‘Shake and bake’ is an easy way to coat bulbs
Q: I recently saw your column in which you wrote about a “shake and bake” application with sulfur. I’ve seen references to this before but never an explanation. I’d be most appreciative if you will tell me what this procedure entails.— D.R., Albuquerque
A: Oh, goodness, sometimes my brain far outstrips my fingers, and I leave out, evidently needed, thought patterns. My apologies.
So here’s the explanation: I was describing the planting and re-heeling in of an iris bed. The product I suggested applying, using a shake and bake motion, is dusting sulfur. Anytime you are going to plant any rhizomes, bulbs or corms it’s always best to coat them with a powdered dusting sulfur. So with that what you do is put on clothes that you could not care less about, wear disposable gloves, and get a paper bag. Gently pour some of the dusting sulfur in the bag and plunk in your bulbs. Turning the bag back and forth or using that shake and bake movement, coat the bulbs with the sulfur. Remember the old TV commercial where the child is shaking the bag of crumbs to coat the chicken? That’s the thought pattern! Now remember that sulfur stinks, so perhaps you don’t want to be extremely vigorous in the shaking department, but you do want to coat the bulbs completely with the sulfur. That’s why I use “shake and bake” as a way for the lesson to sink in. I guess I do date myself by using that visual, and then neglected to explain the process because I do sometimes get ahead of myself. Pardon me.
Now the reasoning for applying the sulfur is twofold. First, the dusting sulfur is a fungicide that will help prevent a myriad of fungi from maiming the bulbs. Second, the sulfur is a natural pesticide. When you replant an established iris bed sometimes hunkered down deep within the leaves are aphid communities and the sulfur is a great way to eliminate them. The irises are more able to settle in and gather new strength as opposed to having to fight off pests. Personally, I apply a shake and bake dusting sulfur treatment to any and all of the bulbs, etc., I plant.
I hope you now understand my not-complete teachings, and thanks for reminding me to slow down and not get so ahead of myself.
Q: Boy the temperatures sure took a nose dive! I was prepared with most of my patio plants but didn’t get a couple of geraniums quite ready for the move inside. I don’t want to bring in any critters, but I really want to get these guys inside safe and clean. — N.K., Albuquerque
A: I imagined lots of gardeners out Thursday evening detaching hoses from the bibs, scurrying about covering pots with upturned cans and shoving other pots into garages all over town with the truly brisk temperatures we had.
Now that this attention-getting weather has ebbed, you can still get those few stragglers inside. If you have a place inside where you can place the pots into a temporary state of quarantine, do that. You want a spot where there are no other plants so any imported critters aren’t able to jump ship, so to speak. Then, as soon as you can and the daytime temperatures allow (anything higher than 45 degrees should be safe), take the pots back outdoors and clean them up. Using warm soapy water, wash off the pots thoroughly. Get under any rims, lips and be sure to remember to wipe off the bottoms of the pots and the saucers. You want those pots clean, clean and cleaner! Then consider giving the geraniums a wee bit of a pruning and treat with a ready-to-use houseplant pesticide. Remember to spray the soil, too, and give your geraniums a drink to wash the pesticide into it. That’ll help eliminate any soil dwellers and your geraniums will stay healthier for it.
But don’t forget these treasures, being sure to bring them back in as soon as the pesticide has dried, and all should be well. It’s officially the time to finish rescuing any of your patio treasures you wish to save — so get cracking! And Happy Digging In.