Wichita Gardener’s Almanac (Feb. 14)
Flash-in-the-pan signs of spring — Wichitan Dana Smyser saw forsythia blooming earlier this week in Wichita, and bulb foliage as well as flowers of some of the early-blooming bulbs have made an appearance. But now winter weather is back, with lows reaching into the single digits in the forecast.
Fertilize bulbs — The time to fertilize spring-flowering bulbs is when foliage starts poking up through the ground, not at flowering time, horticulturist Ward Upham of K-State says. But they may not need it if the area has been fertilized in the past. A soil test will help you know for sure. If phosphorous and potassium are needed, use a complete fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, 9-9-6) at the rate of 21/2 pounds per 100 square feet, or 1 rounded teaspoon per square foot, Upham says. If they are not needed, blood meal can be applied at a rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet or 1 teaspoon per square foot, he says. A lawn fertilizer with a profile such as a 27-3-3 or 30-3-3 also can be used, but cut the rate by a third, and be sure there is no weed preventer or killer in the mix, Upham says.
Garden events
Plants-in-review talk — Staff horticulturist Janet Gordon will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about shrubs and perennials that were new to Botanica last year and how they fared. Her lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission.
Meteorologists at Project Beauty luncheon — Meteorologists Mike Urban and Chance Hayes will give the program at a Project Beauty luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Scotch & Sirloin, 5325 E. Kellogg Drive. The cost is $17. To make a reservation, send a check Saturday to Jean Wellshear, 6411 Marjorie, 67206.
African violet meeting — The Wichita African Violet Study Club will meet at 1 p.m. Friday at Botanica. The meeting is free and open to the public.
“Grasses of Kansas” talk — Botanist and former National Park Service employee Iralee Barnard will be at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 to talk about all kinds of Kansas grasses, from the roadside to the lawn, and her new grass field guide. The winter lecture will be in the Prairie Pavilion, with an optional soup supper at 6 p.m. in the Visitors Center. The cost of the lecture is $2; supper and the lecture cost $7. Call 620-327-8127 by 5 p.m. Friday for supper reservations.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Wichita Gardener’s Almanac (Feb. 14)."