Plant propagation part XVII based on my own experience

Well, you all finally got it right. It sounds like. Other than you Dawn. You cannot deliberate too long. Times a goin' girl. Don't know how old you are, but if you can see into the future and don't like it. Wellll l l l l l l l

What kind of pickles are you making JB? Your cucumbers must really be producing good. Do your pickles end up nice and crisp? What do you use to keep them that way?

I went out and watered the tomatoes and put more mulch on them. They are using up the stuff they are planted in so they look like they are sitting in holes. But looking good. Just wish they knew they were suppose to make red ornaments, not green. Guess I will fertilize tomorrow.

Took a couple of lessons on the riding lawn mower too. Guess I'm getting old, too cautious. LOL

Dawn and Sharon ~ I am sorry to hear of your husbands and their anger issues. We have learned how to deal with each other's shortcomings and it has worked so far. We never stay mad or have resentments. I could not live like that. I had boyfriends in the past with those types of behaviors and I was determined to not stay with anyone once I discovered them. My husband is kind and loving and we get along so nicely. We don't have to try very hard. There were more problems, of course, when I was on the various prescription drugs, as I did not really understand so much how it was affecting me...I told him that it was the same with his wine or brandy every night. He never could just drink one or two. I never took more than what was prescribed, but still it was not good for me. I realize this in retrospect. (Of course, 20/20 hindsight, don't we all have that?) I never nagged him about it, though, and when I stopped the drugs...one by one, then he just stopped drinking altogether. We really never had any big talk about it, and I do not want to jinx it by discussing it, as he has quit before, but for very short times. This time, it has been a long time. That was the only time when he would tell me things and really how he felt about things but not always in a pleasant way, though not really mean, but just not being extra courteous. Now all that is gone and we are happier than ever before.

He is busy re-building the woodshed, and I the gardens, as with all of those operations I have so much area neglected, so little by little I am trying to make the property look presentable. We have about 12 acres, though not all of it is accessable since it is all hilly and some of it in a steep ravine. We try and keep the acre out front of and around the house in good repair as well as keep the weeds down due to fire hazard, and of course, appearance. It is a full time job. It has only been three years since we were both working full time, and I don't know how we managed the property before. Of course, when we were younger, a lot more got done. I found it difficult to keep up with everything in the last few years and now I look forward to getting it all in order, if that is possible. At least the attempts will be made. I look forward to the day I can show you all whole gardens, instead of taking a picture of just one flower at a time. And maybe some day, my house will be in order...LOL! Right now, don't look at my house, or the gardens....

That day will come evelyn. You know surgeries are not easy to get over real fast. It does take a while. You cannot expect to get all of that done overnight. It sounds like both you and your husband are working hard and making it a combined effort.

It will happen. You will get it done. Just don't push yourself.

Don't try to compete with other people. Do it at your own speed.

I hear what you are saying. Oddly, I think maybe he has an undiagnosed diagnosis that affects him some times.

I do love him and have fun with him, we laugh, like the same foods, hobbies, love of animals and spend a lot of time together. It is just that those things get under my skin and sometimes we just fight. We get along in so many ways. I would miss him if he was gone, but I am a worrier and think things out too much. I do wonder when he is old, if he won't just be obnoxious, all the time.

The funny thing is he always apologizes for being a jerk, but ya know, that gets old.

I apologize for getting so mad. Ya know I am the sigher in the family. I tend to hold my breath or breath to shallow and rapid when I am worried or upset and then I sigh, even when I am alone, but sometimes I sigh and do know he knows what that means, though I come by it naturally.

Thanks, Jeanette ~ I am not trying to compete, just to get things in order. If only I did not have such an exciting "hobby" - gardening...LOL! I might be able to at least get the house in order. Sometimes, I believe, that I am too self-indulgent, as gardening takes priority over the basics at times. At least DH likes to cook, or he might starve...LOL!

What are all those ants doing on the lilies? We have them everywhere, and this year, no ant poison seems to be working. Any suggestions??

Dawn ~ Only you know how much happiness you need. Another person cannot make you happy, but it sure can add to your misery. Tell me if I am wrong.

