Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
7/9/01
Contacts:
Cindy Haynes, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-4006, chaynes@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-9807,
dmarks@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning July 13
2001 ISU Home Demonstration Gardens: Combining the Practical and Whimsical
By Cindy Haynes
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
True gardeners are never complacent. They always are seeking information on new and unusual plants and different ways to grow them. There isn't a better place for a gardener to investigate these unique ornamental and vegetable plants than at the 2001 ISU Home Demonstration Gardens this summer. A short trip to one of several display gardens in the state will enlighten and intrigue you with an array of common and not-so-common plants and planting techniques. This year's planting themes run the gamut from the practical to the downright whimsical.
Have you ever wanted a watermelon or pumpkin that did not take up your entire backyard? For the practical gardener who likes to maximize his or her available planting space, we have planted several varieties of compact vine crops. We are growing bush and semi-bush type cantaloupe, watermelon, squash, cucumber, and pumpkin. While the catalogs state these plants spread only three to four feet at maturity, don't expect one or two miniature fruits to match the plant habit. Many bush type varieties produce abundant, full-sized fruit.
Did you know that plastic garden mulches come in a rainbow of colors? This year we add a little color to the tomato patch with red, black, olive and clear plastic mulches. Remember when plastic mulches were used only to suppress weeds? Recent research suggests that colored plastic mulches increase early fruiting, trap insects or improve the overall health and productivity of certain vegetables.
Ornamental plants today are being recognized for more than just flowers. This year we have included a collection of plants noted more for their dramatic and colorful foliage. These annuals, vegetables and herbs will add sparkle to your garden and containers all summer and will never need rigorous deadheading. Some of the varieties you may recognize, others are new or unique and a few are considered to be weeds; but they all show off their leaf colors for you this summer.
Now for a little whimsy! This year's home demonstration gardens are going to the birds -- literally. Specifically, we are adding chickens to the garden, or at least plants with some connection to our feathered friends. At most locations we are combining the home acreage field day with the home demonstration garden field day. For this year's acreage field day, staff at each research farm will be discussing "range-raised" chickens (broilers) in chicken tractors that are moved daily to fresh pasture. Sound interesting? Just wait! To complement this event, the home demonstration gardens are growing plants that have chicken, egg or feather in their name. Each garden features at least six different "chicken plants." Surprisingly, the common Hens and Chicks is not among the six. Attendees should find both types of chickens interesting and informative.
While all this may sound interesting, many of the farms have more on display than the few themes mentioned here. The farms participating in the home demonstration gardens, plus dates and times for each field day are listed below. Contact you local county extension office or visit the ISU Extension website http://www.extension.iastate.edu for directions to the nearest research farm in your area or for more information.
| Research Farm | Location | Date | Time |
| Southeast | Crawfordsville | Aug. 2 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Rhodes | Rhodes | Aug. 3 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Muscatine Island | Fruitland | Aug. 7 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Northwest | Sutherland | Aug. 8 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Northeast* | Nashua | Aug. 18 | 4 p.m. |
| Armstrong | Lewis | Aug. 22 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Western | Castana | Aug. 23 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Northern | Kanawha | Aug. 25 | 4 p.m. |
| *no chickens |
Come join us at one or more of the field days and you might find some nice ideas and maybe a little whimsy for your garden. We hope to see you there!
-30-
ml: isugarden
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.