Companion Planting Series: Part 4 - The Aster Family

 

          In today’s post we’re going to talk about the Aster family and this is going to be a pretty big article so you might want to get some refreshments. The Aster Family is scientifically known as Asteraceae, however in older publications it was known as the Compositae. The species was first described in 1740 and given its original name because of how the flowers were essentially made of a composite numerous parts. The core aspect of identifying a member of the aster family is that the flowers have petals, but at the center of the flower is a tightly packed array of tiny flowers called florets. Each of the florets is a flower by itself producing its own pollen, nectar and eventually a seed. Basically when it comes to sexual reproduction Asters operate on producing a larger quantity of seeds to ensure species survival. The family as a whole has more than 32,000 known species spread across about 1,900 genera. The number of species in the genera is only rivaled by the Orchids. Common names for the family also include referring to is as the Daisy, and Sunflower Family. Biologically speaking an aster come in all life cycle types and may be annual, biennial or, perennial or some type in between. Generally asters are considered herbaceous meaning that if they are perennial or biennial they die back to the ground and return from their roots each year. With a species this massive and diverse however it would be impossible to cover them all so in terms of companion planting below is a list of the Aster family members you are most likely to encounter and their uses in your garden.

 

Artichokes

          There are three a types of Artichoke that are generally sold in the nursery trade. The Common Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)  is the one you see sold at the store in a variety of forms, but the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthis tuberosus)  is almost exclusively found in the produce aisle in the form of a bag of tubers. Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) are sold as plants at some garden centers but can be found in some seed racks in the spring. In general Artichokes and Cardoons both pair well with Peas, Beans, Borage, Arugula, Kale and Onions. Just keep in mind that Artichoke and Cardoon Plants can get pretty big in a season and give them a foot or more of space on all sides. Jerusalem Artichokes are a different animal as it is best to keep them confined to containers as their tuberous roots can rapidly spread and become invasive. They do however pair well with plants that can climb up their stalks which can be up to eight feet tall so things like Field Peas, Pole Beans and, Cucumbers can grow in the same large containers with them.

 

Aster, New England

          New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novaeo-angilae) has a few herbal and medicinal uses but isn’t noted to pair well with the common garden plants that you would expect. This Aster is noted to work best in a sort of Cottage/wild garden role with things like Golden Rod and Joe Pye Weed as well as with other asters such as Echinacea and Rudbeckia.

 

Black-Eye Susan

          The Rudbeckia Family is a very important group of flowering asters that help pollinator populations as they provide pollen, nectar and foliage for specific species of insects’ larvae. Generally speaking you can plant them anywhere and at worst you might have to do a little bit of culling to keep them in their area, but they pair well with most things.

 

Burdock

          Burdock (Arctium lappa) is one of those old-school medicinal herbs that generally is grown by folks in the know about it’s useful properties such as managing Diabetes. It pairs well with Legumes because of their Nitrogen-fixing ability, but all the primary aromatic herbs and Garlic.

 

Chamomile

          The two Chamomiles are garden essentials for anyone planning to have a functional herb garden though they are a bit sensitive in our climate due to our heat. Chamomile is available in two forms, German (Matricaria chamomilla) which is annual, and Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) which is perennial. Interestingly the two have different aromas and flavors, the German Chamomile has more herbal and grassy, Roman Chamomile is sweeter and more apple-like in flavor and scent. Roman Chamomile should be considered a short-lived perennial in our climate as it lasts an up to three years before it finally falls apart. Chamomile as a companion plant pairs well with the cabbage family Onions and Fruit trees.

