Wichita Gardener’s Almanac for Feb. 21
Two weeks until daylight saving time – It may be snowy this weekend, but two weeks from Sunday, the days will be longer again. Hibernate while you can.
Peach-leaf curl control – Peach trees should be sprayed for peach leaf curl before buds begin to swell; start keeping an eye on your trees if you’ve had problems in the past, extension agent Rebecca McMahon says. Early March is usually an OK time, but the weather affects bud swell. Don’t spray when temperatures are below 40 or will fall below freezing before the spray dries, Ward Upham of K-State says. Fungicides labeled for the disease include Bordeaux, liquid lime sulfur and chlorothalonil (Ortho Garden Disease Control, Fertilome Broad Spectrum Fungicide, GardenTech Fungicide Disease Control, Gordon’s Multipurpose Fungicide and Daconil). Thoroughly cover the entire tree, which is easier to do if the tree already has been pruned, Upham says. Which brings us to:
Pruning fruit trees – Fruit trees can be pruned from now through March as long as the wood isn’t frozen, Upham says. Some of his general recommendations (young trees and specific fruits have more specific needs):
▪ Take out broken, damaged or diseased branches.
▪ If two branches form a narrow angle, prune one. Narrow angles are weak angles and tend to break during wind or ice storms.
▪ Take out all suckers. Suckers are branches that grow straight up. They may originate from the trunk or from major branches.
▪ If two branches cross and rub against each other, take one out.
▪ Cut back or remove branches that are so low they interfere with harvest or pruning. If cutting back a branch, always cut back to another branch or a bud. Do not leave a stub.
▪ Cut back branches to reduce the total size of the tree if necessary.
▪ Thin branches on the interior of the tree.
Garden events
Indoor farmers market – The Kansas Grown Farmers Market will have an indoor winter market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Extension Center, 21st and Ridge Road. Admission is free.
Native-plant-enthusiasts meeting – Wichita-area native-plant enthusiasts will gather Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E. 29th St. North. The Kansas Native Plant Society will hand out maps showing locations to see native plants in landscapes in the Wichita area in 2015, talk about milkweed and discuss coming native-plant events in the region, and participants can shop for ID guides at the Owl’s Nest gift store. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Container-gardening talk – Landscaper and master gardener Peggy Griffith will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about choosing the right containers and plants to fit your needs. Her lunchtime lecture, at 12:15 p.m., is included in Botanica admission. Syl’s will have lunch for sale for $8.
P. Allen Smith cocktail party – Gardening personality P. Allen Smith, who is coming to Wichita for the Outdoor Living and Landscape Show on March 7 at Century II, will make an appearance the evening before at a cocktail party at Botanica. The event at 7 p.m. March 6 will be in the new Lotus Hall, and a $125 ticket will include a copy of Smith’s book “Seasonal Recipes From the Garden,” food and drinks, jazz music by Banana Boat Kings, a ticket to the Outdoor Living show, an autograph in your book and a photo with Smith. Ten dollars of the ticket price will go to Botanica. Tickets are available at Select-A-Seat outlets, online at www.selectaseat.com and by phone at 855-755-7328.
Smith will give a presentation at 10:30 a.m. March 7 at the Outdoor Living show.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published February 21, 2015 at 7:33 AM with the headline "Wichita Gardener’s Almanac for Feb. 21."