January Garden Notes

Sacramento Garden Notes
JANUARY 2012
difficult seeds MUCH easier, even for a small
breeder.
Written & Published by Robert B. Hamm
2443 Castro Way #1
Sacramento CA. 95818
gardennotes@sbcglobal.net
Volume 15 Number 1
Photo taken in SF Dec 2011 by Robert B. Hamm
Photo by Robert B. Hamm
How Hybridizers and Technology
have changed the plant world for
gardeners:
I thought a good start for the new year
would be some thoughts about changes in the
gardening world in recent decades.
When I was in college and working in the
Orchid Greenhouse, the above plant would
have been extrodinary, not only did the color
combo not exist, but even if it did, the cost
would have been astronomical since back then
division of mature plants (which is slow) was
the main way to propagate Orchids meaning
high prices.
Today, with tissue culture technology, even
a newer variety can be turned out by the
thousands, and I found this at Home Depot for
$21 dollars. A fraction of the cost something
like it would have brought just 20 years ago.
Even hybridizing orchids is easier now with
technology making growing what were very
Above is a Cuphea hybrid, an example of
hybridizers taking a small, rarely seen group
of plants and using species discovered in our
ever shrinking tropical habitats and creating
dozens of forms now seen in nurseries. In the
past, only the common blue Cuphea was seen,
now it comes in a wide range of colors and
forms.
Our increasing techology, which makes
traveling around the world an everyday affair,
has allowed collecting expeditions to areas
formerly never or rarely visited, which has
brought a wealth of new species into
cultivation.
Not only can more places be reached, but
getting live plant material back in now a
matter of hours or days, compared to weeks or
months back in the days before regular global
supersonic air routes.
This has drastically increased getting LIVE
specimens back to where they can be
propagated and distributed.
These new species allow an increasing base
for future hybridizers to develop new varieties
and forms. Plus a rich source of research for
new drugs and medicines and even food
sources.
An example of how collecting has become
easier with even plant club members taking
part, is The American Begonia Society which
has financed several expeditions to collect
new and/or endangered species to help save
them before habitat destruction can send them
into extinction. An example is B. luzonesis
shown on the next page. Although this plant
needs tropical rain forest conditions so is
generally a terrarium or greenhouse plant, it
offers a new genetic inheritance for future
breeding efforts to develop new and exciting
hybrids for everyday plant growers.
Dec 4th First Ipheon blooms on all 3
varieties. Put down Azalea cuttings after took
all the flower buds off. Put them in part shade
and will keep moist.
Species glads are up and growing, will be
interesting to see when they bloom now that
have been in our climate a growth season and
are acclimated.
Above: B. luzonesis, photo taken from The
American Begonia Society virtual greenhouse
at their website: http://www.begonias.org/
Above, a pot of Daffodil Rijnveld‟s Early
Sensation from Spring 2011. The first year
planted, these will bloom late, around the time
of other Daffodils but from the second year on
will be the FIRST daffodil in bloom, often at
or before Christmas.
Dec 8th - Centranthus (Jupiters Beard) is still
in bloom next door, as is nutmeg scented
geranium (Pelargonium species). Cleaned
and trimmed neighbors front bed in exchange
for cuttings / plants.
A few of the changes I‟ve seen in the last 40
years include MANY new colors in different
varieties of plants. Examples that didn‟t exist
before include red flowered Vinca, Impatiens
in 18 colors rather than just 5 or 6, MANY
new colors in Orchids, white Marigolds,
Echinaceas in colors other than purple and
white, newer, faster blooming perennials and
many many others.
Plant Diary:
I‟m resuming garden observations so you
have some idea of what is growing/blooming
when, even if your location is a bit later than
the warmer Curtis Park Area. I hope it helps
you.
Dec 1st Daffodil Rijnveld‟s Early is showing
growth, this early Daffodil normally starts
blooming for Christmas once established.
Centranthus ruber above photo by Robert B. Hamm
The cold weather is getting to the Coleus and
Impatiens, though haven‟t actually frosted yet.
Both are looking a bit worn. I‟m leaving them
to see what happens with this warmer
microclimate.
The fall blooming crocus are finishing up,
while the first of the early species crocus have
broken ground.
Put down seed for a new tuberous begonia
strain, lobelia „Queen Victoria and a few
others.
Dec 12th – was over at neighbors yesterday
and the following were still blooming:
Pineapple Sage, one of the bushy
Erysium(starting again after a summer lull), a
dark purple penstemon, pink guara and a late
bloom spike on a lycorus. The sedums have
barely finished dying back and are already
showing new growth. One of the winter
blooming Red Hot Polkers is budding also.
I put down over 200 more pots of cuttings/
divisions/seed, which should bring me up near
3,000 pots.