 

Chicory

          Chicory (Chichorium intybus) is a big deal when you’re talking about the Aster Family because many people have ate or drank chicory and had no idea it was happening. The most famous use of Chicory is in Luzianne Coffee which uses about 33% Chicory. But Chicory has a strong foothold in the produce aisle and in every salad you eat. The most common forms are Raddichio (Chichorium intybus var. foliosum), Endive (Chichorium endivia), Escarole (Chichorium endivia var. latifolium) and, Frisee (Chichorium endivia var. crispum). For companion planting purposes Chicory does well when paired with Peas, Beans and Root vegetables. Chicory has a taproot and will not do well if transplanted a lot but also will handle drought and nutrient deficiencies in the soil better than most herbs and leaf greens will.

 

Coneflower

          In general on the seed rack and at the garden center you will only find one species of Coneflower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). However it might not look very purple because with serious levels of cultivation we’ve brought out an array of colors that decidedly are not purple. At a high end garden center you might find Narrow-Leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) or even Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida). Coneflowers are generally used on Companion Planting because they bring in the pollinators but they also pair up with almost anything just as long as there isn’t a soil type mismatch.

 

Cosmos

          Cosmos (Cosmos species) is generally broken down into two groupings, (Cosmos bipinnatus) and (Cosmos sulphureus). The former produces flowers that tend to be in the range of White, Pink and Red, while the latter produces colors in the Yellow-Orange spectrum with some varieties sporting bright red-orange. It is worth mentioning a third species called Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) produces intensely dark red-brown flowers that take the range of colors for this genus of flowers even further. As far as Companion planting is concerned Cosmos are generally used for their ability to attract pollinators and as a cut flower. In of that they can be planted between Tomatoes or Peppers to bring in predatory insects to counter pests that would otherwise cause you problems.

 

Daisy, Gerber

          Gerber Daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) are generally bought, sold and grown as a pure ornamental, but the big showy flowers still attract pollinators. They generally pair well with other flowering plants such as Petunias, Dwarf Zinnias, or Purselane/Portulaca which forms a flowering block of plants that no pollinator can resist.

 

 

Dandelion

          Dandelions are often considered the bane of the lawn care industry’s existence and while the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is not native to North America, it is here and isn’t going anywhere. It’s equally non-native cousins the Pink (Taraxacum pseudoroseum) and White (Taraxacum albidum) Dandelions give us new color options. The Cat’s Ear Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata) is also not native but similarly useful. However the False Dandelion which is also called Carolina Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) is native and has all the same uses. Dandelions are useful because they still support the pollinator population and the False Dandelion is geared towards the native pollinators making it especially useful. The main use of a Dandelion is its foliage first and it’s taproot second. As such Dandelions are strong accumulators of soil nutrients and as such will pair well with Nightshade crops, Apple trees and other leafy greens.

 

Fall Mums

          Fall Mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) have had a name change in the last ten years, they used to be Dendranthema morifolium and before that they were just a chrysanthemum and now they’re back to being a chrysanthemum. Fall mums specifically refer to the Chrysanthemums that are typically sold in September through November. If planted in the ground or in a much larger pot then they came in and, cared for there is a chance they will return the next year as a solid perennial. The main advantage of these plants is that they do bring in Pollinators as far as companion plants go chrysanthemums do not have a specific pairing noted and should be considered just for their pollinator support use.

 

Feverfew & Tansy

          Some books and online guides confuse Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) probably because of their Latin names. The difference is that Feverfew is used herbal-medicinally for migraine-headaches, nausea, and arthritis and fever reduction. Feverfew pairs well with other conventional herbs such as Basil. Chives and Thyme. Tansy is used herbal-medicinal for a different set of problems; intestinal parasites, digestive issues and, rheumatism. The issue with Tansy is that it has a high Thujone content which means it should be used externally only. Tansy is known as a good companion plant for Peaches, Roses, Raspberries, Blackberries, Grapes and other Cane fruits.

 

Lettuce

          I bet some of you were not expecting to see Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in this list. The lettuce you buy at the store is actually a daisy it’s just rare anyone ever gets to see it bloom so the point can be solidly proven. Lettuce’s wild cousins include Tall Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and Bitter Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). All of the aforementioned wild lettuces are edible if the leaves are picked before they mature and the entire thing gets bitter. Lettuce in general pairs well with the entire Onion family, Radishes, Carrots, Beets, Swiss Chard and any tall plant that can cast a little shade to help keep the lettuces cool.

