Revisit Winter Blogs of Interest

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

Here are some links to past blogs that may be of interest, especially the one about de-icers. We are fast approaching a day when we will have to deal with ice - either at home or work.

Also be sure to check out our upcoming workshops and classes. January programs are taking registrations now. Call 263-9226.  E-mail franklinext@psu.edu and be added to our monthly notification of upcoming programs and events.

Check out these previous BLOGS for interesting and useful information. Most have additional links with even more information.

Winter Weather and Deicers
Salt Tolerant Gardens

Overwintering Rosemary

Rosemary-Spending the Winter Inside

 

Poinsettia Season
Poor Poinsettias






Landscaping for Fours Seasons of Interest

Plants for Winter Interest- Many plants in Iris Masters' yard showoff in the winter landscape (Crape myrtle, magnolia, oregon grape, birch trees, nandina, cypress, Japanese Andromeda).


Japanese Andromeda

The following blogs are part of a continuing series highlighting plants with winter interest. These are plants chosen by our Master Gardeners to provide color or interesting shapes during the winter season.

Winter Interest Pt. 1- Partridge Berry
Winter Interest Pt. 2- Snowdrops
Winter Interest Pt. 3-Stinking Hellebore
Winter Interest Pt. 4-Rattlesnake Plant
Winter Interest Pt. 5-Lavender
Winter Interest Pt. 6-Witch Hazel
Winter Interest Pt. 7-Paperbark Maple
Winter Interest Pt. 8-Teaberry
Winter Interest Pt. 9-Harry Lauder Walking Stick
Winter Interest Pt. 10-Coral Embers Willow

Coral Embers Willow in the Winter Landscape

Winter Interest Pt. 11-Corkscrew Willow
Winter Interest Pt. 12-River Birch
Nandina
Ascot Rainbow’ Spurge - A Year-round Delight
Whimsical Winter Wonderland

Rosemary- Spending the Winter Inside

by Master Gardener, Carol Kagan

Flowering Rosemary Indoors at Barb P's house

Master Gardener Barb P. shared photos she took of the flowering rosemary plant in her sunroom. This reminds us about overwintering rosemary outdoors in our area, more information at a 2012 entry. But what about bringing it indoors?

Another photo from Barb

Bringing rosemary (and other herbs and plants, typically tender perennials) indoors for the winter requires some different attention than when they were outdoors during the milder seasons.

Rosemary in a container outdoors in summer. (C. Kagan)

OUTDOORS TO INDOORS

Because rosemary does not overwinter well in our area, it is advisable to treat it as a container plant which makes it infinitely easier to bring indoors. However, if you have rosemary planted out, you may pot it up using appropriate potting soil (not garden soil) and pot size with a drainage hole and tray. Follow recommendations about preparing your plants to bring them inside.

If possible, acclimate the plant to the indoors by bringing it inside a few weeks before the first expected frost date, October 15 here in S. Central PA. If you can open the windows and keep the indoor temperatures lows, it will make the transition easier than suddenly bringing it into a warm house.

INDOORS

All I want is for my rosemary to make it through the winter in living condition, so I can drag it back outside when the weather gets warm next year.

Fertilizer and Pruning: I don't encourage my rosemary to grow during the winter so I don't fertilizer or prune, except for a snip here and there. Rosemary will go dormant during the winter.

Light: Rosemary needs 6-8 hours of light as it did outside. A good south facing window may well do but you may have to supplement it with artificial light. A fluorescent light or grow light can help.  Rotate the plant every week or so to keep the plant growing evenly on all sides.

Temperature: As a native Mediterranean, mild-region plant, rosemary will expect cool winters (not freezing) temperatures. An area that is consistently 55 to 60°F is good.

Watering: As with most plants brought in to overwinter, consistent watering is one of the important keys to keeping it alive. Water when the surface is dry, usually once every 2 weeks until the soil is wet and water comes through the drainage hole.


After about an hour, empty the water from the saucer so the roots are not sitting in water. Rosemary will benefit from misting. A tip for watering all indoor plants is to allow tap water to sit in an open container overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

Air Circulation: Good air circulation can alleviate some problems with mildew and mold. If you have several plants overwintering indoors, make sure there is good spacing between them.

ABOUT ROSEMARY

Rosemary is the herb of remembrance. Although today we typically think of it as remembering loved ones that have passed, the Greeks thought it increased memory. Greek scholars were said to wear wreaths of rosemary around their heads when taking exams to help them remember their lessons.

The name rosemary derives from the Latin for dew-"ros"- and sea -"marinus;" thus, dew of the sea. A legend says that the Virgin Mary spread her blue cloak over a white-blossomed rosemary bush when she was resting causing the flowers to turn blue. The shrub then became know as the "Rose of Mary."

