SHHHHHHHHH don't be tellin everyone we have lost our minds! :oP
Yes, I hear someone is annoyed with us and our Princess game, but oh well! :oP
May Princess Kathy never be annoyed!
"what-can-I-grow-in-my-zone" #2
lol...you talkin bout me, misty, or someone who's really complaining
No, not you, someone had actually posted something somewhere about it, but it has been removed I suppose. I went to look and it was gone. :oP
May Princess Kathy have sunshine today
good, I didn't want to have to come over there...lol
misty I know someone mentioned these on one of the threads, but I'm sure gunnera would do well where you are in boggy shaded areas. I'm going to try a couple in a really deeply shaded moist area, cause it may be too here (never see it, so I don't know)...here's the different ones plantfiles has, I really like insignus but couldn't find those seeds:
Gunneras:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=gunnera&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
OHHHHHHHHHHH I am getting one of those!!!! :oP They have been on my want list a LONG time, too! :) They are just the neatest plants. My Daughter will think the dinosaurs have come back to get her! HA HA HA
May Princess Kathy have LARGE plants that won't eat her! :)
Tropicanna,
Those are great, especially the gunneras. I saw them somewhere on eBay, but I can't remember if it was seeds or plants.
Karen
Misty, the LIW and Princess Kathy...
"FOO" I say to the complainer and "GET A LIFE"!!! I feel sorry for the person/people who cannot enjoy fun and/or have no sense of amusement. Life is so dratted serious and, even tho I don't participate in the "game" I look forward to your, and the other LIW's, posts. In fact, I find myself watching for your "boo-boo's" :) BTW, I actually knew someone who had no clue what a "boo-boo" was---LOL!!!).
FOO! FOO! FOO! Complainer, take thyself to the dungeon, and may Princess Kathy and her LIW teach you amusement!!!
Another BTW, methinks that Sir diehrd would make a fine addition as Prince to your court...
**************************************************************************
"HI" AuntB, Tropicanna, diehrd, kimarj
Hey JanLynn!!
I too say FOO....and who better to be Prince than young DHS?
Smiles for everyone :0)
Hmmm i can't even read this thread...it hurts parts of my mind!
Kara
the Odontonema strictum is root hardy here, I just whack it down after the first hard freeze (ie when it turns black) and pile pinestraw on it. I'm not even sure how badly it needs the extra mulch in 8b. In your area that would probably help.
basically I treat it like my ginger.
Erin
FOOOOOOOOOO FOOOOOOOOOOOO FOOOOOOOOOO from me, too! LOL :oP
May Princess Kathy see all the foooooooo foooooooooo's goin round! :)
I'm sorry, I don't know what FOO is, but do believe I will quit watching this thread.
I suppose that is your prerogative. :oP
May Princess Kathy have smiles
LOL at all of your FOOOs. So glad to hear positive things about the game I started...it is all in fun and never meant to distract or disrupt anything. Just wanted to Wish the Princess a great day! :oP You are all honorary jesters in Princess Kathy's court!!
May Princess Kathy have a castle full of jesters who will make us all smile for the day!!
hey janlynn!
well, hey everyone
Erin! It's always great to see you! bulbines are blooming like mad in the GH, I love those
I hope the Odontonema does well here, it grew really well in the GH over winter despite nighttime temperatures that dipped to 40. Everything I plant out that's rated hardy 8a or up I lay on the mulch pretty thick so I'm hoping :)
I'm sure plantnuts got a few of these, I'm glad she popped in to remind me of another really cool hardy plant:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62064/
misty, hope this isn't rude of me to ask, but is part of the game that you have to play on every thread you say something on?
Thanks Kara, yet another added to my want list! :oP
Nope, not rude of you at all!!! Yes, it is in the rules that everyone has to address the Princess in every thread and do whatever that game consists of at that particular time. The only way you are exempt is if you are running a Co Op or Seed Swap-UNLESS the Princess says otherwise! LOL
May our Princess be nice and not make us do a lot of naughty things! :oP
LOL---where's the broad with the tiara, I have a request for her
for real, who is it? lol, I'll be nice
OH NO! That sounds scary! :oP
Princess Kathy, be nice to us! :)
LOL. The princess is out of town.
Tammy, you need to get a bigger yard for all your plants. lol
Nah, I am gonna see if I can borrow the neighbors on either side of me! LOL
:oP Princess Kathy
LOL.
Hi! Tropicanna or Glendalekid, you mentioned Gunnera seeds. I recently sowed about 10 seeds, and none of them sprouted. I tried them in the baggie, in the dark, with temps about 75F. It has been about six weeks and I see nothing. May I ask what method would you use when planting these? Or maybe someone else has experience with thes
Hey Tammy, you can borrow my yard :oD
and, just an fyi, I really enjoy reading your princess game posts... you are all really funny and make me smile while I'm searching through all these threads looking up info. It kind of breaks up the monotany... did I spell that right? Thank goodness I'm not playing or I'd loose a point for spelling huh? ! LOL
Please keep up the game, it is alot of fun for us lurkers :o)
Anjl
LOL Anjil! Thinking of just how to get that done! :oP
Glad to hear you enjoy it, cause we do, too! We run outa things to say and can come up with some really cooky stuff at times! LOL (spell check-Monotony-LOL) We aren't doing the spelling game right now, though. Just the :oP that we have to do. Back to the game-it isn't meant to be a distraction or an annoyance, just for fun and to make each Princess feel special for a month! :) And as I said, if a person chooses to not watch this thread any longer, or any other for that matter, it is their prerogative, and they are who will be missing out, just because they don't wanna skip over the little parts of the Princess posts!
