What's in a Name?

 

May 2024

Pickaway to Garden

What’s in a Name?

By Paul Hang

 

Annual. Some things happen once a year and some things happen every year. We look forward to some annuals like the holidays of Christmas and the fourth of July; some other annuals, not so much, like taxes and, for some, birthdays. When it comes to the life cycle of plants we have annuals, bi-ennials and perennials.  It can be confusing especially to those new to gardening and sometimes to experienced gardeners. An annual plant does not grow every year unless it is planted every year either as a transplant or a seed.

 

An annual plant is a plant that flowers, produces seed, and dies in one growing season.  One and done! A biennial lives for two seasons and flowers and produces seed in the second year and then dies. A perennial is a plant that lasts for more than two growing seasons, either dying back after each season, like peonies and irises, or growing continuously like some shrubs and trees.

 

To confuse matters even more, some plants that are perennial by nature die after one season because they can’t survive the cold weather of your hardiness zone and so are treated like annuals, such as calendulas and tomatoes. Most perennials bloom for a short time, think peonies, hostas, lilac, daffodils. Perennials die back with the frost but they have stored up food and energy in their roots or bulbs and will come back next season.

 

Why would anyone want to plant annuals that die off every year? The main reason is annuals bloom longer, most bloom all summer long. They do this as long as you cut the flowers off as they begin to fade. If you don’t cut off the flowers eventually the flower will produce seed and the plant will die. It will have accomplished its mission in life. Marigolds bloom until the frost kills them, the same for petunias and zinnias

 

Annuals are also affordable. A package of annual seeds can grow masses of flowers. Annuals can be planted from seed directly outside and most can re-seed themselves, like Black-eyed Susans. You can start them inside. By the same token, if you are tired of an annual, you can plant something different next year. You can change things year to year, cosmos one year sunflowers the next. Renters are not investing in more expensive perennials that will be left behind.

 

You can use annuals to add color to perennial beds that may go weeks without color. They can fill gaps and control weeds. You can experiment. If you don’t like it you can try something else next year. Annuals can complement shrubs and perennials and add season long interest. The name we give a plant’s life cycle is how it performs in our garden. Like perennials we all want to come back year after year, annually. But like annuals we flourish, produce offspring, or not, and then die. Our seasons are just longer, hopefully.

 

The Master Gardener Volunteers are having their Plant Sale on May 18, 9am-1pm in the parking lot at the Pickaway County Library on N. Court St. Lots of plants, annuals and perennials, including heirloom tomatoes, are for sale. Our Helpline can be reached by calling the OSU Extension Office at 740-474-7534.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

Everything! The merry, merry month of May is a busy one. You can direct-seed corn, beans, potatoes, melons, cucumbers and squash. Those last three are usually planted in “hills” of groups of three or four plants. Place cheesecloth or row cover cloth over vines until they bloom. With any luck you will have prevented the cucumber beetles from invading the plants. This also works on the caterpillars of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts.

 

You can set out tomato, pepper and eggplant plants if the soil is warm (60 degrees). There is still a chance of frost but each week the chances become less and less. Be prepared to cover those tender plants if frost threatens. Don't be tempted to over-fertilize tomatoes, extra nitrogen will delay ripening and produce more vine than fruit. Remember tomatoes can be planted deep with the top few branches of leaves above ground. Roots will form along the buried stem. If you stake your tomatoes put the stakes in before you plant. Consider pruning your tomatoes and peppers.

 

If you plan to put houseplants outside for the summer, a period of transitioning to the new environment will help assure their health and vigor. Fertilize and place in the shade. You can divide and move perennials now. As the soil warms (50 degrees) you can plant summer-flowering bulbs such as caladiums, cannas, dahlias, and gladioluses. You can begin spraying roses for black spot following the directions on the product.

 

Cut the seed pods off your lilacs (after the blooms fade), but do not prune the stems. If your lilacs are getting overgrown and leggy, cut a third of the old stems this year at the ground. Do this to a third next year and the final third the year after that. This way you will rejuvenate the bushes. Stake or cage floppy perennials like peonies. For bigger peonies, remove small buds near the larger ones.

 

Remember "June drop." It is a time when fruit trees rid themselves of excess fruit. This is a natural process. Then thin apples, peaches and other tree fruit (not cherries) to a fruit every six inches.  Pines can be pruned back. Cut just half of new “candle” growth.

 

Mulch your beds after the soil has warmed. When you set out those tender plants protect against cutworms that can chew off new transplants. Use collars of aluminum foil, plastic, cardboard or other material to encircle the stem. The collars should extend into the soil an inch and above an inch or two. There are pesticides that can help control these pests (Google "cutworms extension”). I have also placed a toothpick in the ground right next to the plant stem with success.

 

This is a busy time for pollinators. When you spot a bug identify it before reaching for the spray. Fully 97% of the bugs in our gardens are beneficial or of no threat. Singular bugs are almost always beneficial predators. Crowds are often pests. Know your enemy! Consider starting a compost pile. Grass clippings, if not mulched and left on the lawn are a great “green” to add to the “brown.” Search (compost extension) for recipes.

Finally, it’s not how fast you mow but how high. Mow at least 3 inches high for a healthy lawn.