Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #21

Fairy, those are those pesky Hibiscus weevils. I've seen them mate and lay their eggs in/on the green developing seed pods. The larva eats the embryo out of the seed before turning in to bug form.

You could bag the seeds pods early on so they couldn't get to them. If you have seeds that you think may be infected, put them in a zip-lock bag and but them in the freezer for 3 days. It won't help seeds that have been eaten already, but it should save some.

I hate those things!

Thanks Danita-I will try that this year-boy was I mad!!! A whole bag of unuseable seeds!!!!!!

Fairy.... Don't worry. I got plenty of hibiscus seeds here. Just send me a dmail with who was supposed to get some and I will make sure they get some.

If ya go here: and go down to about January 20th 2008 about 6 am you wil find how I build my stands and how I germinate all my seeds with pics down the rest of the thread.


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/800902/


Singing Wolf. Had to think a litle bit, but finalyl figured it out and think I got most all kinds of critters covered for ya. : )

Thanks for that link Star - I just read through the whole thing and noticed a significant chat about damping off and gnats. I water from the bottom, but only use water that has either hydrogen pyroxide (H2O2) or a dilute of chamomile tea - and have not had any damping off problems (still knocking on wood!). I also don't get carried away with keeping them too wet. Fortunately I've not had gnat problems, but have a stash of diatomaceous earth waiting just in case.

Thing is alot of folks los eplants to damping off, but it not necessarily from over watering. if ya want to really help yoru seeds off it good to give then a bath in some hydrogen peroxid ebefore startign them. Doesn't kil all the germs on them but it take sout alot that as soon as wate rhits them they start germinating even before your radicles start emerging.

Hello All,
Wanted to give you update on LeBug, she said was okay to let all know she is fine just tired and resting . Her Dad is doing okay he is in nursing home now she says its hard because he wants to go home with her when she goes to see him, She says she'll be back on soon .
Keep her in your prayers,
Carolyn

regarding gnats and those 'white flies' [I'm assuming those are the tiny white lil flying things that lay eggs on the under side of leaves.... [I did get some Neem Oil, btw, for those lil white things...]

BUT -- where do they come from?? the bugs i mean.

My hiubiscus is outside all year, i check it when it comes in... but i always get those lil white bugs.... the first hear i had my hibiscus, my sister stated she had one, ... errrr, was it a different tropical that mom gave her. [i know the name will hit me later]

anyhoooo -- but she said that those white flies [bugs] killed her plant... and my sister has WAY more than a green thumb than I do.

so -- where do those bugs come from? and the gnats that kill seedlings?

They in the air everwheres. Soemtimes youc na stand at yoru window and look out just acros sthe yards and you wil see them swarmign and flying. The more ya feed the birds and have hummers aroudn the less you will have the knats cuz they will eat them.

You can't se them they so tiny, but if ya open yoru door just to go in and out the house ya bring them in with ya if there any flyign in the air. They cna smell a juicy plant for miles I swear. LOL

Good to hear that Lea is doing OK - thanks!

I blame bananas on the gnats I get.

Edited to add: I also refer to Critter's articles on seeds and such:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/by.php?user=critterologist

This message was edited Jan 2, 2009 11:33 AM

Thanks for the plug, Dryad! I just went back to the first "Seed Starting 101" article on lights (http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/manage/viewstory.php?rid=464) to add links to the other articles in that series in a table at the bottom. Hopefully that will make the articles easier to find, although if you use the list of all my articles in Dryad's post, you'll see the thumbnail photos and intro paragraphs.

I've also written a couple of articles on Winter Sowing. :-)

No problem Critter - I love pimping my friends' stuff :-D

And it gave me a nudge to add that list of links to the first article, as I'd been intending to do for, oh, for quite some time, LOL.

Thanks Critter. The links help! : )
Thanks Dreams for letting us know how LeBug is doing.
Going to prepare some more containers today for planting. : ) Might actually plant some seed I've had for a year or so and see what happens.
Where do you find those plastic tags you can write on? The ones you stick in the pots to remind you what you planted? Has anyone made them out of recycled material?
WIB!
SW

hi SW

i make mine out of mini blinds that people discard..i cut them to size

pam

SW, old plastic window blinds work beautifully. I've also cut up white plastic milk jugs and cat litter containers and they worked great too.

