Star, I was also going to say, do you have a lot of pictures? lol That is always my problem, if you put all your pics on disks or a external hard drive or one of those zip thingies it will clear up a HUGE amount of space. Mine were taking up something like 6 GBs! : )
Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #22
Star, at least you didn't get the blue screen of death! Very good news indeed. : )
Thanks for being the seed co-ordinator for this years swap, you've done a hard job with grace and heart. I am so glad to know my pitiful few contributions will help others to rebuild. A big HUG to you, Star. : )
The computer forum is going to be very helpful. Did I ever say that DG is like an onion, you peel off one layer, and there is another. You go to one forum, and someone provides you with a great hyperlink to another forum that gives you answers to your questions. I love this place! : )
WIB!
SW
You are exactly right SW. In the past three weeks I've gotten major help on DG with everything from seeds, to scrapbooking, to digital picture frames. Not only are the people here extremely knowledgeable, but they're incredibly willing to share that knowledge with those of us who struggle. (Sure wish there was something I was good at so I could give a little back. LOL!)
Now.
Soil sterilized
Containers cleaned
Seeds staring me in the face
Oh boy oh boy where do I start?
I don't mean to step on anyone's toes, but I have never sterilized seed starting mix. Please don't be mad at me anyone but I just wanted to say that, so anyone that might be getting intimidated by all that wouldn't give up. I know because it was not too long ago that the intimidated newbie, seed starter was me : )
So far I guess I have been lucky, because I have not had any problems so far. I also have never soaked seeds in hydrogen peroxide, or put it in my water for watering. I'm sure both of those things make the odds of problems arising near miniscule so they are definitely a good idea. I just wanted to share that I don't think it is absolutely necessary to do all that. If I had to do all that I would probably end up procrastinating and end up never starting anything lol.
I do always bottom water and I always make sure I save some seeds just in case. So that way, if I do get dampening off or other problems. I will have some backup seeds and then I can take all those extra precautions that everyone has wonderfully shared. I also use mostly pro-mix and it says there is no need to sterilize it on the bag, so I don't know if that's the only reason I haven't had problems. Although I have used other stuff here and there in a pinch.
I do make sure I use new inserts every year and do a bleach dip for used pots if I reuse them. This year I plan on doing the bleach dip on my trays and domes, because I have all ones that I used last year. I think certain things are more tempermental than others but all the stuff I've grown from seed so far hasn't been. This is my germination list from last year, http://davesgarden.com/tools/journal/viewbycat.php?cat=59757 and everything there had been successfully planted out and was still doing well up until the bad weather came.
Winter veggies? Wetting the soil thoroughly?
You are way ahead of me, La_LaJane. Your time will come for giving back, Heh, heh. heh. : )
I went back and reread everything on winter sowing which led to more threads and got some great ideas.
Not really clear on the cleaning the containers with bleach thing. Soak each container for five minutes in cold H20? Does this work on laundry too? Mom drives me nuts by soaking whites in hot bleach water overnight. After a while the bleach odor is overwhelming to me. I prefer cold water ('cause I'm cheap/thrifty) and let it run right away. The bleach breaks down after only five or six minutes? Must go through a lot of bleach.
The consensus is divided on whether or not it is necessary to sterilize the potting soil. Way too much to take it all in at once. Especially the temp. thing. I'm so confused! (Shakes head sadly.)
One idea for anyone wanting a neat way to start a seed that doesn't like to be transplanted. Start your seeds in a waxed paper cup. One or two per cup. Cover with baggie, (use sticks or drinking straws to make tent), vent. When ready to transplant, plant the whole cup, it will degrade into the soil, and holds up well to the weather, unless it gets hot enough for the wax to melt.
I've used this method many times with kids out here for field trips, and have had many successful reports back from the teachers/kids. They usually do it as a class project. Had no idea, this would be useful in winter sowing. Just trying to get the seed cups back to school without spillage. Rubber bands helped hold on the baggies, and the venting was done when they got back to school. They were transported in beverage flats. The kinds that you get cases of soda or water in.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
WIB,
SW
Meredyth, we cross posted, but we must be on the same wavelength. : )
Still confused about the bleach thing though. You say dipped. Please elucidate/educate. : )
WIB,
SW
I founs and article about the amount of bleach to use and how long to soak for. I am going to try and find it. But I think it was 8 parts water to one part bleach. Please don't use that until I find out the def. right amount though! : ) To figure out how much, I go by the container I use to soak in and figure out how much bleach to add. It isn't really a dip though, because the one I went by said an hour? At least I am pretty sure. Let me go try and find that page, it was geared towards greenhouse growers, so I figured it had to be decent info. : )
Okay it seems the hour was way off, it also seems that there are a lot of different recommendations. I think maybe I soked stuff for an houyr towards the end when I was trying to make up for the blewaches half life which is talked about in the first info I have listed.
