Gardener News October 2013

Gardener News 16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059

TAKE ONE

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Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

October, 2013

GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 126

The Green-ing of America Over the Generations

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Barry K. Green, Sr., left, examines the Jonathan Green turf plots in Howell Township, N.J., with his son Barry Green II, center, and his son-in law Todd Pretz.

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor During the summer, when I dropped off copies of the Gardener News, I had the opportunity to sit down with Barry K. Green, Sr., the CEO of the Howell Township, N.J.based company Jonathan Green. I love the fact that this

national company is located right here in the Garden State. Every time I chatted with him, I learned more and more about his background and the Jonathan Green Company. I have labeled him in my mind as a walking, talking encyclopedia on turf and garden care. Mr. Green is also a very warm and friendly person.

Let me first tell you about the Jonathan Green Company. Jonathan Green is the leading supplier of grass seed, fertilizer and organic lawn and garden products to professional customers, like sod growers and independent retailers, such as garden centers and hardware stores. Jonathan Green is a family business with

distribution throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern United States.

The company specializes in family- and pet-friendly lawn and garden products which will grow the New American Lawn and Landscape.

After owning a landscape business for over 20 years, becoming a Rutgers Master Gardener and attending the

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education’s Golf Course Superintendents School, and being a fan of organics, I am also very impressed that Mr. Green is committed to helping people grow and maintain the most beautiful lawns and gardens through the use of natural and organic products.

I am also (Cont. on pg. 9)

2 October, 2013

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Plan Your Fall Landscape With Us! Pumpkins & Gourds Corn Stalks Garden Mums Fall Decorations Hay & Straw Harvest Baskets Scarecrows

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October, 2013 3 Around The Garden

HARDY BARDY MUMS

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Thousands to Choose from!

Garlic and Poinsettia month Yes…I love the smell of garlic in the morning. And yes, sometimes garlic keeps me up at night, in more ways than one.

I wish I could tell you that garlic doesn’t cause bad breath, a burning sensation in the stomach, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odor and diarrhea. I can tell you that when I mix some fresh parsley in when I’m eating garlic, it helps alleviate my “garlic breath.” Just a little…

Here is a real positive for garlic. It can be used to repel a variety of crawling and flying insects, including mosquitoes. You can also enjoy the great outdoors by burning a little sage or rosemary on the grill or tossing some into the Chiminea. Garden pests don’t like garlic. You can make a natural pesticide using garlic, mineral oil, water and liquid soap. Pour into a spray bottle and mist your plants to keep away destructive critters. Garlic has also been used as food, a spice and a medicine for thousands of years. And I love it.

I guess garlic must really be good for you. Some say it is one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet. Beware though, I’ve been told that garlic is toxic to cats and dogs.

This vegetable belongs to the Allium family, which also includes onions, chives, shallots and leeks. I would not allow your pet to come into contact with any of these either. Yes, garlic can be planted in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked, but fall planting is recommended here in the Garden State. Plant in the fall and you’ll find that your bulbs are bigger and more flavorful when you harvest them next summer.

Garlic varieties can be broadly classified into two main categories: hardneck and softneck.

Hardneck varieties produce a flower stalk, while softneck varieties do not. Local garlic from farmers markets or roadside stands is usually the best type of garlic to use for planting. Ask the farmer if he grew it. Supermarket garlic should not be used because it usually comes from a different climate. Seed catalogs that specialize in serving the Northeast also work well.

Next spring, garlic is likely to be the first crop up in the garden, often poking through the last of the snow! Garlic grows best on well-drained soils high in organic matter. Sandy loam or loam soils have the most ideal texture for garlic. Garlic roots like to go deep. So soil preparation is essential. Cultivate it well before planting. To prevent winter injury and heaving of cloves from the soil, plantings should be three to four inches deep, oriented with the root end down.

Garlic does best when the pH is in the 6.0 to 7.0 range. You can get your soil tested at your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office (see page 26) or use one of the soil test kits on the market.

Make sure you take samples from several spots in your garden and mix them together to obtain a representative reading.

The garden should drain easily - standing water will cause the bulbs to rot in the ground.

Drought conditions will also reduce yields. When do you need to water? Try the old gardener’s test of clumping a bit of soil in your fist. If the clump stays together upon releasing your fingers, it is wet enough. If not, water. Keep on watering into the spring, when the maximum green shoots are forming. Garlic also has a moderate to high demand for nitrogen (N). I like to till in quite a bit of very aged cow manure during the initial soil preparation phase.

Garlic is a poor competitor with weeds. Unless weeds are controlled early, they can easily overtake young garlic plants, causing significant yield losses. Garlic is usually harvested soon after the lower leaves of healthy plants begin yellowing from the tips on down, in July in most locations. The ideal timing of harvest is when the bulbs attain maximum size but the cloves have not started to separate.

The Poinsettia Indoors, it’s time to start forcing your poinsettia plant to bloom in time for the holiday season. Poinsettias need about 14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness each night from early-October to mid-November at nighttime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F. A good way to do this is to keep it in complete darkness between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. from the first part of October until Thanksgiving. During this period, any kind of light exposure between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. will delay flowering. A closet, opaque box or opaque cloth will keep the plant in darkness during those hours. Remember to put the plant near a sunny window in the daytime. Continue fertilizing the plant until mid-December. Forcing poinsettias to bloom is a difficult task. Many have tried, but few succeed. But, if you have kept them around and healthy all year, you’ve just gotta give it a try.

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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.

2013 NJ Flower and Garden Show Award Winning Water Display Garden

4 October, 2013

Gardener News

For the second year in a row, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno accepted the Department of Agriculture’s invitation to go on an agri-business tour to see the varied and many faceted opportunities where agriculture flourishes in our state. It is vitally important for those who govern our state to see our farms, markets and food processing facilities and to meet with those who own and run these sectors of commerce.

During the month of August, the Lt. Governor visited a cross-section of our agricultural industry, encompassing fruit and vegetable farming, cheesemaking, livestock, aquaculture, food processing and retail marketing. During each stop, she spent considerable time speaking with businessmen and women and asking them questions about their operations. Most importantly, she asked what the state can do to help them thrive and grow.

I was with the Lt. Gov. for seven stops: Atlantic Blueberry Company, Ellis Farms, the Hoboken Farmers Market, Valley Shepherd Creamery, Cherry Grove Farm, Musky Trout Hatchery and Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm.

Assistant Secretary Al Murray joined her at F&S Produce.

The Lt. Governor is a hands-on person who understands how business works and the ways that government can interact for positive outcomes. She is always eager to take the time with business owners and farmers to learn more about the issues facing them and to craft solutions.

It was clear at each stop that the owners and operators knew they had the Lt. Gov.’s ear and developed an almost instant rapport with her.

The Department really appreciated the Lt. Gov.’s interest in the Garden State’s agriculture industry, which contributes to the vitality of the state and the quality of our lives.

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Lt. Governor’s Second Annual Agri-Business Tour At Atlantic Blueberry in Hammonton, fresh-market blueberries had just finished, but we toured the frozen blueberry operation and sampled the frozen blueberries. Jersey Fresh blueberries are our highest dollar value fruit, grossing $80.8 million per year.

Ellis Farms in Yardville grows sweet corn and soybeans.

The Lt. Governor and I met with owner Scott Ellis, his mom, wife and two daughters. The Lt. Governor viewed the packing line and got a nice lesson on how to select the perfect ear of corn without peeling back the silk.

We strolled through the Hoboken Farmers Market along with Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. We spoke with the farmers and vendors and tasted some of their products. For a special treat, we dropped in at Carlo’s Bake Shop, known from the television show “Cake Boss,” which is a block away from the market.

On the same day, we visited Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley, Morris County, and Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville, Mercer County.

Both make their own artisan cheeses. We spoke for a long time with the owner of Valley Shepherd, Eran Wasjwol, about his cheese-making process.

He uses sheep’s milk, as well as cow’s milk, to make the cheese. He ages the cheese in a cave. People around the country crave cheese from Valley Shepherd Creamery.

At Cherry Grove, we toured the farm and farm market. They also are known for their grass-fed lamb, whey-fed pork and pastureraised eggs. The Princeton area reveres the products from this extraordinary farm in the borough.

We had a fascinating visit to Musky Trout Hatchery in Asbury, which was founded in

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno looks over the September Gardener News in her office at the State House in Trenton. She was elected New Jersey’s first Lieutenant Governor in November 2009 and was sworn into office on January 19, 2010. In addition to serving as the Lieutenant Governor, Guadagno serves as the 33rd Secretary of State.

Guadagno is leading the Christie Administration’s efforts to improve New Jersey’s economic vitality, encourage job growth, streamline government, and make business feel welcome again in New Jersey. She also chairs the Red Tape Review Commission, and oversees the New Jersey Partnership for Action. In 2007, Guadagno was elected as the first woman sheriff in Monmouth County’s history.

1958. It is the oldest privately owned fish farm on the East Coast. All fish are spawned, hatched and grown on the farm.

Musky Trout Hatchery uses a unique system of raceways and circular tanks to allow the fish to swim around to grow healthy and strong. Many fine New York City chefs rely on this trout for their entrées.

At Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Tabernacle, we met with owner Anthony Russo, who took us through his large retail store and their greenhouse. The farm was founded in 1940 and is now 500 acres.

Finally, Assistant Secretary Murray joined the Lt. Governor at F&S Produce in Rosenhayn, a major processor of fruits and vegetables. They toured the facility along with owner Sam Pipitone Jr. Here, Jersey produce is processed and sent around the U.S.A.

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

Gardener News

October, 2013 5

Medford Leas Pathways program, features a full season of opportunities to discover new interests, learn more about the world around us, and enjoy good company and spirited conversation. From lectures and exhibits to performances, workshops, arboretum events, and more… Explore our complete fall Pathways Program Guide online and register soon.

V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E AT W W W. M E D F O R D L E A S . O R G

— O C T O B E R PAT H W AY S E V E N T —

B EAUTI FY YOU R S PR I N G GAR D E N TH R OU G H GAR D E N I N G TH I S FALL Thursday, October 17, 2013, 10:00 am | Medford Campus Theater No charge | Registration deadline: October 10

If you want to have a beautiful flowering bulb display next spring, come to this hands-on workshop. Bruce Crawford will discuss the amazing diversity of bulbs—many will provide attractive blooms throughout the year—and how to plant and integrate them in to your garden. The program will be followed by an optional hands on planting of bulbs in the Barton Arboretum. Wear your favorite gardening attire and BYOT — “Bring Your Own Trowel.” Bulbs will be supplied.

