Shamrocks

March is a good month to purchase or grow Shamrocks, a member of the Oxalis
family. They are easy to grow and may be purchased at many garden centers
and florist shops. They prefer a sunny location and need periodic watering
to ensure an evenly moist soil.

Shamrocks (White Clover, trifolium repentans) are a low growing perrenial
herb. It grows from sending out "runners" that take new root and new
"runners" are formed from each rooting point. The seeds are produced in a
white fluffy head. For White Clover to do well, the soil must be well-drained,
kept moist and grown in full to moderate sun. They should be grown in trays or
flower boxes that will allow the tips to make contact with the soil to the
"runners". If grown indoors, they must be in a sunny location or the stems
will stretch and become "leggy" with small leaves.

If grown from seed use small pots or trays using peat pellets, peat pots or
any moist, well-drained soil mix. The small seeds should be placed on the
soil surface or lightly covered with soil. A clear dome or plastic cover
must be placed over the pot or tray(supported at least 2 inches above the
surface) and the pot or tray placed in a warm shaded location until the seeds
are germinated. This takes about a week. The top of your refrigerator is a
good location for this.

Once germinated and the first "seed" leaf appears, remove the cover and place
the pot or tray in a sunny location, keep moist and do allow the soil to dry out.
When the soil surface "lightens" and starts to dry, it's time to water. Depending
on your pot or tray size and location, you may have to water every day or second
or third day. Only water. Do not fertilize. When two or three true clover leaves
have formed, you can begin fertilization with a liquid fertilizer using the dosage
recommended for house plants.

You may transplant when roots appear at the bottom of the pot or tray. If you
used a peat pellet or peat pot, just place the whole pellet or pot into a larger
container with a well drained soil mix. If you started seeds in a pot or tray
with soil mix, be careful not to damage roots when transplanting. After
transplanting, continue fertilization as before.

No matter how much care you give this plant it will look sick and lose its
leaves. This is its dormant period, which occurs two or three times a year.
It is part of the growing process common to all plants grown from bulbs.

During dormancy, stop watering. Let the leaves die back naturally, then
remove dead, brown leaves. Place the plant in a cool, dark place while
it goes through its dormancy period. Plants usually "sleep" for about
three months. New green shoots signify that the plant is waking up and
needs to be moved back into the light. In New England this replicates my
Meowmie's flower gardens which have been put to sleep in December and
wake in March. Happy Spring!

Jessie sent this in about crocus.

How to Plant 100 Bulbs in Thirty Minutes

Excavate the area to be planted and thoroughly
loosen the soil where the bulbs will go. Next, place
the bulbs gently in the bed or hole you have prepared
and space according to instructions. Cover bulbs
with soil, using only one-half of soil removed. Press
down the soil around the bulbs. If the soil is dry at the
time of planting, water thoroughly. The water will wash the
soil in around the bulbs, eliminating air pockets and will
start the bulbs rooting. Finally, finish covering the bulbs
with the remaining soil.

Always allow the foliage of your spring bulbs to die naturally.
It is at this time that the bulb produces the food which will
carry it over to the next season.

Plant your crocus in any reasonably fertile well-drained soil
in sun or light shade. For very early spring bloom they
should be planted in a sunny, protected spot. Crocuses are ideal
for rock gardens and edgings, for naturalizing in grass, and for
planting beneath trees and shrubs. If planted in the lawn, be
sure to skip the crocus area for the first one or two mowings.
Plant 3 inches deep, 3 inches apart.

Happy Spring, Jessie

Your gardening activity for March is to mew about seeding and transplanting
annuals or perennials. Mew to us by clicking on the mail button below.
You can mew about any any annual, perennial or herb of your choice.

Please mail in your biographies for our "Getting to Know You" page.
Purr to us, Shirley and Sophie.

There are still on-going gardens for you kitties to plant in.