Gardener News February 2015

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Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

February, 2015

GARDENERNEWS.COM

No. 142

2015: Year of the Coleus

Tom Castronovo/Photo

With the continued emphasis on the importance of foliage in our gardens, the wide and exciting range of coleus varieties available to the gardening public should augment the planting palette nicely. Chosen as the annual for the National Garden Bureau’s 2015 program, coleus is a durable plant with very significant gardening potential for a wide range of gardeners and their garden situations. Coleus has a long history of use in our gardens as a foliage plant and has gone through various phases of popularity over the past couple of centuries. The relative ease of establishment after planting combined with a wide range of selections has made coleus indispensable in the garden and popular in the container as well.

History Coleus is thought to originate in Southeast Asia.

While there is some debate as to when it arrived in Europe, Dutch botanist, Karl Ludwig Blume, is credited with naming and introducing the plant in mid-19th Century England. This member of the mint family, with the traditional square stems and opposite leaves, comes in a wide range of foliage coloration, leaf texture and plant form. Considered an (Continued on Page 9)

2 February, 2015

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February, 2015 3 Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

The buzz. The bees. The honey Did you know that the future of America’s food supply depends upon bees?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an estimated $15 billion worth of crops are pollinated by honeybees, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables.

With this in mind, maybe it’s time to make my yard a little more bee-friendly this year. Hopefully without the sting. It looks like bees will become a new chapter in my life.

After putting up an eight-foot deer fence this fall, I’ll be able to increase the plant diversity in the yard ten-fold. I’m going to try to choose as many native, bee-friendly plants as possible. And lots of bee-friendly flowers. As always, the phrase “the right plant for the right location” comes to mind. Sun, shade and water requirements are very important to a healthy landscape.

Not only do the bees need nectar, they need water as well. Maybe I’ll put in a bird bath or two.

Now I’ll need to provide a space on the property for some pollinator bees to make their home. I’m looking for native bees that do not live in hives, but in a single living unit underground. In a remote corner of the property, I’ll probably leave an un-mulched space for them to gain access and set up housekeeping. I might even install a small pile of sand for them. These bees make great pollinators.

Having a bee colony living in the yard will definitely force me not to use any pesticides or herbicides anywhere in their vicinity. I’ll just have to introduce good bugs (beneficials) to provide natural protection against pests, and weed by hand.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection even has regulations in their Pesticide Control Program for commercial applicators, NJAC 7:30-9.11, requiring that beekeepers be notified when pesticides that are labeled as hazardous to bees are applied within three miles of a registered bee yard. Not all such pesticide applications require notification. The types of pesticide applications exempt from this notification are spelled out in the regulation.

These regulations are set up if you decide to take beekeeping one step further by creating an apiary (also known as a bee yard) on your property. This is a place where beehives of honeybees are kept.

This requirement to notify beekeepers is mandatory for the pesticide applicator, but it is up to each individual beekeeper as to whether or not he registers any or all of his bee yard locations. There is no limit on the number of bee yards that can be registered. The List of Officially Registered Bee Yards is compiled every year. A beekeeper will be sent a list of the bee yards he had registered for the previous year so that a decision can be made on whether or not to register them again for the current year. All renewal registrations and new registrations must be received by the Pesticide Control Program

by March 1 to be included on the official notification list for that year. Follow the instructions on the registration forms for renewal or new registrations. Be sure to provide all the required information so as to avoid missing the March 1 deadline. If there are any questions on the procedure for registering your bee yards, please call the Pesticide Control Program at 609-984-6614.

Bees are really important. For the first time, it looks like we could have a beekeeper on the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Angelo Trapani, of Trapper’s Honey LLC, the New Jersey Bee Keepers Association Vice President, was nominated by the North Jersey caucus for a position on the Board. His nomination will be voted upon at the 100th State Agricultural Convention in February, and then he would be appointed by the Governor with approval of the State Senate. If all goes according to plan, Angelo would start in July 2015. Having a beekeeper on the eight-member State Board of Agriculture can only be a positive thing for the beekeeping industry in New Jersey.

If you’re interested in honey, Jersey Fresh honey that is, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has standards for it.

To meet the Jersey Fresh standards, honey shall be Grade A as specified by the U.S. standards for grades of extracted honey, specifically 7 C.F.R §§ 52.1391 through 52.1403, as amended and supplemented. Honey shall be prepared and processed as one of the following types: liquid honey, crystallized honey or partially crystallized honey. Honey shall be from floral sources predominately found in New Jersey. The styles of honey shall be filtered or strained as specified in the U.S. standards.

Color designation may consist of water white, extra white, white, extra light amber, amber or dark amber.

There are even bills in the New Jersey Legislature about bees. One is A3355. This bill would require that a person seeking certification and licensing from the Department of Environmental Protection as a pesticide applicator or a commercial pesticide operator complete a continuing education or training course, approved by the department, concerning the impact of pesticides on pollinating bees.

And S1975 and A1295. These bills prohibit any municipality from regulating the breeding or keeping of honey bees and any related activities, including the use of honeybees for pollination, reproduction and sale of honeybees, or the production of honey and other apiary products from honeybees.

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education has beekeeping classes on April 23-25, 2015; May 21-23, 2015; and October 22-24, 2015. You can learn more about the classes at http://www.cpe. rutgers.edu/programs/beekeeping.html.

Bees are a big part of everyone’s life. I hope each and every one of you helps become a pollinator’s friend, catches the buzz, and gets some honey, without the sting!

As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.

Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State.

-Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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We are now in the midst of winter, a time when New Jersey’s growing season has come to an end. The fields are barren, it is cold, and snow might be on its way. What a better time to sit indoors with friends and family and enjoy the harvest of seasons past with fabulous wine made from New Jersey-grown grapes and other fruits.

New Jersey has more than 50 licensed wineries. In 2012, New Jersey ranked 10th in the nation in wine production with 1.56 million gallons produced.

Throughout New Jersey, you will find 197 farms growing 1,082 acres of grapes. These vineyards add beauty to New Jersey’s landscape that rival scenes in Italy, France and Napa Valley in California, some of the most well-known wine growing regions of the world.

New Jersey has been recognized for having the perfect soil and microclimate for wine-grape growing.

The state has three regions designated as best-suited for grape growing, each an official American Viticultural Area: Central Delaware Valley AVA: designated in 1984, located in Central New Jersey and shared with Southeastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware River,

help spread the word that New Jersey winemakers are among the best in the world. Now, with almost all our wineries offering shipping, we can share our secret with others far and wide. Ask your local vintner about the many fabulous wines produced in the Garden State.

There is a vintage and variety for every taste.

While you sip your wine and it is warming you inside, let your mind wander to images of sun-drenched fields with grapes maturing on the vine.

Know that spring is really just around the corner and new crops will soon be emerging.

All the while, keep enjoying your New Jersey wines. They complement meals of all seasons.

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

New Jersey Wines – Their Time Has Come just north of Philadelphia; Warren Hills AVA: designated in 1988, located entirely in Warren County, along New Jersey’s hillier northwestern edge bordering Pennsylvania; and Outer Coastal Plain AVA: designated in 2007, located in Southeastern New Jersey and including all of Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean counties.

The Cape May Wine Growers Association has petitioned the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to add a new Viticultural Area in New Jersey, the Cape May Peninsula, which encompasses Cape May and Cumberland Counties. The petition is currently “accepted as perfected” which means the petition meets the bureau’s requirements but has not proceeded to rulemaking.

Even though New Jersey

is respected nationally for its wine-growing ability, we are still struggling for recognition of the high quality and taste of our more than 40 wine varieties. A recent Garden State Wine Growers Association e-mail talked about a study published in the Journal of Wine Economics which showed that blind tastings by two groups of seasoned wine tasters found no statistical difference in perceived quality between two New Jersey wines and two similarly priced bottles from California. A third group was told that two of six glasses in front of them was from New Jersey and were asked to pick them out. They were not able to do so any better than they would have achieved by chance. They also rated the wine they picked, which was more often than not a California wine, as inferior and identified it as being from New Jersey.

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Jon M. Bramnick, who is serving his fifth term in the New Jersey General Assembly representing Union, Somerset and Morris Counties in the 21st District, looks over the January Gardener News “Person of the Year” cover story in his Scotch Plains law office. Bramnick was elected by his colleagues in January 2012 to serve as the Assembly Minority Leader, making him the highest-ranking member of the Republican Caucus in the Assembly. He previously served as Conference Leader, Republican Whip and chairman of the Assembly Republican Policy Committee. In 1984, Bramnick was admitted to the New Jersey Bar. He is a partner in the law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff, based in Scotch Plains, Union County.

Those of us who have tasted New Jersey wines from Sussex County down to Cape May know of the great taste and quality of these incredible wines. We can already see they are growing in popularity, evidenced by the massive crowds that attend wine festivals featuring the wineries in our state each year and events at the wineries themselves.

People flock to our wineries for tastings, tours, entertainment and to buy bottles to savor at home.

New Jersey wines also consistently succeed in major wine competitions, including double gold wins from multiple wineries at the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle and Indianapolis International Wine Competition. In these events, New Jersey wines often surpass California and European wines in taste and quality.

With confidence, you can

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http://www. state.nj.us/agriculture

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February, 2015 5

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6 February, 2015

RUTGERS NJAES/SEBS

Rutgers NJAES Outreach

By Larry Katz Sr. Associate Director

Boost Your Green IQ during Winter’s Gray Days Although the warm breezes and buzzing bees of spring may feel far off, don’t hibernate! Winter is the perfect time to invest in training to keep your green skills sharp.

The Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) offers more than 60 courses in landscaping, horticulture and turf management to help you do just that. From pest management and pruning to tree care and landscape lighting, there is something for everyone.

A great starter class this month is the two-day Beds and Borders Seminar (Feb. 11-12), which presents one of the most cost-effective ways to make a huge impact on a landscape. Participants learn about design – how to expertly combine perennials, flowering shrubs, annuals and small trees – and the fundamentals of installation and maintenance to improve beds and borders for year-round beauty.

If sustainability is more than just a buzzword to you, the one-day Sustainable Landscape Design class (Feb. 2) will give you the know-how to “walk the walk.� You’ll learn about restoration, plant selection, rain gardens, plant stress, composting, the value of native plants, going organic and much more.

Aspiring arborists will be happy to hear that OCPE’s February training calendar is robust with treecare courses, including: Tree Planting & Installation (Feb. 17), Tree Pruning (Feb. 18), Plant Health Care (Feb. 19) and Hazardous Tree Identification (Feb. 26). The Hazardous Tree ID class is especially important for anyone responsible for protecting people or property from potentially dangerous trees, including arborists, parks managers, shade tree commission members, school grounds supervisors and public works managers. Participants will learn a step-by-step process and tree-rating system to identify hazards. Watch a course video preview at www.cpe.rutgers.edu/tree (click the Hazardous Tree Identification link).

