Gardener s Palette - Save the Date

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1 Unit 14 Horticulture Newsletter Adams, Brown, Pike, Hancock, & Schuyler Counties December January 2018 Gardener s Palette - Save the Date Master Gardener s Present University of Illinois Extension Unit 14, Master Gardeners, and John Wood Community College will once again offer the popular Gardener s Palette on March 3, 2018 from 9:00 am 3:00 pm with registration beginning at 8:30. Join us for our 23rd Annual Gardener s Palette at John Wood Community College 1301 South 48th Street, Quincy. Online Registration will open soon at illinois.edu/abhps/ or by contacting your local Extension office (phone numbers listed below). For questions or more information, contact Kari Houle at or khoule@illinois.edu. Unit 14 Adams County (Main Office) 330 S. 36th Street, Quincy, IL Phone: Brown County Office 108 N. Capitol, Mt. Sterling, IL Phone: Hancock County Office 550 N. Madison, Carthage, IL Phone: Pike County Office 1301 E. Washington, Pittsfield, IL Phone: Schuyler County Office 710 Maple Avenue, Rushville, IL Phone: Inside this Newsletter Page 2: Holiday Wreaths/Nutty for Nuts Page 3: Nutty for Nuts cont./ten Interesting Facts about Poinsettias Page 4: Poinsettias cont./amaryllis Brighten Our Homes in Winter Page 5: Watch Where You Step: The Legend of Mistletoe Page 6: Indoor Gardening Page 7: Winter Tree Protection Good Growing Blog - Keeping you growing with good ideas

2 Decorative wreaths are a popular favorite during the holiday season. A holiday wreath adds color, interest, and a festive focal point inside or outside your home. A wreath can be made from a variety of fresh greenery, says Andrew Holsinger, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Some of the plant material used for your wreath may even be found in your own landscape. When creating a holiday wreath with fresh plant material, remember that gathering the live material is actually pruning the plant, and proper cutting techniques are necessary. Be sure to distribute the cuts evenly around the plant to preserve its natural form and beauty. Pines, firs, and cedars hold up well for indoor uses, Holsinger says. Just like Christmas trees, these evergreen materials will dry out slowly over time. A wreath placed outdoors may last for several weeks and those with many broadleaf evergreens actually will last longer if used outdoors. A few nice, needled choices for outdoor wreaths are spruces or hemlock. Don t be disappointed if you don t have the selection of plant material in your landscape, Holsinger says. Typically, many florists and garden centers have adequate supplies, but contact them as early as possible to find the best choices. A difficult growing season sometimes results in some shortages. Caution should be used when decorating with plant materials inside the home, says Holsinger. Poisonous berries can be found on yews, mistletoe, holly plants, and many others. The leaves of yew are particularly toxic. Keep all these plants out of the reach of children and pets. Never place fresh greenery near heat sources such as heat vents, space heaters, sunny windows, or open flames such as candles and fireplaces. Proper care of plant material will keep your wreath looking great from the Holiday Wreaths By Andrew Holsinger start. Holly branches will need protection from freezing temperatures after cutting, otherwise the leaves and berries may blacken. Use outer tips of branches since they are often the most visually appealing and offer the best uniformity in appearance. Holsinger also provides some recommendations for the preservation and use of greenery. When selecting greenery from your landscape be sure to use sharp cutters and immediately put the cut ends into water until ready to use, he says. When preparing the cuttings, keep the greenery out of sunlight. Prepare the cuttings to be consistent lengths to arrange around the frame of the wreath. Maintain balance in your wreath by using uniform bundles of plant material as you secure them to the wreath frame. In addition to green materials, use other plant materials to decorate your wreath. These add color and texture. Some popular choices are dried hydrangea blooms, pinecones, or reindeer moss. Nutty for Nuts by Rhonda Ferree I remember mom having nuts in the shell on the coffee table during the holidays. Although I didn t eat many nuts at that time, I liked using the little tools to crack open the nut and dig out its sweet inner meat. Let s look at the plants that give us these delicious morsels. There are two types of walnuts: Black and English. In the shell nut mixes feature English walnuts (Juglans regia), whose light brown thinner shell is much easier to crack. English walnuts are native to China and grow on medium to large trees. Although some cultivars will grow here, most will not survive University of Illinois Extension - Unit 14 web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps Adams (217) Brown (217) Hancock (217) Pike (217) Schuyler (217)

