After event questions and answers and chatting 2

and I am very glad for the super long tag you gave me.. helped not to do that.. thinking I will put stakes around it so I don't lose the poor thing.. that is one of the better planting spots I have.. and I did put gels under it when it was planted last year.. that spot gets some late day sun but it's shaded by my harry lauder's walking stick.. the thriving running tapestry is nearby and happy.. hope that one will be as well.. so pretty!!

Onewish -- the "running tapestry" will gallop over the hardy begonia if you don't intervene -- by next season, the hardy begonia probably can hold its own, but not this season....

ok will make sure it behaves.. thanks

Sorry for the "shorthand" labels, Wind! "F" would be "Friendship," not an official name... that's one that my friend Theresa and I traded back and forth for a few years, nice round red medium size, meaty, good "canner" because it doesn't have big creases... we were so excited when we finally found the original Italian package for the seeds, figuring that now we had an ID... until Dr. Carolyn very politely pointed out that "Pomodoro" (the name on the packet) simply meant "tomato" on the package. So we gave it our own "handle."

And yes, the "L L " is for Lindham's Legacy, which was added to the 'Potato Top' name in honor of the man who (with his father before him) grew and shared this great tomato (a pink beefsteak type with potato type leaves).

coincidentally- I just discovered the Hardy Begonia from coleup that I thought was gone all last year- was just hiding in the Lamiastrum.

Sally -- would you like more hardy begonia? I can bring you lots if you would....

Wanted to let you all know that it is looking good for an immanent move to Vermont with most of the summer slated for 'up there' !

I've started a thread to help me part out my plant babies and make the transition from Zone 8a (7b?) to Zone 4, hopefully in Burlington's Banana Belt.

Here is the link Help me !
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1319224/

Just learned a new term!! Thanks.

Paul---was it this?

IMMINENT????--- Unavoidable...for sure to take place---out of my control....

Ex:
--It is imminent that, around 9PM tonight--it will be dark...
--It is imminent that, the sun will rise tomorrow
--It is imminent that, if I jump out of an airplane w/o a parachute--I will die....
--It is imminent--that if i keep this up--someone will get pissed....

SO--I an stopping.....G.

Nooooooope.

Banana Belt.

Aw--shucks!!!

I would never wear a "banana belt" anyway.....too mushy and messy......:o)

LOL!

Karen

happy, sure ! if you have time

thanks Critter =)

thank you Coleup!!! I just heard the good news from an email from Jan. That was so nice of you. I have the cutting from you too from the swap of the speckled begonia. I love that one too.

thanks again ^_^

Holly the begonias you gave us.. wow they are fantastic!!!.. wish I took more now

::::blush:::::

in the right side hanging basket.. next to Coleup's under the sea coleus!!

Oh Alison, I forget how lovely your basket display is each year!

By the way, those begonias are as easy to multiply by cuttings as coleus this time of year. So, make yourself some more. They are also easy to overwinter, easier than coleus!

I agree, Holly's starter plants are some of the best to be had.

What is the name of those hanging baskets you use?

bloom master.. I think a hole saw would do the trick though.. the one thing I like about them.. they are strong.. have to be 5 years old or more now... still sturdy as anything even left out over the winter a couple of times

http://www.bloommaster.com/

Looks great, onewish!!

wow check that out.. have to get Randy busy with the welder

http://bloommaster.com/store/products.php?product=Tree-Stand

thanks Jan

A whole garden in a small space.

Looks great Allison, I wouldn't think those tree stands would not be too difficult to produce. If he's making many setting up a bending jig would be a help, I'd think.

WOW that is neat, Just what we need another project idea. LOL
They look great with the coleus. I agree your hanging baskets really are beautiful.

Oh I have been wanting to tell everyone that got Pink Octopus Campanula from me it's not Pink Octopus I just realized that my Pink Octo has disappeared from my gardens and I probably gave you a pink Elizabeth. Which is very pretty but not what I advertised.

nice hanging baskets onewish!! never heard of bloommaster before. seems to work nicely =)

the only down side to the bloom masters.. the holes are small.. root ball or plant can't be too large or else you can't get it through the holes.. sometimes I can sneak a bigger plant through if the foliage is narrow.. or it's one that does not mind being brushed flat.. too small it can push out soil above or below the root ball.. so I have to use newspaper or something to fill the gaps

Coleup, thanks for the info on rooting the begonias. I didn't know they were so easy. I will try some. Mine are really looking good. Thanks Holly!

Thanks for the link, Allison! I may have to get some, but not this year. I bookmarked those pages. Maybe I can order in the winter for next year.

Karen

Nuts: I agree with Coleup -- begonias are SUPER easy to root.

Oooooohhhh! Nice! I will do some, along with some coleus.

Karen

water gels help for sure in the big containers

That's what I was thinking, Alison -- for sure I'd put a "core" of crystals down the center of those bloom master pots!

every layer I put some in the center.. along with the slow release .. seems to work

I've never tried the gels. Wish a few of our pots had them... some got pretty dry today. Thunder storm overhead now

I have used them for years.. just love em

So do I, I use them in all my containers and they really make a big difference.

Anybody who wants them, let me know if you are going someplace where I will be also (like the fall swap), and I'll bring you some at cost. I got a bulk box from watersorb this spring. :-) I also got some of the small and large crystals and the powdered polymer. Sorry you didn't pick some up at the spring swap, Wind. They're really indispensable, especially in full sun! FWIW, they are considered "organic."

I never tried the powered type.. good mix in for houseplants?

Not as such... but it's a wonderful dip for bare root transplants, and I love it if I'm shipping plants... I make a loose slurry of hydrated powder and put a "slap" of it on a damp paper towel, then wrap up the roots with that plus a layer of press 'n seal wrap. You can make your own small crystals (good for little pots, like 2-4", or seed starting trays -- anywhere that larger crystals could heave things around too much as they swell up) and powdered polymer by whirling larger crystals in a propeller-type coffee grinder. Needless to say, you'll want to clean it out thoroughly afterwards... I've done it and then ground up a few peanuts (throw that PB away!) and wiped the grinder out well afterwards.

that's great... would work wonders for coleus cuttings.. thanks!.. I have a bullet blender that would work great.. and a spare set of attachments from Michele .. perfect!!

I never thought of it for cuttings, somehow -- great idea! You could probably even mix a bit of rooting hormone into the slurry for plants that respond well to it (or hydrate with "willow water" maybe?).