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Garden The
Spade December 2018
Winter Gardening Rennie Phillips, Scott County Master Gardener
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**In This Issue**
Winter Gardening
Seed Dispersal
Deciduous Holly
Indoor Mini Garden
Plants of the
Holidays
Better Record
Keeping
“Reliable, Responsive and Relevant Information for the Missouri Gardener”
After the temps got down to around 20 degrees a week or two back most of us
decided gardening was over and they’d wait till spring. I don’t think many of us
have even considered growing goodies through the winter months. But actually
there are quite a few things we can do even during
the winter.
One thing that will make for a more productive
summer next year is to get your soil tested.
Doesn’t take very long and it’s easy. I normally
take my shovel and push it pretty much straight
down in the ground and take out that one shovel
full. Then I take about an inch slice from the
same hole. If you have a really small garden one
can use that one slice. If your garden is bigger
than take several slices from different parts of
your garden, mix the samples together and save
about a quart of the soil. This will go into the soil
test bag at the extension office. It’ll cost you less
than $20.
I dropped into a local hardware store the other day and the topic came up about
planting garlic. If you haven’t planted your garlic now is a good time. Break the
garlic bulbs into cloves and plant the clove about two inches deep. I’d keep
them 5 or 6 inches apart in all directions. You can then mulch them with 4 to 6
inches of straw or dry grass clippings. The garlic will poke right through this
mulch.
If you haven’t cleaned off your garden like me now is a great time. We need to
take the cages off our tomato plants and clean off the ground where they are.
We usually burn our old tomato vines so as not to spread Continued to page 2
Various cool season crops at Rennie’s Garden
An equal opportunity/access/
affirmative action/pro-disabled
The Garden Spade December 2018 · 2
Plants with Winter Interest Katie Kammler, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Winter Gardening Rennie Phillips, Scott County Master Gardener
disease. I cleaned out one of our high tunnels a couple weeks ago. It was full of
tomato vines so I put them on the burn pile. I need to now hoe off the weeds and grass that is left. This
won’t take long using my Rogue hoe. Boy those are really neat and well worth the investment.
Probably 45 or 50 days ago I cleaned out one of the smaller high tunnels and planted zucchini, a small
hybrid turnip (Hakurei), Swiss chard and some purple top turnips in it.
None of the seed came up real well but there was enough to pick
occasionally and get a nice mess. The zucchini plants had some 3 inch
yellow zucchini on them when it frosted and then froze. The freeze killed
the zucchini but didn’t hurt the chard or the turnips. So every couple weeks
I can pick a small mess of chard and turnip greens. Don’t have enough
turnips to satisfy my dog and I so I’ve been buying a few in local stores.
They have been really good. Even saw some nice looking turnip greens in a
store last week.
I kind of experimented in the new big high tunnel when we finally got it
constructed last fall. We planted a row of Dunja zucchini plants. Dunja is
an F1 hybrid zucchini that has a really good disease resistance history. I
think they are 47 days to harvest. Germination wasn’t very good this past
fall but I believe three plants came up. We had picked quite a few zucchini
off those three plants when it frosted. We’d covered the plants with a frost
blanket so it didn’t hurt them. But when the temp got down to about 20
degrees we figured it would kill the dunja plants. It didn’t so we are still
picking zucchini. Kind of neat to still be harvesting them the middle of
November.
I believe one could plant some of these dunja zucchini in a short row and
then construct a low tunnel over them using something like cattle panels or
pvc pipe. One could cover this tunnel with a plastic cover and then a frost blanket like Agribon. This
should work. We can’t do it this year but may try some low tunnels in some of our high tunnels next fall.
Agribon can be bought in different levels of protection. That which we have is I believe 4 degree cover so
if the temps get down to say 28 degrees it won’t hurt the plant. Since ours are in high tunnels they will
protect the plant down to almost 20 degrees. I bought the 4 degree Agribon because I can double it to
make about an 8 degree cold blanket. The neat thing about this frost blanket is one can leave it on the
plants. The sun will shine right through it.
Marge and I carried a couple of our picnic tables into the one big high tunnel. On a sunny day even in
fairly cold weather it will be toasty warm in the tunnel. I told Marge we can probably have a picnic this
winter in the big high tunnel. I know our cats like to go into the tunnels and sun bathe. You can feel their
hair and it will be toasty warm from the sun shining through the plastic cover on the high tunnels. Regular
plastic won’t work for long if exposed to sunlight. Our tunnels are covered with a plastic that isn’t
affected by sunlight. Our covers are guaranteed for four years and they are 6 ml thick.
