Growing New in 2008 Pt. 2

What a cutie!

Ok...totally stoked and excited! I just got my Jim's Hosta order in! I have been awaiting this order since I placed it back in March!

There are 3 hostas here that I intend to use, eventually, in an experimental hybridization project for hostas.

I ordered and received:

H. 'Lakeside Mom'
H. 'Winter Lightning'
H. 'Nougat'

AND, Jim's sent a bonus hosta: H. 'Ice Cream'

Up first is a pic of 'Nougat'

H. 'Winter Lightning'

H. 'Lakeside Mom'

Nice pictures and I hope your weather is great over in PA, yesterday we had a miserable day here, rainy, stormy, windy and today just gorgeous! Clemen

Today was beautiful here - I went to the Arnold Arboretum.

Hem, I think I need your expert advice. I have my "serenity chair" in a shady spot and would like to surround it with hostas. I don't want real big ones, more a variety of smaller growing ones. Suggestions??

Hope you don't have deer, Weeze.

Sounds like an allergy to wildlife.

No deer. They're a mile down the road in full force but won't hop the thousands of fences between here and there. No slugs either. No explanation on that wonderful feat.

That's great for you - enjoy your hostas!

Wow! No slugs!

Same here....hardly ever have a slug and the deer don't usually come close to my gardens. I say "usually" as I found deer prints in one of my beds today. Nothing was eaten or trampled on....but we did hear coyotes last night so im guessing they drove the deer closer than usual.

What are slugs for?
i do not understand them, in the great circle of life... What is the point of slugs?

They aid in plant decomposition. They're bird and frog food too.

Uh oh. That sounded suspiciously like a legitimate answer. What is this forum coming to?
(But thanks. i think. Good to know.)

Oh! I should've known better!! I thought you were serious! Ha ha ha haha....

i was half serious... i really have always wondered. (Well, always since i started gardening...)

I can think of LOTS of stuff that slugs are good for... but right now, I'm falling asleep, so goodnight!

Venu--How tall do you want the Hosta to ultimately reach? There are several really nice medium, to about 12" or so, some smalls to about 6-10", and several minis that are usually listed as being 6" and lower. And, as Victor can attest to, do you have a preference for leaf color? Let me know, and I will get a list off to you!

~Thom

Watch for the Red Lily Leaf beetle. They also attack Hostas,Solomon Seal and Potatoe vines

Will do...I'm big on squishing anything I see attacking my hosta. What I sometimes do, I have a very small squirt bottle, the size they use in hair salons, and will mix several tablespoons of salt in with water...I never spray this on the plants directly, what I will do is knock slugs on a mulch path, and spritz them. Some of the larger slugs just don't always squish nicely...so I sprits them with a salt bath...the beetles, if I see them...luckily, have not seen them yet, I will probably just squish them or use a insecticidal soap...

Crossing fingers I don't see them.

The beetles aren't everywhere.
They have been seen in Mass. and in spotty places in NY.
Maybe PA too. I would have to re read the article.
Came in from Canada, somebody sneaking in plantlife no doubt.

Not down this far south yet.

Thanks Thom. I 'd like the medium and small. It's not a real big area. Color doesn't matter too much but I do prefer some variegation.

Very pretty Thom. Good luck they hybridization.. I have to remember to put down the escargo so the slugs don't eat my hosta!

Here's a trick to try, after being told, I started doing it, and seldom, if ever have a problem...this is solely in hosta beds, not sure if it would be all over in other perennial beds...

After you get done with morning coffee, or stop at your nearest large bookstore, starbucks, or Dunkin Donuts, and ask for coffee grounds...for some reason, don't use decaf...lol...seriously. Mix in the coffee grounds in the soil around your hosta...for some reason, I do not know why, but the coffee grounds mixed in with the soil around the hostas keeps the slugs at bay.

I put my coffee grounds on the hosta beds from November through this morning. Some hosta leaves are still eaten but I've only spotted one tiny slug (can't find his parents) and I can't see any trails. I'm going to spread the Sluggo.

My Echinacea order arrived yesterday I had bought 'Tiki Torch' & 'Green Jewel' and a bonus plant of 'Purity' came with it!!

I LOVE the bonus plants. It's the best customer relations idea in an age.
Rosydawn,Hallsons both sent freebies ,number depended on the order.
Might be a good topic: who sends freebies.

Coffee grounds are great for the beds in general for a number of reasons. Never heard the decaf thing, Thom!

I bought a six pack of Coleus Saturday. One has all ready flowered?

Neither did I. We only drink decaf now though I could have used a touch of caffeine this morning.

Nip off that flower on the coleus or it will go to seed on you.

And the last thing we need are revved up slugs - might cover a few more millimeters per second! Nice color, Sherrie. I bought a six-pack too. All Buds!

If it goes to seed it dies?

They really aren't grown for their flowers. I'm not saying it will die but it's a strain on the plant to produce any flower and coleus growers pinch them off to get more robust plants.

Victor - I can't imagine slugs moving fast.

The plant will get bushier and spread if you take an inch off the top,down to the first big leaves on the stem.
Coleus love to be bushhy.

I wish they raced slugs instead of horses.

And they look so much better when they're bushy.