I thought maybe we had better start a new thread, the last one had
474 Replies (getting a bit slow) and 2,766 Views:
Sooooooo what new and exciting plants are you growing this year??
I'll be planting 2 Magnolia Tree's thanks to Venu, how bout you??
Ok Sherrie....you got me! What the heck is that??
That may be the one David Paul is growing, too. I hope he posts and lets us know.
Fire breathing hot ! Let us know how you do with it Sherrie....to hot for me!!
Picked up a bunch of tulips at a 1/2 price sale at a nursery yesterday. A small clump of fountain grass, (I'm in no rush...), a Coreopsis 'Heavens Gate' (pink), and a Achillea 'Paprika'. ☺
Donnie--does the gumbo-limbo tree blossom? Does it have fruit? I'm not sure I saw any in FL. My lemon tree has it's very first lemon--last year it blossomed, but I don't think I pollinated it in time. Nothing on my orchids! Too chilly to work in the yard today--Patti, the edging project looks nice---with my rock walls, I don't have to edge, but I do have to weedwhack---found a crocus growing in front of 1 wall--the chimunks must have moved it.WC--love achillea "Paprika".
Robin - the gumbo limbo tree (also called the "tourist tree" down here is know for its interesting limb structure and its bark which looks sunburned in patches of red, hence the "tourist" reference. I don't think it blooms, and generally I plant mostly blooming trees that will attract the birds and butterflies, but this is such an interesting tree visually. We plan to put them along our front sidewalk for some interest and shade. In the photo attached, the gumbo limbo is the tree just to the left of the setting sun with the "contorted" looking trunks/limbs.
Sorry about the poor editing (i.e....none!) in that last post! I'm the illiterate one! LOL
Nice sunset Donnie look for the green flash!
Robindog, I never grew one before but I planted some seeds last year and nothing... then saw a couple of strange looking small plants coming up and when I went to the nursery I recognized the leaves so I picked one up! Looking forward to the flowers - I already know the seeds can overwinter! ☺
- Root structure of the Chaenomeles from WWF when I planted it today.
Hard to beat a great set of roots, WC!
WC - Thanks! I always keep my eye out for the Flash! Nice restaurant, huh? I really like that new plant you got from WWF. That root structure has convinced me to get my Pinky Winky from them when we get back up there.
The quince looks great--I do remember the gumbo limbo from when we traveled to the Everglades--"tourist tree" rang a bell! Today I received a box of dahlias from Swan Island, & 3 delphiniums from Jung's--Millenium Stars--they look pretty good, & I'll plant tomorrow. The dahlias I had ordered last fall, & I was surprised by some of the varieties---I know they did not sub, I just forgot about them! Citron de Cap is one of my favs, but I also got Bahama Mama which is similar--oh, well.
Do you think it's safe to plant the dahlias now? I got some at home depot and am still unsure if I should wait for the last frost date in the middle of May, I'd like to... but the night temps in the upper 30's has me debating...☺
WC2...which ones did you buy? I got the bag with 3 'Le Baron' and 3 'Minnesota'. I KNOW I can't plant them out yet...but I want to!
Sherrie - try the Bulb forum. I doubt you can cut them in half!
WC and Pixie - dahlias like WARM SOIL. We are not talking warm air temperatures but the soil itself. Plant them outside when you'd put tomatoes out - the end of May and beginning of June (or later). In the meantime keep them in a sunny window and they'll start to grow. Keep slightly damp (SLIGHTLY) or they'll get moldy and they can die a sad death.
EEkkk!! It’s a good thing I didn’t plant them yet!! I’ve been keeping them in a dark unheated garage! Just checked them and they look like the day I bought them… 3 weeks ago. – guess I’m going to have to bring them and and start them if I don’t want them to rot.
I got 2 packs of the 6 mixed dinnerplate Dahlias at 36 to 48 high, the le baron was really nice! (the dark purle one right??) But I don’t think is was dinnerplate so I went for height and color. I should have bought that one too, but then I also bought the listaris and the caladiums so I had to stop myself!! ☺
They sell plants at Kmart?
i miss Kmart. i haven't been to one since moving to CT. i think the closest one is like Waterbury or Stamford.
Geez - even NYC had Kmart. Funny to get off the subway in Kmart.
