There's a glad/lily coop that just started, but I need to know if they really do grow in full Tx sun before I order. It looks like a really great coop if anybody is interested.
Anybody growing glads in Tx, especially 8a?
I know that some perfectly beautiful glads grow well in 9a and 8b zones but mostly people who grow them put in a dozen or so and let them come up and they look lousy because they are spotted about and that doesn't look good. Bulbs should be planted in drifts and if you don't have plenty of them then just plant them all together so they don't look so willy-nilly. Also, those glads fall over in the wind. I never plant them or mostly any bulb except some red spider lilies that a fellow DGer gave me because it does take a lot of bulbs to make a showing and the flowers just don't last that long here. My 2¢ worth.
Ann
Thanks for you answer Ann. I think Dmj has a similar problem with glads. I read a post from her in PF about a glad and she said they don't survive the dormant period well down there.
I have asiatic lilies that are doing really well and PF says to give them full sun, but I know that doesn't work in Tx because the sun is too brutal here even in spring. So they get pm shade.
I know that lots of gardeners lament not being able to have "such and such" bush, vine, etc. like they had in "wherever". When you consider how much we actually CAN grow well here we're not doing bad. No, I've never seen a lilac or a rhododendron but I have seen some great tropical plants here that they have to drag in and out other places in the winter (or summer) and we take them for granted. They have to dig up some bulbs that naturalize here. When I think of the hibiscus and such that practically grows wild if given the right care (or lack of it) here, I don't care that I can't grow some other exotica.
Ann
Yes, you're right. I think Tx in general is a gardener's paradise.:) I have some hostas that might do better further north, but they aren't doing too bad and I can give up tulips ( not that I ever grew them anyway somewhere else). And azaleas are beautiful, but like you said, so are the hibiscus and bouganvilla and jasmin that come back every year in the yard. Antique roses do very well here and so do irises. So if I can't grow glads, Oh well. But since the price is so incredible and the bulbs are awesome, I sure will try if I know somebody has had success. I am very grateful for my 8a zone.:)
I don't have any problem with Glads (species or hybrids). I grow a lot of them too--they are one of my favorite bulbs.
I grow glads here in Houston without problem. They have come back for several years without any problem. I usually plant a mixed group of bulbs that bloom at different times in one space. I have glads, spider lilies, iris and asiatic lilies in one spot, so I have something of color in that spot over a long period of time. I have had a problem with the top heavy glads drooping, but a tomato cage, small piece of chicken wire or even a small ornamental trellis will hold them up well. I have a trellis about 2 feet tall that is ornamental iron and I put it in front of them and no more problems. Do you have a link for the glad co op?
Crow
Glad & Lily co-op: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/945978/ It hasn't started yet.
Oh, yes I know about the coop.:) That's why I am asking the question about what kind of sun they can take in Tx. I am leary of growing instructions that say "full sun" or "drought tolerant" until I talk to somebody else that already grows that plant in Tx. But it sounds like they'll do fine in full sun even here, so I'm looking forward to this. I plan on getting some Atoms at least.
Silver, I've always grown them in full sun and had no problems. It is true about labels not pertaining to our growing conditions though. I've finally learned full sun doesn't mean full Texas sun and size estimates should be doubled at a minimum.
Marilyn, thanks for posting that link. I'll check it out. (Just what I need, more plants!)
full sun--they will be completely dormant by the end of July so will miss most of the "grueling" full sun time of year. All mine are up already...they usually bloom April and then go down quick.
=)
I don't have full sun, but I think the lilies are ok with part sun - isn't that right, Debbie? So I'm watching for those. :-)
lilies yes--glads prefer full sun. I actually only grow species lilies so can't say about the asiatic lilies, etc. but my species lilies get full sun until about 2pm
=)
Thanks, Deb. :-)
anytime Marylyn
=)
I grow them in full Texas sun with some shade after 5 pm due to a privacy fence. They do very well. I planted in groups as they tend to be spindly. I tried to have a gathering ring around them last year and that didn't work very well. They are beautiful but I have to find a good way to see them...all of mine (except an heirloom variety) end up on the "floor" of my garden!
If you are talking about Glads laying over--plant them twice as deep as the directions tell you to and they will stand up. I also grow a lot of species glads and they are even "splindlier" (yes, I make up words as I go along) and I always plant species or hybrids at least 6" deep. Its so warm here they will have no problem at all pushing up and I actually think it helps them stay a "tad" cooler in late summer, too.
Lilies I only grow 4 species so I don't feel confident giving advice on them--what works for me is often quite different from the norm as far as advice goes.
Debbie
Thanks Debbie. I will try planting them deeper. It is mainly the new varieties that are problems for me. My heirlooms seem to do fine for some reason.
probably because they have worked their way deeper--new corms on Glads are formed BELOW the main older corm.
=)
I've grown glads in the past, but I'm really bad about not staking them, and every 5 years or so it will get cold enough that I lose most of them, so I don't plant them any more. Having said that, I have some of the smaller "hardy" glads on order. I'm in 7b. I wouldn't think you would have a problem in 8a.
This message was edited Feb 8, 2009 10:21 AM
I think the shorter Glads are better--or at least I prefer them (probably personal opinion here).
=)
Yes, I'm definitely leaning towards the shorter glads. I'm trying to figure out now if I have the money to buy any from this coop. We are self employed and our business has declined severely. We had to let our employees go last week. Trying not to hold my breath.
Silver, sorry to hear about your business and employees. It's looking difficult for a lot of people's jobs right now. I'm hoping this weak economy doesn't last much longer. So many people out of work, lost savings due to markets, lost homes, etc. It seems Houston has fared much better than most areas of the country, but it's not looking that good here either. Lots of layoffs have started in the oil & engineering business and that's still a huge part of the Houston economy. I hope things improve for you and everyone hard hit very soon.
