With the new Yyear comes a new crop of gardening catalogs. Inviting descriptions and color photos make it very tempting to order without considering all factors, especially in the middle of winter. Follow some general guidelines to ensure plant materials ordered are the right ones when the growing season arrives.
First, it sounds simple but make sure you know exactly what the plant is. Descriptions can be great to read, but common names may vary. Look for what is called the Latin, scientific or botanical name to be listed, especially with perennials, shrubs or trees. All three terms refer to the same thing and are considered the universal language, or identity, when classifying plants. This nomenclature includes the genus and specific epithet, or species. If a Latin name is not given, you may not get the plant you think you are ordering.
Most vegetables and annual flowers typically do not need Latin names to be used, but cultivars or varieties become particularly important. For all types of plants, cultivars (developed by crop breeding) or varieties (natural variants) have characteristics making them unique within the species. For example, desirable features such as disease resistance, a certain flower or foliage color, or modifications in size or growth habit of plants are all examples of cultivar and variety-specific characteristics.
With vegetables in particular, disease-resistant cultivars, although not immune to disease, are the single most useful tool for preventing serious disease outbreaks. Look for disease resistance first, then choose other features of interest. Cultivars and varieties with a shorter time to harvest are good choices when growing longer season crops like pumpkins, squash and melons in northern gardens. Likewise, space-saving or bush cultivars of traditional vining crops are useful for smaller gardens or containers.
Another important guideline: plants may have outstanding characteristics but should fit into your yard and garden plan. Flowers, shrubs or trees need to be good matches for growing conditions of the site where they will be planted. Consider sun or shade level, soil conditions, and fitting into the scheme of the landscape. For size, consider both height and width or spread. For fruits and vegetables, make sure to have a use for the crop once harvested.
Last but certainly not least, for all perennial garden and landscape plants make sure they are hardy to your climate zone. The majority of Wisconsin is either USDA Zone 4 (most of north) or Zone 5 (most of south). The latest hardiness zone map shows just little pockets of Zone 3 left in northwest Wisconsin.
Mail-order catalogs are great to start thinking about gardening; just use them wisely!
Bruce Spangenberg is a horticulture outreach specialist with UW-Madison Division of Extension. Get answers to your lawn, landscape and garden questions anytime at
www.go.wisc.edu/GardenQuestions.
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