Cottage Garden Seed Swap and Chat #40

I had some yellow morning glories then some "kind" neighbor mowed and weed eated our front yard today. It wasn't all that bad; just some places that I needed to hand weed. They killed some of my yellow morning glory. Hopefully, the rest will survive and I'll have some nice seeds for you all. (Now the back yard is a different story; 1/2 has not been mowed. DH is mowing it right now.)

I doubt the neighbors just wanted to "be nice".

Aunt_ A. Oh my. how terrible for yoru plants, but good that they trie d to help ya out. Glad you wer e abel to save soem seed though.

Soudns liek when my friend thought to help and mowed the Daylilie s down not once but three times. Good thign they are tough and they came back.

Kl.. How exciting for you. Soudns liek it gona be a good time. : )

Thanks...

I don't have any seeds yet. They are all in lovely green pods. I planted these late in the season and I've been watching them for dry seeds.

A friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a long time invited me over the other day and she had a variegated vine that was perennial it had sort of oak leaves on it really pretty does anyone know what that is by any chance she said the flowers were small but forgot what they looked like, a vine like that I wouldn't care if it bloomed lol The leaves were about as long as the whole palm of your hand from the wrist to the finger tips. I'm going to get a cutting of it this spring but I doubt if I can keep it alive lol oh, it was in afternoon shade.

Sorry klstuart the only annual here I try to over winter is elephant ears last year I didn't them in pots lost one and one made it usually I just wrap them in paper then plant them in early spring in a pot until it's warm enough to put them outside. I am trying coleus this year I just hope they make it but I haven't any experience with them before.

klstuart- I've had great luck (this year so far!) with coleus cuttings.

I have a suggestion for another topic for frugal gardening is use of plants. What can you use your plants for other than looks- teas, cooking, cleaning, wart removal, insect repellant, butterfly habitat, make your own bath and beauty products, etc.

I think I've become a true piggy :)

I spent a few hours tonight putting togther bags for the swap. I did 100 already just tonight with only 6 plant varieties. Granted these plants are heavy seeders so I had tons, but I still have 15-20 more varieties drying in bags and I'm still collecting. I can't seen to stop myself :)

When is enough, enough?

LeBug- the trick to coleus is to cut them way before the first sign of frost. Once the plant starts to look distressed, as it does when it's getting too cold, it's too late to root. I found that out the hard way last year. They root very easily in water if you cut them just below a joint.

It's an addiction, my herbs and annuals, sometimes my veggies like tomatoes and peppers, migrate with me when we go south for the winter. I dig them up wash the soil off and wrap like I was going to mail, then replant after arriving. It usually takes a couple of weeks, but they perk right up with the warm nights. This year I'm bringing my MG vines, lots of green seed pods.

Kelly, I've kept the Begonia bulbs over the winter for a couple of years now. I also keep calla, canna, dahlias, a couple caladium and gladiola's. Just put them in a paper bag with some spaghnum moss and keep them in the basement. Oh and a few Amaryllis. I usually try to get an Amaryllis to bloom around Chrismas. Lets see, oh yes, also the oxalis bulbs come inside and stay in their pot in the basement. They get watered around once a month. The Thanksgiving Cactus and the Christmas Cactus come inside in Oct.

I've taken cuttings of the coleus before, you have to do some pinching back when they begin to grow well in the spring. Also the Geraniums I've tried. Kept the best hanging pot from the summer in the basement. Barely watering it, it was by a window, then in the early spring it will begin to grow, I took cuttings, used the growth hormone powder, planted them in a seed medium. they grew well, but I should have pinched back more and I should have started them earlier, like maybe Feb. Too much troulbe fore me.

I've tried the Brugmansia too, not too much success there and they bloom way to late up here. Also tried to keep a black and blue salvia over the winter in its pot, white flies, yuck!

HOpe I've given you some ideas.
toofew

I learned the hard way down here to keep Begonias over the winter. I left in pots and ha d put in gh. They did ok for awhile, but when temps got extreme, lost several hundred of the the Non Stop Begonias, but now an Angel Wing begonia survived barely.

begonias I woudl definately dig up and store unless they was gonan be in a well light and nice warm place for the winter.

herbs. Kinda hard to say. You make up the numebr of packets you want to offer for yoru trade list, which cna be one to waterever a want and you cna add mroe if piggie s keep honking for them. Then for the one for one part of the swap, you can only submit up to ten packets of any one kind of a cultivar. For example, for the one to one part you have six cultivars , for that side of it, you cna send up to ten packets of each oen of them and in exchange you will get back 60 packets of seed.