Many of the Sedums start putting up
growth buds at the base of the stems very
early in the year. This is normal and not
something to worry about. They are very
freeze hardy.
Dec 13th – the first of the Rijnveld‟s Early
Sensation Daffodils in a 15 gal. container is
opening, with lots of buds coming along. I
planted the bulbs in the container last year, to
enjoy, then as they died back in late spring I
used the containers for Tomatoes this past
summer. By the time the Tomatoes were
done this fall, the bulbs were just about
breaking ground. Nice dual use.
Freesia and species Tulips are in another 15
gallon used the same way.
Above Lobelia Deep Red, which I divided up
for 4” and gallon pots.
December 14th – running low on gallon
containers. The first Daffodil is open.
January Garden Notes:
January is a month for a number of garden
chores and a few warnings:
a) Pruning of roses and many shrubs and
trees, however check the notes on what
NOT to prune in the last issue (Dec 11) so
you don‟t cut off the blooms of early
bloomers. There are a number of free
pruning classes this month, check the
Home & Garden calendar section of the
saturday Sacramento Bee (can be checked
online at Sacbee.com) or with your local
nursery.
b) Bareroot and Dormant plant material is
coming into local nurseries this month
and it is a good time to get many items
into the ground and save a bit on them
over potted plants later. HOWEVER
some warnings are in order.. bareroot
material should not be dried out or
sprouting into early growth.. a major
problem with packaged material in many
box store retailers. Get in and get your
material EARLY for best selection and
quality.
c) Weather I have bareroot or not this spring
will depend on finances but please note
that any bareroot I have at sales is
FRESHLY received for each sale, unlike
at many nurseries.
d) Certain summer bulbs are received early
in nurseries but HATE chill, never mind
cold.. so if your getting the following
either plant indoors, in a greenhouse or
hold off till the weather is warmer:
Caladiums (need WARMTH or will just
rot), colored tropical Callas ( not quite as
sensative but want warmth) and Dahlias
which are often hardy here, but if you put
new tubers out too early you risk them
rotting before they sprout. For Dahlia
tubers, I‟d suggest potting them into
gallon containers in a sunny spot until
they are up and growing. The pots absorb
heat faster than the ground.
e) If you or a friend have a fireplace, wood
ashes spread across the garden during the
winter are a good source of potassium and
phosphorus plus trace elements. This is
one reason that many plants grow so well
after a fire, the ashes are rich in nutrients.
Viola hederacea or “Australian Violet” blooms
almost year round and is a multi purpose plant.
This runner can be used as a groundcover, in a
hanging basket, or trailing over the side of a
container.
Prefers sun to part shade with regular water and
will tolerate a large range of soil types.
I think this would make a good lawn substitute
under planted with bulbs for variety and color.
Above and below pictures are of the lights in
the kitchen I am using to start seeds and
cuttings. As you can see, the plants are kept
close to the lights. I am using one full
spectrum and one cool white tube in each
fixture.
Observations continued from page 3
Dec 20– put down over 200 cuttings of
different things today. Mostly perennials that
stay evergreen. The winter blooming Red Hot
Polker is budded, the winter blooming Salvias
are in bloom and while many colder outer
areas have had repeated frosts, few signs of in
around my yard or at Cynthias, although the
impatiens and coleus are reacting to the cold
and looking tatered. One Johnny Jump Up
struggled through the summer in part shade
and now dozens of seedlings are growing in
that bed, should make a bright spring patch of
them.
Thank you, we did it again! –
Thanks to many of you, Sunburst again
this year covered not only all of their
child clients, but referrals from CARES,
US Davis pediatrics, RX staffing and
others in the area!
So again, Thank you on behalf of all
the staff and clients at Sunburst Projects.
Above, Euphorbia „Ascot Rainbow‟ – another
newer introduction (2010) that stays compact
without bare stems. Sun and well drained soil
are the requirements. Many of you asked
about this when you saw it at Davids house in
Natomas. I have have some available.
Supporters Discount 2012 – to Thank all
The above Pelargonium (commonly called
Geranium) variety is colorful even without the
flowers with the red centered gold foliage. The
flower is actually a bit pinker than shown but
pinks can be hard to photograph, showing up
either more red or purple than they really are.
This picture was taken on Dec 21st.
Pots from small to gallons are
needed as well as flats!
who sent in donations to help with the
newsletter, soil costs, seed costs and other
expences, I will have a printout of donators at
all sales and you will receive the following
discount on EVERY plant purchased in 2012,
in addition to special “First Choice” invites:
4” or smaller pot – 50 cents off
4 ½ to 2 gallon pots - $1.00 off
Larger than 2 gallon - $2.00 off
This is easier than a percentage, as we don‟t
need to worry about small change and odd
amounts.