OK so our loved Texas forum is still slipping - lets boost it up with postings.. we need 1000 more postings just to make it close to the top - and I really want to take over that pesky North group that is in first place...
So we used to have these chat threads - chat about anything and evertyhing, post pics - talk. It gets to long we will just get out a new thread. Lets get talking!!
Jan 2008 Chat thread Part One
Why do I run into so many DGrs from Texas in the other forums that I have never seen post in the Tx forum?
Texas is SOOO big! Our weather in Houston is like Louisiana's, but the folks father out west have more in common with the people in the Southwestern Gardening Forum... Sometimes it's probably simpler to find the right niche (roses, tropical, etc) than to ask the Texas forum at large. Does that make sense?
And good morning! :-) Thanks for starting the chat thread, Mitch.
I have a suggestion and it has worked a time or two for me. When you have a particularly nice person from anywhere, just invite them to "our house". I am all over the place, as you might know because I really, really like people. But could never leave my beloved Texas.
Right we are a great bunch and there used to be a lot more talking in our forum... we have been in the top slot before we just need to talk Texas up!
well let's see if i can get a subject going here. i'm like mitch wanting to beat those "other" guys. lol.
what seeds are ya'll thinking about starting this year?
dawnintx and i are talking about a seed starting day at her house.
i'm trying to get my mind wrapped around a veggie garden. One day it is all vegetables the next I have another tropical I need a spot for. May have to really expand the area or just mix 'em up.
LouC
i noticed in the classifieds that someone in florida has better boy tomato plants for sale. i wrote to him and will let you know the price if anyone is interested.
Seed starting - I'm anxious to get to it. Eagerly awaiting my order of special starting mix from Gardens Alive! And I'm looking for an article I thought I had bookmarked...starting seeds with gelatin! Has anyone come across that?
Veggie garden... I wish I am going to try tomatoes and peppers in pots this year - I have always done squash in pots and they do great... less bugs too I think
gelatin? Never heard of it - how does it work?
That's what I can't fully remember. Mixed with water, of course, and I think with starting mix. Supppsedly the gelatin is a booster for quicker germination and stronger seedlings. I'll keep searching for the article. I've got lots of seeds and will run a few trials.
I kill seeds, and it's so depressing that I'm not tryin' again. (pouting..)
I used to do a lot of seeds before this year, and will again once I get everything back in order, I love the idea... I do a lot in baggies on the back door... paper towel moist and folded with seeds inside, place in baggie and seal up, tape to door and wait - in time you will get some little roots and they can be moved carefully to little pots.
I tried the plastic baggie method this year, so far some hibiscus seeds have sprouted.
I also planted Soapberry, Hop Ash, and Rattle bush seeds the regular way, I hope i get lucky.
Josephine.
Soapberries are stunning... did you peel them first or plant whole or???
I peeled them, that is I removed the outer part of the berry, and did the boiling water treatment on the seeds, planted them 12-27 they are not up yet.
A lot of work for them, but they work great if you can get one growing it is worth its weight in gold.
You might be interested in this vegetable project. As you know Cornell University has long been a leader in horticultural research - projects such as the Hortus series and the recipe for seed starting mix. This gardener-to-gardener variety comparison is another venture -
http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu
I got a box of worm castings from ebay..used them yesterday and it was so nice..I ordered some more...I planted a few herb plants and some salvia seed...does anyone know what immature earthworms look like? The castings had some worms and a number of smaller things. I thought they were baby worms but DH says they are red when there are small, like the mature ones...
I'm a seedaholic. It's part of my winter ritual. Looking through seed catalogs is dangerous. Late last year, I bought cedar lumber for raised beds and a Mantis cultivator.
Now... life is in limbo. I have no idea where we'll end up living. His former employer contracted out over 400 engineering jobs with an Indian company and suddenly over 400 engineers were out of a job. Talk about panic for some months. DH has been working in Bay City since August and commuting home on week-ends, but it's getting old. So we've been looking at houses. Thought we had agreed on one ... even had a contract in our hands... Then a job interview came up and put a hold on a house in Bay City. With the housing market the way it is, I don't want to buy anything unless I'm sure DH will be happy working in Bay City until he retires. We don't plan on selling the ranch. Just postponing building a house ... had a builder's quote ... out the window ... may need new house plans when he retires ...