For a print copy of the Pathways Program Guide or to RSVP, call 609-654-3588.

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Member: American Public Gardens Association • Greater Philadelphia Gardens • Garden State Gardens

6 October, 2013

Gardener News

What a great September down here at the Jersey Shore.

Great weather, lots of outdoor activities, and plenty of people still around.

The beginning of the month brought Founder’s Day to beautiful Lavallette. Founder’s Day, which replaced Heritage Day, is an outdoor fair/festival with food, drink, music, amusements, etc., all by local vendors. It’s a great day to enjoy your friends and family while eating some good food.

We had a booth at the festival in which we sold clams on the half shell, soups and old bay flavored peel-’n-eat shrimp.

Next up is the seafood festival in Point Pleasant Beach, which is on a much larger scale and attracts tons of people from all over, as well as hundreds of vendors. If you weren’t able to make one of these street fairs this year, check them out in the future, they’re definitely worth the trip.

Recently my wife, who is fast becoming a threat in my

- 1 unbaked pie crust - 1 cup sugar - 3 Tbsp. cornstarch - 1 cup heavy cream - 1 tsp. vanilla - dash salt Method: - Peel, halve and remove peach pit.

- Place cut side down on unbaked pie crust - Mix remaining ingredients and pour over peaches, distributing evenly - bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes - reduce heat to 325 and cook for an additional 45 minutes Enjoy!

From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Greetings from the Jersey Shore! home kitchen, made one of her mom’s pie recipes. AWESOME! Peach cream pie with fresh Jersey peaches, it is now one of my new favorite desserts. A few years ago my mother-in-law gave us a binder full of family recipes for a Christmas present and these recipes honestly are fantastic.

Although my wife hasn’t quite mastered her mother’s beef stroganoff, I am sure with enough practice she will get it one day.

Anyhow, another great recipe collection I found were some recipes I grew up with while visiting my mother’s family in deep south Georgia.

It’s amazing how making some

of these recipes brings back tons of memories from growing up.

As the temperature gets cooler, my whole comfort food thoughts shall be increasing. It’s still only October, so remember that there is still a bunch of Jersey Fresh produce available for at least a short while longer. Think apples, for one.

This is also football season, which makes me want to cook chiles, hearty soups and plenty of meat. Stick-to-your ribs, delicious, slow-cooked meat.

I will save that for another month. This month is all about the pie, peach cream pie to be exact. Hopefully, my mother-

in-law is OK with me leaking out this family secret. I would also encourage people to visit our brand new website (www. thecrabsclaw.com) and leave me ideas for future recipes, whether it is stuff from the restaurant or other things you would like to read about.

The great thing about this recipe as well is the fact that it is relatively simple to make. If you cannot find fresh peaches, you can substitute frozen. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. Good luck and have fun!

Peach cream pie (makes one pie) - Approx. 6 peaches

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.

Deep Cut Orchid Society Orchid Auction The largest orchid auction in the Mid-Atlantic region is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Presbyterian Church House, 352 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury, NJ. The auction begins at 10 a.m. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. for preview.

Sponsored by the Deep Cut Orchid Society (DCOS), the auction will feature more than 400 exotic orchids from all over the world. Orchids from some of the country’s most successful and award winning growers will be available.

DCOS is one of the oldest and biggest orchid club in the region. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of orchids and the growing of orchids.

All monies raised are used to bring in orchid experts as speakers to the monthly meetings.

Admission and parking are free. Food and drinks will be available.

For more information about the auction, call Joan Mesander at 732-787-4460 or Carol Abaya at 732-536-6215.

I know that it seems I am rushing the season, but if you want create a carstopping spring excitement zone in your garden, the time to act is now.

In just a few months, it will be dark and dreary, the lawns will be sleeping, and in its winter mode of brownish green. The trees will have no hint of life. We will be wishing and hoping that spring will get started.

We will want bright, and cheery. We want to be taken out of winter doldrums.

Crocus can be used to bring us spring cheer. For maximum impact, plant them right in the lawn in partial shade.

Crocuses are available when tulip and daffodil bulbs are sold, but they are not a bulb. A crocus is a corm. What is the difference between a bulb and a corm?

Both are underground storage units that are ready to spring into life under the right conditions. Bulbs have a basal plate from which roots emerge, and they contain a compressed stem surrounded by scales that become leaves. A corm is a modified stem with a basal plate but they are solid

The Great Plant Escape

By David Williams Plant Enthusiast

Thinking Spring Excitement and not made of scales. A crocus corm has bumps on the upper surface. These are nodes where the leaves will emerge as they begin to grow.

The name Crocus is derived from the Greek țȡȩțȠȢ NURNRV &URFXVHV have a very long history.

They were probably domesticated in 1900 BC. The spice saffron is made from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, a fall blooming crocus. The current price of saffron is about $2,000 a pound. It takes 80,000 flowers to produce a pound of spice.

The species that flower in the spring are different, but the flowers look very similar to Crocus sativus.

There are over 90 species of spring-blooming crocus, but there are only a few that are

readily available. The most common species is Crocus vernus, commonly known as Dutch crocus, Giant Crocus, or Spring Crocus. These will reach a height of four to six inches. They start flowering approximately March 15.

They are generally available in white, yellow, purple, blue, pink, and striped. The striped varieties are a solid color alternating with white.

Crocuses have narrow, grass-like foliage, which makes them ideally suited to plant into the lawn. I like to mix the colors when I plant them in my lawn, because each color emerges at a slightly different time.

The first time I planted a mixture in my lawn, the yellows started blooming, and I thought I made a mistake and my mix must have been straight yellow. A

week later, the other colors started to bloom. The first year, I was very ambitious and planted 5,000 bulbs into the lawn. People would stop their cars to take photos because of the dramatic impact. The impact is even greater in the early-spring because there is nothing else in bloom.

The easiest way to plant the corms is with a small auger. I use the Yard Butler two-inch. They make different lengths. I like the longer 30-inch model, as I don’t have to bend as much.

I place a two-by-four on the ground with six-inch spaced marks. I then drill one row of about 16 holes six inches deep. I then drop one corm into each hole. It does not matter which way is up or down. They all will come up. I then move the board six

inches and do another row staggered to the first row.

This fills in the previous rows holes with soil.

There are a few caveats to lawn crocus. You need to let the foliage start yellow before you can mow them down. If you think this looks a bit messy in the spring, you should plant Crocus species corms instead. The flowers are slightly smaller, but they start and finish blooming about two weeks earlier than the giant crocus.

The other caveat is don’t use a weed-and-feed on the lawn while the foliage is still present.

Editor’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.

Gardener News

FROM

October, 2013 7

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Gardener News Wow, what a difficult summer for lawns! We must have seen it all this past season. Right now, you are probably looking at a lawn with heat and drought stress, crabgrass infestation or perhaps fungus and insect damage too. What can we still do to achieve a great lawn this fall and next year?

The good news is that the crabgrass will be dying with the first frost, which usually happens in October.

The crabgrass leaves will start to turn purple and then brown out like spider legs. This is still a good time of year to prepare your lawn and re-seed if you have not already done so. Use a rake to work up the ground where the crabgrass was growing.

The dead blades of the crabgrass plant provide a good mulch cover over newly seeded grass seed.

October, November and even December can still provide ideal conditions for new grass growth, since ground temperatures stay warm into late fall. Be sure to use a New Seeding-type

October, 2013 9 Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Rain, heat, drought, crabgrass, grubs…what a season! fertilizer and any other soil amendments at this time to achieve the best seed establishment.

If you still have brown spots on your lawn from heat or drought stress, this grass will not come back from the dead.

It will also need to be re-seeded. Follow good soil preparation methods to establish grass seed, such as raking debris and dead grass away so you can achieve the best seed-tosoil contact. Before you re-seed any areas, now would be a good time to take a soil test to see if you need to adjust your soil pH levels. The best pH levels for growing grass are between 6.2 and 6.8. There are simple soil test kits available at many stores, or

you can contact your local county extension service or Rutgers University for a soil test kit. Adding calcium to the soil will raise pH levels and adding sulfur to the soil will lower pH levels.

If you are just going to fertilize this fall, use a winter-fall type lawn fertilizer. You may want to apply one or two applications for ideal growth, one now and one in early-November. Be sure to apply any lawn fertilizers before your state’s black-out dates. In New Jersey, the last day homeowners are allowed to apply fertilizers is November 15!

As leaves start to fall, remove them in order to prevent a build-up of

matted leaves, which could kill the grass. You can rake them up or mulch them into fine particles if you have a mulching mower. It is best to mulch leaves when they are not wet so that they work their way down to the soil level. Or you can compost these leaves in your flower or vegetable garden to build the soil for next year. Removing leaves will help reduce the chance of fall-winter fungus in your lawn, such as snow molds.

If you have problems every spring with Poa annua (annual bluegrass) appearing in your lawn, early-fall is a good time to apply a pre-emergent control such as Dimension.

This will greatly reduce the amount of Poa annua from

showing up next spring.

Be sure that any grass seed you may have applied has been mowed two to three times before you apply any controls for Poa annua.

If you had grub or other insect damage, now is the best time to establish a new lawn or over-seed into an existing lawn. If you have brown or bare spots, they could have been the result of insect damage or many of the conditions mentioned above.

Remember, the best defense against weeds, insects, fungus and summer heat and drought is a healthy, growing lawn.

What you do to your lawn now can affect how your lawn performs next year.

Proper soil conditions, quality grass seed and a well-planned fertilizing, mowing and watering plan can make all of the difference.

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

The Green-ing of America Over the Generations (Continued from Page 1) proud to say that my lawn is a Jonathan Green lawn.

Here is what I learned during my question-andanswer sessions and turf conversations with Barry Sr. I enjoy being able to walk the walk and talk the talk with someone who enjoys organic turf and garden care as much as I do.

Barry Sr. was born in Kearny, N.J., which is about nine miles from New York City. He studied English Literature at Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania and Exeter University in Devonshire, England in the 1950s. In spite of the fact that he was born close to the city, he was always interested in growing plants.

The Jonathan Green business was originally located in Kearny, however; as the business grew Barry Sr. moved it to a 25-acre site in Howell Township, N.J. in 1975.

