I had to do that once or twice, it was no fun! : )
Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #16
I know collect them in $ store plastic cups-the 16oz ones and put them on a high bookself to dry-then no one can get at em:)
Fairy, that ‘Bonfire’ is a tall red salvia, I think I had seeds last year in the swap lol If you want some I’ll try and save seeds off of this one, and was that you that wanted any white salvia? I have a white one out there that reseeded from last year it’s either white nymph or snow nymph, I have the name somewhere in my haves in the plantfiles I can find it, it’s so hard I’m really not sure if I can get many seeds just let me know If that was you or someone else :) I hope I get time to go thru your list on the coop today, you already have a bunch of orders!!! I have that one pink coral bell that I got from your last one and the color on it is really pretty right now :)
Oh La, I’m so sorry your seeds ended up in the floor, I just put mine in some containers that has a lid because of the kittens coming in all the time unannounced lol I could just picture something like you just went thru, I was really getting worried about leaving for town and dad not being able to catch them to put them back outside if they came in while I was gone lol A long time ago I made a rule, that hasn’t stood of course, ‘no dogs in the house with a tail’ lol But I hadn’t been introduced to kittens yet lol I’m sure between all of us you will get more seeds :) I’ve been collecting a lot of petunia seeds and have a really pretty red one I’ve been keeping to himself so he would be true. Which hardy hibiscus seeds did you lose? Iv'e collected a lot of seeds from mine if you need any :)
Meredith, love your china asters! They are so pretty!
Tuink, welcome back from vacation, hope you had a lovely time :)
I have a complaint on the castor beans lol Everything was fine with the moles with them until we had that wind storm then they started flooding in, very strange, but Bill (my mentor) asked me yesterday if they worked and he said he’s had moles all summer so they must have worked, I gave him a couple of plants that he didn’t plant so maybe he will believe me for next year :) After the wind storm I have a mole digging under the only garden that I mulched and it’s only about 6’ away from a castor bean plant lol
I did want a white salvia, but I want a white perennial one-is your a perennial?? I just got May night at an end of season clearance and am thrilled to have found it-I hope the color is as dark as they show it to be-I want the white one to go with it:)
The salvia I was talking about is an annual but I have seeds to this one and it is beautiful, says the blooms can be pink but they are white to me, large stalks of white and the foliage is to die for! You gotta try it!:
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=4959&PrevMainPage=advsearchresults&scChannel=Popular%20Search%20Main&SearchText=p16.v226;p13.Salvia&OfferCode=VH1
oh lala.......as I was reading your post my mind was thinking of some sort of catastrophe such as fire etc., then I got to the culprit photo and had to burst in a smile at your expense :) The culprit is much to sweet to get mad at for too long. I'm sorry, maybe we all can find some similar seeds to send you. I had something similar with our cats and seedling pots spilling all over. I can round up some coral nymph salvia, fuschia and yellow 4 o'clock seeds for you, JLMK.
LeBug, I know your white salvia blooms are white but are the blooms shaped like the coral nymph and lady in red?
Lala,
A BIG, WARM, FRIENDLY & COMFORTING hug to you. So sorry this happened afte all your great work.
Hugs to poor Mr Aldo also - even if you're a baaaaad doggie!!! Only one, small snack tonight!
Alice
(Feel free to pass right by this post. It's just a little more of the same...obviously I'm not over this yet.)
Thanks guys. That little mishap occurred 30 seconds before I had to walk out the door to picket last night. I tried to explain what had happened to my co-workers and they laughed at me! There I was nearly in tears and so mad I didn't think I'd be able to contain them and they were LAUGHING at me. I knew if nothing else I could at least get a little sympathy here.
The part that really breaks my heart is that most of them weren't for trade, they were for my personal use. I had collected a few that you all had specifically asked for but most of them were for my containers next year. I had it all planned out and now I feel like I've already wrecked next year's garden before this year's is even gone. I have about 400 gazillion verbena seeds but only 15 red ones. It was like pulling teeth getting seeds from that stingy sucker. They were soooo coveted and such a huge prize and now.... *sigh* *sigh* *sigh*
Meredith I feel your pain too. There is a paper plate (not shown in photo) full of the floor scrapings.
