Hort Shorts
- Plant daffodils, crocus, tulips, hyacinths and other spring-blooming bulbs now through December. The optimal planting time is when the soil temperature at the planting depth has dropped below 60 degrees.
- Good drainage is essential for spring-flowering bulbs. Amend clay or heavy soils with organic matter.
- Freshly dug sweet potatoes should be “cured” to heal any wounds to the skin and to jump-start the conversion of starches to sugar. Cure harvested potatoes by letting them remain in the warmest room of the house for a week or two, then store them in a cool place (50–60 F) for six to eight weeks for the sweetest flavor.
- Remove and destroy the dead foliage from canna lilies after frost to reduce infestation of leaf-roller caterpillars. The pupae of these pests overwinter in the leaves.
- Plant cover crops in fallow winter beds. Clover, annual rye, barley and buckwheat are a few examples of plants that will improve soil structure and suppress weeds. These can be turned under in spring before planting new crops.
- Planting trees too deep is a major cause of tree mortality. Determine the proper planting depth by identifying the trunk’s “flare,” the place where the roots begin to branch from the trunk. The flare should be visible above the existing grade after planting. This may require planting the root ball 1 or 2 inches above ground.
- Stay abreast of drought conditions and regulations in North Carolina at www.ncdrought.org.