The company’s founder, Jonathan Green, was born on December 4, 1836 in Malham,

Yorkshire, England. He was the first son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Betty) Green. After working for many years in a cotton mill, Jonathan started experimenting with growing turf grass for bowling greens.

This was during the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Jonathan Green began constructing bowling greens in Chorley, England. One of the few sources of recreation available to working men was bowling on the green. Just about every town had bowling greens. Men formed bowling clubs and during the long spring and summer evenings would enjoy this form of recreation. He experimented with different grasses and combinations of grasses in an attempt to improve the quality of bowling green turf.

The American business was actually started by Jonathan Green’s grandson, Jack Green, who immigrated to America in 1912. After a long struggle to gain an education and economic independence, Jack would think of his early years. He had

an early memory of visiting his grandfather, Jonathan.

Behind the house was a small yard and in the yard there was a shed. In the shed Jonathan Green kept the tools necessary to the gardening trade. Jack remembered the old man would mark the burlap seed bags with X’s. One X, two XX’s, three XXX’s, and four XXXX’s, which denoted the different mixtures or kinds of grass seed. Jack carried this memory to the end of his life. He would remember working long days with his grandfather, constructing bowling greens. Nostalgic memories would flood back of the wet, loamy earth underfoot in the spring, the wood smoke, the smell of burning leaves in the fall. These memories and more, from long ago, came to have more meaning to him.

Gradually, he saw that his life had been channeled by his early childhood recollections.

Memories returned of an old man sorting through his seed stock and tools in a shed behind the house in England. There were still vivid memories of

the hard, hand labor required in preparing the seed bed: the days of grading to insure a level bowling surface.

At the age of 60, at a time when most men are close to retirement, Jack Green founded a turf seed business. He named this business Jonathan Green & Sons. He felt that he wanted, more than anything in the world, to continue the work begun so long ago by his grandfather, Jonathan. He became a seedsman. His long apprenticeship was over.

This has been the story of a dream after all – Jonathan, Hubert and Jack were all dreamers – they possessed some common drive, which guided them to create a better future for themselves. If they didn’t always succeed, their efforts to transcend the limitations of their circumstances gave their descendants a glimpse of the larger arena that lay ahead.

The early years at Jonathan Green were the creation of Jack Green, Sr. His knowledge, insight and

wisdom shaped and sustained the company. The realities inherent in building on the dreams of the past never clouded his vision. He seemed to be impervious to the disappointments of everyday existence. Before long, the company was growing, as his sons joined him in the business.

It was a good time to work in the business. It was an age when many other companies felt that customers didn’t care about quality.

However, impressive growth was made at Jonathan Green by producing quality products and selling them honestly.

During these years, Jonathan Green became a major supplier to the professional market: sod growers, landscapers and lawn services. Steadily, the company reached out to new markets, continuing the pattern of growth with quality.

Today Jonathan Green is a major supplier of turf seed, fertilizer and control products to garden centers, independent home centers (Cont. on pg. 25)

10 October, 2013

Gardener News

Going Bananas over Musa basjoo October is certainly an odd time to look at a plant traditionally deemed as tropical, considering that the onset of cold winter weather is looming on the horizon.

However, I feel this is the perfect time to highlight an underused plant that has proven to be unexpectedly hardy in central New Jersey.

Hopefully, it may stimulate gardeners to add this to their wish list for next spring!

The plant in question is Musa basjoo, which has the completely incorrect common name of Japanese Fiber Banana.

Musa basjoo was planted at Rutgers Gardens four years ago, and although it is frosted to the ground come winter, it returns with ever greater vigor each spring, reaching heights nearing 15 feet this past year. The name of Musa was first penned by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, presumably

as a Latinized version of Mauz, which was the Arabic name for Banana. The name could also have been derived from Antonia Musa, the Roman Physician to Emperor Octavius Augustine during the first century BC, who evidently promoted Banana culture in Rome. However, the root of the species and common name is a far more interesting story.

The Ryukyu Islands are a series of islands that stretch between mainland Japan and Taiwan, of which Okinawa is the most renowned. They existed as the Ryukyu Kingdom until absorbed by Japan in1895 and were famous for a refined, breathable fabric that did not cling to the skin called Bashofu or Banana Cloth. Locally, the plant was called Ito-Basho or Thread Banana, which we now know to be Musa balbisiana var. liukiuensis.

However, when Philip Franz von Siebold, a German physician and botanist was exploring the main Japanese Islands of Kyushu and Honshu during the 1820s, he overheard

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the local residents calling a banana featured in a garden as basho.

Erroneously, he assumed that it was the famed Ito-Basho and created the species epithet basjoo to honor its importance. He also assumed it was native, when in fact there are no species of Musa native to Japan. It was not until after WWII when the American botanist Egbert H. Walker studied vegetation on Okinawa that the true story began to unravel. Adding further to the story is the origin of the plant now in the trade, since Sargent did not collect any samples. It was most likely collected by Charles Maries of the famous English Nursery of James Veitch and Sons and brought to England in 1889.

Since the plant does not yield seed readily or seemingly at all in cultivation, but readily produces clonal offshoots called pups, it is speculated that this is most likely the origin of the ornamental plant available today.

Perhaps the average gardener does not give much

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Doug Groendyke, a 20-year produce veteran for Kings Food Markets and now a produce manager in the Kings Gillette store, was elected as a new Trustee on the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Board of Trustees on Thursday, September 12. Groendyke also serves as a board member for the NJ Farmers Against Hunger. Earlier this year, he was honored as the Kings Food Markets Produce Manager of the Year, and he received the 2013 Retail Produce Manger Award from United Fresh. Kings Food Markets is a 25-store retail food chain based in Parsippany, Morris County, N.J., with locations in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The society works cooperatively with other individuals, agriculture organizations and institutions to address issues and implement appropriate actions which benefit the total agricultural community.

thought as to how plants came to the “Garden,” but I find it fascinating. Musa basjoo is actually native to the Sichuan Provence of Southern China and at some point in time was brought to Japan for reasons unknown. For the gardener, Musa basjoo is an awesome textural addition and has proven to be hardy to zone 5 so long as the crown is mulched heavily. Cut the frosted stems to the ground in mid- to lateNovember, building a small pen around the plants with chicken wire and filling the area within with leaves. The mulched leaves are removed in early-April and, as if by magic, the central part of the stems begins to extend into a tube of new leaves. Within a few weeks, the “stem” is several feet tall and the leaves unfurl to lengths in excess of five feet and widths of 20 inches!

The stem or trunk of the banana is actually a pseudostem and is comprised of the bases of the leaf stalks after the leaves senesce. For

best results, plant Musa basjoo in an area protected from strong winds, as the leaves will become shredded and situate in soils that are not droughty.

With heights of 15 feet and those large, paddle-shaped leaves, this awesome textural plant with its great narrative adds an inspiring touch that every gardener needs in their garden.

Editor’s Note: Bruce, foremost a lover of plants since birth, is director of the Rutgers Gardens, an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, an instructor for Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing and Professional Education and chairperson of the Garden State Gardens group. He is a member of the Garden Writer’s Association and the New York Hortus Club. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

Gardener News

October, 2013 11

Gardeners Adding Pollinators

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey It all started innocently enough a few weeks ago as I was reading the September Birds & Blooms special butterfly issue, when one article in particular got my attention. They had a twopage spread of the map of the United States with the title of the article “Do you know your State Butterfly?�

To my dismay, I discovered that New Jersey does not have a state butterfly.

The next day I e-mailed GCNJ President Barbara Mullin, and suggested that the GCNJ launch a campaign to have our Garden State select an official state butterfly.

Twenty-seven states already have state butterflies, with six claiming Monarchs, six embracing the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail as their state butterfly and the remaining states designating a variety of butterflies as their own.

What better way to get school children involved in nature?

Many states, including New Jersey, have state insects and, of course, butterflies are insects, too. But many states have both a state insect and a state butterfly. And why not?!

New Jersey selected the honeybee in 1974 as our state insect, which incidentally is not a native and was introduced to North America in the 17th Century.

One thing led to another very quickly and I have now taken on a new position in the GCNJ in addition to remaining GCNJ Community Garden Chair. My new position is GCNJ Butterflies & BeeGAP Chairperson. I readily agreed to be Butterflies Chair, but GCNJ President Barbara Mullin was quick on the draw to add BeeGAP Chair to the position and I am thrilled with the opportunity to learn, educate, and share with my fellow gardeners and the public, the importance of this new National Garden Clubs,

Inc. Project of “Gardeners Adding Pollinators� to our gardens. The official title of the new National Garden Club President Linda Nelson’s Project is the NGC Native Bee/ BeeGAP (Gardeners Adding Pollinators) which includes working with NGC’s newest partner, Crown Bees. Crown Bees is a Washington State pollination and education company with a special emphasis on Mason Bees and Blue Orchard Mason Bees, in particular. You can go to their website: www.crownbees. com and read about all their exciting methods to increase native pollinators helping our agricultural industry and country to offset the dire losses of honeybees from CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder).

The thing that stands out in my mind is the necessity for diversity. Just as we learned the hard way when cities and towns throughout our country planted one species of tree such as the Elm, which fell victim to Dutch Elm disease, and the threat we now face to our Ash trees and Oaks, we can never “put all our eggs into one basket.� Time magazine just devoted their front page and main article to “A World Without Bees, The Plight of the Honey Bee� and the prospect is terrifying indeed. We can all help stem the tide by getting on board and making our yards, gardens, parks and open space conducive to wildlife in general, but native bees and butterflies in particular.

The agricultural industry needs our help and, indeed, if we want to continue eating almonds, apples, strawberries, pumpkins and many other fruits and vegetables that depend on pollinators, we need to be proactive rather than reactive.

Garden Club members and gardeners can go on the Crown Bees website and sign up for Bee-Mail and

BeeGAP mail, and we can learn how we can attract our native pollinators by providing nesting materials, avoiding chemicals such as systemic pesticides and broad spectrum sprays that destroy the good bugs and weeds along with the bad.

We’ll be doing this together as we formulate our strategy for providing necessary native plants to help keep our pollinators strong and healthy. One hundred Blue Orchard Mason Bees can produce what would take 560 honeybees to produce. But there are two important Blue Orchard Mason Bee species, one for the west and one east of the Rockies, with experts saying the two should not be allowed to interbreed. We have much to learn and Nancy Gahtan told me to obtain one of the best books on the subject: The Xerces Society Guide “Attracting Native Pollinators.� I obtained this book from my local library and have to have my own copy as it’s excellent.

