Actually what I'm thinking of trying will look more like these http://www.pooktre.com/. Last fall we started a major planting of a small arboretum in the field beside our home and I'd like to see a few of these "people" greet you at the entrance to our gardens! I've been scoping out trees that might be good candidates for these and maybe by next spring I'll actually have a few started. Has anyone else ever tried anything like this? Looking for any and all suggestions/advice.
Debbie
You'll have to keep us updated with photos, Debbie.
Reminds me of Lord of the Rings!!
Hi, pirl and pals:
I'm away visiting family in CA and checking into DG because I'm lonesome for my garden back east! My fall garden plans include carving out some more flower beds here and there out of my lawn, composting of course, moving and dividing bulbs, creating a shady border in a neglected area of my yard (verbena, rhodies, plus ?) and talking DH into putting a new arbor over one gate. Oh, yes, and ordering MORE bulbs--and seeds--and perennials for fall planting than I really "need."
I feel like I'm 'way behind a lot of you. We do have a long Fall on Cape Cod (my excuse) AND I'm stuck here missing my garden.
AND it's supposed to be raining finally!
BTW, we took out an above-ground pool last year that we'd inherited with the house--with no kids at home, we never used it. Replaced it with an extension of the deck and a garden with raised beds in geometric shapes. Love it now.
When you return, Emily, please post photos of your deck and gardens.
rcn that is some amazing stuff. Keep us posted on your progress, I wouldn't even know where to start.
Those are interesting Debbie. I have not done anything like that. I do believe Marie_ in western WI talked about similar projects earlier this year. Send her a Dmail, mention my name and get 20% off.
Being fairly new to gardening I'm using this thread to find out what I should be doing. Keep up the good work guys. Eleanor
Eleanor....I'm doing the same. What I've discovered is no matter what month it is, there is something I really need to buy for the garden. A year ago, I had no idea so much was involved. Then came the grow lights, the potting mix, the seeds ( I started with just heirloom tomatoes)....now its perennial planting time. Monday I dug up an old magnolia bush which had been in a prime spot between the front and side porches . Later today (if we don't get more rain), I'm putting this heptacodium in its place:
This message was edited Sep 13, 2007 2:26 AM
David_Paul - how do you like growing under lights? I have been thinking about the idea for a while so I can start some cuttings from some of my favorite plants or start seeds next spring. I don't have any room and it would have to be set up in the basement. Just not sure I want to spend the $$$ right now. Eleanor
I know you didn't ask me, Eleanor, but it wasn't a major expense. We used a few sets of saw horses to hold the plain flat old painted wooden doors (minus doorknobs and hinges) that we had replaced with oak, as table tops and Jack did the hanging of the lights. You'd probably only need one or two sets and you could use one of those long party/buffet tables since it would be used primarily in the winter. The joy in planting from seed is the many varieties you can buy from seed houses that are not available in nurseries. Old cell packs can be cleaned, bleached and used for your seeds and the huge bag of Pro Mix is only $20. so a smaller bag would be much less.
You will have to lower the lights to start your seeds and then raise them (little by little) as the plants grow. Some kind of plastic wrap to cover the seed trays isn't costly and the food used is only used at half strength but you'll need a small watering can and a sheetrock plastic bucket to hold the water/food for them. You do have access to water downstairs, don't you? I'd hate to think of you as Gunga Din!
Thanks Pirl. I may give it a try. No I don't have access to water downstairs!! I've also thought of geeting a metal shelving unit to put in my kitchen in fron of the sliding glass door which faces south to start out. It would make my kitchen very cramped for space. (Might have Colin's fingers in the potting soil also) I think you've encouraged me to give it a try. Eleanor
Eleanor - someone had her husband make a cabinet (with interior lights for each shelf) and doors on it to keep the cats out. I can ask her to post the photo here but wondering if she adjusted shelves to move the lights or how she did it. Let me know if you want a photo. It was only about 12" deep.
pirl - I'd love to see the photo. My DH is not very handy but my DD#1 is and we might be able to fix something up to keep exploring fingers out of the soil. Eleanor
Great. I'll Dmail her but since she lives in the midwest I think we'll have a wait for a photo unless I can find it in an old thread - I'll give it a try.
Hurray! Here's a whole thread about seed starting and there are different methods shown by LaLambChop, 2Zeus, and the one billyporter's husband built to keep the cats out. Just scroll and scroll until you get the photos.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/663653/
Thanks pirl!! What a great thread and clever ideas for shelving. My brain is working and creating already. Eleanor
You're welcome.
