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The Garden Spade June 2017
Tradescantia—Unusual Delight Kittye Hall, Poplar Bluff Master Gardener
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**In This Issue**
Tradescantia
Repulsive Plants!
Growing Wisteria
Weed: Smartweed
Herb: Cilantro
Managing Pests in the
Garden This Summer
Herbs for Shade
Educational
Opportunities
“Reliable, Responsive and Relevant Information for the Missouri Gardener”
I have recently come across a perennial plant native to North America of the
genus Tradescantia. Gardeners usually rank flowers, shrubs and trees by must-
haves, rare or tried and true. What categories they fall in is usually a personal
choice. I personally like the rare and unusual!
The flower in this genus is disliked by many because it can become shabby
looking. It is
named for John
Tradescant the
Elder, an eminent
English plant
explorer of the
seventeenth
century. One of
the species is the
Spiderwort plant.
It grows about two
feet tall and
blooms in the
morning and
usually closes in
the afternoon.
The flower color
can be white, pink,
blue or purple and
usually is a bright blue. It has three petals, rarely four and has a slightly fragrant
scent. The leaves are a long thin blade. A common name, trinity flower, is
probably used because of the three petals. You plant it in the fall in moist,
Continued to page 2
Picture of Ohio spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis courtesy of
the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/
FullImageDisplay.aspx?documentid=1790
The Garden Spade June 2017 · 2
Plants with Winter Interest Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Tradescantia—Unusual Delight Kittye Hall, Poplar Bluff Master Gardener
acidic soil with the top of root one inch below the soil line. If planted in the ground,
they are winter hardy in Zones 4-9. Plant in shade to part shade. They are susceptible to leaf spot and it is
not recommended to do overhead irrigation on them. A single plant is sterile, therefore producing no
seeds, but if two or more are planted together seeds are ensured. It takes two years for them to flower from
seed. If cut back in early August and kept moist
they will bloom again. This plant can be a skin
irritant to cats and dogs causing red, itchy skin.
Native Americans used the Tradescantia
virginiana to treat stomach ache and cancer. It
is said that these plants can act as a natural
Geiger counter! How this is known is a mystery
to me, but the fuzzy filament hairs in the flower
change from blue to pink when exposed to
nuclear radiation!
I was surprised to learn that one of the 75
species of this genus is the Wandering Jew
which could be considered invasive.
Tradescantia zebrina represents a common
green leaved variety. There are temperate and
tropical varieties of this genus and the
Wandering Jew is the tropical variety. The
Wandering Jew does bloom but not very often.
It needs bright indirect light and is considered an indoor plant as it does best in the temperature range
between 55° and 75° and a hanging basket is a great way to display them. In addition, when it does bloom
it looks very similar to the spiderwort bloom!
Continued from page 1
Picture of Wondering Jew Tradescantia zebrina courtesy of
the flor isttaxonomy.com .
http://www.floristtaxonomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/
DisplayImage.ashx_1.jpeg
If you have a garden and a library, you
have everything you need.
- Cicero
The Garden Spade
January Gardening Calendar
Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Outdoor Flowering Plants and Ornamentals
Watch for bagworms feeding on many garden plants, especially juniper,
arborvitae and other evergreens. They can be easily controlled with most
insecticides at this time of year.
Keep applying organic mulches to planting areas to conserve moisture,
discourage weeds, and enrich the soil as they decay.
Apply a balanced rose fertilizer to roses after the first show of blooms is past.
Trees and shrubs may still be fertilized before July with a well balanced
fertilizer.
Remove old flower heads from bedding plants to prolong the period of bloom.
Remove foliage from spring bulbs after it turns yellow and begins to dry. Set
out bedding plants to cover the bare spots using care not to damage bulbs.
Vegetable Gardening
Early detection is essential for good control of vegetable pests. Learn to
identify and distinguish between pests and beneficial predators.
As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to run, begin spray treatments to
control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.
To keep your cauliflower heads pure white, layer several of the long, outside
leaves onto the flat, open head. Secure the leaves together with clothespin or
two toothpicks in the form of an X until the head is ready for harvesting.