This is where I got this info from: http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/greenhouse_management/ghsanitz.html
Chlorine bleach. There are more stable products than bleach to use for disinfecting greenhouse surfaces. Chlorine bleach may be used for pots or flats, but is not approved for application to walls, benches or flooring. When used properly, chlorine is an effective disinfectant and has been used for many years by growers. A solution of chlorine bleach and water is short-lived and the half-life (time required for 50 percent reduction in strength) of a chlorine solution is only two hours. After two hours, only one-half as much chlorine is present as was present at first. After four hours, only one-fourth is there, and so on. To ensure the effectiveness of chlorine solutions, it should be prepared fresh just before each use. The concentration normally used is one part of household bleach (5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) to nine parts of water, giving a final strength of 0.5 percent. Chlorine is corrosive. Repeated use of chlorine solutions may be harmful to plastics or metals. Objects to be sanitized with chlorine require 30 minutes of soaking and then should be rinsed with water. Some would say that rinsing is not necessary. Bleach should be used in a well-ventilated area. It should also be noted that bleach is phytotoxic to some plants, such as poinsettias.
Here's another http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/3-16-1994/clean.html
Cleaning and Disinfecting Plant Containers
As warmer weather approaches many of us are digging out previously used plant containers for use again this gardening season. Whether the pot is clay or plastic, mineral deposits and other debris can accumulate that may harbor disease organisms and cause problems for your plants. It is important to clean and disinfect old pots each time you use them. Mineral salts can be both unsightly and damaging to plants. The salts leach through clay pots forming a white film on the outside of the pot creating an unsightly container by some gardeners standards. Salts can also accumulate around the rims of both clay and plastic containers. Salt deposits on container rims can dehydrate plant stems resting there.
To disinfect pots, soak them in a solution containing one part household bleach to 9 parts water for a minimum of 10 minutes. Then put pots in a dish detergent and water solution. To clean clay pots use steel wool or a wire-bristle brush to remove mineral deposits and other debris. If mineral deposits remain, use a knife to scrape them off. Rinse pots thoroughly and soak them in a bucket of clean water until you are ready to use them. Dry clay pots can wick moisture away from the potting medium dehydrating newly potted plants. Plastic pots are easier to clean requiring only a scouring pad. Mineral salts remaining can be scraped away with a knife. Smooth any rough edges with steel wool. Rinse the pot and it is ready for reuse.
Proper cleaning and disinfecting of pots requires just a minimum amount of effort, yet can mean the difference between the success or failure of containerized plants. Take those extra few minutes to assure success.
This article originally appeared in the March 16, 1994 issue, pp. , 1994 issue, pp. 23-24.
by Sherry Rindels, Department of Horticulture
Just like a tasty sweet onion! : )
Thanks Meredith, that cleared that one up for me. I've got some more prepping to do now.
I also like to bottom water. Much easier for me. I save the plastic trays that come with the store veggie plates among other things, like beverage flats that will work as well.
About algae in the green house, my eldest brother has been treating it the way they recommend in the article with ammonia. I can't because it's one of those things I'm allergic to. : (
WIB,
SW
I sterilize seed starting mix just to hedge my bet... I wouldn't say it's a necessary step, unless you've had problems with damping-off... same with adding hydrogen peroxide or chamomile tea to water... I do it because it won't hurt, and it might help, but if you're feeling overwhelmed, by all means -- simplify! :-)
I do like to either use the damp-paper-in-baggie method for germination or to sow seeds in a seed starting tray and then transplant the seedlings... again, not strictly necessary, but i hate having half a flat of non-germinating seeds taking up space under my lights! LOL
for cleaning container... i rinse. period. never bleached.
i also do not sterilize soil. I can see doing it for indoor sown seeds though.
i read somewhere, that the sterilizing the soil also kills the 'good stuff' into soil along with the bad.
Or whole area is flooding/ Entire towns being evacuated. The mayor of our town gave me an evacuation notice today. I helped sandbag at the Fire Station this afternoon. It was flooding, but the poor people who live across the street (on the river) now have the river raging through their front yards. News said 28,000 people were evacuated in Orting area (10 miles down the road). We aren't in any danger of flooding at our house (we live in the country 1 mile out of town), but the mayor said most of the roads are closed around us. I will go back to the Fire Station tomorrow am and see if they need more help. We are a teeny tiny town, so there isn't much manpower, but those who did show up worked very hard to help their neighbors. Looks like some of my seeds from you guys will help out a few gardens in my town who are now victims of this devastating flood. So thank you everyone in advance!!!