Celeste, I am growing a Magnolia tree too! I inherited from a house a bought a couple of years ago and when I sold the house I took the baby, it is about 3 feet tall now. I can't wait 'till it blooms,
Water can, I have grown Dalias for many years, if you put the bulbs out now, nothing will happen to them, although it is cold, I am on long island too, we are not at freezing point. I already put all of my 20 elephant ears, and they are just as tender as the dahlias. I love the dinner plate ones! Clemen
Thanks Clemen, but I'll play it safe... last year I planted them around this time and only 1 out of 12 came up, the year before I planted them in May and they all came up! You're on the Island but you're still a couple of degrees warmer than me, and you get more rain.
Hmm. i'm growing them from seed. These are sold as annuals (Victoriana) - they are singles, and smaller. The ones i started indoors are hanging in - i got 8 or 9 of 12 to sprout - 2 or 3 don't look too good, but the others have their 2nd pair leaf buds - 2 of them recognizably dahlia shaped...
Dahlias need to be pinched after the second or third set of leaves develop. The dahlia forum has a good sticky and it's well worth reading. They'd prefer SOIL (not air) temperatures of 70 but I plant them when we put the tomatoes in the ground and that's always over 55 degrees SOIL temperature - late May to early June. They make no progress in cold soil and can easily rot, as WC found out.
They're like caladium in that respect.
I have the 'Victoriana' growing from seed along with the 'Unwins' Mixed Dahlias, both are doing great! Thanks for the tip about pinching the leaves Pirl, I was pretty sure I read that somewhere.
I don't intend to put the Dahlia's out until Memorial Day weekend....just not safe here until then.
I bought another Caladium yesterday, this one is white and green.
This message was edited Apr 17, 2008 8:20 AM
Pixie are yo shopping at Home Depot? I have the same Dahlia's
And Chicken where are you going to put all the elephant ears. I bought two years ago and dig them up each fall. Every years I end up giving a dozen or more away and keeping the six biggest root balls for myself. They really propagate.
Guilty Bill, home depot had them in a bag and the combo was lovely.....meant to keep on walking by but found them in my cart when I got to the register!! LOL
To the best of my recollection it's a pinch after two sets of leaves for short ones and after three sets of leaves for the tall ones. When I did pinch the show was much nicer than when I didn't.
When I did pinch the show was much nicer than when I didn't.
I think the rolled-up bills get better results...
Last year I planted my dahlias the last week of April--they did fine, but I have a brick patio near the garden & I feel it radiates heat. My DS rototilled the veg garden this evening--I only had to feed him--& the soil was warm as toast. Of course it's going into the 30's tonight! But I was thinking of putting the dahlias in next week--I'll let you know what happens!
Bill, are your elephant ears in a lot of sun? Mine get mostly shade gwo beautifull and yes they do multiple but I do not get as many babies as you say, i hgues you are lucky. i also lift me and bring them indoors in my garage.
Water can, play safe and may will be good, I used to hear from my old neighbor next door when I lived in Elmont, He was greek, that you were supposed to plant Dahlias after mother's day. I neer did, I was always too anxious to see those pretty things.
Amy, I have also grown Dhalias from seed, they do beautifull, grow big and if you want to save them, you can see the tubers underneath the ground, absolutely amazing!
Anyway, here is a picture of my elephant ears early during the season 2007, it just gives a tropical feeling to the grounds! Clem
Very nice, Clem. Huge leaves.
Here is more
and more
Went to Home Depot, (I have about 5 near me). Bought a bag of Trillium and some caladiums with the green white and red markings as well as 3 different lamium plants, a burgundy heuchera, & some purple tulips.
- Here's the really good deal... on a rack near the garden center they had a rack of refurbished power tools for sale that looked like it was put there today. Something caught my eye immediately - a leaf blower, the kind that you 'strap on' like the pros use! With the cool trigger handle and the gas motor. It was discounted by a wonderfully hefty amount and in excellent condition, with a full warranty and un-opened instructions and accessory pak! Another customer saw it as I was checking it out and was as interested in it as I was when all of a sudden it jumped into my cart!
...and now I'm dreamin' of all the raking I'll be missing this Fall! - Weeeee!!! ☺