Ok Ladies, I think we have hijacked Dave's thread long enough. Back t the gardening. OK?

Yes, my apologies all and Dave especially.
I am going to bed. I am well drugged tonight.

Good morning: I am glad you all kept yourselves busy. I had the orders either good or bad, I am still thinking about it. It was like 20 trays of plants and more next week. I am not complaining as I needed the sales to replenish the bank. but I need to spread them out more so I can do it all.
I hope to be back on later today. after I catch up on reading.
Dave

Yes Dave, stagger your planting. What are they doing, all coming due at the same time? That would create a problem.

What are the plants you are doing? And mailing out too? What is the time frame from planting to mailing? Are they seeds, plugs, liners, or???

Hey Gang...............5 inches of rain in two days is super great. I am so happy. No more of the @#$%% watering morning and night.
Jen
I soak the pickles in salt brine and ice over night to keep them crisp. Also I use alum when called for.
Just had a call from the vet , Barney's bloodwork is good except for a few liver functions that are a bit high but nothing to worry about. That is what we are treating him for. I was sure his White Blood count would be off . I thought he had a tumor, thank God I am wrong.

I must plant some cuttings today. I am so far behind and I have two orders plus all you guys that want black PW and the temp is still 90 and calling for another week of it. I do not know what to do. I do not want the plants to die en route.

Will be back later. Cleaning lady just left and I need to take care of the animals then get busy again. I am baby sitting for the cutest cockatiel. He is a whistler and I keep wondering who is whistling. So funny. Have a good day.

What is your definition of "ripe" cuttings?????

Nearly ripe cuttings????????????????????

I have been reading up on the proper time to take the jasmine sambac cuttings and it says nearly ripe wood in the summer, ripe wood in the winter.

I take that is older green stems are nearly ripe and the brown stems are ripe. What would you all think? thanks in advance

I looked in DG but it was not a very clear definition.

I just germinated watermelons and Cantaloupe seeds, and some flowers of various types. It works so fast when I do it under a shade tree that gets a bit of sun, in those Frozen Yogurt cups with the clear bubble lids. I just put them there on Sunday.

JB, if you google ripe cuttings, you get a ton of semi-ripe cuttings. and how to do it. Then you have to go to the 2nd page and finally al ripe cutting is a wood cutting. It is pretty clear on there. To me anyway.

Unless I am misreading it.

Jnette, everything got here and is very green. They were warm but not hot and they are now resting in my vegetable sink in nice cool water. I will take a photo of them in the sink before I plant them this evening. Granddaughters are at their father's mother & father's home until Saturday and then they go to San Diego and then back in a week and they will be here for a week so I cannot complain.. Baby Luke is here and still just a very happy baby with really chubby legs. He and mommy are out visiting friends while I take care of myself and DH. DH has a broken, misplaced rib. I think I got food poisoning at Costco. I was trying to get things done that needed to be completed but I kept carrying the phone with me just in case I had to call 911. My pulse was 115, BP 175/90. This afternoon pulse is still 105 but BP is 245/80. I am usually 124/80. Pulse usually 85 to 90. I went to bed at 8:30pm and had a terrible night toss and turn sleep but I feel better today. Our neighbor called this morning because she had not seen me outside for 3 days. Nice neighbor.

OK, guys, when do you call 911?

Sharon!!! 245/80???? What in the world were you doing?? 175/90 is terrible. I certainly would have found a place to sit down and let it go down. Did you call the dr. even?

You know this is not the weekend. What did dr. tell you? Are you ok now?? If you were panicked and that is why it went up so high I probably would have called 911 but I sure as heck would not have been oin Costco.

Had it been me, I would have immediately taken one of my bp pills. Are you on meds? Sounds like you should be, if not.

Oh, BTW, glad the plants got there ok.

Sorry, guys I had better check my typing before I send. No I do know if my BP is 245 I had better sit down after I call 911. I meant 145/80.