The butterfly the Garden Club of New Jersey is proposing for New Jersey’s State Butterfly is the Eastern Black Swallowtail, as its life cycle can be readily viewed by everyone including our school children. More about this whole project in future issues of the Gardener News!

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

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12 October, 2013 Look at the thatch roofs and you’ll see a tight knit mat lashed to the roof of buildings in these tropical areas. Just the fact that this medium will keep out the elements, particularly water, should be all you would need to know about not letting thatch build up in our lawns.

With the crazy weather swings we have had this year, from 100-degree heat early in the year to a cool and rainy late-summer, our plants and lawns may still be trying to figure out the best way to survive.

Drainage problems can often be a culprit and rectifying them with longterm solutions would be necessary.

Often, the problems may be caused by the weather phenomenon which will only last one growing season.

Many of our lawns are green and lush and growing well. These lawns have a minimum of thatch and a good air water exchange caused by good microbial activity. Lawns and plants which are showing signs of increased disease activity may be traced back to some cultural problems.

Thatch is the accumulation of dead organic matter on the surface of the soil and the turf line, which is often not immediately visible. This layer, made up of dead crowns, roots and rhizomes, can build up and is an indication that your lawns health is slipping away. This layer should be no more than one quarter of an inch. Using a soil probe or spade, you can pull up a section of the

Hardy outdoor chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are at their peak. Beautiful pansies are blooming profusely throughout the landscape.

And the smell of the autumn air is spiraling through the colorful leaves.

New Jersey is not only known for our Jersey Fresh tomatoes, corn and peaches, we are also known for our fall harvest festivals and our hardy outdoor mums. New Jersey does a fantastic job and has the best spirit of the fall. You have to admire a state that, whatever it does, it does it big.

Jersey Grown mums are no different. Whenever I talk to someone in other parts of the country and the conversation turns to mums, everyone says what New Jersey does with mums is unbelievable. Nowhere else do you see the numbers of mums that are grown and planted than in New Jersey.

Choose your variety. Your two basic options are “florist” or “hardy” mums.

While both types come from the same original parent mum, they’ve been

Gardener News The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

Thatch Makes its Home on the Roof turf and measure the depth of the thatch. A large layer of thatch can interfere with watering, fertilization and good root development. These nutrients can be caught up in the thatch and will not achieve their desired effectiveness. This medium provides an ideal environment for insect and disease organisms to flourish. Severe thatch can interfere with root development and can receive damage due to mower tires sinking into the spongy turf. Thatch can be caused by several practices, such as mowing turf improperly, overusing nitrogen fertilizer and creating an environment which inhibits microbial activity. Soil pH lower than 6 also contributes to this environment.

The following preventive measures are most effective to keep thatch from building in the first place.

Creating an environment which feeds and increases microbial activity in the soil is of paramount importance.

Fertilizing per manufacturers’ specifications and using organic

products which minimize the amount of nitrogen, raising the pH per soil test recommendations, minimizing pesticide use to not inhibit the natural organisms in the soil, mowing at proper intervals and incorporating the clippings into the lawn when cutting off approximately only one third of the grass blades also will help.

When there is a severe buildup of thatch, remedial work is warranted. Vertical mowing, which is the process of running a machine to cut vertically into the turf and top of the soil at two- to three-inch intervals, is a good way to break up the thatch layer and kick-start the decomposition process. Light topdressing in extreme areas will be beneficial as well. Core aeration will benefit thatch decomposition as well by increasing microbial activity, helping to relieve compaction and increasing air and water movement in the soil. Power raking to remove severe thatch layers can be beneficial, but since it usually

damages more turf than necessary, it needs to be used in cooperation with some of the other practices.

Since the environment in which the turf is growing is the most important aspect in thatch management, the use of natural, organic components is a very attractive choice. There are many products available which include the microorganisms that aid in the breakdown and decomposition of existing organic matter. In addition to microorganisms, these products will include many micronutrients which will feed the organisms and improve the soil environment.

When the thatch problem is addressed, particularly in cases where vertical mowing is involved, the opportunity exists to upgrade the grass varieties in your turf. There are many new varieties which are introduced each year which will provide increased disease insect and drought resistance. When the turf is opened up through vertical mowing, these new turf varieties

The Professional Grower

By Tim Hionis Greenhouse Specialist

The fall season is in full force extensively hybridized over centuries to create many offshoot varieties.

Florist mums are meant for cutting blooms, while hardy mums are bred to flourish longer-term in the garden. If you plant a potted florist mum in spring, it may thrive while the weather is warm, but won’t survive the winter. Here are some tips on outdoor hardy mums. For longer lasting mums, select mums that are in heavy bud with a little color showing.

If placing or planting mums in lower light levels or shady areas, pick out mums that are more developed, or in other words have more color (at least 50 percent). If you are placing them in an area that has a lot of light or sunnier location, a tighter budded (20 percent color)

selection will work. The nice thing about mums is once they reach a certain stage of flower development they should continue their cycle.

The only thing that would disturb them would be lack of water, too much water, or a hard frost.

Remember that mums have a flowering cycle, from formation till it overblooms or blooms out. The flowering cycle of an outdoor mum is approximately four to six weeks. Six weeks when the conditions are favorable and less when the conditions are not. When planting outdoor mums, make sure the soil in the container is moist before you plant it. This will help assure a successful transplant.

Also, after transplanting, make sure to water in your plants, this helps it settle

into its new environment. If you are just leaving it in the container that it was purchased in, just make sure to keep it moist. A good rule of thumb is that, when in doubt if a mum plant needs water, water it. It is tough to over-water mums. One thing to keep in mind is not to allow them sit in water. This is not good.

This will cause root rot and disease. Having mum plants sitting in standing water will certain lead to plant death and shortness of life.

Another tip is to beware of a heavy frost when it comes with mums, or any other crop for that matter. If you are trying to extend the blooming life of your mums for as long as possible, one of the best options is to cover mums at night when there is a risk of frost. By covering

can be easily installed and raked into the grooves cut in the lawn. After the seed is installed and the organic soil conditioners and thatch reducers are applied, a thorough watering will bring the whole process to a close. Proper watering of at least two inches per application made at two- to three-day intervals is sufficient moving forward. Once the turf is fully established, usually after it is mowed three times, the watering frequency can be lowered to once or twice per week.

As with all of your landscape plants, the soil environment governs their health. Testing the soil to know what applications need to made to improve and manage this environment is an imperative first step in developing a plan for future care. Once the test results are in hand, you can set this in motion.

This type of care needs to be given to ensure that the steps taken to eliminate these problems, and in particular the thatch problems, do not return, hence when we keep the thatch on the roof, our lawns will thrive.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

them at night, you keep the tiny particles from damaging the tissues of the plant. If the area is too big to cover or the weathermen get it wrong, lightly sprinkle water on top of plants as soon as possible.

This will wash off the particles before they settle into the tissue of the plants. Keep in mind, by the time you get your mums, there shouldn’t really be a need to feed them.

There should be plenty of nutrients for them to thrive in during the growing stages of the plant. The only time you would need to feed is if by chance there are heavy rains and you are noticing that the leaves are yellowing. Then you may feel free to apply an all-purpose liquid feed to the base of your plants. Make sure to apply at the base and not on top of the plant. See you next month!

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

October, 2013 13

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Gardener News The spectacular seasonal color display staged by deciduous trees as they prepare for winter has long been regarded by many as the peak period of beauty. Resort areas in locations where leaves are especially brilliant do a brisk business in September and October. Homeowners and professional landscapers frequently select and plant trees on the basis of their fall display alone.

Several chemical processes are at work determining leaf color and intensity. Photosynthesis, the food-making process of the leaf, utilizes sunlight and the green pigment chlorophyll to manufacture sugars. This pigment is chemically unstable and is constantly being both synthesized and broken down.

We will talk about three basic color pigments: green, yellow and red, all of which are created by the plant at different times throughout the year and are found in various concentrations within the leaf.

Green chlorophyll is present throughout the growing season and is so plentiful, that it masks the presence of the two yellow pigments that are manufactured shortly after the leaf unfolds. Unlike chlorophyll, these yellow

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October, 2013 17

The Beauty of Fall Color pigments are chemically stable and remain in the leaf throughout the season. The red pigments in a leaf are not synthesized until late in the growing season and their creation is dependent upon high sugar and tannin concentrations in the leaf, combined with bright sunny days followed by cool nights.

Many people ask why the same tree may have different intensities of color from year to year. This is because the red pigment content is highly dependent upon weather conditions and can vary greatly from year to year. Furthermore, these red pigments are water-soluble and are primarily located in the upper portion of the leaf, thus obscuring the yellows either partially or totally, depending upon concentration.

Contrary to the widely held belief that leaf color change is

produced by early fall frosts, a combination of bright days and cool night sets the chain of events in motion that results in the brilliant shades of autumn. By fall, there are approximately three hours less of sunlight than during the height of summer, and light rays tend to be reflected rather than absorbed. These changes result in a reduction in photosynthesis that results in a reduction in chlorophyll production. Within a short time, this unstable green pigment (chlorophyll) already present in the leaf breaks down, and the underlying yellow pigments are revealed.

At the same time, the combination of shorter days and cooler temperatures trigger the formation of a thin wall of cells where the leaf is attached to the twig, effectively shutting off the flow of water and bringing to a halt further sugar

and chlorophyll production.

Unless red pigments are present, the leaf will appear yellow. Brilliant shades of red will predominate in some species, however, if the days have been sufficiently bright to produce large quantities of sugar and the nights sufficiently cool to trap it within the leaf. Intermediate hues between yellow and red represent a blending of pigments Other factors that play a role in the development and intensity of fall coloration are the tree’s exposure and elevation, genetic makeup, and the prevailing soil conditions.

More intense color can usually be found on plants growing in full sun, and often the western side exposed to later afternoon rays will be more brilliant.

Trees growing in low-lying areas where cooler night air settles will be the first to show

color. Soil conditions such as pH and relative fertility determine color to some degree, as nutrients taken up by a tree are utilized in the synthesis of the leaf pigments and sugars.

We are fortunate to live in the Northeast, where this seasonal display happens each year. Make some time this fall to go out and enjoy this biochemistry in action!

