8 e z't-...has count maste gadene newslette • august 2020 8 e z't-gardening events and...

H A R R I S C O U N T Y M A S T E R G A R D E N E R N E W S L E T T E R bull A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

UrbanDirtGardening Events and Informat ion for Texans

ldquoLimited space creates unlimited creativityrdquo ndash Anonymous

Do you have limited space and an urge to surround yourself with plants Itrsquos possible but you need to think outside the box Let your creativity soar You can make space for plants either inside or outside or both

As home lots shrink and more people live in apartments or townhomes growing plants can be a challenge Whether you want to grow your own produce herbs or ornamental plants it can be done with time thought creativity and effort The price of your investment can vary as well You can accomplish your goals on a budget or spend more if you wish

A window box attached outside the window can provide you with color or greenery to brighten your day Indoors simply installing brackets and shelves across your windows can give you room to grow your own herbs or other plants in pots Two ladders with boards placed across the rungs can provide you with shelving for potted plants Terrariums or upcycled aquariums can provide homes for small plants Tuck an indoor plant somewhere on your bookcase or let a vine work its way across the top of your cabinets if you have space A balcony or patio can be perfect for making your own slice of heaven Take advantage of small nooks or entry-ways for your plants A single but striking plant with bright foliage

The Potential in Limited Space

or unique leaves at an entrance or stairwell can make a state-ment It can also blur or soften a corner or a hard edge Donrsquot forget a colorful or memorable pot with a plant in it can be an eye-catcher One of the easiest ways to increase your plant space is to go vertical Vertical plants draw the eye upward in addi-tion to increasing your space for greenery Remember hanging baskets Theyrsquore still in style There are tiny gardens and plants you can take advantage of as well Fairy gardens (my fave) can present a small tableau and they donrsquot take up much room There are also smaller plants you can use Dwarf mondo grass is a favorite I like to include in my

by Terri Simon Master Gardener

contrsquod on pg 7

Upcoming Events 2Presidents Perspective 3Herb of the Month 4Plant of the Month 5 Home Grown Lecture Series 9Gulf Coast Gardening Series 10MG Garden Workday at GFG 11The Future of Vertical Farming 12A Viridescent Opera 13

Texas Blue Bells 14Ask a Master Gardener 15 Master Gardeners in the City 16Growing with Plants amp Nature 17Open Garden Days at Genoa Friendship Gardens 18 Gardening Tools 19Green Thumb Gardening Series 20

Have Garden Questions Email your questions and photos to phonehcmgagmailcom

Container and

Small Space Gardening

A disheveled Talavera owl with garlic chives brightens up a spot Photo by Terri Simon

U R B A N D I R T bull A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

2

August 2020Green Thumb Gardening Series Container amp Small Space Gardening Aug 18 1100 am - 1200 pm Online at httpswwwfacebookcomharriscountyplEducational Programs Home Grown Lecture Series - Webinar To register for these free events please visit httpswwweventbritecomehome-grown-lecture-series-tickets-114355313822Aug 6 1000 am - Earth-Kind Landscape Practices by Paul Winski Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - HorticultureAug 13 1000 am - Home Lawn Maintenance amp Care Part 2 by Shannon Dietz Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - Agriculture amp Natural ResourcesAug 20 1000 am - Focusing on Fall Vegetable Varieties by Kim Perry Cooperative Extension Program - Agriculture amp Natural Resources Prairie View AampMAug 27 1000 am - Elements of Landscape Design by Brandi Keller Harris County Master Gardener Program Coordinator Gardening on the Gulf Coast - Webinar To register for these free events please visit httpswwweventbritecomegardening-on-the-gulf-coast-tickets-106812198160Aug 5 1000 am - Blueberry Production Ground and Container by David Oates Jefferson County AgriLife Extension Agent - Horticulture Aug 12 1000 am - Beneficial Insects in the Landscape by Paul Winski Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - HorticultureAug 20 1000 am - Understanding Soils on the Texas Gulf Coast by Stephen Janak AgriLife Extension Program SpecialistAug 27 1000 am - Ginger for Tropical Flair by Stephen Brueggerhoff Brazoria County AgriLife Extension Agent - Horticulture

Youth Activities Growing with Plants amp Nature Please visit us on our Growing with Plants and Nature Virtual Group found at the following link httpswwwfacebookcomgroupsGPNVG

Master Gardener Garden Work Day at GFG Aug 8 800 am - 1200 pm 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Road Houston Texas 77034An opportunity to provide recent Interns or any Master Gardener to meet with other gardeners to learn and work in a variety of gardens Work tasks will be outlined and available to Gardeners to seek their interest The Gardeners will be available to guide you through the task

Upcoming Events

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Horticulture Program in Harris County13105 Northwest Freeway Suite 1000 Houston TX 77040 7132740950 Master Gardener Program Coordinator Brandi Keller - 713-274-0956CEA ndash Horticulture Paul Winski - 713-274-0981CEA ndash Horticulture Vacant

