THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507080117
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
NEW GARDEN MAGAZINES are jumping off the presses like crickets. A few are worth the cost, including two new ones. Most are not, including some from ``big-name'' publishers.
My first recommendation is Garden Gate, published in Des Moines without any advertising. It's a how-to magazine with many drawings to show you how to plant or build. I liked it from its first issue and even more so now that a friend is the editor. Todd Steadman, former garden editor for Southern Living, has just taken over as editor of Garden Gate. Cost is $19.95 per year for six issues, mailed to Garden Gate, P.O. Box 400804, Des Moines, Iowa 50340-0804.
The other good bet is Garden Design, published by a new company in New York. It is upbeat and completely different from the old magazine by the same name, which was published by the landscape architects association. You can buy Garden Design on newsstands. NEW WONDER PRODUCT?
A new product called Hi Yield Consan 20, made by the VPG group in Texas, has a press release that makes it sound like the wonder product of the century. The release reads: ``A broad spectrum curative fungicide, algaecide, plant virucide, bactericide and disinfectant recommended for control of fungal diseases in all turf grasses and most ornamental plants. Controls dollar spot, fusarium blight, brown patch, powdery mildew, toad stools, anthracnose, algae, leaf spot, rust, pythium blight, bacterial fireblight, fairy ring. For annuals, perennials, garden shrubs, trees and tropical plants including roses, crepe myrtles, ash, sycamore, pear, chrysanthemum, live oak, dahlias, lilac, ferns, African violet and many others.''
It is currently available in liquid form from Spray 'N Gro. You use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. A 16-ounce bottle costs $12 plus shipping. Call (800) 323-2363. WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation makes the most efficient use of water. If you're interested in finding out more about it, check out the catalog from the Urban Farmer Store. It provides an introduction to the basics of drip irrigation and teaches how to design and install a system tailored to your garden. For a copy, send $1 to Urban Farmer Store, 2833 Vicente St., San Francisco, Calif. 94116. BEST BET FOR BULBS
The deluge of catalogs for fall bulbs has begun, and one of the best is John Scheepers Inc., P.O. Box 1700, Bantam, Conn. 06750. I've found them to be one of the most reliable companies, as well as a source for unusual bulbs. The catalog is free, but its minimum order is $25. GO EASY ON THE GRASS
When the temperature goes up, so should your lawn mower blade. Early mowing should be at 2 to 2 1/2 inches. When the weather warms to over 85 degrees, raise the height to 3 to 3 1/2 inches. If there's no irrigation, raise it to 4 inches.
The extra height allows grass to form its own shade umbrella, so there's less water evaporation. The longer the grass, the deeper the roots will develop. If you miss a mowing and your grass gets out of hand, raise the blade to the maximum. Then mow again in a day or two to get back on schedule. Lopping off too much grass makes a mess to clean up and also shocks the grass. Always try to mow frequently enough so you're not taking off more than a third of the grass height. If you cut too much of its ``umbrella,'' grass gets sunburned easily. This sound advice comes from The Brickman Organization, largest professional landscapers in this country. WHEN TO PICK EGGPLANT
Eggplant is ready to harvest when the fruit is 4 to 6 inches in diameter, firm and bright-colored. This formula won't work for the new slim Japanese type eggplant, which many gardeners say is tastier. Harvest it when its shiny, before it becomes dull. Older fruit are soft and seedy. NEW IRIS VS. OLD
In recent weeks, several gardeners have complained that their new exotic iris have changed color from delicate pink to old-fashioned dark brown or blue. Ron Harris, president of the Tidewater Iris Society, says this could happen if your new fan of iris that had a pink bloom died, but dropped a seed that came up and bloomed in the old parents' color of brown or blue. He says Southern crown rot is devastating many new iris varieties, particularly those purchased from California. He's used iron sulphur on his iris to try to control the disease but says it's nearly impossible to stop.
As with many new plant varieties, the breeding of special colors has weakened the plant, and it dies from diseases that older varieties could resist. Japanese and Siberian iris are unaffected by Southern crown rot, he said. If you're buying iris, you may want to stay away from some of the exotic colors because of this disease. ON-LINE GARDENING
Information from the American Horticultural Society can now be obtained by computer on the Worldwide Web. The horticultural society's services are available through eMall, a shopping and information service on the Internet. Horticultural society members will supply home gardeners with information on plant selection, research, gardening techniques and garden tours.
The new service can be reached at http://eMall.com/. When you reach eMall's home page, go to the area called Garden Marketplace. The home page also lets you visit other various product categories, including E.A.T.S. (gourmet food), Decoration (home furnishing), The General Store (selected boutiques), Youth Quake (for kids) and Explore! New York (Broadway, travel and tourism). Call (203) 454-4364. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Siberian iris are unaffected by Southern crown rot.
by CNB