3 our cold winters. Nutty for Nuts cont. by Rhonda Ferree True to its name, Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) are native to South America. They grow on longliving, large trees in the Amazon rainforest. Fruits are large capsules that resemble a coconut. Arranged like orange slices within the capsule are eight to 24 triangular shaped seeds. Hazelnuts are also known as filberts. Although we have a native American filbert (Corylus americana), it is the European filbert (Corylus avellana) that is sold commercially for nut production. Both grow on medium sized shrubs or small trees. Pecans (Carya illinoinensis) are native here, but commercial production is best in the warmer South. This large hickory tree has an oval nut that splits readily into four equal quarters (valves). The almond (Prunus amygdalus) is a deciduous tree native to the Middle East. Almonds are closely related to peaches and are not true nuts. Similar to the peach, almonds are drupes. Instead of fleshy like a peach, almond fruits have a leathery green outer coat with a hard shell (pit). Inside the shell is the edible almond nut. Here are some interesting facts about a few other nuts we love to eat. Cashews (Anacardium occidentale) are the fruit of tropical evergreen trees. The curve-shaped nut is a drupe that sprouts from its fruit - the cashew apple. Cashews are in the same family as poison ivy, and thus the raw nut shells can cause dermatitis. Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are probably the most famous nut in the United States. Also called the groundnut since it grows underground, peanuts are legumes similar to peas and beans. One of our first Extension Ag Agents, George Washington Carver was instrumental in developing the little-known peanut into the most important commercial nut crop of today. Macadamia (Macadamia tetraphylla) are produced on trees in Hawaii. Pine nuts are the nuts of certain pine trees, usually the pignolia nut (Pinus pinea). Also called pinon nuts, they are harvest by hand and thus can be expensive. The next time you eat pecan pie, peanut butter cookies, or drink almond milk, think about the plant that produced the sweet treat. Ten Interesting Facts about Poinsettias by Ron Wolford No flower says Christmas like the beautiful poinsettia, according to Ron Wolford, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Let s learn a few facts and dispel some misconceptions about this traditional Christmas plant. 1. Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima. 2. Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsett was a botanist, physician, and the first United States ambassador to Mexico. 3. Poinsettias are not poisonous. A study at The Ohio State University showed that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 leaves to have any harmful effect. However, you might want to keep your pets from snacking on poinsettia leaves. Eating the leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea. 4. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky sap. Some people with latex allergies have had skin reactions most likely to the sap after touching the leaves. For pets, the poinsettia sap can cause mild irritation or nausea. The best approach is to keep pets away from the plant, especially puppies and kittens.

4 Ten Interesting Facts about Poinsettias cont. 5. Who would want to eat poinsettia leaves anyway? They are reported to have an awful taste. 6. The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are colored bracts, otherwise known as modified or specialized leaves. 7. Because of their red color, poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower. 8. In Mexico, the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10 to 15 feet tall. 9. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. Poinsettias come in colors like red, white, pink, burgundy, yellow, apricot, marbled and speckled. 10. December 12 is Poinsettia Day, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in For more information about poinsettias, check out the University of Illinois Extension website, Poinsettia Pages, at poinsettia. Amaryllis Brighten Our Homes in Winter by Rhonda Ferree During the holiday season, many different types of plants are available for decorating and display including the spectacular amaryllis. Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, says that the bulbs available in stores now can produce spectacular flowers for the holidays and beyond. The amaryllis flowers are borne in 1 ½ to 2-foot tall stalks. The trumpet-shaped, 6-inch blooms dominate their surroundings. After flowering, the plant produces attractive, bright green leaves, and with a little care will flower year after year. The amaryllis will bloom in four to six weeks after planting perhaps in time for a Christmas gift or for holiday decoration. If not in time for the holidays, the plant s blooms will sure brighten the household on bleak January days. Rhonda says that most amaryllis plants available this time of year are pre-potted and ready to go. Some already have started to grow and just need light and water to continue. However, if you buy a unpotted amaryllis bulb, follow these procedures for potting. Since the bulbs are large and thrive in cramped quarters, allow only one-half inch of space between the bulb and side of the pot. Fill the pot with a good potting soil. Set the bulb so that half of it is above the pot rim. Add more soil to about one-inch from the pot rim. Firm the soil and drench it with lukewarm water until the surplus drains through the bottom hole. The amaryllis needs heat to start growing so place the pot in a dark, warm, airy space until the first leaves or flower buds show. Then move the amaryllis into a sunny location and water thoroughly. Do not water again until the soil feels dry to the touch. When the flower blooms, move it out of direct sunlight so it will last longer. If you want to rebloom your amaryllis each year, Rhonda provides these tips to assure the plant s health and beauty for many seasons. When the flowers fade, return the pot to bright sunlight. Allow the plant to grow a number of long, strap-like leaves to help rebuild the bulb. Then to help form next year s bulb, begin fertilizing. Use a good all-purpose fertilizer; or if you prefer an organic type, try fish emulsion. Fertilize the amaryllis twice a month. Always water the plant before applying fertilizer. When the danger of frost is past, plunge the pot in your garden where the plant will receive filtered sunlight. In mid-september, the outer leaves will begin to yellow, an indication that the plant needs a rest. Cut all the leaves to within an inch of the neck of the bulb, bring the plant in and stop watering. Store in a cool spot at 50 to 55 degrees F. In late November or early December begin watering. When the bulb begins to show signs of growth, start the blooming cycle again.

