What have you ordered for Spring 2009?

I've bought fruit plants from One Green World and Edible Landscape. Not bad. I'll check out those two, Bill.

I'm still circling in the catalogs, comparing prices & asking if I REALLY need that plant--of course, the answer is YES! I have a cherry tree that I planted about 15 years ago--it's Stella, supposedly self-fertile, but I get very few cherries, they don't taste very sweet, & the squirrels & birds get most of them. I had a Rainier (yellow) that was coming along nicely until my DH hit it with the tractor---died during that winter.

Eviebeevy! HOLES? I dont think about that part until I have to.

I have ordered from Parks several times, usually just seeds so im anxious to see what the plants look like.

Thom, you have quite a list of DL's going there. Looks like you picked some nice ones. Some I have and some are on my wish list. I will use some self control and not take a peek at what the others are that I'm not familiar with. Don't need anymore just yet. Here is my order from Cheryladay in the LA.

RUFFLES ELEGANTE
SHINTO EDGING
WINDSOR WATERMARK
RIO DE JANEIRO
DRUID SPELL
ROUGED TALISMAN
BORGIA QUEEN
WATER BIRD
VENETIAN CREPE
(all the above are Munson's)
SAVANNAH EMPEROR by Joiner
AMETHYST ART by Kropf
CONCUBINE by Moldovan
ALICE MAE by Spalding
SHADOW DANCE by Morss
TIN SOLDIER by Wild
TAHITIAN TORCH by Reckamp
and MICHAEL'S SWORD by Best

So far that's what I have coming for this spring, and I ordered all of these in Dec. and Nov. I'm still deciding what to order for seeds.

Karen

Thinking about the digging is what keeps me from buying lots of plants. I end up buying too many over the course of the summer, and by the end I'm so sick of digging holes it takes all winter for me to want to again!! lol

And considering I'm trying to get rid of all my grass, I have A LOT of holes left to dig. Maybe this year w/o the election I'll get my hubby to help!!

first order placed today w/high country gardens - bought from them last year and had ok success, a couple plants did die and they were replaced promptly.
1 - echi red knee high (dwarf and very red)
3 - karl foerster grasses
1 - mirabilis multfora
1 - solidago little lemon
3 - dianthus firewitch
1 - monarda fireball (dwarf)
1 - monarda grand marchall (dwarf)
1 - mondarda pink lace (dwarf)

with free shipping for hitting 3 figures by 18 cents!

Wha, thanks for the Stark vs Miller. I ordered 3 fruiting trees from Miller 4 years ago. 2 died, but thought it my fault. One is doing well, a peach. I will try Stark this time for my cherry tree. I really want a fruiting quince. I love quince jelly. Still researching the cherry. Stella doesn't sound so good according to Robin. Any other cherry growers?

Can anyone tell me what are good, not invasive grasses? I would like some tall clumps. Maybe.

I spent this morning cleaning up my stack of garden catalogs. I keep them around far too long. I am about to do my annual seed inventory so I don't end up with things I already have. I also put all my previous orders in correct order in binders. I now have 2 huge ones for just the last few years. I have all the information in the computer, but it stays hidden unless I click on it. Those binders are my visual reminder of what it costs to garden. I will be starting a new one this year. Especially if I keep reading these posts. I don't need DL's, I don't need DL's, I don't need DL's, I don't need DL's.... Patti

Patti - I grow many grasses, both warm & cool season types.
Please define "tall".
More importantly, what is a general width that a planting area could accomodate?
Very few that are narrow in habit. You show the same zone as mine, but my guess is that your summer is typically warmer than mine: the Seattle metro area is great if you like clouds with your coffee...
I absolutely love most of the varieties that I am growing - a few of the Miscanthus just get too fat & happy, big & robust = more maintenance involved.
Let me know - K

I love Karl Foerster - my favorite.

You lucky dogs! I ordered LOTs of gladiola bulbs and some caladrium, and some special plastic "saddle bags" to hand over the rails of our verandah - great plans to fill with cascading lobelia . . . . All cancelled now that we will be travelling to the west coast.

Well, can't have it all - new grandchild comes first!

yes Karl Foerester i think you have mentioned it several times - i did my research on it as well and just ordered three

Patti if you see something at starks you like, take a ride over to the cape and the mahoney's over there - they may have a bigger version from starks waiting for you to take home.

my opinion about parks is hit or miss... sometimes good ... sometimes dead
they always make good on the dead ones though
photos of last years delivery are in my diary
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/onewish1/8939/

canna co-op choices
http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/vbc/onewish1/71699/

Not a Parks or (sister) Wayside fan.

I was thinking about ordering some plants from Burpee, mainly veggie plants. Anyone have experience ordering from them?

Karen

I did some years back. Mostly good stuff. I stopped ordering from them when they killed Heronswood.

