Dear Helen: With the strange weather this fall my lavatera bloomed again last month, but with partly pink flowers instead of the plant’s usual white blooms, and my prized purple dahlia produced whitish flowers. Will these plants return to their normal colours next year?
L.M.
I’ve heard the precisely same story from several gardeners in recent weeks. It is most likely that the unusually warm October temperatures, together with diminishing amounts and an altered quality of light, produced repeat bloom, sometimes not in colours entirely typical of the plant. They should return to their normal colours next year.
Dear Helen: We recently had a professional gardener weed our front beds (I’m not a gardener, but I read your column). He’s the second gardener who has told us we have a nasty weed that is almost impossible to get rid of, though neither of them knew the weed’s name. We have put cardboard down around the plants, with leaves on top. We would like to put a mulch over the cardboard but were told its nutrients would be washed away in the rains.
J.F.
It could be useful to identify the weed. Probably the worst are horsetail and perennial morning glory. Both have wide-spreading roots. They will find a way to emerge in uncovered spaces next to the bases of plants.
Whatever the weed, it will be necessary to monitor the beds regularly and remove any weed growth freshly emerging from either roots or seeds. Never let any weed growth proceed far enough to bloom and set seed.
As for mulching over the cardboard, it is true that composts leach nutrients in winter rains; however, a weed-free mulch would be useful for improving the appearance of the beds. And the cardboard, to a degree, will act as a sponge to absorb leached moisture and nutrients.
Dear Helen: My winter squash are all cleaned, skin-hardened in warmth, and stored in a cool (around 12 C) place. As I begin to use them, I’m wondering how well banana squash stores. It’s my first year growing banana squash. Should I use them first?
L.S.
I wondered about that too, when I first grew banana squash, because the flesh is so moist, sweet and fine-textured. I’ve been surprised and pleased to find that banana squash is a superb keeper. I used my last one from the 2012 garden at the end of May this year.
This is a wonderful squash, perfect for pies and desserts as well as roasting. I love it as a side dish cubed, steamed tender, and whirled in a blender with a little butter, maple syrup and creamy coconut milk (sold in cartons in health food store coolers) or cream.
Dear Helen: My greenhouse, attached to the house, has a door and large windows that open at both ends, but no roof vents. The tomato plants produced beautifully beginning in early July, but by mid-September, blight had finished them. It started with lower stems that I had cut back and further infections came with condensation dripping from the ceiling at night — even if I left the windows open. How can I stop this from happening again?
D.G.
Blight spores must have blown into the greenhouse on breezes. Spores can be wind-borne for up to 48 kilometres. Or, spores were in the soil. The disease spores also winter in old vines and their debris.
It is best not to leave stubs when pruning. Remove entire lower tomato leaves when necessary with a gentle pull downward.
If possible, remove the top few inches of soil and replace it with fresh, sterilized soil. Scrub the walls and ceiling thoroughly with a disinfectant cleaner first.
Arrange for improved ventilation next year to help keep the plants dry at night. Without roof vents, you may find it helpful to use a fan inside the greenhouse.
You mention that the watering system in the greenhouse dampens the lower leaves. I’m wondering whether it might be worthwhile to use soaker hoses underneath sheets of mulching fabric or plastic to irrigate next year. This would eliminate exposure of the plants to direct water and soil moisture.
GARDEN EVENT
Eaglecrest meeting. Eaglecrest Garden Club celebrates its year end today at 4 p.m. in the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre with a swag-making workshop, followed by a potluck dinner and social plus the AGM. Everyone is welcome. More information at 250-752-6129.