If hardscaping is what speaks to you, OCPE has three classes in February that should pique your interest: Concrete Pavers (Feb. 4), Designing and Installing Retaining Walls (Feb. 9) and Outdoor Entertainment Spaces: Kitchens, Firepits and More (Feb. 17). All classes include one day of training in the design, planning and installation of these features. Plus, students can attend an additional, optional day of hands-on learning in March, where they actively participate in a relevant installation project side-by-side with an expert instructor.

March will also bring opportunities to learn about lighting and irrigation systems. In Landscape Lighting: Design & LED Technology, a one-and-a-half-day program held March 3-4, students will learn the vocabulary and skills needed to design and install wired and wireless landscape lighting systems. Irrigation expert Bob Dobson will teach three courses that focus on different aspects of landscape irrigation systems: Repair & Maintenance (Mar. 2), Principles of SMART Controller Programming (Mar. 17) and Two-Wire Electrical Troubleshooting (Mar. 23).

One of OCPE’s most popular programs will also be back in March: Home Gardeners School (Mar. 21). The 35 different workshops offered this year will include the return of some perennial favorites (composting, canning, pruning, terrariums, fresh flower arranging, etc.) and a crop of new topics, ranging from winter gardening and hydroponics to pondless water features and herb gardening. Held on a Saturday, the program will include a live cooking demonstration during lunch, showcasing Jersey Fresh produce.

But not every OCPE class is about plants and landscaping. Equipment malfunctions can be dangerous, frustrating and costly. Instead of waiting for another part to fail, why not learn how to properly maintain and repair equipment yourself? OCPE offers several introductory and advanced classes in March and April covering Small Engine Repair, Two-Cycle Engine Maintenance and Chainsaw Maintenance that will appeal to both the tinkerer and the person tired of paying someone else to make repairs.

ICYMI: OCPE just wrapped up its Professional Golf Turf Management School: Three-Week Preparatory Short Course. Held every January, this program gives aspiring golf course superintendents, sports field managers and turf-loving landscapers the opportunity to receive accelerated training in turfgrass management. The intensive course introduces students to the science behind establishing and maintaining turf, covering topics from soil fertility and irrigation to machinery maintenance and managing employees. It gives newcomers a chance to learn more before plunging into the turf management industry and it gives established professionals a quick way to grow their expertise, expand their professional networks and turbocharge their careers. It’s not too early to consider growing your career with the January 2016 offering. Visit www.golfturf.rutgers.edu/3week to learn more.

So take advantage of this time of year to keep your mind and skills blossoming, even if your plants aren’t. You’ll be glad you did when the spring thaw arrives.

For more information, visit www.cpe.rutgers.edu/landscape or call OCPE at 732-932-9271.

Editor’s Note: Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. is Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a Professor of Animal Science. RCE delivers wide-ranging educational programs in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, urban and community outreach, youth development, food, nutrition and health, and related areas of economic and workforce development across New Jersey. Dr. Katz can be reached at 848-932-3591. Visit: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/extension/

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Christmas Day 2014 Marked 50th Anniversary of First Air-Inflated, Double-Polyethylene Greenhouse 1(: %5816:,&. 1- ĘŠ ,W ZDV &KULVWPDV PRUQLQJ RI 1964 when Bill Roberts was tinkering in his basement when he was supposed to be doing something else. The now retired Rutgers NJAES specialist in agricultural engineering was building a model greenhouse in his basement when he used an aquarium air pump to separate the two layers of the plastic film covering. As innocuous as it may seem, what Roberts did was actually an innovation that would be a boon to the agricultural industry and revolutionize the use of greenhouses worldwide. Back from winter break, the work commenced on campus in 1965 with a structure on Cook campus that served as the first ever air-inflated, double-layer polyethylene greenhouse. That original structure still stands on campus and in 2004, the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE), dedicated the structure as an ASABE Historic Landmark.

35 Ways to Grow Your Gardening Skills (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — Plant enthusiasts will have the opportunity to learn innovative gardening and landscaping techniques from a team of 26 of the state’s top home horticulture experts at the 39th Annual Rutgers Home Gardeners School on Saturday, March 21, 2015.

Held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Cook/Douglass campus at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, the program features 35 different interactive workshops covering a wide range of subjects – from composting and irrigation to beekeeping and canning.

For those who prefer to learn by doing, there are several workshops with hands-on activities, such as building a “pondless� water garden, creating a terrarium or learning the art of fresh flower arranging. And this year’s Home Gardeners School offers 16 brand new workshops including color theory, bulb selection, meadowscaping, hydroponics and more. Attendees can create their own schedules by selecting the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests for a truly customized and exciting day of learning.

The expert speakers represent both commercial horticulture and landscape design firms along with Rutgers Cooperative Extension and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences faculty and staff to provide homeowners with the opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Lunchtime will feature a special presentation by Peter Pascale CCC, Executive Chef at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, who will be doing a live cooking demonstration featuring local Jersey produce.

The day is about more than just the workshops. During breaks, participants can browse gardening and landscaping volumes at the book sale or purchase a plant, knowing that all proceeds of the plant sale will support the Rutgers Gardens (plants can be held for end-of-day pick-up).

They can also learn about soil health and purchase soil testing kits from Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory experts or expand their horizons with the other organizations represented: Gardener News, NJ Farm Bureau, NJ Landscape Contractors Association, NJ Nursery and Landscape Association, NJ Beekeepers Association, Garden Club of NJ, Jersey Fresh, CoCoRahs, NJ Deer Control, Flower Station-Somerset/Princeton and EcoBeneficial, just to name a few.

The registration fee is $60 until March 10; $75 after (discounts offered to Master Gardeners). Bring your own bag lunch or purchase a $10 box lunch when you register. Pre-registration is recommended; some workshops have limited seats.

For more information, workshop descriptions or to register, visit www.cpe.rutgers.edu/HGS or call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 732-932-9271.

Central Jersey Turf & Ornamental Institute Description: This annual event is brought to you by Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer & Somerset Counties. It will benefit those who work in grounds maintenance including school board members, maintenance supervisors, employees of highways, parks, cemeteries, industrial grounds, lawn & home ground services, garden center operators and nurserymen.

Pesticide credits available: 1A 3 units, 3A 3 units, 3B 3 units, 6B 4 units, 13 3 units, CORE 3 units, PP2 3 units Date: 3/6/2014 Time: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Location: Battleground Country Club, Millhurst Rd., Manalapan, NJ Speaker: Various University and Industry specialists.

Contact: Carol Richiusa, 732-398-5262

Gardener News

February, 2015 7

Winter Break For Pests? Not For All of Them Winter is normally a time when our focus on pests in the garden is at its least. The majority of the insect world is taking a break from visiting our gardens, orchards and farms.

However, not all pests take a winter vacation. The time is now that we take a look for signs of common rodents.

During the winter months, most of the resources that rodents rely upon dwindle. However, if you utilize winter cover crops, some of the much-needed food sources for rodents still may exist throughout the winter. Inspect your grounds for trails or burrows that mice and rats may leave behind. Check for disturbances in leaf litter, soil and vegetation. Trails will occasionally have rodent droppings present as well, which will help you properly identify what rodent may be paying you

a visit. Mice have pointed droppings approximately a quarter-inch long and rats have rounded, blunt droppings approximately three-quarters of an inch.

The most common winter pest is the house mouse (Mus musculus). The house mouse is a small rodent about thre to four inches (head to tail) in length as an adult. Most commonly, this type of mouse will have grey fur. The house mouse is classified as an omnivore, however plant material is its primary choice diet.

Any plant material can provide the house mouse with the nourishment it needs to survive the colder months. If a winter cover crop strategy is used, make sure you are inspecting your ground cover. Winter greens not only provide the house mouse with food, but a good ground cover provides the house mouse with shelter from the harsh cold environment.

Another pest that growers commonly encounter in the

colder months is the Rattus norvegicus. This rodent is referred to by many common names including the brown rat, Norway rat, common rat and sewer rat. Despite the common name “brown rat,� the Rattus norvegicus can and commonly does have grey fur as well as brown fur. An adult rat is about 15 to 20 inches (head to tail). A brown rat is the epitome of an omnivore. There is very little that a rat will not eat.

Gardeners and growers that have encountered brown rats would agree that corn is a commonly favorite food. Unlike the smaller house mouse, the rat needs an ample water supply to survive through the rough winter months.

If you have identified either of these common winter pests roaming your grounds, it is time to implement (or revisit) an IPM (integrated pest management) strategy.

Without a good IPM plan in place, the rodent population will be doing the majority

of the blooming come the spring. Both mice and rats have quick reproductive cycles. Now is the time to manage outdoor populations of rodents as breeding often ceases during winter months.

Remember, as with any IPM plan, the use of pesticides should be reserved as a last step. Start by removing harborage sights such as leaf litter and old abandoned equipment. (Spare tires, a broken down tractor, unused storage containers, etc.).

Search for any items that may be accumulating water and remove them. If weather permits, inspect and turn your mulch piles. Mulch may contain numerous sources of food if the pile isn’t properly managed. Monitor burrows by collapsing them or filling them with soil.

If the burrows reappear within a few days, you have confirmed activity.

Often, landscape modification and good grounds maintenance is enough to expose mice and rats to predation. If these

winter visitors still persist after implementing a cleanup strategy, trapping should be considered as the next step.

Live traps or snap traps can be used. Consider non-target animals if utilizing snap traps. Snap traps should be placed in tamper resistant boxes to prevent non-targets from being captured. As a final step, rodenticide baits and powders can be utilized.

Be aware of local and state laws before applying any pesticides, or contact a professional.

Now is the time to get an early start to the growing season this year by implementing your winter rodent IPM plan.

Editor’s Note: Gregory Covello, A.C.E. is an Associate Certified Entomologist and District Manager for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, Somerset County. He is a backyard gardener and hobbyist beekeeper. He can be reached at 973-296-6523 or gcovello@vikingpest.com.

USDA Conducting National Survey of Organic Agriculture +$55,6%85* 3$ ĘŠ $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH &HQVXV RI $JULFXOWXUH total organic product sales by farms and ranches in the U.S. have continued to show substantial growth over the last few years, increasing by 83 percent since 2007. To learn more about the trends of organic agriculture in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is now conducting the 2014 Organic Survey. “The Organic Survey comes in direct response to the continued interest in organics among consumers, producers, businesses, and others,â€? said King Whetstone, Director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Office. “This is an opportunity for organic producers to provide more detailed data to help provide the industry with a reliable source of information to use in justifying research projects and fund requests for the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming and ranching in the United States.â€?

NASS will mail the survey in early January to all known organic producers in the United States. The survey will look at many aspects of organic agriculture during the 2014 calendar year – from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production, but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture. “The results of the survey will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, and other key issues,� Whetstone noted. “In addition, the information can help producers make informed decisions about the future of their own farming operations.�

Producers can fill out the survey online via a secure website, www. agcensus.usda.gov, or return their form by mail. Federal law (Title 7, U.S. Code) requires all producers who receive a form to respond and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

Recipients are required to respond by mail by February 13, 2015 or online by April 3, 2015. NASS will publish the results in August 2015. For more information about the Organic Survey, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (717) 787-3904

8 February, 2015

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February, 2015 9

2015: Year of the Coleus

(Continued from page 1) herbaceous perennial in its native range, coleus are used primarily as annuals by a wide range of the gardening public. Previously grouped into different species or classified as hybrids, coleus (formerly Coleus blumei and Coleus hybridus) were all placed under Solenostemon scutellarioides in 2006. As of 2012, taxonomic authorities consider the correct name for the coleus to be Plectranthus scutellariodes.