2020 Board of DirectorsPresident Beth Braun hcmgapresidentgmailcomFirst Vice President Alan Fisherman hcmga1vpgmailcomSecond Vice President Jonathan Correia hcmga2vpgmailcomPast President Evan Hopkins hcmgapastpresgmailcom Secretary Aida Pita hcmgasecretarygmailcomTreasurer Dianne Lawrence hcmgatreasurergmailcomDirectors Douglas McLeod Danny Dunn Janice Muhm Dana Goeggel Linda Saxman Alexa Haass Marsha VanHorn

Genoa Friendship Gardens Steering Committee CoordinatorsAdvisors Evan Hopkins Georgia Lau bullUrban Dirt Editor Carolyn Boyd UrbanDirtharrishortgmailcomAssistant Urban Dirt Editor Terri Simon

COVID-19 AgriLife Extension

Web Hub

How to Wear and Take Off a Face

Mask

For more information on COVID-19 please visit the following websites

If you have horticulture questions email our Master Gardener Hotline at phonehcmgagmailcom

Please visit us at the social media pages below bull Harris County Extension Horticulture Facebook Page bull Harris County Master Gardeners Facebook Page bull Harris County Family and Community Health Facebook Page

Growing with Plants and Nature Virtual

Facebook Group


3

Presidentrsquos Perspective

Go big or go homeItrsquos a clicheacute (and song) that evokes a bold risk-taking attitude Some situations call for a different philosophy The Houston

Chronicle profiled a restaurant owner who took the courageous step of leaving her brick and mortar establishment and moving into a food truck Downsizing was her way of adapting to the conditions brought on by the novel coronavirus

At one time or another all of us have faced forced changes Many of you have flood stories Mine came in 2015 the Memo-rial Day Flood After weighing my options I decided to leave my old neighborhood and found my new home near downtown Houston in an enclave of townhouses After gardening on large single family home lots for years I now have a fenced-in front yard thatrsquos a mere 10rsquo deep and the city easement beyond that Irsquove learned a scale-down version of gardening

Lazy Gardener columnist Brenda Beust Smith reminds us to think vertically in small spaces in order to move the eyes up and to create tiers of plants My verticles are a fragrant Sweet Olive a delicious kumquat and a pomegranate With a townhouse fac-ing a street that dead ends at a nearby park with ancient live oak trees and a walking path I enjoy a steady parade of babies and toddlers in strollers joggers walkers and dogs and their own-ers Therersquos Bug Maple Igor Moo Ziggy Rose Rex Orbit and more Dogs that is Neighbors stop to chat and ask about what they see in my little garden

The massive floods brought on by hurricanes forced Harris County Master Gardeners to make major changes to almost everything we do And then came the novel coronavirus just as the long suffering AgriLife staff was scheduled to finally move into spacious new offices

A few months ago in this column I wrote that we didnrsquot know whether the pandemic would blow over or blow up We

have our answer now In the meantime your Master Gardener Association Board has continued to meet online take care of business and plan future projects Our Program Coordinator Brandi Keller and Agent Paul Winski have moved continuing education and other classes and programs to online formats and the fall class for interns is in the planning stages The HCMGA Store was successfully launched in June to sell trees left over from our spring fruit tree sales On July 14 Jonathan Correia and Evan Hopkins represented Harris County Master Gardeners on a Zoom meeting for state-wide MG groups to talk about our virtual plant sale What we learned through our setbacks will help other county Master Gardeners retool their sales too

Nothing can take the place of seeing each other in person but while we wait for that time to return yoursquore encouraged to stay engaged as we reinvent ourselves yet again Stay well

Beth BraunHCMGA Board President 2020

Small space urban landscape

On the watch - Samantha the GFG garden cat


4

crush one of the leaves in their hand and take in the immediate fragrance point to one distinct equivalent Root beer Many draw the closest herb parallel with sassafras and it may be of some interest to local chefs who fuse south Louisiana and Tex-Mex cooking to recall that gumbo fileacute the addition to gumbo often used as a thickening agent is the ground powdered leaves of the sassafras tree The flavor profiles of hoja santa and sassafras are

very similar In practical culinary usage

however the two herbs are not typically used in the same form Hoja santa is prob-ably most often used fresh (although allowed to wilt slightly) to wrap and infuse with its flavor everything from fine cheeses to fish The wrap-ping leaves are discarded prior to consuming in these cases while consumed fresh when chopped into salsa and pozole

Local nurseries report that some consumers are using both the stems and the leaves to brew tea hoja santarsquos recent surge in popu-larity is in part due to a claim by some that it ldquocuresrdquo Covid-19

While health uses in addition to its culinary wheelhouse are debatable do keep in mind that hoja santa contains small amounts of the aromatic oil safrole a known carcinogen that is also naturally occurring in sassafras cinnamon and basil The axiom seeming to apply here is ldquoall things in moderationrdquo

Propagation of hoja santa is by dividing the root ball In south Texas hoja santa should be planted in partial to full shade and in moist soil that is not allowed to dry out between watering This is a tropical herb that will produce near white to white flowers in the summer and is hardy to around 25 degrees

