(Backyard Gardener - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! These warm, 80 degree F days are still hanging around as we enter mid-October. I have a feeling they are not going to last forever and cool, fall weather will return.

The next couple weeks is time to pick all the green tomatoes from the garden. Any that are at least close to the size they’re supposed to be when ripe can be brought indoors to ripen.

If you do not use them immediately, store green tomatoes in a cool place (55 to 60 degrees F), in moderate humidity and with good air circulation. After picking the tomatoes, wash and dry them.

Wrap the tomatoes in newspapers, place in a box in a single layer and store in a cool, dry place such as an unheated basement or garage. Check the boxes regularly for signs of ripening, and remove those that are starting to change color so they can finish ripening on your counter top.

They are not as tasty as maters’ fresh from the garden but are more flavorful than ones purchased at the grocery store.

Over the past decade, the importance of pollinators to our environment has been a hot topic. We not only emphasize the importance of flowering plants to our honey bees, but to the hundreds of native pollinating bees and other insects in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

This week I want to talk about an important flowering plant for pollinators, bee balm, or Monarda. This native flowering plant is a great addition to flower beds or gardens in the home landscape. It has gorgeous flowers, a long blooming period and is relatively easy to grow.

You may ask, why do they call it bee balm? The resin in the leaves was used to soothe bee stings.

There are several good reasons for you to add this to flower beds and gardens. It is a perennial and will come back year after year. It is also a native plant to West Virginia and the Eastern United Sates, growing along streams and in woodlands. Of course, bees and hummingbirds love it and the blooms are beautiful and have a wonderful aroma.

Bee balm is a member of the mint family. Like most other plants in the mint family, bee balm has square stems, opposite leaves, and is aromatic. Bee balm foliage has a mint-like aroma and can be used in herbal teas, salads, and as garnishes. The flowers are also edible.

Bee balm are relatively easy to grow when given the proper site and care. Bee balms perform best in full sun and prefer moist, well-drained soils. While plants tolerate partial shade, they won’t flower as heavily and are more susceptible to powdery mildew.

Bee balm can reach a height of 4 feet and will spread rapidly by underground stolons. Bee balm flowers are borne atop the plants. The slender, tubular flowers are produced in two to three inch-wide flower heads. Eye-catching, car-stopping flower colors vary from white, pink, red, blue to a boisterous purple which will blooms 6 weeks in summer from July through September.

Bee balm provides color and contrast for the perennial border, cottage garden, specimen planting, native and pollinator garden, meadow, naturalized planting, and along ponds or streams.

Bee balm blossoms attract bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds, butterflies, and many other pollinators. It also supports many specialized bees and caterpillars of various moths.

Bee balm’s leaves have a distinctive odor described as oregano with hints of mint and thyme. This distinct smell and taste of the leaves makes it undesirable to deer. It is listed as a deer resistant plant if you have issues with damage.

Monarda didyma, with its showy red flowers, is native to West Virginia and is considered an attractive and desirable wildflower. Many cultivated varieties have been developed. Another common name for Monarda didyma is Oswego Tea, which refers to the medicinal use of its leaves by a Native American tribe of the same name. It became popular when the American colonists needed a substitute for English tea.

The native bee balm, Monarda didyma, is a natural source of the antiseptic thymol. Native Americans recognized its antiseptic properties and made poultices for skin infections and minor wounds. Tea made from the plant treated mouth and throat infections, headaches, fevers and stomach ailments.

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot), is also a native plant. The flowers of Bee Balm are slightly larger and less hairy along the outer surface of the upper lip of their corollas. The leaves of Bee Balm are usually a darker shade of green and are slightly broader.

An important tip for bee balm is dead heading. It usually blooms once a year but a second flowering can be stimulated by cutting the flowers back right after it blooms.

Another important piece of advice is make sure to allow for good air circulation around plants. Monarda or bee balm is very susceptible to powdery mildew. Again, this is why they need six hours of full sun. The best way for home gardeners to avoid the problem of powdery mildew is to select and plant mildew resistant varieties.

The following are some powdery mildew resistant varieties recommended from Nebraska Extension. “Acob Cline” is a large, scarlet-red variety with two to three inch tubular flowers in dense terminal whorls. “Marshall’s Delight” is a hybrid from Canada with large, showy hot-pink flowers. “Blue Socking” is an exceptionally beautiful variety with enormous violet-purple flowers and dark foliage. Finally, “Grandma’s Pearls” displays snow white flowers on strong stems.

Bee balm is a member of the mint family, so they spread rapidly through underground stems or rhizomes. Keep this in mind to keep them from spreading into unwanted areas.

Divide bee balm every two to three years to prevent overcrowding. The centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. To rejuvenate plants, it’s advisable to dig and divide.

Early spring is the best time to divide these plants, as soon as they emerge from the ground. Divide the clump into sections with a sharp knife. Each section should have at least 2 or 3 shoots and a good root system. Replant them immediately.

Questions? Contact me at the Wood County WVU Extension Office 304-424-1960 or e-mail me at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu. Good Luck and Happy Gardening!

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Question of the week: The kid’s love carving pumpkins in the fall. How do I make them last longer into the season?

Carving pumpkins for fall can be a fun family tradition. For carving, I recommend selecting a nice sized bright orange jack-o-lantern, but pumpkin selection is a personal choice. Choose whatever color and size you think is beautiful.

When you carve a pumpkin it exposes the insides to infection from fungal spores in the air. Fungus invasion can cause carved pumpkins to shrivel, soften and start to grow fuzzy, grey molds. The temperature, moisture and sunlight can also affect pumpkin quality.

Here are a few tips to make your carved pumpkin last a little longer: Make sure the pumpkin will set level on a flat surface such as the porch floor or the front or back steps on the house. Do not carry pumpkins by their by stems.

Wash and disinfect pumpkins before carving to remove fungal spores and bacteria which may be on their exterior. It is recommended to use a dilute bleach solution, about 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. Thoroughly wash your pumpkin with the bleach solution before cutting into it.

Make safety a priority when carving pumpkins. Kitchen knives can be dangerous for kids. Many retail stores sell special utensils or pumpkin carving kits for children made specifically for carving pumpkins and are very reasonably priced. Sterilize spoons and carving tools before use, especially between pumpkins.

Dip, wash or spray your finished carving with the bleach solution. This will kill any microorganisms on your pumpkin. You can also cover the cut areas with petroleum jelly which helps lock in the moisture and slow the drying process.

Do not set carved pumpkins in the grass or on the ground. They will accumulate moisture from the soil and rot. Setting them on an upturned flower pot works well for this and is attractive in a fall display.

Consider using a battery operated light or glow stick instead of a candle. The heat from traditional candles can cook the pumpkin’s flesh and shorten its life. When the jack-o’-lanterns start to spoil, simply add them to the compost pile. Hopefully, this is after Halloween. Enjoy!