Victorian gardeners utilized coleus in vivid bedding designs, also called “carpet gardening.” These elaborate patterns were frequently designed to be viewed from above and coleus were a common component in these planting schemes. New introductions generated excitement during this period of history and “coleus fever” was rampant for a time. Because coleus mutate frequently, sports and reversions were not uncommon and could result in a new variety of interest. Sports are seen as naturally occurring genetic mutations, while reversions represent the appearance of the plant at some point in its “genetic past.”

Coleus popularity seemed to dwindle in the early-20th Century and didn’t see much of a resurgence of use until the mid-20th Century when uniform, seedgrown varieties became more popular and coleus also found some popularity as a houseplant. In the 1980s, as more gardeners realized the full potential of this spectacular plant, the coleus boom was reinitiated and the past two decades have seen an amazing number of introductions in both seed and vegetative offerings. Many of the best selections have been preserved by coleus collectors and enthusiasts over the years, but there is no shortage of new varieties being selected and promoted each year.

While modern coleus breeding still focuses on new selections for the home gardener featuring new color combinations and foliage characteristics, other features of consideration have become more prominent. There is certainly a focus on breeding and trialing for more sun tolerance, which will expand the use of coleus to the brighter portions of our gardens. For sunny areas consider these varieties: any of the Stained Glassworks varieties, the Wizard, Versa and Marquee series, or any variety with the word sun in its name. Breeding efforts also focus on delayed flowering, more prolific branching and certainly an emphasis on more compact and trailing forms, like Lava Rose, for containers and other tight spots in the garden beyond the traditional bedding scheme.

Coleus Basics The primary ornamental feature of coleus is the foliage, which can be represented by green, pink, yellow, orange, red, dark maroon (near black), brown, cream and white. The range of shades for these colors and the possible combinations is seemingly limitless. This plethora of colors and combinations lends itself to the other common names for coleus of painted nettle or flame nettle. While some gardeners will leave the small flowers, it’s recommended that you pinch these off and back to a leaf node to encourage more energy into stem and foliage growth and not flowering. Coleus left to flower may lose vigor, as the plant puts energy into seed production.

The variability in patterns, some subtle and some more dramatic, is truly amazing. While some selections will exhibit a solid color, other varieties may feature splashes, blotches, streaks, flecks, margins and veins. Color intensity may be affected by sunlight, heat sensitivity and other conditions. Bright sunlight can create a saturation of color and the difference in appearance for most varieties in part shade versus full sun is noticeable. The term “sun coleus” refers to selections that have been observed to tolerate more direct sunlight, although moisture considerations become even more important in those locations. Darker cultivars tend to tolerate more sun, with the lighter varieties benefitting from some degree of shade to minimize leaf scorching. Morning sun and dappled afternoon shade tends to maintain consistent foliage coloration. The underside of the leaf may also feature an alternate color that can be a contributing factor visually as well. Optimum growing conditions are covered later in this article but consider that too little light will encourage a weakstemmed, less vigorous plant without optimal coloration.

Leaf texture for coleus can be quite variable, with foliage that may include the features of being large, small, twisted, elongated, scalloped, lobed, fingerlike, “duck’s foot” (webbed feet), etc. This overall foliage shape, affected by these other features, can be quite ornamental and add to the effect of the plant in combination with the coloration. Leaf texture for coleus should be a serious consideration when selecting and using coleus, as the visual contribution is significant.

The wide range of coleus can be grouped into three basic plant forms, including upright, rounded and prostrate/trailing. Frequent snipping, pinching and trimming can help modify form, although mature size will also vary depending on growing conditions and other factors. The trailing forms may also be considered semi-trailing and have value at the edge of a container or in a hanging basket. Trailing forms may also be effective as weaving groundcovers and will become a colorful, “living mulch” that not only adds interest but helps shade the soil for moisture retention and discourage weeds.

In terms of selecting a variety, there are many to choose from and desired features will certainly include foliage coloration, but leaf texture and plant form may also be of interest. Please refer to the picturesque slide show at http://ngb.org/year_of/index.cfm to see a database of some of the more commonly grown varieties. While this list is not comprehensive, NGB Members are an excellent source for information regarding current coleus breeding efforts and currently available varieties.

Planting & Proper Care Coleus has long been considered a shade plant but, as was mentioned earlier, they thrive in part shade and dappled shade and will languish in deep shade. In fact, their best leaf coloration is achieved with morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade. Many varieties do well in both shade and part sun, such as the ColorBlaze, Fairway, Superfine Rainbow, Main Street and Kong series. Some varieties can take quite a bit of sun and are quite adaptable as long as they are not allowed to dry out. The color change can also be affected by temperature, available sunlight, soil fertility, etc. Coleus are quite tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and will do well in even average conditions. Coleus enjoy the heat and languish below 55 degrees F. Cold, overly damp soils can result in leaf drop and may encourage disease problems. However, extreme temperatures over 95 degrees F are also undesirable. Plant coleus after any danger of frost has passed, when soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently and evening temperatures are above 60 degrees F. Avoiding too wet or too dry conditions is warranted and coleus are quite pH tolerant except for the extremes of a significantly low (or high) pH. Light fertilization is recommended, particularly in containers.

To maintain plant form, pinch back most varieties every few weeks to prevent flower formation. This directs the plant to put energy into additional branching and foliage creation instead of flowering, thereby creating a fuller plant. When pinching off flowers, do so throughout the entire summer to create a full, lush plant. Pinch just above a set of leaves or branching junction for the best appearance (don’t leave a stub!)

Getting Started Raising coleus from seeds is relatively easy. Seed strains offer uniformity and may include mixes or consistent coloration with identical plants. Seed packets can be quite affordable and a wide range of coleus varieties are available from seed vendors. Keeping in mind that coleus should not be planted out in the garden until all danger of frost is past, timing of seed sowing should be eight to 12 weeks before the last frost date. Sowing seeds in at least three inches of growing medium (maintain at 70 degrees F) is recommended and seeds should be sown on the surface as they require light to germinate. Welltimed, even watering, misting (for humidity) and frequent observation are also encouraged. Coleus seeds have a high germination and you should have plenty of seedlings to transition to larger packs and containers. Consult additional references for more specific details on starting your coleus from seeds.

Propagating coleus from either stem cuttings or seeds is quite easy. Snipping a small, two-inch length of coleus and putting it in a rooting medium or even in water will start the process of new roots being developed. Selecting healthy cuttings with at least one or two leaf nodes is vital and you should also remove the growing tip when first placing the sample in water or your rooting medium. Rooting hormone can be used but is not necessary and your new cuttings do not require fertilizer during establishment prior to planting in a container or out in the garden. Any cuttings grown in water can be transitioned to a rooting medium if desired. Keep new cuttings moist and maintain high humidity with misting. Bright, indirect light is recommended during the initial establishment of fresh cuttings. Keep cuttings warm and observe them frequently. The basic principles of creating new plants by cuttings are easy to follow and readily found in many references.

Overwintering coleus plants and cuttings is certainly possible. Bringing coleus inside for overwintering as houseplants is one (Continued on page 20)

10 February, 2015

Gardener News

Barking up the right trees

By Kathleen Salisbury As we enter the long stretch of winter, bright red poinsettias have been composted and the amaryllis and paperwhites forced on the windowsill are showing their age. A glance outside reveals needled and broadleaved evergreens, some with a bronze hue, hunkered down for the coldest months.

Bare branches divulge the hunger of resident birds.

Winterberries, viburnum and juniper berries are now fueling the metabolism of tiny birds, helping them to stay warm in these short days of low sunshine.

Though they may not help the birds stay warm, there are some native plants that may add some interest to your glance outside into the winter landscape with their colorful and textural bark.

Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum) – Planting this tree will add a bright green element to the gray winter

view. In the wild, you’ll find Moosewood in cool moist shaded forests and rocky areas.

Growing to 20 feet tall, the green bark is lined with long, vertical white stripes. These features disappear with age.

Found only in the northernmost reaches of New Jersey.

River Birch (Betula nigra) – Perhaps the best known native plant for interesting bark.

This native tree is found in the wild in rich lowland soils. This is a large tree growing 50 to 90 feet at maturity. As this tree reaches its height with age, it loses the stunning exfoliating bark. But in the youth, the bark sheds and peels in shades of tan, salmon, gray and brown. It is striking against white snow or an evergreen background.

Found throughout New Jersey.

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) – This tree’s bark gets more shaggy with age. In fact, the gray plates of this tree rise so far from the trunk that bats, insects and birds are known to make their homes there.

Growing 60 to 80 feet tall, plant this tree in rich, well-drained

soils. Found throughout New Jersey except the Outer Coastal Plain.

Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) – Plant this colonizing shrub with great attention to the background.

Evergreens make a brilliant backdrop to the thin, bright-red twigs of this native. Even those who don’t appreciate snow will enjoy the bright crimson against the white. These stems lose their color with age, so rejuvenation pruning is recommended every few years to maintain their brilliance. Found in the Central and Northern regions of New Jersey.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) – Smooth and gray, this bark is well known and easily identified in the New Jersey forests. Even in old age, the smooth, grey bark gives away the identity of these large woodland dwellers. An American Beech that hasn’t been autographed by someone is a rarity in the state, most often found in homeowners’ backyards. Be sure you have left enough room for this tree,

New Test Counts Total Phenolics in Fruits and Veggies

By Rosalie Marion Bliss Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have devised a new analytical method for detecting and measuring concentrations of phytochemicals called “polyphenols” in plant materials. Also referred to as “phenolics,” the class of healthpromoting compounds is found in certain foods and beverages. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) investigators have a long history of designing and developing reliable analytical methods for measuring nutrients and other compounds in foods. ARS is USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency.

At the ARS Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, scientists first reported on the new test and used it on a variety of samples of beverages, grains and flaxseed. They used the new laboratory method to measure the amount of phenolics in various food samples by mixing them with Fast Blue BB diazonium salt. Under alkaline conditions, diazonium salt specifically couples with phenolics to form stable complexes that can be directly measured.

The team then compared the new Fast

Blue BB method to results using a traditional assay called Folin-Ciocalteu (FC). The results suggested that FC does not assess all phenolics present during tests and inadvertently measures other compounds besides phenolics.

While the Fast Blue BB method, as originally developed at the ERRC, was aimed at measuring phenolics only in plant tissue that does not contain chlorophyll, other ARS researchers reasoned that the test should also work with green vegetables if the test is modified.

