OK, if I can't find/dig toddlers, I'll nab a few seedlings. :-)
Spring Plant Swap 2014 in Lucketts, VA - Part 2
Lol...That was funny Critter. I was just clicking on my unread posts and saw yours without remembering what came before it and I'm like, how can you dig little children?!?!
What's the best way to store the gladiolas and dahlias I got from Yehudith?
I don't think I have enough potting soil to pot them up for the swap. I'm not seeing any signs of green growth on them, so they're probably still dormant.
SS--
Can't help you much on the Glads--this year will be my 1st time growing them.
I know you have to dig them up and keep them over the winter in a dormant state.
On Dahlias---I know a bit.....haven't grown them in eons, though.
After you have dug up the root clump--do not try to remove all the soil.
maybe just the bigger clumps. Also--leave a good length of the stem attached to the roots.
Be VERY careful--as the many dangling tubers are pretty fragile at this time.
They will break off in a snap. You want to minimize this happening...
Next year--the new "pips" will show ONLY to the tubers that are attached to the stem.
A bit of soil around the tubers will help them survive the winter w/o totally drying out.
When the dug up root-ball has completely dried out--store it in a box in a cool,
dry place--such as a basement, a Shop, or a heated garage. NO freezing temps!
Covering with a bit of Peat Moss or shredded newspaper is OK.
In late spring--check the roots to see if they are showing any signs of life.
You will see this by, carefully, inspecting all the tuber's "necks" where they join
the old stem. ONLY the tubers joined directly to the main stem will live on.
Any tubers just "hanging around" will not grow into a new plant. Discard them.
You want to look for little "nubs" of growth on the tops of the tubers that are attached
to the old stem. Those will make it.
IF you choose to separate any of these tubers to grow individual new plants,
you HAVE TO make sure that each tuber you separate has a piece of the old stem attached to the "neck" of the tuber. As I said--ONLY those will grow on.
You can plant the whole clump--but it will give you too big a clump of a dahlia. A "bush"....
Plant your dahlias in a wide, shallow hole prepared, making sure the tubers fit roomy in it,
and not crowded. Cover the root clump with some soil and PLACE THE STAKE NOW
at the head of the hole--not later when it is growing. You may impale one of the roots.
As growth starts--you can thin it out, pinch it back..whatever to get a stronger plant.
OK. Hope this helps you some....Gita
SSG, while Gita's write up on storage is good, you might also want to check out the Dahlia forum. While never previously over wintering Dahlias, I successfully over wintered 4 clumps of Dahlia tubers using some of the knowledge I learned over there. One thing you will find is that everyone has a different method and you need to find what works for you. For me, I washed all the soil off, cut the roots, bathed them in a bleach solution, while still wet, put them right into a ziploc bag with enough peat that the whole tuber was covered. The storage temps need to be right around 45-50 although sometimes our garage got a little cooler or a little warmer. The bleach solution is so they don't grow mold. Anyway, that was the method I used and I'm going to stick to it this fall as well. You really need to control the moisture or else they will desiccate and the tuber will be lost. You will need to check them every few weeks to make sure they aren't desiccating. If they are, add a small amount of water and mix through the peat. Also check them for rot. Gently squeeze them between your fingers and if they are hard, good, if squishy, you've got a rotted tuber and you need to cut it out of the clump and discard it.
Thanks, Gita and Seq!
Actually, my question was about Yehudith's extra bulbs/tubers that are to be shared at the swap. Most are still in their plastic packaging and some are in ziploc bags. What do I need to do with them between now and the swap? Yehudith mentioned potting them up asap, so I wasn't sure if that was a necessity, or even desirable. I could pot up some of them in small nursery pots but I don't have enough potting soil for all of them, and I'd rather not transport all those pots! :)
I think that I will have about 3 viable coral vines, 3 Delphinium Magic Fountain, and 3 Agastache Cana that might make it to the swap, if anyone is interested.
Jeff--
My Dahlia info is ages old,,,,Long ago..
You say you "cut the roots"??? How does that sit with having to have
the root attached to the stem for it to grow for next year??
You cannot just take a loose piece of the roots and have it grow--can you?
Your info sounds interesting--all new to me! Gita
Critter, somewhere in the posts you mentioned that you'd look for a poukhanense azalea for me.
I thought I'd bought the only one that coleup had, but please let me know if you have an extra one and I'll pay you for it. Thank you!
OK_____
I finally finished writing my "Haves"--such as they are as of right now.
If I missed anything that I have promised to someone--PLEASElet me know!
It has been a long haul since all this chatting started. Many things may have
"fallen between the cracks".
If you want something from me--PLEASE send me your wants by D-mail.
I will chat--post a picture of something--and acknowledge your requests here.
Thanks. Gita
oops--did not mean to have all the stuff bolded....just the "Please"....Sorry!
