Plant Propagation , The Basics Dec.2016

Kitt, usually in the winter my right hand that operates the mouse gets cold. I resort to wearing a fingerless glove on that hand and that seems to help tremendously.

I have wrist warmers on the truck, but its partly that torn tendon I thot was a frog. I continue to cause damage to it. It gets even by causing me pain. My eyes are giving me vertigo, catch ya tomorro

It's winter in Oxdrift! -30C this morning. No planting or seed collecting here.

Winter here too! 30* @ 8am central. Windchills are 21* rain last nite soaked in, nothin puddled, winds 20/30mph. I pulled plants off the porch last nite as the temps dropped behind the rains.
Winterized the Texas fuel in the truck and topped the radiator, while I throwing sheets on the bunk. Got all 6 seed catalogs I ordered, chuckl, and NEED to sort the 3 boxes of seeds I have. Sigh, stay warm you guys

Yesterday I set out some bunching onion seeds with markers. Planted about 20 plugs of Poppy seeds , (more later )
it was 35 degrees and raining then , 17 degrees and falling now
minus temperatures for tonight
Next time it is comfy above 20 degrees these with the markers go outside

Wind chill was zero here

I am not looking forward to leaving Galveston to go north to LaCrosse, Wis.Keith, I am so needful to interpret *C, I know it has to be -something in *F,but the mind refuses. 7 seed cats- Baker Creek showed up! Chuckl, Ju, I have been checking my daughters fridge and she had leftover green onions, so I planted them. Warmed to near 40*F and except for that wind was ok to run around in for short trips to outfit the truck.

It's going to be 0° in the early AM here...blah!

Kitt I just checked Google for you. -30C computes to -22F. At -40 they meet and are equal. With the wind chill here today it was -37C. That computes to DAM COLD in my language.
I am still short 1 seed catalogue to be able to place my orders. Normally I would be ordering right now to make sure everything was sitting here before we went to Mexico but since we are not doing that this year there is no panic. The catalogue I am waiting for was a new one for me last year and way better prices but they are SLOW. So just have to be a little patient I guess.

I am going through the seeds I have . I space a few ,usually their right in front of me , i don't always see them .
0 here this morning ,
Most of the seeds I have to plant are 30 to 40 degrees stratify

I am waiting till I have more dexterity before tackling the seeds. Bought some zip loc bags in a bulk box with some snack size too

I planted Michigan lilly I planted Snowberry , and another jug of Smooth Blue Aster
I had some snowberry From Robin but the Kittens happened , four or five seeds I misplaced still looked real good . so planted now they are .
Garlic is still growing anyway
Getting my eye looked at tomorrow .
up to my 10nth set of Daylily (hemerocallis)
Some seeds I space so ,Echinacea ,and colder stratify requirement native I will continue to sow

I need to plant something. No digging for at least 2 weeks per doc

feel better soon Gypsy.. sorry I have been mia again, you guys. My subscription is up the 25th of this month and I wrecked another car at work and am no longer working . I'll see if I can stay in touch via email ... I am so tired....

Dmail still works without a subscription, in my experience Debra. You feel better. I am thrilled to be able to tie my shoes again. More bandages come off on Saturday.

OMG DEBRA! I don't understand all this, not knowing what your job was but it sounds horrific!

Debra How terrible for you !!! What an awful Christmas week start ,
Glad your okay !!! Weather i presume is part of that , nasty the past weeks or so Get your energy back , feel better ,, No Christmas Blues ,,

Got my eyes checked yesterday , Cataract gets eye measured today , next week surgery , second artificial lens coming

Oh no Debra...are you okay?

Geesh Ju, you give good advice! Prayers go out to all for strength, peace and Godspeed healing.

Gypsi, It sounds like the worst is behind you, keep up the good work!

Robin Thank you , I had been planting but will likely wait now , until after all is done , A week until surgery as of tomorrow , However I might make markers , and then when the eyes have healed Iwill be back to wintersowing , I have to hope for a cool February and early March though

Funny thing happened, I had a couple Daylily packets filled with two seed cultivars, water and perlite last summer. I had them sitting under lights on a heat mat for weeks. Finally I just threw them into the fridge and figured I'd try them on the heat mat again when I set up for indoor sowing -- about March.