 

Marigold

          Much like with Lettuce some folks forget that Marigolds are Asters. It might be because the cup-like base of the flowers and the way the petals sit while the center is packed tightly and doesn’t quite look like your conventional Daisy. Regardless Marigolds are one of the America’s biggest contributions to what it means to be and aster. There are three plants that are commonly called a Marigold; the American Marigold (Tagetes erecta), the French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and the Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) which is a Marigold in common name only. The African and French Marigolds have a reputation for repelling pests which makes them useful around food crops such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, and Cabbage Crops. Since both the American and French Marigolds are annuals, there are a few Perennial options such as Lemmon’s Marigold (Tagetes lemmonii) and Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida). The Calendula or Pot Marigold has the same pairing preferences but is something you are most likely going to have to grow from seed.

 

Thistle, Milk

          Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is a biennial plant with a bunch of herbal and medicinal uses. It has deep reaching roots that can help break up compacted soil but it needs a little space as it can get as big as an artichoke in about the same amount of time. It’s best companions are the aromatic herbs such as Sage, Rosemary, Lavender or Thyme.

 

Safflower

          You don’t see many gardeners growing Safflower (Cathamus tinctorius) these days, but the flowers are worth it. Safflower pairs best with other plants that love full sun and dry conditions such as Zinnias, Cosmos, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary and Garlic. Safflower is used to make natural pigments, and its petals and seeds are used medicinally.

 

Sweet Leaf

          The miracle sweetener (Stevia rebaudiana) is a tender perennial and if you look very closely at its tiny white flowers its membership in the Aster family is without doubt. We all know Stevia because its leaves contain a sugar-like substitute and thus dried leaves can be used to sweeten things without causing diabetic issues. In companion planting, Stevia pairs well with Nasturtiums, Thyme, Oregano and Basil.

 

Sunflower, Common

          Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are one of those plants that everyone tries to grow at some point in their gardening journey because if you’ve ever seen a field full of them they look amazing. Sunflowers come in a variety of heights, color and now you can even get cousins of the annual sunflower that are perennial.  Sunflowers pair well with Melons, Cucumbers, vining Beans, Peas, Squash and large gourds. Some sources suggest they produce more seeds when paired with the Nightshade family.

 

Sunflower, Mexican

          Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) are not like their cousin; they get tall and bushy over the course of a summer and may need support. Despite this Mexican Sunflowers also produce a lot of flowers and come in a range of yellow, Orange and red blooming options. Tithonia pairs well with the same things regular Sunflowers do, but need more room horizontally.

 

Wormwood, Common

          Wormwood (Atemisia absinthium) is an herb with a long history which I suggest you look into because it won’t fit here. I will say that it is a critical ingredient in Absinthe, and apparently it repels critters, flea beetls and cabbage moths which makes it a great companion for your Cabbage family crops. A solution of it can be used as a spray to get fleas off your pets and furry farm animals which makes it super-useful. Wormwood’s cousin Santonica (Artemisia cina) is used medicinally to expel worms from the intestine. Another cousin known as Southern Wormwood (Artimisia abrotanum) has a more pleasant lemony aroma but all the same uses as traditional wormwood plus when used as a medicinal tonic it can help digestive and liver health.

 

Yarrow, Common

          Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a well-known medicinal herb that has a bunch of uses including as a forage food. I have to specify that the type I am talking about here is the white-flowering type that has a propensity via underground stolons to get loose. Yarrow as a whole has been heavily cultivated to a point that the ones at the Nursery have different colored flowers but may have lost their chief value as a herbal-medicinal plant. Yarrow is noted in a few places as being more of a giver in that it helps improve nearby plant’s resistance to insects and their ability to survive adverse conditions.