ARS plant physiologist and national program leader Gene Lester led another study in which he and colleagues modified the Fast Blue BB assay so that it could be used to test green plant material. The scientists used the modified method to gauge the amount of total phenolics in different spinach cultivars grown under different production conditions. They showed that the Fast Blue BB can now be used universally to accurately assess total phenolics for all fruit and vegetable plant tissues.

Editor’s Note: Rosalie Marion Bliss works for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. She can be reached at (301)504-4318 or by emailing rosalie.bliss@ars.usda.gov

as it may grow to 120 feet and doesn’t like to be transplanted or pruned too much. Being a resident of humus-rich climax forests, this tree doesn’t handle compaction well either. Be sure to plant it where its roots can spread without competition from pressure above. Found throughout New Jersey.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) – Standing 100 feet like protective soldiers over the water they grow near, Sycamores’ stark white bark glows against winter’s blue skies. Messy in a home landscape, you may want to think twice about planting this close to the house. But if it already exists in your yard, or you have a far-away wet place in the landscape, be sure to enjoy the mottled white bark in each season. Found throughout New Jersey.

American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) – Sometimes called Blue Beech because of the bark’s resemblance to American Beech, this understory tree features rippled and sinuous

bark. Also called Musclewood and naturally occurring in deep, rich, slightly acidic soils, start this tree small as they don’t like to be transplanted with age.

Tolerance of a wide variety of soils and sizing for a home landscape make this tree one to consider for your property.

Found throughout New Jersey.

Planting a variety of trees in your landscape not only provides you with a diversity of plant material and seasonal interest, it also supports a great diversity of wildlife, which after all, is much of the reason for planting them in the first place.

Editor’s Note: Kathy Salisbury is a Horticulture Educator and the President of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey (NPSNJ). The NPSNJ is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation, protection and study of NJ’s native flora. To learn more about the Native Plant Society please visit www.npsnj.org or contact Kathy directly at president@npsnj.org.

Gardener News Avocadoes are one of those foods that people are catching on to on the East Coast. They have the highest growth rate here in the East because they are already popular in California and the Southwest.

There, avocado trees are seen growing in backyards, on the side of the roads and in groves with thousands of acres and millions of trees.

Avocado trees are unique to other trees that grow fruit in that they do not go dormant or have a season beginning or end.

Peaches, plums, nectarines and others all go dormant for the winter and produce during the hotter months. Avocado trees are broad-spreading trees and require proper pruning in order to produce maximum amounts of fruit. Avocado flowers are modified leaves found in groupings on the tree. Each contains a male and a female flower, each of which open on alternative days with the male and female phase.

The roots only go under canopy six inches into the ground. They do not seek water in the ground and have to be carefully irrigated. Too much water and the tree will drown.

This is of particular interest We haven’t seen much snow at the beach thus far and business has been relatively good despite the massive road construction.

Thank all of you that make it down to support us. The construction has been hard on us, but they are moving rapidly and appear to be getting a lot done. This has been tough on everyone and we appreciate all of our loyal customers during this period.

As do all of the barrier island businesses. All in all, it really isn’t that bad. A couple extra turns and a short stop at a light and you’re there. It actually takes less time now than in the summer, so come on down, folks! The eating is good and the atmosphere will make you think of summer, which really isn’t that far away!

What I want to focus on now is meatloaf. Yes, meatloaf. That wonderful All-American slab of ground beef that can be devoured in many different ways. With ketchup, with gravy, hot or cold, with BBQ sauce, on top of mashed taters and my way, wrapped in bacon, glorious bacon! Wrapping anything

February, 2015 11 Passionate About Produce

By Paul Kneeland The King of Produce

Nature’s Mayonnaise to California because of the drought conditions that still exist. Decisions will be made this growing season for water usage that will affect crops.

Some may not be allowed to grow at all in specific regions, depending on water usage.

Avocadoes are a great piece of fruit that is becoming more popular as Hispanic and Mexican restaurants become more trendy. Mainline fast food restaurants are also jumping on board, such as Subway and Chipotle. They feature avocado on the menu all the time and have months of special promotions with avocadoes. The volume of their promotions is actually large enough to affect the market price of avocadoes and cause supply shortages.

Avocadoes are used in a variety of ways. We used to

just think about them as being for guacamole. Yet, as the age of healthy eating began, avocado was found on salads and in sandwiches and in soups and more. It was once said that avocadoes are nature’s mayonnaise, sweet and creamy and delicious.

Avocadoes are grown in several different areas. The two most popular sold here in the U.S. are California and Mexico. Chile and Peru have begun exporting also, but to a lesser degree. Fruit sizing is standardized, so competition can be fierce. The biggest measure of fruit quality is in the oil content of the fruit.

Most people like a creamy consistency and fruit that is not hard or dried out. That puts California and Mexico as the best producers right now.

While Chile and Peru will

improve, it will take years to catch up with the amount sold and consumed from California and Mexico.

A great advance in avocadoes has been preripening the fruit. Consumers have always struggled with ripening their own fruit, whether it is for peaches and nectarines or avocadoes. Preripening starts the ripening process and generally is done by introducing the fruit to heat for a period of time and then selling in stores as ripe. This is also a huge convenience factor.

The advances of avocadorelated food trends and the addition of avocado to menus in restaurants in the East have helped the trend continue to grow by double digits. By no means does anyone expect East Coasters to surpass the consumption in the West, yet

From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Chilly greetings from the Jersey Shore! in bacon obviously makes it better. Wrapping pork loin in bacon, even better. You could wrap anything in bacon and make it highly edible.

There are a slew of books dedicated to bacon. I have a bacon T-shirt, for crying out loud. I have bacon flavored dental floss! BACONBACON-BACON!!! It has gone viral. When I was a little boy, my Granny in Georgia (GO DAWGS!) would cook anything she could in bacon and even put chunks of bacon in all of her vegetables.

Well, enough about bacon, back to meatloaf. I make meatloaf almost every week at the restaurant and it is always a great winter seller. As with many a recipe, meatloaf is also as opinionated as tomato sauce.

There is not one “master

recipe.” It is really what you grew up with. My father used to make a killer BBQ meatloaf, which I also make at home for my family, but at the restaurant, it’s bacon wrapped, baby!

I hope you enjoy this version of meatloaf and I highly suggest serving it with Heinz 57.

I also hope each and every one of you has a Happy Valentine’s Day! Bacon wrapped meatloaf (serves 4) 1lb. meatloaf mix, 1/3 of each ground beef, pork, and veal 1 cup panko bread crumbs 2 eggs 1/2 cup Heinz 57 1 tsp. chopped parsley 1 Tbsp. garlic powder 1 Tbsp. onion powder Salt and black pepper

1 tsp. Coleman’s mustard powder 2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese 6 strips bacon Method-place all ingredients in a large bowl -mix by hand until just incorporated, do not overly mix -form an oblong loaf on a sheet pan or large Pyrex dish, the loaf should be a bit less wide than a s strip of bacon *IMPORTANT* -lay bacon strips over meatloaf crosswise, tucking the ends of the bacon under each side of the loaf -bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes to one hour .

with the foodie traditions that begin here and the metro area being a center of high-quality restaurants and the beginning of so many food trends, we have a chance to become the highest consumption area in the country.

Hass avocadoes are the most popular type, with a bumpy skin that turns from green to black when ready to eat. Florida Avocadoes tend to be larger and stay green generally. They do soften a bit when ready to eat. It is important for all of us to seek healthy alternatives in our ingredients and in our meals.

Avocado is one area to start, and a delicious alternative at that.

Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a board member of the Produce Marketing Association. He holds degrees in Business Management from Boston College as well as Northeastern University.

He can be reached at pkneeland@kingssm.com -Enjoy with some form of potatoes, preferably canned or frozen veggies and ketchup!

Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visit www.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.

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12 February, 2015 While most of you are quite familiar with the landscape mantra, “Fall is For Planting,” very few of you have heard of the slogan, “Winter is for planning.” Well, there’s a very good reason for that. I made it up myself.

After 35 years of answering the same question over and over again, “Jody, what do you do during the winter?” I decided that I had to do something, so I came up with the expression, “Winter is for planning.” I’m actually quite proud of it, because it follows the same format as “Fall is for Planting” and gets the message across in just a few words.

Contrary to popular belief, landscape contracting is a 365day, 52-week-a-year business and has been this way for many, many years. Like every industry, we have our own unique season, with highs and lows. For those of you not in the industry, here is a breakdown of a year in the life of a landscape contractor. I’ll start with the spring, since that’s when our year technically starts, and end in the winter, which is where we are now.

Landscape contractors’ unofficial/official start date is March 15 and runs for 40 weeks It’s February 2015 and we are already better off than February 2014. Last year by this time, we were under snow and ice for months. By the time we got out of the winter blanket, it was May before we saw the ground thaw out.

This year, so far, we have been fortunate. Here in the north central part of the Garden State, we have been blessed with only a little bit of snow.

It seems like the northwest corner of New Jersey has had the unfortunate luck of getting some accumulating nuisance snow. For the most part, the temps have been mild with lows usually staying within the low30s. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few chilly days and nights. Hopefully, this range should not cause damage to the landscape and we should be in good shape going into the spring. (By the way, March 20 is the first day of spring, according to the astronomical definition).

Last year’s winter brought damage to the landscape that many were not prepared for due to the long bouts of extreme cold temperatures mixed with the extended periods of snow and ice. Believe it or not, excess snow on trees and

Gardener News The NJLCA Today

By Jody Shilan, MLA Executive Director Plan Your Spring Installation Now

until about December 15. Like everything in our industry, these dates are completely weatherdependent, but are still solid guidelines. Mid-March is when seasonal help starts returning to work and maintenance cleanups begin. On the design/build side of the business, projects that were not completed the previous year because they were snowed out are scheduled for completion and resume where they were left off. New projects that have a signed contract and a deposit are scheduled next and begin right away.

After that come the “late bloomers.” Those are folks who knew last year that they wanted to do something in the spring, but waited until we had three days in a row of warmer weather, the grape hyacinths, daffodils and forsythia started blooming and birds began chirping, to start

calling landscape contractors to have work done.

What they quickly realize is that their lack of planning and dreams of an April, May and possibly June installation may not come to fruition because better contractors are already booked for several months.

Although you may find a company that has an opening in its schedule, you may find that your town requires permits for your project, which can take two weeks to two months to approve.

As you probably guessed, the busiest part of our year is from March 15 through August 15. There is a short seasonal lull from mid-August through Labor Day when most families are on vacation before they transition from the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer and start gearing up for another school

year for the kids and work year for themselves. September 5 starts our second seasonal rush and is the time when the calls start coming in again for fall installations, seasonal color change outs, holiday displays, and the renewal of maintenance and snow contracts.

This brings us full circle to the winter season and why winter is for planning. Depending on the type of winter we are having and whether your landscape contractor plows snow or not, December 15 through March 15 is when landscape companies are typically slower. This does not mean that they close up shop, it just means that they have more time available to help you plan your landscape, deal with the permitting process and purchase materials early to get your project scheduled for the spring.