5 Watch Where You Step: The Legend of Mistletoe By Chris Enroth Decorating with mistletoe has been a holiday tradition for many centuries in North America and Europe. It begs the question: Why do we have this strange tradition that prompts friends, family, and even enemies to kiss when they meet underneath mistletoe? Perhaps you have been one of the lucky or unlucky few that have found yourself under the mistletoe for a kiss, says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth. It is widely accepted that the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began in the 16th century, but the history of the plant goes back much farther than that. Mistletoe is considered one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants in European folklore. It was used in ancient times, centuries before the birth of Christ, by Druid tribes living in what is considered modern-day Great Britain. In fact, the plant was so sacred to the ancient Druids that if two enemies met under the mistletoe, they would lay down their weapons and exchange greetings. Druid priests would harvest mistletoe with a golden knife and pass it around to celebrate the new year. Mistletoe was banned from Christian ceremonies for many years because of its pagan origin, but Christian leaders eventually incorporated the plant into decorations and celebrations to draw in the old tribes of Britain and Europe. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began in 1520 when William Irving wrote, A young man should pluck a berry each time he kisses a young girl beneath the hanging plant, and once the berries were gone the romantic power of the plant faded. Hence, many gentlemen sought mistletoe cuttings with an abundance of berries to hang in their homes. In addition to its interesting history, mistletoe is also an interesting plant, says Enroth. It is a true parasite and grows as an evergreen in a variety of trees, but is common in apple trees, poplars, lindens, and willow. Mistletoe draws water and nutrients from its host. Although it typically does not kill the tree outright, it weakens it to the point of shortening the host s lifespan, making it vulnerable to other pests and disease. There are many different species of mistletoe, says Enroth. The species celebrated in ancient texts and used in European celebrations is the European mistletoe, whose scientific name is Viscum album. Mistletoe native to North America falls into the genus Phoradendron, and is the mistletoe commonly sold in the United States. Can you find mistletoe in Illinois? That would be highly unlikely at least in Central Illinois, says Enroth. Mistletoe is not common to our north-central Illinois climate, but can be found in Hardiness Zone 6 and becomes more prevalent further south. Enroth adds, You may have success finding mistletoe in Southern Illinois. With the warming climate, we have seen southern plant species begin to creep northward. Most commercially harvested mistletoe grows in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Mistletoe is toxic and ingesting berries in large amounts can be lethal, so keep it out of reach of children and pets, or hang artificial mistletoe. The name mistletoe translates directly to English as dung-on-a-twig, as ancient tribes thought the plant germinated sporadically from bird droppings. Since dung-on-a-twig does not lend itself to the plant s romantic legend, let s stick with calling it mistletoe and be careful where you stand this holiday season. University of Illinois Extension - Unit 14 web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps Adams (217) Brown (217) Hancock (217) Pike (217) Schuyler (217)

