Gardening in Winter: Not So Boring Plant Propagation

Plant Propagation. Not as boring as it sounds! As snow fell today and thoughts of early spring vanished, I stared at the tiny garden growing on my kitchen window sill. Winter need not be an obstacle to gardening, I thought. My African violet is finally growing after months of waiting. 

The mother plant (a gift from my mother) had nearly died. After a bit of research, I tried generating a new plant from a single leaf (stem 1-1/2 inches long) by placing it in a glass of water to form roots. The procedure is not for the impatient soul, but it works. Roots do eventually form. After the roots form, place the leaf (with roots dangling) in potting soil and keep moist. 

I started the process in September and it was several months before I saw green growth. It may be several months more before yellow flowers appear. Some gardeners place the leaf stem directly in soil, although I prefer rooting in water first. Something about seeing roots form gives me hope. 

Besides the African violet, try plant propagation with these houseplants: peperomia, episcia, hoya and sedum. Methods vary too. For instance, try a “split-vein” method with one of the leaves. Veins are cut on the underside of the leaf, which is then placed (cut side down) on top of soil to root. 

“Leaf-bud cuttings” can be taken too. In this case, each node on the stem is a possible cutting. These short stem pieces can then be planted in soil (½-1 inch deep). Try with trailing vines, for example, philodendron, clematis and grape ivy, also jade and the popular rubber plant. 

“Cane cuttings” with one or two nodes works well for Chinese evergreen, dumbcane, and similar thick-stemmed plants. 

Lastly, try “root cuttings” from woody plants. Simply cut a root section and plant. Try with lilac, sumac, rose, raspberry, and similar. 

Happy Gardening Everyone. 

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” (Claude Monet)

Apples Left in Storage - What to Do

(Public Domain image)

Bake them of course - in pies, cobblers, breads, and cakes, or bake them alone with raisins and brown sugar. Yum! Make applesauce. Make jelly. Add them to a bowl of cereal or a salad. Apples are good on lettuce with nuts and craisins...add a fruit vinaigrette and the combo is delicious. 

I'm fond of cabbage and apples together with nuts (walnuts, pecans and almonds all work). The trick is to make a good sweet and sour sauce. I start with mayo, lemon juice (or vinegar) and a touch of honey. I've replaced the mayo with olive oil (make sure it's fresh) and also have had success. Sorry, no recipe for this one. You have to do a taste test to get it right. 

When I cook pork on the stove top (spareribs, chops and roast), I sometimes add a can of sauerkraut, along with chopped onions and apples (don't peel). Some people plug their nose at sauerkraut, but this is one recipe they might enjoy. Just don't tell them the ingredients. My husband and I really like this dish. I've added potatoes and carrots too. Give it a try and file the recipe under "comfort food."

What are your favorite recipes for apples stored over the winter? Soon the nearby apple orchards in Desert Aire will be in full bloom, preparing for a fresh new crop. Apple crates will be stacked high and pickers brought in for the harvest. A busy time, and occasionally free apples are offered to the locals. We were invited once to pick the leftovers and had apples all winter long.

Below is a family favorite. They probably don't remember "Fresh Apple Pound Cake" being a family favorite, but it always disappeared fast when I baked it. Moms and wives, as they all know, remember these things :)

  Apple Recipe

"Fresh Apple Pound Cake"

1-1/2 cup vegetable oil..............3 cups unsifted flour

2 cups white sugar.....................1 tsp. baking soda

3 eggs.........................................1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups finely chopped pared apple

1 cup chopped (medium fine) pecans or walnuts

In mixer beat oil, sugar, eggs & vanilla till combined. Gradually beat in flour mixture till smooth. Fold in apples and nuts. Turn into greased & floured 10"x4" bundt pan. Bake 325 degrees. 1hr 20min or until done. Cool in pan on wire rack 20 min.

Caramel topping:

1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 2 tsp. milk. (Add brandy or rum flavoring for an extra treat). Boil 2 min.

With small spatula loosen cake edges & around tube. Turn out on rack. At once spoon hot mixture over still warm cake, allowing it to run down sides. (Poke holes in cake with toothpick for topping to soak in). Cool completely. May be stored for a day or two in tightly covered tin box. For longer storage, cover & refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving. (A nice gift at Christmastime).

From Yummy Fruits A - Z 

Gardening Basics - Know Your Garden Zone

USDA hardiness zones. Gardeners and landscapers are label readers when it comes to knowing a plant’s growing requirements and hardiness zone. I save every tag. Hardiness zones define the minimum extreme cold temperature a plant can survive. Here in Desert Aire, WA (and nearby), based on past readings, we live in Zone 6b (-5°F to 0°F), or even Zone 6a (-10°F to -5°F) according to some, which feels as rare as the temperature range in Zone 6b, but it’s a good reminder when investing in a tree or expensive shrubbery.

My pots are ready!

On the other hand, new zoning according to the USDA says we now live in Zone 7a:  0 to 5 (°F), which feels more accurate. So take your pick. If you agree with climate change scientists, which as a gardener I do, consider growing plants you might never have tried before. Be bold. Just bear in mind, we do get cold here in the winter with wind chill. And right now we are having record snow!

The United States was the first country to establish a list of hardiness zones. First created and published in 1927 by two Boston researchers at the Arnold Arboretum, hardiness zones have evolved overtime. A map was eventually designed to include half-zones as well as additional zones, which continues to be updated and used today.

Other countries have since followed suit but with modifications. Generally-speaking, there are thirteen zones. If you are unfortunate enough to live in Zone 1, a plant must survive temperatures ranging from -50°F to -45.6°F. Ouch. Examples are regions near the Arctic Circle, for instance, Fort Yukon, Alaska and northeastern Siberia. Believe it or not, the Lapland rhododendron is quite hardy there. If you happen to live in Zone 13 (60°F to 70°F) on the equator, say in Malaysia or Jamaica, you could grow bananas and pineapples.

Forsythia in front of house - Coming soon!

Given the fact there are other factors that can affect plant survival—heat, soil and moisture being three obvious ones—hardiness zones do have limitations. For instance, the zones do not account for the extra warmth a blanket of snow might bring to the soil. It explains why plants normally not hardy in an area sometimes survive over the winter. Right now, I'm counting on my potted fig tree's survival under the cover of a large aluminum hangar. Now that may not seem like cover enough, but it does protect it from wind chill, which is definitely a factor here. Stay tuned....

Happy gardening everyone! It’s been said that “Gardeners know the best dirt.”