Bloomin' News - Oklahoma County Master Gardeners

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By Annie N. Wildes, Master Gardener Student ! I had been lazy, leaving my broccoli to bolt. On a recent, warm, sunny day, I finally managed to tend to the bed. There, dancing on the tiny yellow flowers was a honeybee. I was delighted. ! As a beekeeper, I knew my bees were out, foraging on what little blooms we have at this time of year. As a gardener, I was pleased I had left my broccoli alone to allow bees a source of nectar. ! Honeybees offer an abundance of benefits to our world. Their steadfastness in making honey allows us to enjoy honey in our teas, foods and natural medicines. Honey helps in wound healing, soothes sore throats and coughs and reduces allergy symptoms. A product made to feed only the queen, called royal jelly, can reduce cholesterol. We use bees’ wax to make candles and various cosmetics. Some people use the bee’s sting to alleviate pain. Finally, to our world as gardeners, bees play a vital role in pollination. ! The job of a worker bee is to forage for nectar and pollen to bring back to the hive for consumption. In the process of moving from flower to flower for nectar, the bee’s body is covered with pollen. The bee also collects pollen on its hind legs to take back to the hive. As bees move, the pollen on their bodies falls off into the next flower. Pollination is achieved, granting us the benefit of successful gardens. For this reason, many farmers ask beekeepers to put bees on their property. ! As gardeners, we may want to attract bees for the mere pleasure of observing their habits. We may want to provide a source of nectar for them in order to be a part of the production of honey. On the other hand, we may want to increase the likelihood our fruits and vegetables will have an upper hand in success. MGHOURS@GMAIL.COM Get Bee-zy Attracting Honeybees Honeybees Benefit Agriculture, Gardeners ! What can we plant? Having a variety of plants that bloom from late winter to fall will help keep the bees foraging and their stores full. Here are some plants to include in your garden to attract bees: Flowering Quince, Hairy Vetch, Alfalfa, Cotton, Vitex (they love this hardy tree of Oklahoma), Persimmon, Yellow and White Clovers, Sage, Black Locust, Elm, Pear, Redbud, Sumac, Sunflowers, Cone Flower, Bee Balm and Dandelions. OSU Fact Sheets on this topic: EPP 7317 Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, Carpenter Bees, and Sweat Bees EPP 7155 Nectar and Pollen Plants of Oklahoma Anyone who is interested in beekeeping or wants to know more may come visit my bees. Please contact me: Annie Wildes 973-5981 Look for the PROJECT SALES COMMITTEEʼs display tables along the north wall, toward the back. Cash or checks accepted. 6 Prevent Hatching of Fruit Flies By Pam Green ! Since reading Opal Zschiesche’s article about the fruit gnats, I offer a solution which I learned in Mexico, where we have vacationed for so many years. ! Why wait until they hatch to drown the little guys? Just rub a dab of liquid dish soap on the end of your finger and then on the end of the banana where the bloom was, and it prevents the eggs from even hatching. This works on apples and pears too. Those seem to be the only fruit I have ever had trouble with on my counter. ! Fruit is good for us. Gnats? Not so much. Kelly Barnard works with a caller on a recent morning. Jackie Ballinger was on hand as back up for her students through an early session. Linda Rose-Evans photo MASTERGARDENER@OKSTATE.EDU
Popeye’s Chew Thrives Until Hot Weather, in Garden or Among Annuals or Herbs in Pots By Schroeder Wilson ! There is a reason why spinach made Popeye so strong! One single can of spinach contains many more nutrients than just iron. Actually, it boasts vitamins A and C, thiamin, potassium and folic acid, one of the B complex vitamins. Dark green, leafy vegetables, like spinach, contain lutein and zeaxanthin, both carotenoids, which keep eyes healthy as they age, preventing macular degeneration and cataracts. Vitamin A and C, both antioxidants, keep cardiovascular systems healthy, reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Folic acid is essential for the production of red blood cells and for normal growth, particularly important for pregnant women. So, forget Popeye, and let’s think about my favorite tasty vegetable. ! The National Garden Bureau says spinach was introduced into Europe from Asia in the 15th century. Thomas Jefferson grew the rich dark stuff as far back as the 19th century. As for me, I don’t remember a spring that my dear mother didn’t grow the stuff. Every March, as soon as the good earth could be plowed, mother would plant only one type of spinach, Bloomsdale, a thick, very crinkly, glossy dark green variety. There are really only two types of spinach, smooth or crinkled, Savoy. ! ! Spinach like lettuce is a cool-weather plant. Heat and long days cause the plants to bolt, which causes spinach to lose its flavor and tenderness. So the shorter, cooler days of February, March and the fall are the perfect times to grow spinach. In planning your garden, spinach is 28 to 45 days from sowing to harvest. ! Mother sowed spinach every two weeks so her last sowing matured before long days and hot weather. MGHOURS@GMAIL.COM Spinach doesn’t like temperatures much above 75 degrees, but neither do I. ! Sow spinach seed directly upon soil, or scatter seeds across the surface in rows, or use it as an edging around a flower garden or in big containers where bunnies won’t chow down. Remember the larger the container, the less frequently you need to water. ! You can plant spinach with other annuals or herbs in a large enough container. Summer-blooming annuals will keep the container attractive through summer after the spring spinach gives out. ! Try curly-leaf parsley, which grows well in cool weather, or set up a tepee for pole beans in the middle. By the end of the spinach season, it will be warm enough to plant beans. Smaller spinach varieties, like ‘Melody,’ are a good choice for containers. ! Spinach is a heavy feeder and needs lots of nitrogen. For going organic, I suggest abundant use of compost for nitrogen. Norman Compost Facility will sell compost about March 17th, and a truck load is only ten dollars. If not compost, try fish emulsion or cottonseed meal, as either of these will provide organic, readily usable sources of nitrogen. ! Work the compost into the ground before you plant the spinach seeds, or incorporate it by sidedressing. Spinach grows best with ample moisture and well-drained soil. ! Bloomsdale spinach is ambrosial, buttery and crunchy, sweet and tangy, a delight when eaten raw or cooked. I prefer spinach in salads. My very large, white Tupperware bowl full of spinach salad disappears every time I bring it to our monthly potluck lunches. 7 Schroeder’s Spinach-Strawberry Salad I large bag of fresh spinach leaves 1-2 quarts of sliced fresh strawberries 1-2 bunches of chopped green onions (optional) Dressing 1 cup salad oil 1/4 cup or more balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup catsup 1-3 T. Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper to taste In a large bowl, combine spinach, green onions, and strawberries. Add dressing just before serving the salad. The dressing can be made the day before and kept in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator. Schroeder’s Winter Spinach Salad 1 head of Romaine Lettuce, torn into small pieces Large bag of baby spinach 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese 1-2 cups of cashews 1-2 cups of Craisins 2 unpeeled, diced apples 1-2 peeled, chopped pears 1-2 bunches of chopped green onions Dressing 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup lemon juice 3-4 teaspoons Dijon mustard 3-4 T. of poppy seeds Salt to taste 2/3 cup of oil Toss salad with dressing just before serving. The dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in a refrigerator. MASTERGARDENER@OKSTATE.EDU
Page 1 and 2: Gardener’s Calendar March 7 ! Mee
Page 3 and 4: Plant Sale Changes Promise Better S
Page 5: Mother’s Dracaena Witnesses Expos

Bloomin' News - Oklahoma County Master Gardeners

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