Mum Season

Well, September is here, but apparently summer didn’t get the message. We’re looking at another very hot stretch this week in central Indiana, with a Heat Advisory through Thursday and heat index values potentially reaching around 105 degrees.

For your summer annuals, there’s no reason to give up yet, but this is a week to pay attention to water. A big container or hanging basket that has been growing since April has a lot more plant sitting above the same amount of soil than it did a few months ago. Check them in the morning, and don’t be surprised if some need water again later in the day. Plants in the ground generally have more protection, but anything planted recently still needs some help during weather like this.

The mosquitoes also seem to have gotten the message that summer isn’t over. After all the rain and flooding we’ve had, that’s not surprising. Purdue notes that rain and floodwater can produce large numbers of nuisance mosquitoes, and some species can complete their entire life cycle in standing water in only 7–10 days. Check buckets, saucers, gutters, toys, bird baths and anything else around the yard that’s been holding water.

Interestingly, this heat is also affecting something we’re growing right now: mums. Mums may be fall plants, but they don’t necessarily appreciate summer temperatures while they’re trying to make those fall flowers. This week we’re going to explain something growers call heat delay, and then take a closer look at why some mums have a traditional daisy-shaped flower while others have the full flowers most of us associate with fall mums.

This week’s lineup:

· Why your mums might be late this year — understanding heat delay
· Daisy mums vs. decorative mums — why don’t we see more daisies?

Happy September, stay cool, and hopefully this is the last really hot stretch of the year.