OK. I will try to stay away now until my heart is a little lighter. LOL.
LOL big hugs back to all of you!
La, I'm so sorry about your seeds. I have a few of the seeds you listed, and I'm sure between all this bunch will be saving and purchasing, we can get you set back up before sowing time :-)
Neal
La, that "culprit" looks exactly like my Heidi that died of old age a couple of years ago. So sweet and I know that darling is very sorry for doing something wrong and not meaning to.
What kind of coleus seeds did you lose? I might have what you are looking for.
Jeanette
Hey Jeanette!
Yes, he is a sweetie...ornery, spoiled and well loved. Did I mention spoiled and ornery?
I sent you a Dmail. :-)
Lala - gosh, I have a gazillion seeds I can share:
Would you like some:
purple knock out ( I have a few - will see if I can collect more)
red salvia
coral nymph salvia?
oh, BTW, I was a Costco today and bought a pack of three large clear plastic storage bins for $20. I figure if I limit myself to winter-sowing what these can contain I won't be so over-run with plants!
Aww bless your hearts, II know you'll share. This is one of the most giving bunch of folks I have ever had the pleasure to be associated with.
I'm over myself now, LOL. The uspset tray was the topper to a completely horrendous week and I just flipped out over all the wasted time. The seeds can be replaced and all will be well in my little world once again.
Michaela I was collecting the PK to give to other people so I don't need it replaced, and fortunately the red salvia is distinctive enough that I was able to salvage those (yes....I spent the whole day yesterday sifting through and saving what I could. LOL can we say OCD?) About the only things that are a total wash are the petunias, the snaps and the coleus. And I can still collect the snaps so that's OK too.
Thank you all for understanding. As they always say, "it takes one to know one," which definitely makes you my kind of people.
;-)
Ok got the thread up on the seed exchange for Gustuv and Ike victims. No where as good as what our Queen wrote, but hopefully it ok
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/909682/
If ya got a few extra seeds to start listign up, to get it started, would be great. If I need to edit to add or anything, please let me know.
Now to put some of my stuff up. aggggggg. LOL
I posted what I have ready on the thread star. I want to put it here too, because I have plenty and if any of the piggies need it I'll set some baggies aside for the piggy swap. : )
Licorice Mint
Great Blue Lobelia
Maltese Cross
Scabiosa 'Blue Butterfly'
Transylvanian Sage
Red Corn Poppy
Rose Campion
Great cuz if ya have some of the Scabiosa extra, would love ot get some of it.
La , those red verbena seeds were they almost white, I have some but not sure if they are viable or not :) I'll go see if I can get some today for you, usually the verbena seeds are a dark brown. I had some pretty pink but I planted them in the field and didn't water them much so I lost them :(
Star I'm no where close to listing what seeds I have LOL Too much planting to do yet and transplanting, I'll check it out though LOL I'm sure I can find soemthing LOL
I just posted the benefit thread on the Texas gardening forum, if anybody else knows forums where alot of folks lost stuff fom the storm and I know I heard there were lots of areas that got flooded out real bad, but can't remmebr who, if ya know paste them a link if ya don't mind folks.
Okay Star I have you down for Scabiosa Blue Butterfly. : )
I have a ton of the White Scabiosa .... wouldn't mind some Blue though.
when i get home, sometime around the 14th - I'll be picking more seeds and i can update a list of what i have.
Meredith - could you setr aside some Great Blue Lobelia for me?
I probably won't have time to go through my bags until next weekend, but I will definitely send some seeds for the storm victims.
Ironically I have a picture of the verbena seeds Lea. I had posted it on the seed saving forum to make sure I was snagging the right thing. These aren't the red ones, but they look the same, and I should think they are completely mature as they had fallen from the plants on their own.