Crow
I'm sorry things have been so hard this year, Mary Lee. I'm waiting to check my budget before I order some lilies, too.
It's starting to look bad in Houston too--lot's of people have lost their jobs since Ike, were never able to recover or make needed hurricane repairs afterwards. Also a lot of companies are pulling out of Houston; DHL had a major hub here--my next door neighbor has an MBA and worked there for 3 years, she's laid off as of Jan 31; and major cuts in oil and gas; construction out here on the west side has come to a complete stop with houses just left at whatever stage of construction they were in--all the new strip centers built out this way have been sitting completely or nearly completely empty since August. Galveston is virtually a ghost town.
Debbie
Thanks for all kind thoughts. DH keeps telling me that he thinks we'll be busy again soon. He's been right in the past. Several of our customers have told us they want things, but plans are in various stages still, so we haven't had any deposits yet. Getting rid of employees is actually kind of a silver lining for us. They weren't very good - lazy and sloppy. So we just told them we had to lay them off and they didn't argue with us. They don't know they won't be hired back. It's is harder to pay the mortgage now though.
We don't get any news about Houston from the San Antonio station we watch, so I have been wondering how things are down there. I have a brother who is an engineer for Brown and Root. He designs off shore oil rigs. When the crash happened in the 80's he became a perpetual job hunter because he switched to hazardous waste disposal. The companies that do that work dissolve when the job is done. He was always on the job hunt for at least 10 years.
I feel so bad for the people who've been saving for decades for retirement and now their money has evaporated. We are in our mid 50's but our investment has been in our business, which is better in a way because the tools, wood and building are still there.
I wonder too how all the nurseries and hybridizers manage in this economy. I sure don't have much money for plants.
Silver, what a coincidence, I worked in oil business too and spent several years at Brown & Root and over 10 years at Kellogg, Brown & Root. I was a piping designer. I did the piping layouts for pertrochemical refineries, chemical plants, nuclear power plants, offshore rigs, etc. The recession of 1981, 1982 hit the engineering business in Houston really hard. The company I was at went from over 400 piping designers to under 50. Terrible and despressing. I managed to stay employeed, but it was so sad to see so many without work and no prospects. Do you know what discipline your brother worked in? Piping, structural, electrical, etc? I spent over 20 years in various companies and you run into the same people over and over when switching jobs. My husband and oldest son are both working at Jacob's engineering, so my family is still "exposed" to the ups and downs associated with oil. I still miss working. I loved my job.
I don't know how the nurseries are managing either. I've been receiving coupons for 50% off at Cornelius, and I've never seen that before. I'm sure they must be hurting because flower beds aren't a necessity and people are cutting where they can. I saw on the business news this morning where Toyota had it's first annual loss since 1950. Things are looking ugly across all areas of the economy, not just isolated industries. I hope it passes soon and we're all rolling in prosperity (and new flower beds).
Hey Crow, do you know the Meads? They both worked at Kellog and B n R at one time. They were our neighbors in Cypress.
Annette
Crow, he has a bachelors in civil engineering and then went back and got his masters, but I'm sure positive what exact field of engineering the masters was in. I remember now he worked for Brown and Root til the late 70's and switched companies. So when the crash came he was one of the first layed off because he was new with the company. But it taught him to get out there and recreate himself. He got a lot of help from Mom and Dad and had to learn the toxic waste disposal industry, but I think the fact that he could adapt like that made him more valuable as an engineer in the oil industry which is where he is now again. I think he's working for B and R again too.
Annette, I think I know the Meads. Is it a husband and wife that both work in piping? I think they would be in their 50's now, if it's the same couple I'm thinking of. They did a lot of CAD (computer drafting) work. I cannot remember their first names, but pretty sure I worked with them.
Silver, I still have a lot of friends at KBR. I knew a lot of the structural people, which is probably the department your brother would have been in with his Civil Engineering degree. It's great that he was able to adapt and get into the toxic waste field. I suspect that will prove valuable to him now. I think petrochemical engineering in this country is definitely on the decline because they are shipping so much work overseas to areas where it can be done cheaper. Toxic waste and "green" environmental engineering are where the future money in engineering is to be made in this country, or at least that's my opinion. I've been really interested in the T. Boone Pickens wind farm project. I think that's really a great idea. Too bad the economy tanked just as he was trying to put it together. It's still moving forward, but on a much smaller scale than originally planned. I think we, as gardeners, are more aware than most of the environment and the impact people and chemicals make on the earth.
Hope all y'all have a great weekend. The weather here is just gorgeous today. I'm going to be playing outside!
Crow
Crow - It's Ray and Dana. They are the ones, many years ago, that introduced me to gingers and tropicals. We have sort of lost touch. Ray got into orchids, and was involved in the butterfly part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Yes they both did piping. Dana wanted me to go to Kellogg with her and learn it, too! At that time I was happy with my part time job.
Annette
Crow, my brother worked in toxic waste for many years, but went back to oil rigs. Maybe in the late 90's, not sure when. Most of his work has been done outside the US. Alot of it off shore of So Korea, some off Venezuela.
I have only lived in East Texas for a couple of years, but I learned a trick with glads a while back. I plant them in groups of 7 to 9 in a circular hole...about 6" deep. When they begin to come up, I place a tomato cage over them. As they come up through the cage and bloom, they look like a big bouquet of glads. It is beautiful.
I've ordered a bundle on the glads and lily co-op that's active now and am going to try your tomato cage idea, weeds. It sounds as though it would work fine. They are being delivered a little late for us Texas gardeners, but I'm getting some anyway. Shipped late March, so should still have blooms by May.