Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry) 31 May 2007

Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry)
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?WTNVP 31 May 2007 Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry)
31 May 2007 These are pictures of my three plants of Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry. This is my first experience with this cultivar. The fruit drops when ripe, hence the landscape fabric to catch the harvest. One fruit fell off yesterday, and I promptly ate it and found the sample of one quite tasty. The small cherry sized fruit is encased in a delicate structured membrane. Seeds from Vessey's were started about 6 March in the greenhouse.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?XSPLO 2 June 2007 Physalis pruinosa, Ground Cherry
One fruiting body.

4 June 2007. Today I purchased a half pint ( 20 fruits) of Product name: Physalis, in Fortino Supermarket (Loblaws) for $2.69 Canadian. They taste exactly like the few I have tasted from the three plants that are growing in my garden. The Ground Cherry (Physalis) is imported from Columbia. It appears each berry costs about 13 cents each.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?SZZGN 24 June 2007 Pictures indicating growth in 32 days.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?NBXBV 13 July 2007 Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)
Each Ground Cherry plant is about two meters in diameter and are loaded with fruit. No diseases or bugs are evident.


http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?TKHLD 25 July 2007 Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry) This is the first picking of the fruit. The cherries were picked off the ground under the plants. There are numerous fruiting bodies on the plants.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?WLZZV 25 August 2007 Ground Cherry Harvest (Physalis pruinosa)
Main picking of the harvest. This quantity was picked from the ground under the plant simply by scooping the fruit off the ground. There will be a second picking when the remaining fruit ripens. This is only from three plants.


Physalis pruinosa aka Dwarf Cape Gooseberry, Strawberry Tomato, or Ground Cherry. This is the most popularly grown variety at 18 to 20 inches high and 2 to 3 feet wide, it is smaller than Physalis peruviana (Giant Cape Gooseberry). The fruit are a lot like those of Physalis peruviana in flavor but about half the size. The Physalis peruviana is a larger upright plant and grow slowly and is not as prolific.

http://www.botany.com/physalis.html Detailed information about the plant.


http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?OQCIO Summary; Growing experience Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry)

Papaver rhoeas (Shirley Poppy)

http://poppy1.notlong.com/ 29 May 2007 First.

http://sirleyp.notlong.com/ 1 June 2007 More Shirley Poppies.

http://shirelyp.notlong.com/ 13 June 2007 Shirley Poppies. Full Bloom.

http://aemoo.notlong.com/ 6 July 2007 Shirley Poppies consolidated. They seem to be predominately a June flower in Zone 5.

This is the first poppy, Papaver rhoeas (Shirley Poppy), this year 29 May 2007. It is mixed up with the Bee Balm. The poppies seeds survive the winter. Usually I have poppies blooming all summer. They thrive if thinned, and one plant produces probably over 100 flowers.

European Snowball Bush 27 May 2007

http://esball.notlong.com/

This pretty bush, Viburnum opulus 'Roseum', can get to be quite large about three meters in height. The plant is well named since the flowering body is almost spherical in shape. When small the plant may need some support during periods of heavy rain, since the balls trap rainwater.

Garden Planted 24 May 2007

http://Planted2.notlong.com 24 May 2007 Garden Planted Pictures are annotated.

There are a few new vegetable plants this year, Joi Choi, Kohl Rabi, Ground Cherry, Root Parsley, Okra, and Artichoke.

The new flowers are Chillean Glory Vine, Sperling's Lotus (Romneya coulteri).

I put two tobacco plants in to see how they grow, and some Diviner's Sage, which I got from Richters.

All I need now for success is some good weather.

European Crane Fly Larvae 17 May 2007.

http://cranflyl.notlong.com/

17 May 2007. European Crane Fly Larvae. About 25 leatherjackets were picked from around this small plant within about 10 cm. of the stalk, many were clinging to the roots and probably sucking the juices. The plant was dying by degrees. Damage is both to the leaves, when the leatherjacket comes out at night, and to the roots. The birds do a good job in controlling. Sometimes when the larvae are in quantity the yard will be full of birds. I observed one blackbird eating 15 in less than a minute digging from the grass. The damage these letherjacks inflict is colossol, when they are in quantity. They love a very wet time of the season usually early spring. They devastate morning glory seedlings amongst many other plants and grass.

