Master Gardeners of Frederick County Maryland

❄️ Reshare from our friends @umdhgic ❄️ . . . #gardening #gardengifts #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #marylandgrows #marylandgardener #gardenersofinstagram #gardenlovers #growwithus #plantpeople #plantlovers #homeandgarden #umdextension #grow

"WHEN OAKS HANG ONTO THEIR DEAD LEAVES When trees hang onto their leaves, it’s called marcescence. Marcescence is the phenomenon where certain trees and plants, such as oaks, retain their dead leaves through the winter instead of shedding them in autumn. This occurs because the abscission layer, which normally allows leaves to detach, doesn't fully develop. The exact reasons for marcescence are not entirely known, but several theories suggest it could protect buds from winter desiccation, provide nutrients to the soil when leaves eventually fall in spring, or deter herbivores with less palatable twigs. When I walk through the woods at this time of year, I see some oaks with leaves and some without. This is because some oak species are more prone to marcescence than others. Some juvenile species of oaks, commonly including bur oak, tend to keep their leaves. As trees mature, they tend to lose their leaves or only keep them on lower branches. I have also seen where they sporadically keep leaves top to bottom. Local climate and even genetic differences between trees of the same species can cause some to hold onto or lose their leaves differently." Reshare from Wildflowers Wisconsin on Facebook . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #trees #environment #habitat #ecosystem #plants #gardening #plantlovers #gardeningcommunity #gardenersofinstagram #marylandgrows #marylandgardener #baywisegardening

It's KITCHEN GARDEN MONDAY!! Did you know that carrots get sweeter when left in the soil through a good hard frost or two? The starches in their tap root (the part most commonly eaten, although the greens are delicious too) are converted to simple sugars in anticipation of their second year of growth when flowering and seed production take place. The variety shown here is known as Yellowstone. It is an heirloom variety that outcompetes other cultivars in dense soils. Yellow roots reach 7-9" long in just 70 days, we suggest sowing in late August or early September for best harvests. . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgkitchengardenmondays #kitchengarden #growwhatyoueat #growyourownfood #homegrown #gardentotable #gyo #grow #garden #gardening #veg #veggiegarden #rootvegetables #greenthumb

It's KITCHEN GARDEN MONDAY!! This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Painted Pony bush bean. This dual purpose heirloom variety can be harvested young for stringless snap beans (~60 days) or allowed to mature fully for dry shelling beans (~90 days). Robust plants reach 18" tall with an 18" spread, so we recommend 6-8" spacing. Direct sow in full sun after chance of frost has passed. . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgkitchengardenmondays #kitchengarden #growyourownfood #growwhatyoueat #growwithus #gyo #grow #GIY #gardentotable #grownfromseed #veg #organicgardening #homegrown #veggiegarden #garden #gardenersofinstagram #jardin #gardening #plants #greenthumb

It's FEATURE FRIDAY!! "Groundcherries, with about two dozen species in eastern North America, have bell-like flowers with colored centers and inflated bladders around the fruit. Clammy Groundcherry, Physalis heterophylla Plant Characteristics Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual Fruit Type: Berry Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall. Bloom Information Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep Distribution USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: MB , ON , PE , QC , SK Native Distribution: Ontario east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Texas, north to North Dakota; also in much of West. Native Habitat: Dry woods and clearings. Growing Conditions Soil Moisture: Dry" Photos: bleedingheartland.com Content: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgfeaturefridays #nativeflowers #nativeplants #plantnatives #plants #gardening #gardenersofinstagram #nature #habitat #environment #gardeningcommunity #nativefruits #growwithus

We express our deepest gratitude to our followers and community members for your support and engagement over the years. It is our great pleasure to share our knowledge and love of gardening with you and yours, and we look forward to many more years of growing together. 🌿 Shown here: Oregano, Origanum vulgare . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #kitchengarden #herbs #herbgarden #growwithus #growyourown #plants #gyo #GIY #homegrownherbs #garden #gardening #gardeningcommunity #gardenersofinstagram #plantlovers

It's KITCHEN GARDEN MONDAY!! Is green bean casserole on your Thanksgiving menu? If this holiday favorite makes an annual appearance as part of your Thanksgiving spread, then you have good reason to grow your own beans. Provider is one of our favorite bush habit varieties. As the name implies, this tried and true cultivar is highly productive and beans stay nice and tender even when overgrown. We suggest sowing directly in full sun and harvesting often for best yields. At just 50 days to maturity, these can be sown in succession for an extended harvest. Not into green bean casserole? That's ok, they make tasty dilly beans too. 😉 . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgkitchengardenmondays #kitchengarden #gardening #gardentotable #gardeningcommunity #marylandgardener #marylandgrows #homegrown #growwhatyoueat #gyo #grownfromseed #veg #grow