So glad to hear a good report on Lea and her dad. Such a heart wrenching situation. My mom asks to be taken home all the time too, except she IS home. Nevertheless, she doesn't recognize it as such, and is so upset by it, and its so upsetting to witness. (((Lea))), you're in my thoughts.

Robin, I know what you mean about some of the new Echies and Rudbeckias, but I don't believe 'Prairie Glow' is quite as far removed from it's naturally occurring counterparts, Rudbeckia triloba (Three lobed Rudbeckia). From what I've been reading, not much selection or breeding has been done with them, but they sound like a great garden plant.

Do any of you grow these?

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/121175/

I cut up little yogurt cups for my labels ^_^


Hey - it's Friday afternoon, right? Almost the weekend . . . so I can wintersow some stuff, right? ummmmm . . . .maybe I better plan how to get all the stuff prepared for next term first - well, I still have 12 days, but then I have to start teaching winter session on Monday . . . sigh.

I wanna play in the dirt!!!!!!!

Yeppers Neal, I've got those on the south side of the house, by the driveway. They are so hardy they don't mind me losing my footing and tromping on them every now and then. And they seem to like to volunteer as well...

On the plastic window blinds - I read somewhere that as those break down they release lead into the soil, so I'd strongly recommend rethinking using those (I know, they're so darn cheap....). I use cut up yogurt containers, cottage cheese containers, etc. One of the things I really like about the yogurt containers is if you use the kind with the lip, and also use the DG Journal for tracking things, you can write the Journal number on that lip in addition to writing the name and number on the side. (Learned that one from Suzy.)

Edited to say - go ahead and play in the dirt Seandor!! I just planted up two trays of pansy and viola seeds. As soon as it thaws a bit, I've got two bags of topsoil outside that are going in gallon containers for WSing, and am hoping to get that done the 10-12.

This message was edited Jan 2, 2009 3:42 PM

Uuuuuuggg...glad to know about the lead Robin! I've been out of those for a long time and using various containers, but I won't be fishing any more of those out of dumpsters, LOL. Have you grown Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'? I'm curious how R.triloba compares. Sounds like it has the same tough as nails nature as Goldsturm. So, did you save seeds from yours? (...you should have known that was coming, LOL).

I did have seeds, but didn't get to them fast enough - the finches got them instead :) I got a 'Goldsturm' from sis for my birthday last year, it's in the front yard and hopefully won't need to be relocated due to our plumbing/sewer issue. If so, I may need to get another one if it doesn't transplant well. Guess I'm gonna have to try to save some of those triloba seeds, eh?

(HA! Edited for some wild spelling.)

This message was edited Jan 2, 2009 7:38 PM

Oh yes! They look more graceful than other Rudbeckias. Goldsturm is as tough a plant as there is, so transplanting won't be a problem. Acutally, you'll probably have so many seedlings that you won't need to bother.

dryad57 - I'm a bit mystified by violas. They are classified as annuals but when I read sowing instructions it says to sow in Nov for blooms next season or sow in June for fall blooms. Am I to be sowing them inside all winter for spring blooms or direct sowing them outside in Nov? Or ws them? Since your mentioned just sowing a bunch, thought I'd ask you - we are in the same growing zones. I want to add these beauties to my edible garden.

I traded for some Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow' and the lady I got them from said the finches loved to eat the seeds but it still managed to self seed like crazy and bloomed in a mixture of colors.

Just when I thought I was getting a little bit ahead, had finally gotten over 2,000 envies made and labled and stuffed from me to piggies and gues s what. Three more piggies arrived today. had to set up another table til I find a spot to spread them out.

About every inch is covered in seeds in some stage. I feel like I could just SPROUT!!!!!! LOL.

Big kitchen table has blue index cards with wish lists on it and pile sstarting to fil those, stil got two big tables set up with extras workign through. My coffe e table filled with my extras to finish sortign through, piggy buckets lining the living room , papers, boxes, envies, return tags and postage and stuff all laid out on bed. Am I havign fun yet??????? heheheheh You bet.

Oh we got a new piggy today too another Ike Survior who lost everything, it was washed away plants and seds, so makign a piggy bucket for becky3465.

Piggy seeds that have arrived today....