As always, I hope you learned something! …..Thanks for reading my column.

Editor’s Note: Robert graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University with degrees in science education and forest biology. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert.

Robert is currently teaching AP Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry at Liberty High School in PA., and on staff at Temple University teaching Horticulture. He delivers many short courses and seminars at various outdoor education facilities.

He is available for talks and consultations in both NJ and PA. Robert can be reached by calling (484) 560-5744.

each day. If I go west, I view farms and hills, orchards, and pastures bordered with trees in every shade of autumn. When traveling east, the beach grasses

By Leslie Barlow display their own whispy shades of gold and brown. I Garden Educator hope you also take some time to enjoy the weather and beauty Hanging Glass Round colorful, sturdy and fun…he’ll of our “Garden State.” With Terrarium— A miniature garden be around for many years at winter not far behind, enjoy a can be planted in this vessel and your Thanksgiving gatherings! drive with the windows open because you most likely don’t placed in any window of your Available at Barlow’s. need air conditioning or heat! home. I especially like when Just have fun! grouped with a tear-drop shaped “Don’t judge each day by one to compliment. Plants thrive the harvest you reap but by with minimal care and water. the seeds you plant.” Robert Homart available at Barlow’s.

Louis Stevenson Seed Sprouter— Homegrown sprouts are always fresh Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow and delicious and you can grow is co-owner of Barlow Flower them for a fraction of the price.

Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of This spouter is truly an easy way the largest retail growers in to grow one, two, three or four New Jersey since 1983. She has types of seeds at once. Simply appeared on News 12 NJ and add seeds, rinse frequently has been a guest speaker at local and enjoy in two to five days. garden clubs. She is a Certified Botanical Interests available at Staging Professional™ with Barlow’s a specialty in Curb Appeal.

She has been gardening for many years and is always at Wooden Turkey — We’ll be trade shows hunting for useful talking turkey before you know accessories for the home garden. it and this fellow will welcome New Jersey is amazing this For product information, she your guests in time for the big day. He stands happy and tall time of year, with the vibrant can be reached at 732-449-9189 at 40 inches.

Hand-painted, color of landscapes I pass by or lbarlowbytheshor@aol.com

Garden Shopping

18 October, 2013 When the largest industry organizations get together to educate all levels of the produce community, you can bet it is important.

The Eastern Produce Council, based in Short Hills, N.J., and the New England Produce Council, based in Burlington, Mass., presented an alliance event on September 17 and 18, 2013 in Groton, Conn, basically the halfway point between the two councils.

The two largest national produce organizations, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and the United Fresh Produce Association (United), presented the crowd of about 150 with information about the future of the produce business and regulatory news that is needed to help guide our direction going forward.

The event started off with a tour of Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Conn. The group toured the apple orchards, seeing the many varieties of Connecticut-grown apples, many of them grown using less pesticides through integrated pest management (IPM) procedures. IPM uses dominant pests that do not harm the fruit to control the less-dominant pests that do harm the fruit.

This allows the grower to use fewer pesticides on the fruit in the orchards.

Following the tour of Lyman Orchards, the group was shuttled back for a luncheon and a meeting session that was moderated by United Fresh Produce Association.

United presented a panel of two distinguished Secretaries of Agriculture.

Douglas Fisher, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of New Jersey, and Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky of Connecticut, were on a panel moderated

by United’s President Tom Stenzel. The panel discussed their role in legislation of food safety and awareness to growers about the importance of fresh produce in their states.

After the panel, United presented their Let’s Move!

Salad Bars to Schools

Gardener News Passionate About Produce

By Paul Kneeland The King of Produce

Fresh Produce Alliance program, which has contributed more than 2,600 salad bars to schools in our country. A phenomenal feat considering the red tape it takes to introduce something new to schools.

In fact, one California school district who received salad bars was forced to remove them because of a union issue.

Once resolved, the salad bars were re-installed.

The salad bars for schools are a cornerstone program for United. In the produce industry, our goal is to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by everyone. This program starts kids off at a young age to get into a routine of eating salad. As they grow, hopefully they will continue the good habit and eventually pass it on to their children.

Immigration reform was also discussed in United’s presentation. United has been at the forefront in Washington, D.C. to help educate lawmakers on the effects of immigration laws when it comes to picking fresh produce. As growers seek new ways to harvest using machinery, there is still a large need for pickers in fields. The immigration problem is not just a West Coast issue; it affects the cost of fresh produce here in the East, as well as the rest of the country.

The following morning, the Produce Marketing Association had its two top food safety staff members present the latest on preventative food safety standards. Dr. Jim Gorny has been the Vice President of Food Safety and Technology for PMA since May of 2013. He also serves as the chairman on the Center for Produce Safety (CPS). The Center for Produce Safety is in conjunction with the University of California –

Davis Campus (UC-Davis).

The CPS is a collaborative partnership of industry, government, educational, and scientific members that close the gaps to food safety issues in the produce industry. Previous to his position at PMA, Dr. Gorny worked in the food safety end of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

He worked on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that was signed into law by President Obama in January. This Act looks at prevention, inspection and compliance, response and imports. It seeks more collaboration with growers and suppliers to reduce the number of outbreaks and have the ability to trace back any produce purchased anywhere in the world.

Dr. Gorny explained the steps needed by the industry to follow these important guidelines and the most significant changes to the food supply system. The first, most significant change comes in the form of imports. Importers now will be responsible if any of the food they import becomes tainted or causes an outbreak. This is significant because it will force most importers to change the way they do things. Some may step away and have larger growers do their own importing.

FSMA also requires growers to have a hazard analysis and critical control point plan (HACCP). This would be required by all growers with the exception of those grossing less than $500,000 in sales annually. This would exempt the small grower that generally serves local markets. But the question would be; will buyers continue to purchase from growers who are exempt?

Or would they require the growers to comply?

All in all, developing and maintaining a HACCP plan is costly. The expectations that the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables goes up is very real.

Next up was Dr. Bob Whitaker of PMA. Dr. Whitaker is the Chief Science Officer for the PMA, is the past chair of the CPS and currently still sits on the board there. He has served on many volunteer boards and is steadfast in his approach to food safety in the industry.

His wealth of experience came through loud and clear on his presentation of why tainted produce gets into the system and what steps we should use to eliminate any threats of contamination. The industry is turning reactionary food safety from outbreaks to preventative food safety with inspections.

He spent significant time on the Jensen Farms Rocky Ford cantaloupe listeria outbreak of 2011. And then, a year later, cantaloupes from Chamberlain, Indiana were implicated and tested positive for Salmonella Typhimurium in August of 2012. This has significantly affected consumer’s views of cantaloupes and their purchases. There are specific guidelines coming through for melons and mandatory inspections started this year of all the major cantaloupe growers in the United States.

Dr. Gorny and Dr. Whitaker then took on questions together before joining a panel of retailers to create solidarity of sorts on the food safety issues.

This panel was presented by the president of PMA, Bryan Silbermann. The panel discussed what their companies do to help curtail potential outbreaks, including inspections and awareness in the stores.

The panel also reviewed

new standards for growers.

It was apparent to the retailers that each needed to align themselves with reputable growers who understood the regulations and complied with the laws of the land. When an issue arises in consumers’ food, they trace it back only one step – to the place they bought it. This is an awesome responsibility to control the flow of food and to make sure all growers serving the retail consumers are in tune with all the regulations needed to keep our food safe.

The federal government is important in helping industry execute the standards created within the membership of that industry. Industry must be able to guide government to help each part of the industry. No one from government could tell a grower what they should do, because for the most part, government agencies are not growers and have never worked in wholesaling or retailing. That is where industry leaders step up.

It is a pleasure working in a dynamic industry with the likes of the New England Produce Council, United, and PMA. Together we help increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables across this country. Together we teach school children new habits of eating fruits and vegetables early on in life through our salad bars in school program. Together, we work with government agencies to provide food safety guidelines to all aspects of the industry and continually try to be preventative rather than reactionary. Together, we grow.

Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, 1st Vice President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a newly elected 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.

Gardener News

October, 2013 19

CASE FILES

From the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Garden Help Line

By Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agricultural Agent and Master Gardeners, MC Schwartz and James Keane Q. I have a perennial flower garden that is getting overgrown, how can I divide the plants? -Clumping in Cranford A. A wonderful aspect of growing perennials is that eventually you can propagate new plants to move to other gardens on your property or share with friends. Many herbaceous perennials (plants that have soft plant tissue above ground that does not become woody) have fibrous root systems that can be divided into new plants.

Perennials will give you a few clues that it is time to divide them. You may notice that the plant is producing smaller or fewer flowers than in previous years. Some plants get too unwieldy and require more staking. A sure sign is when the center of the plant dies out – then it is definitely time for some dividing!

How often division needs to be done depends upon the plant. Some plants need to be divided every one to three years to prevent that “dying out of the center” or to keep the plant from taking over the garden. Asters, Bee Balm, Coral Bells, Shasta Daisy and Tickseed are a few examples of perennials that benefit from division every one to three years.

Astilbe, Daylillies, and Liatris can be divided every three to five years. Some perennials that require infrequent division every five to 10 years are Cranesbill (Geranium), Purple Coneflower, and Sedum.

What is the best time of year to divide perennials? Early-spring, when the new growth is two to three inches tall is ideal as the new divisions will have the whole season to grow. Late bloomers, such as Asters and Chrysanthemums, should be divided in the early-spring.

However, some perennials, like Hellebores, Peonies and Poppies, form their flower buds on the previous season’s growth. Plants that have flower buds in the early-spring should not be divided until after blooming. Late-summer/early-fall is the best time to divide these early-season bloomers.

Other perennials can also be divided in the fall, but avoid dividing perennials in the late-fall as the roots will not have enough time to get established before the first hard frost, which is usually in mid-October. Allow about a month for the new plant to get established.

The best kind of day to divide your perennials is a cloudy one, and if there is gentle rain forecasted, even better! Pre-moisten the soil around the plants you will be dividing to make the job easier. Use a shovel or spading fork to dig around the circumference of the plant. Lift the entire plant, roots and all, out of the ground. Have a sharp clean knife, spading fork, scissors and/ or pruning shears available for cutting into the foliage and roots.

