What a cute picture Tuik!
Piggie Swap babies and seed starting
Oooh, he looks mean! I wouldn't want to mess with that parrot!
I am in the minority, I'm sure, but I'd rather have squirrels than birds. Except the hummers-- love those, but the rest are dirty and noisy and not nearly as fun as the squirrels, IMHO., I put sunflower seed on the grass for them to eat.
I've nearly finished my perennial sowing...I didn't have all that many to begin with, though. The annuals are what I like the best, so I save my sunshine for them and nearly all the perennials are actually shade lovers.
Tuink, I did some Stylettas Violets yesterday -- will be interesting to see what I get (if anything).
Suzy
Thanks Tuinkabouter, maybe someone will help me on here lol
That parrot is so purdy it's a shame they like your plums! I bet there are a few things they eat that you grow!
Thanks!
In fact my fruit trees are a little immature yet, so there not much to be got for them. They don't like beans or pumpkins or such. Just peas and fruit. But not blue or strawberries. Too close to the ground I guess. In fact I quite like them, it's kind of like to talk to you!
So they're not much of a hassle. Not half as much as the pigeons who shredded everything that was brassica, from brussels sprouts to komatsuna!
This message was edited Feb 12, 2008 7:34 PM
Tuink - Lovely parrot! I did a search and I found a story about Macaws living in the Netherlands! Then I found an article that wild parrots (esp. parakeets) were on the rise!
Suzy - I would pick squirrels over pigeons and maybe crows but other than that I love the Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Bluebirds & lots of others! So if I had to pick I'd have to go with birds. However, I've met some viscous squirrels, I had one practically attack me one day when I went out on my deck and startled him while on the bird feeder.
Lebug, I usually soak my nastie seed overnight before sowing. Don't know if it is necessary but it makes me feel better.lol Also thanks for introducing me to the group. However they welcomed me before I was introduced.
Thanks everyone!
Veronica
Veronica LOL I didn't know you were coming or I would have paved the way for you lol
Has anyone sown mimulus before should I start these now too? This is a new one on me too, their pictures look so pretty! I may be asking a lot of question on our annuals, I just haven't done that many annuals before other than zinnias and pets.
Thanks Veronica, that sounds like a plan on the nasties, does that sound good Suzy? She's the queen on nasties I think lol
I grew Mimulus last year, and same with that Cigar plant. Can't think of the name, but I sowed them both way too early. The Mimulus grows rather quickly once it germinates....I would estimate to sow no more than 6 weeks early. It needs shade and water, and prefers a cool summer. The Cigar plant needs heat, and if it doesn't need heat then it sure doesn't like any temperature close to 32! It got frost bitten several times last spring (too big to stay under lights inside, I had to move it out, but I did bring it into the garage when frost or freeze was imminent, but it got frost bite (or something) at 34 or 35 degrees!)
Oh, no I am not Queen of the Nasties at all! I have grown them every year for 25 years, but only because they reseed. LOL! The climbers or long ones are soooooo cool if you have a good spot for them. They will sort of climb (no tendrils) fences and little shrubby trees. Inside the trees I thought they looked a little odd and messy, but going up a fence they looked really cool. I love them growing over the top of my nemesis, English Ivy. I wish I had a nice wall for them to tumble down.
Yes, Nasturtium seeds are the right shape and size to need a good soaking. I think I'll do that this year and see if I can get them to germinate a little sooner.
Speaking of soaking, I have some Lanatana 'Miss Huff' that's been soaking that I need to go plant now. :))
Suzy
LeBug, I'm going to be starting some Ligularia for my sis - she's got the room for them. I figured I'd start a few now and see how they went, and also try some direct sowing later on.
I knew I would probably have trouble with the Mimulus in the heat and sounds like spring is going to bring us the heat again this year but just had to try them this year I've been wanting them for a long time.
I'm going to check my nasties and see which ones are climbers not sure where I'll plant them yet. I do plan on planting some with my butterfly weeds and milkweeds and know it might be a mistake cause don't they draw aphids too?
I get to plant my lantana after 8 tonite :) I've got my fingers crossed for those! I was saving a bunch of firewagon and forgot and sent most of those in the swap lol But I still have 10 seeds and podster sent me a bunch of fruit loop seeds to try, that one sounds cool LOL
Well I wish us luck on the Ligularia, I think I'm trying too many iffy seeds this year LOL We'll see how we do!
