Bringing Lantana Indoors, Raspberry Royale, Red Malabar

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To bring my Lantana indoors for the winter, I repotted it after checking for any creatures that might be lurking in the leaves and put it under the lights in my plant compound. You can do this as well with begonias, coleus and impatiens but be vigorous in checking for pests. As I enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, I potted up some of my rosemary and common or garden sage as well.

Greetings fellow gardeners,

It is approaching seven in the morning and the world is still dark. I am enjoying yet another cup of coffee and planning my day. It is always a mad scramble to gather seeds, pot up plants to come in, plant bulbs and clean up in the fall.

Bringing Lantana Indoors

I decided to try to bring my lantana indoors for the winter. Lantanas are perennial in zone 8-type environments and so will respond well as a houseplant. I repotted it after checking for any creatures that might be lurking in the leaves and put it under the lights in my plant compound. You can do this as well with begonias, coleus and impatiens but be vigorous in checking for pests. As I enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, I potted up some of my rosemary and common or garden sage as well. I already have some white sage seeds started. I have tried to bring in chives unsuccessfully over the years, but this spring I found one that is advertised as an indoor option. So far it is growing well.

Raspberry Royale Propagation

This year I grew Raspberry Royale sage and just loved it. The bright red flowers brought in hummingbirds and lots of other pollinators. From what I have read, this sage does not start well from seeds but does grow well from cuttings. To take cuttings from this or any other sage, take a cutting that does not have a bud on the end. I carefully took several cuttings, stripped off the lower leaves and pushed them into a pot which had good well-draining soil. The pot was placed in my plant compound under the lights.

I have not been diligent in tying down the netting on my compound and was woken up this morning by the sound of Leo, one of the too-many cats, chewing merrily on my new cuttings. Lesson learned.

A growth of Raspberry Royale Sage — Raspberry Royale sage

Newly Planted cuttings of Raspberry Royale Sage — Freshly shorn cuttings

Harvesting Red Malabar Spinach

I harvested my Red Malabar spinach seeds today. I cut the stems that held the ripe seeds that look like purple berries and put them on a newspaper. Be aware that the berry juice will stain your fingers so it might be worthwhile to wear gloves. Once the seeds had been picked it is time to strip them from the stem. Once stripped, put the squishy berries in a jar and add water to about halfway up the jar. The berries will sit in the water for three or four days to reach fermentation. After the allotted time put them in a sieve and run water over them to remove the majority of the purple berry. Place the washed seeds on a plate to dry. When they have dried you can store them in a cool dry place to plant next year.

If you do not wish to use this method, you can place the berries on a paper towel to dry like tomato seeds and package them up when they dry.

Red malabar Spinach berries drying before saving in a jar — Spinach berries being stripped off the stems and put in jar

There is so much to do until the snow flies. Remember to leave some of those flower heads for the birds and overwintering insects. Enjoy your week. Judith.

(Contact Judith through her Website https://www.lapisdragonarts.com/. Find more weekly Veggie Bites experiences on the Veggie Bites page.

About the Author

Judith Cox

Judith Cox is a Master Gardener and President of the Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society . The many topics covered in her blogs include starting a garden, planting seeds, selecting the best seeds, identifying specific plants, and growing produce other than what is found at the grocery store. Every issue offers solutions to common issues faced by gardeners, including wildlife, whether to water, pests, snails, and other issues. During the winter, Judith writes for local journals and newspapers, give talks at local horticultural clubs on a range of gardening topics. She also finds time to run a small business selling watercolor and pen and ink cards.