Groff`s Plant Farm

Groff’s Plant Farm
Monday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-5
CLOSED SUNDAY
Friday July 4th 9-12pm
Change is inevitable
Summer 2014
As I write this, my baby, Alison, is finishing kindergarten. Many of
you remember her in the store with us in a backpack or in the playpen. As many moms
do, I was reminiscing on how things change. In the five years since she was born, we
bought first the business, then last year the property, welcomed two new cousins,
mourned a grandfather and opened our home to Zeke and Kimpa.
Our landscape has also changed. Shady spots become sunny when two huge
rhododendrons were removed to reroof the dome. Like many of you, we also lost
some butterfly bushes and (we thought) a fig this winter. Rather than being dismayed
at the loss of the rhodies and butterfly bushes, I’m thinking what else to try. Maybe
some ‘Jeanna’ phlox where I can enjoy the butterflies and an elderberry by the back of
the greenhouse.
Looking back at pictures of the house from 15-20 years ago, there used to be
two huge pampas grasses by the door, and the now-mature shrub border was tiny. The
pampas grass was followed by two lionhead maple trees. They didn’t do well either
and now there are two containers until I decide what else to try. Mom and Dad laid an
Look! The fig isn’t really dead!
intricate paver walkway, and installed steps leading down to a lower patio. The shrubs lining that area are now over my head. Another paver pad originally intended for a picnic table, now houses our chicken coop.
Going back to when I was a little girl, our whole hill was pick-your-own strawberries.
Mulch
While waiting my turn at a large Maryland nursery, I eavesdropped on a conversation between the owner and a landscaper. The landscaper
was inquiring about using painted mulch. The owner’s reply was that it’s great with established plants but he would not use it on plants in the
ground for less than a year.
With the seemingly increased interest in painted mulches, I offer the above without any additional supporting evidence.
I can quickly think of four or five reasons for using mulch. Looks, soil moisture, soil temperature and weed control. Maybe looks is what
spawned the idea of painted mulch, but personally, I like the contrast of a green lawn and the dark color mulch adds to landscape plantings.
Mulched ground definitely holds moisture better than open ground. The deeper you mulch, the greater the moisture holding effect. To me
that is a catch-22. In the spring, especially one like this year, excess moisture can delay planting and even damage plants. On the other hand, we
often become hot and dry as the season progresses and mulch can provide great benefits.
Substituting a few words in the last paragraph would also cover the concept of soil temperatures. In the spring we are anxious for warmer
soil, while in the summer efforts to cool the soil are desirable. Learning a little about a plant’s soil moisture and temperature requirements is helpful.
A perfect example is the clematis vine. The literature suggests a warm body which implies full sun and cool roots. That plant is one of the
few that I would mulch deeply.
Mulch certainly helps with weed control. Most weed seeds need some light to germinate. Few weed seeds not in the top one half inch of
soil will germinate. Weed seeds buried more deeply will patiently wait until tillage moves them toward the light.
How much should you use? I favor a light coat of about two inches. That gives you temperature, moisture and weed control without significant problems early as you wait for spring. If you like more, use 4”.
Mulch will also increase the level of humus in the soil over time. That is great, but it may slowly lower your soil pH. Generally, that is a
non issue locally, because most of our trees, shrubs and flowers like a lower pH than naturally occurs here.
The over 50 yards I used last year at an inch or two covered a lot of ground at three properties. I’m a big fan of bark mulch. On a few occasions my back disagreed.
Hostas
Hostas are a staple of the shade perennial garden. Native to Asia,
they were introduced into Western gardens in the mid-1800s.
Several species have been crossed to yield over 3,000 named
varieties now registered. Who knows how many unregistered ones there
are?
Hostas readily hybridize. Hosta sieboldiana genetics give blue,
powdery foliage. Hosta plantaginea gives fragrant flowers. Hosta alisimifolia adds narrow, wavy leaves.
Hosta display bench in the shade section
They also “sport” at the drop of a hat. A sport is a genetic mutation in the bud or meristem. This is how most variegated forms are introduced to the market. This also causes them to “revert” . Some variegation patterns are more stable than others. If you have a hosta that is
slowly starting to look like something else, you may want to dig it up and
divide off the part you like best.
Hostas are not without blemish. Slugs munch the leaves, bunnies and deer
treat them like a salad bar. Often the more corrugated, or blue varieties are less desirable to critters; when they are hungry, they’ll eat anything.
While we don’t have all 3000 varieties, we started the year with over 5000 hostas comprising over 200 different kinds. That is a lot.
In an effort get a handle on which are your favorites (and to thin out our hoard) we are marking down a few selected varieties and
asking you to vote. Pick up a survey in the store from June 28 th through July 11th and let us know what you’d like to see more of too. More
minis? More yellow? A specific variety you are looking for? Also all 2-gal hostas will be marked down to $10.00.
Summer Care of Annuals
We had so much fun with the last photo contest, we decided to
do it again. Please submit up to 3 photos of your garden with your name
and the town where you live by October 1st. We will accept photos
through the mail, facebook or e-mailed to [email protected].
My thumb nail gets a lot of work. There are few plants I can walk past without pinching. This goes double for annuals.