When you look at the root system of the plant, you may notice some interesting characteristics of your different perennials. Some herbaceous perennials, such as Saxifraga, or the succulent Hens and Chicks, send out shoots with leaves and roots called plantlets. These “baby” plants can be gently pulled away or cut from the “parent” and planted as new plants.

Hostas and Peonies have fleshy roots with buds on them. When dividing fleshy root plants, be sure that each cutting has at least one bud and decent-size roots. Other root systems are a large clump. Depending on how thick the clump is, you can use your hands, sharp knife or spading fork to break the clump into pieces.

What size should the plants be divided into? If you want good-sized plants that will establish quickly, divide the plant into quarters of the original plant size. If you want many, small sized plants, you can cut up to two-thirds of the lower roots off and make one- to two-inch plugs of new plants. The plugs will require more frequent care and take much longer to establish and bloom.

Remove half to two-thirds of the foliage on the new plant. Trimming the foliage helps reduce water loss. If the “parent” plant had died out in the center, just discard that part of the plant.

Most perennials can be replanted at the original depth they were previously growing. Peonies and Coral Bells prefer to be about an inch lower than the previous depth. Allow enough space between the new plants so they can grow to mature size.

Give the new plants a thorough watering and keep them watered until they are well established.

Apply mulch around the new plants to help retain moisture and repress weeds. If you are dividing your perennials in the fall, wait until after the first hard frost to mulch. The delay will help prevent frost heaving.

Your garden will be looking good again with bright new flowering perennials!

Editor’s Note: The Union County Master Gardener’s HELP LINE fields hundreds of citizen inquiries a year – offering assistance with their indoor as well as outdoor gardening and pestcontrol questions. Responses to resident phone calls and on-site visits comply with current Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station recommendations. Union County residents can call (908) 6549852 or email mastergardeners@ucnj.org for assistance. A complete listing of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) offices where you can contact a Master Gardener in your area can be found on page 26 of the Gardener News. Free RCE fact sheets are available at www.njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs

20 October, 2013 OK, after four months of rapid growth, my new neighbors were holding an early-morning Sunday meeting with their eldest daughter out behind my barn on the other side of the fence and they were sneaking around pointing at this and that on my property.

The college-age smartypants daughter was waving her hands willy-nilly all excited about something, and I knew what that something was. I thought that they might even call the town police on me, they were so excited.

I was hoping that they would just come and talk to me about “IT,” but they didn’t. I guess I didn’t tell them about “IT” because I was looking for just this reaction that I knew would come around pre-harvest time. And, on the other hand, if it was a neighbor’s kid who, let’s say, liked to twist up a jibbah now and then, some morning I could have woken up to a missing crop that I was planning on tilling into the soil in earlyOctober.

Picture the following scenario. It is a pleasant summer Sunday afternoon.

You and your significant other have been driving around the countryside for a couple of hours enjoying the local scenery when you turn down a dirt road. And there, just up ahead, you see a sign that says “Colonoscopies: Buy one get one free!”

Would you stop and take them up on their offer?

Would you even consider it for some time in the future when you haven’t had such a big lunch? I’m guessing the large majority would answer an emphatic “No!” to both of these questions (although there may be a few twisted minds out there who might inquire about gift certificates.)

But now change the prior scenario from “Colonoscopies” to “Quarts of Strawberries.” I would bet that most people (as long as they liked strawberries,) would jump at the chance to purchase some freshly picked strawberries. Heck, you could eat one quart in the car on the drive home and still have plenty to put on your cereal the next morning. What could possibly be better than that?

Gardener News The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

“Hah! The New Neighbors DID Get All Excited!”

Before you, and my snooty, citified neighbors, go jumping to conclusions, it’s called Sunn hemp, the non-smoking variety. But it sure does look like the other kind. Sunn hemp (crotolaria juncea) is grown as a cover crop here on lots of organic farms during the summer season to rebuild nutrients in those acres depleted by other crops. It’s actually a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil, suppresses nematodes and weeds, and provides organic matter for soil building.

Sunn hemp’s claim to fame is that 60 days after planting, it is typically over five feet tall, translocates from the subsoil to the topsoil residual phosphorus and potash, is a great soil builder, increases drought

tolerance and the yield and cash value of the next crop.

The leaves of sunn hemp are 30 percent protein. Both goats and deer thrive on this crop, which is why mine is fenced in and a good five feet back from the fence line, so there is no over-the-fence nibbling.

Deer are everywhere and don’t hesitate to come into town at night and will wipe out entire flower beds. The way I look at it, why tempt them to jump the fence and get hurt?

There are millions of acres of this crop grown in other countries. Brazil calls it their number-one soil builder. Sunn hemp, being a tropical plant, grows only in the summer here in Maine and it grows thick, straight and tall.

When the wind blows, the hemp rustles and sighs and sounds like rain. Sandy and I like to walk through the thick moving green maze of swaying hemp plants that were a good five to six feet high with small, yellow flowers. The soil was thick and spongy with organic matter under our feet.

I will chop the sunn hemp down later this week and then disc and till it under to add its excellent organic matter to the soil.

The hemp will break down and feed the crops that will get planted next spring, including my prolific patch of strawberries and Sandy’s beefsteak tomatoes. There’s a lot of prep work involved when you’re conscientious about your soil quality and

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Produce-purchasing procedures aren’t permanent Picture yourself driving into a well lit parking garage.

Now imagine parking your car and taking the elevator to an office that is somewhat sterile in nature but houses the latest in technology and an efficient staff that is highly trained in its usage and then, after filling out reams of paperwork about your medical history and health insurance, you are offered two quarts of strawberries for the price of one. What, that’s not how you usually purchase your produce?

OK, perhaps I have exaggerated a bit with these examples, but the fact of the matter is that most consumers have certain predetermined ideas about how they would like their fruits and vegetables to be grown, transported and marketed. And unfortunately, many of these preconceptions

are rooted in the early 1900s and not in 2013. And as I have stated in this column previously, this is sadly due to the fact that our agricultural education in this country basically ceases to exist after the first grade.

Let’s use the strawberry grower as an example. Are most people aware of the years and years of plant breeding that went into developing different varieties of strawberries that are able to thrive in diverse areas of the country? Do they know about the soil and tissue analysis that takes place in order to ensure optimum fertility conditions? Are they cognizant of the improvements in mechanical farm implements that conserve soil and water and at the same time improve labor efficiency? Are they aware of all of the trials and studies that have been utilized to improve

the post-harvest packaging, storage and transportation of strawberries? Do they realize that all of these improvements together have helped to foster a system where strawberries are available to the American consumer on a year-round basis and not for just a month or two a year as they were in years gone by. As you can see, there is a lot more to growing strawberries than just planting a few seeds and then praying for rain.

In the medical field, breakthroughs and advancements in technology are very deservedly lauded in the mainstream media and by society as a whole. Unfortunately, it seems as if technological advances in agriculture are in most cases unnoticed, and in some instances actually derided (genetically modified seeds come to mind as an example of

the vegetables and fruits that come from it, but the effort is well worth it.

Sunn hemp actually makes that process easy. In my opinion, having really good, healthy soil is important for me, my neighbors even snoopy ones – the environment around me and the groundwater. If you feed the soil, the soil will feed you.

Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association.

He can be reached at perkinsphoto7@aol.com

No one covers “Gardening” in New Jersey like the Gardener News!

For more information visit us online at GardenerNews.com this misguided emotion.) Just as people don’t visit doctors’ offices and asked to be treated using 100-year-old technology, they should not expect their food to be grown using outdated methods either.

The American agricultural community takes its responsibility to feed the nation very seriously, and the food supply in this country is safer and more plentiful than it has ever been. Hopefully, we will be able to meet the needs of our society in the future. And by the way, some hospitals across New Jersey have started hosting farmers’ markets!

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.

Gardener News

October, 2013 21

Canete to Manage Snow at 2014 Superbowl

Working with beneficial insects

Tom Castronovo/Photo

The sister-and-brother team of Stephanie Peduto and Stephen Barlow, both co-owners of Barlow’s in Sea Girt, look over one of their three bee hives to make sure they are healthy and thriving. Each hive holds approximately 65,000 honey bees. The bees are used for pollinating vegetable plants, giving their customers faster fruit set on their summer vegetables. Barlow’s also uses beneficial insects to control aphids, thrips, spider mites and other damaging insects. These beneficial insects are released on the crops at various times throughout the year. Through this program, the siblings have eliminated the use of pesticides on their farm, making for healthier and safer plants. Barlow’s, located in Sea Girt, Monmouth County, N.J., is a full-service garden center and growing operation located on 5.6 acres along the beautiful Jersey Shore.

:$<1( 1- Ę&#x160; &DQHWH 6QRZ 0DQDJHPHQW RI :D\QH 1- UDQNHG LQ WKH WRS VQRZ removal companies in the nation, was recently awarded a lucrative and exclusive five-year contract to manage the snow removal at MetLife Stadium located in Secaucus, NJ, home to the NY Giants and NY Jets.

The contract requires 843 workers to remove all the snow from the inside of the stadium. According to Tom Canete, the snow has to be removed, regardless of whether there is a game or not. To help ensure that everybody is available to get to work, Canete has hired luxury busses to transport workers to and from the stadium and anybody who works the impending storms will also be provided with meals.

Tom Canete, owner of Canete Snow Management, Vice President of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) and a board member of The Accredited Snow Contractors Association, is currently recruiting contractors to help fill this tall order, which is apparently no easy task. Besides the sheer numbers of workers needed to manage the stadium, the FBI must screen each applicant for past criminal history.

Canete, however, is taking it all in stride as he flips through the Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Almanac and sees that snow is predicted to fall on game day, potentially making this the first snowstorm at a Superbowl in a cold weather state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you, but just the thought of being a part of Superbowl history gives me chills. Or maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the thought of all that snow. Either way itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very exciting.â&#x20AC;? comments Canete.

Canete Snow Management was founded over 30 years ago in Northern New Jersey, providing residential and commercial snow removal and deicing for homeowners, apartment complexes, malls, office buildings, schools, and municipalties. With over 75 trucks and pieces of equipment, no job is too big or small with Canete Snow Management and they are dedicated to keeping all of their clients safe during the harsh northeastern winters.

NY Apple Harvest Now Underway ),6+(56 1< Ę&#x160; $SSOH KDUYHVW LV QRZ RIILFLDOO\ XQGHUZD\ DFURVV WKH VWDWH RI New York, from the lower Hudson Valley to the upper Champlain Valley â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and growers are harvesting a vintage crop, New York Apple Association (NYAA) reports.

The stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly 700 apple growers are now expected to pick about 32 million bushels by the time harvest concludes in November, a modern record. New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average production is 29.5 million bushels.

Excellent weather conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; beginning during this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bloom and growing season, and continuing into harvest so far â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mean that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fruit will be large and juicy, with high natural sugars. Meanwhile, recent new plantings mean that consumers will find more of the New York state apple varieties that they love.

222 October, October, r, 2013 2013

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Gardener News

October, 2013 23

Super Storm Sandy Whips Up Super Recovery Satisfaction Disasters create pain. And recovery from disasters creates partnerships and opportunity.

That is the lesson Liang Shao Hua learned in the past year after Tropical Storm Sandy, also known as Super Storm Sandy, destroyed his New Jersey hightunnel farming operation and left him wondering how to manage his loss.

Liang, a Chinese American with very limited English proficiency, relied first on his American-born son, Peter, a 21-yearold college student studying at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York.

Peter obtained USDA paperwork from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) that helped his father apply for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds. He, his brother, David, 19, and mother, Pei Yin, joined Liang in the clean-up efforts.

Liang Shao Hua was among 315 successful applicants for ECP, onethird from New Jersey. The applicants stretched from West Virginia to New Hampshire. That was the wide swath where Sandy and her trailing cold front left a path of destruction to Atlantic Coast and New England farms.

Congress authorizes ECP funds to assist farmers and ranchers with removal of debris. Funds can be used to do tasks like repair fences. The objective is to return the land that has been damaged by a natural disaster to normal productive use.

Liang began farming his New Jersey acreage in 2009. After immigrating to the United States in 1987, Liang had tried his hand in the restaurant, clothing and local trucking industries. He said a friend told him to look into farming, so he did. He bought land and began to grow vegetables.

His 54-acre farm in Mercer County, 60 miles southwest of New York City, did well in the summer. He grew traditional Asia vegetables – bitter melon, Chinese long beans, greens and various choy sum, also known as Chinese flowering cabbage.

Liang said through an interpreter that he enjoys farming because “I’m my own boss.”

He chose to expand his growing season in 2012. He erected 20 high tunnels to heat, water and protect his seedlings so he could produce well into cooler outdoor temperatures. The high tunnels went up two months before Sandy hit.

Once the storm struck, Liang needed help. FSA came to his aid. So did others with more than financial assistance.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Jersey Partner Employee Frank Wu appeared with multiple skills.

One of which was the ability to speak Mandarin Chinese. He also provided technical counsel.

Among the FSA staff called on to take a lead role was Matthew Pavone, a Farm Loan Specialist. Pavone began processing an emergency loan, a low-

interest rate credit tool made available when the Secretary of Agriculture declares a county a natural disaster area.

Coincidentally, Pavone is married to an Asian American, although he says she was adopted by an Italian American family, so “she’s more Italian than I am.” Still, her birth heritage drew both of them to study and appreciate the Asian culture. Pavone and Liang related well.

The other FSA knights in shining armor were Monmouth County Executive Director Gabor (Gabi) Grunstein and Program Technician Beth Pine. Grunstein and Pine set up the cost-share ECP to help the Liang family clean up Sandy’s mess.

The storm ripped apart the new high tunnels, folded aluminum piping, snapped wood braces and irrigation water lines, and threw nearby trees into the structures.

Clean-up was laborious, but it got done.

With FSA’s loan funds in hand, Liang quickly rebuilt his high-tunnel operation for this season’s production. His voice radiates excitement when speaking. He is clearly much happier in 2013 than he was a year earlier. He knows who to thank: Pavone, Grunstein, Pine and Wu, among others as USDA. New Jersey FSA State Executive Director Paul Hlubik said the experience was a significant breakthrough for the department as well. Liang was a typical small-farm producer handicapped by his language barrier. That put Liang in a category that the department recognizes as an important contributor to the overall farm economy, but one needing special assistance. Liang’s limited ability to know about the services available from his adoptive national government calls for extraordinary outreach to assist him and farmers like Liang.

Hlubik asserts that Liang’s son, Peter, was clearly one who helped his father become aware of opportunities because of the young man’s schooling. Now that his father understands one of USDA’s roles in assisting agricultural producers, he may become a valued customer for life.

Liang says he’s eager to expand his operation, buy more land and grow more vegetables. He said the Asian market is growing. Hlubik and Pavone say the grocery stores and chains like H-Mart appreciate operations like Liang’s. The New Jersey farmland is perfectly located to easily serve markets and restaurants from New York City to Philadelphia.

No natural disaster is welcomed, but it did open up new opportunities for Liang Shao Hua. He discovered new partners and new ways of doing business through USDA. Meanwhile, USDA discovered a new customer who produces a highly valued crop.

Does he fear future storms? Liang says, “weather doesn’t matter; it’s going to happen. What matters is to keep moving forward.”

Editor’s Note: Kent Politsch works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.. He can be reached by emailing Kent.Politsch@wdc.usda.gov

Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

GFS Despite the fact that many judge our beautiful “Garden State” by their arrival into Newark Airport, New Jersey has many great hidden treasures. One particular gem tucked away in Hamilton, New Jersey, is the Grounds For Sculpture (GFS).

This 42-acre property founded by Seward Johnson houses more than 270 sculptures, works of art that are woven together, seamlessly, with thousands of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, many of which are exotic. Alongside Mr. Johnson’s works are pieces by such “contemporary artists as Clement Meadmore, Anthony Caro, Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, George Segal, Magdalena Abakanowicz and Isaac Witkin” (Source: GFS).

My most recent visit, and there have been many, was this past June, when I had brunch at Rat’s Restaurant. A gastronomic experience, Rat’s is said to have its name from Kenneth Grahame’s novel, The Wind in the Willows. Seward Johnson was apparently charmed by the work and aptly named the restaurant after its character “Ratty,” a water vole who is cultured, relaxed and friendly” (Wikipedia).

Surrounding the restaurant’s back exterior you can be inspired by a recreation of a Monet masterpiece. It is here that I made the transition from culinary delights and delved into a more familiar world of horticultural wonderment.

There is so much plant material to admire on this property. In the parking area alone, running along the brick wall of Seward Johnson’s Center for the Arts, wedged between the sidewalk, was a long expanse of Dwarf Greenstripe Bamboo, Pleioblastus auricomus (syn. Arundinaria auricoma and Pleioblastus viridistriatus). A low, ground-covering type of bamboo, this running type grows 18 to 30 inches tall. Beautifully colored and very hardy, considering it is a variegated type. Hardy to zone 6, this bamboo has long, golden-yellow leaves with shades of green too. Fine hair cover the bottom of the leaves, hence its said resistance to bamboo mites.

Short running rhizomes curtail its ability to run like other types, however you should still be mindful that it is a running type. Root barriers can solve this problem, though, or wedging it between a brick wall and sidewalk, as was done here. This plant appreciates being cut back before spring the same way grasses do. I seldom see this plant in landscapes and am always captivated by its texture and colors.

Other highlights for me were a weeping blue Atlas Cedar that was some 40 feet across and a mop cypress that was over 20 feet tall. I mention the mop cypress as a highlight because so many are purchased thinking that these cute little yellow pillows will stay two to three feet tall. Nothing could be further from the truth, as was evident here. Oregon Grapeholly, Mahonia aquifolium, draped with blue-black fruit, reminded me how beautiful this plant is and how seldom I see it in residential gardens. Huge sweeps of Oakleaf Hydrangea were in full flower and their leaves were unblemished in most shady areas. Bottlebrush Buckeye, Aesculus parviflora, was well represented in deep shade, too. Overlooked by many, Bottlebrush Buckeye “seems to proliferate in shade” (Michael Dirr) and should be given considerable thought before you dump Norway Spruce in the same area. Reaching 12 feet high and 15 feet wide, this Buckeye offers beautiful flowers and unique fruit. A handsome specimen or impressive screen, the foliage alone is enough reason to buy this plant…. everything else it does is just a bonus!

Last but not least was the Red Maple allée, Acer rubrum. This allée, French for a walkway lined with trees or tall shrubs, really leaves you speechless. Red Maples planted just inches from one another had their lower branches removed, showcasing strong vertical pillars, creating their own art in the garden. This, of course, could only be outdone by its own remarkable fall color of which I am eager to visit.

“Seward Johnson conceived of Grounds For Sculpture and opened it in 1992. With a mission to promote an understanding and appreciation of contemporary sculpture deeply rooted in the conviction that art belongs in the lives of everyone, Grounds For Sculpture fulfills that mission in a multiple of ways. The Journey through Grounds For Sculpture can be largely self-directed, requires no prior art education and progressively leads visitors to appreciate more challenging work. It is also why there are so many ways to enjoy the park” (Source: GFS).

That said, with all the amazing plant materials used throughout the 42 acres, my appreciation began with its plants and along the way gave me a huge appreciation for the artists and what they have created. Grounds For Sculpture is a non-profit.

Should you be interested in supporting or visiting this exciting development, visit them at www.groundsforsculpture.org.

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, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, a members of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society, a member of the NJ Plants Trade Show Advisory Board, and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

24 October, 2013

Gardener News

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If you’re growing a beautiful lawn, I can think of no circumstances under which lesser grass seed would do!

Genetically superior products from our own breeding program: 1. Black Beauty turfgrasses can root four feet down into the lawn soil.

2. These grasses are genetically dark-green in color and contain endophytes for natural insect resistance.

3. Black Beauty turfgrasses are uniform in leaf texture and the leaf tips do not shred when mown.

4. They possess a waxy coating, like the skin on an apple, making them more drought tolerant.

5. Black Beauty grasses are used by sod growers across the USA.

SECOND

Create a biologically healthy, porous soil.

MAG-I-CAL provides 35% of a highly soluble form of calcium for pH adjustment and grass nutrition. Each particle also contains humates, a concentrated form of humus. Humus is the basis of soil life and fertility.

By applying Love Your Lawn - Love Your Soil a couple of times a year, you will be feeding a vast array of soil life. It is all the soil life, including the earthworms, that are best able to make a lawn porous.

Organic Lawn Fertilizer contains amino acids and 4% humates, as well as feather, bone and blood meals, and more! Helps to rejuvenate tired, sick lawns to a healthy, thick, dark green. No fillers, manures or bio-solids.