Dear grammyphoeb:
I have to echo what pirl said about growing under lights (and thanks for great link, pirl). The set-up can be very simple and so can the lights (I used inexpensive ones from Home Depot). And if I could get lots of loverly seedlings with NO experince starting seeds, anyone can! (Memo to self: do NOT think you have to plant every seed in the packet!) And it's so FUN in those dark days of winter. I did have to trek down to the basement carrying water, but it's not as if you need great heavy buckets of it for just a few shelves. I used timers for the lights and for two inexpensive little clip-on fans for air-circulation. Never had any problems with damping-off.
Can't wait to do it again this winter!
Fans are terrific - they help the stems grow stronger. Sorry that I forgot to mention the timers. They are most helpful.
The two biggest problems with starting plants at home is over watering and starting too soon.
Yes, starting too soon - that could be a problem for me. I can get very anxious and want to start early. Today I got an inexpensive wire shelf unit and put it in my kitchen. I'm going to try and root some cuttings before my outside plants get hit with a frost. If they get too big I'll just take cuttings from them and start over, right??? Since the shelf is in my kitchen and in front of a south window I don't think I'll need lights. Eventually I want to move it to the basement (my kitchen is tiny) and then I will get some lights and hang from the bottom of the shelf above. I think tomorrow I'll start with some cuttings from my geraniums and coleus. They were beautiful this year and I would like to save them. Eleanor
p.s. I will need to know when to plant seeds. I think my mother started in March when she grew her own seedlings.
Eleanor . . . with tomatoes, I both started too early and didn't continue long enough. But there isn't any downside to either (except it was very hard to sacrifice those first heirloom tomatoes which got way too big too early). I bought one 4 bulb 48" fixture and one 2 bulb 48" fixture plus two small 27w portable reading lights (useful for all kinds of things). But there is no need to start with that much. I just wanted to make sure I had 100 + tomato plants ready to set out May 15th. And I did. Having lights is like having a little clinic for plants. They look peaked, toss them under lights for a few days. Fun to watch how different plants react. Very rewarding to see how delicate inch high tomato plants I worried about so much are now 12 and 14 foot tall monsters. What suprised me was the diameter of the stems of the plants grown under lights. So healthy. Twice as thick as what you see at the stores.
Also started asters and zinnias under lights. Have a 35' foot row of zinnias (about 45 plants) which are over 4 feet tall. Seeds were on sale at half price so the cost of that row was under a buck plus whatever the electric cost was. Saw the same plants at a grain store near me for 3 for $12. Right there I paid for the lights (of course I could have sowed outside too but this way I had blooms weeks, probably over a month earlier).
Coleus should be in an east window. In a south windows you have an excellent chance of getting whitefly. Three inch cuttings work beautifully and though they'll look sad for a day or two they'll perk up. I bring my zonal geraniums in sometime in September or October and they bloom in a sunny south facing window until April. Feed only with half strength fertilizer or you'll get too much foliage and too few flowers. No wet feet for them!
Look at your seed packages and work in reverse. If you can plant outside June 1 and the package says 6 weeks to the time you can plant outside just subtract six weeks and plant those seeds mid April. Many perennials can be started earlier for hopeful blooms next year.
David - you've proven how much can be saved with just one packet of seeds! State Fair is a lovely zinnia and here it's not prone to mildew.
How do the flies know direction??
They favor south facing windows. Test it out for yourself.
I don't even have a window on the east side of my house!! Help? I just have to ask - why do you get whiteflies when they're in a south window? Is there a way to prevent them from infesting the plants? Eleanor
Victor, they use a compass
Eleanor, I have no East windows either, and I can't stand it! I'm going to get my sledge hammer...
You can use those yellow sticky cards to catch the whiteflies. Could you possibly just give them sun in only the morning hours before that window gets too warm?
Well that answers that question but since I don't have an east window - what do I do. Get lights and move to the basement right away?? Eleanor
Harper: do not use the sledgehammer on the plants. It makes them flat and hard to see.
YOU don't have to move to the basement, Eleanor, just the plants with lights!
Pirl - that would work. We seem to cross posting. Thanks for all of the info. Eleanor
Never! It's the wall I'll use the sledgehammer on, and if that doesn't work, I'll use it on DH.
whew! I'm glad to hear that pirl. But that might work - to let the whiteflies have the upstairs and I can live in the basement!! Eleanor
OK, Harper. If you use it on DH I'll visit you in jail.
Eleanor - bring the computer with you so we'll still be able to write during fall, winter and early spring. You might have the start of Horticultural Hibernation.
And make those flies order T-shirts! No free rides.
You'll visit me?! You're supposed to be my alibi! And where's the bail money? Well, at least you'll visit me...
OK, OK. Will $20.00 cover it?
Yes, you're right! Of course! I am your alibi. Thanks for reminding me!
No sweat. I was with you the whole time.