Just sow all the seeds and keep your fingers crossed...nothing wrong with trying! Sometimes it works great (Helianthus 'Lorraine Sunshine') and sometimes not so great (Ligulaira Desdemmona -- I mean when I did it last year)
I wonder if Bluestone's catalog is sort of an indicator on if the seed will come true? Seems like they sell a lot of the ones that worked well for me last year.
Suzy
Fruit loop seeds? What are those? I'm picturing the breakfast cereal....
Columbines, baptisia, mallow are all things that are not "easy" to move, but I find this irrelevant when they are young. If you transplant them digging as much dirt when they are older they will do fine as well.
I always direct sow my nasturtiums, too easy to bother doing anything else! I don't soak them either and they come up quickly.
Susybell, fruit loops is a lantana, I know I love the name lol They are suppose to be yellow and pink but they probably won't come true so should be interesting to see what colors they do produce :)
Suzy, you said to sow the mini red snaps under lights (march 1 or April 1) then put them out as soon as they germinate are there any other ones that you do this way other than snaps, I planted snaps. one year and they were so leggy and a tangled mess so this sounds like a plan for them that I like lol I'll do the rest of the snaps that way too :)
I'm not trying to be stupid, but what does everyone mean by"second set of true leave"
I thought leaves were leaves????
Lea you sent me a bunch of fireworks and I am doubting if I get them done as I think it is time and I don't have my grow lights yet. I will send most of them back to you. what do you all think of waiting until summer to sow the lantana in the heat and then save a plant or two to keep in dormancy over the winter or just keep it in the house where it is warm. A place I love to go, Stream Cliff Farm, has huge ones that I am sure they keep in their greenhouses over the winter . I am a little nervous over lantana as it seems hard and Lea I want to make sure you have enough seed.
BTW check out Stream Cliff Farm. It is entered in Go Gardening by yours truly.
I have to get some cigar plant if they love heat Suzy. But my 2cents on the direct sowing is to buy a roll of window screen, you can just cut it to size and lay it on the ground over where you seeds are sowed. You should cut it big enough to be able to lay some weights around it, like bricks or rocks. Works good for me. You just have to keep an eye out for seedlings. It works for seedlings too if you can elevate it over a couple of bricks etc.
I'm fine on the seed Veronica lol I have three seed trays going that should be plenty, I wouldn't plan on over wintering lantana in the house they attract white flys and you don't want them in the house for sure! You can sow your lantana seed outdoors but not sure if you will see bloom depends on when you sow it, you're in a little colder zone than me too, it takes a long time to get to a good growing point, you might just want to buy a couple of plants it would be easier, if I don't have any luck this year I think I'll just give up on them but I'm thinking positive!!! I'm going to get at least ten plants out of these seeds!! LOL
Hi Fairy - the first set of "leaves" you see aren't really leaves, they're the cotyledons from the seed itself. That's why you need to wait for two sets of true leaves - it will actually look like three sets if you add in the cotyledons. And when transplanting, if you need to "grab" the seedlings do so gently by the leaves, not the stem :)
What is a cotyledon?? I don't know any of the "terms"!! Well I shouldn't say any, I have learned a lot form my fellow oinkers!!
You know the two halves of a seed? That's them. The seed uses those for energy when sprouting, like a chick uses a yolk while developing in the egg. When it sprouts above the soil, it's those that you see first. Critter, Suzy, Lea, anyone else - how close am I to being right on this? (Yep, there are seeds that aren't structured that way, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax :> )
I think you have convinced me to just buy a plant of lantana,Lea. I believe I read that they attract hummers and I am trying for a hummer habitat. I think I have everything except the water that should be misted. Sorry for the OT Well it's not completely off topic.
Sounds good to me dryad57 but I'm sure Suzy will get a little more tech. LOL
I think Cotyledons aren't true leaves as they don't last. Is that correct. I took master gardening last fall and I think thaat is what I learned but it HAS been over a year and my memory is not the best.
I had this in my bio class...the seed has the plant embryo and nutrients. The seeds have a protective seed coat too. But as far as the cotyledons, most of the food for embryo growth is stored in the one or two seed leaves that are the cotyledons.
Monocots have one cotyledon and dicots have two (they are the two classes of flowering plants).
LeBug, oh, Lantana, I love the mixed-color Lantanas. I've bought them as annuals but they don't make it through the winter here.
Cigar plant-isn't that Cuphea ignea? I had Bat-faced Cuphea last year (Cuphea llavea) and my hummers loved it (me too,great plant!). I've heard some will winter over for us out here, but it's looking like I lost that one, too. :(
LeBug, I started Lantana last year right about this time (it's in my Journal or whatever it's called here on DG with the exact date) and it was 4"-5" tall when I put it out -- as soon as the hot weather came, it took off. Really took off, so it was just fine with an indoor sowing. (I had the Fruit Loops one, too. from seed from DMac.)