It's FEATURE FRIDAY!! "Red twig dogwood is a large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub in the Cornaceae (dogwood) family and native to most of North America, including [Maryland]. Growing to a height and width of 6 to 9 feet, it is typically found growing in damp boggy areas, riparian areas, or wetland margins. The common name indicates the bright red color of the stems. The genus Cornus is from the Latin name for horn. Sericea is Latin for silky and is in reference to fine hairs found on the tops of leaves and lining new twigs. Although it tolerates a range of soil conditions, including wet and dry sites and heavy clay soil, it prefers organically rich, consistently moist soil. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, though plants can become stressed in full sun during our hot southern summers. Its showy red stems provide great winter interest. The brightest color occurs on new stem growth, so prune the plant back in early spring to stimulate more growth. It grows vigorously and spreads by underground stems to form a colony that can become weedy in some areas, though its spreading roots can help mitigate erosion. If its spread is undesirable, root prune it with a spade. White flowers appear in the early summer, followed by white berries that last into the fall and are a food source for songbirds. The leaves turn attractive shades of orange or red, fading to purple in the fall. When they drop, the showy bright red stems make this plant have true year-round interest. This wildlife plant is a larval host for butterflies and supports bees and birds, so it makes an excellent addition to a pollinator garden. It works well as a specimen, massed in a shrub border, or used in front of an evergreen hedge for contrast. Tolerating wet areas allows it to be planted in low spots in the landscape. Use multiple plants to form a hedge or thicket and provide screening or security. This plant is seldom browsed by deer." Photos: fastgrowingtrees.com Content: NC State University Extension website . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgfeaturefridays #nativeplants #garden #gardenersofinstagram #gardening #mastergardener #marylandgrows #plantnatives

It's KITCHEN GARDEN MONDAY!! We are quite fond of edible blooms, but this ornamental also has edible greens, stems and seeds. Blossoms make a beautiful garnish for desserts or they can be steeped into tea; leaves and stems are an excellent addition to salads, slaws, soups and even make a nice pesto; and seeds are often pickled as a substitute for capers. Yum! Nasturtiums come in an array of colors and growth habits, but this variety is known as Alaska Red. They are an annual that can be started inside or directly sown after chance of frost has passed. You will notice that they put on their best show when temps start to drop in late summer/early fall, making them an valuable source of late pollen for autumn pollinators. Full sun, 8-12" spacing recommended. . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #flowers #flowergarden #kitchengarden #fcmgkitchengardenmondays #edibleflowers #plants #garden #grow #growwithus #growwhatyoueat #homegrown #edibleornamentals #gardenersofinstagram #gardenlife #jardin #foodgarden #marylandgrows #mastergardener #gardeningcommunity #gardentotable #gardeningmaryland #gyo

It's FEATURE FRIDAY!! Looking for an evergreen alternative to turf grass? Allow us to introduce you to Juniperus horizontalis, aka Creeping juniper. "Creeping juniper is a low-growing, needled evergreen shrub in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. It is a native of North America, found throughout Canada and the northern part of the United States from Maine west to Montana and in Alaska. Both its species and common names refer to the tendency of its long, trailing branches to spread much farther horizontally than it grows vertically. Usually found growing in rocky or sandy soils from rocky outcrops to streams, this shrub is fairly adaptable to various soil types and pH as long as the soil is well drained. It is drought and deer tolerant, fairly salt tolerant, and grows well in coastal conditions.. It prefers full sun and tolerates hot weather, moderately poor soils, and many air pollutants found in urban areas. Creeping juniper grows up to 1.5 feet high, and branches can spread to form a dense mat up to 10 feet wide. Plant 6 to 12 feet apart. Creeping juniper has green or blue-green, scale-like foliage that may take on a purplish tinge in winter. It produces small, round, blue, berry-like cones. There are many cultivars available for use as a ground cover on slopes, where it can help control soil erosion, or in retaining walls or rock gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Creeping juniper and its cultivars are susceptible to infestation by aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, false spider mites, juniper scale, juniper tip mite, juniper webworm, and spruce spider mites.This shrub and its cultivars are susceptible to Cercospora needle blight, Phomopsis and other blights, and some fungal diseases. It shares with apple trees a susceptibility to a rust fungus called Gymnosporangium juniperi - virginianae. This fungus causes "cedar apples" on juniper twigs and dark leaf spots on apple leaves." Content and photos sourced from the NC State Extension website. . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgfeaturefridays #nativeplants #landscapegardening #landscaping #plants #garden #jardin #gardenersofinstagram #grow #growwithus #gardening

It's not too late!! Have you planted your garlic yet? General rule of thumb here in Maryland is to have your garlic in before Thanksgiving. 🦃 . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #gardening #garlic #gardentotable #fallplanting #fallgardening #growwithus #growwhatyoueat #veg #plants #grow #gyo

It's KITCHEN GARDEN MONDAY!! One of our favorite quick, cool weather crops is the radish and this beautiful cultivar is know as the Watermelon radish, due to its coloring. At roughly the size of a baseball, they are sweet with a little spice, making them a great choice for roasting, salads and slaws. At just 55 days to maturity, they are an excellent choice for fall gardens that see fewer hours of sunlight as days shorten. Direct sow in late summer or early autumn, before the season's first frost. Autumn Slaw: 1 apple (shredded) 1/4 head of cabbage (shredded) 1 Watermelon radish (shredded) 1/2 red onion (thinly sliced) 1/2 tbsp dried sweet basil Dressing: 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tbsp avocado oil 1 tbsp ACV 1 tbsp honey Salt and pepper to taste . . . #frederickcountymastergardeners #mastergardener #fcmgkitchengardenmondays #kitchengarden #growwhatyoueat #growwithus #veg #homegrown #rootvegetables #garden #jardin #gardening #gardeningcommunity #gardentotable #gyo #plantlovers