May Princess Kathy smile for me!
spell check?! Isnt that cheating? LOL!
If it annoys someone, and they aren't watching this thread anymore because of it, wouldnt they have to not watch any of the threads?! LOL! I think if something is annoying, its best to just ignore it, not cause an uproar and try to spoil everyone else's fun by making them stop. does that make sense?
Some people find all threads annoying, just because they dont like posting and talking to complete strangers etc... they dont try to put a stop to it, they ignore it and dont participate. I guess some people are mature and can allow others to have fun, and others are immature and relatively unhappy people in general and want to dampen everyones spirits to bring them down to their level ;o(
oh well, enough about that.......continue with the game.... and did you ever get your prince to join the game?! LOL!
Nope, not cheating! LOL I agree 100%.
diehrd, have you checked about being our Prince yet? :oP
May Princess Kathy be sweet as cherry pie!
if diehrd wont step up.. I have a DGS who is definitely a prince :o) lol!
jsxtiger,
I've never grown them. If you Google, there's not a whole lot of info out there; however, everyone seems to agree that germination is very slow.
I did find this:
"Cultivation:
Sow seed in containers in a cold frame. Gentle bottom heat can improve germination, 16-20°C (60-70°F) Grow on in any good moist garden soil. Mulch the large crowns with the leaves in regions where winter temperatures are likely to drop below -5°C (20°F) A heavy mulch can help these plants survive -17°C (0°F) For maximum freshness, please keep seed refrigerated in its original packaging until it is time to plant."
I never heard of bottom heat with a cold frame. Interesting.
And this:
"Usually germinates in 30-90 days. Using bottom-heat and a humidity dome is highly recommended. Not a plant for the average gardener, it is best suited to experienced collectors. Winter hardy to zone 7."
And this:
"Notes:
Though considered hardy in zone 7, Gunneras grown in zones 7-8 need special care in order to survive winters by cutting down all greenery in late October to 30 cm of the root ball then placeing a thick layer of dry mulch over the crown for the winter. The mulch should be kept dry by a tarp or other rain proofing material. Remove mulch when last spring frost is past.
Cultivation:
Easy to grow. You MUST use a two gallon pot for best results as plant growth after their first winter is incredible. Seedlings 3-4 cm in size will resemble rhubarb by the end of August!! Fill pot with fertile moisture retentive medium. Sow thinly and evenly distribute seed over surface (don't touch seed as skin oils interfere with germination). Tamp into soil. Mist often. Keep moist; plastic cover greatly improves success. Provide bottom heat and ventilation. Optimum germination temp: 20-25 C; days to germinate: 30-60. Do not let seed suffer temperatures of 10 C or cooler or germination is delayed. Do not disturb seedlings for two years. Give dilute liquid fertilizer during growing season. Never let seedlings dry out or expose to full/direct sun. After 2 years is over only then transplant to individual containers or seat in permanent site."
From Thompson & Morgan:
"Sowing time: February to July.
Sowing depth: 1/16 inch (1.5mm)
Sow in trays, pots, etc of good seed compost in a propagator or warm place to maintain an optimum temperature of 75-80F (25-27C). Slow to germinate. Keep the seed compost very moist, but never saturated, at all times and the temperature high.
Growing Instructions
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Grow on in a cold frame and plant out the following spring. Space the plants 90cm (3ft) apart. Plant out in moist, loamy soil and part shade."
And from a DG thread:
"I've done lots of experiments with these guys over the years, and what works best is to first rub the seed in the palm of your hand to rub off the brown wrinkly outer seed husk. Then take the small smooth seed you end up with and soak them in regular rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes - this helps to remove germination inhibitors. Then sow them on the surface and keep nice and moist, and expect seedlings to pop up starting in about a month, and straggling in over the next ten months or so."
Good luck,
Karen
WOW Karen, you are good! :oP Only thing I know is I want it! LOL
Anjil, best check with your DH first! :)
Hi Princess Kathy
lol, my DH wont care, but my DD might want to have a say in it :o) LOL!
LOL Anjil!
:oP Princess Kathy
I think I want one of those, but I'm not patient enough to start it from seed. Wonder what a plant would cost? Probably a lot. LOL.
Karen
Karen, seems like when I looked them up on here someone had them for like 9.95 or somewhere abouts. If it is difficult from seed, I am out for sure! Some seeds just do NOT like me. :oP
Hi Princess Kathy
Well, I really admire those who do grow difficult seeds, but it's not something I can do and I know it. 9.95 would work for me.
Karen
jtx and Karen-
I'm winter sowing (there's a forum worth checking out) everything I get while there's still winter left and that's what I'd recommend with the gunnera (in a 2 gallon pot) . Hope my seeds get here quickly...
Wow! Talk about confusing info. Basically, all I found was info about the temp and heat. Glendalekid, You found so much more. I really appreciate it. Thank you. Now, I wish I had just purchased the plant. But, since the seeds have been sowed already, I guess I am just in for a loooog wait. lol
jsx, I bet if you plopped those seeds into a big pot and covered it with plastic (leaving holes for air and water), that they might even be up by planting time for you. That would give about a month of cool temps to help the seeds germinate....this is all theoretical, cause I haven't done it yet, but so far I'm amazed at how easy winter sowing is and based on the info frm T&M, gunnera seems like a prime candidate
Thank you Tropicanna! Doing it right now.
Winter sowing can be as addictive as zone pushing, so in case you decide you like it, here's the winter sowing forum:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/coldsow/all/
and yes, I have been winter sowing tropicals..lol, can't wait to see what actually worked
and a really fun seed swap (if you have any ??'s just ask, it's very easy):
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/818198/