Continued from page 1
Swiss Chard
Zucchini after a 20 degree night.
The Garden Spade
January Gardening Calendar
Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Outdoor Flower Plants and Ornamentals
Be sure the root zones of azaleas and rhododendrons are thoroughly mulched.
Hollies and other evergreens may be trimmed now and the prunings used in
holiday decorations. Trimings last longer during the holidays if kept at cooler
temperatures.
Check summer bulbs in storage. If they are sprouting, place them in a cooler
spot. Moldy or damaged roots must be removed and discarded. Molding
indicates over-moist conditions. Shriveling indicates bulbs are too dry. Place
them in a container with potting soil, peat moss, or sawdust to stop the loss of
water.
Fruits and Nuts
Leave a bare circle, one foot wide, around fruit tree trunks when spreading
mulch so the mice won’t nest there.
Wrap trunks of fruit trees to prevent rabbit damage and sunscald to trunks.
Pecans continue to fall so look for them after periods of wind. They are also
easy to spot on top of snow but you have to beat the squirrels to them!
Mulch strawberries for winter protection once cold temperatures arrive.
Miscellaneous
Clean and oil all garden hand tools before storing for winter. All power
equipment should be winterized before storage.
A diary or record book can help the home gardener keep track of what’s
happening during the garden season such as planting dates, weather events,
pest problems, size of harvest or even new ideas for next year.
Seed catalogs start to arrive. If you are longing for spring, start making wish
lists and orders. Otherwise, put them all together for a time when you are
dreaming of spring!
Indoor Plants
Lining shelves or window sills with aluminum foil reflects light and provides
extra light for house plants. Supplemental light might also be needed.
On cold nights, move houseplants back from icy windows to prevent chilling
injury. Move plants away from drafty areas around entryways and doors.
Overwintering geraniums like bright light and cool temperatures. Keep soils
on the dry side.
Water houseplants with tepid water. Cold tap water may shock plants.
Phalaenopsis orchids and holiday cactus benefit from cooler temperatures next
to a window or in a cool room to trigger flowering.
Seed Dispersal
Wind - dandelion,
sycamore, milkweed,
thistle, ash,
cottonwood, and maple
Water - yellow flag
and willow
Animal fur - coreopsis,
stick tights, and
cocklebur
Animal digestive
system - persimmon,
mistletoe, magnolia
Gravity - coconut,
canna, apple, salvia
Animals burying -
acorns, pecans,
sunflowers
Explosion - Touch-me-
nots, Indian Pinks,
yellow wood sorrel
Human dispersal - any
seeds on clothing, soil,
animal feed, etc.
December 2018 · 3
December Gardening Calendar Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Field Specialist in Horticulture
The Garden Spade
It is time to turn in Master Gardener Volunteer Hours! If you have already completed your volunteer hours
for the year, please get them reported online or send to your local Master Gardener Coordinator (addresses
are located on the back of this newsletter).
If you need a new copy of hour record sheet, you can find it at http://mg.missouri.edumg forms.htm or
contact your local coordinator and they will send you one.
We are really encouraging the online reporting system this year.
Check out: http://report.missourimastergardener.com/
Every year we update the Master Gardener Directory. If you have
not turned in Master Gardener hours for 3 years, you will be moved
to the inactive list.
If any of your information has changed (address, phone, or email),
please let us know.
These hours are important to us! They help ensure the continuance of
the program.
If you have problems reporting hours, let one of us know...we are
here to help!
Time to Turn in Master Gardener Hours! Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Field Specialist in Horticulture
December 2018 · 4
Native Plant of the Month:
Deciduous Holly Ilex decidua
Deciduous shrub; Also called possum haw
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Flower: dull white, not showy
Bloom time: May
Comments: Occurs in limestone glades and
bluffs, along steams in wet woods, and in lowland
valleys, sloughs, and swamps. Plants are mostly
dioecious (separate male and female plants) so for
the best show of berries, plant female plants with at
least one male pollinator.
Information sources: Missour i Botanical
Garden, Grow Native!