Broken branches and suckers of tomato plants will often root if stuck into
loose, moist soil.
Corn needs water at two crucial times: when the tassels at the top are
beginning to show, and when the silk is beginning to show on the ear. If
weather is dry at these times, water!
Consider planting successive crops of green beans, cucumbers, and zucchini.
Fruits and Nuts
Thinning overloaded fruit trees will result in larger and healthier fruits at
harvest time. Thinned fruits should be a hands-width apart.
Want a few home-grown fruits, but have no or little garden area to work with?
Grow dwarf fruit trees, figs, strawberries, blueberries and even grapes in
containers.
Time to renovate strawberry beds after they quit producing fruit.
Turfgrass
Water turf as needed to prevent drought stress.
Gradually increase the mowing height of zoysia lawns throughout the summer.
By September, the mowing height should be 2 to 2.5 inches.
Repulsive Plants!
These plants have
been known to
help out in the
garden.
Castor Oil repels moles
Garden rue repels Cats
Garlic, onions and
ornamental alliums
repel groundhogs
Gopher spurge
(Euphorbia lathyrus)
repels moles and
gophers
Wormwood (artemisia)
repels small mammals
in general
Marigolds repel
harmful nematodes in
the soil
Tansy repels ants,
fleas, flies
Basils repel thrips, flies
and mosquitoes.
Borage are known to
repel tomato
hornworms and
cabbage worms.
Planting nasturtiums
with cucumbers and
tomatoes will ward off
whiteflies, squash bugs
and cucumber beetles.
June 2017 · 3
June Gardening Calendar Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
The Garden Spade
Wisteria is a member of the Pea family. It is a vigorous, twining vine that can be very interesting in the
home landscape if the gardener is committed to keeping up with it. The large, pendulous flower clusters
occur in the spring in colors ranging from white, pink, lilac-blue, bluish-purple, or purple in color. The plant
climbs by twining stems and has alternate, pinnately compound leaves. There are two species of wisteria
typically grown in home gardens—Chinese and Japanese. Chinese wisteria is more popular because it grows
to a height of 25 feet and has large flower clusters of six inches to a foot in length that open all at once before
the foliage expands for a very showy display. Japanese wisteria also grows to height of 25 feet but blooms
when the foliage is also expanding and the individual
flowers open gradually. Wisteria requires full sun and
moderately fertile, moist soil. The key to growing
beautiful wisteria is pruning and training them so they do
not take over your entire yard and house!
Tips for buying healthy plants:
Purchase plants with compact, bushy growth—
lanky and spindly growth are signs that a plant may
not have been properly pruned, not been given enough
light, or is root bound. Compact, bushy plants will
recover faster after being transplanted.
Buy the plants not quite blooming yet—plants that
are already blooming do not transplant well because
they are putting all of their energy into the flowers,
not on establishing new roots and making food.
Take home plants in properly moist pots—plants
that are wilted or dripping water are already at a
disadvantage when you take them home to transplant.
Only buy plants with healthy colored foliage—yellowed or discolored leaves can be caused by pests,
disease, root problems, and more.
Look for plants with proper root growth—roots should be well established and a healthy white color.
When transplanting, be sure and disturb them so they will grow out into the soil and not stay in the same
area as the pot they were moved from.
Growing Wisteria Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
June 2017 · 4
One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a
spade and a package of garden seeds.
~ Dan Bennett
Cilantro/Coriander; Coriandrum sativum
Light: Full to par t sun
Soil: Well–drained soil;
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Propagation: Seed, indoors
or outdoors
Hardiness: Shor t-lived
annual
Description: This herb has been known and
used for over 3,000 years. Cilantro/Coriander has
fine, feathery leaves and umbels of pinkish white
flowers. The leaves of this plant are called cilantro
while the seeds are known as coriander.