No my blood pressure did not go up until later in the evening after returning from Costco. I think whatever was hitting my body was making my pulse race and my BP go up. I did take a baby aspirin and I did lay down and cuddled into my covers, got warm and slept for about 1 1/2 hours. No I did not call my Doctor. If I was still feeling today like I did yesterday, I would have called my Doctor. I am not completely well today but much much better. I think I got something bad at Costco when I was dining at the tasting stations. I went to bed at 8:30pm and around 9:30m lost what ever was on my stomach, which was not much because I had not really eaten much yesterday. Right after that I started feeling better. DH has a partially broken rib and has 50 Oxicodene pills. I have the pills so he does not take too many by mistake. He actually gave me the pills. We are actually beginning to doubt ourselves. But I have not fallen for two months but I pay extra attention. The children are beginning to think we are both losing it and it does appear we are. DH is down to 141 pounds and is 5'8". And friends, that was weighing with clothes and shoes on. I think I could take him down in less that 30 seconds. LOL.

Have a great evening. I am going to plant the plants that Jnette sent me in my holding garden.

I had 4 Photina bushes removed this morning., I will enhance the soil. Currently not to bad but I am going to amend with Compost and Worm castings. Actually I think my total holding garden, that is about 40' long is all Worm castings. I will take a photo after they are planted so you can see my new babies. A lot will go by by in the mail Monday. There is three roses that need to be planted somewhere else. They were rescued from the trash at another landscape cleanup. Got to feed DH so I will be back.

Your DH hasn't poked his lung with the broken rib has he? That would be bad. Make sure he hasn't. I am assuming they x-rayed it.

How is your BP Sharon? You never answered my question? Do you take meds for it?

I am sure those plants are probably pretty limp. Doubt if they would take very good pictures. LOL They sure didn't take long to get there. That's good.

I emailed and asked them to send me a new hose for my vacuum. They said they would do that and charge it to my account, which will be over $2oo and then when they get the one I sent back, which was a wrong one, they will credit my account with it. $106. So, I will have over $300 out there for vacuum hoses until they get my vacuum hose by return mail.

Sorry, there I go again Dave. I asked that we get back on track and then I start talking about vacuum hoses. Sorry.

I guess that it is just so warm out that nothing is growing much. Guess I will have to go out and fertilize a bunch of stuff. However, my cucumber loves it. doubles it's size every day that it is warm and that I water it. Away it goes. Haven't checked to see if it has anything on it. JB, it is just a slicer. No pickles.

Jnette ~ think....plants, planting, planted....LOL! How's your petunias doing? I already clipped mine back even though I have not yet put them in pots or in the ground. I think I will use them to fill in the new mixed bed.

JB ~ Now I know what you did with those knee highs that Jnette sent you....you tied up your tomatoes! Actually that is what I did today. I think I will have to get a pair of sharp scissors as I want to make a lot more ties as the tomatoes are taking off like they are growing a couple inches each night while I sleep. I even found some tomatoes one the very smallest plant. I have a bunch of old pantyhose which I can use as well. I rarely dress up anymore, maybe once or twice a year.

Sharon ~ Slowww dowwwwn....LOL! Take care, will you?

Dawn ~ Are you OK?

Let's all of us remember it is the heat and take time to cool off......

LOL, my petunias are looking real good evelyn. They love the sun and do they ever grow!!!! They don't get leggy until late August. That is when we normally cut them back to give us another go round.

If only I had known that was what JB was going to do with the knee highs, I would have sent her a half a dozen pair. LOL But then she wouldn't have gotten them anyway. Darn! It looks like it might be a real good year for tomatoes if mine would just start setting some. It seems that once they start they really take off.

Those are vey pretty Campanulas Evelyn. Are they in your yard? I have to get mine planted. I just hate to plant them in this heat.

Sharon, Sinice your Diastolic is normal, seems to me your anxiety level or annoyance level or something set you off big time. I would have taken a Xanax and drank alot of water and tried to think happy thoughts. If you take BP pills, I have always been told NOT to take another once you have taken it for the day, even in an emeergency. I am certainly not a doctor but I usually do not worry until the Diastolic gets above 90 then I get nervous. LOL
But you need to calm down and stop whatever is upsetting you, or causing your anxiety level to go up.