This message was edited May 19, 2014 6:33 PM
Did someone say they wanted *pink* lily of the valley?? I was just over chatting with my elderly neighbor who has a nice garden and lo and behold growing in her yard was pink lily of the valley! She said I could have some, so I troweled up 3 of them, and they are now safely planted in a shady, moist spot on my side of the fence. I don't know how they will take the transplant, but I think they are pretty hardy. Anyone interested??
Gita, the tubers grow new roots in the spring so trimming the roots off is no worries. They grow the roots way before they even start pushing foliage.
I'd be interested in some pink Lilies of the Valley, Cat! They're so pretty and would be a welcomed addition to my little shade garden.
Okay, Roses--you got it! :-) I thought there was someone who was asking about it--Holly?
Yes, it was Holly who wanted pink LOV.
Jill (or anyone else), would you like a **lot** of Sedum Angelina? I decided to dig up all the Angelina out of the sedum/semp bed and only keep well-behaved specimens there. I'll be replanting some to the front but the rest will need to find a new home.
Catmint, Me, Me, Me, LOL
Got you down, Holly! :-) I'll go check on it in the morning--maybe get a pic!
Quote from ssgardener :
Thanks, Gita and Seq!
Actually, my question was about Yehudith's extra bulbs/tubers that are to be shared at the swap. Most are still in their plastic packaging and some are in ziploc bags. What do I need to do with them between now and the swap? Yehudith mentioned potting them up asap, so I wasn't sure if that was a necessity, or even desirable. I could pot up some of them in small nursery pots but I don't have enough potting soil for all of them, and I'd rather not transport all those pots! :)
Ssg, I would open the ziploc bags a bit to let them vent and keep them in your house so they're not sitting out in heat and humidity. The ones still in their original packaging should be fine.
SSG, I'll take your lot of Sedum 'Angelina'. Don't do anything special to keep them alive. You know they'll do fine without any soil for 2 weeks. At my work, they are trying to grow it as a ground cover for a large island in the middle of a parking lot. :)
I'll take some Sedum 'Angelina' as well. It'll look great in my pseudo-rock garden!
Thanks, Muddy! I'll keep them in a dark corner inside.
Muddy and Typ, I'm happy the Angelina are going to a good home! They will *spread*!
SS if you still have any - I'd gladly take a lot off your hands - love that sedum
Adding more to my "Haves". Please d-mail me any requests as I'm too busy right now to keep up with all the entries on this thread. Thanks.
Japanese Anemone, NoID. Runs around in the sand joints of our patio.
Thalictrum aquilegiafolium - first photo below
Yarrow - not sure if white or pink.
Echinacea purpureum - basic purple coneflower, just a couple.
Also, a photo below of our previously posted NoID Penstemon. Plants are budding up now.
Again, please d-mail me any requests.
Got you down Chantell. Btw, they seem to do fine in the shade as well.
Pulled a buried branch off the Smoke Bush. It had a root on it so I potted it up. If it continues to thrive, would some one like to have it?
Got a photo of the pink LOV this am. Still looks healthy! :-)
SSG, yes please on the Angelina! I'm still in Pittsburgh, but I'll check out back and see if there's an available Az poukhanense (sp?) for you. I think I got 2 or 3 from Coleup, but don't remember how many made it through the winter.
Been busy with the new puppy and haven't managed to dig up any maple seedlings yet; will try to do so before we leave in the morning... They have leafed out already, so the larger "toddler" size ones I'm leaving in place for now, will try to dig them this fall or early next spring when they're dormant. (I do like Chantell's term "toddler" for trees that are bigger than babies.)
SSG, if you still have some Angelina available, I would love to try a little patch.
Got you down, Jill and Catmint!
Critter, New puppy. I missed that what did you get give me the details.
My sister is looking for plain green vinca minor ground cover, the kind with periwinkle flowers.
Also, any extra hellebore seedlings.
Holly and Ric, do you have any hellebores left?
SSG, I have ample supplies of plain green vinca minor ground cover! :-)
Thanks, Catmint!
Btw, If anyone's looking for astilbes, I've decided to get rid of most of my noid astilbes. I'll keep track of their colors and offer them at the fall swap.
Plenty of Hellebores SSG
Great, thank you, Holly!
We have plenty of vinca too. Just let us know if you want more.
Thanks, Pat! I'll let you know tomorrow after I check out Catmint's. :)
Just returned from Pittsburgh & hoping to dive into the garden this weekend... never did manage to dig the maple babies, but Dad says he'll try not to treat them like weeds LOL, so I should be able to get some this fall (survival rate will likely be better then also). Crooked willow cuttings may be a loss, as I'm not seeing any leaves, but some other cuttings that I took just as a lark (japanese snowbell, for one) are actually looking good -- go figure.
I try to break off extra pieces to pot up as I plant out perennials, some as spares and some to share, so hopefully I'll have some fun additions to post next week.
It's fun to see the changes and new blooms in the garden; hard to believe I was away only a week!
Welcome back! I hope everything was ok in Pittsburgh!