Other Links of Interest:

Penn State Extension: Growing Herbs Indoors

University of Illinois Extension: Rosemary
Overwintering Rosemary

Autumn Blogs Revisited

By Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

Working in the garden this crisp autumn morning, severely pruning back tomato plants in hopes of getting the last few Mortgage Lifters to ripen up – they are sooo big, I was reminded of a few Blog entries that might be revisited this time of year.

Paperwhites are the easiest bulbs for beginners

Trick Bulbs Now for Winter Treats has planting information for forcing bulbs to bloom for the holidays or to brighten winter days

Are these green tomatoes ready?

Frost, Freeze and Green Tomatoes includes how to tell if green tomatoes are ready and a recipe for green tomatoes

Check out colorful autumn blooms and jot down a few that you’ll want to try. Keep the list nearby as the catalogues start coming in – and don’t forget the spring plant sale – May 16, 2015.

Helianthus in the Perennial Garden

Fall Into Gardening shows what was blooming in the Demo Gardens in early September

Fall Blooms at Kathy Engle's House

Colorful Autumn Garden entries have four parts, posted by Kathy Engle they show beautiful fall blooms. Go to Part 4 and it has links to the others at the bottom.

Rosemary plants outdoors need special care in our zone 6B

Overwintering Rosemary might be good to check as you start preparing the garden for winter

Garlic is easy to grow but plant it now

Growing Great Garlic reminds us that autumn is the time to plant garlic for next summer's crop

A follow-up Penn State information page: It is planting time for garlic growers



Coral Embers Willow creates a flame of beauty in the winter landscape

Look for Winter Blogs Revisited soon or if you are planning or planting this fall for winter interest, check out the Winter Interest series now. It's a 12-part series focusing on a wide variety of plants.
 

 

Winter - Interesting and Useful Information

The weather is changing and winter is bearing down on us.
Check out these previous BLOGS for interesting and useful information. Most have additional links with even more information.

Winter Weather and Deicers

Salt Tolerant Gardens

Overwintering Rosemary

Poinsettia Season

Poor Poinsettias








Landscaping for Fours Seasons of Interest

Plants for Winter Interest- Many plants in Iris Masters' yard showoff in the winter landscape (Crape myrtle, magnolia, oregon grape, birch trees, nandina, cypress, Japanese Andromeda).


Japanese Andromeda

The following blogs are part of a continuing series highlighting plants with winter interest. These are plants chosen by our Master Gardeners to provide color or interesting shapes during the winter season.

Winter Interest Pt. 1- Partridge Berry

Winter Interest Pt. 2- Snowdrops

Winter Interest Pt. 3-Stinking Hellebore

Winter Interest Pt. 4-Rattlesnake Plant

Winter Interest Pt. 5-Lavender

Winter Interest Pt. 6-Witch Hazel

Winter Interest Pt. 7-Paperbark Maple

Winter Interest Pt. 8-Teaberry

Winter Interest Pt. 9-Harry Lauder Walking Stick

Winter Interest Pt. 10-Coral Embers Willow

Coral Embers Willow in the Winter Landscape

Winter Interest Pt. 11-Corkscrew Willow

Winter Interest Pt. 12-River Birch

Nandina

Ascot Rainbow’ Spurge - A Year-round Delight

Whimsical Winter Wonderland

Herbs in Religion and the Bible

On May 8, I gave a presentation at Roxbury United Methodist Church in response to a speaker's bureau request. The Salt & Pepper Club meets monthly. They did not have any specific topic in mind. With my audience in mind, I researched and prepared a presentation highlighting eight herbs associated with religion and the Bible. Here is information about these plants.



Costmary

COSTMARY (Tanacetum balsamita)

Costmary may refer to the Virgin Mary and it is often referred to as the bible herb.  Dried costmary leaves were used in medieval times as a place marker in bibles as they make a neat, fragrant bookmark. The scent may help with alertness as well as deter silverfish.

If you want to put a leaf in the family Bible, be sure to dry it first as it may stain the pages if fresh.
Other names are alecost (used to flavor wine and ale), allspice (scent like allspice) and sweet tongue (refers to sweet scent and leaf shape.)



Rosemary

ROSEMARY
(Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary, a symbol of fidelity and remembrance, was used in Christian wedding and funeral ceremonies.

For a time it was believed the rosemary plant would never grow higher than 6 feet in 33 years so as not to stand taller than Christ.

Another story tells that the flowers were originally white, but changed to blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on the bush while fleeing from Herod’s soldiers with the Christ child.


