Fall plant talk and cushaws

The word “garden” is subjective, it can mean whatever you want it to mean, so if that means herbs in containers in the kitchen, then so be it.

You’ve probably heard the term heirloom used before when discussing plants such as tomatoes and vegetables.
Some horticulturists define an “heirloom” as an old cultivar of plant, developed before 1951, that is used for food that’s grown and maintained by farmers and gardeners.
If you’re considering whether or not it might be better to have heirloom plants rather than hybrids, it may be best to weigh a few of the pros and cons.
Positives to heirloom plants include more flavor and nutrients, they typically tend to be a little cheaper than hybrids, and you have the ability to save your seeds for next year.
Negative aspects include being less resistant to diseases, having moderate to lower yields when compared, and overall simply having a less predictable harvest than what you might experience with hybrid plants.
I’d like to take a detour for a moment to talk about a fall heirloom that I’m a fan of: Cushaw squash — sometimes called Cushaw pumpkins, sweet potato pumpkins, or crookneck pumpkins — is a gorgeous variety of winter squash.
Native to South America, Cushaws are an American heirloom that isn’t typically found outside of the United States.
They appear green and almost always striped — similar to a zucchini or cucumber — with a bulbous base, and a thin curving neck that tapers into a stem.
On the inside, you’ll find light yellow to pale orange flesh. Unlike thinner-skinned summer squash, Cushaw are allowed to mature on the vine before being harvested.
When cooked, Cushaws will behave just like a pumpkin.
My sister-in-law makes her pumpkin pies with Cushaws every year, and I say enough wonderful things about how good it tastes.
They may not look like traditional orange pumpkins, but the flavor can be even more pronounced.
If you enjoy baking pumpkin pie from scratch, I can’t recommend using Cushaw’s enough.
Now back to the garden: When it comes to outdoor gardening in October, make sure you take advantage of the weather.
Fall is truly the best time to be outside, and working in the yard or garden.
Not only is it more comfortable for you as far as the temperature and weather goes, but fall weather also gives plants ample time to grow comfortably into their homes in the ground — becoming more established by the time winter rolls around.
The first frost looks like it will hit sometime around the last week of October and the first week of November.
Planting in the ground now gives plants time to become a little more established before the ground freezes during winter.
You may feel tempted to prune some of the other plants in your garden, but I would advise you not to.
Pruning any spring-flowering shrubs right now could prevent them from blooming in the spring.
For the next season, I recommend you prune any spring shrubs immediately after their blooms are spent. If you need to prune any perennials, only do so after a killing freeze.
Don’t be afraid to divide any that have gotten too large, as this will encourage better plant performance since there will be more space for roots to grow and absorb nutrients.
If you have a yard, I highly suggest fertilizing your lawn with Milorganite in the early weeks of this month.
If you’re unfamiliar, Milorganite is a slow-releasing formula of nutrients that allows plants to absorb what they need, as they need it.
That way, there’s no immediate, excessive release of nutrients after fertilizing.
Milorganite is composed of heat-dried microbes that have digested the organic matter in wastewater.
So, they’re actually bags of dried microbes! It’s also Chesapeake Bay-friendly, and utilized by many golf courses.
Don’t forget, the very last date to apply any type of lawn fertilizers is Nov. 15, per Maryland law.
Inside the home, you’ll want to make sure your plants are away from any heaters and cold drafty areas. Don’t forget as your plants are entering dormancy, and as the temperatures drop, your plants will need a little less water than they did throughout the summer.
However, if you experience crisping edges or tips, that likely means your plants need more humidity or moisture.
Fluoride that can be found in municipal water is also known to crisp up your edges, so if you have town water, watering with bottled or distilled water instead should fix the issue.
Remember, now is not the best time to repot. Stimulating new growth right before a plant enters dormancy isn’t exactly conducive for the best plant health.
Clean pots contribute to good plant health though!
If you have any terracotta or ceramic pots that are crusty from being outside all summer, take time to wash them.
Life moves pretty fast — so fast that Fall is already here, and Christmas is creeping down the chimney.
Have you ever slowed down and thought about whether or not your garden is bringing you joy?
If that question makes you think your garden is more of a hassle than what it’s worth, pause on that for a minute.
We may only think of gardening in terms of vegetables and herbs, or maybe cutting flowers, however, there’s many more different methods and styles of gardening than the average person might think.
If remembering to harvest vegetables is too much for your schedule, something like a pollinator, therapeutic, or succulent garden might be more enjoyable for you.
I highly recommend you take time this fall and winter to think about what kinds of plants you might utilize the most, or what plants make you the happiest.
Think about what you’d like to accomplish with plants in whatever space you intend to put them.
Are you hoping to elevate the look of a patio? Are you trying to make your home feel like a jungle?
Would you cook with fresh herbs more if you had an herb garden? Would a succulent garden be the easiest for you to take care of? Would your grandkids enjoy making a fairy garden?
The word “garden,” I want to remind you, is subjective — it can mean whatever you want it to mean — so if that’s growing herbs in containers in the kitchen, then so be it.
Having a garden is not limited to it being outside, or even in the ground.
One of the most magnificent things about gardening is how you can pick your medium and mold it however works best for you.
I highly recommend taking time to research even more different types of gardens, and find what suits your style of care and design the best.
I hope you have a wonderful month full of fall festivities!
Don’t forget if you ever have any gardening questions, give us a call or come see us at Robin’s Nest.
(Editor’s Note: Ken Morgan is the owner of Robin’s Nest Floral and Garden Center in Easton, Md.)