Lynn -- my heart goes out to everyone effected by this latest weather disaster.
this country certainly has had our share lately.
Oh Lynn bless your heart and those of your neighbor's as well. I'm crossing my fingers that the water will recede soon.
Terese you are a winter sower only, aren't you? You are doing better than me 'cause I don't even rinse out my WS containers (unless they've still got milk in them.) For me wintersowing and indoor sowing are 2 completely different animals. I try to practice keep pretty good hygiene for indoor germination, but all I worry about with wintersowing is decent soil and moisture. Mother Nature will usually take care of the rest.
I tried something new this year....I made a batch of home made seed starting soil. I admit that I do get a little irked at the expense of that stuff, but I'm experimenting primarily because I didn't want to make yet another trip into town (I live out in the sticks.) I may be wrong, but I think the big difference in the SS soil is that it's finer and it's lighter. So I mixed some perlite and MG in an OLD blender (it leaks) and ground it until it was the same consistancy of the seed starting stuff. Does anybody see any reason why that wouldn't work? I'll be sure to let you know the results.
Lala -- i may start a few things in doors. I do have a heat mat, some of those domed covered "flats"
but with Kitty, which is new to us, not sure how it's gonna work, since he gets everywhere.
Lynn, you have a big heart! I hope you will be okay, and your neighbors too. Keep us posted!
Thanks for all the help and ideas with the wintersowing, which I will be doing outdoors.
WIB!
SW
LOL @ kitty. Certainly not laughing >i> at you either. You may remember the big Aldo escapade a few months ago. Those are actually the seeds I'm staring tonight.
Oh boy the suspense is killing me. Petunias, coleus, or snaps. What's it gonna be? LOL!
I don't sterilize etc. for outdoor sowing or winter sowing. Also, I use regular Pro Mix for seed starting (it comes in huge bales) rather than paying for the special seed starting mix. I do get a 4 ft. long bag of perlite that I use to lighten the soil mix for African violets, and I usually add extra perlite to the mix for my seed starting trays also, but it's probably not vital.
Even if a chunky bit of mix ends up on top of a tiny seed, well, you'd be amazed at how strong those little seedlings can be!
Lynn, I hope you and your neighbors stay safe!
I've found that using fine vermiculite works great for covering seeds especially those that need a little light to germinate (like Salvias.)
Oh, kitty's and plants :-).
This past summer, I got a box full of cuttings from a nice DGer for postage. When I saw how many there were, I ran out and bought one of those plastic storage containers that slide under the bed and a bunch of styro cups. I carefully potted up each cutting in it's own cup. There had to be at least 30 cups. I put water in the bottom of it. And I excitedly gleamed at my new creation. Sometime the next day. I noticed 5 of the cups on one side thrown out of my contraption with big gaping holes in the sides of the cups. Since everything in my house now gets blamed on my youngest child. That's where I placed this one :-). Fixed it all up. Next day. 8 cups on the floor demolished. Mad!!!!!!!!! Plants were thrown and broken, one was missing (found it 5 days later, dead of course). I salvaged what I could and drained out the soil from the bottom. Put in fresh water. I walked in about a half an hour later. And there was my cat Moo Moo (DH named her after my protest... she has spots like a cow), swiping at my cups. She would get it stuck on her paw and then shake it off, throwing it. Swipe another, shake. Drinking the nice cool water.... I forgot how she likes to dump over my vases on the table to drink the water out of them. It didn't cross my mind that she would toss plants to drink the water!
She also tries to use the bigger potted plants as her own personal potty. So, I have resorted to balling up a bunch of tin foil in them. I read that some where and it has worked so far. :-P
There are many more stories as my cats are now 11 and 6. You'll have lots to share over the years with your kitty too ;-)
Andrea
Lynn, I hope you and your family and home stay safe and that your community rebounds quickly. I live in a small town too. They sure do know how to pull together!
Andrea
LaLa, Perlite and MG. What is MG? I get perlite and vermiculite mixed up. Need to make a new shopping list. I just ordered some supplies to make my own rooting hormone and super duper plant growing, bigger root, more bigger flowers ,love potion number 9. You guys are so inspiring!
