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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January of this year. Scroll to the bottom of
this page to navigate to other Gardening Q&As. Please contact
Rett via e-mail with questions
or
comments in regard to this column.
Question:
When I dug up our ornamental sweet potato vines this week I discovered sweet potatoes in the soil. One was as big as a soft ball. My wife wants to make a pie from them. Are these sweet potatoes safe to eat?
Answer:
These popular vines do produce edible roots. Although I have not tried them myself, I understand that they are not very tasty. Ornamental plants are bred for other reasons other than eating. Floral display, leaf color, and size are more important characteristics. Before I went to the trouble and expense of the pie ingredients, I would cook a portion of a potato in the microwave and taste it first. There is only so much that butter and spices can mask.
Question:
I just recently purchased some poinsettias from a local high school as a fund raiser. After I took them out of the bag I noticed small white specks on the red flowers. Some of the green leaves are also sticky. Are these plants going to make it through Christmas?
Answer:
After examine some of these plants it was easy to discern that your problems were not white flies. White flies are a major insect pest on poinsettias and greenhouse owners fight them on a regular basis. But in your case, the white specks are actually dried sap from the plant's leaves. Poinsettias are in the genus Euphorbia. These plants produce a white latex sap. It looks like milk and is sticky. Some people are allergic to a compound in this sap called phorbol. Apparently some of the red and green leaves where pinched when the plants were put in the plastic bags for shipment. This caused some small amounts of sap to drip on the leaves and it dried there. Actually the red leaves are not the flowers. If you look closer into the center of the plant you will see the true yellow flowers forming. Enjoy your poinsettias!
Question:
Several weeks ago you mentioned a book you have on the migratory habits of birds. I want to give this as a Christmas present to a family member that loves birds. What is the name of that book and where can I get it?
Answer:
The book is entitled 'Gatherings of Angels', edited by Kenneth Able. It contains chapters written by some of our leading ornithologists. It gives us insight to the science of migration and bird ecology. It is from Cornell University Press. Most book stores should be able to locate one. You will not find this book on their shelves. It is worth the effort for the more serious bird lovers.
Question:
My son and I are in disagreement over when to plant some trees in the yard. He says it should be done in February or March. I want to do it now. Who is right?
Answer:
You both are. Isn't that diplomatic? But I would lean more toward planting now especially if the trees are balled and burlapped or in containers. Winter time is not very stressful for trees. Although their leaves are absent in the winter, their roots will grow allowing the trees to become better established before the rigors of spring and summer. Balled and burlap trees really need the extra time to begin making up for their dramatic root loss that occurred from digging. Most balled and burlapped trees will lose as much as 90% of their roots from transplanting. Fall and winter planting provides a better safety net for all tree planting and added survivability. February is great for bare root plants such as tree seedlings, fruit trees, grapes, and berries. Sine most of life (especially family life) is made more enjoyable by compromise, split the difference and plant your trees the last week of December. The exercise you get will justify your consumption of extra sweets and carbohydrates during the holidays.
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If you have any horticultural questions, please direct them to Rett Davis