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What a busy couple of weeks! Anyone who thinks the Cornell Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Program is fluff, where one learns about pretty flowers, is insane. This course is a lot of work.
I don't recall ever having to apply myself so much in all my years of school. Maybe it's because I'm more creatively inclined, and this stuff is pure science. Or maybe I'm just getting old. No matter, I'm averaging a high B, but I'm working my tail off.
Since I last wrote, the class was treated to lectures from several experts in their respective fields. We learned about herbs from Donna Gerbosi-DiFulvio, vegetable gardening from John Deignan, the science of composting from Michael Szabaga, bulbs from Harry and Mary VanAllen, weeds from Julie Seghrouchni, pest management from Bonnie Klein and how to apply diagnostic skills from Segrouchni and Klein, both Nassau CCE agents.
Some interesting tidbits:
* The mulch that's been sitting uncovered on my driveway for 3 months is probably decomposing anaerobically, which means the lack of oxygen in the pile is breeding some nasty fungi and bacteria that might be toxic to my plants. Don't buy mulch unless you can use it immediately.
* Diagnosing pest and disease issues isn't as easy as it might seem. Symptoms that might indicate a problem in one species might be completely normal in another. This is tricky stuff.
* Deer and other critters will not eat chinodoxa, scilla, narcissus, fritillaria, allium, galanthus, muscari. I knew that already, but it makes me happy.
* Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) makes for a nice, unique alternative to common container spikes (Dracaena). And it smells really, really nice.
* Most herbs require a neutral pH, good drainage, air circulation and sun. No need to fertilize them, ever.
* Organic amendments are pretty much a cure-all. One can never have too much compost. You can pretty much do anything with it except brush your teeth.
* It's best to prepare a vegetable bed and dress it with organic matter in the fall, giving it all winter to break down and nourish the soil.
* You can get by planting tulips pretty late. Our mentors once were delayed until Christmas Eve, and though their tulips bloomed a bit later that first year, they made a nice showing and were right on schedule in subsequent seasons.
* Applying oil sprays on glaucous (blueish-colored) trees will remove the silvery blush from their foliage. If they require treatment, use horticultural soap instead.
* Weeds are symptoms of garden problems: Clover in the lawn indicates a nitrogen deficiency; oxalis, drought; plantain, compact soil. The list goes on and on.
Gotta go study. Big test on Tuesday.