 

Zinnia

          Zinnias (Zinnia species) are a genus of flowering plants that are typically grown from seed but may also be purchased as plants at nurseries and garden centers. They come in a wide range of flower colors such as green, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple and even bi or tri-color types. The flower shapes can range from single to semi-single, double and even triple petal forms making them especially versatile in the garden. Zinnias are a powerful attractor of Pollinators but also pair well with the Nightshade family, Cucumbers, Melons and other annual vine fruit.

 

 

          With all of this said I am certain that there are some asters that didn’t make the cut due to oversight or as part of the effort to keep this article short. As I write this final part here, this article is five pages long and has almost thirteen-thousand characters not counting spaces and that’s well over the character limit for Nextdoor and the other places I’d normally post this information. The discussion of the Mint Family which is up next will be longer and might need to be broken up into parts for the sake of easy reading. I hope all of you out there find this post interesting and useful, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for reading.

Will The Real Lettuce Please Stand Up?

 Welcome back to an entirely new year of LITFM! We took a long hiatus to get our YouTube channel's second season completed and now this blog is back in action. So to get things rolling and at the request of some folks who visit the Farmer's market, I am posting a new series covering forage foods. Given the current geopolitical situation some of this information may come in handy in the not-to-distant future. Today’s forage specimen Wild Lettuce, a common garden weed that is quite available this time of the year.

The long leaves of Wild Lettuce are often mistaken for those of a Dandelion, but the latter is more angular than the former.

Note the different root structure, no central taproot and a lot of support roots.

 

Common Name: Wild Lettuce

Other Common Names: Prickly Lettuce, Milk Thistle*, Compass Plant, Scarole.

Botanical Family: Asteraceae (The Aster family)

Botanical Latin Name: Lactuca serriola (aka L. scariola)

Season to Harvest: Spring.

Habitat: Wild lettuce is commonly found in disturbed sites such as fields, by the road side, vacant lots and inevitably in your garden.

Parts to Harvest: The younger leaves are preferred as they are less likely to be bitter. You can eat the mature leaves if you have something to mitigate the bitter flavor like another leaf green in bulk or a decent dressing. Be mindful of this plant’s milky sap.

Poisonous Lookalikes: None known.

Related Edible Species: Canadian Wild Lettuce (L. Canadensis), will grow side-by-side with Wild Lettuce, lacks the prickly parts on the leaves and is more preferred.

Description: Wild lettuce is an annual or biennial herb that can grow to a height of almost six feet by the summer. It is related to Common Dandelions and Chicory and can be confused for either of them before it starts gaining height. The flowers of this plant are very similar to those of Dandelion but they are smaller and more numerous and borne at the top of the plant. Unlike Dandelion or Chicory, Wild lettuce does not for a singular primary taproot and instead forms a number of fibrous roots and a few short but supportive taproots that aid in keeping its eventual stalk steady.

How to Harvest: Harvest young leaves individually and wash as needed to clean them. I recommend sticking them in a bath of water for ten minutes to dilute out the milky latex sap that may come from the wounded side of the leaves.

Recipe: You can use this plant alone or with other greens in a salad, but you will need a robust-flavored vinaigrette. You can boil the leaves in a small amount of water for 2-3 minutes and then serve them with butter and seasonings of your choice. You can also make a field Vinaigrette that pairs well with these cooked leaves by doing the following;

 

Ingredients:

4 slices of bacon

¼ cup of Feta Cheese (if available, and preferably the Greek type)

½ cup of Vinegar

2 Teaspoons of Sugar (honey may also work)

1 Teaspoon of Salt

 

Preparation:

1.      Fry the strips of bacon into a crispy state.

2.      Heat the Vinegar.

3.      Crumble the bacon up and add it, the sugar and the salt into the hit but not boiling vinegar.

4.      Add the Feta cheese (if available) to the hot mix.

5.      Pour over unseasoned but cooked wild lettuce.

 

*Not the same plant as the actual Milk Thistle which is Silybum marianum.

