>>Of course, like Mr. Titmouse - some animals will do whatever the heck they want!!
ROFL.... are you referring to Cheryl's Mr T??? what a hoot.
Second Chance Wishlist Swap #2 - Chat & Questions
Here is my updated list for all you lovely folks!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4409419
tcs - yep! Equil turned me on to that link (I had fair warning!) - what a bird!! (He's been tagged so much I think he regularly shows up in the "tag cloud" LOL!)
kd2000 - Regarding rabbit-resistant plants, I don't know for a fact, but I suspect they might enjoy munching on zinnias - especially young ones. Looks like there might be some good lists of rabbit-resistant plants here - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rabbit+%2B+%22resistant+plants%22 .
Tuink - yes, we definitely need to carry on kibitzing here - thank you tcs for directing us in that direction - will have to check that new CG thread out tonight. For now, here is what might be the grandmother of all threads on germination on DG, started by Critterologist - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/589725/ - settle down with a cup of tea for this one - we must try to keep Critter kibbitzing among us - perhaps we could ply her with some honorary seeds at some point?
Another wonderful how-to reference link that got me through my first WS experience (successfully) last winter is - http://www.wintersown.org/
Fairy, the above link explains and lists what can and cannot be WS in different zones. The same plant that is an annual in your zone (like, for instance, ornamental geranium (Pelargonium) can be perennial further south. As a general rule, if a plant is known to self-sow in your zone, then you can WS it - like annual larkspur; or, if it's root-hardy (comes back after winter from roots) like perennial delphineum - you can WS that too. To find the page for your zone that lists plants that have been successfully WS in your zone 5b,
click on http://www.wintersown.org/,
and then on the right column, scroll down to "Seed Lists for WinterSowing & click on that;
next, click on those 2 links pertaining to zone 5
The above lists are only partial - there's lots more that could be wintersown than are on those lists. This is one area where kibbitzing will really come in handy here. Also, there has been a tussle over copyright of this website - better dmail me about that.
Y'all, right now is the time to start organizing your materials for wintersowing, if you haven't already. At the bottom of this website's home page are two links that - picture by picture - got me past any newbie-disorientation that I go through any time I try something new - Photo Gallery Portal - & Wintersowing in a Baggy. I was very surprised that the WS in a Baggy worked so well, and because you can bunch the baggied soil/medium masses up together, you get the benefit of a large mass of soil while at the same time keeping everything separate. The larger the mass of soil/medium you use, the more self-regulating that mass is with respect to oscillating temps & staying moist.
Dryad & Tuink - as long as you need a shirt for cool nights, you can wintersow. If Tuink can figure out what her equivalent zone would be to USDA climate zones for the USA, then the lists I mentioned above will help her to get started for her particular climate. Tuink, what are the minimum/maximum winter temps of your area? Those temps are broadly what the USDA climate zones are based on.
It's worthwhile keeping WS as an option, because there are some seeds that need cold for germination, but that will not germinate when exposed to the even temps inside a refrigerator, because they need those oscillating temps outdoors. That varies from seed to seed. An excellent reference on precise methods of germination for oodles of individual species is Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd edition (he has since published supplements since then). It is available from: 139 Lenor Drive, State College PA 16801
Although Deno's purpose in writing this book was originally "to show how to use rate theory for biological processes", this is an incredibly comprehensive, succinct tome for seed hounds like us.
Cheryl's Mr. T? yes to any hoots around here
Thank you for all that Blue - it's now tagged :) I had read about Deno's "method" but my coffee filters are the brown kind, so not as much light would get through those...gotta pick up some of the white ones. And, I've been thinking about your gray garden of and on since you posted about it - must admit now I'm keeping my eyes out for things that may work!!
Do y'all think we should start a thread about our seed starting experiences, to keep them separate from our seed exchanging stuff?? I know we've got some threads with pics of the gardens (which are wonderful - MORE, MORE!!) but I kind of see this as different.
Yes, Dryad, that's a good idea on the new seedling thread -- the CG forum is the logical place because, well, they are nicer than anybody else about miscellaneous posts, oh, yeah, and because most of us call it a home forum. LOL!
Some of the seeds Weezingreens sent are old and need to be sown this year come hell or high water. If you run out of lights & heat mat space, WS them, and if you run out of jugs, scratch some earth and get them sown...you can transplant later.
Blue, I will take your advice, and you can read between the lines on that one.
Blue,Can Dryad use the brown cone filters? I was the one who told her they were hard to see through, but I am more decrepid than she.
Suzy
you're not more decrepit than I am dear - you can at least see SOMETHING without your glasses - LOL!! (my eyes are like 20/450....)
Karen... awesome post!!
glad you linked to the WS.org site... i too was going to add that... especially for the seeds per zone.
OH... just got back from WallyWorld... got some potting soil, but it isn't Miracle Grow or the kind i used last year.... but heaven if i can recall what it is... but it does say somethign to the effect of.... "dont need to fertilize for 9 months"
which got me thinking about fertilization of seeds... i thought we didnt do that ... or is it just that once the lil seedlings are popping up, we dont need to add additional fertilizer.
anyhooo -- also found a packet of beans for the bunnies. Lake Blue Bush Beans ??
and... should i direct sow or WS and plant out when they are a bit taller? It would almost defeat the purpose of growing beans for them, if they eat the seedlings and have nothing to show for it.
