Lower South
April, 2011
Regional Report
Favorite or New Plant
Louisiana Iris
The Louisiana iris is a southern gem, indigenous primarily to marshy areas from east Texas to Florida. This perennial offers flowers in a wide array of colors, including blue, purple, yellow, pink, white and shades of brownish red, that appear in mid to late spring. As a group, these irises comprise a collection of five different species which have been crossed in various combinations to create numerous beautiful cultivars. The plants will tolerate standing water but can be grown anywhere they are provided with dependable soil moisture. They love acidic soil and regular feeding.
Clever Gardening Technique
Tomato Feeding Stations
Bury a gallon size black nursery pot a few inches away from your tomato and pepper plants with its base buried about 2 inches below the soil surface. Toss some fertilizer into the pot and fill it with water. The holes in the base of the pot will allow the nutrient-rich water to slowly soak into the soil, watering and feeding the plant's root zone.