Just this last June Houston Chronicle correspondent Anita Jaisinghani published online a recipe for Hoja Santa Wraps and there are a few recipes scattered around the Internet to try Since there are precious few herbs that grow in partial to full shade and likewise love the heat for those with both the light and height allowances hoja santa is definitely one to try now

As tempting as the notion is if I were to plant every fascinating herb in my garden about which these articles are written long ago I would have begun sending the monthly transmissions to Urban Dirt from deep within a fragrantly tangled jungle instead of from my suburban Memorial home There are of course always excep-tions to rules and this monthrsquos herb has proven to be a rare one for as I write a local nursery is currently holding one of two remaining plants for me to pick up this afternoon (their previously large inventory was quickly snapped up upon its arrival) Pronounced O-hah SAN-tah hoja santa is this monthrsquos featured herb

Hoja santa (Piper auri-tum) also known as ldquosacred leafrdquo or ldquoroot beer plantrdquo is a towering herb that reaches the height of some ornamen-tal trees topping out between six and eight feet tall With velvet-like heart shaped leaves the size of a dinner plate hoja santa is native to both Central America and the North American southwest and has likewise long been used as a staple of both regionsrsquo cuisines Despite its versatility of use in both sweet and savory culinary applications hoja santa is relatively little-known and used outside of Latin American cooking Those who know it well and use it often claim hoja santa is as indispensable to Latin cooking as cilantro

The name ldquosacred leafrdquo comes from a Mexican legend that the Virgin Mary dried the Messiahrsquos clean diapers on hoja santarsquos leaves While this seems quite unlikely given the herbrsquos geographi-cal origins both the nickname and the legend have stuck Hoja santarsquos particular flavor is an elusive one to parallel definitely with a single essence rather it offers a heady bouquet containing hints of licorice anise black pepper sassafras mint tarragon and eucalyptus Indicative of hoja santarsquos other nickname those who

Herb of the Month

Hoja santa (Piper auritum) by Karen McGowan Master Gardener

Citationshttpslatimesblogslatimescomhome_blog201111hoja-santahtmlhttpswwwsaveurcomhoja-santa-mexican-herbhttpflavorsofthesunblogspotcom200807hoja-santa-root-beer-planthtml

Hoja santa at Genoa Friendship Gardens

Photos by Carolyn Boyd


5

in the Plant of the Month article This past weekend I had just picked up my orange tree from our Master Gardener fruit tree sale To be honest I tend to be a bit of an impulse buyer when it comes to gardening and so an orange tree just seemed like a cool idea I had no idea what challenges I would face and specifically where I was going to plant it While I was driving home I real-ized I needed to figure out the locationhellipfast Then it hit me I wondered if I could grow an orange tree in a container

I did not mention it in my list above but I already have a lemon and lime growing in containers So I asked my daugh-ter if she would look on her phone and see if you can grow a Washington navel orange tree in a container So as we are driv-ing down I-45 I learned container growing of an orange tree is indeed a viable planting option With that knowledge a quick stop at a local nursery to buy the planter and then to the house into the garden and here it is It is a beauty

If there is one thing I like about container gardening it is the ability to place the plant in a convenient location and then if need be relocate the plant based on our unpredictable weather here in Houston

The initial infor-mation my daughter found on the internet was an article posted by US Citrus located in Hargill Texas Their article ldquoEight Steps to Growing Na-vel Oranges in Con-tainersrdquo1 provides a good general overview of the key consider-ations such as the con-tainer soil fertilizing sunlight requirements winter protection

where to buy and harvesting Aside from these key elements the article states ldquoThe actual planting process of Navel orange trees in pots is very straightforward with standardized use of potting soil and watering and fertilizing schedulesrdquo

Plant of the Month

Citrus ndash Navel Orange Tree by Don Tyler Master Gardener

The subject of this monthrsquos Green Thumb Lecture Series is ldquoContainer amp Small Space Gardeningrdquo If you have read any of my articles I have mentioned on sev-eral occasions that I do a decent amount of container gardening I have written about growing my turmeric ginger night blooming cereus and cinnamon tree and as the pictures

show there are any number of ldquootherrdquo plants my wife and I containerize

One thing I particularly like to do is place large containers ie

barrels of flowers throughout my garden to attract those essential pollinators

With all those options it is kind of funny how certain things come to mind when you start to consider what to write about

Photos by Don Tyler

contrsquod on pg 6


6

Citrus ndash Navel Orange Tree contrsquod from pg 5

it has been a constant nuisance It seems like every time there is new growth the leaves are attacked In fact a few months back a neighbor of mine had me look at his citrus tree and he hardly had a decent looking leaf on the tree In my mind he had allowed the ldquonot seriousrdquo to become a ldquoseriousrdquo condition My takeawayhellipyou cannot leave citrus unattended They are in my mind some-what ldquodelicaterdquo for lack of a better termpersonal opinion

