Pensacola News Journal

For: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003

By: Daniel E. Mullins

Extension Horticulture Agent

Santa Rosa County

November Gardening Tips

Our long Gulf Coast growing season usually comes to an end with the first frost or freeze in late November or early December. The tops of most tender annuals and perennials begin to die back, while temperate zone shrubs and lawns cease growth and enter a dormant or semi-dormant state.

This change of seasons should be enjoyed and not dreaded by gardeners. Though tender plants turn brown, it is time for many activities that pay off big during the winter and next spring.

■ Garden centers are now offering cool season flowering plants in containers. These can be transplanted in prepared beds for color during the winter and spring. Choose pansy, snapdragon, Shasta daisy, petunia, China Doll carnation, Digitalis (foxglove), ornamental kale and cabbage. Finish dividing and transplanting the hardy perennials such as Louisiana iris, blackberry lily, bush daisy, daylily, Gaillardia, goldenrod and stokes aster.

■ Plant a winter vegetable garden. The cool season vegetable species thrive during our relatively mild winters. Establish started plants of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, collard, kale, lettuce, onion and strawberry.

Others can be grown by seeding directly into the garden. These include beets, carrots, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, parsley, radish, spinach and turnips.

■ This is a good time to plant new trees and shrubs. Existing plants that need to be re-located in the landscape can also be dug and transplanted.

■ Finish seeding ryegrass for winter lawn color. Small grains (wheat, oats and rye) for grazing or for use as a winter cover crop should be seeded by mid month.

■ Rake fallen leaves and pine needles for use as mulch in landscape beds or in the garden.

■ Flowering dogwoods are easy to grow from seed. Collect seed as soon as they change to a red color and either plant them immediately or stratify at 40 degrees F. for 4 months for spring planting. If planted directly, don’t allow them to dry out and plant one-fourth inch deep. Stratification can be accomplished by placing the seed in the bottom portion of a refrigerator.

■ Control over-wintering scales, mites and other pests of ornamental shrubs by spraying them with a solution of horticultural oil emulsion. This is a relatively non toxic method of controlling these pests. The oil physically controls pests by smothering, rather than poisoning them.

Horticultural oil emulsion is sold under several brand names. Read label directions carefully before using this product. It should be used only when temperatures are within a certain range, and thorough spray coverage is required.

■ Bring in cold sensitive container grown tropical plants. Schefflera, Philodendron, Norfolk Island Pine and other tender plants can be damaged at temperatures well above freezing, so don’t wait until just before the first cold blast to protect them.

■ Establish a wildflower planting by choosing a sunny location, preparing the seedbed and sowing seeds. Choose a southern or southeastern wildflower mixture that contains well adapted species including Coreopsis, coneflower, Drummond Phlox, Gaillardia, lemon mint and black-eyed Susan.

Question of the Week: Are acorns edible?

Answer: Humans should not eat raw acorns. They are high in tannins and possibly a volatile oil. Though early Americans used acorns as a food source, even producing a flour, they knew how to prepare them. They were leached and sometimes roasted during preparation.

A bit of acorn trivia: There are about 300 oak tree species and all belong to one of two groups – either white oak or red oak. The acorns of the white oak group are usually sweet, while those of the red oak group are bitter.