Thanks Victor.

nutsfordaylily,
You can probably get the same or better veggie plants at your local nursery. Unless you are looking for a special plant, it's not really cost effective. I do a lot of veggies and I have good luck with local grown plants. Most plants I do start myself though. It's just like anything else, if you set foot in a nursery, you are going to spend money.

I buy all my veggie plants locally.

So what veggies do you grow, Victor?

Victor, I agree about Heronswood/ Burbee and Wayside/Park. I try to avoid them both. But I will buy their seeds, mostly at Agway. T&M has really annoyed me lately. Plus my germination rate has been bad from them or is it me? I find it misleading that in the Heronswood catalog that they make no mention of Burpee other than saying the "Propietor is George Ball" and that they both have the same address.

I buy any veggie plants that I don't start from mom and pop nurseries, as I do most of any plants that I buy in person. We take the truck off island for one trip each spring which is for a dedicated haul of dirt. fertilizer, and plants and garden supplies. We do a week of nursery crawls in between the Cape and Vt and western Ma. It is so much fun and expensive. However the savings and selection is huge compared to my limited choice on Nantucket. I still support my local nurseries for some things like big trees and shrubs and standard filler plants like impatience, snaps, and some veggie stuff and anything new and exciting that they have. But they are ordering mostly plugs from all the same sources that most nurseries are using now rather than growing from seed. Less choices and more expensive. Love my DG coops too.

We don't do box stores. I kill enough plants without seeing their dead ones.

I want a fruiting quince, I can't seem to find one in a nursery, so I may have to do a mail order one. But I will check out Mahoney's. I like Country Gardens in Hyannis better, but they didn't have any last year. My guy here will order one for me if I want a big one. Not sure I do. Patti

Normally - tomatoes, greens, eggplant and basil every year. Then I like to try different stuff each year - beets, peppers, zucchini (gets too big!), squash, etc. I only grow veggies in two 4 X 8 ft raised beds. I would like to grow more.

Received a few seed catalogs last week - one of which surprised me to be another "Ball" owned outfit: "The Cook's Garden".
I had purchased seed from them years ago; had no idea they changed ownership.

Just a thought:
For short-season crops, try Territorial Seeds in Oregon. I have ordered from them for 20+ years, & really appreciate their customer service & selection. We just don't get the heat that is typically associated with your summers, but I will attest to the mostly fabulous results in many non-fabulous summers. The germination rate for anything I've ever purchased from them has been high.

My question to you: any good tips for where to buy sweet potato slips? I am pushing it here, but really want to try growing them this year. Thanks!

That's great Victor. Every year we add more beds. Now we grow a large percentage of our food. It is so nice to come home and "pick supper".
Katye,
There are a lot of sources for slips. One I know of is Sand Hill Preservation in Iowa. The slips are $1.00 each. It is a hobby farm with a great reputation. They have a lot of heirlooms. Check it out.

I saw some in Jung Seeds and Shumway in WI. Never ordered from either of them. If we expand the veggie patch, I want some too. Love them roasted. Patti

Well just received the Select Seeds catalog tonight. I don't get seeds very often but they have a nice selection including some old faithfuls you don't find a lot of other places. They also have plants but I have never ordered any plants from them. http://www.selectseeds.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/2009/catalog.htm You can get single colors of things that usually come in mixed packets. Off to browse some more.

I like Fedco for their philosophy as well as Johnny's. I find I am wanting to pay a bit more for the little guy taking a stand against GM seeds. It's like finding a product made in the USA...Shallots! I ordered shallots this year. No idea where all the veggies will go. Have read articles that home food growing increases in times of economic uncertainty. Think these times qualify? I do. Maybe DH will let me dig up more lawn.

Linda

I order from Fedco, Pinetree, Victoryseeds,Thompson and Morgan.
It was not a good year last year for garden, but we still could walk out and get a meal. I want to do that again this year and put more away.
I put garlic in for the first time. Never tried shallots. Let me know how they do, Linda.

http://www.sweetpotatoplant.com/

http://www.territorialseed.com/prod_detail_list/7/2

The above are two places I have purchased regular seed potatoes from. I haven't purchased the sweet potato slips from anyone, I will more than likely try them this year. I have purchased the All Blu, All Red, and Golden Fingerlings from either both of these vendors or one and the other in mixed orders. I'm going to assume that the Sweet Potatoes are planted just like the regular potatoes but it seems like they aren't as labor intensive. The SP seem to be planted, and that's it, were the regular P are planted, and you need to keep "hilling" the vines up through the season. I'm hoping someone else can weigh in about the upkeep of SP's vs regular P's.

Thanks, Cyndie!
I visited SandHill & picked out the varities that are suitable for our short-season.

Re: Shallots - I grow these every year - I prefer the flavour.
They aren't hard at all, and no mice/vole/squirrel issues.

We had sunshine today for a few hours & forgot that it's only the 2nd of January.
Reality check came with the afternoon snow. Weird...