As for the kneehigh nylons I never did get them because someone gave my wrong mailing address. I checked all the places that have a mailing address for me on DG and they all are correct. I have no idea how the Adm. got the wrong address to give out.
Maybe I should censor them.

got lots of errands to do in town today so I will say Hi and Goodbye all in one message.
Have a wonderful day and hopefully I will see you all tomorrow. Adios for now.

hellnzn11
Is the bloom on the first one a yellow? if it is it is an evening primrose and very invasive in the PNW...

Sharon
Hope all is better...with Vern. Son due in today hope he can figure it out...
Keep my room ready might be twice next year one in early winter and then for Grandson's BD in late Oct.

D

Well, when I went to the ER because mine was so high they pumped bp meds into me. Some of the same stuff I was taking.

The address given to me was for someone else with the same name. A seller on either Marketplace or the classifieds. They did not swear it belonged to this JB. My mistake. However, if a person had their correct address in their profile like everyone else does then that would not have happened.

I have no reason for anxiety. I am used to DH having problems and I just go with the flow. I do get irritated when he just leaves whatever, wherever, but he did take care of me in my dark days so I will KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT. Or as every one on this thread will recognize from now on, KMMS.

I do not take BP medicine. I do take Liptor because I had the blood test they recommended for women for heart inflammation. I have excellent cholesterol and mild heart inflammation. When I tell a doctor I take Liptor they ask me what am I doing to control my BP.

As far as slowing down, that is not in my vocabulary. Never has been. Always go 10 MPH over the speed limit, except when I drive, when I am working. That is my ADD, ADHD, Type A personality and probably the way I was raised. Have not had time to take any readings today but seems to be better. Still a little winded but that could be the heat.

Dee, you know you are welcome anytime but what is with the move up in your time schedule. September, October are just absolutely beautiful here.

Buy the way friends, Dee is an Iris grower in Oregon and a great friend. I told her she should come over and meet you guys because you are real people. And she and I are the same age give or take a month.

JB, I never think anything else but happy thoughts. Well most of the time. I was reading the Wall Street Journal and JP Morgan Chase's profit went up 77%. CEO's pay is many millions but they have not reinstated the dividends. I want my dividends, screamed the little old lady in Las Vegas.

Vern did have an x-ray. No his lungs are fine and now that he has the OXI's, he is doing much better. He is taking a nap now. Baby Luke is sitting at my feet tearing up a part of the newspaper and just have a great time.

I have decided to help the economy and hire someone next week to do the digging I need and dig up the plants that I need to get into the mail. Of course, with my supervision.

JB, I have a friend that is 55 and has been married 5 times, twice to the same gentleman. Three times she got married in our home. Each time they purchased us a very expensive set of knives. I actually have given some away because how many knives do you need. I gave her the KMMS advise because she is a Realtor and was not making any money. She called the other day and said thanks. But she just about does not have any tongue left.

Luke needs diaper changed. I will return later.

Don't get me started on the Bank dividends and big payola for the CEO's.
Nice to spend time with the grand baby. I am going to the beach with one or both of my babies and my dd tomorrow.

JB if someone takes an extra BP med, it will more than likely plummet your BP too much, too fast.

Thanks Jeanette I am ok today, I am happily in denial that she is gone, for today.

Jeanette ~ All the pictures that I post are in my yard....and are current, unless I tell you otherwise, like when I have nothing at all, I will get a picture from past seasons. I like looking at pictures of flowers and think you all might as well, since we all are plant lovers.

I am happy to report that I have not been back to the ER this year since all those traumatic incidents in January. (However, I have gained 15 pounds...)

Dawn ~ I am glad you are better.

Sharon ~ I am glad your husband is better.

JB, Dave ~ and anyone else that is sweltering in this heat...please take the time to take "cool breaks" if you have to be outside at all.

