I've been ripping out my container planters this morning and have a mountain of cuttings for Margarite and a small 'light green' compact variety. If you're interested in these cuttings please reply to this thread.
If you're unfamiliar with starting these plants from cuttings, I'll just say that probably before I receive your postage, they will likely have rooted...and if they haven't stick them in water and within a few days they'll be ready to pot up.
Postage will be minimum USPS Priority (I think that's just under $4.00) for 3-6 cuttings.
I still have to count the number of 'Blackie' cuttings that will be available. However, these will be very limited.
~julie~
Have Ipomoea (sweet potato vine) for postage
Ok, tell me more about this before I bite. If I root these - or get the rooted cuttings from you - will they eventually grow the tuberous roots that are usually sold in the stores? I've never grown them before. Also, I'm guessing that they will do ok indoors? I haven't seen them grown as houseplants before, so not sure of that. Thanks for your help.
~Carla
Hi Carla...
These are the ornamental sweet potato vines that are used in containers and window boxes. I've also grown them inground and they're quite beautiful there too. I got so tired of putting out the money every year to replace them that I decided to see if I could root a cutting or two. :-D BOY do they ever root well.
At any rate, yes...they do produce tuberous roots...and I believe that they are edible, however, I'm not about to eat something I can use in my garden. LOL
As for the "houseplant" I would think that they need a really bright location. This is my first year for trying to over winter them. My idea is that no matter how they look on my plant stands (and hopefully they won't grow TOO much during the winter) I'll use my cuttings to make *more* cuttings so once and for all, I'll have ALL the sweet potato vines I want without having to pay an arm and a leg to buy them in the spring.
I have LOTS of the Margarite...probably 5 or 6 bunches to fill the usual priority boxes. I have 12-15 individual cuttings of 'Blackie,' and 25-30 individual cuttings of the compact (no-name) variety that I love for window boxes. I'm going to keep only a couple of the Margarite standard vine cuttings through the winter as they grow quite large and I don't have room for more in my growing spaces. Blackie is such a well mannered plant for me, I'll probably try to keep 1/2 a dozen cuttings in water, snipping those off as they get larger...and the compact variety...I'm *really* hoping I can get a couple of hanging planters filled with those to grow under my skylights in the bathroom.
I cut the plants down and seperated the cuttings yesterday. They probably spouted roots overnight in the shed! :-)
I'll look up a couple of pictures of each of the varieties and post them so people will know what they're getting.
Thanks for replying to this thread, Carla...I really need to go back and edit the original post cuz people, if they're interested, are going to get a LOT more cuttings than the 3-6 cuttings I mentioned up there...especially if I get some replies. :-D LOL
~julie~
Julie,
You should be able to overwinter the tuberous roots, I would think. I'll do some research and get back to you.
Hey, Julie, I'll take some! Don't need the light green, I have plenty of that.
Oh yeah...I forgot to tell ya, Carla...I got a couple of bags full of those tubers! :-) But I sure do appreciate your offer to look up the info. If you do find something though, please post it here so others can see the possibilities.
Terrie...Are you sure you don't need some of those great 'little' variety? They wouldn't take up much room. ;-) (You have mail!)
I'm still looking through photos...(every time I get started LOOKING I get carried away on another train of thought. LOL ...ok...so, I'm SLOW! )
~julie~
Julie, I just checked and didn't see any mail!
Check it again...LOL...I'm slow! :-D
~julie~
Well, rooting the cuttings seems to be the best approach although I did find one website that said the tubers could be overwintered in cold storage. Not sure what all that must entail.
Carla...from what I've read before, you just store them like you would a regular sweet potato you'd serve for dinner. Then you start them the same way, in a glass of water. I believe that one site I read said that you break off the stems from the tuber after they've grown a couple set of leaves, then root the 'cuttings.'
I'm going to *try* the tubers just to see if I can do it...but I think, for me, just growing the plant and taking continuous cuttings will work best. Besides, I'll have lots *more* plants come spring doing it that way. :-D
~julie~
I hope it works for you. Keep track of everything you do so you can post your results in the spring.
I sure would liike some of those vines. My daughter says they are gorgeous. I have never seen them.
