LADYBUG: PROLONGED COLD WEATHER CAN BE GOOD FOR VEGETATION

Prolonged cold weather may not be good for the heating bill, for travel or for gardening, but it is good for vegetation. When the temperature fluctuates and there are cold days followed by warm sunny days, perennials, especially chrysanthemums, often heave from the ground.

When sidewalks, steps, drives and porches are slippy with ice, use sand, ashes, gravel, kitty litter or fertilizer to make them safe. Never use salt (sodium chloride) or calcium chloride. These chemicals seep into the ground and reach plant root levels.

Gardeners may not realize their mistake until spring or even summer. This we experienced at our former residence, where the lady of the house used salt water to kill the grass growing between the concrete blocks. That grass was killed, and so were several other things.

Yellow foliage, dull evergreen leaves and curled and shrivelled leaves of some fruit-bearing trees can be caused by salt. Lawns will yellow and become sparse.

Incidentally, snow happens to be nature's best blanket. It keeps plants several degrees warmer than the air temperature above. Snow also has the ability to absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere and return it to the ground. Old-time farmers were right when they called it "the poor man's fertilizer."

For a change of pace this year, think about planting something different in the flower border. Choose low growing, long flowering plants that perform well all summer and all season. Nierembergia spread about a foot wide and have delightful blue flowers. Give it plenty of sun.

Or try sanvitalla, a creeping zinnia with tiny yellow daisy-like flowers. Verbena spreads wide and flat with little white or pink flowers. Blue Lagoon is the best of the true blues at the field trials.

In a shady spot try torenia (sometimes called wishbone flower) with its perky blue or pink blooms. These plants can be grown from seed started indoors from cutting or from plants available at garden centers in the spring.

Once you have mastered the technique of sowing and growing annual seeds indoors, try growing houseplants from seed.

This is one way of getting some of the rare species that are difficult to find at nurseries. Houseplant societies are a source of unusual kinds of begonias, gesnerias, African violets, gloxinias, orchids, cacti and succulents.

As a member of the society, you can participate in seed exchanges. Some houseplants, such as coleus, geraniums, cacti and begonia, are available from seed catalogs and seed racks locally.

Houseplant seed is usually very fine. A safe way to sow it is in a covered, clear plastic refrigerator dish. Poke drainage holes in the bottom with an ice pick made red hot over a flame.

Use milled sphagnum moss or a very fine grade of vermiculite. Wet the material thoroughly after filling the dish about one-third full. "Dust" the fine seed on top and put on the lid. Keep the container in a sheltered place, out of strong light until the seeds sprout. Then bring it to stronger light and finally into full sun. The seed can also be grown under artificial light. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual pots.

For junior growers the sensitive plant is one that always fascinates children. It can easily be grown from seed available at seed sale racks. The seedlings develop quickly and soon show evidence of their peculiarity. They respond to touch or heat by closing up their leaflets and folding them downward. This plant will grow for many years in the same pot.

You can save seeds from grapefruit or oranges that will sprout into attractive plants with shiny green leaves. Allow only one plant to a 5-inch pot as they grow quite vigorously. A sweet potato vine is also another easily grown green plant. Way back in my school-teaching days, these were some of the greenery with which we decorated our school rooms.

Do not expect fruit from the grapefruit or oranges, just green leaves. If you want fruit, buy dwarf pot oranges or the Ponderosa or Meyer lemon. Both varieties bear miniature fruit in pot culture.

Pits from unpasteurized dates, dried and planted in sandy soil mixture, grow into tall skinny palms. Do not throw away solid avocado pits. Save one or two, dry them off for a day or so and plant them in soil with the top of the pointed end exposed.

Keep the soil quite moist until the seed sprouts, then move the pot to the full sun. This plant grows rapidly so cut it back frequently to keep it shapely.

Other kitchen projects that can be done indoors are lentils, beans and grape seed. Apple and peach pits are not too successful as indoor pot plants.

For the past 16 years we have been subscribers to The Horticultural News Service, published by Robert J. Dingwall of Chesterfield, Mo. The monthly letter has kept readers abreast of the weather, garden design, newest plants, trees and shrubs, new garden methods, plant selections, outstanding personalities in the garden world and other phases of garden interest.

Dingwall, whom we have known for many years, was the former director of Missouri Botanical Garden, started the newsletter on a small basis. The subscription rate has remained the same -- $10 per year. It was with regret to learn when the January issue arrived that he has decided to discontinue circulation at the end of this year. He enumerated the rising paper costs and postage rates as the contributing factors for his decision to retire and enjoy his own garden and devote more time to area garden clubs.

It will be a great loss to the gardening public as his letters have been so informative, readable and useful.

Good luck, Mr. Dingwall. We shall miss your words of wisdom.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.