I learned my lesson last year when I started germinating piles of Daylily seed as soon as I got them (letting my enthusiasm win out, over my logic), instead of planning. I had a looong winter nursing those seedlings.Since my stupidity didn't stop there, I also received cuttings from Southern States. I was over run with aphids and fungus gnats.

Recently, I organized my seeds in the fridge and found the two packets that were already on the heat mat had germinated, threatening to burst the packaging. It looks like I'll yet again be nursing seedlings all winter. It's time to get the potting gear out.

That is hilarious Robin. Comforting to see I'm not alone struggling with those kind of issues. Life becomes a comedy routine as we MATURE.
Keith

I don't really have the room to play with many seedlings , if any ,
However I will do a few later ,
Lots of plants and seeds to try this year .. I have not done well with my garden the past few seasons at all ,
Not as many Butterflies in the Flowers , Only a few treats for me from the garden ,
This year back to beginning and great results to come ,,

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you "Propagators" from way up here in Canada, real close to the North Pole. It has been a real joy keeping in touch with you all for the past year.
Sorry,can't get picture to load right side up

Keith What a nice Christmas Card to all of us !!!
A Merry Christmas to you and your family !!! From you southern neighbors ,

We might see 50 degrees for Christmas weekend , Global warming is back for the Holiday ,, lol Like always though , it will be doing something else shortly .

Winter time photo's
1&2 Salix discolor buds , for Katt , we will show again come spring ,
3 River Cane , Giant Native Bamboo
4 Tithonia and Morning glory left until spring for the Birds
5 Winter goldenrod

Merry Christmas. Granddaughter is going to help me take some pictures when we get my little ribbon tree up later.

Thanks for the wishes and the pics!

Beautiful Robin. On the lookout for the ribbon tree Gypsi
Had our second festive feast tonight with friends who won't have Family for Christmas. Tried a recipe off Pintrest for a dessert called Christmas Lasagna which was a real hit. Kitchen is bring well used.
Best of luck with your eye surgery Ju.

Keith Thank you ,

Robin ,,, Awwwwwww pretty ,,

this is the 2009 tree. 2016 has to be assembled. It doesn't rest on a stand, with 5 dogs and 2 cats, it hangs from the ceiling.

Well Gypsy, you sure can show an old gardener new tricks. That is definitely a first for this old codger. Never saw, never even heard of such a thing.
Keith

A ribbon tree is the first for me too. It's a great work-around for animals.

No lights or glass ornaments due to weight. Stores in a 7 inch roll, quilt hoop hangs on the wall.

This year's tree, with and without Cuchulain. 2 years for one set of grandchildren, didn't get to see them last year, taking gifts to dinner today. Room in my house. I set up the tree so I could take photos with my dogs in front of it. This isn't propagation

BUT harvested 10 lbs of purple sweet potatoes with help from another gardener, swiss chard, spinach, bull beets, little nantes carrots, onions, garlic, and broccoli seed went in today. Usually would have planted in November, but that freeze was so hard I'd have lost it all if I had

Gypsi ,, That looks fun , Complete with the Cat in the Hat and Teddy Bears !!!
(smiley)
Planted my 11 th jug of Hemerocallis , and some Japanese Iris today ,
only thing growing is the Red Garlic ,

Question: seed pods on my asclepius Tuberosa are soggy feeling, didn't get harvested before freeze, are they any good?

Maybe if you plant them immediately , you may get a few seedlings .

will do then! Thank you

Merry Christmas everyone! Like Keith, I am feeling Santa use that blizzard to come south. 8* means it warmed up 1*F. Dickenson, ND and will be depending on the very few places open for everything. I hit Montana tomorro I hope- may just watch the wind blow, chuckl

Well Katt Sharing a white Christmas with us and you did not even have to dream it
lol
35 and raining still 41 and rain for today . 50's tomorrow ?