Avoid the Post Holiday Letdown – Plant Something

The holiday season is coming to a close and it’s time to get out in the landscape and garden. This is one of the best times of the year for planting trees, shrubs and the cool season vegetables.

Bare-root fruit trees are now available at retail gardening outlets. Some of the usual offerings include apple, pear, pecan, plum, peach, grape and Oriental persimmon. Blueberries and grapes are also sometimes sold as container grown plants.

Don’t delay the purchase and planting of fruiting plants until spring. By then, the best selection will be long gone and the chance of transplanting success will be less.

Select fruit trees carefully. Success in growing fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast is highly dependent upon choosing varieties adapted to this special region. Your local Florida Extension office can provide a list of recommended varieties for each kind of fruit.

This is the prime time of year for planting temperate-zone ornamental trees. Recent research has revealed that both tree and shrub roots continue to grow during the cool season in our area. Winter established plants are therefore well on their way toward establishment before the demands brought on by hot weather occur next summer.

Design shrub beds and transplant before the spring rush. Azaleas, hollies, Cleyera, Loropetalum, Camellias and other popular shrubs can be established now. Some gardeners fear that shrubs might be injured by low temperatures if winter planted. This should not be a concern if locally adapted, healthy shrubs are chosen.

Vegetable gardening can continue by establishing several of the cool season species. Plant seeds of beets, carrots, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, English peas, radish and turnips. Purchase certified Irish potato stock and plant cut potato pieces. Check local garden centers for bedding plants of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kale and bunching onions. Once established, these species of vegetables grow and produce during the winter and early spring, with little risk of loss due to low temperatures.

A Weather Alert for Gardeners:

Gardeners who are new to the area, having lived here for less than 3 or 4 years, haven’t seen a true North Florida winter yet. It is not unusual to experience temperatures in the teens during January. Single digit temperatures have also occurred a few miles inland during past winters.

Bring in tender container grown patio, deck and porch plants. Valuable subtropical plants can be partially protected by mounding pine needles, shavings or bark about a foot high around the plant bases.

Irrigate shrub and flower beds thoroughly one to two days before a hard freeze is expected. Plants with adequate soil moisture survive extremely low temperatures much better than those that are suffering from drought.

Question of the Week: I have heard that poinsettias can be successfully planted outdoors after the holidays are over. Is this true?

Answer: Yes, but only after the danger of freezing weather has passed. For now, hold poinsettias indoors, in the brightest location that is available and make certain that they receive adequate water.

Many gardeners have called in or e-mailed questions on this subject. Watch for an article to appear within the next two weeks that addresses the growing of poinsettias outdoors.