South Carolina ETV

Making It Grow! News Articles

April 3rd

Back to News Articles Home

Our eyes have been seeing signs of spring's return for weeks, starting with the earliest crocus and narcissus blossoms. Now our fairest season is coming in like a freight train, with thundering storms that wake us at night, and flowering shrubs and trees whose buds are ready to pop. Those pesky winter weeds know the end is near and are setting seeds for next year. But for the moment, all is right in the natural world.

Question: Last year I ordered several different colors of garden phlox for my cutting garden. They did great as I took your advice and looked for ones that had mildew resistance, and now they are coming back but much thicker. Should I try to dig each clump and divide it with my pruners or a knife? Or do you wait and divide after several years?

Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata, have been greatly improved in past years by breeders who select new varities for powderly mildew resistance. As a result, these blossoms are now prized by southern gardeners who love their colors and fragrance. Thinning them will help avoid fungal infections by providing better air circulation.

Usually you can simply pinch away excess shoots from each clump, leaving the remaining shoots about an inch and half to two inches apart. You'll probably need to kneel down to do this while the plants are still very small; take a newspaper with you to keep your pants from getting dirt ground in the knees.

Even with early morning watering and resistant species, mildew can be a mid-summer problem. It is easily controlled with a fungicidal spray. Every three years or so, you'll probably want to dig the clumps and carefully cut them into smaller pieces with sharp pruners.

This is one plant that is a delight to share with friends; unlike so many of the typical pass-along plants. Why Physostegia is called obedient plant is a mystery to any gardener who has had it go wild in her garden. But you'll only receive praise for sharing your phloxs down the road.

Question: With bathing suit weather coming, I'm trying to eat more fish. What are some easy herbs that might make cooking it more interesting?

Answer: With the advent of farm raised salmon and other fish readily available in our grocery stores, broiled or grilled seafood is a good choice for supper or weekend parties. Bronze fennel, Foeniculum vulgare 'Great Bronze, Smokey,' or others, is a beautiful plant and easy to grow. In most of South Carolina, it is perennial and reliably grows for many years. It needs sun and well drained soil, but can be mixed in with your regular flower garden. Give it a space towards the back as it quickly gets three to four feet high. The feathery leaves can be cut and sprinkled on top of fish as you cook it. The stems can be put on top of coals when grilling for a delightful, anise-flavored smoke.

Fennel is the host plant for larvae of the Black Swallowtail butterfly. As summer progresses, you'll have to carefully pick off the brilliantly colored caterpillars before cutting the leaves.
Master Gardener Jackie Stanton of Sumter named her first crop of these children Emerald, Diamond, Topaz and Onyx. These little munchers will eat their fill, pupate, and emerge as the handsome adults and the plants will immediately regrow their lush foliage.