Thanks guys. Glad to know that soon as I get ready can mow that back area. Hope to get to it soon but want to make sure everythign back ther e has tiem to make its seeds and dispers e them for the butterflies, and such for next year.

herb -- thanks for the tip on Coleus... I have a Kiwi Fern Coleus that i would like to keep a piece of for next year.
Hopefully it's not gotten distressed yet... It's a bit colder at our summer place.

I had white flys last spring in the house all over my seedlings. Tried a mixture that involved dishsoap and oil... and maybe something else? Found the recipe on here somewhere. It worked really well.

So, on the geraniums it would be best to keep the plant, and then take cuttings in the early spring?
On the Begonias, dig and store like Dahlia bulbs?
Thinking about taking some cuttings of my Angel wing begonia. It will be a houseplant for the winter, but I'd like to propagate it for my mother in law.
Wish I had some coleus this year... maybe I can find a neighbor with some ;) If anyone is saving coleus seeds.. I'll be oinking!

We're lucky here, for the most part Amaryllis, Dahlias and Glads will overwinter in the ground. (watch, this will be the winter they don't...) Good thing they do, 'cause we don't have much in the way of basements here... grr. Miss my northern basement! Everything lives in the garage.. but the cars.

I love the idea of alternative uses for plants! I'll have to see if I can find a local expert to talk on that one, as I know nothing about it!

All these containers of drying seed heads is getting overwhelming! Gotta get going hot and heavy on cleaning and bagging!

My moon vines have done better than ever this year, they're sending out long runners through the garden. I'm finding blooms 15-20 feet away from the fence they're growing on! And for the first time ever, I'm finding seed pods (well, one year I found 1 or 2). There was one pod I saw yesterday as big as a walnut!

Did any of you grow the lavender moon vines? I received seeds last year for them in the swap, but slugs devoured my seedlings- I was so looking forward to seeing those!

Ok, I just saw the weirdest site. A little hummingbird was resting on the perch of my hummingbird feeder. Another one came along, and I thought it was going to chase it off. Instead, the resting bird leaned back (half upside down) and it looked like the other one was feeding it. I kept watching, and the other one went away. The resting one leaned all the way back and just hung there. I thought it was dead, or ill, so I went out to get a closer look. It just hung there with me standing 3 feet away talking to it! I could see it's chest moving, so I knew it was alive. Then, after a minute or two, it took off! I hope it's going to be ok. It's getting down into the low 50s at night here. Do they slow down in the cold? I've seen more resting hummingbirds in the past 3 days than ever!

Here's a picture...

Yep, they do slow down when it colder, especialyl in the mornings. Hoepfulyl once the litle thing gets warme d upa bti better it wil get plenty to drink. Awwwwwww. Wonder if it oen of yoru regular s or one comignthrough on the way south?

I don't get many visitors, basically have had 2 here all summer. Of course, how can I really tell? All I know is I never see more than 2 and a time. They've been visiting more since my Mexican Bush Sage started blooming a few weeks ago! I've not been great about keeping the feeder out, but I'm trying to be more consistent now that it's getting toward migration time. That sure is a long flight they have to save up for!

Neal I'm glad to see you mention the moonflower vine. I thought it was you before and was debating on asking this question. The seed pod that is really large, when is it ready to pick and are there a lot of seed inside. A friend gave me my plant and I didn't see the seed. Thought I would save a few for the swap if I can figure how to harvest them.
Also does anyone know about harvesting the lobelia cardinalis seed. I have some pods but I'm afraid they are still too green. Help!!
Veronica

Veronica, one issue I've had in the past with Moon flower vine seeds, was how long it took the seed pods to ripen. Some years they've all turned mushy after a frost hit (and not yet ripe). Having some this big now is giving me hope. Typically I only see 2 or 3 seeds in a pod- the seeds are big, a little larger than peas, and a light beige color when dry. I think they're like other morning glories and the pod needs to turn dry and papery before the seeds are ready.

On the Cardinal Lobelia, when in doubt, best to wait. For most of these plants I've never collected seed from, or even noticed what the pods look like, I'm keeping a close eye on and harvesting when they're nearly dry on the plant.

Maybe the hummingbird was in a resting stupor.
I think I read they did that.

Yes, I read that if a Hummer hasn't eaten in a long time, then if they finally find food, they eat and hang upsidedown to conserve energy and re-energize. Good thing you had the feeder up, the sweet thing might have died. They have to eat a lot every day to keep going.