If you have enough, please let me know how you want the postage etc. Jeanette
Here are some pictures for you...
chartruese 'Marguerite'
http://www.cobleskill.edu/courses/orht321/Ipomoea%20batatas%20'Chartreuse'%200104.jpg
and Blackie
http://www.cobleskill.edu/courses/orht321/IpomoeabatatasBlackie0006.jpg
There are many other varieties, too. They really started coming into vogue in '98 and '99.
They really are beautiful aren't they! love those colors. Jeanette
Ok...I'm back...I finally got *most* of my outdoor chores accomplished. Notice I didn't say "finished!"
LOL I don't think *that's going to happen until the snow flies.
If those of you who want the Ipomoea cuttings and have left me message in this thread, would send me a DG email (Just click on my name at the left - select "Send julie88 email") telling me how many cuttings of each variety you'd like and give me your mailing address so I can get everything set up in the Trade Tracker, I'll return your email with postage instructions.
I want to send these cuttings priority mail so they don't sit around in the postal system too long. I need to check out the USPS site to get accurate postage amounts, but I believe the cost of priority mail is about $3.85 for 1 pound and under...and increases when the package goes over 1 pound.
FYI-Something I learned from one trader about handling postage is to purchase a priority mail stamp and send that instead of a check or money order.
~julie~
Would love some of the compact for winter garden in the sunroom if you have any left. I will follow this up with an e-mail.
Thanks!
Sequee...you have DG email! (And thanks for the replies in both places...it sure make things easier for me to keep up with right now!)
~julie~
I know the feeling! I didn't use the Trade Tracker when I first started - it's only a few trade, I can surely keep track of that! HA!!! I was totally confused in no time! Besides, trades are like potato chips - once you start, you just can't stop!
I've become a (gasp!) trade junkie!
Carla, I wish I had thought and brought some to the roundup. Bobbie told me to get some cuttings and root but I never did. They do root in no time at all. I started out liking blackie better but think margarite is my favorite now.
Sequee...LOL...I thought exactly the same thing. NOW I'm having trouble keeping the cuttings I've received in trades straight as to where they came from. I'm LABELING *everything* now!
~julie~
Hey Jim! If you like Margarite...I *know* you'd like the compact variety...and I still have PLENTY! Are you *sure* you don't some? I'll sing 'acupolco' for you if you'll take them. ROTFL!!
~julie~
Julie, I think I'd like to try some of your cuttings. Whatever you want to pack into a 1 lb box is fine. Do you take paypal? If they charge you I can just add that charge to what I send you, it's still cheaper and much faster than sending it by snail mail. Or I'd be happy to send it by snail mail too, just let me know.
Sherri
Oh, gosh, Julie - something else to worry about! Tracking who sent what when it gets into the garden - egad! This is getting way complicated. You know, I can almost remember when I had a life OUTSIDE of the garden!
Sherri...Where is Pocola OK? I grew up in Tulsa, got married and moved to Enid (that's as far west as I ever traveled! :-D). I don't have a Paypal account...maybe in the future, if this plant trading gets any busier. LOL Just send me a DG email with your address and personal email addy and I'll get back to you. I have plenty of cuttings so let me know which varieties you'd like to have.
Sequee... *Don't* get me started on that one! LOL & LOL As for remembering a life *outside* the garden...you mean there *is* one??? hehehehe
~julie~
Yeah, REALLY! I used to have friends, and weekends away...then I bought a house, and got fur-babies and leaf-babies. It started out - oh, I can't do a weekender in the spring - too much clean-up and planting; oh, I can do a weekender during the summer - too much mowing, watering and general tending; oh, I can't do a fall weekender - gotta put the garden to bed, rake the leaves, and do some trimming and pruning - Winter??? Forget it - I haven't done housework in 7 months! And the really pathetic thing? I've never been happier!
Pocola is right across the state line from Ft. Smith, AR. About two hours from Tulsa.
Sending you email.
Ok peoples...It's about to rain here right now, but I wanted to let everyone who has emailed me about the Ipomoea cuttings that as soon as I'm finished outdoors I'll be getting those cuttings seperated and ready to pack. I've waited too long into this week to be certain that the boxes will get out of Wisconsin's weather before the weekend, so I'm *PLANNING* on shipping Monday (Oct 11).
I'd really hoped to be completely finished everything in the garden except for planting bulbs by now. But such is life.
Thanks for everyone's patience!