Harvest the leaves as you need them for fresh
use. The rounded lower leaves are more tasty than
the finer upper leaves. Foliage loses much of it’s
The Garden Spade June 2017 · 5
Weed: Smartweed Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
There are more than 2 dozen species of
smartweeds found in the Midwest. There are both
annual and perennial species and they thrive in wet
or moist soils. Pennsylvania smartweed is a
common summer annual found in lawns, gardens,
and other areas. It can grow 1 to 4 feet tall. It has
alternate lanceolate smooth leaves, sometimes with
a purplish thumbprint marking in the leaf. It can
tolerate a wide range of soils and growing
conditions. It has a fibrous root system with a
shallow taproot which can make it difficult to
remove. The key to controlling this weed is to
remove it when it is small, before flowers form or
prevent it from coming up with mulch in
ornamental beds. There are also several pre and
post emergent herbicides that are available for
control.
Herb: Cilantro/Coriander Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
flavor when dried. If growing cilantro for seeds,
allow the flower heads to turn brown and cut the
entire plant. Place plants in paper bag and shake to
dislodge the seed pots. Rolling the pods in your
hand will release the seeds that can be stored.
Culinary Use: Leaves have a bold, sage-like
flavor with a citrus tang. Great for uses in salsa,
Indian curry dishes and Southeast Asian dishes.
The seeds are pleasantly scented when ripe and
they become more fragrant as they age. Seeds are
widely used in spice mixes and curry powders.
Other notes: Difficult to transplant. Cilantro
matures relatively quickly during the season—
quick to bolt. Once the plant blooms and sets
seed, it is finished. To have an abundance of
foliage, consider planting every 3 to 4 weeks.
Consuming cilantro has many health benefits.
Picture Courtesy of Iowa State University of
Extension
Photos courtesy of
MU Extension
The Garden Spade June 2017 · 6
Keys to Managing Pests in the Garden This Summer Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Bugs, diseases and weeds can be a problem in any yard/garden during the warmer parts of the year. All
that a pest needs is food, water and shelter to live. Your garden provides all of these things. It is important
to find the best and least toxic way to reduce or eradicate pests. By using fewer chemicals, we increase the
safety in our gardens. Gardeners can use several simple techniques to help minimize pests in the garden.
Maintain a healthy plant. Practices, such as proper soil preparation,
fertilization and irrigation, will maintain plant vigor and reduce insect and
disease damage. Plants under stress are more likely to be damaged by pests.
Choose the Right Plant for the Right Place. Every plant has it’s place and
does best when put in a favorable environment. Find out as much as you can
about plants before you buy them. What type of soil does it like - moist, dry,
well-drainer, acidic, alkaline? How much sun and water does it need?
Choose resistant plants. Many plants are naturally resistant to pests or have
been bred to be so. These are plants which are usually well adapted to local
growing conditions.
Rotate crops, when possible. Crop rotation can reduce the buildup of soil-borne diseases. Vegetable crops
need to be on a 3 year rotation cycle.
Scout the garden. Place the garden in a location in close proximity to where you can easily take a look at it
at least once a day. Scouting allows you to identify problems before they get out of hand. Enjoy a nice
stroll in the garden in the morning or evening...it pays!
Practice proper sanitation. Remove crop residues and plant materials that you know had disease problems
such as tomatoes, eggplant or green beans. Clean up crop residues as soon as the harvesting is complete.
Gardeners can compost most everything except those plants that were severely diseased.
Do not smoke tobacco products while working in the garden. After smoking, wash your hands before
entering back into the garden. Tomato, pepper, and eggplant are susceptible to a mosaic virus disease
which is common in tobacco products.
Use physical controls and barriers. Squashing bugs with bare hands was probably one of the first forms of
pest control. We can use this but there are some other methods that we can utilize, such as vacuuming up
ants, squash bugs or other unwanted plant feeders, placing sticky barriers around tree and shrub trunks to
prevent aphids, scale and mealybugs from traveling up the plants, and by weeding by hand.
Mulch to prevent weeds and disease. Weeds and grass often harbor insects and diseases, plus they
compete with garden plants for moisture and nutrients. Soil can carry diseases also. Heavy rains can
splash soil onto lower leaves and bring plant foliage into contact with soil-borne diseases. Mulching can
reduce splashing soil, reduce weed pressure, and help retain soil moisture.
Use less harmful pesticides. Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to control caterpillars and beetle larvae. Use
insecticidal soap to control soft-bodied insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, scales and whiteflies. Neem
will control leafminers, thrips, caterpillars, and mealybugs. Pyrethrums are a natural insecticide that will
‘knockdown’ most insects.
