Vines take some time before growth spurt

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: Four years ago I bought two small containers of climbing fig to cover my brick chimney. In a few years it grew only a few inches. In the past summer, however, it took off and has runners 5 feet long. Why this sudden burst of energy? — Brian Rinehart, East Point

Enlarge photo

Walter Reeves/AJC Special Creeping fig, like many vines, grows vigorously once established.

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A: For many vines, the rhyme: “First year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps” is an accurate description of their behavior. I believe it all hinges on how fast the roots get established so they can provide moisture and nutrients to the vine tips.

Feed your creeping fig with houseplant fertilizer in April and June and look out!

Q: We have a black walnut tree about 50 feet tall in the backyard. We got walnuts but they were small. Can I fertilize a tree that large? — Steve Sprunger, Marietta

A: Black walnut is a fun tree to own, if a bit messy in fall when the nuts drop. Fertilize it like you would a pecan tree. Measure the trunk thickness at breast height. For each inch, scatter 4 pounds of 10-10-10, up to a maximum of 25 pounds, under the tree branches. Do this in late March just before leaves appear. If you find an easy way to get the nutmeats out of the shell without smashing your fingers, let me know!

Q: I am repotting two large foxtail ferns. There are hundreds of potatoes in the soil. Do they reproduce from these, and can I pot them to make new plants? — Rebecca Fillingim

A: Foxtail fern is actually an inedible asparagus, Protoasparagus densiflorus ‘Meyersii’. The swollen roots store water and starch for the plant.

You can divide the large plants into several smaller ones if you are deft with an old serrated steak knife. Slide the point between clumps of “potatoes” that have a couple of foliage stems attached and sever the clump from the main plant. Plant them immediately and fertilize lightly. Given bright light, the small clumps will be as big as the mother plant in no time.

Q: How do you grow a peppercorn plant to make either black or white pepper? — Jennifer McIntosh

A: Peppercorn, Piper nigrum, is a tropical vine that produces 5-inch-long spikes of berries. Black pepper is made by soaking the berries until the skins turn black, then drying them intact. White pepper is made by soaking the seed until the skin falls off, revealing the white seed inside. I can see trying to grow peppercorn in a backyard greenhouse, but I think the size of the vine and the fact that it takes four years to produce berries would prevent all but the most dedicated gardeners from getting a harvest.

Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com, for detailed advice on Georgia gardening.