It's almost a miracle that butterflies and hummingbirds even survive in this crazy world.

Star I sure wish I lived closer to you. It's PRE algebra that I'm struggling with and I could use all the help I can get. I've never gotten math - and by math I mean math, not that silly stuff where parenthesis mean 47 different things and you have 27 different ways to multiply. (What the heck was wrong with the good old "X" sign anyway?) I've always had a phobia with just the basic stuff, and all this whacky new business is really throwing me for a loop.

Kelly, I overwinter everything...or so it seems. I have 9 trays of cuttings (mostly coleus with a few cane begonias, fuschias, salvias, alternanthera, sweet potato and iresine thrown into the mix. I overwinter my cane begonia plants, elephant ears, palms, banana trees, and brugs in the house under lights. I dig up and save the tubers of dahlias, caladium, tuberous begonias, sweet potato vine, and cannas. I also store my geraniums bare root in the basement. If nothing else you can call your topic, "The Totallyy Insane Woman I Met on DG."

Got a question - anyone...... When people say a plant is sterile does that mean it doesn't set seed or does it mean that it's seed isn't viable? I always heard that tall phlox was sterile, but I've found a few pods on mine and about 1/2 of those pods containd a most distinctive seed. Are they any good?

La I don't know if the phlox seed are any good but I just read a while back if the phlox reseed or you plant them they most likely won't come true and weren't as pretty I read it on here somewhere. I've wondered the same thing about the sterile vs. viable.

Veronica on the lobelia cardinalis you just wait until the pods turn brown then stick them in a sack and shake. If there are seed pods on your moon vine they will be a good size about as big as a quarter maybe a little bigger then they turn brown, the seeds are a good size so I think it just depends on how many are in there seems like I get about four out of a pod I've forgotten I don't have seed pods this year I planted mine too late :(

Neal I think I got some lavender moon vine seeds last year too are they smaller than a reg. moon vine seed? They were just labeled moon vine seeds but I knew they weren't white. I'll plant those next year :)

Klsturat that picture is so cool! I've never seen any do that.

Lala, how do you save the geraniums? That sounds like I might be able to keep some in the garage. Bareroot sounds like it would take a little less space, and that's at a premium! I do love these Pinto Salmon... they are so pretty and took quite a while from seed! Saved some seed from them too, but not sure if they'll come true or not.

I think sterile plants may or may not produce seed, but if they do the seeds aren't viable. Sometimes not being viable means they won't germinate naturally. There are Lily hybrids from crosses that produced seed like that, and the seed embryos are removed from the seed and grown in a test tube. Lots of seeds are so tiny, I can't imagine being able to retrieve the embryo.

Lea, seems the lavender moon vine seed I sowed looked about like the white ones.

You know Neal seems like I have planted those before and just thought I got the wrong seed on the lavender moon vine but I don't remember what they looked like it has been a long time, if they are white they will still go in my moon garden you think?

Kelly bare root is a snap. Just dig them up (or remove them from the pot,) shake the excess soil off the roots and that's it. In "the old days" people then hung them from the rafters in the basement for the winter. That works fine ...if you have a basement with rafters. If not, just stick them in a paper bag and put them some place cool for the winter. I generally don't have enough paper bags handy so I loosley wrap them in newspaper then put them in a plastic sack instead. You won't have to keep yours dormant as long as I do so you may be able to skip the last step which is to take them out and wet them down every couple of months. I kind of forgot about that one last year and lost some of the smaller ones, but all of the bigger ones still pulled through.

In the spring just repot them, give them a drink, and they should bounce right back for you.

Yeah, a couple months is all our 'winter' lasts! Do you cut back the tops? I'm also wondering when you do all this, just before the first frost? I waited too late to store my begonias last year, and it froze them :( Although, I never did check the tubers to see if they were ok...

So, anyone save vinca seed? I've found the little pods, which are all green at the moment...

Lala... Will go otu to shed and hunt aroudn and see if I can find my old pre -algrebra nots and such. I tutored returning adults in algrebra at the college and think I stil have all the stuff otu there. Shos several ways on hwo to the problems. They teach ya one way, but for most cases for algebra there sevral differnt ways to work the problem and get the right answer as not all folks can get it just the one way a teacher shows.
If I cna find the stuff, will send it on to ya.

yep plants that are sterile can make seed sometimes, but usually they aren't viable. But then again, ther e have been plants that were supposed to have been sterile and yet will produce some viable seed, but it usually so small of an amount that the plant is classified as sterile. Not much, but they do and thos e are type s of seed I liek to explore and play with a s you never know what will come from them.