Okay Seandor I have you down for Lobelia : )
Tcs - I'll put you down for Blue Butterfly : )
La, I think I read somewhere that some verbena seeds aren't viable and with these seeds being lighter in color I was afraid they wouldn't be viable but we shall find out :)
Red Shield Hibiscus, when does this thing bloom??? I have huge plants with no buds and it's going to frost pretty soon, I'm about to rip them out a nd use that space to plant LOL I read that's it's later in the fall but gesh!
thanks Meredith
They need to be feed a high middle number and a low nitrogen number to get the blooms. Somethign like a 9-18-9
I found some time release at wally world but didn't see that much difference in my plants this year, I went around fertilizing everything, I never did that much before and won't again lol It was that osimodes or whatever, I went by the instructions, I was just disapointed. I think the hibiscus is going to hibiscus heaven tomorrow I need the space, I have two others in two other spots but these were the fullest, oh well :) Thanks guys :) I may have some miriacle grow stashed somewhere, you know how it is when your are ready to switch to another fert. and you still have some left, you never throw it away lol I don't anyway, if I find it I'll put it on the hibiscus out front. I got some of that Monty fert. at the nursery in the spring and lost it lol I'm sure it's around somewhere but I have n't found it all summer, I'd lose my head if it weren't attached LOL
Yep, like a bloom booster. For regular plants, I get that generic osmocote fromHome depot. Ya get a little bit more and half the price and it works just the same. That slow release fertilizer is only good for about a monthespecially durign the summer time.
I put slow release out and then come back with miracle grow. For 13 bucks I bought me a part that ya hook to your waterhose and it has a hose that goes into a five gallon bucket and I mix 3/4 cup of powder miracle grow to five gallons of water and it fertilizes evrythign while I watering. Whoel lot easier and les s expensive than any thign or way I have found so far.
They have had so much out about miracale grow not being good for the ground that I have tried to get away from it, those time release are suppose to be good for three months, so they aren't hmmm. You know I bought some of those messenger packets from the coop almost two years ago and keep forgetting about them, may be I need to keep them out so I will use them for next year LOL They were in my dresser drawer and forgot all about them :)
I'm never going to grow those red shield hibiscus again that's for sure lol When we had that wind storm they blew on top of a lot of plants I had in the ground and they are gonners now, I just let them stay where they were just to see the blooms on this one
Does anyone know, do you wait until the foliage from the elephant ears dies before you dig them up, I think that's right but not sure where mine are planted they probably won't get frost because they are under a tree, I have a black taro one and don't want to lose it, I have the others too but that one is different so I really want to keep it. Can you dig them up before the foliage dies and just cut it off to dry them?
Lea, you should try dynamite. They have 3 special formulas for different growing areas and they sell the right one for your area locally. I know you can get it at HD, that's where I got mine. I got a free sample from a post on dg. I don't know if it's still available but if you search dynamite on dg it should come up. I believe it's supposed to work for 9 months. So it's perfect to fertilize with early in the season because you won't have to do it again. They have different formulas as well, like one with a high middle number, but I prefer the balanced because I figure it's good for everything. Also I've read so many different things about whether the high middle number actually helps flowering more than others, some say yes others say no, use the balanced stuff. There are so many different opinions makes my head spin!! : )
I searched for dynamite here and I didn't find anything - so that offer must be over. : ( Here is a link to their website so you can at least see what product I am talking about : ) http://www.dynamiteplantfood.com/
here's the Dynamite forum here on Daves http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/dynamite/all/
I know Meredith they make my head spin too LOL I did get a free sample of that and it's in the gar age never did get around to using it lol I'll just try some of that if I can get it at home depot. So you liked it? Must have or you wouldn't recomend it :) I'll pick some up for next year.
Thanks for the link Meredith and tcs :)
I was going to pl ant out in the beds today and my neighbor/mentor dicided to help me cut grass so I'm just eating and then starting to plant, I love Bill to death but he always decides to be nice at the wrong times, it's suppose to rain tonite so I need to try and finish up as much as I can today lol
Do any of you use the 10-10-10 on anything for the winter like on trees or shrubs, grasses? I'm going to get this ferterlizer thing right by next year LOL
One thing you have to understand about thos eslow release fertilizers. No matter what it says on the package it not gonan last that long. The mroie rain or water that they get the faster they break down. heat temps also break them down and decompose them.
Lebug definately do not fertilizer yoru trees and shrubs in the late fall or winter. They need go dormant and if you frtilize them they not gonan want to go to sleep and it wil confuse their internal clock and you can and eventually will have poor preformers and possibly kill them.