Pictures courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation
The Garden Spade
Sure, now we are busy with the holidays, but once they’re over, you’ll be thinking about your garden. Of
course, it’s too early to work outdoors, but here’s an idea for an indoor gardening project: A mini glasshouse
garden. What fun to create your own “garden retreat” when the weather outdoors is “frightful.” The project
itself is not difficult (you can do as little or as much as you like), and you may
have many of the necessary materials already on hand. Here’s what you need to
get started:
1 – A miniature glasshouse, wide-mouthed jar (with lid), terrarium, fish bowl,
cloche, etc.
2 – Gravel and houseplant compost
3 – Baby houseplants (“little tots”) such as: Aluminium plant, dragon tree,
parlor palm, peperomia, silver lace fern, polka dot plant, croton, etc. Garden
centers often carry these, but perhaps you can start some baby plants yourself.
Try to create as much contrast as possible in leaf shape, height, and color. You
need to consider plants that enjoy constant warmth and humidity, and that are slow-growing and compact.
4 – Small artifacts, such as glass beads, driftwood, small seashells, etc. Perhaps you could include small
animal figures, or turn it into a fairy house with mythical figures. Items for seasonal changes could also be
added over time. (This is optional only to add color/interest.)
You are ready to assemble your garden:
1 – Cover the bottom of your container with one inch of gravel. Next, add a
layer of compost. The compost can be any depth and may be deeper is some
areas (towards the back?) than in others. Pat this slightly with your hand.
2 – You are ready to start planting. Put the taller plants towards the back of
center then place your shorter plants around them. Try to position the plants
to give them space to grow and to show the contrast between plants. When
you have settled on the arrangement, firm the plants in lightly with your
fingers. Water sparingly.
3 – Position the garden out of direct sunlight. Keep the door/lid closed to make it more humid and, again,
water very sparingly as it is easy to make the compost and plants too wet. Enjoy your new garden; it can
bring your many years of pleasure.
Indoor Mini Garden Megan Franke, Cape Girardeau County Master Gardener
December 2018 · 5
Garden Quote
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness;
it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”
-Gertrude Jekyll
Various glassware can be used as a container.
Keeping the lid closed can hold in humidity.
The Garden Spade December 2018 · 6
Growing Winter Onions Rennie Phillips, Scott County Master Gardener
Plants of the Holidays Katie Kammler, MU Extension Field Specialist in Horticulture
There are many plants that are important to the holiday season - many of you automatically think of and
some that you do not. I am going to divide the plants into decorative and useful and share a bit about each
of them. This will give you random talking points at holiday gatherings!
Decorative:
Christmas trees are a favorite holiday tradition. There are more than twenty different evergreens grown for
the Christmas market. The most popular trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia
pine, balsam fir, and white pine. Oregon, North Carolina, and Michigan are the top producing states.
Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape and take six to ten years of investment
to have a tree ready to market. The first Christmas tree farm in the US is believed to have been planted in
1901 in New Jersey. However, most trees were harvested from forests until after World War II when they
were planted and sheered to meet customer demand.
Poinsettias are a sure sign of the holiday season that come in a variety of colors like the traditional red,
white, pink, burgundy, marbled, and speckled. They are native to
Mexico and were introduced in the United States in 1825 by Joel
Poinsett. The showy colored part of the poinsettia is actually
colored bracts (modified leaves) rather than flowers. The flowers
are the yellow found in the center of the bracts. Poinsettias are
the best selling potted plant in the US even though they are just
sold in a six-week period. The Paul Ecke Ranch in California
grows over 70% of the poinsettias purchased in the US.
Christmas cacti have colorful tubular flowers with rounded teeth
on the leaf margin. There are several varieties of holiday cactus so you may actually have a Thanksgiving
or Easter cactus. They are native to Latin America and come in a variety of colors from white to shades of
pink. I have a Christmas cactus that has been passed down in my family for generations and I look
forward to its blooms every Christmas season.
Amaryllis bulbs are often seen this time of year. They come in a variety of colors that send up a bloom
stalk that grows quickly (an inch or more a day—fun for kids to measure or adults too!). They produce
huge flowers to brighten up a dreary winter day.
Rosemary was a popular Christmas plant in the 20th century and is now making a comeback. It can be
sheared into a variety of shapes so it makes a great decorative plant. It is native to the Mediterranean
region and hardy to zone 7. It can survive as a house plant and it is also handy to have around when
cooking.