So Lala. any of them seed that look distinctive I would sur e keep. : )

Lea, I think there's nothing better for a Moon Garden! The blooms are so huge, and such a pure white they glow. Ah, and the fragrance is so nice!

Kelly, I've been saving some Vinca seeds. From plants started from seeds Ella sent me in the last swap. I kept waiting for them to turn brown, but found they open and disperse the seeds before the pod dries. Watch them closely- the pods break away easily when they're about ready to open. I noticed the pods that are opening have developed touches of dark color among the green- so I've been going for those to harvest.

La, was it you that sent me some Echinacea seeds from yellow and orange hybrids? I got one plant from each batch, and one has a bud! I so hope it opens before frost- can't wait to see what it looks like!

Oh, great! Please post a picture so we can compare to parent plant. What fun!

Oh Neal I'm so excited! I sent out TONS of those seeds in last year's swap and I've been anxiously waiting for someone to report back. I didn't know if any of them would bloom this year or not so I'm voting for a sheet over the plant if it frosts before blooming. LOL. (I may have some different ones this year too if time allows)

I sent out some lavender datura last year too...is that what you guys mean by moon vines?

Kelly I forgot about the cutting back part and the answer is yes. Here's a good link in case I missed anything else:
http://gardening.about.com/od/winterinthegarden/ss/Store_Geraniums_6.htm

Bless your heart Ella, thanks. It's coming, but very slowly. When I'm at home disecting the problems step-by-step I don't do too badly, but when I'm in class I completely freeze up. I suppose the more I do it the easier it will get.

La, the moon vines we're referring to are vining Ipomaeas, they look like giant morning glories that bloom at night. I love Daturas too (and grow them in the Sky Garden too), similar bloom, but totally different growth habit. I sure hope that Echie has time to open- I've never had one bloom the first year from seed!

If you all are looking interested in Lavendar flowers, I have Datura Discolor... at least I'm 99% sure that's what it is. Was labeled to be a white datura, but the blooms are actually a light lavendar. The seed pods are definitely thorny. Looks just like the discolor. Very different growth habit from the other datura I tried this year. They (dbl. purple and black currant swirl) were very upright, tree-like. The discolor was much lower and spreading, and covered in blooms!

Moonvine sounds like I should give it a try next year. Have a big neighbor's fence I can cover :)

Can't recall where i read this... but there is an Atlas Glove Co-Op going on....
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1044040/
these are the garden gloves i've even worn.

here is teh chat thread... just in case.... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1044039/

gotta get me some "thermals" for this cool weather gardening.

OH -- DH saw some pretty Canna yesterday... I found some seeds in my basket....
How easy are these to WS? [i know i tried once with no luck]
or is it easier to do them in the house.

He saw the real pretty ones that have that purple veining in the foliage... I think i just have "Red".

His buddy was telling him you can't grow them by seed, but i told him that is not correct.... how else would you do it? By dividing??

obviously , we've never had Canna before. I've seen some stunning ones as we drive thru Baraboo, WI. absolutely gorgeous.

Terese

Hybrid Cannas don't come true from seed, but you'll still get some pretty Cannas. Seems I've read the variegated ones are sterile, like 'Tropicanna', and those you would propagate by division. I don't think wintersowing would be a good idea with them, since they're tropical (I sowed them indoors), but using the method for a later sowing would probably work since they need warmth. They have really hard seed coats- I tried knicking them without luck, so I soaked them for couple of days in H2O2 solution.

Thanks Neil.

I planted some seeds from White Swan two years ago last year they bloomed and were pink looked like the Magnus one I pulled them up and had two more to come up this year in the same spot and they are pink just now blooming. Haven't decided if I want to pull them this time or not I don't have any others around them and everything else has almost stopped blooming where they are so they may come in handy.

I keep watching my black and blue salvia but guess I'm just missing the seeds :( Decided not to take tip cuttings can't handle the idea of white flies lol

Here’s a link to the moon vine it’s just beautiful!!! My neighbors look forward to seeing it’s blooms every year and the smell:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/893/

I just rub my hard seeds on a nail file it's so much easier :) Then soak them in H202.

I've seen people here put cannas in a raised bed with straw over them but they come up so late by the time they are blooming good it's time for frost, my neighbor planted hers by the side of the house and they come back a lot earlier.

lala - please explain how you overwinter your cuttings?? i have coleus and a fun fuschia that i thought i would just have to buy again. do i take the cutting, let it root and then grow as a houseplant all winter? HELP! ^_^ pretty please!
~chele