I thought the separate baggies would be great. Thanks for asking. Once having said that, it should really be the recipient's responsibility to mark their wish list. The reason being I have no control if somebody doesn't send in their seeds, BUT if I know somebody wants XX, then I can look to see if it came in. Make sense?
Suzy
Spectacular 2007 Cottage Garden Seed Swap#2
Just popping in to say that my Thai Basil is my most favorite, so I would love to get in on some of that action if I can. I hope to start packing up seeds tomorrow and this coming weekend.
Does anybody want garlic chives? I've got a few seeds ripe now and more coming... I don't know if this is something everybody already has, or not, but the white blooms have been brightening my front garden since August. The butterflies and bumblebees love them! They self-sow readily, so they should be easy growers.
No frost in forecast here for the next week. Of course, that's not to say the forecast is right LOL.
I've collected a bunch of 'stuff' from my Joe-Pye weed 'Little Joe'. been looking at the seed collecting info at wintersown.org and their suggestion is to trade with the chaff included and instructions to plant chaff & all. Is that acceptable here? I know that Susan (soulgardenlove) has (or MAY have) 'Gateway'. I think the main difference is that 'Little Joe' is a shorter variety. Anyway, I have some.
Now I think I may have some mints. I was looking at them today. Probably not a lot. I'll keep you posted.
Critter, I called "dibs" on sending Garlic Chives, and I promise, everyone who wants a pack will get a pack.
Grams, I saw the stuff on those Eupatoriums, and even tried to separate the seed from the chaff: NO WAY! Just send the stuff and we'll assume the seeds are in there.
It doesn't pertain to the swap, but what is Thai Basil? Does it look different, taste different, or both? I am growing Critters Real Italian Basil from Italy. :)
Suzy
Hey everybody,
I have a post started on the "haves and wants" thread. If I've noticed some one post something of mine over here that they particularly want I'll mark it on that post to help me keep track and make sure I send enough of everything. There is so much to wade through over here though that you might want to use that thread to to reiterate your desires.
La
Suzy,
Yes,
I have it and yes, it's different. It's been seeding. I'll send you some if they're not all gone tomorrow- haven't seen my garden in days. I have almost an entire Thai garden. I have Lemon Grass, T. Basil, and Galangal ginger that is awesome.
I love Purple Ruffles Basil for my Gazpacho. The color and flavor are a just perfect against the red tomatoes and cucombers. I shred mine instead of pureeing it.
Maggie
Suzy, I'd forgotten that! I won't include any, then. And I'll try to remember to write "please no garlic chives" on my note, LOL.
Yes, that's the stuff! Real Italian Basil from Italy... those are the seeds I harvested today. A friend of mine brought me seeds from Italy several years ago, and I have never tasted a better culinary basil!
LOL! In case everybody thinks garlic chives is a dog, it isn't:
http://www.sunfarm.com/specials/allium_tuberosum.php
This guy charges $35.00 for 7 bulbs.
I got it because the Swallowtails love it:
The "Tiger Swallowtail" Butterfly, Papilio glaucus, enjoys it as a source of nectar, as do many other butterfly species.
Suzy
OMG!!! I have so much of this growing in my garden-LOL It is very pretty but I bought it because my 11 year old loves to eat it straight from the garden. $35 a bulb!! OUCH!!
That's wild. Anyway, I would *love* some garden chives... and some basil - thai, cinnamon or real, whichever!
I'm afraid I'm really gonna look greedy on my "wants" list...
I agree garlic chives are well worth growing. The bugs love it , it is pretty,and you can use it in many ways. My family prefers it to plain chives on potatoes.
Suzy, yes, Thai basil is a bit different from the standard Italian sweet basil. The Italian stuff tends to be somewhat larger in leaf and a bit leathery compared to the smaller and more tender-leaved Thai basil. Also, I find the Thai basil to have a slightly milder (?) taste. I fell in love with it when I lived in Taiwan. To die for when you throw big handfuls of it into a pot of steamed mussels / clams along with a few hot dried peppers.
