Desert Blooms

Southwest Yard & Garden  by Dr. Marisa Thompson Why Frost Damages Some Plants and Not Others Partial reprint from October 2019 This lettuce’s peppery flavor offers a clue as to how the leaves made it through 5.5 inches of snow this week without blinking an eye while other plants turned to mush. Photo credit M. Thompson. We harvested and weighed over 1,100 lb of unripe tomatoes from frost-bitten plants in October 2019 at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas. Photo credit M. Thompson.   Question: Why did some plants in my garden handle the first freeze just fine, and others died back completely? -           Jane P., Albuquerque Answer: Last year I was in Las Cruces when we got our first two freezes in Los Lunas. Luckily, my poor houseplants on the patio didn’t freeze hard enough—or for long enough—to cause permanent damage. I believe my grandmother would understand and even chuckle if she knew my spider plant

  Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson Reprinted/updated column from October 2018 Happy tomato plants getting ready for planting in the field at the NMSU Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center in May 2018. Photo and enhanced emoji credit M. Thompson. Question: What should I do with all of these green tomatoes? Answer: I first answered this question way back in 2018. And here we are again, with first frosts snapping across the state and gardeners sharing photos of final harvests, many with green tomatoes piled high. The same questions keep coming up: What’s the best way to ripen them, and then what can be done with them? If you’re a seed saver, you may want the fruits to ripen to maturity. The difference between a fruit being mature and one that’s ripe is that “maturity” refers to seed viability and “ripeness” is the most favorable state for consumption or use. Ripeness, then, is partly dependent on personal taste and the intended market. Many fruits, like grapes, po

  Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson This purple fountain grass is thriving after a single growing season, but it may not be cold hardy enough to stay alive through the winter. Photo credit Les Bender. Question: We have a lovely purple fountain grass (planted in the spring), and I keep hearing that it will die in the winter and we would have to plant a new one each year. Others say to dig it up, pot it, cut it back, put it in the house near a window, and replant it in spring. Another view is it will be fine in winter; just cut it back in spring and it will flourish! So we are confused. I also considered purchasing a small pop-up greenhouse and putting it around the plant to fight off frost and also allow it to get sun. Any help you could give would be most appreciated.                                    -           Les Bender, Northeast Rio Rancho (6,000 ft) Answer: I understand this conundrum. Conflicting horticultural advice is often an indication that there’s no

Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson,  with Sage Advice from Mora County Extension Agent Suzanne Cole Like many herbs, basil responds well to being cut back frequently (aka “herb cutting”). Photo credit M. Thompson. Our most recent NMSU gardening webinar for the “ Ready, Set, GROW! ” series was on herb gardening in New Mexico. Extension Agents Suzanne Cole of Mora County and John Garlisch of Bernalillo County gave informative presentations that covered distinctions between herbaceous versus woody herbs, growing them both indoors and out, and tips on how to preserve and use them in your kitchen. We received great questions from several of the over 80 attendees. For this week’s column, I’ve selected just a few of the questions and answers that I found interesting. Question: I have heavy clay in my garden, and amending the soil doesn't seem to help. What can you recommend? Answer: Poor drainage is a problem for lots of plants, and herbs are no exception. Clay soi

  Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson I'll keep adding event links as I get them... so please email info to me directly: desertblooms@nmsu.edu - Thanks, Marisa From peaches to pests to tomatoes and more, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service offers all sorts of online educational opportunities in the coming months. Photo credits M. Thompson. Question: I missed your “Ready, Set, GROW!” classes. Are there any other online classes or videos this fall? -        Linda A., Las Vegas, NM Answer: Thank you for reaching out. Good news times two: 1) you only missed the first two of the "Ready, Set, GROW!" webinar series that runs twice a month through March 2021, and 2) each webinar is being recorded, so you'll be able to access them if you can’t attend the live sessions. For years I’ve been inspired by the many people who show up to attend the various NMSU Cooperative Extension Service presentations and workshops we give across the state. In response to COV