AJINTEXAS
Critter
LynnWeidman

RatherBeDigging is on the way, so waitign for Fairy to get here and the plan is hopefully by near the end of next week to get everybody all packed and loaded and on to the postoffice.

Wait til ya all see what Lynn made ya all. Nope I aint telling. Ain't I a stinker? : )

The day I go to post office, gonna see if neighbor home and take pics to show all the journey it gonna be wild for sure.

Ok, back to this little piggy gets one, this little piggy gets two , this little piggie gets..... : )

Thanks for all your hard work, Star!

Chele, violas and pansies are cold hardy annuals. The transplants can go in the ground in fall or early spring. November would be too late to start seeds for our areas, you'd want them in the ground by then to get rooted and settled in for winter. Last year I started some at the first of September and planted them in November. That was still too late to see fall blooms, probably would need to start them in August to see blooms in fall. They were gorgeous last spring. I also picked up some plants last fall discounted at Lowes that were in bloom, and those produced blooms occasionally through the fall and winter. This year I'll be sowing (in a few days) under lights to have them ready to set out around March 1.

Danita, I'm counting on you having great success growing 'Prairie Glow' and getting seeds from them :-) I noticed Select's site said they self sow. Oooohh, and in a mixture of colors too!

Star, you're such a trooper taking your entire living space for all this! I love getting all OCD with stuff like that, sure wish I was closer to help.

I'd better get some cold hardy stuff sown now! It's already starting to green up, but our coldest months are coming up.
Thanks for all your suggestions. May have to go with wood craft sticks until I collect enough containers to make all the labels I need. (Don't eat much yogurt, but do eat sour cream and cottage cheese!) Won't use those nasty blinds I'm getting rid of. Thanks for the heads up on the lead, Robin. I thought they were just made out of plastic. I'll keep my eyes open for other suitable stuff to recycle into plant id stakes.
Got to help my son figure out what courses he is going to take this coming semester. (He's being silly about a mouse he caught in the critter food, KIDS!) : )
WIB,
SW

Singing Wolf. Don't use craft sticks. They breed fungus. The wood gets wet and molds even though ya don't see it.

us e plastic, if ya got some old pvc pipe aroudn that works. Me I been using old blinds for about 5 years now and never had a problem. Need to read abotu lead supposedly beign in them. That a new one on me. Ya got a link to about that????????

Ok, runnign to store. Need more pringles for strength. heheheheh Good excuse as any for havign another can of them. : )

plastic knives work well too, and they're cheap.

Good ideas! Been scratching my noggin over that one. No one ever uses all the plastic knives. I think I might even have some blue ones hanging around someplace. : )
I didn't want to use wood. Last time I tried, even the indelible ink markers ran on them, then faded. Sigh.
Let me know if you find out different on those window blinds, ok?
Thanks!
WIB,

Oh Star, now you're gonna make me dig around for that thing I read on blinds, aren't ya? First I'm gonna have to see if I can fire up the brain cells to remember if I read it in a magazine, in the newspaper, or online - and if online, where....I'm sure I didn't have the brains to bookmark it. I do remember reading that as they age they shed off a powder-like substance, and the lead leaches out of that. Makes you wonder how much lead is in other every-day things....

Chele - Neal nailed it, they're plants that don't mind cooler temps which is one of the reasons they're pretty much the first thing that garden centers sell in the spring. If you can keep them through a hot summer they'll revive in the fall and rebloom. Conversely, if you plant new ones in the fall they have a great chance of getting established and surviving the winter to bloom in the spring. I think they fall in the category of "hardy annual" or something like that. I do know that the seeds prefer to start in the dark, so you don't need to worry about lights until they've sprouted. I have mine on heat mats as my plant rack is in my office, which is the coldest room in the house (same temp as the basement, don't know why...) and I figure a room that hovers around 60 degrees is probably a bit too cold even for them.

SW - if you don't have temps cold enough for winter sowing you can always stratify those puppies in the fridge. I know I've got some seeds that require bizarre starting (baggie in the fridge for 2 weeks, then out for 2 weeks, then you have the dogs bark for 4 hours, and try planting....). We've got a fridge in the garage that I'm going to use to start things in baggies this year, so Nora doesn't freak out when she opens the fridge and finds there's nothing but baggies of damp paper towels!

