Economical Gardening

By Laura Scoones, Master Gardener Participant

I know there are a number of gardeners who read the title of this article and snickered that I had used an oxymoron. Those of us who have what others have named as “plant lust” couldn’t possibly have a beautiful garden without the large yearly outlay of money. Perhaps the state of the economy has caused many to question the return on the yearly investment. With the limited growing season that zone 4 allows, I have begun to look at alternative measures.

When I planted my various window boxes and outdoor containers this year, it was truly a leap of faith. When I had finished planting all that you could see was dirt…This was a year that I had used my gardening skills to over-winter and store various plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, seeds and cuttings. Did you know that many of the plants that are commonly used as annuals could be over-wintered and put back into service for subsequent growing seasons?

When you visited the garden center in the spring did you buy geraniums, dahlias, begonias, coleus, caladiums, cannas, calla lilies, potato vines or elephant ears? If you did, you’re in luck because a little work this fall will allow you to see them bloom again next year without spending any additional funds.

As the fall comes closer, many of the flowers you have enjoyed throughout the summer can be pulled and stored in a cool cellar. When the first light frost hits your dahlias take your shovel and dig everywhere you see the remnants of its leaves. The frost has told the plant that the growing season is over. Once dug, you’ll see long tubers. Lay them out to dry in the fall sun. If colors are important to remember, take a twist tie and affix with the color of the flower. It is important to allow airflow around the tubers (plastic is its death!) Put a few in some peat moss in the middle of a square of burlap and bring the ends together and tie like a big present and hang from the ceiling. When you take it down in the spring you’ll see little eyes ready to begin growing. Plant in your favorite container or window box and wait for the first signs of growth while your wallet hasn’t been touched at all.

The same process can be applied to begonias, cannas, caladiums, callas, potato vines or elephant ears – all of these flowers have a corm or tuber that the plant grows from. Storing in burlap as outlined above or in milk crates, bread crates or large kitty litter containers with holes drilled in them allows for sufficient airflow.

A few plants can be overwintered by leaving everything in the pot and placing in a cool area and watering sparingly. Plants such as agapanthus and achimenes, work well with this method. Prior to a frost, an amaryllis can be stored in a cool dark place for two months. After that, bring into a warm well-lit growing area and wait for it to bloom.

Overwintering geraniums can provide you with year round color we all desire. Before the first frost, check your geraniums for any pests. A pest such as aphids can be knocked off with a shot of water from the hose. Bring into the house and place in a room that gets good sunlight. Treat like any other houseplant during the winter. Geraniums are also one of the few annuals that can be put in a cool space with the minimum of light and water, surviving for another year’s bloom. While they will grow toward any available light, and tend to get leggy, in the spring they can be cut back and they will fill out.

Collecting seeds can also provide you with a ready cache of flowers for next years season. Collect seeds from morning glory, datura, cleome, cosmos, columbine, coleus, snapdragon, sunflower and hollyhock. Make sure that all seeds are dried and place in marked containers. I have found old prescription (Rx) bottles work great for this project. The bottles are tinted but allow you to see the collected seeds.

Finally, you can extend the life of your plants by cuttings. Plants that are well suited to this method are geraniums, coleus and Christmas cactus. All three can be rooted either in soil or in water. If planting in soil push the cutting in about a half-inch. Water as usual. If rooting in water remove lower leaves, place approximately 2 inches of the stem in water. It’s important to place different cuttings in separate receptacles. Once rooted, they are difficult to separate. Once you see roots have formed, plant in potting soil. The plant will be ready to go back outside in the spring.

By using the techniques outlined above you too can have beautiful blooms costing no more than a little time and energy each fall and spring. While the process can seem scary the first time, you’ll soon adopt a yearly routine. I have had some of my flowers for more than five years. I still suffer from plant lust and cannot get through a season without buying some “knockout” annual. You can be sure I’ll try to overwinter and get another season out of it.

Come out to the Extension’s Parker Scripture Botanical Gardens, the dahlia garden is in peak bloom and monarch butterflies are flying in the butterfly house. The gardens are located behind the Farm & Home Center Extension Office Building at 121 Second Street, Oriskany, NY. The gardens and woodland trail are opened dawn to dusk.

Economical Gardening

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