Those bunnies also love the Cosmos sulphureus -- that's the gold or red ones whose seedlings look just like ragweed. And just as Robynznest said, once the plants get 7" tall, the bunnies are no longer interested. The plants gets pinched back, they go on to grow and bloom, and all is well.
Suzy
I did notice that most of the Cosmos i planted got munched... but amazingly I had cosmos all over the place.
Maybe i'll just wait to get some stuff out there.
but as the seed pods were abundant... i collected about half and just sprinkled the other half... so i should have plants out the wahzoo... BUT -- if the neighbor gets on the ball to create the HUGE new bed ... we'll certainly have enough plants.
So, can we think of a really great saying for OINK
like Only Interesting Newbies Know (well, that's pretty lame . . . maybe we can make this a contest!)
Lake Blue Bush Beans are a real "garden standard" - very dependable things and nice tasting. Your bunnies will love you!!
... and the winner gets some free seeds!!
LOL -- love me enough NOT to eat my MG's? If that's the case... I'll sprinkle veggie seeds all back there just to give them stuff to eat.
do they like Spinach? i found a package of that in my 'bin'.
Wait till after the frost and sow them direct. They germinate fast and will be up in no time at all. You can always grow a few out for fresh bean salad or dilled beans. Try them fried or roasted they are fantastic. The ones you got form a bush that will get up to 2 feet or so tall and will help hide the tenders behind it. That is if the bunnies don't eat them all.
another great site for info on seeds is Tom Clotheir's http://tomclothier.hort.net/
I have used his database lot for sowing seeds... it's pretty nifty.
Thanks Tcs!That is a great site, I will be using it all year :-)) KD
So any ideas what OINK stands for?? as in O stands for . . . I stands for .. . . N stands for . . . .and K stands for . . .
my feeble attempt was Only Interesting Newbies Know.
tcs suggests the winner gets free seeds lol
I guess if you're putting newbie in there I'll have to play...???
How's this?
Ontologically
Intriguing
Nomenclature
Knowledge
oink! :)
Wow! Now that is going to be difficult to top - much less translate . . . I'm going to get my dictionary. lol
or Oh, I Need Keelhauling
If we can go okural, it could be OINKS -- Oh, I need kool seeds
Translation:
Ontologically based on ontology:a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being
2 : a particular theory about the nature of being or the kinds of things that have existence
intriguing (we know this one!)
nomenclature
the selecting of names for things in a particular field. 2 a body or system of names. 3 formal the term or terms applied to someone or something.
knowledge (know this one too)
So, this is a particular form of knowledge regarding the naming of things (probably plants for us) that we find intriguing and that is based on some metaphysical philosophy concerning the nature of being (the state of being probably refers to some ungodly greed for even more seeds!)
did I understand that correctly?
Oh I need kool seeds! That's hysterical, Illoquin. :-)
Ordinarily Insane Newbies Kick-back, Kick-butt, Kare, Kick-A
Oinks - Onery infuriating Newbie Kindred Sprits HA HA got cha
ok, you guys have been looking at FAR too many lists......
Oh very good, love 'em all, and much more fun than mine!
Uh, Seandor, yeah.... Guess that makes me an Ornery Infuriating Newbie Kindred Spirit, huh?
Susybell, do you spend a lot of time doing crossword puzzles?
I thinks we should all get t-shirts with our favourite OINK(S) slogan!
(so Susybell - did my definition come close to what you intended?)
Hey, Seandor
No, I don't do crossword puzzles. I'm actually not very good at them. I'm not bad at Boggle and Scrabble, though-but my mom's the one who's really good. I've always just been good at remembering and spelling words. Never won a spelling bee or anything, though.
And , meaning-wise yes, that is where I was going with it. Kind of stuffy compared to the fun things everyone else has thought of. Maybe you could put me in for "most syllables" or something, lol.
Ooops
This message was edited Jan 17, 2008 1:37 AM
Bluespiral,
about the temperatures over here (we're a little different from the rest of the country because we live close by the sea): winters are between 0-5 degrees (Celsius, don't know about Fahrenheit!) with one or two spells of frost untill -5. Winters are getting warmer pretty fast. At the moment it's about 10 degrees and the first daffodils are already flowering (three months ahead of shedule).....
All of you,
Really enjoyed your conversation about the OINK-definition. Whish I was a native-speaker and could come up with somenthing.....
This message was edited Jan 17, 2008 11:53 AM
Here's something I just found about keeping the bunnies at bay....
Look here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/804841/
Good morning all! Suzybell, yes I love crossword puzzles. I think it is so relaxing to sit in the garden with a tall cupof and a good puzzle.
Robynzest, how about this one:
Outrageously Interactive Neighborhood Kinky Seedhogs!
I got an OINK!!
Outrageously Interesting & Nutty Krowd!! I think that fits us all to a T!!LOL
I like that Stacey!!
I was trying to think of something that descriped this crazy group!!!
Tuinkabouter- you're comparable to Zone 9
Yes!! That's global warming for you, I'm now upgraded to zone 9! If this keeps going the rate it does, I may live long enough to see us hit 11!
Hey everyone-I got the neatest catalog from "High Country Gardens" yest & was wondering if anyone has ever ordered from it?? They have a lot of cool stuff & their prices seem very reasonable.
Check out this Salvia!!
Fairy --- here's the link to WatchDog for them http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/28/
while I always read all the comments, especially the negative ones... it does not always deter me from ordering... depending on how bad the comments are.
There are some companies I've ordered from over the past 15+ yrs that have neg. comments ... but i've always had luck with.
so, use your best judgment.
That is a stunning color!!