5 Things to do in the garden this week:
Fruit trees. Let’s say you have a deciduous fruit tree that you would like to move to another spot in the garden. As soon as its leaves have completely fallen is a good time for this task since the culmination of leaf drop is the moment when dormancy begins. Almost any tree can be moved, as long as you have the patience and the back for the job. Oak trees, hundreds of years old, have been successfully moved. Your greatest concern should be the integrity of the rootball. For medium-sized trees, no more than 8 feet tall, the depth of the root ball should be at least 18 inches, with the width three times the depth.Before extracting the tree, dig a hole that is the same depth and a bit wider than the root ball. Slide a large piece of burlap under the root ball while it is still in the ground, then wrap and tie it tightly so that it is completely bundled up in the burlap and the soil holding the roots together cannot crumble away while moving the tree and placing it in the freshly dug hole.
Vegetables. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is harvested this time of year and is available for digging throughout California. Native to the Great Plains, this plant has naturalized throughout the United States. Its leaves and flowers resemble those of the sunflower and the plant can grow up to 10 feet tall although it is typically less than half that height at maturity. Its underground tubers are ready to eat in the fall but remain edible throughout the winter. Tubers may be eaten raw or cooked and were a staple in the diet of many indigenous tribes. The taste resembles that of an artichoke. The Jerusalem moniker has two explanations, one of which involves the Puritans, who considered America “New Jerusalem,” and thus attached the name of the Holy City to the tubers that grew wild and nourished them unexpectedly in their new home. The other explanation has to do with Italians who, along with many other Europeans, began to grow these plants after they were imported from the New World. Girasole means sunflower in Italian and it was the name they gave to this species with the sunflower blooms. Over time, the girasole appellation was taken back by English speakers, who pronounced it Jerusalem instead. You can order Jerusalem artichoke tubers at Etsy.com and groworganic.com. Unlike potatoes, they are low in starch and thus more appropriate for a low-sugar diet.
Herbs. Winter savory (Satureja montana), of Mediterranean origin, stays green throughout the winter months. A perennial member of the mint family, it is hardy down to 10 degrees, if not colder. Its fragrance has been likened to that of peppercorns, to pine needles, or to a peppery combination of oregano and thyme. Flowers bloom in the summer in pink, blue, or white. This herb is used to flavor a variety of meat dishes and stews. The genus name derives from satyr, a half-man, half-beast creature with a discerning taste for savory dishes. While this species grows a foot tall, the related Satureja spicegera is a ground hugging mat. You can find winter savory seeds and starter plants at Etsy.com.
Ornamentals. English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is the plant of choice for wreaths with its bright red berries and lush,prickly foliage. However, the species is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants and only the females bear fruit/berries so you have to plant two if seeking the classic red-berried wreath. However, there are self-fertile varieties such as J.C. Van Tol where planting a single specimen is sufficient to get berries. There are also highly ornamental varieties with frosty-blue foliage surrounded by white margins (e.g. Argenteo-marginata) and green leaves edged in gold (e.g. Aureo-marginata).
Flowers. Two bush violets that bloom in winter are noteworthy. The first is Barleria obtusa, sometimes called December flower since it blooms this month. It is a compact evergreen perennial that grows three feet tall, four feet wide, and does best with some sun protection, displaying violet-blue flowers. Stems root where they touch the ground. Native to South Africa, December flower becomes quite drought tolerant once established. The other bush violet is a Browallia hybrid growing one foot tall and wide. It thrives as a perennial near the coast, preferring shade when grown inland and surviving a mild frost. You can order it from provenwinners.com. The plants shipped by Proven Winners arrive in biodegradable Eco-Grande containers with fertilizer embedded in their walls, leading to explosive growth when planted with their containers intact.
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