AboutLong Island Gardener Expertise Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.
Experience I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.
Publications Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.
Education/Credentials B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.
Awards and Honors I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.
Question i am planning to plant some big dahlia flowers this winter , what care should i take .
1.fertiliser i am using is decomposed cowdung ,
2.what about watering .
3.I have seen termites in the soil , are they harmfull , what i need to do.
4.Should i keep them in shed or they will be best in open.
(now a days weather is volatile , so even though it is winter , there are sudden blows of temperatures during afternoon).
Answer Dahlias need heat and sun. Above 88 degrees, and the Chlorophyll A stops working. Below 48 degrees F, the Chlorophyll stops working.
Temperature fluctuations are stressful, but can be overcome. Consistency is important. It is vital, however, that temperatures in the darkness be lower than they were in sunlight. Deviations from this schedule interfere negatively with growth and metabolism.
Since light is necessary, a shed would be out of the question.
Your choice of fertilizer is ideal. But make sure these Dahlias have dark, rich Soil, and do not forget to water them even for a day. These look tough, but they aren't. They need to be watered. I repeat: Dahlias NEED to be watered.
