MAya is growing well in her new big girl pot; she is protected by the Big ET/Bert seedling leaves of her neighbor. I've told her about my preference for Sau var, and she is hustling to show me what she can do.
Maya in Richmond VA field test
Here is a closeup -
She looks wonderful, Polly!!!!! You're talkin' to her right, this time!! lol lol
Please keep updating us on her progress.
Judy
Polly it looks like to me you are doing a wonderful job with her she is really tall. My poor baby must be the runt of the liter. I have really started feeding her now so maybe she will get a jump start. Keep the photos coming and stay with what you are doing cause the way she looks, she doesn't have any-thing to complain about.
Polly!!!! Looking good my field-testing-partner!
You did lose one, didn't you?
Something else - are my eyes deceiving me or are you mulching your pots with shredded leafs? The perfect container mulch to my thinking. You can put it on thick, doesn't pack, let's air in but stays cool and moist underneath.
Shredded leaves as a mulch, for sure, but when they have finally broken down, I use the compost in planting everything. 1/2 potting soil to 1/2 compost is my mixture for the pots this year.
Thank you for all the encouragement.
8FT, we did lose little bent Maya 2 into a stinky residue; her sister is going to grow her best to do for two!
Lord Have Mercy 8ft!!! You pick up on everything!!! How observant you are!!
Judy
Polly, Maya looks wonderful! you're a good brug mommy
Good looking Maya...!!! She loves Virginia!!!
Carol
She sez "thanks, you'all "!
Judy - it caught my eye because I mulch my pots and many beds with shredded leafs. I've never seen anyone else use it in pots or even seen it recommended in pots. It works great and I like the way it looks. I'm addicted to the magic of shredded leaf. In the fall when the big money neighborhoods have the landscapers come in and rake/bag the leaves... I go pick them up and bring them home. (223 bags last fall) Run them through the chipper/shredder first to take care of sticks, cones and stuff. Then for use in beds I run it through another shredder that makes it real fine. When I replant my garlic bed each fall I top with 6" of finely shredded leafs. With all the watering, by the time I harvest in summer, there's not much left.
Polly - you are too cool!!
This message was edited Jun 12, 2005 6:46 AM
Kindred spirits - I've been known to rake pine needles from neighbor's yards to freshen up my shrub beds.
The fall leaves mixed with grass (for nitrogen) break down over the winter for my spring plantings - a REAL pain to turn it, 'tho with me in the middle of the pile.
My mature pots take lots of water, and you are sure right about the benefit of the leaf mulch to hold it.
Polly, I love your Maya, she's cute and I love the glimpse of your place, now and then in your photos, it looks cozy and fun!!
I'm going to mix alfalfa meal in with leaves this fall. I had mixed some in with potting soil the other day and it was still in the wheelbarrow in the garage. I started to use it yesterday and it was verrry warm and there wasn't much moisture to begin with. This stuff wanted to cook. I decided it might not be a good idea to pot stuff in it.
Using alfalfa meal as your nitrogen source will surely start it cooking - great idea! In the fall we have way more leaves than grass (the opposite now), and sometimes the cooking is slow getting started - I'll surely try it then
Boy, I learn more from you all!.