Getting Ready for the Plant Exchange
Blog by Cindy Yee
I've always looked forward to the plant exchange, even before becoming a master gardener. It feels like a plant Christmas and is such a fun event for MGs who generously grow and donate everything, and the public who gleefully find all kinds of beautiful plants, trees, cuttings, roots, and seeds to take for their home gardens.
The following is what I'm planning to bring to the plant exchange. The first picture reflects rooted cuttings of my Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry (Morus nigra). Soon, on a cooler day, I'll be breaking them up and individually pot up each plant.
There are also some new cuttings of the same mulberry. They are relatively easy to start, but do require patience. Mulberries, depending on their variety, can take a while to grow roots and even deceptively put out new leaves first. So, unsuspecting newbies might prematurely check a cutting that has new green shoots, but find no visible roots.
I just individually potted two rooted cuttings of Peter's Honey Fig (Ficus carica). As implied by the name, the figs are honey-sweet and delicious.
I've also rooted mulberries, and a blackberry cutting from a friend (I'm keeping the blackberry).
Finally, just a pic of the fruiting Conadria fig from the plant exchange a few years ago. Birds love figs, hence the gauze bags whose color blends in nicely. Rooting cuttings from this tree for the plant exchange would bring it to a happy full circle.
Our Plant Exchange on Saturday, September 20, from 9-12 at 501 Texas, Fairfield. I can't wait, can you? Time to get ready...
Cheers and Happy Gardening!