Your Questions and Our Answers

by Barbara Sue Schubert

Question:

“Some of my gardening buddies were talking the other day over a cup of coffee about heirloom tomatoes, but nobody really knew much about them. What exactly is an ‘heirloom’ plant, where can I find them, and do you have any that you recommend?” Jerry, Baneberry, Tennessee

Answer:

Heirloom plants or vegetables are plants that have been “open pollinated,” or rather grown originally –or true to type- from seed.  Before the industrialization of agriculture, that’s how plants were basically grown.  However, this term obviously rules out any hybrids.  As near as gardeners can tell, 1951 is considered to be the latest year a plant could have originated and still be called a heirloom, since that year marked the introduction of the first hybrid varieties of plants and vegetables.  There are numerous companies and websites to explore regarding the many different plants and vegetables that are available to consumers.  Here are a few to consider for reference purposes:

www.garfieldfarm.org

Heirlooms, the Garden Treasury www.vegparadise.com/heirloom.html

Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.og

The Southern Bulb Co. www.southernbulbs.com

Question:

“I bring my begonias in every fall after a summer of being outside and have noticed brown spots appearing on some of the top leaves of the plant, but not on the inner leaves.  What is causing this?”Suzanne, Rigby, Idaho Answer:As you know, begonias are easy to care for.  It sounds like you have your plant in too much direct sunlight.  Brown spots are a sign of scorching, which is why your outside and top leaves are experiencing this, where the inside leaves are protected.  Begonias like plenty of sun, but never direct sun.  They prefer temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees as a rule, particularly in the winter.  If it’s too warm they’ll start dropping their buds and flowers as well. Question:“I have a beautiful amaryllis and after it bloomed last winter I split off some of the bulblets and planted them in separate pots.  However, they show little signs of doing much this year, compared to the mother plant.  Were my efforts in vain?  Will they ever bloom?”

Lorraine, Burlington, Vermont

Answer:

I’m hoping you planted them in a nice, nutritious soil.  It takes two or three years before a transplant will bloom, so keep up your care and patience!

Question:

“We recently moved to Central Florida from Oregon and are just in awe over Spanish Moss, which seems to flourish in this region.  We have several Great Oak Trees and we’re wondering if the Spanish Moss adorning them needs any special care?  They certainly add a mystic look to our new environment!”Neal and Sarah, Leesburg, Florida

Answer:

You’ve just met the easiest plant in the world to grow.  Spanish Moss came from the tropics of South America and most are epiphytes.  They don’t have any real roots, taking their nourishment from food and moisture in the air.  However, they anchor themselves to the trunks of trees and even power poles to hold themselves in place.  And while they live on other plants, they are not parasites.  They grow all through the year in tropical climates, such as in Florida, but they look their best in the summer when appropriate light and humidity are present to promote bright green foliage.  Spanish Moss is also barely bothered by insect pests as well.

Question:

“I saw an article in a newspaper about how a gardener in another state was growing tomatoes in all kinds of different colors, including purple.  Is this a hoax?” Beatrice and Luke, Bexley, Ohio

Answer:

I’m thinking the article was probably referring to the Cherokee Purple Tomato and the Purple Russian Tomato –so yeah, they’re real!  However, the name is not indicating that the foliage or the fruit is purple, but that purple is often used as a term for a dark reddish pink trait.  Some other varieties of purple tomatoes are even more red/black.  Both are grown pretty much all over the U.S., but the jury is still out on individual preferences when it comes to taste and how you perceive them.  There are numerous companies that sell different varieties, so depending on how acidic you like your tomatoes you’ll probably have to do some exploration and just try a few every year until you find the one(s) that you prefer.

Question:

“I have a wonderful Veronica plant that is a couple years old and I bring it in the house during the winter and put it back outside during the summer.  However, this winter it doesn’t seem to be doing very good.  I’ve found that the leaves are fading and brown tips are showing up on the edges of the leaves as well.  Regular watering doesn’t just seem to be enough to get it to snap out of it. Do you know what could be causing this?”MaryAnne, Manchester, New Hampshire

Answer:

This wonderful little plant prefers light in the winter time, but in a cooler area of your home.  They just don’t like normal room temperatures during the winter.  You may want to try a little fertilizer; although the faded leaves sound like you may not be giving it enough light or it may be just a little too cold.  This plant also likes to be misted on a regular basis, so the brown tips may indicate the humidity in the area is too low – which isn’t unusual in our homes in the winter.

Question:

“I recently acquired several white calla lilies.  I’ve seen them often but never owned one.  Are they easy to take care of or have I been given something that is going to take skill to keep alive?Fay, Fairfield, Maine”

Answer:

Calla lilies like bright, but not direct light.  They like plenty of food and water, and are very easy to grow.  The greater the number of leaves the plant has, the greater the number of flowers the plant will have, as a rule.  I have mine in a window in the bathroom will it can bask in the humidity the shower produces.  It should be a nice addition to your home with normal plant care.

Question:

“I have had a Yucca plant for several years and it never seems to change in size. It never seems to bloom.  If I didn’t know better I’d say it wasn’t real.  Can I ever expect this plant to ever bloom or get bigger?”Peter, Palm Coast, Florida

Answer:

Yuccas come from Mexico where it is hot and sunny and that’s how they like it all year around. It sounds like your Yucca is just fine.  The stems don’t really grow, which makes them such a desirable house plant, but their rosette of leaves can grow at a rate of 6-8 inches a year.  Try a light concentration of fertilizer this summer when you step up watering a little and see if you can’t promote more growth.  However, the Yucca rarely flowers indoors, so don’t get too excited about that.

Do You Have a Question about What’s going on in your garden or greenhouse?  Submit your question for Barbara Sue (include your city and state) by contacting us at: phone (563) 557-7571, fax (563) 557-7641 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or write us at Garden and Greenhouse, 6170 Forest Hills Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002.  Barbara Sue will do her best to publish your question with an answer in the next available issue.

Barbara Sue Schubert is a sales and marketing professional, free-lance writer and a garden and plant enthusiast from southern Wisconsin.  “To me, my sales and marketing background and my gardening have a lot in common, both feed my family!  Writing, on the other hand, feeds my soul.”