January and February offer time to dream and plan about your garden for 2008. Searching through the catalogues and magazine articles often leads to new and potentially exciting additions to your garden.

The climate in Kentucky has a lot of variability and extremes that provides opportunities and challenges for growing a wide variety of plants. Part of the challenge of gardening is trying to grow a plant from a different region.

When planting something new, find out how well it grows in this area. Make sure it is a perennial, shrub or  tree that it is hardy to this climate; not only the cold temperatures but also the heat and humidity. This can be a source of stress for certain plant varieties. A plant in stress is more susceptible to disease and insect invasions. Some planning will increase your success with new plant varieties.

It is interesting to learn where a plant originated and grows naturally; this will provide valuable information about the climate conditions and soil type the plant is adapted to. With this knowledge you can select or create a location in your garden where your plant can flourish.

Selecting new varieties to try in the vegetable garden allows you to possibly find a variety that will grow with fewer problems, a higher yield or just a different look or taste. There are many unique and unusual varieties to try now. The ability to resist diseases and pests is an important consideration in the varieties chosen.  

Some varieties are only available as seed. You can set up to start your own plants to get a head start or sow directly in the garden. This is true for annual flower varieties as well. Adding a few annuals in the landscape will provide a constant source of color, brightening up your landscape. The number of annuals available has expanded in colors and types capable of growing in the many different environments in your landscape. 

January and February is a great time to read about and explore the possibilities with the new and improved varieties. Knowing ahead of time about your different choices makes it easer when shopping in the spring for the right plant for the right spot.

Garden Quiz 1

1.              1.  When we identify ferns we use the sori to help, what are the sori?

2.      2.  When is the best time to lift and divide Iris?       

3.      3.   When is the best time to prune Roses

4.      4.   Perennials should be divided in the fall only. True or False?

5.      5.   Xeriscape involves conservation of what through creative landscaping.

6.      6.   Are tomatoes and potatoes in the same family?

7.      7.   When watering flower beds, the best time is in the evening with my trusty wand and water breaker. True or False?

8.      8.   How many leaflets does poison ivy have and what is the genus classification?

9.      9.   What type of insect cause the leaves to have a stippled or flecked appearance, eventually yellowing or bronzing. New growth and flowers often appear webbed over.

10   10.   Is Pineapple sage a good plant for attracting humming birds?

1.          1.   Masses of spores for reproduction

2.     2.   Summer after bloom cycle

3.     3.   Spring through early fall

4.     4.   False

5.     5.   Water

6.     6.   Yes

7.     7.   False

8.     8.   3 leaflets, Rhus

9.     9.   Spider mite

10.  10.  Yes