The Italian basil certainly has it's place in my kitchen, but my heart is with Thai. :>)
Whoops, Maggie, I missed your reply on da tie... sorry sugar-pie
This message was edited Oct 11, 2007 10:09 PM
I think Thai basil has a completely different flavor, with more of an anise note... it's great in stir fry, but I'd never toss it into marinara sauce. The blooms on Thai basil are really wonderful, too... big, purple heads of flowers!
hmmm... I don't find it completely different from sweet, and I do use it with tomato-based dishes with yummy results.
Do any of you make pesto with your basil?? Oh my goodness it's soo good.. Unfortunately, my basil didn't take off this year (my fault of course)... But I missed the pesto I made all last year :) I've heard it freezes well.. but we didn't get that far with each batch I made.
Pagan... "greedy"?? have you seen my list over there!? :)
ohhh and speaking of greedy.. I've added garlic chives to my list :)
Thanks!
Susan
Hmmm critter,
My basil doesn't look anything like that, I bought the basil in a pot. The vendor told me it was Thai basil but after looking at plant files, I think I've got something else.
maggie
SGL, I make fresh pesto, but like you, I never end up freezing any. Keeping a pot or two of basil going through the Winter keeps alive the option for the fresh stuff.
Gardengus, contact Distantkin and see if she will part with any of her Snow on the Mountain seeds. I sent all I had to her. I will have TONS of seedlings in the spring if you don't get any seed. I removed the plants already this year so don't have any to go back to for seed. Contact me in March-April for seedlings.
Bluespiral - I love those fuzzy snapdragons. I have one plant but it just doesn't grow very fast. I wonder if I can start some cuttings next year and then I can plant more somewhere else in the garden. I wasn't hinting for your seed I just wanted to know how to make more. What did you say the 'real' name of this plant is?
I generally set out a couple dozen of those Italian Genovese basil plants, so I have plenty of basil and pesto for the freezer as well as for eating fresh. It makes the very best pesto I've ever tasted!
The Thai basil in that photo has slightly smaller flowerheads than I've had on my plants in other years, but the foliage and flavor are still true... I think my Thai basil has become a bit crossed with my Cinnamon basil, so I'm getting a new packet of Thai basil 'Siam Queen' this year. The Cinnamon basil is still growing out true, so I'll save seeds from that one again but not from the Thai this year.
Maragan, do you use the stalks or leaves from your Galangal, or do you just use the roots? I have some dried powdered stuff (from Penzey's) that's made from the root, but it seems to me that the stalks of my plant could be used sort of like lemon grass.
FYI - I am looking for flowering plants (annual or perennial) that are (1) dark blue or (2) white.
Also interested in any zinnia seeds :-)
Thanks in advance
Michaela
Looks like I've got some lavender and some magenta gomphrena that I could include... they're cottage-y, right? The colors are about the same as those in the first 2 pics on the PF page, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/222/
I'll check for zinnia seeds next week, but it looks like mine are still blooming... should be some out there, though!
I'll see if I can get some seeds from my Wishbone Flower (Torenia fourneiri, from Burpee's 'Happy Faces' mix). It may be too late to tell which ones had the blue flowers, though, so you might end up with a mix of blue, purple, and a few pink. The seeds are teensy (commercial ones are usually pelleted -- and quite pricey), and they need to be started a good 10 weeks ahead if you want buds by the time you set them out. They do really well in moist shade... I have them under a bench by my front walk.
I would love some wishbone flower Critter. I've always admired it in Burpee's Catalog.
I'll see what I can find out there! I love them and grow out a flat or so of them every year. I don't have much shade for growing them, but they do well in the planter boxes on my parents' porch. My mom calls them "shade pansies" for their cheerful "faces."
Critter, I would love to try your italian basil if you have any more seeds :) I grew some this year but I'm curious if yours is any different; ie better tasting, the real deal! I'm into the Italian foods etc around here, my Aunt and Uncle are in Italy now as we speak. Also, I found the site with the tomato seed info~ Thank you!
