Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
1/3/00
Contacts:
James Romer, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-2336,
jromer@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden for the Week Beginning Jan. 7
More Award Winners for the New Year
By James Romer
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
A great way to divert your attention from the snow, wind and cold temperatures is to start planning this spring's garden. The year 2000 brings us some special selections for your consideration.
All-America Selection Vegetables
Cabbage 'Savoy Express', one of four All-America Selection
(AAS) vegetable winners for 2000, matures early, in about 55
days. The heads are small, averaging 1 to 1.5 pounds and
possess an excellent sweet flavor. Cabbages prefer cool
temperatures and full sun. Plant cabbage seedlings in the
garden in early to mid-April in Iowa. Sow seed indoors 4 to
6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting
date.
The second AAS winner is 'Mr. Big' pea. 'Mr. Big' possesses several noteworthy attributes. The vigorous plants are resistant to several diseases. They produce easy-to-shell, large pods. Each 4- to 5-inch pod contains 8 to 10 extra sweet peas. Since garden peas prefer cool temperatures, sow seed outdoors in late March to mid-April in Iowa. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Plants reach a height of 2 to 3 feet. While they can be grown without support, a short fence or trellis is helpful.
The sweet bell pepper, 'Blushing Beauty' is another AAS winner. The 4-inch fruit of 'Blushing Beauty' start off ivory/yellow, eventually change to light pink before maturing to red. One can expect mature peppers in about 72 to 75 days from transplanting. Plants are small and compact, growing about 18 inches tall. Their compact size makes them an excellent choice for containers. These plants tolerate Tobacco Mosaic Virus as well as three races of Bacterial Leaf Spot.
The final AAS winner is a multicolored sweet corn named 'Indian Summer'. Kernels can be yellow, white, red or purple. One can expect to harvest 'Indian Summer' in about 79 days from sowing. The color of the kernels is enhanced as the ears mature and after cooking. However, do not boil this sweet corn, as the red kernels will turn brown. 'Indian Summer' and other super sweet (sh2) varieties must be isolated from other types of corn to prevent cross-pollination. Isolation can be achieved by planting other types of sweet corn, field corn and popcorn at least 250 feet away or by planting the various types so they mature at different times. There should be a minimum 14-day difference between tasseling dates. As this selection is sensitive to cool soils, wait until ground temperatures reach 60 degrees F. or above to ensure uniform germination and a good stand of plants.
2000 Tree of the Year
Iowa's Nursery and Landscape Professionals have selected Red
Sunset‚ ('Franksred') red maple as the "Tree of the
Year" for 2000. Franksred is the cultivar name and Red
Sunset‚ is the trademark name. The Tree of the Year is
a community outreach program sponsored by the Iowa Nursery
and Landscape Association to highlight specific trees
determined to have superior qualities for Iowa landscapes.
One of the best cultivars of red maple, Red Sunset‚
grows 50 to 60 feet tall with a width of 40 to 50 feet.
It does well in large open areas, but not parking lots.
Good branch structure and long fall color display are two
more attributes of this year's selection. Before planting
Red Sunset, carefully consider soil pH and site conditions.
Red maples prefer acidic soils. They perform poorly when
planted in areas with large amounts of reflected light from
parking lots, sidewalks and buildings.
Remember the AAS vegetable winners and the tree of the year when selecting new plants to include in this spring's garden.
ml: isugarden
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