The Garden Spade
June 2017 · 7
Upcoming Events The following Master Gardener meetings are held each
month. All are welcome to attend. Please contact your local extension office to confirm location of next meeting.
Parkland MGs - 1st Monday, 6:30pm, Farmington Public Library
Poplar Bluff MGs - 1st Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Call the Extension Center for location at 573-686-8064.
Ste. Genevieve MGs - 2nd Thursday, at 6:30pm, Ste. Gen. County Extension Center
Cape Girardeau MGs - 3rd Thursday at 7:00pm, Cape County Extension Center in Fall and Winter and Shawnee Park Center in Spring and Summer. Call 573-238-2420 for questions
Perry MGs - 4th Monday at 6:30pm, Perry Co. Extension Center
June
3 - National Prairie Day. In 2016, MPF registered the fir st
Saturday in June on the National Day Calendar to help bring
national attention to our priceless native grassland resources. If
you are hosting a prairie event, MPF can promote it for you.
Questions? Call 888-843-6739. Find resources at the National
Prairie Day web site.
3 - Washington In Bloom Native Plant Sale. Plants by
Missouri Wildflower Nursery 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washington,
MO farmers market.
7 - Twilight Tour - Highland Blueberry Farm in Park Hills, MO.
6:00 pm. Tours are $5. Pre-register at 573-238-2420.
17 - Native Tree and Glade Hike at Clifty Creek Natural
Area. Native tree and glade hike at Clifty Creek Natural
Area in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the Missouri
Natural Areas program and the 5th anniversary of MPF as the
home of the Grow Native! program. Clifty Creek Natural Area is
in Maries County, near Dixon, MO. Hike will be led by Missouri
Department of Conservation Natural Areas Coordinator and
Technical Advisor Mike Leahy. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring
water and a sack lunch and dress for hiking. 2.7-mile loop hike.
Families welcome. Free. Register here. Questions? Call 888-843-
6738.
17 and 18 - Naturally Beautiful, Gardening With Missouri
Native Plants. Learn the Missour i native plants and
techniques needed to create and maintain a native plant garden.
Hear about the long blooming sun perennials and delightful shade
plants to ensure successful low-maintenance landscapes. Free
and no reservations are required. 1101 N. Woodlawn in St.
Louis, MO.
19 - Twilight Tour - JC/s Produce & Pies in Sesser, IL. 6:00 pm.
Pre-register at 618-382-2662.
More Upcoming Events Sarah Denkler, MU Extension
Horticulture Specialist
July
5 - Twilight Tour - Mineral Area College Green-
house in Park Hills, MO. 6:00 pm. Tours are $5.
Pre-register at 573-238-2420.
17 - Twilight Tour - Flower Ridge Farm in Her-
od, IL. 6:00 pm. Pre-register at 618-382-2662.
23 - MPF’s 2nd Annual Prairie School MPF's
Prairie School is an on-the-prairie workshop
about prairie stewardship, herbicide application,
prescribed burning, plant identification, and other
aspects of the conservation of our native grass-
lands, geared to landowners and professionals.
Will be held at MPF's Noah Brown's Prairie in
Newton County.
August
1 - Grow Native! Workshop in Columbia.
Grow Native! Workshop at Turf Day, MU South
Farm, Columbia
2 - Twilight Tour - Kress Farm Garden Reserve
in Hillsboro, MO. 6:00 pm. Tours are $5. Pre-
register at 573-238-2420.
14 - Twilight Tour - Flyway Family farm in
Makanda, IL. 6:00 pm. Pre-register at 618-382-
2662.
26 - Naturally Beautiful Gardens With Mis-
souri Native Plants. Sponsored by Grow Na-
tive! Professional Member Sugar Creek Gardens
1011 N. Woodlawn St. Louis, MO. This session
begins at 10:00 a.m. You’ll learn the Missouri
native plants and techniques needed to create and
maintain a lovely native plant garden and hear
about the long blooming sun perennials, and de-
lightful shade plants to ensure successful low-
maintenance. No reservations are required.