Mistletoe is a traditional holiday plant. (I have placed it in the decorative category but some may consider
it useful!) Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant which means that it uses a host plant for water and mineral
nutrients but manufactures its own food. It stays green year round so it is easy to spot this time of year and
the seeds are spread by birds. It is a fascinating plant and a bit rare in this area.
Holly is another popular plant because it stays green year round and the females have Continued to page 7
The Garden Spade
December 2018 · 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 if you did not
attend the previous meeting.
Parkland MGs - 1st Monday at 6:30pm, Farmington Library
Poplar Bluff MGs - 1st Tuesday at 6:00pm, Call 573-686-8064 for location.
Ste. Genevieve MGs - 2nd Thursday, at 6:30pm, Ste. Genevieve 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 County Extension Center
December 2018
4-6 Great Lakes Expo for Fruit, Vegetable & Market and Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo in Grand Rapid Michigan; For more information, see https://glexpo.com/
January 2019
9-11 Illinois Specialty Crops, Agrotourism and Organic Conference, Spr ingfield, IL https://www.specialtygrowers.org/iscaoc-conference.html
10-12 Great Plains Growers Conference, St. Joseph, MO https://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/
Plants of the Holidays Katie Kammler, MU Extension
Field Specialist in Horticulture
Click on blue underlined link to be taken to a corresponding website...
red berries. You have
to have a male to pollinate in order to have
the showy berries. It can be grown in all
fifty states and there is a great variety of
hollies to choose from. The most common
holly in our area is deciduous holly. It
loses its leaves in the fall but the brilliant
red berries are beautiful in arrangements
with cedar and other evergreens.
Useful Christmas Plants—many used in
holiday baking and candy.
Cinnamon is probably the oldest and most
sought after spice. It comes from the bark
of a small, bushy tree that is native to Sri
Lanka and India. Nutmeg is another often
used spice. It is the seed of a tropical
evergreen tree from Indonesia that is
ground up to add to holiday recipes.
Cloves are a different spice that comes
from the dried flower bud of two species of
trees native to Malaysia. Ginger is an
important component of pumpkin pie and
gingerbread. It originated in India and
Southeast Asia. Ginger comes from the
rhizome of the plant. Allspice is yet
another popular holiday spice. It is derived
from the dried, unripened fruit of a tropical
evergreen tree. It is native to Central and
South America. Also what Christmas
would be complete without candy canes
flavored with peppermint, a product
distilled from the leaves of a mint native to
Europe. These are just a small portion of
the plants used in holiday baking. They all
have interesting histories.
I hope you have a great holiday season and
enjoy all the plants that are involved with
it!
Continued from page 6
The Garden Spade
Better Record Keeping
Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Field Specialist in Horticulture
Many of us in the gardening world shoot from the hip in regards to
planning, doing and evaluating are gardens. Does that describe you or
someone you know?
In the last several years, there has been a movement in the gardening
world toward record-keeping and journaling and many who are
following the practice are finding great improvements to their
gardening experiences.
Here are some simple tips that can help you in recording and journaling
through the gardening season.
Consider a binder in which
you can keep all your pages
and notes together.
Keep a notebook for
writing down varieties,
planting dates, and thoughts
on how the season
progresses - your successes,
failures, needed
improvements and new
ideas.
Label plants when they are transplanted. An alternative would be
to draw out your garden and label plants/varieties on paper in
relation to garden placement. Just don’t forget where you stashed
the paper.
Write down common planting dates, spacing and depths.
Make a list of your commonly planted varieties so you can
remember from year to year.
Keep frequently used MU guides on hand and easy to find.
G6201 Vegetable Planting Calendar
G6461 Growing Home Tomatoes`
G6220 Organic Vegetable Techniques
G6400 Frequently Asked Vegetable Questions
G6226 Vegetable Harvest and Storage
G6570 Starting Plants Indoors from Seeds
G6956 Making and Using Compost
December 2018 · 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 Field Specialist in
Horticulture
Marble Hill, MO
573-238-2420
Katie Kammler
MU Extension Field Specialist in
Horticulture
Ste. Genevieve, MO
573-883-3548
Guest Writers:
Rennie Phillips
Cape County Master Gardener
Megan Franke
Cape Girardeau County Master
Gardener
The Garden Spade
Items to add to a record keeping notebook.