In the Garden

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette pumpkin illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette pumpkin illustration

Q I had an unu-sual vine come up in my yard as a volunteer. I can't tell if it is a melon or a pumpkin. Any ideas?

A It looks like a gourd to me. Seeds of cucurbits can produce interesting results since they cross pollinate. The fruits after pollination are not affected, but the resulting seeds often produce some interesting fruits.

Q We have culti-vated a space (4-by-6 feet) this year [in Rogers] and have been rewarded by a beautiful stand of "Evolvulus glomeratus Blue Daze." We have tried for two years to move them inside the garage to over-winter with no success. This year we would like to leave them outside and apply straw for protection from the elements. Your advice and comments will be greatly appreciated.

A Evolvulus is a summer annual. In an extremely mild winter it may overwinter in south Arkansas, but I would not imagine that could happen in Rogers -- ever. I would try two things to attempt to get a start for next year. Right now, dig up one plant and cut it back and pot it up. Put it in the sunniest, but coolest room in your house and don't over water, just get it to survive. The other option is to take some cuttings now. Cuttings should be 3 inches with no flowers on them. Get a pot and fill it with moist potting soil. Put the cuttings in the container and cover it in plastic. Put it in a bright spot inside and let them root. Once rooted, they can be uncovered and grown until you move them outside next spring. These summer annuals don't like our indoor conditions during the winter months -- overheated houses, with no humidity and low light. Do your best, but when all else fails, just buy new plants every year.

Q Is it too late to cut back an oakleaf hydrangea? It grew significantly this summer, but didn't bloom because my yard guy cut it back at the wrong time last year, so I let it grow.

A It is too late to prune oakleaf hydrangeas. Even though they bloom in the summer, they set their flower buds in the fall. When your plants go dormant in a month, their blooms are set for next season. The time to prune will be as the white blooms start to fade to pink next summer. Just like with the big-leaf hydrangeas, we only have a short window of opportunity to prune without interfering with blooms.

Q I planted a nectarine tree about nine years ago. I have never been able to prune it because it starts to bloom in October and again in February. We had a lot of nectarines four years after it was planted. Then nothing until this last summer, when the tree was loaded again. The fruits do not get as large as the ones in the stores, but are juicier and sweeter. I don't know if it is because we never could prune it. I think maybe the main tree has died and these are just sprouts off of the tree. What can we do to get it to bear every year, and when is a good time to prune it? I pruned a nectarine tree once when it had a broken limb but the tree died.

A All fruit trees need to be pruned every year -- nectarines are no exception. The fall blooms are just a few errant flowers that are confused. The main pruning should be done before it begins to bloom in the spring. The spring blooms are the ones from which the fruit will set. Normally late February is the time to prune. Nectarines are pruned very similarly to peaches. Thin out some of the excess branches and keep it at a manageable height to facilitate harvest. Proper pruning may reduce the number of nectarines, but will increase the size and quality.

Q When would be the best time for me to transplant my gardenia bush? I have it in a barrel on my porch now but it has doubled since I put it in there. I would like to put it in the ground.

A In a perfect world it would have been better to plant in the spring to get the root system established before winter. That being said, it will be more winter hardy in the ground than in the container, so plant it as soon as possible. Make sure the site is well drained, with morning sun and afternoon shade. Water well when planting and monitor watering needs when we don't get rain. Pay particular attention prior to freezing weather. If a plant is dry going into a cold spell it is more sensitive to cold damage.

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at

jcarson@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 10/22/2016

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