OK, off to find where I read about the mini blinds....

Edited to add:
I did a quick Google, and found this link:
http://www.civilrights.com/LeadedMiniBlinds.php
It's not what I originally read, but it explains it better than the article I'm recalling. If you're sure the blinds are made in the USA you're OK, but if you're getting them second-hand I'm not so sure you could tell.

This message was edited Jan 2, 2009 7:56 PM

Wow, thanks to all for the reminders for starting plants and plant markers the last more than a few weeks. I've been turning beds and flipping the compost piles around and the hens have been eating the -I was going to call them June bug larvae but they start sprouting in Feb and early March- any way, the hens do their part by eating them.

I just recently read about a fellow that cut apart soda cans and writes the plant name into the aluminum with some sort of stylus thingie...

Star, thanks also for remembering our garden club and community gardens.

Happy dance!
Tab

You know Tab, you reminded of something I did last year - I took a couple of milk jugs that I didn't use for WSing and cut them into strips, and used those as markers. Worked really well.

Star you are doing so good! Thank you so much for all the hard work your doing for us! : )
So since evryone's chattin about starting seeds already, can anyone offer advice for Sweet Peas and Snapdragons? I remember people talking about it last year but I didn't have any to start then. I didn't have any luck with them in the past, but I got some for this year. (I think it was too hot for them when I planted them out.) They are both supposed to like cool weather right? So when do you all start them? Thanks for any help. : )

I need to figure out timing for sweet peas in North Carolina, also, since I got some "fancy" ones for my MIL to try. :-)

Meredith, I had success with Sweet Peas for the first time a couple of years ago (after many failed attempts). I used plantable pots to start them in, and started the seed indoors in mid to late February. I planted them out around the end of March in compost rich soil. They bloomed nicely up into July.

I'm also glad you mentioned Snapdragons. I've had good luck with those the last couple of years, but wanted to get an earlier start on them this year...like now! My seedlings have been slow growers, but once they're in the ground they're happy and get crankin'. They get established best when its cool- I try to get them in the ground in April. I've been amazed at how well they've dealt with heat and drought, but I think the key is getting them established before it gets hot.

critter, when do the spring bulbs start blooming where your MIL lives? Thats about the time I'd aim for getting Sweet Peas in the ground.

For me for Sweet peas. I soak mine for 24 hour s in water and hydrogen peroixide. I soak every seed unles s it has come from a comercial pack. Commercial packs have alrady been disinfected somewhat.

Sweet Peas need two to three weeks to germinate at about 60-70F and you ned tolightly cover the seed. I cover all my seed with vermicultite. It light weight, disease free and while offering cover for the seed also allows to filter through.

Now some of you gettign sweet peas from me, there two kind sof sweet peas. There the winter snaps and the summer snaps. The Winter elegance is ones you will want to start now as when they get tall enough they will bloom through winter to early summer. The other type of sweet peas you will want to wait til sprign to start them as they will flower durign the summer and fall months.

Snaps. Liek alot of heat and usually cna germinate in oen to two weeks. at 70-75F. Do not cover the seed. They need light to germinate. You also don't want to start them in soil that is real high in nutrients to begin with. They don't like all that good stuff.

Once they get their first true leaves ya want to keep them at temps around 65F and let them ry out just abotu completely before waterign again, just don't let em wilt. Make sure with any fungicides you use, you onyl us every weak amounts while they young. Same with fertilizer they don't liek alot of fertilzer. If ya have some epsom salt around a very weak tiny amount after they have their first true leaves is good for them.

That all I got, maybe somebody else has other ideas and better ways.

star, I didn't know about the 2 types of Sweet Peas- I bet that has something to do with my hits and misses with them.

I soak pretty much all my seeds in H2O2 solution, commercial ones too, except for tiny ones that clump together when they're wet and hard to sow (then I just bottom water really well with the H2O2 solution). It seems to speed germination quite a lot. My Sweet Peas were up in a week or less, with stragglers following for a couple of weeks.

I use H2O2 solution to water all my seedlings till they get transplanted too.

>>I use H2O2 solution to water all my seedlings till they get transplanted too.

Are we talking "indoor" seedlings, or ever WS"ed seedlings?