~julie~
P.S. Trunnels I got your meter stamp...and I'll be sure to TAPE *over* it when I mail! HAHAHAHA J/K
OK peoples...:-D
I finally got everything packed to send, it's labled and on its way to the Post Office as soon as I finish this post. (YIPPPEEEEE!!!!) That's a lot of work for an 'oldie' trust me.
I have packages for the following: (Listed in the order they are stacked up LOL)
Trunnels
Jeanette
langbr
Sue_Wa
Janice
Sherri
If you asked for Ipomoea, and your name isn't here...either I haven't received postage or I didn't get you on my Trade Tracker. ;-) REMIND ME!! :-D
Thanks everyone for adopting my 'little ones!'
~julie~
Thank YOU for taking the time to do this. Your "little one's" will be loved, I'm sure. lol
Sherri...you are entirely welcome! But I can tell ya next time I'm going to be a LOT more organized about the whole thing. LOL & LOL
~julie~
*grin* If you've never done this kind of thing, it can be rather difficult. I've done enough ebay to know exactly what you mean. I would think it would be a lot more difficult with live plants.
Just the thought of trying to work on eBay gives me shivers! :-D And, to tell the truth, I think live plants probably travel just as well as the cuttings...at least the ones I've received from various trades have been handled the trip beautifully. Of course the people sending them have done an awesome job of packing them, and that's what makes the difference.
~julie~
Thank you, Julie! :-)
Hey I lost this post somehow. I would like some of the compact ones Julie. Start the singing.LOL If you don't have any more don't worrry and I'll get some next year. Theyt have started using the margarite in mass landscaping around here. When I have to take Bobbie to the doctor in Atlanta there are a lot of building on Peachtree Street with mass platings. I wonder what they do with it in the winter?
Here's how I did mine last winter. I had the blackie in a hanging basket and just brought it inside and stored in the basement and watered it once in a while. The margarite I had in a pot with a pea vine and brought it inside the basement also. Bobbie took one of the small potatoes and saved it and planted in the spring and it did fine also. She took some cuttings from a sweet potatoe that we bought at the grocery store and they rooted also. She has had that for about three years in a hanging basket and that thing grows like crazy.
This makes me think about the first trade I made and I don't remember what site it was but wasn't Dave's. I treaded something to a woman in Chicago for some cotton plants. Here I am in cotton country and have to import it from Chicago. How many sweet potatoes have I eaten that I could have saved a bite or two and had vines everywhere.
LOL Jim...I think I'd be stopping by and taking a 'pinch or two' from those mass plantings *before* they take them out for the winter...but knowing me, I'd probably volunteer to help! You know how those things 'cling' to your clothes and stick to your fingers when you're working with them. :-D
I hate to admit it but it was a sweet potato in my bin that I'd bought for Thanksgiving (but never cooked!) that got me started with propagation. Sometime during the winter I got the yearning for something green in my kitchen window. I was going to throw away the potato because it was "growing" in the bin. I figured "What the heck?" All I could was kill it anyway, so I stuck it in a pickle jar with toothpicks around the middle to keep it from falling all the way into the jar. IT GREW!!! And THAT was THAT! I was on my way!
...And then I found DG... and THEN I found coleus! (The rest is DG history! ;-)
After all of that, Yes...I think I can find an extra piece of the compact just for you. I could probably find more than one, if DH hadn't taken so long to hang my lights on the plant stand. I have LOTS of stems in jars right now...but somehow, without the leaves (and of course, no labels HAHA) it's hard to tell the two green ones apart. I can't figure out why plants lose their leaves when they don't get enough light...can you?
~julie~
P.S. Is your addy in the exchange? If not, email it to me.
Thanks Julie. When does the singing start.
LA la la la la la la la
Do RE MI FA SO LA TI .......DOEEEEE a deer a female deer,
Re a drop of golden sun,
Mi a name I call myself,
FA a long long way to run.
So, a needle pulling thread,
La, a note to follow SO,
TI a drink with jam and bread,
That will bring us back to DO ho ho ho....hehehehe (you asked fo it! :-D)
~julie~
Did you make that up? It is so cute. LOL
NOoooo....I was *singing* for you. My other job is "Julie Andrews" :-D (Don't I *wish*!)
~julie~
I was joshing with you. I have heard that song all my life I guess. Use to be a T.V. program and they would sing that every week. I think it was Mitch and I can't remember his last name. Do you remember it. I think it was a sing along show. I love your rendition. I always wanted to be able to sing like that. LOL