The Garden Spade
Herbs for Shade
Megan Franke, Cape County Master Gardener
Yes, we know; herbs love full sun! While that is generally true, a few
herbs tolerate, even prefer partial or light shade. Light shade is
interpreted as six hours of direct sunlight with four of those hours
getting less intensive sun, like morning sun. Herbs suited for areas
cooler than our Zone 6, like foxglove, would enjoy a place to cool
down in our gardens. Shade gardens
allow the chance to blend herbs with
other shade-loving plants such as
ferns and woodland wildflowers like
columbines.
The shallow root systems of trees
like red maple and birch absorbs a
lot of water; trees with a downward
root system, like oaks, are better
neighbors. Then, only dappled light remains after trees leaf out. This
problem can be alleviated by carefully pruning the offending trees.
Shade loving plants prefer moist soil; several inches of mulch can help
with that. Also, adding white rock or tiles to your garden, or painting
adjacent walls white will intensify the available light. Below are some
herbs suited to light shade with contrasting habits and textures:
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) - a statuesque, perennial reaching
two to five feet tall, often expanding to three feet across. In its second
year, it produces six inch round flowers with whitish-green starry
heads. Scatter the seeds for germination.
Holy Grass, Sweet Grass (Hierochloe odorata) - This herb’s bright
green leaves spread into mats reaching a foot in height. It emits an
enticing vanilla aroma of newly mown hay. Grow Holy grass from
plugs in spring. It can be aggressive, so consider container plantings.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) - A low-care groundcover with
delicate whorls of bright-green leaves and fragrant white, star-shaped
flowers. Buy plants or look for divisions. Keep the humus rich soil
moist. This spreads quickly, so control it by dividing frequently.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) - A perennial groundcover with
green, heart-shaped leaves. Flowers are purplish brown in spring,
hidden by leaves.
Bergamot (Monarda didyma) - Also know as bee balm, Bergamot
grows from two to four feet. Sow seeds in spring or start plants from
root divisions or cuttings.
June 2017 · 8
Published monthly by University of
Missouri Extension Faculty for
individuals and families living state-
wide in Missouri. This newsletter is
provided by your local Extension
Specialists and Extension Councils.
Newsletter Editors:
Donna Aufdenberg
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Marble Hill, MO
573-238-2420
Sarah Denkler
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Poplar Bluff, MO
573-686-8064
Katie Kammler
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Ste. Genevieve, MO
573-883-3548
Guest Writers:
Megan Franke
Cape County Master Gardener
Kittye Hall
Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners
The Garden Spade
Sweet Woodruff is a herb that tolerates shade
Monday, June 5,2017 1-4 PM
Mineral Area College Ag Classroom
$20 Pay at the Door
Growing Peaches, Cherries, Apples,
Pears Varieties, pest
management, organic production
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
by calling Katie at 573-883-3548 or
Fruit Tree Production
Dr. Elizabeth Wahle, Ph.D.
Horticulture Extension Educator, University of
Illinois Extension
University of Missouri, Lincoln University, U.S. Department of Agriculture & Local University Extension Councils Cooperating
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ADA INSTITUTIONS
Take Hwy 67 to the Park Hills/Leadington exit
and turn east into Mineral Area College. Take
Dixie Kohn Dr. past student housing on left
and enter student parking lot on left and
continue through to staff parking lot. MAC is
on Summer Break during this workshop so
you can park In the Staff Lot 1. Enter the
build at the technology Entrance at bottom of
the hill, go straight down the hall to the
Atrium, turn left and go down the hallway to
the last door on your right.
Thursday,
June 29 ,2017
From 1 to 4 PM
Cape Girardeau County Extension
Center in Jackson, MO
$20 Pay at the Door
Address:
684 West Jackson Trail in
Jackson, MO
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
by calling Donna at 573-238-2420 or
Small Berry School
Patrick Byers
MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
University of Missouri, Lincoln University, U.S. Department of Agriculture & Local University Extension Councils Cooperating
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ADA INSTITUTIONS
Learn the basics of growing Strawberries,
Blackberries, Raspberries,
Blueberries, and a few specialty berries.