Today I had to take my car in after I took me into the chiro. Rotors and brake pads for the front were needed...so I walked downtown to the bookstore in the heat. At least it was air conditioned. They have known me for years, so I just hung out until Jeremy called for me to get my car. I should have asked if he could pick mr up, but I think he was working alone then, so I walked back in the heat...at least there was some shade by then. It was probably 100° in the sun!

I have an early and long day tomorrow, so I 'll probably be back on Sunday or so. We have grandneices coming to visit Steve's brother and they want us to have lunch with them, and before that, the farmer's market in Placerville.

Have a nice weekend all....


Evelyn ^_^

Well Baby Luke has gone to bed. It has been a great day but Grandma is tired. DH is without pain with the Oxi's. He actually ate dinner after I did a little whining. Group is leaving in the morning for San Diego. I have a worker coming tomorrow at 10am to do a bunch of digging for me. I will take photos.

Jnette, so far so good on the plants but the ones with the spotted leaves are trying to find their way back to Washington. We will see. See you sometime tomorrow.

Jeanette my sister just called her husband just got the city Manager job in Centralia, so she is moving there from Susanville, Ca

Sharon, those with the spotted leaves, Pulmonarias didn't have much feeder roots. Just thicker ones.

Dawn, I think your sister will love Centralia. I haven't been thru there in years. I know it has grown since then. Probably no longer a sleepy little wide spot on I-5. LOL

afternoon:
sharon, I was so worried when i read the 245/90. I was at my pain dr's office and had 190 over 150 and he sent me to the er right away. 6 hours later the dr got my pressure under controll. now I am running in the 150/88 or in the area of those readings. I take the oxi like M&m's one every 4 hours but depending on how the day is going.
Last week I shiped close to 500 plants which I had to hand wrap each and everyone. the reason i had so manyready was that its just been build up from the past couple of years. I will never list so many plants again. 200 plant limit.
it was 113 heat index earlier in the week. we have had a few evenings where the heat drew in the storms from up north. one day we got over 3" in a couple of hours so it was flooded.
I try to wrap it up by noon and then its email and paperwork and then a nap if possible.
stay cool everyone
Dave

Hi all of you sweet people!

Just canceled another order here on DG because our updated weather report calls for another 7 to 10 days of above 90 deg. heat. I am out of business for now. Nothing like having school teacher hours. All summer off. LOL.

Very sad but it is just too hot to even consider shipping these starters. If I were not being censored, I would say a bad word. I am considering taking all listings off for now to eliminate having to tell people I can not ship. What to do is a problem. I do not want to loose customers, but I do not want to anger them either. I am going to take down eBay for now.

Take care of yourselves. Time for a gin and relaxing. I could get used to this except I have cuttings to be planted and it is too darn hot to plant them. The pumpkins on a stick had to go outside of the greenhouse today. They were full of mealybug. I almost threw them away but instead I sat them outside on the side of the GH and washed them with water . I will spray them when the sun goes down with Neems. @#$%#$@#@ little critters. They can just ruin the stuff in the GH if they are not caught in time. They suck the juice right out of the new plants. I never thought they would attack those new seedlings before the gardenias. I keep a close eye on the gardenias and other tropicals because they do show up on them frequently, but never did I expect this. They are on nothing else.
Must be good juice they get from those babies. Oh well, another day another surprise.

Be good gang. Love ya. JB

Good grief Dave!! 500 plants!! And, I know how carefully you do each and every one. I cannot believe that many. I would have stopped at 10. You guys just take on too much. Your eyes are bigger than your stomachs, my mom used to say when we piled our plates too high. You all are the same. What is OXi that you take?

I know it takes a long time to get it down in the er. Sometimes I think it works faster at home where you can just relax.

I want to show you guys something I did. When my Helebores started blooming I put some sacks over a few of their heads to see if I could get some seeds. So, here they are, one picture at a time. LOL

This is a branch I cut off to show you one of them has an organza sack to catch the seeds.

Here is a sack I took off of one of the flowers:

Here is the last one. LOL, I knocked my hand and lost about a third of them when I was trying to take the picture with my other hand. Oh well, who needs that many helebores anyway?

