From the Garden of Rachel McLeod

     Gardeners are always looking ahead. So with the next year in mind there are some things we can do this year. First before all the flowers are killed by frost we can take cuttings, even after a frost we can go out and collect seed and then there will be the bulb catalogues to study. 

     Many years ago I was given some cuttings of a variegated impatiens with brilliant red flowers. Every summer it brightens up the deep shade of my garden. Since I was given it I have not seen it for sale in the garden outlets in spring or summer so each year I keep one plant potted up in the house and all winter take cuttings to plant in my garden the following summer. Last year I discovered another impatiens which I have not seen before or since. This one has dark red leaves and a pale pink flower. It is very effective planted with the Japanese painted fern and Lambs ears; again I take a plant indoors at the end of summer and propagate it by cuttings ready for next year.

     Impatiens is an annual, which is happy in low light conditions and does well as a houseplant. Geraniums are another plant which can be brought indoors and which will supply new plants from rooted cuttings all winter. These need much more light however but will do well under fluorescent lights. Apart from the saving of money it is fun to start new life and it is a great help to have a lot of extra
potted plants to pop in empty patches in the garden.

     While you are rescuing the impatiens and geraniums from the early frosts remember to bring in the tender bulbous plants such as Calla lilies. I was given a pot as a present many years ago and each spring I plant out ones that I have stored over the winter in dry peat and have potted up in late winter. I now have so many I can plant them all over the garden though they look best in a large container on the deck. This year in addition to the calla lilies I will be storing my begonias also in dry peat and both they and the callas will be kept in a cool
basement.

     Another way of increasing the number of plants in your garden is to collect their seed When they look nearly dry cut the stems and hang head down in a paperbag to finish ripening.

     Sometimes if I want to increase the number of plants in a wild area such as the sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis) in my meadow or foxgloves (Digitalis spp)in the woodland I just lay the stems on the ground when I am deadheading and leave them among other plants, In the spring there is always a lovely patch of new plants where the dead stems lay. Of course if tidiness is not too important the seedheads can be left on the plants and allowed to drop when they are ready. I find this is the best way of propagating Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) a plant that can be very obstinate about germinating if it is collected and stored.

     When the seeds are ripe and completely dry package them in envelopes or containers like small film canisters and be sure to label them clearly. Most of my seeds are kept in a shoebox in the refrigerator until I am ready to plant them in late winter. Like taking cuttings there is something very satisfying about propagating ones own seeds. However it is important to remember that seed collected from a hybrid plant may not germinate at all and if it does it will not come true to the one in your garden but will probably revert to one of its parents.

     Any column about gardening at this time of year would not be complete without a word about buying bulbs. The bulb catalogues are arriving in the mail bringing spring with them but there are also Colchicums which will flower this fall in fact almost as soon as you receive them. They have a large flower very like a crocus in white or purple and make a wonderful display in October. The double "Waterlily" is especially spectacular. But be warned the stronger the plants grow and the more flowers they produce the more leaves will be growing in the spring and they are large and rather ugly so it is best to plan to plant the bulbs so that they will be hidden in the summer.

     Now is the time to buy the bulbs to force for winter flowering; they need about ten weeks to make good root growth before they can be brought into the light and warmth to force into flower for Christmas and the New year. There are bulbs specially prepared for forcing and the larger the bulb the better the flowers will be. After they have flowered for this year they will still be a great addition to the garden.

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     Rachel McLeod has many years of experience in gardening... particularly with herbs.
She occasionally lectures on herbs and plants for natural gardens.
She can be reached at 905-659-1001.

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