The Professional Grower

By Tim Hionis Greenhouse Specialist

The garden wants you shrubs actually sucked out the moisture from them, causing them to become dehydrated while dormant. The effects of the damage wasn’t visible many times until they attempted to break dormancy and never succeeded. I’m not sure there is really any way to prevent this from happening. Although, you can take preventive steps by watering your landscape pretty well before the ground freezes and the plant material goes dormant.

I’m hoping that this pattern of a nice, mild winter continues.

And with that, I’m thinking about spring and vegetable gardens.

Like me, you are probably missing the freshness and crispness of plucking the ingredients of your own homegrown salad right off the plants or vines you were

nurturing all season long. Our taste buds are most likely starving for something that was grown in New Jersey soil and not shipped from a faraway land and treated to preserve its freshness and stripped of some its nutrients.

Plus, growing vegetables can be fun. It’s a great way to spend time with children or have a place to get away and spend time outdoors in the sun.

And remember, most vegetables need at least six to eight hours of direct sun. If they don’t get enough light, they won’t bear as much and they’ll be more susceptible to attack from insects or diseases. Most vegetables aren’t very drought tolerant. The closer your garden is to a source of water, the easier it will be for you. It’s also best to test the soil before you begin planting a garden with vegetables. And

check the drainage. If your soil doesn’t drain well, your best bet will probably be to install raised beds.

If you don’t have room for a vegetable garden at your home, container gardening is a great option as well. Or, you can look into the many community gardens that are forming throughout the state.

Community gardens are great and provide many benefits to people because they provide space that many may be lacking in their yards, and they are a fantastic way to bring a community closer together.

It’s a healthy way to interact with your neighbors and share experiences and even your rewards. Community gardens are growing in popularity because it is a great way to start a vegetable garden for both the novice and the experienced

Instead of rushing through the decision-making process and stressing out about whether your project will be finished by Labor Day, you can properly plan your project, submit your drawings and documents for town approvals and be ready to begin as soon as the ground thaws. Now, I’m not promising that all of this will happen exactly as I’ve laid it out, but you’ll certainly be ahead of the crowd who waits until April 1 to begin the process.

So what’s it going to be?

“Winter is for Planning” or “Spring is for Panicking”?

Editors Note: Jody Shilan is the owner of Jody Shilan Designs in Wyckoff, where he provides landscape design and consulting services for homeowners and landscape contractors. He earned his bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Cook College, Rutgers University and his masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Currently, he is Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or jshilan@gmail.com. gardener.

Experienced gardeners are wonderful at sharing their knowledge about the dos and don’ts on growing vegetables and are eager to share this information to the new gardener. Community gardening can be like attending a gardening school.

If you’re looking for a productive way to spend your free time and do something to improve your local neighborhood, why not consider starting an Adopt-a-Lot garden?

Most cities and towns encourage community-minded individuals who dig the idea of Urban Gardening to adopt unused city and town-owned lots. You can turn an eyesore and blight on the neighborhood into a beautiful and bountiful pocket of urban green! Just a thought…

Good luck with the garden and see you when it’s warm and sunny.

Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling (908) 534-7710.

Gardener News

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Gardener News

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Gardener News

February, 2015 17

Sedums: Eternal Creatures Deservedly, the various species and cultivars of Sedum have been a main staple within the gardening community for centuries. Like many of these garden staples, it was a plant that garnered my infatuation early in my career and only grew as my understanding of the genus expanded.

With over 600 species native to temperate and warm, arid regions throughout the northern hemisphere, this is indeed a genus that commands recognition.

Sedum is in the Crassulaceae or Jade Plant family – a family known for very tough plants.

The etymology of Sedum stems from the Greek Sedere, which means to sit, referencing its ability to perch or sit atop rocks and buildings. Carl Linnaeus officially penned the name in 1753, but he cited Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (4-70 AD), who mentioned Sedum in his 12-volume treatise on Roman Agriculture named Rus Bring me your tired, poor lawns, yearning to breathe free. It’s time for you to join the lawn-care revolution!

1-2-3-4 Application Lawn Care programs seem to have run their course. While they have been around for many years and basically work, they sometimes do not give the results homeowners expect. We do live in an instant gratification society, but great lawns are not as easy and 1-2-3-4. It’s time to take an ecologically responsible approach to lawn care.

Early in the year, soil temperatures are low due to Old Man Winter. As air and soil temperatures start to warm up in early-spring, soil microbial activity increases.

Like a bear hibernating, your lawn needs to be awakened to start to grow new green leaf shoots and roots. Consider using a traditional lawn fertilizer in early-spring to give your lawn a kick-start.

Many times when we rake up our yard each spring, there seems to be a number of bare spots that need seeding. Why not apply grass seed early and get it established and growing before the hot, dry

Rustica. However, it is uncertain as to what plant Columella was actually describing, since he also wrote of Aizoon, meaning eternal creature, which was a Roman reference to both Sedum and another European native, Sempervivum. Evidently, they were thought to “live eternal” since they reproduced easily from leaves and were frequently found growing on buildings.

Columella wrote that these low-growing plants were best used to cover roofs in an effort to reduce lightning strikes to homes. The tradition of creating verdant roofs continued through time and one of the common Middle-English names for such plants was Howleke, now Houseleek; leek means plant, so these roof dwellers are literally House Plants! And here we thought that green roofs were a recent invention. Today, Houseleek typically refers to the genus Sempervivum while Stonecrop refers to Sedum.

Naturally, with over 600 species of Stonecrops from which to choose and habitats that range from the heat of Mexico and Honduras – Sedum

morganianum, the Burro’s Tail Stonecrop – to the cold of the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula – Sedum kamtschaticum, the Russian Stonecrop – how can a gardener select a favorite?

I have used various species and cultivars over the years, but the two Stonecrops that refocused my interest on this genus were the aforementioned Sedum morganianum and a relative newcomer, Sedum rupestre “Angelina.” Sedum morganianum is not hardy in New Jersey, but I was so captivated by the nearly 24-inch-long dangling stems, clothed with silver-green, jellybean shaped leaves, that I could not resist making it a garden staple. The plant makes a superb container or houseplant and it should be placed where it is not frequently touched, as the plump leaves easily become dislodged from the stem.

It was initially discovered

by Eric Walther, a botanist for the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, during travels to Veracruz Mexico in 1935. He was in search of new species of Echeivera, but rather he found

this plant in a small nursery and, like myself, became infatuated.

However, he did not determine the identity of the plant until it finally bloomed three years later at the home of Dr. Meredith Morgan in Richmond, California, whom Walther honored with the species epithet. Interestingly, the plant was not found in the wild until 2008, when found growing on cliffs near Veracruz!

Sedum rupestre is a European native and rupestre means “among rocks.” The species sports three-inchtall stems, clothed with blue, 3/8-inch-long needle-like foliage that remains evergreen and resembles miniature spruce trees. Angelina was found by Christian Dress, an Austrian nurseryman who, while vacationing in Croatia in 2002, discovered this selection at a private garden. In tribute, Dress honored his hostess by giving this selection her first name – Angelina.

Angelina not only has far fuller foliage than the species, it is also colored a wonderful chartreuse yellow during the

Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Wake up your lawn, America! summer arrives?

Commonly used lawncare programs can only do so much if poor quality grass seed is used, meaning, you cannot maintain a “junky” lawn, even with superior lawn products. Using genetically superior grass seed assures you of better success than bargain brands offered on the market. Most lawn-care programs only feed the grass plants and not the soil. You are only doing half the job if you are only feeding the lawn and not the soil.

How do we address the soil? Do you know what your soil pH is? Have you ever tested your soil for its pH value? What does “pH” mean? Everything has a pH value somewhere between 0 and 14. A pH value of 7 reflects a neutral pH, below

7, the soil is more acidic (sour) and a value above 7 is more alkaline (sweet). Lawn thrives when soil pH values are between 6.0 and 6.8.

The term pH is the measure of “potential hydrogen” present in the soil. As the amount of hydrogen in the soil increases, the soils’ pH reading decreases, thus becoming more acidic.

Hydrogen carries a weak positive electrical charge, which enables it to attach to negatively charged sites on the clay and humus particles in the soil. These negatively charged sites become clogged with positively charged hydrogen. Thus, the mineral nutrients are not available to attach to these same sites. By applying a calcium product to the soil, the hydrogen reacts with the

calcium carbonate to form calcium dioxide and water.

The exchange sites are cleared of hydrogen and the soil becomes less acidic or has a higher pH value, which will spur better lawn growth.

What else can I do for my soil? Well, soil is a living, breathing environment composed of soil particles, water and air. You can increase the air spaces, water-holding capacity and microbial activity of your soil by mechanical aeration or by applying products that contain humates, amino acids, feather meal, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, molasses and other organic plant and animal remnants found in quality organic lawn fertilizers.

Using a combination of traditional and organic lawn

warmer seasons, with tints of gold and bronze throughout the winter. Nine years ago, we planted Angelina in a small pocket atop a stone wall in Rutgers Gardens. It is never irrigated, and most of the soil has since washed away, leaving the plant simply growing – “among rocks.” It is thriving!

Of course, it also makes a great groundcover or container plant for the sun, illustrating again that Sedums can “live eternal.”

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu fertilizer sources allows your lawn to green-up based on the time of year and soil temperatures.

Organics applied in late-spring through summer provide a gentle feeding for consistent greening. Organic products also help reduce top-growth, so the lawn does not have to be mowed as often. A healthy growing lawn is the best defense against weeds, insects and fungus problems.

Remember, in New Jersey the fertilizer law states that you cannot apply any lawn fertilizers before March 1. If you live outside of New Jersey, be sure to contact your local state university or county extension service for “black-out” dates in your area so you do not apply any lawn fertilizers too early.

Happy spring, see you at the New Jersey Flower & Garden show from February 12-15!

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

18 February, 2015

Gardener News

Often, when food or agricultural products are marketed, certain catch words or phrases are used for the purpose of describing that product to make it sound better to the consumer. Examples of these might be “Farm Raised” or “All Natural.”

More recently, the term “Sustainable” or “Sustainably Raised” has started to catch on in popularity.

But what does sustainable mean? If a product is labeled as sustainable, does that mean it is of higher quality or has a greater nutritional value?

If something is labeled as sustainable, does that mean that the other products that are not labeled as such are inferior? Is that a justification for paying a higher price for a product?

Sustainability is a fairly new term in the agriculture industry.

It first started appearing about 15 years ago and has gradually taken hold in our modern lexicon.

According to Wikipedia, sustainable agriculture is defined as the act of farming using principles of ecology and the study of relationships between organisms and their environment. It has also been

crop is actually economically viable. So while it is important to look at environmental sustainability, it is just as important to look at long-term financial sustainability as well. Many times I have seen novice growers eschew modern farming practices and revert back to methods that were used long ago with the idea being that modern farming is not sustainable. But then they fail to harvest enough of a crop to cover their planting expenses.

I don’t know about you but that type of farming doesn’t sound too sustainable to me!

A friend of mine went to California to visit, leaving behind a sizeable group of large plants. After I went over to the house to care for the plants once a week, my friend informed me he would not be returning to Maine and if I wanted the plants, I could have them.