6 Indoor Gardening By Kari Houle Just because days are shorter and colder and the outdoor gardening days are over, doesn t mean that it all must come to an end. Indoors we can have our green houseplants, but what if I told you you can have herbs and lettuce and eat them too! You can grow a number of herbs and lettuce indoors even in the middle of winter, short days and all. Whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, they still have the same needs but indoors in winter the two restricting factors that can affect growth is light levels and humidity. Lettuce and herbs usually need between 6-8 hours of bright light each day. Southern exposure windows are great. If your windows don t receive that kind of light during the winter months, you can use supplemental lighting. You can use specialty grow lights, which can be more expensive, or you can use two 40 watt cool white fluorescent lights held 6-12 inches above the plants for hours per day. Supplemental lighting is not equivalent to natural light which is why the lights need to run for longer. For every 1 hour of natural light you need around 2 hours of supplemental lighting. Room temperatures are best 70 degrees and below so make sure to avoid placing your herbs or lettuce near a direct heat source. If you are lucky enough to have a window with lots of natural light, make sure to rotate your containers every few days. Plants will lean towards the light which is called phototropism. So to encourage even growth turning the containers is helpful and recommended. Make sure all the containers you are using to grow your herbs or lettuce have drainage holes and utilize a good quality potting mix. Don t use top soil in your containers. You ll want to plan on a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks for your herbs, but don t fertilize more often. Fertilizing more often can negatively affect the flavor and aroma of your herbs. To increase humidity, you can cluster plants together making sure to give some space between for good air circulation. Another option is a tray with pebbles in it. Fill the tray with water to just below the tops of the pebbles and place your pots on the top of the pebbles. As the water evaporates it adds extra humidity to the air. At this point, you re probably wondering what herbs you can grow indoors and what kind of lettuce. With lettuce, your best bet is loose leaf lettuce. Usually loose leaf lettuce can be harvested at about 4 weeks. I m a fan of loose leaf lettuce mixes and they are great in the garden in spring and fall as well. As for herbs basil, chives, oregano, thyme, winter savory, rosemary, parsley, sage and mint all do well indoors. For herbs harvest what you need when you need it for use in cooking. If you are using fresh herbs in place of dried herbs in recipe, the conversion rate is 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried. University of Illinois Extension - Unit 14 web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps Adams (217) Brown (217) Hancock (217) Pike (217) Schuyler (217)

7 Winter can be a tough time for trees especially evergreen trees and shrubs, says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Candice Hart. When the ground freezes, evergreens are left to survive on the moisture they have stored up in their leaves, as well as any moisture they are able to take up from the ground when it s not frozen. Since these leaves are still living and photosynthesizing, they are still using water from the soil in order to survive. In many winters, we re struck with very cold and dry winds that can force more moisture out of leaves while the ground is still frozen, Hart says. What results are brown, damaged, and sometimes dead evergreens in the landscape. This year take steps to prevent that damage. The first line of defense is watering. Be sure to thoroughly water any evergreen trees and shrubs in your landscape, well into the winter months. Watch the weather and water evergreens when nature does not supply at least one inch of water per week. As a general rule, provide 10 gallons of water for each diameter inch of the tree. Water only when air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit with no snow cover. Newly planted trees under a year old should be watered more than established trees. Another method of winter-weather protection for evergreen trees and shrubs should be considered at the time of planting. Be aware of the placement of fences and buildings or other structures relative to your tree. Trees receiving reflected heat from buildings, walls, and fences are more susceptible to damage, especially on south or west exposures. Windy sites result in faster drying. On existing trees or shrubs, use a barrier screen made of burlap or similar material as a wind Winter Tree Protection By Candice Hart deterrent. Insert stakes into the ground, stretch the burlap between the stakes and place the screen on the south, southwest, and windward sides of evergreens to create the best protection. Wrapping evergreens in burlap also offers a great defense from wind. When wrapping, it is essential to leave the top open to allow light in. If you choose this method, it is important to use a material like burlap that breathes, unlike plastic or other solid materials. Keep in mind that these evergreens are living, breathing plants and they still need light and air to photosynthesize, Hart says. And be aware that wrapping the plant too tightly may result in further injury. Antitranspirants compounds applied to leaves to reduce water loss will not block the pores of a plant for a long enough time to be effective in preventing desiccation. In essence, you still need to water your plant. With proper watering and tree protection techniques, your evergreens can be kept lush and green all year long, Hart says.

8 Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike & Schuyler University of Illinois Extension Adams County Office (Main Office) 330 South 36th Street Quincy, IL NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID QUINCY, IL PERMIT NO. 03 Check out our Websites! Winter Storm Resource Center Poinsettia Pages Christmas Trees & More Our Unit 14 Facebook page is up and going! Please like us and invite others to like us. We continually post events to keep you current! com/uie.unit 14 University of Illinois Extension - Unit 14 web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps Earl Bricker County Extension Director dbricker@illinois.edu Jennifer Shelts Adams County Master Gardner Program Coordinator jshelts@illinois.edu Dorothy Welbourne Pike County Program Coordinator dwelbour@illinois.edu Jennifer Shelts Brown/Schuyler County Program Coordinator jshelts@illinois.edu Kari Houle Extension Educator khoule@illinois.edu Whitney McKeown Hancock County Program Coordinator wnh100@illinois.edu University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences United States Department of Agriculture Local Extension Councils Cooperating. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any program, please contact your local extension office.