Garden Archives - Ambre Dawn Leffler

Daffodils and Leeks

Happy St. David’s Day! March 1 is the feast day of St. David, patron saint of Wales. It is said that St. David lived on bread and leeks. The leeks gave the saint a strong and clear voice for preaching his sermons. (On a side note, the Roman emperor Nero also ate leeks to help his singing voice.) There is a song for this day! St. David’s Day Song highlights the daffodils along with St. David.

In Wales, people celebrate with parades, concerts and eisteddfodau (festivals of music, language and culture). They also celebrate wearing daffodils or leeks. Daffodils are the national flower of Wales and leeks are the national symbol, though at one time there was some trash talking about whether the daffodil or the leek should have that claim. Welsh legend tells of a battle on March 1 in the seventh century where soldiers in the army of King Cadwallon of Gwynedd wore leeks in their helmets as an identifying symbol. They fought off Saxon invaders after eating leeks growing in a field nearby.

June

It is hatching time! In my backyard I have seen a family with four baby mourning doves, a quail covey with two chicks, another quail covey with five, and two quail parents with a chick fluffed up by its new feathers growing in. I have not seen the baby woodpeckers in the saguaro nest (May newsletter) but the parents have been busy flying out to nearby trees for food. The skyscape is filled with chatter from birds transitioning to Summer.

In the last two weeks of May I saw a quail pair hopping up into my geranium planter. At first I thought they were scouting locations for a nest but then thought that wasn’t likely because I have a drip system running through that planter and assumed they wouldn’t have a nest where the ground was wet. When I checked on my garden in the evenings I walked right past the geraniums to check on my yellow pear tomatoes. I’d exclaim how cute the little tomatoes were, hanging in a cluster on the branch. Little did I know that the cutest things ever were about to hatch under the geraniums!

I looked out the morning of May 28 and saw the parents rummaging in the geraniums. Later in the morning I saw a clump of something near the garden and realized it was a newly-hatched batch of chicks! I raced over to the window and counted five chicks clustered under their mother. They followed her across the concrete and down into the dirt. She hopped back up on the concrete and four followed. The littlest one wasn’t able to flap enough to get back on the concrete so she led the others down to the dirt to could go around another way. Once they were gathered in the dirt she showed them how to wallow. One gave it a try and left the tiniest little indentation in the dirt. Then they were on their way.

If I hadn’t been looking out the window at that moment I would have completely missed it. Have your binoculars nearby so you won’t miss a moment of hatching season.

Tomato Hornworms

My grandparents lived near the mountains of El Paso in the company of scorpions. My mild-mannered grandfather took scorpion stings personally. He would calmly trap the scorpion in a glass jar and fill it with alcohol. This is where he transformed into some kind of alter ego. After shaking the jar with a vengeance, he would empty it and track the woozy scorpion’s slow walk. Then he repeatedly stomped on the scorpion with a superhero’s strength.

The acorn does not fall far from the tree. I am personally affronted when I see a tomato hornworm feasting on the plants in my garden. That round mouth constantly moving as it devours leaves and stems without a break makes me instantaneously queasy and mad. While I initially feel squeamish about plucking it from the plant, I quickly get over it when the sense of injustice kicks in.

These caterpillars grow quickly and steadily in your garden. Tomato hornworms are bright green with a white-and-black diagonal pattern that spirals around their body.

A hornworm will grow from this

To this

To this

In a matter of days.

There are a few clues you have hornworms: leaves that suddenly disappear; grey moths that flutter out from the garden when you water it; and pellets that look like peppercorns on the ground beneath a plant or on the plant itself (hornworm droppings).

The easiest non-toxic way to get rid of hornworms is to
1.Pluck 2. Flick 3. Squish.

Look for hornworms very early in the day, turning over leaves to look for worms on the undersides. I recommend wearing garden gloves and closed shoes. If you don’t catch them early on, hornworms grow to a size where they are impossible to pluck off the branch. In this case (or if your stomach turns at the thought of plucking them), cut off the branch where they are eating and flick the branch instead. Flick them in a direction away from the garden. Find a rock and place it on top of the worm, then stomp on it.

You can watch a video of this technique here:

How to get rid of tomato hornworms in 3 easy steps

Peppers

I grew up eating Hatch chili from New Mexico, so it is no surprise I planted peppers in my garden. The local nursery was selling the Big Jim variety so I decided to give them a try. Big Jim peppers are on the small side but pack a lot of heat. After tasting one sliver I was reaching for the honey.

Peppers can grow in containers just as well as in garden beds. Give them enough room and fertilizer, though. Pepper plants will branch out over a large area if not pruned back. Look for the joint of a new branch and use shears to cut just below this joint. If there are too many branches and leaves all energy will go into these parts of the plant instead of growing fruit. Like with basil be sure to trim no more than 30 percent at one time as this stresses the roots.

Even with regular trimming, pepper plants will need stake support especially when the fruits develop. The branches become so heavy that they can snap. You can find small stakes for this at the nursery. I’ve also re purposed chopsticks. When harvesting the fruits, use shears to cut the peppers just above where the stem is attached. This helps the peppers last longer and minimizes damage to the plant. The more they mature and turn color, the more they develop their flavor.

Peppers love the sun and do well in hot summers. They also love plenty of water. Feed them fertilizer regularly (they like liquid tomato fertilizer). A good rule of thumb is every two weeks when the fruits first appear. Once the fruits mature back off a bit on the fertilizer or else you will be feeding the stems and leaves.