Didn't mean to rattle on. The thought of moving is daunting. Then to do it again in 6 or 7 years. Gotta throw out stuff ... maybe the old seed. LOL
those tomato plants are 65 cents each. if anyone wants any lmk and i will order with mine. it might be a good deal for those of us who live close. or does any one know where they are cheaper locally? they are better boy.
mamajack..Do they just have Better Boy's?
I just received my order from Park Seeds today with one of the heated seed mats to try and get a bunch of stuff started. If I get a high percentage of these going, I am going to need some people to gift to: Flowering tobacco, Lupine Sunrise, Stock Giant Imperial, moon vine, heliotrope, laurentia, four o'clocks, angel's trumpet, lots of zinnia profusion colors, cosmos, pentas and celosia. Can you tell I am going for the fragrant butterfly/hummer garden?
I also thought I would share my success with growing tomatoes and all sorts of annuals in my garden boxes this year. It started out as a tomato challenge with my father. I live in a deer infested area and the only place I had last year to plant tomatoes in sun where the wood goats wouldn't get them was up on my deck so I had to go with the garden boxes. I had some Celebrity patio plants and Sungold that went absolutely nuts in these boxes. I had tomatoes from spring until Christmas. BTW, my father used too much nitrogen and had more foliage than fruit so guess who won? Anyway, even if you have wonderful soil and a place to put some in the ground, I would give garden boxes a chance b/c with the constant moisture level and drip feeding, they love it. And for anuuals, you will have more flowers then you ever dreamed of and you don't have to water constantly like the other containers because of the reservoir.
Annie
Veronica, I am so sorry to hear about the job problem and having to put your new house on hold. I know you were looking forward to building it and having the house of your dreams. I hope your husband finds a job close to where you live and you won't have to move.
Josephine.
Hey, Betty, this place is set up just for rattling.
Right rant away!!
Talk all you want and let it al out...
That is a good deal for plants of Better Boy - I find that better biy do not always set in our heat...
What about my question, re worms? Does anyone know? If so, please share your knowledge..
thanks.
Melva
I have no idea - would be good to know.
Just as a suggestion, Melva, maybe someone on the composting forum would know. There is another name for raising worms but I can't think of it. Someone over there even explained raising them in a tub under your sink. Not my cup of tea. I know we do have a tiny red worm in the filters of the pond.
Thanks.
The raising of worms is Vermiculture (I think) I will ask over there
Melva, I found a photo of earthworm cocoons but the link is so long that it totally messed up the width of this posting. The cocoons are about 1/4" long and vary in color from tan to reddish. One cocoon may hold more than one worm. Google for images of "earthworm cocoon" if you want to see what I found. I'd sure keep anything that came in the castings and see if more worms hatch!
Red worms are the ones that folks put in those indoor composting tubs. They call them red wigglers.
I finally got some peat pellets from Walmart and placed 3 Winged Loosestrife seeds on each one until I ran out of seeds. The rest I topped with butterfly weed seeds. The winged loosestrife has to be refrigerated for 14 weeks, do y'all think that's too long for the butterfly weed seeds? will it hurt them?
Bronc - you are making seed planting too hard man, Get a milk bottle, 2 liter or such, cut in half. add holes to the bottom half. Fill with dirt - good dirt. plant seeds in good dirt, water. Tape tops back on and go on to the next planter. Sit the seeds dirt and all outside and just check them every now and then to make sure they are moist. You are done... the Loosestrife will need your indoors but most seeds do great this way.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/148/
Well Mitch, I don't do that with all of my seeds, just the loosestrife. I only put the butterfly weed seeds in there because I had some extra peat pellets available. Dang! (~;
Newspaper pots. Several ways to make them - round or square. Easy, cheap and seedlings stay separated for planting. When they're ready to go inground, just tear back any part of the paper that isn't moist and put the whole unit into the soil.
the milkweed will make it, do you have tropical or northern milkweed seeds?
I wrote and asked the ebay seller about the other things in the castings..they were already hatched and moving....I wish I had a picture...when I get my other box, I will take some pictures of the things.....
Melva - buying earthworm castings... look what we gardeners do... but well worth it when our flowers are there in the spring right?
Don't know. I got them at the roundup from......dang, I can't remember who.