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but by booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said, if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the Hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

Produce:

Garlic Bulb, $1.00

Soup Kit – Parsnip, $6.00

Soup Kit – Turnip, $6.00

Seasoning Packet, $2.00

 

Houseplants:

Assorted Succulents, Plastic Pot - $5.00

Assorted Succulents, Round Resin Pot - $5.00

Assorted Succulents, Square Resin Pot - $5.00

Assorted Succulents, Hexagon Resin Pot - $10.00

Assorted Succulents, Lattice Resin Pot - $12.00

Assorted Succulents, Bomber Resin Pot - $15.00

Assorted Succulents, Clay Pot - $9.00

 

Garden Stuff: ($3.00 each)

Elephant Garlic

Softneck Garlic

Lettuce – Parris Island Romaine

Lettuce – Cherokee Red

Lettuce – Five Star Lettuce Mix

Beets – Bull’s Blood

Mustard – Red Giant

 

Coming Soon

Kale – Ragged Jack

Kale – Dinosaur

Kale – Tronchuda

Kale – Redbor

Celery – Tango

Kohlrabi – Grand Duke

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

 

Our group’s online presence has migrated to Nextdoor.com. All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

https://nextdoor.com/g/ybvdm226x/?is=nav_bar

 

Also please take a gander at the Youtube version of this blog:

 

The Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/curacaovexxor/videos

>Newest videos (5): Chinese Money Plant, Red African Milk Bush, Pencil Cactus, Desert Rose, ‘Prehistoric’ Devils Backbone.

 

 

Meetings still going on! We now meet at LeClairs General Store on the First and Third Thursday of every month. Our next meeting is on March 16th between 5:30pm and 7:00pm. We are in the back room so come on in and join us for a fun garden chat.

The Cool Nights Mean Only One Thing

Welcome back to another episode of Lost In the Farmers Market, and although this post is just a few days late there’s a bit to cover. Firstly did you know this blog has been in operation since May 11^th 2011? I literally didn’t realize it had been that long but lo and behold I’ve been at it for a while. Keeping a blog alive like this one is an at times difficult endeavor because producing content can be difficult if you are trying not to repeat information. Inevitably you cross your own path even if you do not realize it given time and the nature of the topic of gardening. The test gardens have been the source of material for this blog for all that time as well as interesting events in agriculture in general. Some of you have been with me since the beginning and I am hoping that I will pick up more folks as we move into the next decade. Speaking of the botanical test gardens, the Autumn Botanical Test Garden tour is coming up. I am shooting for the 18^th of October between the hours of 2pm and 5pm. It is hoped that by then we will have seen another reduction in the Covid-19 restrictions and the weather will cooperate. If not, expect to bring masks, and the Rain Date for the event will be the 25^th of October, just before Halloween. By then I can assure you there will be plenty of fall delights for your gardening fancy and you get to see what’s going on in the test gardens. I can tell you this, 2020 despite politics and other crazy things that happened has been an amazing harvest year, so you can expect some impressive information and some ideas that flip the script when it comes to gardening. But let’s move on from the shameless promotions to talk about something big.

 