We have lots of pesto in the basement freezor. I made some with red rubin and some for fish with lemon basil too. I've never gathered basil seed before though, I had always heard it was too short a season to start from seed, to buy plants...any tips on seed harvesting?
Wind,
Beautiful basil and your range is gorgeous too!
Wind - Your seeds came today, and I was ready for them. Each participant has a coffee can with her name on it and their lists will be taped to them.
Thanks!
Suzy
Critter, I'd love some of your Italian basil seed. It's time to try something other than the Wal Mart basil plants. I grow basil every year, and usually make pesto, but never froze any. Also, I normally plant Red Rubin or Purple Ruffles basil to make herb vinegar for salad dressing. I use those because they turn the vinegar pink, and it's so pretty in bottles on my kitchen counter. And I love the flavor. You say your Italian is the best tasting for pesto, so I just have to try it:o)
Dayum Suzy. Now I'm REALLY impressed.
Critter I would love some wishbone flower also if you have plenty.
that's what I was wondering...if the basil crossed. I have mine all growing together.
wind, just wait until the flowers turn crispy. cut off the seed heads and let them get good and dry. you can see the seeds inside. put them in a baggie and shake them.
Suzy, the BIG can is mine, right???
The big red one in front is mine Jan! :) Sorry!
Don't we all wish for the big red one......
Okay... Last minute seed gathering outside..
YES! I do have gateway Joe Pye Weed for everyone and anyone who wants it. I have never harvested it or grown it from seed, so I am completely oblivious to what is chaff and what is seed.. so your getting it all and you sow it and grow it :)
I have yellow 4 O'Clocks, some pink 4 o'clocks, - The yellows were a little bit more fuller, bushier and where about 2 feet tall, while the pink was a bit taller and leggier looking and another hardy hibiscus.. I'll look it up
I'll add these to my have list on the other thread when It's all done..
If you want these seeds please speak up.. lets make a trade.. or just tell me what you want :) I have my yes seeds and wish seeds on my list as well.
Thanks
Anyone recognise the hibiscus.. This is it..
Susan
This message was edited Oct 12, 2007 8:40 PM
Here are my haves:
liatris spicata http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/86/
corn flower (centaurea cyanus) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/186/
Agastache "Golden Jubilee" http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54764/
Coreopsis http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/150953/ (not certain of cultivar)
columbine http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/38169/
sidalcea "party girl" http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53625/
Siberian Iris http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/880/
Sea Holly http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/827/
Yellow Datura http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57425/
White Obedience plant http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/72604/
pink coneflower http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/26/
This message was edited Oct 12, 2007 9:04 PM
Michaela, I would like some of your sidalcea "party girl', yellow datura, and white obedience plant, please
Could someone please provide me with some guidance on how to collect seeds from coreopsis? I've got pink and yellow flavors, but clueless on who/what/where/why/when with the seeds...
I'm not having much luck on my phlox either, darn it.
Oh my. I think I would like some of your Columbine, Michaela - that is bee-yoo-tee-full.
Wow, I agree with you, PC! That is stunning and nothing like I was expecting. Very unique.
I'll try to rummage around those Torenia plants and see what seeds remain on them. I should be able to get a few packets but don't want to promise until the seeds are drying in a dish, LOL. I'll include plenty of the Italian basil.
Wind, you might like the taste of your basil even better if you pinched it back so it didn't flower. Check out the article I did on using herbs, http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/106/ As for seeds, see where those green bits are all along the stem after the flowers drop? They'll eventually turn brown on the plant, and you can strip them off. Crush them, and little black seeds will emerge. I use a strainer to sift out the seeds and smaller chaff, then blow the chaff away while swirling the seeds in a dish.
Critter, did you give up on your hollyhocks? I didn't see them in your list. I'm going to pull mine out of the freezer and sort through them tomorrow.
soulgarden, the hibiscus is (disco belle pink) I have the white one.Sorry I haven't learned to print the plant file address here, but it is there.
Cinda