I had to pull out several Coral Nymph Salvias that were taking over the area so it had some room, but I thought it was real pretty.
Suzy
I would never have to take a MG class with you all for reference!! Ok I am pretty sure I get it now!! Thanks!!
Indynanny - you and I are remembering the same things from the same MG class! I took mine a few years ago, but that's where I learned all that stuff. It's a great class!! I "gifted" some of my Illinois MG materials to a friend in Chicago when we moved to Indy as I knew I'd have to retake the class, but the materials are GREAT for reference. Another thing I liked about the Indiana class is they really take advantage of the internet - great links to the Ohio State database, the Connecticut info, and some wonderful things from Purdue (all those Ag. schools...). For those of you who are interested here's the link, and then I'll stop hijacking :)
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/CES/Marion/HortConMG.htm
Indyanny, I agree with Lea about overwintering the lantana. You will get white flies, but I still do it every year! LOL! It seems to do better in the cool basement, but no matter where I overwinter it, it always looks like crap at the end of winter. We cut it back and move it outside and it always spruces back up pretty quickly!
Flower - do you hang the sticky traps to help control the whiteflies? Knock wood I don't have any inside bugs, and I'm doing my best to keep it that way - LOL!
I could keep it in the garage with all my others that I overwinter. I doubt that white flies will be a problem as it usually stays around 40 degrees in there. I keep my lemon verbena and some geraniums, this year my black and blue salvia also some others. I may do an experiment with them(the lantana)
So Suzy, is fruit loops one that sprawls? I would rather have an upright if it does, if it does sprawl I think I'll just plant the firewagon ones and just plant one of the fruit loops, that is if they come up :) I'm still going to have to buy some lantana for the yellow and the red if I don't get any out of these I have got to have yellow and red for sure, thing is we just don't have that much of a selection around here!
I did jugs last night and when I got finished I only had 23 done! Gosh it takes forever and that was just putting the holes in them LOL I have one more bag to do then off to the recycle center again Friday if the weather permits only about 177 more jugs to do LOL
LOL!
Lea, The sprawling and the colors don't have anyting to do with each other -- every color comes in an upright and a sprawling version, depending on the needs of the landscaper. I will say that if you tuck the plant in between things that it will naturally be more upright, if that is any help.
I put one pot of my Lantanas in the compost pile to see if I could get it to winter over...it was in a pot, and I really loved it. BUT the compost pile was hot, too hot for me to put my hand in, so I wasn't able to bury it as deeply as I would have liked. Generally, the compost pile gets smaller and when I go out in spring, the plant is nearly exposed to the elements because it doesn't sink with the pile. Not sure why. We'll see on the Lantana... bringing it inside is out of the question, and the garage freezes.
I took the MG Course in 1981 or 1982...somewhere around there. I was in the first or second class offered here in the county. It was cool, but not like it is now. I had a job working for a Fortune 500 company and I just asked my boss for every Monday afternoon off for 16 weeks as my vacation....he thought it was the weirdest thing an employee had ever asked -- EVER!
Suzy
No wonder you are sooooo organized - you are The Master! I would love to take a Master Gardener couse some day . . .
Rats . . . I am really supposed to be marking homework!
Suzy, I don't think that is right with the lantana I had a sprawling one that took over in my front bed, shame on me for not paying attention to the tag LOL I didn't realize that they would sprawl all over the place, I traded that one! That sucker was huge! Don't even want to go thru that again. So much for tucking them in somewhere :)
Seandor - Illinois offers their MG course as a self-study, as well as in the classroom. Classroom is better, of course, as you get the instructor's off-the-cuff comments and tips, and get to chat with other MGer's, but you should check with your MA extension agent to see if your state offers that option. You know, something to do with all that spare time you have!
Oh, my bad. I had one (three plants of one kind) near some Salvia 'Coral Nymph' that seemed to grow relatively upright, but maybe it was an upright one to start with. The seeds were from a trade/swap, and that info wasn't on the package. I just thought it was a defense mechanism to try to outgrow that crazy Salvia. (Not the Salvia's fault...I saw the name 'Coral Nymph' and got it confused with 'Apricot Sprite' which is a little one.) Coral Nymph is a dumb name for that monster!
Suzy
LOL - Coral Nymph IS huge, isn't it? I wonder if they were referring to the size of the flower instead?