Now there is another milestone to talk about, this blog has a YouTube channel called LITFM Garden Shorts. I’ve posted some videos on this blog so the two content sites link up but the amazing thing is that as of just a few days ago the Youtube site finally reached its 50^th video. Now I admit videos were produced at a breakneck pace so that a reasonable amount of content could be had before I worked a bit more on quality improvement. Some of you will recall how the early videos were shot using the camera on my smartphone, and the ‘wobble vision’ that resulted. After that I started using a digital camera and a grip to shoot videos and quality improved but there was still an issue with image stability. Soon a tripod was being used and I started shooting the ‘Lab videos’ for smaller plant subjects and quality got better. All of this was to bring you a better garden video where the plants were the focus and you got a fact-based source of garden information that has virtually no comparison. Well, this is just the beginning, for the rest of 2020 the format will not be changed much, but I have some plans for 2021.Starting in 2021, there will be one video per week for a total of fifty-two videos per year. The scripting will be more detailed, and they will be longer videos but you will get more out of them so the reduced production speed will pay off for you. I may have to revisit certain subjects such as perennials that are better established or in a few rare cases where I feel the original video wasn’t as good as it could have been. These plant update videos will be bonuses under the title ‘LITFM Garden Redux –‘. The redone videos won’t count towards the 52 videos but should help you all out there with making decisions on what plants to use in your gardens. It is my hope that I can figure out how to better edit videos and maybe ad an actual intro to my videos but this whole series is as much a learning process for me as it is for you. I hope you all out there will keep reading this blog and watching the videos.

 

Videos and blogs hitting milestones is good and all but, ‘where’s the gardens’ you ask. Well about that, the weather has gotten kind of nice, it’s cool at night and daytime temperatures are bearable in the 70’s. This is like a perfect second spring and it is time to get those cold weather veggies in the ground while you have the chance. You can direct sow the classics like carrots, lettuce, radish, collards and so on or get plants and get them in the ground. It is also a good time to apply a mild fall fertilizer like dried bat guano or chicken manure. My preferred favorite is mushroom compost or composted cow manure depending on how heavy my cool season crops need to feed.  Typically the rule of thumb I operate under is that low to moderate feeders like Mustard, Carrots, Radish, Celery, Arugula, Spinach, Lettuce and Swiss Chard get the mushroom compost. Heavier feeders like Collards, Cabbage, Pak Choi, Kale, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower, Broccoli and Turnips get a trop-dressing of composted cow manure.  I apply regular doses of liquid fertilizer (Alaska fish fertilizer) just to supplement that and ensure soil moisture and the rest is all a matter of sitting back, relaxing and waiting for the harvest to come in. This isn’t rocket surgery, but it does have a certain agri-science to it that follows a set pattern of actions and reactions to produce a desired outcome. I should note as a matter of timing for cold season crops it is normal to start your slowest maturing seeds indoors using bottom heat as early as the second week of August. Normally you progress from your slowest maturing to your fastest as you get into September and then into Early October. The last batch of indoor-germinated seedlings should be out for hardening off or planting by the 15^th of October. Fortunately you can sow certain seeds like Lettuce, Carrots, Radish, Swiss Chard and Arugula directly so if your indoor crop fails you can have a somewhat slower backup plan. This is also the time when you apply mulches to things that need protection against the coming cold weather and a good time to shoe-in those last few desired perennials. Pruning of things is in order as most shrubs are set to go dormant and of course your last mow and trim should be around the second or third week of October as our grasses in NC are all warm-season and won’t grow anymore until next year.

 

One of the other magical things about this time of year is the planting of scores of Pansies and Violas for color that lasts through fall into early summer of next year. Another good candidate are the Snapdragons which are a flower that only bumblebees like and yet they provide nectar and pollen in general for any pollinator that can get into the flowers. Many gardeners in the Southeast forget that snapdragons can take the winter cold of zone 6b, so our 8a cold is not a bother as long as the snapdragons are planted once the night time temperatures remain cool and they  are maintained. Cold season floral color means nectar and pollen for whatever pollinators can fly or move so this is a lifeline to pollinators during the winter that will pay off later. Hanging baskets full of annuals such as Pansies can attract Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) to nest. These small birds which are kind of bland in plumage have impressive songs and a voracious appetite for insect pests. They are your cool-season allies in reducing pests such as cabbage moths and cabbage moth larvae. It may help to maintain a Suet feeder for the wrens and other wild birds during the cold months to make sure your garden is well patrolled for insect pests and you keep some form of rotating bird population. There will be more on this in the next post due to be posted right before the Fall tour but let’s move on to the lovely garden photos for this post.