Passion Flower

PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora incarnate)

The name honors the Passion of Christ and the flower is seen to symbolize implements of the crucifixion. The three spreading styles on the stigma represent the 3 nails of the cross while the five anthers recall the Christ’s five wounds. The fringe-like corona may symbolize a halo or crown of thorns.

Other names are maypop, purple passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, and Holy-Trinity flower.

 

Wormwood

WORMWOOD

(Artemisia absinthium)

Wormwood is mentioned in the Bible, always for bitterness. According to legend, wormwood grew up in the trail left by the serpent’s tail as it slithered out of the Garden of Eden.

Wormwood is the active ingredient in the alcoholic drink absinthe. It is  illegal in many countries today as a drink but is still used as flavoring in vermouth.


Rue

RUE (Ruta graveolens)

Rue's scientific name comes from the Greek "reuo," to set free. It has long been the symbol of repentance and sorrow. It may have earned the nickname "herb of grace" for God's grace given after repenting one's sins.

 

Brushes made from rue were once used to sprinkle holy water at the ceremony preceding High Mass in Catholic Churches.

 

Hyssop

HYSSOP (Sorghum vulgare)

Hyssop was used to cleanse the temples and other sacred places. In Psalms 51:7 David says, " Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

It is thought that when Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers stuck a sponge soaked in wine on some hyssop and raised it to his lips.

 

Coriander Seed & Cilantro Leaf

 

CORIANDER

(Coriandrum sativum)

Coriander is the seeds from the cilantro plant - cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander.

This herb was introduced to the Israelites in Egypt. Mentioned in Exodus 16:31, it is believed that when they saw manna in the wilderness, it reminded them of the white seeds of the coriander plant. Seeds have been found in ruins dating back to 5000 B.C.

Fennel Seed

 

FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel seeds were often carried to church in small pouches and eaten to ward of hunger during long sermons and thus gained the nickname meeting seeds.

Fennel seeds and syrup are often used to calm the stomach, perhaps making meeting a little quieter.

Dill Seeds

DILL (AntheAnethum graveolens

Seeds of this plant are also meeting seeds

OVERWINTERING ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)



Rosemary plant

Flower/herb
Perennial - evergreen
Height: 2-4 ft.
Culture: Sun; good drainage
Flowers: Pale lavendar in summer
Leaves: Herbal uses such as seasonings
Fruits: None
Hardy: Zones 6-11 (Franklin County is Zone 6)
Needs winter protection

------------------------------------------------

 

This time of year a question often comes up: "Can I leave my rosemary plant outside during the winter?"

It depends on the plant variety, health of the plant, where it is located in your landscape, soil conditions and the severity of the cold.

Currently there are five rosemary varieties that are likely to survive our most severe winters: 'Arp,' ' Hill Hardy,' 'Salem,' 'Nancy Howard,' and 'Dutch Mill.'  Not all plants listed as hardy will be so for every gardener in the same area. While the rosemary variety 'Miss Jessopp's Upright' has been sold as winter hardy up into south central Pennsylvania, it is inconsistent in its hardiness, dying off in areas as far south as Virginia and yet overwintering in some lower Pennsylvania counties.

'Arp' Rosemary - winter 

Rosemary should be planted before June 1 to allow it to get well established and regular care will result in a healthy plant. Plants sited in sheltered areas, such as near a wall or fence, will get some protection from wind damage and dehydration. Rosemary needs good soil drainage and benefits from southern exposure for the most winter sunlight.

Some Winterizing Tips

Even for winter hardy plants, gardeners can protect against the cold.

In addition to cutting weak, dead and damaged branches, trim any branches that are too low. Fall is not the time to do pruning on rosemary as it will promote new growth that is highly susceptible to frost. Give the plant a deep watering and mulch around the bottom of the plant.

Sheltering windbreak for overwintering evergreens



Depending on your site, a small wind break made with tomato stakes and cloth or burlap stapled to them can help.

In our area, rosemary plants need protection from frost, snow and ice as well as wind during the winter. A good way to provide this is to cover or wrap the plants. To provide plant and branch support from heavy snow and ice, wrap the plant with burlap.

Start at the bottom and gently pull the branches loosely together. Overlap the burlap as you wrap to the top, leaving enough burlap to fold over and clip. This will give keep the branches from extending out and collecting the weight of snow and ice on them. Wrap twine loosely around the burlap to secure it.

Wrap rosemary plants with burlap and twine

Alternately, put a tomato cage around a plant, or stakes, and wrap them with burlap, leaving extra at the top. The cage or stakes need to be in place before a hard freeze. Fill the inside space loosely with leaves and clip the burlap closed at the top. The leaves help insulate a plant.

Fill with leaves to help insulate the plant

Check back later for tips on overwintering herbs indoors.