In September the planting of perennials is in full swing in the Middle West. As one expert puts it, “Peonies should be transplanted at 9:00 A.M. on September 15.”
Not that the timing is that precise, but by that date, roots are mature and can be divided safely. The sooner this is done, the more winter-resistant the new plant will be.
A reminder: This is the month of dahlia shows; so if you plan to exhibit, be sure to disbud the large-flowered types, removing all but the largest bud in each cluster.
Feeding the plants with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potash, but low in nitrogen will improve the keeping quality of the tubers next winter.
Don’t neglect gladiolus plantings after flowering. If other food is scarce, thrips will attack your gladiolus at this time; so keep the spray working.
The End Of The Bulb Storage Season
The end of September will open the bulb-storage season over the northern tier of Midwestern states.
It will pay to be ready ahead of time, with the storage cellar swept clean and the walls washed down with a good fungicide.
If the same space is to be used for root crops, try to use new sand for these. Bulb diseases are often brought into storage on the contaminated soil around root vegetables.
Squash and pumpkin storage is a tricky thing. The fruits should go into storage as bruise-free as possible.
Here’s what to do:
- Cut off the stems when harvesting–don’t break them.
Treat the cut end with a pinch of sulfur to prevent the entry of fungi. - Cure in a 70° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit room for at least 3 weeks, then store at 50° degrees Fahrenheit.
A good pear is usually ripened off the tree. Wrap winter varieties in soft paper and store them on dry shelves until wanted.
Keep at temperatures below 42° degrees Fahrenheit, but above freezing, until desired, then ripen in a 70° degrees Fahrenheit room.
Green tomatoes should not be stored cool. They will have better flavor if ripened between 55° and 70° degrees Fahrenheit on an open shelf.
Personally, I dislike the flavor of any but vine-ripened fruit and am through with tomatoes for the year when frost kills the vines.
Stop watering gloxinias and tuberous begonias if you plan to store these for the winter. Many gardeners are, however, growing these later in fall by using artificial lights to lengthen the day.
September Is The Best Month To Move Evergreens
This is the best month of the year for moving evergreens. Old growth is hard, yet there is time to get new roots started well before the soil freezes.
Remember that quack grass that gave you so much trouble in the vegetable garden last year?
Better dig up any row that becomes vacant and rake out those nasty white roots. Since quack grass likes firm soil, loosening it just before freezing weather helps destroy this pest.
This is the last chance to gather material for dried flower arrangements for next winter. Hang cut stems upside down in a dry room with light excluded. Color does not fade out if stems are dried in the dark.
If you still follow that anti-vitamin custom. It’s time to blanch celery. Personally, give me the flavor of well-blanched stalks, and I’ll take my vitamins out of a bottle – if I have to.
For summer use, green Pascal is wonderful, but what is Thanksgiving without well-blanched celery?
Be ready to protect vegetables like Swiss chard and New Zealand spinach against sudden freezes.
44659 by R. Milton Carleton