 

First off is this incredibly lovely picture of what Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) flowers look like. I think had I planted this earlier the Hummingbirds would have went crazy for it but the best of plans can be mislaid.

Here we have a type of solitary bee, specifically a Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) on the blooms of a Blue African Basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum 'Dark Opal') plant. Carpenter bees can be a problem to exposed woodwork because they burrow in and build tunnels for nesting. Fortunately these bees while decent pollinators are not very bright and simple wooden bottle traps can eliminate them by the bushel.

 

Here we have the burly looking stems of a Pumpkin Crush American Marigold (Tagetes erecta). When I was turning under annuals and summer crops in pots I started in on the potted marigolds as the first frost would certainly turn them all into soup. I did not expect that marigolds would produce adventitious roots that far up the stem or big chunky stems like that.

 

This picture was taken while out and about town at the day job. These are wild morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea) and the red cup flowers with the bright yellow centers were very striking. I plan to hit that site up to see if I can harvest any seed.

 

Now here's something worth talking about! I thought the Pineapple Sage was only frequented by daytime pollinators but I was wrong. As it turns out one night I happened to shine my flashlight at it and found the entire plant was wiggling. At first I thought I was seeing things then I realized, no there were a crap load of moths going to town for nectar! I don’t know what species these little gray moths are but their little eyes lit up in the unnaturally white light of my LED flashlight.

 

Here for your appreciation is a picture of an Okra blossom. If you had any doubts Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum) is in the Hibiscus/Mallow family consider that laid to rest. Ly last three Okra plants have a temporary reprieve from being turned under with all the other warm season crops because they can reliably produce up until frost.

 

This plant is commonly called Mistflower but I know it as Perennial Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) because of its resemblance to the annual bedding plant with a nearly identical flower.  This plant can be invasive as it spreads moderately fast through rhizomes but is vulnerable to herbicides and manual methods of control. I keep a few colonies of this plant to add color to the property in late summer to early/mid-fall. The sky blue flowers and purple stems are striking and its bigger cousin Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) adds to the palatte with pinks, purples and, reds. For note the Annual cousin is called Bedding Ageratum (A. houstonianum) and has a bunch of common names revolving around similar terms to the perennial pictured.

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but by booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.

 With that said, if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic vegetables, herbs and fruiting shrubs come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the Hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

Food Plants: (3” Peat Pots)
Arugula: $3.00
Cabbage, Ruby Perfection: $3.00
Celery, Tango: $3.00
Collards, Carolina: $3.00
Kale, Lace: $3.00
Kale, Red Russian: $3.00
Kale, Scotch Blue Curled: $3.00
Kohlrabi, Cossak: $3.00
Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson: $3.00
Lettuce, Cherokee Fire: $3.00
Lettuce, Parris Island: $3.00
Swiss Chard, Red: $3.00
Swiss Chard, Green: $3.00
Spinach, Avon: $3.00

Herbs: (3” Peat Pots)
Black Fennel: $3.00

Coming Soon:
Collards, Alabama Blue
Kale, Marrow Stem
Kale, Rainbow Lacinato
Kale, Lacinato (More available in Two Weeks)
Mustard, Japanese Red Giant (More Available in Two Weeks)

Due to the current Covid-19 situation and the state’s requirement that all citizens are not to gather in groups of more than ten, the weekly Sustainable neighbors meeting is online. Please check the sustainable neighbors Meetup.com page for more info about how to attend our online meeting.

https://www.meetup.com/SustainableNeighbors/

Since our meetings have an open-door policy you don’t need to sign up for anything or join anything, you can come on in and join the meetings. If not, you can always send me questions through this blog or visit the farmer’s market. This brings to a close the nineteenth LITFM post of 2020; stay tuned the next episode which should be posted on the 16^th of October. There will be more garden updates and other cool stuff.