Visions of flowers & veggies for 2010

So far I have Pinetree, Burpees, Territorial and a couple of those (Jung, Shumway) that come from the same town in WI and I don't even look at thos. Burpee packet prices seem really high and Territorial shipping looks like 7.95 to start with!! So I've been browsinf pinetree but have used them so long there isn't a whole lot of novelty there for me.
I'll also be checking out Valuseeds online.
Fx nFirelfy--I am thinking too that I'll renew my strawberries this year. Hey I usually get Miller Nursery catalog (no relation, darnit!) adn they might be good for my starwberries and I might be tempted by some other small fruits too.

I thought Park Seed was high too.

We missed the last meeting of the HGHA as we were traveling. That is where I ordered those plugs last year. I got a newsletter saying that last minute plug orders will be taken at the next meeting. I never did get to see the list somehow I missed the plug orders. Sent back an E-mail asking for the list so I can put together an order before Sat.

Those shipping charges have been getting higher for a couple years now... I try to only place orders with one or two places because of that (would rather spend my $ on actual seeds, thanks). That's one reason I've been thinking we should see about splitting some orders or getting some bulk packs... I did some of that pretty informally last year. We probably need a thread for that... just a place where people post where they'll be ordering from and others can ask to add a pack or two to their orders... the Feb seed swap has a late enough date that seed delivery before then shouldn't be a problem. But that's a topic for another thread, I think, LOL, not trying to get too off track here.

Seed catalogs are piling up here too and tempting me... I know there's no way I "need" any more tomato or pepper seeds for this year, and yet I'm paging through the TGS catalog and finding all sorts of lovely descriptions. I get all sentimental about variety names, too. There's a new hybrid habanero named after Chichen Itza, which we visited on our honeymoon, and I read about it and think "oh, I must get that one!" LOL

Don't forget to check the Classified Ads, and DG Marketplace too. There are some nice ads posted now: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/bulletins/all/ I love Bill's caladiums, and I've been very happy with seeds from the Garden Store & more in the past... also, I've received some wonderful seeds from Jonna in swaps, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she has. :-)

Thanks for the heads up Critter. All my caladiums came from Bill thru the co-ops. I know they aren't running one this year. So Ladies if you want beautiful Caladiums check out his add.

I think he's offering the same deal to us on the classified ad as he would have offered through the co-op... this format is actually easier for him, and it's the better place for it under the new co-op guidelines. And yeah, his caladiums are extraordinary. He runs other deals on the classifieds from time to time, especially on bulk assorted bulbs.

I'm getting some more of those Port Odora Elephant Ear. The tuberose smell is wonderful. Not sure how many more caladiums my sunny yard can support. LOL

Yesterday I ordered:

odora
port odora
2 clumps tuberose


Florida cardinal
Grey Ghost
White Queen
Red Flash

Gingerland
Miss Muffet


I was thinking that if someone doesn't want 10 of one kind (which we must order). We could order and share accordingly.

I'll share a Pinetree order if anyone wants.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1067208/

I got my White Flower Farms catalog yesterday, I have been studying the container combinations for Ideas. I just order some Oriental Lily bulbs from them as their prices are to high. But the pictures are great and so is the information in the catalog.

Now I need to check out the Caladiums at the classified ad,

Sally, I'm thinking about your offer for Pinetree.

An old pic. of one of my container combos

ladyg- you have the touch on container mizing!
I just placed the Pinetree order. A few things for fun, a few definite 'needs'....aw heck its all for fun.

Valuseeds is no longer operational --no more 49 cent orinetal greens mix for me. They redirect you to T and M site but not quite the odd assortment and cheapest ever prices. Course, I still have a couple last year packs I never planted!

Sally, Thank you. I love doing containers. The Swizzle zinnia seeds I hope to use in containers this year.

Here is another container from last year, it's in it's early stage, it was over flowing by season's end.

Thanks, ladyg--I didn't know there was another Nichols Garden plant nursery (I was thinking of the Virginia iris place--Nicholls Gardens ) thought I missed something there!! I did take a look at the herb Nichols....looks good. I know Territotial is getting funny with shipping charges, Sally. I am willing to try alternatives, and I probably missed your Pinetree rider. I just saw this today!!

