When ?

So when are you going to start planting your annuals et al?

Snapdragons are going in now. They are even a bit late being a cool weather starter.

I am thinking dahlias, especially if the weather gets warmer this week. It is almost May. Annie, too early?

I am anxious to get started too but will wait till May. I am just getting a few things going in the GH.

I just received 50 glads via the Internet (actually don't remember ordering them, but that's nothing new!) and some dahlia clumps so I guess I'll be planting pretty soon!

I'm thinking dahlias 24/7/365 LOL! It is too early for me Lenjo, it rained off and on all day; ground is way too wet and cold. I will wait to plant until at least May 10th if it kills me. You might be in better shape with temps and less sogginess down there. But I am starting many early in pots and trays inside. Your greenhouse would be perfect Joann.

Surprise glads are never to be scoffed at Murmur! They are so lovely with dahlias. You have some of my favorite things! Just be careful on the dahlia clumps: they do not like cold wet soil much at all.

I am very bad with dahlias, Poochella - I never dig them up so usually lose them over the winter. I may get lucky on occasion and have a few survive, but that's all. So I will hold off on these - along with the bazillion other things I have waiting for homes in the ground instead of in pots.

I just keep thinking since the DI is up??? I know I should really wait.
Murmur we have glads sprouting in the pumphouse. Just need to get the ground worked down.
I ordered some garden mums from King's. I haven't gotten them yet; they are supposed to be nice rooted cuttings. Am anxious to see these and a full catalog. The lady who does flowers at church has asked me to raise a few. She usually picks off and on all summer out here. I love it.

This morning gardening section in the PI said to wait until Mother's Day to put out things like petunias, impatient, zinnia, etc. I think it was Ciscoe - said that if the temps drop into the 40's at night that it can be really harmful and the plants may never recover. I think just about EVERY night has temps still in the 40's - in fact, I was starting to think that was a warm temp! It did say to put them outside during the day, but into a garage at night.

Murmur - I love the way you keep surprising yourself with little parcels of plants -

sorry, that submitted before I was ready.

I find if I sow the dahlias in the greenhouse (I do mine in March) I get good cutting material. The young shoots can be cut and potted on to increase stock - and kept in pots they are much easier to lift for winter storage. If you sink the pots in the ground (I use the area near the compost heap or between the aparagus rows) you don't need to remember to water. Cutting down the old asparagus growth reminds me to pull up the pots in the autumn and you have new tubers for next year).

Works pretty well.

This message was edited Apr 26, 2007 5:02 AM

Oops, I put petunias out this weekend! I hope they do okay, but I suppose I could drag them in each night, but I'm not inclined to! I could cover them, though.

Pat in Auburn WA

Pat, I think they'll be okay - I have a few things out that I ordered from Annie's Annuals and they seem to be doing fine. Sure is chilly at night, though, isn't it???!!! We were at about 39 degrees this morning - you're not far from me, was your temp that low?

I got in big trouble from the co-op I'm in about 3 weeks ago when I was amending the soil from Cedar roots & poor soil to compost & soil (we're not supposed to garden infront of the heritage houses we live in). Big chaos. I went out and bought everything - impatiens, geraniums, petunias, nice purple Bacopa, Heliotrope 'Marina' and even a few double impatiens. Then it got real cold & wet and I can see I'll probably lose a few impatiens but considering I planted a few flats, that's not bad. I figured, if I'm gonna get in alot of trouble - do a fabulous job doing it! They want a planting plan so I'll submit it in latin and let the co-op board figure it out. Then there was the VanDusen Botanical Gardens sale this weekend which I volunteer at - had to buy a few things. Polygonatum 'Himalayan Giant', Soldanella something, Gunnera magellanica, Alternanthera dentata cv. Rubiginosa, Bletilla striata - lil more latin to add to my list. I'm going for fragrance this year so the Heliotrope got lots, the purple Lilac is just started to open. I'm goin' for WOW by other senses this year than sight - got a small fountain that gets alot of smiles downtown.

Waiting for pics, Growin!! BTW, if you get a chance to buy some white Heliotrope, you will literally swoon from the fragrance! I've been putting Heliotrope in a container for my mom for Mother's Day for 30 years or more . . . and now I put some white in as well as the purple.

Good luck with the co-op!

so here I am writing down all that latin for the fragrant plants( to translate )and I don't even belong to the co-op. are you what they mean by naughty girl(boy)?

Lol. Yes, I guess I'm "naughty". I didn't know the white Heliotrope had better "aroma". I'll keep me eyes open for it. It's a challenge in this garden as it is North facing, heavily shaded and the soil has contaminants from a fire in the apartment next door from 1923. This isn't a very good pic but it shows an Orixa japonica in the centre of the bed under the cedar with Anise currently in bloom infront with a Tasmanian Tiger Euphorbia towards the front. I'm surprised the Peanut Butter Shrub (Melianthus major) is coming back and you can see Geranium 'Vancouver Centennial' in the foreground with a few other stuff.

Growin, that's beautiful!!!

Looks like a lovely bed Growin and the list of plants has motivated me to do the annual rail-rider deck planters this week. Sounds rainy anyway so that will be 'garage gardening.'

What is a heritage house? A house or building of historical merit that comes with ground ( literal ground) rules?

Thanks. Yes, designation as "heritage" means it is recognized by the city. These houses were restored a few years ago and the house I'm in was built in 1880 something. The front yards are supposed to be "heritage" and go through several committees for approval of changes. They wanted my annuals list. I asked them if I should submit it every year and they were confused. Some of my plants are kinda "out there" so they won't find much reference to them; ie. Schinus polygamus, Hymenanthera alpine, Calycanthus chinensis...and what they don't know, can't find, they reject. The village busy-body is on the board and likes to make it impossible to me.

Murmur, sounds like a good indoor, rainyday project. Enjoy! :-)

I find these gardening restrictions very interesting - I noted last autumn someone saying they couldn't grow desiduous trees, and now Tillysrat (on the Taming thread) has mentioned that residents have to have 2 1/2 acres in their area (she is on a grandfather clause so gets away with less). My word - now we have planning restrictions here in England, but it generally means restrictions on what you can build (like a barn, or an extention) gate placements and driveways - but very few restrictions on growing in gardens. Interesting.

Growin, if you have a sunny patch, and want some lovely late summer scent, may I suggest that you put some Gladioli Murielae in. Small, papillo type, White gladioli with a maroon blotch, multiple blossom - and a soft summery scent that just wafts through the garden - I find it absolutely haunting, almost the way a daphne floats around. Fabulous, one of my favourites. I think you would enjoy it judging by some of the others you have on your list.

This message was edited May 1, 2007 2:05 AM