“Once you have seen a Black Beauty lawn, you will never forget it!”

NOW IS THE TIME TO FEED YOUR LAWN

Winter Survival Fall Fertilizer has a fall and winter feeding formula that keeps your lawn greener later into the year. It provides a well balanced formula, ideal for winter turf protection. The “true” fall/winter formula promotes root growth and stores nutrients for spring. Contains humates for root development.

Ideal to use with a fall seeding!

Available at your local independent garden center and hardware stores

www.JonathanGreen.com 10/13

Gardener News

October, 2013 25

The Green-ing of America Over the Generations (Continued from Page 9) and hardware stores.

Those who were lucky enough to build the company lived with the feeling that destiny had placed a great opportunity in their charge.

They believed in the business; that it was fundamentally sound and would eventually succeed in the marketplace.

Many new products were launched as management acted on its dreams of better quality products at reasonable cost to the consumer.

During the ’80s, Jonathan Green, Inc. established a West Coast production and research company and named it Cascade International Seed Company.

Many patented turfgrasses have been developed in recent years at Cascade.

This ambitious undertaking has increased the company’s competitiveness. At the same time, Cascade develops turf seed for markets around the world.

Jonathan Green has responded to concerns for the environment by introducing a range of lawn and garden products designed for organic lawn care and gardening. They also want to sell these products through retailers that will take the time to explain their use to their customers.

In the five generations since Jonathan Green began experimenting with turfgrass varieties and grass seed

mixtures, the family business has continued to be run by the family members. It began with Jack Green, then his son, Barry, and now Jonathan Green’s great-great-grandson Barry II and his brother-inlaw Todd Pretz. They have remained committed to producing and providing superior lawn and garden products to other independent family businesses. In more recent times, Jonathan Green, Inc. has also committed the company to an organic approach to lawn and garden care. The ultimate goal of organic lawn and garden care programs is to improve the soil, making it more hospitable for lawn grass plants and garden vegetables and flowers.

Tom: What is the numberone reason we need to add organic materials into our soil?

Mr. Green: Soil microorganisms are a very important part of a healthy soil. Soils represent a complex system that has a profound effect on many dynamic, ongoing processes. Soils, because of the soil life that they contain, are responsible for nutrient recycling and nutrient uptake by green plants. Bacteria, living in the soil, fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available for green plant growth. It is in the soils that microbes create organic acids which weather soil

particles, releasing mineral nutrients essential for green plant nutrition. On top of this, soils are the major global storage reservoir for carbon in the form of organic matter.

Soil, air and water are natural resources that are vital to terrestrial ecosystems. Soil is the transition zone between air and water, in which all three interact with the life in the soil and growing from the soil. Soil microorganisms break down soil organic matter into forms useful for lawn grass growth. This not only increases soil fertility, it also recycles organic materials that naturally occur in the soil, some of which come from the lawn grass plants themselves.

Thatch buildup in a lawn can be simply described as the inability of the microbes to consume the organic wastes left by lawn grass plants as fast as they are being produced.

Soil microorganisms also help in the process of releasing mineral nutrients held on the surface of the tiny soil particles, which are essential for healthy lawn grass growth.

Most soils contain many of the essential mineral nutrients; however, it takes a working, biologically active soil environment to aide in the release of mineral nutrients.

Soil microorganisms suppress pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease. Pathogenic

Gardener News

is Now Accepting Nominations for its

2013 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 2013 is November 1, 2013.

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 left side.

Thank you!

microorganisms are a part of the soil biology; however, they are highly outnumbered by the beneficial microbes in a healthy lawn soil.

Tom: What exactly are humates?

Mr. Green: Humus is the basis of lawn soil fertility.

Humates are a concentrated form of humus that has been compressed in the earth for countless millions of years.

It appears to be rock when mined, however, it is rock made from ancient plant and animal life. Humates are complex organic substances which have remained after initial decomposition has occurred.

During this later stage of decomposition products such as phenols, carbohydrates and amino acids are transformed into much more complex compounds - the humic acids.

The humic acids react with potassium, magnesium, aluminum and iron that are always present in soils, forming organomineral bridges that bond particles of the soil into life-sustaining structures to be used by microorganisms.

The organomineral structures increase the activity of all types of soil microorganisms.

This is why the only effective treatment to restore the fertility of soil is the introduction of humates and humus to the soil.

Tom: Where can folks find Jonathan Green products?

Mr. Green: At independent retailers. We value our garden center and hardware stores, many of whom are also family businesses. Many have been dispensing lawn and garden advice for generations and we proudly partner with them, because they offer us the best opportunity to educate and provide the best service to our loyal homeowners.

Independent retailers are also great innovators, not being afraid to try new ideas and concepts. We continue to learn from our retail partners. They keep us sharp and focused on what is most important to them and their customers.

Tom: I can’t wait to stop in again to see what else I can learn from this brilliant and accomplished person.

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.

26 October, 2013

Gardener News

Enormous sunflower maze blooms in NJ

$8*867$ 1- Ę&#x160; 6HH DQG H[SHULHQFH WKH largest Black Oil Sunflower Field on the East Coast!

Celebrating its third year, the NJ Sunflower Maze is almost 50 percent larger than last year, with over three miles of scenic trails cut out of the 70-acre field, and over 1.5 million sunflowers in bloom. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maze spells out â&#x20AC;&#x153;WE ARE JERSEY GROWNâ&#x20AC;? highlighting the ever-popular New Jersey Department of Agriculture Marketing program. The sunflower seeds harvested in the fall carry the Jersey Grown logo! Nestled in the picturesque farmlands of Sussex County, there are literally millions of unique photo opportunities.

Whether you are interested in sunflowers, birds, bees, butterflies, dragon flies, or perhaps staging a family portrait, this is guaranteed to be a fun-filled activity for the entire family. New this year is a Build Your Own Scare Crow Contest. Participants are asked to bring some old clothes and accessories, straw will be provided. This agri-tourism site also includes a newly designed Kids Scavenger Hunt, a Designated Pick Your Own Sunflower Field, the ever-popular Bug Safari self- guided tour, and a farm fresh bakery and restaurant. Open Tuesdays-Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., now until Mother Nature finishes the show for the season. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children up to age 12; children under 3 are free.

Closed-toe shoes, hats, sunscreen, binoculars and, of course, a camera are recommended. The Sunflower Maze address is 553 County Route 565, Augusta, NJ 07822. More information and photos are available at: www.SussexCountySunflowerMaze.com.

Chiller Theatre Expo October 25-27, 2013 Sheraton Parsippany Hotel 199 Smith Rd Parsippany, NJ 07054 www.chillertheatre.com

1(3781( 1- Ę&#x160; 'R]HQV RI HPSOR\HHV IURP DUHD /RZHÂśV stores spent the weekend of August 10-11 working on a twoday project to enhance the vegetable garden at the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Employees participating in the Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heroes program installed an 8-foot fence around the garden to ward off the wildlife that has feasted on the organically-grown produce at the FoodBank. In addition Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volunteers installed new planting beds, a birdbath, benches, two sheds, pavers and stone walkways. Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also donated plants, garden tools and a new washer and dryer to the FoodBank. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are grateful to Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for their generous support of our mission to provide healthy food to our neighbors in need,â&#x20AC;? says, Carlos M. Rodriguez, executive director of the FoodBank. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our garden provides fresh produce for our culinary training kitchen and our member agencies. But until Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s came along, our garden also kept area deer, groundhogs and rabbits well-fed.â&#x20AC;?

The Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heroes program completed more than 1,300 projects in 2012. Locally, Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stores in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy donated 22,000 Thanksgiving dinners in some of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardest hit communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud to be part of this community and appreciate the opportunity to work with the FoodBank to make a lasting impact,â&#x20AC;? says Michael Ricciardi, Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store manager. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s we take great pride in improving the communities we serve. We work hard to be a good neighbor and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re committed to supporting efforts that enrich the lives of our neighbors and customers.

Ryan Ravalli, sales representative for Oldcastle Building Products lent a hand in the garden. Oldcastle, based in Atlanta, Ga., donate $2,000 worth of stone products and pavers for the project.

The FoodBank serves 1 out of 10 people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including 51,000 children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; living in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Last year, over 8.5 million pounds of food, including over 1 million pounds of fresh produce, were distributed through its network of over 260 charities.

With Monmouth and Ocean Counties at the epicenter of Hurricane Sandy, the FoodBank brought food and supplies to disaster sites and emergency shelters and continues to meet the increased demand for food and services in the aftermath of the devastating storm.

Gardener News The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 126 Published Monthly Contact Information Phone: 908.604.4444 Fax: 908.647.5459 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . .

Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo

October Columnists Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Evan Dickerson Richard Perkins Peter Melick David Williams Leslie Barlow

Douglas H. Fisher Tim Hionis Bob LaHoff Paul Kneeland Robert Andreucci Craig Korb

Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Kent Politsch

RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PHONE DIRECTORY

Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heroes Come To The Rescue In FoodBank Garden

Jeannie Geremia Union Co. Master Gardeners

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TIP OF THE MONTH

Birds generally find their food by sight. Place your feeder in a location where it will be visible to them or in a location already frequented by birds where they can perch before, during and after feeding. To attract the greatest variety of birds, you should have at least two to three different types of feeders to accommodate different types of seeds and a variety of feeding habits. All birds also need water to survive. A bird bath should be a shallow container, no more than two to three inches deep. A bathing station may also attract birds that feed only on insects to stop by for a visit to grab a drink or a quick bath.

Gardener News

October, 2013 27

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28 October, 2013

Gardener News

Celebrate the pumpkin, an iconic symbol of fall.

When the weather changes, pumpkins and spices will take center stage in your autumn cuisine. Started as a Thanksgiving staple, the Pumpkin has become an everyday sign of Fall; whether it be Pumpkin Ice Cream, Pumpkin Sweet Potato Chocolate or Pumpkin Spiced Bagels.

Just walk down our aisles and become inspired.

Savor the aromas of the season.

Connect with us. www.kingsfoodmarkets.com

Bedminster, Bernardsville, Boonton, Chatham, Cresskill, Florham Park, Garwood, Gillette, Hillsdale, Hoboken (2), Livingston, Maplewood, Mendham, Midland Park, Morristown, Ridgewood, Short Hills, Summit, Upper Montclair,Verona, Warren, Whitehouse Station, Garden City; NY, Old Greenwich; CT