Thanks for the info on classifieds, Critter. I ignored that part of DG until now. Uh-oh. I do like caladiums....hard to get good ones in the mail. I will check out Bill's.

Stormy---thanks so much for the sowing tips for poppies. I followed the sowing instructions on the packets--says start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost or sow outdoors after danger of frost. Nonsense!! They did sprout but wouldn't materialize once transplanted. I know they didn't like root disturbance but I thought half success could be expected. I'm gonna winter-sow!!

Oh, I got another favorite catalog last week.... John Sscheeper's Kitchen Garden Seeds. I love reading this one. The hot pepper descriptions are wonderful. They even give you the Souville heat units. I ordered from them before and was very happy. They have a lot of things I want in there this year.

Stormy--

Goji berry has a hardiness zone of 6--I think they can take this area. I looked at PlantFiles and people have said it grows in Cumberland, Maryland and Ohio and Washington State. A lot of Southern gardeners grow it, but I want to give it a shot. See if the birds will switch from my blueberries and blackberries. I am curious about the fruit. The trees don't get too big.

Fox, I ordered Bill's caladiums last year and was very happy, I just placed another order for this spring. You will not be disappointed.

Foxy, I mix Goji in my morning smoothies. They are not the greatest tasting of berries. They are native to the Himalayas.

I've been reading a lot about poppies this week. There seems to be a lot of conflicting info about whether they germinate in light or dark. Professional Poppy growers say don't cover them. Guess I'll go with that. Everyone says they prefer cold and are best planted outdoors in very late fall or winter. I'm going to do that (direct sow on the ground) as well as use the jugs outdoors. Maybe I'll get better yields this way.

Nice order R_R_R
You know those strap Caladiums look great in hanging baskets. Bill has wonderful plants.
I'm already going over my head. I just ordered 90 new Caladiums not mentioning the ones I saved from last year. There will be plenty of plugs coming from my HGHA Co-op buy. They are getting a listing in the next week so I will firm up my order.

Ugh, you made me do it, I just ordered some Caladiums and Tuberose.

As Holly said over her (our) heads!!! :-} LOL Ric
Next thing you know I'll be building a root cellar with climate control for: tuberose, caladiums, callas, and cannas. I'll have to research the temps for wines, imperial stouts, and triple bocks for storage under the bulbs and tubers, I May as well get some practical storage included. I do know Imperials and triple bocks are like ports and improve with age, but some times, it's hard to wait. A friend and I brewed a Russian Imperial a while back, probably cost us $40 for 2 cases, for the ingredients, it was so good I don't think any made it past it's 3rd year. I had put a couple away for my son's birthday (3 years later) and I'm sure they were the last. Ric

Jen you won't be sorry about the tuber rose... the flowers don't last that long.. but what they make up for it ... is in scent

I know Jen already has seen this photo.. but how is that for a vision... geraniums

I planted some kind of seeds in a four inch pot, stuck it in the flower bed to let it stratify itself, and within 24 hrs forgot completely what it is. I mean totally.

Sally you must be my twin sister! My forgetfulness is a family joke. I have several containers of seeds that I couldn't take to the seed swap as I have no idea what they are. I could try to grow them out and bring them to the plant swaps in the spring maybe by then I will have some idea. LOL Talking about seed swaps I came home from the swap with plenty of seeds to start.
Onewish those geraniums are impressive. Where are the coleus?
LadyG or anyone, Talking about what else I brought home from the swap! I got two of these beautiful Begonia leaves to start. Seems to me I just tucked the last ones into some dirt with a baggie over them. Is that right? Do I need to tuck just the lower part of the stem in or should I have it in up to the leaf?

the coleus are still sleeping next to the geraniums... hopefully will sprout soon

I have one or two cups of seeds in my computer room that I have no idea what they are.. I am thinking most of us have that problem

Jen & Allison, check out my Begonia thread. Hcmcdole posted detailed instructions for propogating the Marmaduke.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1046155/

Holly, what a nice leaf! I just got done reading the thread link and the instructions from Hcmcdole are not far from what I would do. I think I'll try the perlite. And I had success when I dusted my cut stem and veins with a rooting hormone. Humidity is very important.