I loved the story about the curious kitty. LMAO
Lynn, let me know what you might need after the cleanup. I have many bulbs, daylilies, and (yeppers) seeds that I would love to share with your neighbors. I am an ex-pat from Vancouver Washington (not BC, for those of you that do not live in the NW- Vancouver WA is actually down near Portland Ore) with big webbed feet living in SC. Also I was the volunteer coordinator for one of the Katrina airlifts that was flown into Columbia SC in 2005. So I know what you are going through (I know that it floods every year in WA, but not this badly). I would be very thrilled to share with my Washington sisters and brothers.
Luckily my family in Vancouver and Renton are fine. Wet, but fine.
My prayers are with you and I hope that the cricks go down soon. The pictures on CNN and the weather channel are really sad. But Washingtonians are a tough bunch.
Please be careful and watch for electrical lines. In the Big Blow in 62 (63?) one of my neighbors nearly lost his life by coming too close to a downed live wire - he did not realize that the wet ground acted just like he was in a bathub.
Please take care and let us know how we can help. Blessings to you for helping take care of your neighbors even if your house is not in the flooded area.
Oh, and you have dmail.
Lorie
This message was edited Jan 8, 2009 2:34 AM
I am sure that Ella will send some extras Lynn's way to help out her and her neighbors too:)
Andrea-I was laughing so hard at the image this am!! I imagine it was hilarious to watch even though you were madder than the hatter!!! My cat likes to crawl in EVERY box around the house of course and we get a sense of entertainment when she gets stuck in a little one;) Sorry-mean I know, but so darned funny!!
Lynn
MG = Miracle Grow, as in the bags of potting soil
Morning all.
MG. Miracle Grow
Vermiculite. Fine grade works better, if no fine grade, run regular vermicultite over a small pice of screen to break it down. Can be added to heavy potting soil, but best used as a very light cover over the seeds that need darkness before you put them under your lights. Also helps hold the seedlings in place while seeds that germiante on top the soil get their radicles out and down in the soil.
Perlite. White. Helps with aeriation in heavy soil and for those folks who have a tendency to over water. It absorbs some of the water and as plants dry out it will skrink and help create ait spaces. Roots gotta have air.
Andrea... Oh man. all that work just to have the kitty use it for play toys. LOL
Yep, every gardener has different ways of doign things. Lot sof good advice from folks and what great abotu it, is ya try somethign and it don't work, ya keep goign down the list of all the suggestions until ya get to the one that works for you. The whole thing is to try. get your seed and some pottign soil if ya starting in the house and keep trying.
The basics. Don't over water. Give plenty of light . Give proper ventilation ( yes Virginia talkign to your plants is good for them, also when bigger inside dusting them lightly with a clean for plant use only feather duster.) Fertilize at proper times. But most of all just enjoy what ya do. Let gardening be the best therapy and physical excerice ya can get. Whether ya have success or failures, It such a rewarding hobby.
You'll discover things cna get to be an expert on. Things that die if ya even think about looking at them ( violets shrink and quiver and then croak if I get near them) it all a learning process, but mainly a way to even enjoy more the beautiful blessign of flowers and trees and such that nature has provided for all of us.
Lynn. Know what ya goign through. Watche d the one town I lived in totally go under water. Worked for weks fillign sandbags and such. My apartment was above a garage and let an elderly cuple stay in it through flood since I was staying at stadium fillign bags and making food. They kept my plants watered for me and then when the waters reseced, what a mess and helpign folks to try and clean out homes and get rid of the mold and mildew and dead stuff from the rivers.
Lynn. Saw abotu the floodign on the tv. Didn't realiz e it was yoru area. Glad you and yoru home ok. Hope those waters receed fast. Have extra box for Pull Tabs community and still have plenty of common seed and leftovers that don't fit into peoples wish lists so will make you an extra box too and send it and you cna share aroudn with folks. : )
Like somebody told me those little extras wil work good for sashes of color here and there and planted on little corners or where they wil bring a smile and a bit of color and hope for folks.
We probably got enough Calendula here for some for every person in the town. LOL
Funny how some will run into issues that require extra steps to deal with while others don't. I know a member in the UK who makes all her own potting compost, never sterilizes anything, and can grow the most unusual and exotic plants from seed! I think I'm a walking fungus attractor, I gotta do it all, LOL.
Ya. Carolyn, that way too. Give her just abotu anythign and man it grows. I always havign to ask her about something.
Any of y'all want some mixed Lupine seeds? Pirl sent me the most generous package of seed from her gorgeous plants. Lupines don't like heat and humidity, so these will be experimental for me, but I'd like to get some to any of you northerners, who'll be ensured success with them (and any other southerners who want to try some zone pushing).
Just getting caught up since yesterday sometime. What a chatty group we are, I love it.