Whether delicate or not I am already encouraged at how healthy my orange tree appears and cannot wait to see it fruit out in the coming years As you consider container gardening might I suggest trying your hand at citrus With the resources refer-enced there is plenty of information to make growing citrus fun and rewarding not to mention fantastic citrus tree sales from the Harris County Master Gardeners

1 Ron ldquoEight Steps to Growing Navel Oranges in Containersrdquo wwwuscitruscom Posted on August 23 2018 Accessed 61020 httpsuscitruscomblogscitrus-simplifiedgrowing-navel-oranges-in-containers-8-steps

2 ldquoPatio Citrusrdquo Accessed 61520 httpsaggie-horticulturetamuedupatiocitrus

Example Dove Rita ldquoLady Freedom among Usrdquo The Electronic Text Center Ed David Seaman 1998 Alderman Lib U of Virginia 19 June 1998 httpetextlibvirginiaedu subjectsafamhtml

Another fantastic source for growing citrus in containers by Texas AampM AgriLife Extension ldquoPatio Citrusrdquo2 A couple of key take-aways from this publication to keep in mind

bull Cold protection is necessary which can be accomplished through relocating covered with an appropriate frost cloth or at times with supplemental heating around the tree Personally I have relocated my container plants and recently have reverted more to covering the trees with frost cloth I lost my first lemon and lime trees thinking it would ldquonever get cold enough in Houstonrdquohelliplesson learned

bull Never fertilize after July as doing so promotes late tender growth that is susceptible to freeze damage

bull Container with adequate drainage As a personal comment I always cut more holes in my containers than the planters come with We get massive downpours here in Houston and a container can get easily waterlogged

bull Expect the tree to outgrow the container every 3 or 4 years I have not reached that point yet with any of my citrus but the article gives great guidance on how to relocate the tree to a larger container or trimming the roots

bull Container citrus trees will produce too many fruit for the size of the tree We need to be thinning the fruit when it setsAgain this is just a sampling of the information available

and the article goes on to offer suggestions on the best varieties for our area

No article on gardening is complete without mention-ing challenges and the AgriLife article provides a good table entitled ldquoDiagnosis of common citrus problemsrdquo Even though my orange tree is newly planted I have already experienced leaf cupping and curling This problem affects my lemon and lime trees as well The following picture shows the problem evident on my lemon tree

The AgriLife article states it is caused by aphids and so for me a quick spray with neem oil and soap solution corrects the problem The table indicates this issue as ldquonot seriousrdquo but for me


7

fairy gardens PVC pipes can be used to make a variety of plant holders if you want to stay on a budget Google PVC pipes for planters- yoursquoll be surprised at the number of ideas that pop up

Other ideas for small plants include succulents While some of them grow large many of them are smaller have shallow root systems and are slow grow-ers Take advantage of the link below for easy direc-tions on how to make a small succulent wall garden using a shadowbox httpswwwproflowerscombloghow-to-make-a-succulent-wall-garden One plant that has recently caught my eye is a ldquodwarf monsterardquo Raphidophora tetrasperma has fenestrated leaves like a Monstera deliciosa but it prefers bright indirect light and the leaves are small It is a fast growing vine that will reach 6-12 feet but again itrsquos a climber

Outside you can also enjoy a variety of plants that donrsquot have a large footprint Micro greens miniature lettuce carrots baby broccoli and small peppers are perfect for growing in contain-

ers Another option is to plant a vertical garden Many plants can be grown on trellises The footprint of a squash if allowed to grow in the ground is approximately 20 square feet If the same plant is trained to grow on a trellis the footprint is much smaller The amount you spend on a trellis is up to you You can purchase an elaborate trellis or a cattle panel from the feed store will also do the

The Potential in Limited Space contd from pg 1

contrsquod on pg 8

job Once the plant is established the vine will partially obscure the trellis anyway I have even seen twine used to grow morning glories Growing vegetables on a trellis has several advantages you can re-duce the footprint of the vegetable on the ground to allow more space for other plants in the bed picking your harvest is easy on your back since you donrsquot have to bend over and finally having your crop grow vertically allows you to find and pick them more easily How many times have you found an overgrown cucumber or squash that was hidden among winding vines on the ground

Other ideas for limited outside space include using espalier methods to grow trees against a fence or wall Not only is it a unique way thatrsquos decorative but if you used fruit trees then you also get to enjoy your harvest You can purchase grafted fruit trees that will increase your treesrsquo fruit variety With 4-in-1 citrus or a 2-in-1 apple tree you can extend your growing season and

A PVC pipe planter is an inexpensive way to display a plant collection Photo courtesy architecturedesignnet

An espalier tree uses a fence to minimize its footprint Photo courtesy vegetablegardenercom

Morning glories on twine add color and are inexpensive Photo courtesy cubitsorg

A fairy garden warrants a second look in a nook Photo by Terri Simon


8


enjoy different varieties Instead of taking up the space of more than one tree you can have two or more varieties growing on one tree A multiple grafted tree costs more but again it takes up the space of one tree There are several types of fruit trees avail-able with varying number of grafted varieties There are also dwarf varieties of fruit trees on the market Several of these can be grown in containers