I asked around and found some interested parties for the plants, but space was an issue for most. Well, one day I got tired of driving all the way over to the house, got my dolly jack and loaded two truckloads of plants from the sun room over to my backyard and back deck.

It was enjoyable having a small jungle of plants on and near my back deck, and they all thrived in the humid, rainy summer we had. Well, by late-fall, it started to dip down into the 40s. Although they had been living in Maine for years indoors, ficus like 70 degrees, not 40! I had been very careful to keep plants in the shade that liked it there, as well as the ficus trees in direct sunlight that had grown a

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Sustainable Agriculture further defined as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will last over the long term. These definitions are somewhat general in nature and there is quite a bit of leeway in these wordings for one’s own interpretation.

As a grower and marketer of fruits and vegetables, I have a slightly different take on the definition of sustainability.

Or, put another way, perhaps I believe it should be defined differently than it currently is.

I think I can speak for most people when I say that in order for a crop to be “sustainable,” it has to be grown using methods which do not deplete the currently available resources in a way which would prohibit the long term continuation of that use.

For example, you would not want to grow corn in a way in which the soil might be severely eroded, because that would substantially limit the fertility of that soil and hence the yield potential of that soil for a long time to come.

Another example would be if a grower neglected to replenish the soil with lime or fertilizer after cropping the same ground year after year. Eventually, yields would get so low that it would not be even viable to plant a crop anymore.

With all of that being said, crops cannot be grown without any impacts to the environment.

But these impacts must be managed and replenished so that the land can remain viable for agriculture for many years to come. It would be impossible to plant a field of corn, grow it and

harvest it, and not have some impact on the soil because corn requires a certain level of basic nutrients. Therefore, what has to be done is that these nutrients must be somehow added to the soil so that it can remain productive. And this can be done by a number of different ways, such as adding fertilizer and/or manure, by rotational plantings, or by the use of cover crops. And while there are many different ways to accomplish this, the fact of the matter is that, regardless of the method, it has to happen or that farming will quickly become unsustainable.

When many environmentalists talk about farming and sustainability, I often feel as if they neglect a crucial aspect of the equation.

No one seems to want to address the issue of whether a

The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

“My House is Waaaaay Too Small for This!” few feet over the summer.

They had not dropped any leaves, making me believe they liked being outside but, hmm, 40 degrees is definitely cold for a ficus tree.

So, I made some phone calls to see who would like a very healthy, wicked bushy, eight-foot-tall ficus tree (and I had three of them!) and oh-oh, no one seemed to have the space or the time to deal with transporting the tree that was going to surely die if left outside. Running out of options and into consistently colder temperatures, I looked at the tree and said to myself, “This thing won’t even fit through my door.”

Well, I trimmed the trees as little as possible

and dollied them into my living room and dining room. Wax Hoyas, huge Ponytail Palms, massive Kalanchoe Tubiflora, big Jade and even bigger Aloe Vera have now taken up every inch of space in my downstairs.

My dining table now has not one square inch to eat off of. and the pathway from the kitchen through the dining room to the living room is barely 18 inches wide, if that. Freaked the cat out for a while, but she likes them, too.

Stuff I have learned from this experience: the upside down parachute flowers on the Wax Hoyas drip a sticky nectar that smells great but is not a great addition to the Berber carpet. They got moved

into the dining room in front of a window and the hardwood floor is much easier to clean up. But, what a great plant - upside down perfectly geometric parachute flowers that fill the house with this wonderful aroma – Boom, baby! Very happy that they have entered my home and my life.

Now, who out there has Kalanchoe Tubiflora?

Wow! Talk about a gigantic snake-like plant that just keeps growing. That was another moving miracle I had to perform, because the succulent will be as big as the pot it is in and the trellis it is on. I got my tape measure out and one leg of this thing was 18 feet long!

It’s amazing that nutrients flow through 18 feet of stem

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is a current member of the Tewksbury Township Committee, and a former Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network. to keep the plant thriving.

Someone at the greenhouse told me that you can throw a piece on the ground in ideal conditions and it will cover the size of football field in just a few years. It is in the process of growing over the glass door and up the wall in my dining room and truly reminds me of some kind of alien creature that is preparing Earth for the “landing.”

But you know what, the air I am breathing is wonderful, the house is warmer, smells great, is certainly more naturally humid with the forced hot air heat in the winter months, and it is fun living in a small jungle. I will probably have to hire a couple youngsters next year to transport them back outside to the deck.

I can’t imagine just giving them away after getting attached to all their weird and wonderful proclivities.

Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Check out Richard’s photography at; rwperkinsphotography.com

Gardener News

February, 2015 19 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Never Picked First In Kickball Growing up as a child in the 1970s and ’80s, the game kickball was a popular playground sport. We took the game very seriously and at times we brought competition to heightened levels. With designated team captains, we always had the students pick the teams.

Today, our politically correct culture has what some believe to be a more fair process by counting off students. This eliminates the hardship of having the same children picked last. What does this analogy have to do with plants? The scenario conjured up images of customers, time and time again, picking the same few trees to adorn their homes. Dogwoods, Redbuds, Japanese maples, Cherry, Magnolia and Pear trees all seem to reign supreme, while other trees with remarkable attributes seldom get picked.

Korean Evodia, Evodia daniellii, is a beautiful medium-sized tree for your yard.

Pinnately compound, dark-green leaves clothe this round-headed tree that comfortably reaches 15 to 25 feet tall. While heights of 40 to 50 feet are obtainable, they are seldom seen in residential landscapes. In early-summer, Evodia has creamy white, flat-topped flower clusters that are fragrant and are a haven for bees. Red to black fruits follows these flower clusters and its bark, at maturity, is smooth and grey, rounding out its overall beauty. Finally, Evodia is not fussy and is able to tolerate most soil types.

Hardy Rubber tree, Eucommia ulmoides, is another tree off the radar. Grown as an ornamental shade tree, Rubber tree has attractive elm-like, glossy green foliage and excellent resistance to disease and insect problems. A low-branched tree, it typically grows 40 to 60 feet tall and has a rounded spreading crown. Dioecious, female flowers give way to flattened ash-like winged seeds. The common name gives reference to the fact that rubber can be made from the sap. However, the extraction process is too cumbersome for commercial use. Tear a leaf; peel the bark or break a branch and a stringy latex-like sap will appear. Hardy to zone 4, this tree has reportedly survived -20°F. Drought tolerant, Hardy Rubber tree is impressive to see, especially on a hot, dry summer day as the foliage is nearly unblemished.

One of my favorite trees has very little presence in today’s residential garden. Amur Maackia, Maackia amurensis, has so much to give, yet it remains unknown to many.

A small- to medium-sized tree, the leaves are composed of five to seven leaflets. The new foliage is dusted with a grayish pubescence, giving way to a rich green. Dull white, pea-like flowers appear in four- to six-inch long racemes in June and July, another reason for loving this tree. So many get caught up with Redbuds, Cherries, Plum and Magnolia, all of which flower so early in the season. It’s nice to have a tree whose flowers you can truly appreciate in the months you are outside enjoying your garden. The fragrance of Maackia flowers incidentally, has been likened to that of freshly mown alfalfa. Maackia’s bark is shiny and amber colored and as it matures, the bark peels into loose flakes and curls. Avoid heavier clay soils with this tree and you will have a gorgeous tree anywhere you have sun. A final footnote for Amur Maackia, the “genus commemorates a Russian naturalist, Richard Maack” (Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A Dirr).

Russian-olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, rounds out this short list of underused trees. Certainly better represented down the Jersey Shore, given its salt tolerance, Russian-olive, for me, has always had a Mediterranean feel to it. Its loose, light texture and oblong-lanceolate silvery-gray foliage is tough to beat should you want a different look altogether. Silvery white to yellowish fragrant flowers, coupled with silver-scaled, drupe-like fruit, all add to this tree’s uniqueness. Tolerant of acid, high pH, saline and dry soils, it’s no wonder it does so well down the Shore. About the only thing this tree doesn’t like, other than the shade, is heavy, wet soils. Native to Southern Europe and Asia, this little gem will grow 10 to 20 feet tall and wide. A vigorous grower, Russian-olive makes a great patio tree for around the pool, too.

There are so many wonderful trees to consider when planning your garden. Aside from the pedestrian choices that many make, these trees offer outstanding attributes in our warmer summer months. Despite the fact that their names may not be as recognizable to you, their presence in your garden is sure to bring you happiness for years to come.

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

20 February, 2015

Gardener News

Green Thumbs UP!

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey Celebrating the gardening scene in the Garden State tops this brand new year with the feeling that we’re definitely headed in the right direction on so many fronts. The partnerships among the agriculture community, garden clubs, conservation groups and wildlife advocates have manifested themselves in outstanding legislation that will see positive steps taken to ensure that we remain true to the nickname of the Garden State.

Curiosity just got the best of me and I thought, where and when did we become known as the Garden State? Here, my gardening friends, is the answer: According to Alfred Heston’s 1926 book “Jersey Waggon Jaunts,” Abraham Browning of Camden, coined the nickname in a speech he gave at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition on New Jersey Day in 1876.

“Browning said that the Garden State is an immense barrel filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other.” The New Jersey State Legislature passed a bill, overriding Governor Meyner’s veto in 1954, to have the nickname, The Garden State, added to New Jersey license plates, and so it became official.

The New Jersey State Legislature continues its steadfast determination to, as Tom Castronovo says every month in his “Around the Garden” column, “Keep the ‘garden’ in the Garden State.” Several bills are now pending in our state legislature that will directly impact our state in so many positive ways. Our Black Swallowtail Bill S939, sponsored by Gardener News 2014 Person of the Year, Senator Kip Bateman, passed in the Senate on December 18 and the sister bill, A2913, sponsored by Assemblywoman Marlene Caride to designate the Black Swallowtail as New Jersey’s Official State Butterfly is

poised to be voted on in the full Assembly before it goes to Governor Christie’s desk.

Also awaiting passage in the Assembly, having gone through a second reading, are bills A3125, sponsored

by Assemblywoman Caride, prohibiting the sale, planting, propagation or distribution of certain invasive plants in the state, except for scientific or educational purposes. There will be fines in place for violators.

Assembly Bill A3133, sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli, would require the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a private wildlife habitat certification program.

This bill allows interested individuals to create habitats on their private properties for animal species native to New Jersey without fear of legal repercussions. The property would have to meet the standards used by recognized conservation organizations.

Assembly Bill A3354, sponsored by Assemblyman Timothy Eustace would establish an “Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program” in the Department of Environmental Protection to encourage the preservation and repopulation of native plants and wildflowers along the roadsides of New Jersey.

This bill seeks to have “a coordinated effort by state and public and private entities to include native plants and wildflowers in the management of the roadsides” and will create much needed food for our pollinator population. This bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee and I would encourage you to reach out to the members of this committee to let them know how crucial this bill is to help grow our seriously declining pollinator population. Go to the New Jersey Legislature website and click on Assembly Committees to find the Assembly members currently on this important committee.