For this area, I can plant potatoes mid-March. last year I tried an above-ground method, where they are hilled up with dry leaves. I used 2"x4" wire fencing to hold everything in - the piles went about 24 - 30". This was on top of a raised bed, and the harvest was quite easy: no digging. You can reach into the leaves & feel the spuds. Pull, rinse, cook. I thought that all would be above ground, but some of them struck roots into the soil of the raised bed, so I had plenty left at the end of the harvest to use come March. I'll be doing this method again - it was fun. I had been warned about Mice & possible snakes, but no evidence of Mice, and no poisonous snakes here, so, it's a great way for me.

Hem - the SP's are planted as you indicated. I am going to continue to search, as I would love to know any tips that would be helpful in a not very warm climate. But it looks like I'll be creating a special place for the SP's...

Katye, Do you get a good yield with the shallots?

Since we have so many potatoes to choose from in Maine, I pick what's available at the farmer's union. I do like Yukon gold. Plus you gotta have a red. I only have ornamental sweet potatoes, but really should try the sweets here. Maybe we could compare varieties?

I posted earlier, but it is lost in dgspace, so I will post the link again.
If you have extra seeds you would like to trade, sign up.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/939157/

LOL - sometimes i am lost in DGspace...

I think overall (with a few really wet summers) I have great yields from the Shallots. I have raised beds that vary in height from 8" to 30". I rotate my crops & have not had any significant problems. My soil drains very well - so much so, that I need to stay on top of the watering during August (that's our official "summer").
Potatoes: every year, and I try different types. I really like Yukon gold - it is quite reliable, and produces well for me. The fingerlings are good, too. Last year I tried Carola & Cranberry Red - both were excellent. In fact, the only excellent crop last year was Potatoes!

Katye,
I used to go to Seattle every year for business. Love the area. There are a lot of New Englanders that have migrated there. Got to say hello to them.
What would you say was the best variety of shallot? How about tomato?

I have grown the Dutch, French & the gray. The gray is really tasty - my fave.

Tomatoes: bad weather the past two summers made growing them a challenge. I like to grow a variety: Roma, Cherry, Grape, Salad(small guys), and some super-sweets.
Those that performed best for me the past 2 years: Juliet, Sweet Million, Early Girl, Sungold, Viva italia & Stupice. i had a few heirlooms - that was a bust. But i wouldn't hesitate trying them again - it's not fair to hold wet & cool temps against them. I think it depends on how you like toms - i like to sit in the garden & graze. so do my dogs! You'd have to talk to them about the Viva Italia & Black Krim...

Just because, I would HATE to ENABLE...lol...Here is the website for my two DL splurges: http://www.kimsdaylilies.com/

I love big, bold flowers, and it helps out that both of the DL's have either teeth, or eyes...woohoo!

Just opened the 2009 Plants Delights catalogue.
They are the only nursert who carry the clematis I have been lusting for since last fall.
Not only is the vine expensive, every plant they have is expensive and the shipping would have put the plants at $40.dollars each.
Since its at the edge of my hardiness zone I bit hard and took a pass.
It will be some sort of clematis "regulare" to go behind my agastache Blue Fortune.
Siggggggh.

I am standing pretty tough on myself (compared to other years). There are frozen w/s plants out on my patio that never got planted from last year. I have an order with Ashdown roses, but it's to replace some that died last year before they ever got in the ground, so I had credits:

Nahema
Brother's Grimm
Winter Sunset
Vanguard
Robert Leopold

I have a bunch of seeds for a 'chocolate' garden from the fall Summer Hill Seeds co-op: chocolate vine, columbine 'Chocolate Soldier', chocolate morning glory, foxglove 'Milk Chocolate', chocolate Joe-Pye weed, penstemen 'Chocolate Drop', rudbeckia 'Chocolate Orange', sunflower 'Chocolate, viola 'Frosted Chocolate' (maybe 1 or 2 more)

I've already received my veggie seeds from Park (we garden on our patio):

Pepper 'Big Bertha'
Cauliflower 'Amazing'
Cucumber 'Park's Bush Whopper'
Cucumber 'Salad Bush'
Tomato 'Park's Whopper'
Tomato 'Applause'
Bean 'Tenderette'
Corn 'Bonus Hybrid'
plus a couple of other things for fun, glory vine, gourds and ornamental kale

I am very tempted by the seedless tomato in the Burpee catalog. Also their 'Snack Pack' watermelon. but I haven't ordered yet.

Grampa - Your choice of the Vanguard rose is a good one. I planted one in my Mom's coastal Maine garden a year ago and it's doing extremely well. Repeats nicely and is one of the first to bloom.
My Mom can't stop talking about the colors in the flowers either.
Enjoy!

ge1836,
There is a nursery near me, Hummingbird Farm, that will be doing more Clematis in 2009. The new stuff is not up yet, but the prices are reasonable. Not all things are sent by mail, but these are.
http://www.hummingbirdfarm.net/clematis_mailorder.htm