My last suggestion for maximizing the usage of a small piece of land is to research backyard orchard culture This growing method encourages close planting of fruit trees to maximize home garden productivity and reduce the amount of land used Planting trees in a small

A ladder trellis with shelves adds indoor plant display Photo courtesy society19com

Multiple-graft citrus with lemons and limes Photo courtesy gardeningknowhowcom

area limits the treersquos vigor It can also increase cross-pollination between the trees Keeping the trees smaller limits the crop size and lets you spray prune etc more easily

I hope the suggestions I have listed encourage you to find ways to increase your plant collection With a little creativity you can surround yourself with greenery and we as gardeners know how satisfying and relaxing that can be

Carolyn Boyd Brad Coburn Don Couch Ceil Dow Keeng Eng Sally Goss Nelson Harbinson James Holmes Julee Jackson Brandi Keller Jana Lee Margaret Pierce Dale Reid Molly Scott Teresa See Kelly Shannon Jo Ann Stevenson Noe Tristan Heman Wai Lee Talley and Diane Walker

Master Gardeners and Interns who celebrate a birthday during August include the following Wish them a HAPPY BIRTHDAY when you see them

If your name is missing please check that your online profile is complete

Is there a fellow MG you think should be recognized for their hard work and commitment If the answer is YES you can submit their name for an MG of the Month nomination

Submit your MG of the Month nominations to the Membership Committee by e-mailing the information to kmbreneattnet (West) or gclaucomcastnet (Genoa Friendship Gardens)

Nominate a Master Gardener of the Month


9

August 6thEarth-Kind Landscape Practices

Paul Winski Texas AampM AgriLife County Extension Agent-HorticultureAugust 13th

Home Lawn Maintenance amp Care Part 2 Shannon Dietz Texas AampM AgriLife County Extension Agent-

Agriculture amp Natural ResourcesAugust 20th

Focusing on Fall Vegetable Varieties Kim Perry Cooperative Extension Program-Agriculture amp Natural Resources

Prairie View AampM

August 27thElements of Landscape Design

Brandi Keller Harris County Master Gardener Program Coordinator

To register for this free event please visithttpshomegrown2020augusteventbritecom

A l ink to the program will be emailed before the webinar

Hosted by Texas AampM AgriLife ExtensionmdashHarris County1000 am CST Thursdays in August 2020

Join us for 30 minutes from the comfort of your homeAll you need is a computer laptop or mobile device with

internet capabilities

HOME GROWNLECTURE SERIES

The members of Texas AampM AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities education and employment to allpersons regardless of race color sex religion national origin age disability genetic information veteran status sexual orientation

or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas AampM AgriLife


10

Need more horticulture information Tune in on Wednesdays for the Gulf Coast Gardening Series and hear from AgriLife Extension horticulture agents and specialists from 9 different counties on gardening topics for the Gulf Coast


11

GFG Garden Workday is an opportunity to provide recent Interns or any Master Gardeners to meet with other gardeners to learn and work in a variety of gardens Test your practical gardening skills and learn from other gardenersrsquo knowledge Explore the various options of working in a collection of gardens with perennials proven Earth-Kind winners Fruit tree orchard composting and the Greenhouse activities

Come and enjoy a few hours working in the garden with fellow Gardeners while gaining your required membership service hours

Work tasks will be outlined and available to Gardeners to seek their interest The Garden leads will be available to guide you through the task

The GFG is located 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Road Houston Texas 77034 For some of you that may have considered this a distance you could not commit to on a regular basis it is always available if you have a need to be surrounded by old or new friends

Please join us at our first Open Garden Workday August 8 2020 800 am ndash 1200 pm

Evan J HopkinsHCMGA Past President

August 8thGFG Garden Workday800 am ndash 1200 pm1202 Genoa Red Bluff Road Houston TX

(Appropriate Covid-19 protocols will be observed)


12

In the future will a portion of our crops be grown indoors Several companies are competing in a green revolution to change the way we farm In anticipation of global warming and possible food shortages companies like Square Roots Farm run by Kimbal Musk (Elon Muskrsquos brother) have begun ldquoSuper Farmsrdquo by grow-ing more than 120 types of crops in shipping containers that are climate-controlled

Vertical farming is farming that occurs indoors The plants are placed in layers sometimes without using soil Kimbal is a chef who attended the French Culinary Center in New York In 2016 he opened Square Roots in Boston to introduce and encourage a new generation of youngsters to gardening in an urban setting His goal is to establish Square Roots ldquoSuper Farmsrdquo in Brooklyn New York Grand Rapids Michigan and other areas

Jeff Bezos is also working to establish his indoor farming company called Plenty One of their goals is to have fresh greens available throughout the year A huge warehouse in southern San Francisco has 16 foot tall walls with fresh greens growing All steps in the growing process are automated Robots are used to do some of the work They can pack and transport plant trays and bump up plants to larger containers Infrared cameras and sensors