I am trying to WS most of my seeds, but there are a few that some have said do not WS well so will start them indoors, in fact, planted some heliotrope a couple of days ago. I have had good success using toilet paper rolls. Here's a link explaining it. http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/04/13/toilet-roll-seed-starter/
I also noticed in one of the recent DG articles that some one recommended cutting up wrapping paper rolls and using the same way. Got some of those saved, too, so will probably try that. I liked her suggestion of only cutting four sections in the bottom so the sections would stay "locked" closed. Will sure try that with the tp rolls too. Just love that you can plant them directly in the dirt to decompose.
Lynn, sure hope things are looking better for y'all today. Keep us posted.
Tonya
Thanks for that link Tonya-how neat!!
LOL - anything that doesn't like heat and humidity surely doesn't need to come here! It was 77 - 4 days ago...... now of course, it is 35!
Critter, can you send the links to that winter sewing info or dmail me....I can't for the life of me find those links and I need to do LOTS of reading because i don't have a CLUE what I am going to do with all those seeds!!!
Genna
great article - thanks for sharing!
Genna
Glad y'all enjoyed it. Due to her Alzheimer's my MIL used to keep empty tp rolls lined up in her bathroom (maybe some OCD, too?) Now I tease my hubby that he married his mom! You should see the bags of tp rolls I have. I was just thinking today, I may have enough for now, since I'll be doing so much WSing! I have also found that empty cookie tins and foil roasting pans work well to stand them up in and if the cookie tin is small enough, you can put it in a large zip lock bag for the hot house effect. Yes, I'm cheap.
Tonya
QUick question --- i had a gal [new to DG as of today] and she wants/needs some of my Sedum Acre ... well, even though it's still green.. it's pretty well frozen solid ... i did manage to find it under the snow and dig a bit up.... well, scrape it with a small shovel and there are tiny roots attached.
what are the odds of this stuff surviving? I planned on mailing it today to VA.
any insight would be great.
Lynn, I grew up on the West Coast - and I know how much flooding can be a danger. We are all hoping for the best for you and your neighbours.
Lynn - I hope the flooding doesn't get to you - I know how nasty and worrisome that can be.
And may I just say....WOOF! I had no idea that sterilizing soil and containers could encompass so many variations! Me? I'm gonna get me a bucket, put some bleach and water in it, and wash down the containers and rinse. I water from the bottom with either a dilute of H2O2 or chamomile tea (sometimes it's nice to share a cup of tea with my plants).
Andrea, rotflol. You might want to try putting pebble sized rocks in your indoor pots. I pick up pretty pieces of quartz to keep the cats from using them as potties. It has worked quite well for me. Foil balls would be turned into toys at my place. My YB#2 has a cat that likes to drink from the faucet. It is a very strange cat. While the faucet it on, he puts his paws in it. Don't know if he is trying to "catch" the running water or what. Maybe, he is just easily amused. : )
I would like to try some Lupine, Star. We used to have some growing near us. So beautiful. I went to collect seed this past year, but they'd already disced the ground with a tractor. They plan on developing there. It is native in some places around here, but loosing more and more habitat. Hoping I can find a good place where it will grow and multiply.
I have friends up in Washington Lynn, and they are pretty strong self-reliant people. I like the idea of spreading the flowers around to brighten up lives. What a nice thought. : )
WIB,
SW
Tcs. Sorry not here sooner. Yoru plant shoudl do fine, Sedum is one tough cookie of a plant. I have seen where there looked ot be absolutely no way that it would ever grow agai only to let it have som esunshien and a tad bit of warmth and off she will go again.
Mail lady just left. More piggies arrived.
gen2026 Yah!!!!!
Fairy Yah!!!!!!!!
Fairy yoru box arrived just in time. I was goign blind going through my stuff and digging out pansies and snaps and violas for extras for folks and Got to look at all the cute prints on yoru seeds : )
Soon as I can find my camera cord, buried somewhere under seed piles. Thought I had foudn it , but was the fertlizer cord. Will hutn for the cord later, busy with seeds while I have daylight. Don't quite fit the camera. I gotta show ya what Fairy sent. Susie our Queen piggy, long may she reign, but I the head of the pig trough. LOL hahahahah Ya did good Fairy. : )
SWAP NOTICE
I will be finishign things up here in the next couple of days, makign sure the regulars all to hundred or better packets, except for those specifically requestiing none or few back and their extras goign for surviors, and then boxign the rest up for Pull Tabs and Lynns communities to rebuild.
If anybody has problem with that and wants extra seeds throwed into their bucket, dmail me in private and will be glad to give ya a few extra.. extras in your bucket