In our propagation area we have multiple plantings of each crop. Sometimes the first planting is not all sold before the second planting is
ready. At this point, we cut back the oldest ones and bring in fresh plants. This encourages side branches to grow out and creates a fuller plant.
The science behind this is based on hormones. Removing the growing tip from a plant causes a chain reaction. In a normal situation, auxin
travels from the top of the plant where it is produced downwards towards the roots. It suppresses the side growth of the buds. Pinching the growing
tip removes the auxin allowing the side branches to grow out, creating a bushier plant.
Some plants benefit from a pinch more than others. We pinch most of the snapdragons, salvia, petunias, verbena, callibrachoa, anagalis,
bidens, gaura, and lantana. In the perennials, dianthus, phlox, gaillardia, nepeta, leucanthemums, salvia and veronica all get a hard pinch.
Some plants are not helped by a pinch Things that are naturally tall, like sunflowers, iresine, and psederanthemum do not respond well to a
pinch. In this situation, a central leader is preferred.
There is a difference between removing dead flowers and pinching the growing green tip to create a bushier plant. Removing spent flowers
will encourage a plant to keep blooming, instead of putting energy into seed production. Deadheading will do little to affect branching.
Pinching a plant back will delay flowering, but will increase total number of flowers by creating more blooming stems.
Which brings me to hanging basket and pot care. Baskets purchased for Mother’s Day may become sprawly in the summer or out of balance. Cutting back leggy members will create a fuller plant and put a basket back into harmony.
Baskets and pots also benefit from a good shot of liquid fertilizer. If you see lower leaves beginning to look yellow, a good watering with
your favorite liquid feed will do wonders. New growth steals nitrogen from older leaves, causing them to look yellow. Supplementing with a liquid
feed will green them up again.
This is a situation where too much of a good thing can hurt, however. Too much fertility can burn roots, or cause extra vegetative growth at
the expense of flowers.
Baskets could also need freshening up if cold season annuals like pansies or nemesia are looking peaked. Hot-weather-lovers like pentas,
lantana, evolvulus or petunias would be happy to take their place.
Find us at:
Groff’s Plant Farm
6128 Street Rd, Kirkwood, PA 17536
717-529-3001 or groffsplantfarm.com
Recipe Corner– Susan’s Tabouleh
Directions
Here at Groff’s we like to eat. Any excuse for a potluck. One of our growers retires, we
have a party. We survive the spring, we eat. And one of our favorite dishes is Susan’s
tabouleh.
1 cup bulgar wheat
1 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped onion /scallion
1/2 cup of the following or whatever
you have (optional)
Red pepper
Carrot
Celery
Tomato
Edamame beans (removed from pods)
1/2 cup olive oil
Splash of lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar
1.
2.
3.
4.
FROM THE NORTH:
Take 222 south through
Quarryville. Turn left on Blackburn
Rd 1/4 mile past Solanco High
School. Continue 3 miles to the
stop sign. Turn left. Continue 300
yds across the bridge. Turn right
onto Street Rd. Look for the sign
and the lane on the right in less
than 1/2 mile.
FROM EAST OR
Susan’s Tabouleh
Soak bulgar in water two hours or up to overnight.
Drain and add chopped parsley and other vegetables.
Add oil, vinegar, splash of lemon or lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate. Tastes better the second day.
RT 1:
Exit north onto 472 (away
from Oxford). Continue EXACTLY 5
miles, crossing the reservoir. Turn
left onto Street Rd. across from the
Union Presbyterian Church. Continue 1.7 miles to the stop sign.
Continue straight and watch for the
sign and lane on left 1/2 mile
Better yet: Use the Google Map
directions link on our website:
Groffsplantfarm.com
CustomerAppreciation Day
Thanks to you, our loyal customers we had a late, but
great spring. To show our gratitude, it’s time for our annual
Customer Appreciation Giveaway!
Beginning at 9am Saturday July 12th you may pick 1
flat of free annuals or vegetables from greenhouses 6, 7, 8
or the outside annual display benches. Additional flats can
be purchased for $10. A flat is defined as 1 hanging basket, 4
gallon annuals or however many smaller pots you can fit on a
standard tray. We anticipate the annual sale will only last one
day.
We always keep a reserve of annuals for your late
season needs in greenhouse #5. These will be available at
regular price. Fall vegetables and herbs can be found in this
house at regular price.
The four inch perennials are marked down to half
price to make room for a new crop in September. A flat of 18
is $20.00, or $1.25/pot. You’ll find these in greenhouses #1
and #2 and in the sun perennial section. The 4” perennial sale
will last until they are gone.
Customer Appreciation Day last year– it’s a lot of fun!
How much sun is full sun? Here’s our rule of thumb: 6 hours of morning sun or 4 hours of afternoon sun is
enough light for most sun-loving plants. Morning sun is ok for most shade lovers, but they should be protected by
11am or so. More moisture will help shade plants tolerate more sun.
Sun perennials bloom best with more sun and will stretch in the shade. Shade plants, especially yellow foliage
ones, will burn in too much sun.
Comments or Questions? E-mail us at [email protected] or call 717-529-3001