Wednesday, June 2, 2004

The lowdown on popular gardening tips

There are many urban legends floating around about gardening, and sometimes it’s hard to figure out what is truth and what is myth. The Summer 2004 Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardener’s Companion separates fact from fiction on commonly held misconceptions; here are just a few.

Watering

The Tip: Spray delicate plants with cold water, at night, before a heavy frost.

We Say: Do it (carefully).

Water both absorbs heat and releases it, so a layer of ice can keep strawberry plants and peach trees from freezing (plants freeze at four or five degrees below the freezing point of water). But, once you increase humidity around the plant with night watering, you encourage fungal disease. Make sure the weather report justifies the practice. “It’s a very exact science.”

The Tip: Water houseplants with ice cubes.

We Say: Don’t.

It’s a convenient idea, of course: Dump a tray of ice on your plant, and the slow seepage will gradually moisten the roots. The problem: Plants generally don’t like cold water. Moreover, seepage isn’t as slow as you might think.

The Tip: Stop watering before the season ends.

We Say: Do it.

When tomato plants know they’re kicking the bucket, those last green fruits will ripen nicely. Just make sure that your plants have strong roots before you cut the water.

Cut flowers

The Tip: Add lemon-lime soda.

We Say: Do it.

The acidity and sugar are both helpful to flowers. Be generous: Make the soda (not diet) about a third of the water’s volume.

(The summer 2004 issue of The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardener’s Companion is on sale wherever books and magazines are sold. For more information on the Almanac’s line of products, visit www.almanac.com.)