautiful. Still, I didn’t want it growing in the ground in my greenhouse.

I have no idea where that seed came from. I haven’t grown celosia for years, so I haven’t had any known source of seeds.

Because it was so pretty, I’m inspired to grow some on purpose next year. I’ll need to do some research to see if they like fertilizer before I do.

Jean Lundquist is a Master Gardener who lives near Good Thunder. gardenchatkato@gmail.com

Come and check out the Autumn Colors at Stones Throw!

Goldsmith & Gallery Owner Patty Conlin 420 N. Minnesota, St. Peter, MN 507.934.5655 stonesthrowgallery.org

Moving?...Call Karla and Start Packing! Consistently a Top Producing Agent in the Greater Mankato Area

507.345.4040

510 Long Street, Ste. 104, Mankato, MN www.MankatoRealEstate.com

Karla Van Eman, Owner/Broker ABR, CRS, GRI

DESIGN YOUR CUSTOM DREAM HOME.

T O U R S T U N N I N G S H O W H O M E S - C A L L 5 0 7 - 3 4 5 - 6 6 5 3