IN THE GARDEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette illustration of Cabbage.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette illustration of Cabbage.

Q I have a small backyard garden and plant broccoli and cabbage every spring and fall. I have done this for many years, but this past spring only a few plants headed. This fall, they are big and beautiful plants, but no heads. What am I doing wrong or what is happening?

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New Guinea impatiens are more sun-tolerant than other varieties of impatiens.

A Do you have plenty of sunlight? At least six to eight hours are needed to get them to head, or set fruit. This spring we had unusually cool weather, so plants were late getting started. Then it got hot and many bolted or set seeds before the heads grew large. But they did try to head. Cabbage takes longer to produce a large head than broccoli. I got a mislabeled group of plants this fall and have all cabbage instead of the broccoli ordered, but they are beginning to form heads now. Be patient and protect them if it gets well below 30 degrees, and they will continue to grow this winter. If you have deciduous trees, those leaves will be gone soon, giving your plants a bit more sunlight.

Q I had two trees removed from my backyard early last summer: a Bradford pear (fire blight) and a maple (slime flux?). Now I'm looking for replacement trees. I really don't need shade as this is in the east side yard, therefore, I would prefer something not to exceed 20 or 25 feet tall. I'm leaning toward a holly but will consider other evergreens. The soil I'm dealing with is heavy orange clay. In fact, the maple I removed had a lot of surface roots. Thank you for any suggestions.

A The maple would have probably had surface roots even in decent soil -- that is the nature of maples. I am assuming you want something evergreen. Some options include "Little Gem" magnolia, Foster holly, Burford holly, deodara cedar, cherry laurel or one of the larger junipers. If it doesn't have to be evergreen, I love the sweetbay magnolia or even one of the tulip magnolia trees, redbuds or dogwoods.

Q You recently answered a question about Confederate rose, and you said to take cuttings now. Cuttings as in cut a branch off and put that in water? My "bush" looks like a tree, and it has so many blooms I had to prop it up with a garden rake.

A To root cuttings of this plant, you should take the cuttings before a killing frost or immediately after, before the top of the plant is totally killed back. I would cut one-foot sections. Put them in a bucket of water in the garage and let them root, making sure they don't freeze. Then next spring, plant them and you will have more Confederate rose plants (Hibiscus mutabilis).

Q I started some avocado trees from seed early in the year. I do not know what variety they are. This is the first time I have been successful in growing them. They are outside in very large pots. One of them is now 4 feet tall and another one is 3 1/2 feet tall. It will be impossible to move them inside this winter. How can I protect them?

A Avocado trees are definitely tropical plants and will not survive outdoors unprotected. If you can move them into a garage or under your house in the crawlspace, that could help them survive. If that is not possible, if you can move them behind your shrubs and adjacent to the house, that will help. Then wrap the tops with sheets or some other breathable material. Heavily mulch the base of the plants and hope for the best.

Q This plant was bought at a yard sale yesterday. No one could identify it. It would be helpful to know what it is and whether it can be planted in my yard as a perennial or annual.

A It is, unfortunately, an annual and, unless it has been protected from freezing, it is most likely dead by now. It is (or was) a New Guinea impatiens. These plants need a bit more sunlight than common impatiens, but would not be overly happy indoors this winter, either. You probably don't want to hear this, but I would just start with a new plant next spring.

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at

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