Assembly Bill A3355, sponsored by Assemblyman Gilbert “Whip” Wilson, would

require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish a basic training course for pesticide applicators and operators to avoid, reduce or eliminate the impact pesticides have on pollinating bee populations in New Jersey.

This bill needs no further explanation except to say that the primary violators of pesticide overuse are homeowners, and education is vital. The passage of this bill will provide a basis for this education statewide.

The last measure is a Joint Resolution AJR60, sponsored by Assemblyman Wilson and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, designating June of each year as “Native Plant Appreciation Month” in order to celebrate the diversity and value of New Jersey’s native plants, recognizing the critical role they play in the ecosystem and encouraging our citizens to learn more about native plants and how to protect them. GREEN THUMBS UP! Leading up to a longawaited spring is the fabulous New Jersey Flower & Garden Show featuring our GCNJ Standard Flower Show “A Garden of Authors.” I look forward to seeing you there so stop by and say “hi.”

Following on our show’s footsteps is the worldfamous Philadelphia Flower Show, entitled “Celebrate the Movies” (do you think they saw the New Jersey Flower & Garden Show in 2012???). Rounding out the threesome is the everpopular “Springfest Garden Show” at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Enjoy!

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Community Garden Chair and the Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc., Accredited Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is the GCNJ 2015 State Flower Show Chair and can be reached by emailing jeannieg42@ earthlink.net Garden Club of New Jersey website is: www.gardenclubofnewjersey. com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.

2015: Year of the Coleus (Continued from page 9) option, although temperatures near 70 degrees F continue to be ideal. Rotate plants and pinch back as needed to maintain form. Consider grow lights as an option to provide adequate winter lighting conditions. Cuttings taken in the fall and processed as mentioned above are another option but will require the same temperature, bright, indirect light and additional humidity by frequent misting.

When selecting plants from retail garden centers, read the plant tag for information regarding overall size, habit (i.e. mounded, trailing, etc.) and other features. With such a wide range of available varieties, additional research regarding a specific variety may be warranted prior to purchase. Do consider all the appropriate steps for proper establishment as it relates to planting time, preferred location, moisture availability, fertilization, etc.

Designing With Coleus Colorful coleus will have immediate and dramatic impact in the garden if kept happy and healthy. Consider the merits of each variety as it relates to foliage color, leaf texture, plant form and of course, what sort of neighboring plants will be involved. There should be some consideration to selection, landscape function, proper placement and proactive site preparation prior to installation and usage.

Solid-color coleus varieties such as Redhead and Lime Delight Premium Sun (both bred for the sun) can be very impactful and make a statement in the mixed border, while those with variable coloration may become “color echoes” for neighboring plants with similar (or contrasting) flower and/or foliage colors. The repetition of certain coleus colors and form can lend unity and harmony in the garden. While a solitary specimen can add a “punch” of color, consider the impact of mass planting as well. While coleus can do well as “role players” they can also be elite members of your “leading cast.” Foliage with lighter coloration can provide illumination in shadier locations, while dark colors (for example, any coleus with Chocolate in its name) in the same setting will create depth and contrast. Consider coleus just one of many available tools in your gardening “toolbox.”

Keep in mind that the wide range of leaf textures available, independent of color, should also be considered a potential ornamental asset, as should plant form.

Coleus in Containers All coleus selections have excellent container potential if they are given an adequate volume of well-draining soil mix, reasonable nutrients and the proper sun exposure to thrive.

Avoid windy locations as coleus can be prone to breakage in extreme winds. Slow-release fertilizers with a balanced mix of nutrients are recommended for your containers, although half-strength liquid fertilizer applied every two weeks over the growing season should be sufficient. Coleus do not show their best coloration if over-fertilized, so be conservative and consistent. You may want to consider water-retention additives to help alleviate some watering needs, particularly in sunny locations. Keep in mind that poor garden soils might necessitate an elevated container or raised bed to provide sufficient conditions for coleus to not just survive, but thrive! Container size is a factor as the volume of soil should accommodate substantial rooting by coleus and any other plants that are involved in the design. Drainage is vital, so consider adding additional drainage holes as needed. The container style, color and ultimate placement should also be considered in advance. Coleus-filled containers, if moveable, allow for instant color as they can be positioned as needed and used to add color, provide immediate interest and accent areas of the garden, deck or patio.

Coleus certainly has the potential to be included in hanging basket arrangements. The distinctive form of many varieties might be best featured in a “cascading situation.” Some of the trailing selections are ideal candidates for the edge of an elevated container, while larger varieties can be utilized for a strong foliage contribution (Continued on page 23)

Gardener News

February, 2015 21

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22 February, 2015

Gardener News

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Urges More Revisions to Federal Food Safety Rules Through Second Letter to FDA +$55,6%85* 3$ Ę&#x160; &DUHIXO ODQJXDJH HTXDO VWDQGDUGV DQG VRXQG VFLHQFH VKRXOG EH DSSOLHG WR IRXU )RRG 6DIHW\ 0RGHUQL]DWLRQ $FW (FSMA) draft rules proposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Agriculture Secretary George Greig.

The department submitted comments after FDA released its second revisions of the proposed rules. The rules had been modified following a previous round of comments received from states, industry organizations and others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thank the FDA for working with the agriculture industry and consumers to get these rules right, but there is still plenty to correct before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re finalized,â&#x20AC;? said Greig. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The rules need to be science-based, have equal standards to ensure a level playing field in the market for domestic and foreign producers and businesses, and take into account regional differences and modern agricultural practices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; remembering that one-size-fits all doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always work.â&#x20AC;?

Greig requested that FDA: Carefully revise the definition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;farm.â&#x20AC;? The final definition of farm is one of the most critical aspects of FSMA, because it affects each proposed regulation. The definition must be constructed based on common sense and the realities of modern agriculture.

Ensure that produce auctions and markets are covered under the produce safety rule. Because produce auctions and food hubs that strictly deal with raw agricultural commodities function more as an extension of farms rather than as food manufacturers, they should be regulated through the produce safety rule instead of the preventive controls rule.

Conduct further research related to agricultural water before setting a standard. The current proposal is confusing and not based on stillevolving scientific research. Any standard adopted should be interim â&#x20AC;&#x201C; providing the ability to update or change the standard as adequate science becomes available.

Reduce burden on economy-driving agribusinesses. While the proposed requirements on product testing, environmental monitoring and supplier verification in the preventive controls rules are best practices voluntarily adopted by many in the food industry, including these requirements in final regulation is a significant increase in the regulatory burden on Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top industry, which could affect jobs across the state.

Apply the rules equally. If vertically-integrated operations are included under the scope of the animal food preventive controls rule, ensure it is based on the risk associated with the products they use and create rather than on the business model or the structure and organization of the business.

Ensure equality in standards for foreign and domestic producers alike. The foreign supplier verification program must provide a level playing field between producers and food businesses both foreign and domestic. Domestic producers must not be placed at a competitive disadvantage through higher standards than foreign suppliers.

FDA faces a federal court order to finalize rules by August 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Together, those in all areas of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agriculture industry are making our voices heard to improve FSMA,â&#x20AC;? said Greig. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With these issues addressed, the FSMA rules will serve our citizens for generations to come.â&#x20AC;?

For a copy of Greigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments to the FDA, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Food Safety Modernization Act Comments.â&#x20AC;?

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Gardener News

February, 2015 23

2015: Year of the Coleus (Continued from page 21) in the center of the basket. Consider watering needs as coleus are naturally thirsty and a hanging basket can be one of the most challenging situations in terms of moisture retention and associated watering needs. Wind protection is also warranted.

Coleus Problems As mentioned previously, coleus may become stressed by lack of heat and are certainly affected by available moisture. Excessive or inadequate moisture availability, while affecting vigor and appearance, may also lead to other challenges with insects or diseases. A healthy coleus plant is the best defense against these challenges. Slugs, snails, spider mites, mealybugs, whiteflies and occasionally aphids may be challenges under certain conditions. Positive identification of these pests is the first step in proper selection of a treatment program. Consider additional consultation with experts, your local Extension program or other resources when deciding upon a course of action. While there are few fungi, bacteria and viruses that affect coleus, there may be occasional issues of stem rot, root rot or downy mildew, which all have a direct relationship to moisture inputs and associated growing conditions. Relocating the plant, pinching healthy cuttings for re-establishment or removing the plant might be options to consider after appropriate research and consultation.

Healthy, young plants will frequently outgrow some of these challenges if properly â&#x20AC;&#x153;encouragedâ&#x20AC;? or may never exhibit problems because of their vigor.

In Summary The consideration of easy-to-grow coleus in the landscape is prudent for all gardeners as they consider the potential merits of this plant in the mixed border and container. Low-maintenance coleus can make impactful statements in the garden and the wide range of available selections assures a promising future for this popular plant during the 2015 - Year of the Coleus and well beyond!

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: The National Garden Bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose is to educate, to inspire and motivate people to increase their use of plants in homes, gardens and workplaces by being the marketing arm of the gardening industry. The National Garden Bureau recognizes and thanks Mark Dwyer of Rotary Gardens as author of this story. Learn more about the National Garden Bureau at www.ngb.org

Measures Seek to Put the Billions in Food that Go to Waste Each Year to Good Use 75(1721 1- Ę&#x160; 1HZ -HUVH\ $VVHPEO\PHQ 7LP (XVWDFH DQG %RE $QGU]HMF]DN KDYH LQWURGXFHG D WKUHH ELOO SDFNDJH GHVLJQHG WR FRPEDW hunger by making good use of the billions of dollars in food that goes to waste every year in the United States.

The sponsors noted that each year, approximately 40 percent of the food supply in the U.S. goes uneaten due to losses at the farm, retail, and consumer levels. This wasted food costs Americans $165 billion in retail sales and uses up valuable water and energy resources. Meanwhile, 49 million Americans, including 16 million children, are at risk of going hungry. In New Jersey, alone, 1.15 million people, including 375,000 children, are affected by food insecurity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staggering to think of the number of people that go hungry in our country every day and particularly heartbreaking during the holiday season,â&#x20AC;? said Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic). â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can significantly curb hunger in the U.S. if we simply make a concerted and compassionate commitment to increase the efficiency of our food system and not let anything go to waste. This requires a collaborative effort to increase awareness of gleaning so that we can give people the tools they need to make a real difference.â&#x20AC;?

To help combat these harrowing statistics, the first measure (AJR-93) would designate the last full week of September as â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Jersey Gleaning Week.â&#x20AC;?

Gleaning is the process of collecting excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmers markets, grocers, restaurants, state and county fairs, or other sources in order to provide it to those in need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gleaning prevents food waste, gives low income populations access to fresh, healthy foods, provides valuable resources to nonprofit agencies, and builds good relations between community members and farmers,â&#x20AC;? said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the abundance of wealth in this country, no American should ever have to go hungry, especially when we have so much excess food that goes to waste.â&#x20AC;?