The Future of Vertical Farmingmonitor the crops There is a sensory department that assesses flavor and size Since both Square Roots and Plenty can control the plant environment flavors can be tailored that would not be possible in field grown plants By growing things locally they can provide varieties that might not survive shipping in addition to reducing transportation costs Growing produce inside may reduce the bacterial outbreaks that have happened in the past with crops grown outdoors This is not your grandmarsquos kitchen garden

Will indoor or container grown plants cost the same as those grown in the field That remains to be seen If companies can reduce their energy usage one of their biggest costs it could be possible Since Square Roots grows its plants using hydroponics it uses 90 less water than an outdoor farm Their grow lights are turned on at night when kilowatt hours are cheaper Plenty says it has lowered their energy use by 80 per plant kilogram Indoor farms can drastically cut the distribution center and supply chain costs Who knows what the future holds for consumers More companies are likely to invest in the vertical farming method I for one am looking forward to seeing new plant varieties available in my store in the near future


Basil growing in Square Roots container Photo courtesy squarerootsgrowcom

Wall of greens at Plenty in San Francisco Photo by Spencer Lowell


13

There they sat parked in all of the seats the mezzanine the platinum circle seats the grand tier seats and the balcony The cultivars exposed to culture A fertile verdant family out for an evening of music Twenty two hundred and ninety two plants all were seated through-out the Barcelona Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house in Spain It was a packed house Budding music lovers literally

Filling the opera house seats with plants was the idea of concep-tual artist Eugenio Am-pudia The plants were brought in for a per-formance by the UceLi Quartet who played Puccinirsquos Crisantemi for them The Liceu closed in mid-March because of the corona virus and on Sunday June 21 2020 it was allowed to reopen with limited seating Local nurseries provided the audience and all plants were given to health-care workers

Does music encour-age plant growth No Do plants react to mu-sic A study in 2014 by the California Academy of Sciences determined that plants could react to vibrations Cat-erpillars on the plant Arabidopsis chewed away while researchers measured the plantrsquos leaf movement Afterwards the recordings of

A Viridescent Operathe caterpillarsrsquo chewing were played to one group of plants while another plant group heard only silence Caterpillars were then allowed to feast on both groups of plants It was determined that

the plants who heard the caterpillar chewing vibrations made more mustard oil Caterpillars donrsquot like mustard oil They will creep away

In another experi-ment researchers played different recordings to another group of Ara-bidopsis plants These sounds include wind and the mating song of a leafhopper These recorded vibrations had no effect on the plants They did not activate their chemical defenses because they did not feel threatened by the vibrations

While watching the video I caught myself laughing I spotted a mother-in-lawrsquos tongue plant Did the soothing music dull the sharp tips of her leaves Not likely In one part you can see some of the plants sway-ing I donrsquot think it was in response to the music the cause was likely due to an air conditioning

vent To view the youtube video yourself click on the following link httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=rgvadprJFRc


Photo courtesy cnncomstyle


14

Texas Blue Bells - Eustoma exaltum russellianum

Dr William C Welch Professor amp Landscape Horticulturist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A amp M University

Texas Blue Bells are having a fabulous year They appear during our hottest season and are too often mowed down Their blooms are iridescent and velvety Blues and purples are the most common colors but pinks and whites also occur I remember first seeing them as a child My Aunt Stell was a school teacher in Hope Texas that had a two room independent school near Yoakum and always noticed wildflowers She brought in a bouquet in the heat of summer and I was amazed Long ago thriving colonies along river banks and open grassy fields were common Blue bells were one of Lady Bird Johnsonrsquos favorites I have heard blue bells described as a weak perennial The seed is as fine as ground pepper The foliage is bluish green and they are usually 1-3rsquo tall Shortly after arriving at Texas A amp M University in 1972 I was contacted by the Japanese government requesting that I locate a native site where blue bells were growing At the time there were some large plantings between Navasota and Conroe on Highway 105 The site has since become a public school and the bluebells were destroyed

Blue bells vary widely from year to year Their use as cut flowers was what interested the Japanese visitors They collected seeds and did some work toward making them available because they are not only stunningly beautiful but last a long time as cut flowers (two weeks is not uncommon) In early July of 2020 my wife and I noticed some really beautiful fields of blue bells along Highway 390 near Independence TX (Washington County) We saw a tractor with a mowing attachment in the area and were saddened to notice several days later the field had been completely mowed and the blue bells destroyed

Native American Seed is listed as a source Late summer or winter is probably the best time to start seed Either cool season transplanting or direct sowing is probably best


15

Ask a Master Gardener is a volunteer program offered by Texas AampM AgriLife Extension Service Volunteers staff booths and tables to provide free research-based horticulture education to the public throughout Harris County

Ask a Master Gardener

As a public health precaution to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 the Harris County Master Gardener Association is suspending events

for the month of August

Our top priority is the health and safety of our staff guests and volunteers We thank you for your understanding

