Early garden preparation helps plants

Web posted January 16, 1998

By Clyde Lester and Sid Mullis
Columnist

Every year gardeners ask how soon they can plant vegetable seeds or set out transplants. Average planting dates for our area are listed in various Extension publications and on lists at garden centers. These dates are based on temperature records maintained for many years. The planting dates listed are usually considered safe dates. If you wish to risk a small planting much earlier than the safe date, those early seeded vegetables could pull through. For a large plating, you should observe the recommended dates and not plant before the date mentioned in the garden publication.

BLOSSOM END ROT

Too many tomatoes are lost each year to blossom end rot, a disorder found near the blossom end. It appears as a darkened, sunken, leathery scar. This condition usually causes the fruit to ripen prematurely.

Inadequate calcium in the fruit can cause this condition. A low calcium level in combination with inadequate soil moisture can compound the situation. Severely pruned tomato plants are more prone to develop blossom end rot than unpruned plants.

You can take steps now to control the problem this summer. Have your soil tested to determine calcium and pH levels. If you need to add lime, do so as soon as your test comes back.

If you don't want to test the soil, but had problems before, broadcast about 5 pounds of dolomitic lime per 100 square feet. This spring, add a little more when you plant and turn the soil well.

POTTING SOIL

One of the worst mistakes you can make is to use ordinary garden soil to repot plants. It's a prime carrier of weed seeds, insects and diseases. And it is almost always too heavy. It will hold too much water, causing root injury, or when dry, will resemble a brick and be almost impossible to wet.

When buying potting soil, check for the following characteristics:

Open texture to provide good drainage and aeration.

Sufficient organic matter to ensure proper moisture retention.

Sterilized to keep it free of insects, weeds and diseases.

General purpose soil mix is a loose blend of sterilized ingredients that is rich in peat moss and humus. It is safe for all your house plants.

Special soils, however, often benefit plants with particular drainage needs. African violets, for example, have extremely delicate, fibrous root systems and grow best in a rich, finely textured but well drained soil.

SHADE TREES

For a number of years, Auburn University researchers have been evaluating shade trees in their Southeastern Tree Farm. Red maples have been evaluated for a number of years. According to their trials, the best red maples for fall color are Autumn Flame, Autumn Blaze, Fairview Flame and October Glory. Sid Mullis is a county extension agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, Richmond County.

Garden tipsCan't tell a peony from a petunias? Does your lawn make you yawn? Do you need advice on the best way to get rid of fire ants? Send your home and gardening questions to the experts: University of Georgia Extension Service Agents Clyde Lester and Sid Mullis. Mail your questions to Gardening Advice, The Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928. E-mail to feature@ugustachronicle.com.