The second measure (AJR-94) designates the Wednesday of â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Jersey Gleaning Week,â&#x20AC;? the last full week in September, as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers Against Hunger Dayâ&#x20AC;? in order to recognize and promote the efforts of farmers, community organizations, businesses, and volunteers who donate and deliver fresh, healthy food to those in need.

The measure requires the governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and residents to observe â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers Against Hunger Dayâ&#x20AC;? with appropriate activities and programs, and to coordinate their activities and programs with those annually planned for â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Jersey Gleaning Week.â&#x20AC;? The measure also directs the Department of Agriculture to take appropriate measures each year to publicize â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers Against Hunger Day.â&#x20AC;?

The sponsors pointed out that individuals can get involved in gleaning by connecting with various nonprofit organizations, such as the New Jersey Agricultural Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farmers Against Hunger program, which sponsors gleanings across the State between September and November.

To that end, the last bill (A-4079) in the package directs the Department of Agriculture to publish on its website, on the same page, information promoting related events and activities that includes: a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers Against Hunger Dayâ&#x20AC;? page; a â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Jersey Gleaning Weekâ&#x20AC;? page; and a link to the New Jersey Agricultural Society for farmers to access, and express their need for, volunteers for gleaning.

All three measures have been referred to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

24 February, 2015

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Gardener News

February, 2015 25 The Great Plant Escape

By David Williams Plant Enthusiast

The most coveted flowers for 2015 There are many new flowers for 2015, but there is only a handful of what I consider to be the ultimate standout plants that I need to have in my garden.

A good photographer can make any flower look amazing, and I am always skeptical of what will be the best new plants without actually seeing them in person. That is why I travel to summer trial gardens to see the plants actually growing under normal conditions. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to get stuck with a plant that is a dud in my garden.

One of my favorite trial gardens is in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chadwick Arboretum. One of the important features of the trial garden is that they plant many similar cultivars and varieties into the ground, and give them all the same conditions. Then it is easy to make comparisons with varieties that are very similar and rank them by how well they perform. It also lets you see how the new varieties perform in a garden setting. They also have a container trial area. Here, the many varieties are rated by how they perform in a container situation.

Ohio is a great place for me to visit, as the weather and growing conditions are very close to those that we have in New Jersey. The open house at the trial gardens is timed to take place at the same time as the Cultivate trade show. Cultivate is one of floricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest tradeshows in the USA, with over ten thousand attendees. Most of the plant breeders, horticulturists and growers are exhibiting at this show.

There were so many new plants that I saw at the trial gardens and the Cultivate show that it was difficult to pick my favorites. I took almost a thousand photos of new and exciting plants while I was there. After reviewing the information and culling out the mediocre choices, the following are the absolute top of my list.

There are always many new petunia varieties, and it takes quite a bit to get me excited about a new one. Two were absolute stunners. Petunia Happy Magic Giant Dijon is a new color in petunias.

The color is a golden yellow with flecks of mustard orange. The flowers are huge. The flowers have a slightly frilly edge to them. It has a trailing habit, so it will be good in hanging baskets, or planted in the ground. I think this will work great with purples and blues. I am going to love planting this around my purple fountain grass.

I was walking down a path at OSU and turned the corner and saw Petunia SangunaÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Radiant Blue.â&#x20AC;? This petunia literally stopped me in my tracks. It made me say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wow! Cool!â&#x20AC;? The flower almost has a metallic quality to it. It is a blueish purple flower with a white center. It has nice dark-green foliage, and flowers continuously from early-spring through summer. It is a great plant for hanging baskets and containers.

There still is quite a bit of concern about downy mildew affecting impatiens, and it was great to see that the plant breeders are working on a solution. There is a new series of interspecific impatiens called Bounce that is showing lots of promise. It is extremely resistant to downy mildew and looks to be a great replacement. If it dries out, and wilts, it will bounce back on watering without its flower buds dying. This feature is why it got its name, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bounce.â&#x20AC;? It is wonderful to see that my shade garden will once again be filled with bright colored impatiens in huge masses.

I love plants that can handle our hot summers. Scaevola is one of those annuals. The one thing that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like about scaevola is that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start to bloom until it gets good and hot. The variety SurdivaÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Variegated Blueâ&#x20AC;? adds interest, even before it is covered with blooms. It has a great cream variegation (with a few pink highlights). This variety grows more compact than some of the other scaevola and is great in containers, window boxes and landscapes.

The one plant that I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to try in my containers and gardens this spring is the new DigiplexisÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Berry Canary.â&#x20AC;? For those that havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard of DigiplexisÂŽ, last year was the first year I got to try one in my garden. It is a cross between foxglove and isoplexis. You get tons of flower spikes with vivid pink flowers and a creamy yellow burgundy speckled throat. The flowers are sterile, which means it keeps producing flowers from summer into fall. They branch extremely heavily. The hummingbirds loved mine last summer. Although considered an annual, this new variety is supposedly more winter hardy than the breeder originally thought, so it may come back after the winter. The variety I had last year was a muted pink, so the vibrancy of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is exciting. It belongs in a border, or in the center of a patio container. It can grow in full sun to part shade.

If you want a plant that visitors will approach you to get its name, then you need to get Alstroemeria â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rock and RollÂŽ.â&#x20AC;? This plant comes all the way from Australia. In the spring, the foliage opens yellow and then fades to white with a deep green edge. Later in the season, masses of dark-red flowers begin to appear on white stalks. These make an amazingly long-lasting cut flower, and will keep sending spikes of flowers until the fall. This plant is so striking it will stand out and be visible from a distance.

It will cause people to walk up to it. Think of it as a musical flower with the volume cranked up to 10.

It grows to about three feet tall. It is not winter hardy, but sometimes when the candle burns so bright, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last forever.

Most of these plants will only be available on a limited basis this year. So donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t linger in contacting your local garden center trying to get a few for your garden. If you do, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll only get the chance to appreciate these from afar and admire them in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: David is a fourth generation partner at Williams Nursery in Westfield. He is a member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Union County Board of Agriculture. He has served as a board member for the Friends of Mindowaskin Park, the International Garden Center Association, and the Rutgers Board of Managers. He recently finished a two year term as President of Garden Centers of America (GCA). He can be reached at (908) 232-4076.

NJDA Survey Show Gypsy Moth Populations Remain at Low Levels 75(1721 1- Ę&#x160; 1HZ -HUVH\ 'HSDUWPHQW RI Agriculture surveys of 22 New Jersey municipalities have found areas in four towns in three counties that qualify for the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 Aerial Gypsy Moth Suppression Program.

The Department today proposed spraying a total of 498 acres in Morris, Passaic and Hunterdon counties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spray program is part of our continued surveillance designed to keep gypsy moth populations low, preventing a nuisance to homeowners and protecting trees,â&#x20AC;? said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have seen in the past how quickly populations can expand given the right conditions. We need to keep up our intense monitoring to suppress these tree-killing insects.â&#x20AC;?

Gypsy moth egg mass surveys were conducted from August to December in the 22 municipalities and agencies that requested them. From these surveys, it was determined that 288 acres in Morris County, including two residential areas and 114 acres in Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson Township, and 40 acres in Silas Condict Park in Kinnelon Borough in Morris County had high enough gypsy moth populations to qualify for the Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 spray program. In addition, 123 acres in West Milford in Passaic County and 87 acres in Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County were identified as qualifying for the spray program. Participation in the program is voluntary. If the towns agree, spraying would take place in late May and June.

To qualify for the spray program, a residential or recreational forest must have an average of more than 500 egg masses per acre and be at least 50 acres in size. A single egg mass contains up to 1,000 eggs.

Because of recent decreased gypsy moth populations, there has been no spray program since 2011, when just 274 acres were treated in Waterford and Winslow Townships in Camden County.

In last summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aerial defoliation survey, West Milford had 267 acres of trees defoliated, Kinnelon had 118 acres, and Lebanon Township had 18 acres. Statewide last year, there were 1,330 acres of trees stripped of their leaves by gypsy moth caterpillars in 24 towns in 11 counties.

Two to three consecutive years of significant defoliation (defined as 75 percent or more) can kill an otherwise healthy tree. However, any gypsy moth defoliation can make trees more susceptible to other damage that can lead to the death of the tree. Oak trees are the preferred host for gypsy moths, but the caterpillars can be found feeding on almost any tree in the vicinity.

For more information on New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gypsy moth suppression program, visit: www.nj.gov/agriculture/ divisions/pi/prog/gypsymoth.html.

Agricultural Producers in New Jersey May Apply for Direct Farm Ownership Loan Program :$6+,1*721 ' & Ę&#x160; )DUPHUV DQG UDQFKHUV LQ 1HZ Jersey may apply for low interest 2015 loans available through FSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direct farm ownership program.

Eligible producers can borrow up to $300,000 in direct farm ownership loans to buy or enlarge a farm, construct new farm buildings or improve structures, pay closing costs, or promote soil and water conservation and protection. The interest rate on select loans can be as low as 1.5 percent for Beginning Farmer Down Payment (BFDP) Loans with up to 40 years to repay (20 years for BFDP loans).

FSA encourages all interested applicants to apply for direct farm ownership loans. For more information about the program and other loans administered by FSA, visit any FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov. For local FSA Service Center contact information, visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda. gov/locator/app.

26 February, 2015

Gardener News RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PHONE DIRECTORY

Gardener News is Now Accepting Nominations for its

2015 Person of the Year Award.

Do you know someone in the “Green Industry” whose contributions deserve recognition?

This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the green industry.

The deadline for receiving nominations for 2015 is November 1, 2015.

Gardener News annually bestows our “Person of the Year” Award in our January edition.

To download the form, please visit www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year” link on the top.

Thank you!

Gardener News The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 142 Published Monthly Contact Information Phone: 908.604.4444 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . .

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If your lucky bamboo Dracaena sanderiana leaves are turning brown, the water you use could be high in fluoride and/or chlorine. An accumulation of salts that exist in the water can also be the culprit You should take the plant out of the container, rinse the roots with distilled water, change the pebbles and wash out the container with warm, soapy water. Replace with distilled water if possible. If you must use tap water, let it set in an open container overnight; this will let the chlorine evaporate. However, there is no way to remove the fluoride from the tap water. Make sure it also receives adequate sunlight, but not direct sunlight. Too much sun and the leaves will yellow. Normal household temperatures are fine. However, placing lucky bamboo next to an air vent or a door can cause problems due to rapid temperature changes.

Gardener News

February, 2015 27

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28 February, 2015

Gardener News

inspiration strikes WITH BREAKFAST IN BED

Belgian Waffles with Rum Infused Cherries Visit kingsfoodmarkets.com/uniquerecipes for more gourmet Breakfast in Bed ideas

LITTLE SURPRISES GO A LONG WAY This Valentine’s Day morning, let them sleep in. Sneak out of bed, slip into the kitchen and work your magic with the most delicious ingredients from Kings.

Valentine’s Day means showering the one you love in decadence. From custom arranged blooms to premium gourmet chocolates to fresh ingredients for the perfect breakfast in bed, go above and beyond in luxury this Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is Saturday, February 14th. Make it inspirational.

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