Pepper plants, despite their abundance of branches, can be stripped overnight by a tomato hornworm. I was astonished to walk out one morning and find my pepper plant reduced to what looked like sticks. Unlike when my basil plant was similarly devoured, I could not find the culprit and seek vengeance. I recommend doing inspections early in the morning by turning the leaves over and looking for those bright green squiggles of destruction. I also recommend keeping pepper plants in their own containers and at a distance from each other so that you aren’t planting an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Characteristics: Grow equally well in containers and garden beds; Benefit from frequent trims; Need stake support
Water: Plentiful water and fertilizer
Sun: Love being in the sun
Companions: Basil; Onions; Spinach; Tomatoes; Chives; Carrots; Chard; Lettuce; Radishes; Oregano
Enemies: Brassica

Marigolds

Marigolds act as the pest police. They repel garden attackers without the chemicals and are helpful in keeping away carrot flies. They are also tasty in salads. They are known for taking over, but I have not had an issue with this. Look for the scented variety when selecting marigolds for your garden.

Marigolds like soil that is not too damp, so they got planted near the thyme in the raised garden. Water at the base and let dry between waterings (except in summer). Well-drained soil is preferable. For reasons unknown to me, my marigolds suddenly wilted and died. I have planted new marigolds from seeds and am waiting to see how they do. Intriguingly, the seed packet says they are best planted when there is a low pressure system.

Characteristics: Pest police; Prefer well-drained soil
Water: Water at base; Let dry between waterings (except summer)
Sun: Can survive hot summers
Companions: Just about everyone
Enemies: Beans; Cabbage

Rosemary

Rosemary is a symbol for remembrance, but it could just as easily symbolize independence. I lived in a house with rosemary in the backyard that was never watered yet thrived. Rosemary will take over any living space, so it is best planted in its own container with well drained soil or in a patch of ground. Plant near carrots and it will deter pesky carrot flies. Similar to basil, rosemary likes a good trim now and then, but be careful as rosemary can be prickly to handle. Rosemary does well in all seasons here in the southwest.
I re-purposed an empty spice jar by filling it with dried rosemary from the garden. Like thyme, rosemary can be dried by placing it on a baking sheet and left overnight in the oven.

Characteristics: Low maintenance; Takes over any space; Prefers well drained soil; Likes a haircut
Water: Needs very little
Sun: Loves sun or shade (really, it will grow anywhere)
Companions: Cabbage; Beans; Carrot (deters carrot flies); Sage
Enemies: None

Thyme

Tiny-leaved thyme takes up very little space in the raised garden. It likes full sun and not much water. I have not had great success with thyme for whatever reason. Plants are similar to people: some thrive and others don’t in the same environment for reasons that are mysterious. Don’t be critical of yourself if elements of your garden fail. Sometimes a plant isn’t happy in its environment and it can’t tell you why. I don’t know what the story is with thyme but I’m giving it another go. So far, so good. I have planted it in a row with other plants that also don’t like a lot of water. Thyme can be dried by placing it on a baking sheet and left overnight in the oven.

Characteristics: Takes up little space; Deters cabbage worms
Water: Not too much water
Sun: Likes full sun
Companions: Cabbage; Eggplant; Onion; Potato; Sage; Tomato
Enemies: None

Garlic Chives

My garlic chives seem to thrive on neglect. Once in awhile I remember to sprinkle some water on them. They were grown from native non-GMO seeds and therefore are adapted to this climate. They look like grass until you get close and catch a whiff of garlic. When I cut them, they grow right back. Not only are they adaptable to their environment, they are also a great substitute in recipes such as a loaded baked potato. They once resided in the raised garden but now are in their own pot where they are quite content.

Characteristics: Low maintenance; Like a trim now and then; Transplant well
Water: They appreciate a sprinkle here and there
Sun: They do well in partial shade
Companions: Beets; Lettuce: Tomatoes: Kale; Cabbage; Brassica; Carrots (improve their flavor)
Enemies: Peas; Beans

Celery

Celery likes to establish deep roots. Perhaps this explains why not many people here in this transitory city grow it: everyone is from somewhere else on their way to somewhere else. This vegetable enjoys plentiful water and loves the cold (a lot like me). Since celery likes almost swamp-like conditions, I have planted it in window box containers so that these can be filled with water without drowning the other vegetables and herbs. The boxes are adjacent to the raised planter and are shaded all day by the tangelo and pine trees. So far it seems happy with this arrangement.

When planting celery, build up soil around the base of the stems and leave enough room for the root ball to grow. Celery root is packed with nutrients and is delicious grated in a salad. When harvesting celery, harvest the plants whole. I was not sure how celery would do here, but the stalks have grown from what look like just branches to recognizable celery stalks. I love celery and plan to plant more next season.

Characteristics: Low maintenance; Best planted separately to accommodate their water needs
Water: They love lots of water
Sun: They prefer cold and shade
Companions: Beans; Cabbage; Leek; Onion; Spinach; Tomato; Snapdragons
Enemies: Corn; Irish potato

Spinach

Spinach can be picked only twice and then it is done. Spinach likes things loose in the soil department, and well-drained soil is ideal. Spinach is a thirsty plant so water it frequently but keep the leaves dry. It is best kept at a distance from herbs such as thyme and oregano who do not like to be water logged, thank you very much. This vegetable loves cool weather and hanging out in the shade. Like me, it wilts in the heat and does best in the months of November through March. Its shallow roots are perfect for the raised garden. When prepping spinach, rinse and repeat.

Characteristics: Low maintenance; Can only be picked twice; Likes loose soil
Water: Likes to be watered frequently
Sun: Prefers shade
Companions: Peas; Beans; Cabbage; Cauliflower; Celery; Eggplant; Onions
Enemies: None