Best thign you cna do for trees and shrubs is put a bunch of mulch aroudn them to feed them.
In the early spring, I go out and fetilize everythign with alfafa pellets. if ya don't have rabbits you cna thow em out and then water good or wait til ya gonan have good rain, if ya don't mind seeing funny groudn for a day or two, or sometimes, I put the pellets in a bucket and let them disovle and then water with that.
Lea I do like the dynamite. Especially for container plants and when potting stuff up. I use a soiless mix and measure the right amount into the pot and mix it in. I also like that they seem to care about the environment and they claim their patented coating prevents un-needed nutrients from running off into our lakes and rivers. I try to use products with the least negative impact on our environment when possible, so I like that aspect. I agree with star about not fertilizing before winter, but if you have compost or don't mind buying it, that can be spread around plants in fall without harming anything. As far as fertilizers go, from everything I've read, compost is the best for everything. Including the environment. : )
I think I'm finally going to have a compost pile for next year. I've been saving all my veggie scraps, coffee grinds and egg shells. My DH finally brought home some pallets to make compost bins with. It only took a year or so of nagging ; ) Is anyone here knowledgeable about composting? I don't know what the first layer should be. I am assuming leaves and/or grass clippings. I have all the other stuff in plastic bags waiting for the leaves to fall off the trees lol. It might be a while because we have those darn type of oaks that the leaves stay on until spring. But enough fall off here and there to keep ya raking well into June! 8>O
This message was edited Oct 7, 2008 10:10 PM
I do make my own compost but it 's never enough I always end up buying more, Meredith, the best thing for your compost pile to start with is your grass clippings with the leaves mixed in about this time of year when the leaves are starting to fall a bit. Bill brings me his clippings, he has a grass catcher and I'm using those on my flower beds for mulch by I use some for a new compost pile too then layer it with scraps, if you buy compost just save a bit to throw in there to get your compost pile started on top of the scraps, coffee grounds are good to draw the worms, I throw coffee grounds on my beds thru the winter that has the leaf mulch on them. If you have any left over beer that is good to pour over your compost pile too, it gets the micro organizims to going in your pile like throwing a bit of compost in with it :) I have a couple of bottles out in the garage that I just add the bottom of the beer out in before I throw the bottle away and it adds up to a couple of bottles of beer when I'm ready to do the compost pile. No milk products, bones or meat to keep the critters out. Make sure you turn it once in a while, that's the part that I hate lol I use a tarp to throw over mine to keep the weed seeds out of it and it seems to make the compost faster for me that way esp. in the winter and don't let it dry out make sure to keep a little moisture in there :) Start turning it about two or three weeks after you first make it. I don't tu rn mine as much in the winter just because I hate going out in the cold I probably only turn it 3 or 4 times all winter but I always have compost by spring.
We always have mucho leaves here from all of the maple trees, I hear oak trees have a lot of acid in them and we have a lot of those too but it must even out with the maples cause I've never really noticed my compost piles having a lot of acid in it, I do check it once in a while. I go to all of the neighbors homes in the block and I have a leaf blower/mulcher and gather all of their leaves and they are glad to get rid of them lol I usually end up with several bags of mulched leaves to put on my beds, last year I missed out on them because it started raining about the time the leaves fell and they never dried enough for me to mulch them, the darn rain never quit until spring and I really missed those leaves! I hope I get my leaves for this year :) I've already talked to some leaf removal services that gather leaves for other people too and they are suppose to dump some extra leaves for me in the field, they are always running out of places to dump them so I'm hoping they make it to the field with them, I try this every year but so far no one has dumped them for me, they really don't think I can use as many as they have but I have a lot of beds to cover and new ones to make yet, I need a lot of leaves and they just can't understand how many I want for some reason lol
Star, I do have rabbits but I'm hoping the kittens take care of those for next year lol I'll go check the alfafa pellets out at the local feed mill, how much do you use will it say on the bag? I can use those and a little compost, I've got too many shrubs and trees that I've planted in the last couple of years so not enough compost to go around all of those but I have read a lot of good things about the alfafa pellets and just keep forgetting about them :) I've just put mulched leaves around them before.