Re: goldstrum vs Indian Summer - SMACK DOWN!

In a message dated 7/11/02 9:31:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
corgilover@wi.rr.com writes:

<< My experience with both in the upper midwest is that I ADORE
 Indian Summer for it's large flowers and furry foliage - BUT
 I won't grow it anymore - it's guaranteed to mildew and look
 terrible by this date every year.>>>>>

Pat,

The native black eyed susan 
(R. hirta)  will mildew here.  I do think Indiam Summer has the same 
tendencies. Mine are not in the garden.  They are in a group of raised frames 
behind a barn that were built for a few vegetables and strawberries.  I 
planted the seeds there  a few years ago when then appeared on the market.  
Now they do seed around but are in the paths or in the frames wherever the 
seed chooses but are in a very good air circulation site.  There are no other 
plants of that size around them.  I have learned you can totally prevent 
mildew on the old phloxes this way also, though you can and probably should 
use the newer ones if wanted in a border.

The drawback is that you probably do not want to have flowers dotted around a 
utility or vegetable area.  I have never put Indian Summer in a garden and 
agree that Goldsturm has healthier foliage.   Here Goldsturm does not bloom 
well in dry soils.  Goldsturm wants deep, good moist soil.  Try Indian Summer 
in a dryer place.  It can do well all summer with no water what-so-ever, same 
as the native plant which grows all around us in the fields.  The native 
plant does not choose damp places to grow but is more likely found where it 
remains completely dry most of the time.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4


 
 Goldtsrum is smaller, darker, no furry foliage, and much
 more mildew resistant in my garden. >>

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