Pelargoniums (AKA Geraniums)

Ah, the geranium, grandma’s favorite for setting on the porch. The image that comes to mind is a red pop-pom held aloft a bushy collection of shield shaped leaves. Ho-hum. But the so-called geranium is not a geranium at all, it is a pelargonium. So? Why the fuss over the name? Well, pelargoniums have an utterly fascinating history and by far more variety than their cousins the proper geraniums. (No offense to the perennial cousins) While there is not enough room here to tell the whole story, we’ll try to put it in a nutshell. It is believed that the fist pelargonium was brought to Holland in the late 16th century from South Africa during an explosion of botanical exploration by wealthy Europeans. It was a rare novelty, at the time and the first illustration was done circa 1630. By the early 1700’s it had become a fairly popular greenhouse plant, but looked very unlike what we think of when we hear the word, “geranium” today. It looked more like the True Rose variety when let loose; more of a tall rangy plant with thick, woody stems and the tiny pink, starlike flowers common to most scented varieties. True Rose is also believed to be the fist pelargonium to make it to North America with the first European colonists. It was used to keep moths out of pantries, keep clothes smelling fresh, and as a flavoring in baking by these practical, no nonsense folk. In the Victorian age in England, that lasted most of the 1800’s, growers began to breed strains with very large flowers, unusual leaf colors and patterns, and scented varieties to be used in perfumes. So many varieties have come and gone in the last 400 years that no one knows how many there have been. Most of the early varieties exist only in books today, which is why we strive to preserve them here and now. Of course we still wait with baited breath to see the new varieties... once bitten by the pelargonium bug, a person just can’t help it. There are pelargonium societies and breeders all over the world today, with some of the most exciting results currently coming from Germany, England, and the USA. If you travel throughout different countries, take photos of the pelargoniums you see there. You will be surprised when you review them later at the marvelous little differences you see, and that the variety seems endless. A great deal of fun may be had adding these funny creatures to your plant collection. Just remember to bring them in for the winter because they will not tolerate freezing.

The Black Hollyhock

I confess to favoritism. The black Hollyhock is not only stunningly beautiful, but it has just about everything you could ask for in flower’s history: ancient in origin, medicinal, extremely well travelled with intrigue and romance. What more could a gardener ask for? Well, okay, maybe not the black one specifically, but the hollyhock as a species has had a relationship with human beings for at least 50,000 years! It was found in the tomb of a neanderthal man, evidently as a funerary flower. A touching reminder of how flowers have spoken to the human heart in times of joy and sorrow since before recorded history. Slightly more recently, the hollyhock was brought back to Europe during the crusades. By the early 1600’s a black variety is recorded officially, but when it first appeared is
not known. Being a medicinal that happened to be glorious to boot it gained and kept popularity for hundreds of years. It was used in European gardens ornamentally and medicinally for many centuries before making the voyage across the ocean to America with the first colonists. Seeds were traded with indians, and the hollyhock made it’s self at home. Thomas Jefferson went on to
plant them in perfusion at Monticello, further honoring their history. The hollyhocks for 2009 were started indoors early, so there is a good chance that they will bloom this year, although there is no guarantee. If you plant them in the ground in early spring, be sure to protect them from strong
winds and a hard freeze. They have been hardened off to the point of a hard frost, but have not been in frozen. Make a cloche out of a plastic bottle with the cap screwed off like a chimney if they need protecting, or use a floating row cover if you have several. They will grow from 6 to 8 feet tall and bloom from the bottom up. They want full sun and should not be allowed to dry out. They
are hearty perennials and reportedly the most medicinal of hollyhocks. Along a wall, or as a center piece they will make a stunning addition to your garden.

Tomatoes

In addition to our flowers, we have a small selection of vegetable and herb starts. We also grow and sell the vegetables in the summer. Our goals & standards for eatable plants are the same as our goals & standards for ornamentals. We use the same pest and disease control, the same fertilizers, and we focus on species that will perform well in the Puget Sound area. This year we have one big experiment: The Rutgers Ramapo F1 Hybrid tomato. AKA, The Jersey Tomato. You may have heard the phrase, “Jersey Tomato”, but unless you have seen the look in the eye of someone old enough to have had one, it probably hasn’t meant much. The state of New Jersey was, and still is, prime for growing tomatoes. There are differing opinions on why: the soil, the water, the strange aura of the pine barrens... but there was, once a specific tomato that was considered the epitome of The Jersey Tomato, and that was the Ramapo. It was massively popular in the late 60’s, but because it didn’t ship well it was phased out. We are blessed to be living in the age of “slow food” and farmer’s markets these days, when taste is once again more important than shelf life, and people’s demand for the Jersey Tomato has been answered by Rutgers University in New Jersey. This delicious slicing tomato is a mid season variety that is resistant to cracking and verticillium and fusarium wilt- all good reasons to try it here. Can we do it? Can we grow them just as tasty here as they do there? Well, the girls at Farm Candy were born Jersey Girls and we seem to do okay here, so why not? Let’s give it a try. In the interest of science, we would love to hear from you at the end of the season and get a collection of results to send back to Rutgers.