Catbird and I semi-joked at Longwood that we should all buy one big begonia and then start cuttings all around, Longwood had a bunch of great ones.

I took two cuttings from R_R_R's Jasmine and while I was rooting them I thought I might as well start some cuttings from my Cuban Oregano. I would really like to get some cuttings rooted from my Raspberry Ice Bougie but so far I haven't had much luck with them. If I ever do Sally will get the first one. I put in a big order for Caladiums again this year. Caladiums4less has a really good deal in the classifies. That is were all my Caladiums came from and they are very nice and good service, too. I also put in my HGHA plug order. Boy am I going to have a lot of plants this spring better get my act together. I am going to dig out my OSP pretty soon and get them started.

Cuban Oregano roots well in water, also.

I got my Italian seeds in today.. looking forward to growing some fun colored beans this year! Ordered a violet-streaked yellow snap bean & a purple pole bean. Love purple beans (peppers too)... they even have purple blooms!

:-)

Sally I especially loved the big Begonia in the corner of the solarium at the Pierce House. I was looking through our pictures but Ric didn't have one of that. Do you remember it? Wonder if Critter has a pic of that? DG sure does expand your interests.

Holly, do you have any advice on what to do with the willows that you gave out at the swap?

aw Holly, how nice of you to remember I admired your Bougainvillea ! Sadly, I cannot recall that particular Begonia--so many great plants that day...I don't think i took any pictures in there but I'll check the camera.

Stormy Yes I did want to post something about them over on the swap thread. Thanks for reminding me. I have a few more to bring to the Feb swap, too. They didn't come from my yard. They were part of a flower arrangement that I got from the HGHA raffle table. The man that did the arrangement, a retired professional florist, said that they are winter blooming pussy willows. He had gone out in his garden and cut some that morning (second week in Jan) and put them in the arrangement. At the time they had their catkins. I would keep the cuttings in water till you have some good root growth and then pot it up till you can plant it outside in spring. He said they were easy to root and that was an understatement as the roots you see grew in two weeks while they were stuck in oasis in the arrangement. I think every piece has some growth some more than others. There is one very short piece that he must have used as a prop for some it only a couple of inches long that is growing too.

I have hellebores blooming!!!

Yay!!!

Very Nice Jen. I have never grown those, they are on my "to Grow List" Just don't know much about them to pick out the right growing spot.

That's a nice looking flower Jen. I have a few but they are so beat up looking after the snows a few weeks ago that I didn't bother to take any pictures. My Arron looked great but is now a flatten mess, Although I did notice that it seems to have picked up a bit in the last couple of days.

I placed my T&M seed order tonight. I have an order on it's way from Parks, Sally has my shared Pinetree order and then the seeds from the swap.
My seed starting room is not done yet, I guess I'll have to start seeds in the old spot and then move them to the room later. Once I start working on top of the freezer again I'm sure the room will get put back on the "to Finish " list.

Well we will see what I will end up with but here is my HGHA Plug order.
32 cells ea of Bacopa White, Heather-Mexican & Helichrysum-Silver & Petite. These are very tiny cells with only a leaf or two when you get them.
These come 150/200 ea and they are in a slab you let them grow a little and then separate them into small cells, they are also very small with only a leaf or two.
Alyssum, Dusty Miller, Marigold Discover, Marigolds Sweet Cream, Begonias (Dwarf 6”), Coleus, Lobelia, Impatiens. Plus there are 56 cells of Dragon Wing Begonias
These plants are pretty small not much difference than just buying seeds but they are all ready germinated with their seed leafs up. I did this last year with moderate success. Hopefully I will have more success this year.

Holly, Isn't the devil in the watering? That's what I always find with plugs. Either they get drowned to death from rain or they dry out more than once a day. Whenever I get them now, I repot them immediately and even then I may still lose a third of them. I've pretty much decided not to buy any more. The perennial plants that Warren & Ella sell on the marketplace, while slightly more expensive, end up being cheaper in the long run.