GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…

GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…

By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis

Who says its winter and there’s nothing to do in the garden and nothing to plant – Not US!! Bare root season is beginning, and we’ve already received shipments of asparagus, artichokes and berries, and we expect horseradish, rhubarbs and hops (oh my!) any day now. Those last three are ones that we don’t talk about too often so we thought we would- right here, right now.

Rhubarb is traditionally thought of as a cold climate crop, but you can grow it here. Rhubarb needs a winter chill of below 40°F, which we get here in the foothills. Altho’ it doesn’t like our hot summers, it will simply go dormant when we get above 90°F; the danger would be trying to keep it watered and growing, when it is better to simply let it go dormant as it wants. Divisions are available now, and should be planted in rich, slightly acidic soil, in a location which will get afternoon shade in the summer. Plant about 3-4 ft. apart. Crowns are better if planted slightly above ground, rather than too deep. Don’t harvest the first year, and remember when you do begin to harvest, only eat the stalks – the leaf is highly toxic. Since rhubarb is a perennial, remember to plant it in an area that won’t be rototilled or disturbed every year – then enjoy your rhubarb pie!

Another perennial, a spicy favorite to accompany your prime rib, is horseradish. This plant also prefers cooler climates than we enjoy here but it can be grown in this area. Just remember that it can be very weedy and invasive if you’re not careful. To avoid this problem, you can grow horseradish in a large container, or simply place it in an area where a little wildness will not overrun your garden. For the best flavor, grow horseradish as an annual, planting in the fall or winter, letting it grow and size up, and then harvesting all the roots after the first fall frosts. It you want to let it naturalize, you may sacrifice size and flavor. Be sure to give the roots a rich soil, regular water and maybe some afternoon shade in the summer.

Finally, hops are a vigorous and unusual vine to try in your garden. The root cuttings are normally planted on mounds or hills, and trained up sturdy cages or trellises; vines grow 15-25’ tall. Hops prefer full sun, good drainage and loamy soil; remember this is a deciduous vine, and will need to be cut to the ground in the late fall or winter. Hops are used to flavor beer, but the vine can make a great ornamental plant as well, shading an arbor or creating a tunnel over a walkway. The female plant produces the hop or ‘cone’ used to flavor beer, but even if you aren’t making beer you can enjoy this plant. Or maybe you know someone who would come help harvest your crop and share some of their brew!

Don’t be afraid to try something new or different! There are lots of fun and tasty plants out there waiting for us to try, so maybe you have a corner in your yard (or an empty pot) where you can experiment this year!

Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis can be found at Eisley Nursery in Auburn, 380 Nevada St., 530-885-5163.