Jeanette ~ Thanks for sharing. Those were very good pictures. I did not think of trying to collect the seeds from my hellebores, as I have several different ones. They do self seed slowly, well at least the ones in the shadier part as most of my gardens have a lot more sun, but all part sun and shade.

Dave ~ How could you torture yourself like that? I would be back taking pain meds, too, trying to do the impossible in this heat....still it is commendable...but not something I am willing(or able) to do at this time...Are you feeling OK. now? I suppose your wife might be upset with you over this. You must take care of yourself, OK?

JB ~ Smart decision....why try killing yourself in the heat, and possibly the plants as well? I think your customers will understand as they do not want to receive dead plants. The main thing is communication. When a seller says they will deliver and does not tell you why the delay, then you would be upset as well...but if they tell you that you want them to be happy with their purchase and it must be delayed, I think they will understand.

We went to the farmer's market and got some organic beef, some fruit and a couple of tomatoes. then we went to Arden Fair....we just got back from Sacramento - Arden Fair Mall having lunch with the nieces and brother-in-law. A very nice time, and then they went to the fair and we went to Trader Joe's and Sam's Club, then home. Whew! It was hot!

I need to check on the gardens now. Have a great Sunday everyone!

The tomatoes are finally growing and there are a few small green ones there..

This message was edited Jul 17, 2010 7:13 PM

Evelyn, It was more an experiment than anything. See, that is what Dave told JB to do with her pantyhose. That is what started the whole thing about the nylons. LOl

Anyway, it was a fun experiment. I just wonder if they were pollinated????

I would take the add off ebay too. Most of the country has bad heat this year and nothing seems to come back from that, let alone tiny rooted starts. I would not risk the reputation.

Howdy:
yes I am still recovering from the marathon packing. I drag in flats 3 at a time and do one order at a time in the ac. I am going to investigate the boxes that hold entire flats so I can just do that instead of wrapping everyone. I think it would be easier. One box weighed 38 pounds. luckily I had my nieces to help.
I joined this wholesale club that sells to the public and growes their own stuff. I figuired I could stick to my plugs and liners and do quite well. I just need to fine tune the packing. I am hopeing to turn about 100 flats a year out of the back yard so wish me luck. Its nothing great big but it will keep me sane and in potting soil for the year.
I have ground cloth and shade cloth coming in this week. its the last 2 pieces of major supplies I need to get my operation under controll. I am setting up one area with 50% shade for my seed flats and hostas to grow in.
I am hopeing to do a half and half mix of seedlings and cuttings. I think I can do quite well with some of my stuff.
I did manage to get my nursery on timers so I don't loose anything to no water. I just have to watch a few of the overgrown stock plants.
I have to get my daylilies in the ground soon before I end up pulling all my hair out. luckily the crosses have lables so I can tag everyone and keep some sort of order.
I am also plannibg to plant some of my gingers, bananna's and bamboo's to see if they will survive the winter's here. If I can get around the dragging in of the prized plants I will have a more relaxed winter. I am not going to try growing seeds until mid february. its just not worth the head ache. the only thing that managed to come out right was my daylilies so I will do them but the other stuff will wait.
I did find 2 mealey bugs yesterday.... those little critters can jump a long way. well I am going to try to get some more weeding done next week. my hosta bed is full of weeds. most people can't tell un til they are right up next to them. I did get a bumper crop of seed pods on my hostas. It will be interesting to see how well I can do with free seed for hosta's.
I will say I did find a new suprise in one of my Alaska shasta daisy flats of 3.5" pots. It seems it has decided to put on some varigation. I pulled it out and am going to plant him in one of my beds.
well its dark 30 and bedy bye time. have a pleasant evening
Dave

Dave ~ If you can keep that variegated shasta going throughout the summer, are you going to take cuttings of it? And are you going to experiment and see if they will bear seeds? And are you going to cross them with the regular whites...etc...?? You might be able to get that PPAF registered. Congrats! Keep us posted...how exciting!

Well, it's 10:00 and I just came to check on an email that my son sent me, so good night all!

~ Evelyn

feverfew....