The adult is a large mosquito type insect sometimes called a Texas Critter and Mosquito Hawk. Unfortunatley, they do not eat mosquitoes, so they is nothing beneficial to man about this insect.

Some detailed information about this pest.
http://www.humeseeds.com/cranefly.htm

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/cranefly/articles/Collman-CFintro.htm

Tomato Plant frost damage 14 May 2007

http://TomatoFrost.notlong.com

14 May 2007. Tomato plants were put in the ground on 12 May 2007. There was a frost warning so they were covered carefully with 4 mil plastic. Apparently this was not sufficient and the plants suffered severe damage.

Today I went to a nursury and bought replacement plants, which I put in large pots and will keep them indoors until all danger of frost is past.

My efforts to beat the season were in vain.

Paeonia tenuifolia (fernleaf peony).14 May 2007

http://fernleafpeo.notlong.com 14 May 2007.

This red flowering plant Paeonia tenuifolia (fernleaf peony) was given to be by a neighbor three years ago. It only flowers in early sping and prefers some shade, A small group about three feet square is a most attractive view. The vegetation is very pretty after the flowers have disappeared. It grows well even in heavy clay, and seems to tolerate great abuse, since I have moved this plant several times to different types of soil.


Here is some more information about this beautiful plant. http://www.peonies.org/P_tenuifolia.html

Hollyhock Rust and Flaming 12 May 2007

12 May 2007. This hollyhock rust caused by the fungus Puccinia malvacearum can result in serious injury to hollyhocks (AIthaea spp.) and is found nearly everywhere they are grown.

Last fall about late October, I flamed my hollyhock plants and the immediate area surrounding. The plants are now about six inches high and there is absolutely no sign of the rust. This observation may be premature, but it is encouraging, since the rust devastated my hollyhocks last year. I tried fungicides to no avail. This flaming just may be a control.

Here is the device I used: http://Flamehoc.notlong.com

http://Factrust.notlong.com Details about the Hollyhock rust which is caused by the fungus Puccinia malvacearum.

Tulip Beds 9 May 2007

http://tulipbeds.notlong.com/

9 May 2007 pictures of various tulips. There is quite a variety and are a pleasure to view.

Durgan.

9 May 2007 Tomato in Garden

http://tomatoss.notlong.com/

9 May 2007 Zone 5. Three tomato plants were put in the garden. This is too early since we may have frost until about the 24th of May. I have plastic covers, and can double bag if the frost is forecast as severe. The weather is very warm and if it lasts the plants will get a jump on the season.

The pictures depict the support system. The cages are four tier and are stronger than the normal ones that have been on the market for too many years. The 8 ft. rebar supports the cage and adds extra height for typing the plants later in the season. The ties are similar to pipe cleaners of old, and are used to train the plant. Most of the weight is taken by the leaves being supported by the tiers of the strong cages, so the ties do not bite into the stem of the plant. This is the easiest system I have encountered over the years for supporting the tomato plants.

http://tomatoesing.notlong.com/ 11 May 2007 Completion of Tomato plants in ground.

Durgan.

Tulip Patch (Short variety) 3 May 2007

Tulip Patch (Short Variety)
http://Tulips2.notlong.com 3 May 2007 Zone 5.Tulips Patch.

These are the short variety. I plant poppies around the plants to hide the tulips leaves while they produce food for next years growth.

First Rhubarb 3 May 2007 Zone 5

http://rhubarb2.notlong.com/ 3 May 2007 First Rhubarb.

Only enough for one bowl, but it was delicious. It has a beautiful colour.

Durgan.

Garden Growth 1 May 2007

http://Garden1May.notlong.com

1 May 2007 Zone 5. This is a general view of the growth on 1 May 2007 in Zone 5. Tulips, daffadils, forsythia are reaching full bloom. Chives, garlic and onions are growing well. Compost was made available from the city, and I picked up my first load.

Forsythia should be pruned immediately after blooming, since flowering occurs on new growth next year.

Durgan.