Look for an Ask a Master Gardener table at the following locations when events resume

Urban Harvest - 1st Saturday 730 am - 1200 pm at 3401 Westheimer Rd (corner of Buffalo Spdwy amp Westheimer) Houston Garden OaksHeights - 1st Saturday 830 am - 11 am at The Farmstand 938 Wakefield Houston Tomball - 2nd Saturday 830 am - 1 pm at 205 W Main Street Tomball

Westchase - 3rd Thursday 3 - 7 pm at 10503 Westheimer Rd Houston

Memorial Villages - 4th Saturday 830 am - 1 pm at 10840 Beinhorn Rd Houston Towne Lake - 4th Saturday 230 - 7 pm at 9955 Barker Cypress Rd Cypress

Itrsquos that time of year

As you all know we are in hurricane season until November 30th Hopefully storms will bypass our area this year But to make sure you and your families are prepared for an event check out httpswwwnhcnoaagovpreparereadyphp


16

Texas AampM AgriLife Extensionin partnership with

Hermann Park Conservancy are pleased to present

Master Gardeners in the Cityat McGovern Centennial Gardens

These educational programs are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLICExtension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level race color sex religion disability or national origin

The Texas AampM University System US Department of Agriculture and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas cooperating

McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park1500 Hermann Drive

Houston Texas 77004

When events resume free tours and childrenrsquos activity Adult workshop at 1030 amNo registration required

Visit the Harris County Master Gardeners Facebook page for event details

wwwfacebookcomHarrisCountyMasterGardeners





17

Growing with Plants amp Nature Texas AampM AgriLife Extension Service and Harris County Master Gardeners

invite you to join us one day each month January through November 1000 ndash1115 am Free for children ages three to twelve REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED To register or

for more information ogdharrishortgmailcom

For information about upcoming topics dates and registration please email us at ogdharrishortgmailcom Registration is required before each program

Children and their parents looking for hands-on ways to learn create and have fun inspire our Growing with Plants amp Nature volunteers to offer programs that do just that

This FREE monthly childrens event includes a variety of activitiesbull Planting seeds veggies or ornamentals into pots so children can continue to grow

them at homebull Creating a nature theme craft project with materials that are provided bull 30-40 minute hands-on lesson that focuses on a single topic each month

Previous lessons have included making a worm farm putting together a compost bin learning about the importance of butterflies and making a feeder to attract pollinators

Recycled soda bottle

Past projects

Fantasy GardenSeed Pod mobile

(The Open Garden Day childrens activities program name has changed to be more reflective of its mission)

Growing with Plants amp Nature has moved all in-person events online until further notice Please visit us on our Growing with Plants and Nature Virtual Group found at the following link

httpswwwfacebookcomgroupsGPNVG

We hope this helps educate more families and children on gardening during this stressful time


18

Open Garden Days at Genoa Friendship Gardens

The Texas AampM AgriLife Extension Service and Harris County Master Gardeners invite you to join us for

The Genoa Friendship Gardensis located at

1202 Genoa Red Bluff RoadHouston Texas 77034

To schedule a special event for your garden club school or professional organization please email brandikelleragtamuedu to make your arrangements

bull Tour the variety of exhibits to inspire you with vegetable perennial rose tropical and native gardens

bull Meet and talk with a Master Gardener about planting citrus fruit or berries for your home orchard

bull Contemplate the joy in the Serenity Garden and catch a view of the Water Gardenbull Dont leave the GFG until you have shopped the Greenhouse where seasonal herbs

vegetables and perennials are available for sale until September

2020 Monthly Open Garden Days amp Special Events




The PerennialAnnual Trial Garden The Water Garden The Greenhouse

on the 3rd Monday of the month March through October 830 am ndash 1100 am Admission to the Exhibit Gardens is free Register at the Welcome Table

to receive additional monthly notices for children and family events

Open Garden Days


19

Gardening ToolsThis chart is a handy guide for knowing the best times to plant in Harris County

Download the Vegetable Garden

Planting Guide here


Texas aampM agriLife exTension service

13105 norThwesT freeway suiTe 1000 housTon Tx 77040713-274-0950harrisagrilifeorgprogram-areashort

hcmgatamuedu

Would you like to contribute to the Urban DirtSend all questions andor submissions to UrbanDirtharrishortgmailcomWould you like to contribute to the Urban DirtSend all questions andor submissions to UrbanDirtharrishortgmailcom

wwwfacebookcomHarrisCountyMasterGardenerswwwfacebookcomHarrisCountyHorticulture

httpstwittercompharrishort

httpswwwinstagramcomharriscountymastergardeners

Follow Us On Facebook Twitter amp InstagramThe Harris County Master Gardeners as well as Texas AampM AgriLife Extension - Harris County Horticulture are actively participating on Facebook Twitter and Instagram offering tips lists news and plant advice almost daily The best part instead of locating planting guides or insect documents and sale dates for individuals you can add the HCMG site to your account and easily share information with others This is a definitely a timesaver for these busy garden days and helps promote our organization

Green Thumb Gardening Series

Join us ONLINE August 18th 11 am ndash 12 pm for ldquoContainer and Small Space Gardening rdquo You can sign up for the event on the Harris County Facebook Page and will be notified of the link to attend the webinar If you are not on Facebook the webinar link will also be available on the following websites under the Green Thumb Lecture Series

Harris County Master Gardener website

Harris County AgriLife Extension Service website

Container and Small Space Gardening


2

August 2020Green Thumb Gardening Series Container amp Small Space Gardening Aug 18 1100 am - 1200 pm Online at httpswwwfacebookcomharriscountyplEducational Programs Home Grown Lecture Series - Webinar To register for these free events please visit httpswwweventbritecomehome-grown-lecture-series-tickets-114355313822Aug 6 1000 am - Earth-Kind Landscape Practices by Paul Winski Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - HorticultureAug 13 1000 am - Home Lawn Maintenance amp Care Part 2 by Shannon Dietz Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - Agriculture amp Natural ResourcesAug 20 1000 am - Focusing on Fall Vegetable Varieties by Kim Perry Cooperative Extension Program - Agriculture amp Natural Resources Prairie View AampMAug 27 1000 am - Elements of Landscape Design by Brandi Keller Harris County Master Gardener Program Coordinator Gardening on the Gulf Coast - Webinar To register for these free events please visit httpswwweventbritecomegardening-on-the-gulf-coast-tickets-106812198160Aug 5 1000 am - Blueberry Production Ground and Container by David Oates Jefferson County AgriLife Extension Agent - Horticulture Aug 12 1000 am - Beneficial Insects in the Landscape by Paul Winski Harris County AgriLife Extension Agent - HorticultureAug 20 1000 am - Understanding Soils on the Texas Gulf Coast by Stephen Janak AgriLife Extension Program SpecialistAug 27 1000 am - Ginger for Tropical Flair by Stephen Brueggerhoff Brazoria County AgriLife Extension Agent - Horticulture

Youth Activities Growing with Plants amp Nature Please visit us on our Growing with Plants and Nature Virtual Group found at the following link httpswwwfacebookcomgroupsGPNVG

Master Gardener Garden Work Day at GFG Aug 8 800 am - 1200 pm 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Road Houston Texas 77034An opportunity to provide recent Interns or any Master Gardener to meet with other gardeners to learn and work in a variety of gardens Work tasks will be outlined and available to Gardeners to seek their interest The Gardeners will be available to guide you through the task

Upcoming Events

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Horticulture Program in Harris County13105 Northwest Freeway Suite 1000 Houston TX 77040 7132740950 Master Gardener Program Coordinator Brandi Keller - 713-274-0956CEA ndash Horticulture Paul Winski - 713-274-0981CEA ndash Horticulture Vacant

2020 Board of DirectorsPresident Beth Braun hcmgapresidentgmailcomFirst Vice President Alan Fisherman hcmga1vpgmailcomSecond Vice President Jonathan Correia hcmga2vpgmailcomPast President Evan Hopkins hcmgapastpresgmailcom Secretary Aida Pita hcmgasecretarygmailcomTreasurer Dianne Lawrence hcmgatreasurergmailcomDirectors Douglas McLeod Danny Dunn Janice Muhm Dana Goeggel Linda Saxman Alexa Haass Marsha VanHorn

Genoa Friendship Gardens Steering Committee CoordinatorsAdvisors Evan Hopkins Georgia Lau bullUrban Dirt Editor Carolyn Boyd UrbanDirtharrishortgmailcomAssistant Urban Dirt Editor Terri Simon

COVID-19 AgriLife Extension

Web Hub

How to Wear and Take Off a Face

Mask

For more information on COVID-19 please visit the following websites

If you have horticulture questions email our Master Gardener Hotline at phonehcmgagmailcom

Please visit us at the social media pages below bull Harris County Extension Horticulture Facebook Page bull Harris County Master Gardeners Facebook Page bull Harris County Family and Community Health Facebook Page

Growing with Plants and Nature Virtual

Facebook Group


3














4











Herb of the Month






5






Plant of the Month







Photos by Don Tyler

contrsquod on pg 6


6

















7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












3














4











Herb of the Month






5






Plant of the Month







Photos by Don Tyler

contrsquod on pg 6


6

















7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












4











Herb of the Month






5






Plant of the Month







Photos by Don Tyler

contrsquod on pg 6


6

















7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












5






Plant of the Month







Photos by Don Tyler

contrsquod on pg 6


6

















7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












6

















7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












7






contrsquod on pg 8








8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












8















9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












9






Prairie View AampM












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












10



11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












11










12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












12










13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












13












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












14







15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












15













16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












16







Houston Texas 77004








17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












17










Past projects







18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












18

















Open Garden Days


19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu












19



Planting Guide here




hcmgatamuedu














hcmgatamuedu











8 e z't-...has count maste gadene newslette • august 2020 8 e z't-gardening events and...

Documents