La, those species Dahlias got about 2 1/2' tall for me, but I had them in an area where there were a lot of tree roots, so I have a feeling they could get taller, maybe 3-4'.
Gardening: Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #30
dahlia loves deep compost rich soil at least 10 to 12 inches mine grow to be at the least three feet tall some over four feet and that is not the dinner plate ones just the old regular ones I just love it they bloom from mid june to frost but I do plant them in pot at the end of april they go out on warm days and in the garage when its to cold for them
then transplant at the end of may
scicciarella - I am thinking about starting MG's soon - but I am worried about how tall they will get. How do you handle this?
What kind of MGs Meredith? Are they special Japanese types?
I have some grandpa ots from last year and I think I did get some japanese ones from the swap this year. I usually start them about 4 wks early and they have never done a whole lot here.
I was curious because I typically just direct sow in May, but our growing season is a little longer (and hotter?). The JMGs I understand benefit from starting early...I'm trying a few this year. There is a continuing thread in the Garden Talk forum about trellises and arbors where I saw the cutest idea!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=6089210
I love the idea of displaying JMGs like that!
I had an odd issue with some Nicotiana. Those I've received from the swap have germinated well and are coming right along, but the N.sylvestris from seed I saved was a no show. Very odd, because I've grown them from saved seed for a few years now. Most of my seed was from '07, so that may have been the issue (although they were kept in the freezer with all the rest, like I've done it for years). I took the covered pot down to the plant room to dump it in the compost pail and sat it there for a couple of days, after which appeared a thick, fuzzy layer of white mold. I was about to dump it yesterday and noticed 3 seedlings had emerged! What's up with that?!
I bought some left over nicotiana seed from a nursery for 50 cents. I looked it up and I found info stating that it has a half life evry year. So half the seeds should germinate it's second year and then half of that should germinate the third. I could be off - I just remmeber them being one that you can't keep forever. Hate to be the bearer of bad news.
Well, I've got a bunch of them, and sowed thickly with decreased viability in mind. Sounds like half of them should have come up. May have been a fluke, I'm going to try another pot. The really weird thing was those that waited till there was mold to come up.
Good luck - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep yours crossed for the ones I bought too - okay? : )
companies give the worse count and the count will be affected only if not properly stored so never store seeds in laundry room, kitchen or basement since the humidity is very bad for seeds they need to be kepted dark and cool but not humid and they will store for many years
I keep all my seeds in the fridge - so hopefully they will germinate for me. : )
Hey guys, I just got some tomato seeds and am wondering when I should start them (indoors under lights) in zone 6a. (always bought plants in the past). I don't think I can put them out til the end of May.
Carolyn says to start them 8 weeks before planting out... there's a link to her info in the sticky thread at the top of the tomato forum. I've been using her seed startign methods for tomatoes very successfully.
Thanks for the scoop on the Dahlia seeds Neal. Is anyone growing bupleurum? According to last year's spread sheet I didn't have any problems, but I'm failing miserably this year. Any one have any tips or ideas? I surface sowed them and have them domed under my counter lights (which is warm but I don't know the exact temp.)
Thanks critter. I didn't even realize there was a tomato forum, but I'll check it out.
the tomato people are very deep and really into those fruits
Did anybody else beside s me buy some of the Tiarella silverado seeds. The so tiny alost need magnifying glass for them. They seem to be takign an awfulyl logn time to get their first true leaves, anybody else noticing this. Just wondered if that normal fo rthem or becuase of the temps changes goign on here. So ar only had three out of package of seed sprout, wondere d if that normal too?
Yeah!!, My WSed stevia sprouted yesterday, lots of them. I am very excited about being able to use those plants....
you may still get more of them some seeds take their good old time germinating
very small seeds also can take a long time to get a second set of leaves
I need to get me some of that Stevia if it really works like sugar. I drink nonstop coffee day in and day out and use tons of sugar in each cup. I been tryign to cut back on my sugar, don't want to be a diabetic, and keep seeign all these commercials on tv for beign able to use a product made from it in place of sugar.
Ella, go into your grocery store and purchase "Truvia" for you sugar.
Its calorie free and made from the stevia leaf.
Maxine
DH has it now in his coffee instead of sugar.
Maxine. dumb questionhere, btu is the stuff ya get from the sore look like sugar or is it leaves in a box. I watch to many comemrcials. LOL
I buy Stevia packets myself. I drink my coffee black, but I've found the Stevia is an excellent substitution in other situations. (It looks like sugar Star.)
Speaking of tiny plants check out these pentas seedlings. I've had some tiny seedlings in the past and I've had some slow growers in the past, but these babies win the award. The ones in the 2nd picture germinated 1 1/2 months ago and are still not the size of a pea. I'm sure glad I started them as early as I did. I sowed them the 7th of January and I think next year I'll start them in September. LOL.
Question on Strawberry Fields [gomphrena]
how do i know if the seeds are viable?
Veronica asked me if i have any, and i found some, one spent bloom head actually from the one plant i got last year.
I jsut dont wanna send her junk seeds.
there are a few that feel like they have that lil 'bump' in there, like the way hosta seeds are... but i just want to double check.
TIA,
Terese
Wow those Pentas sure are small. Kinda remind me of the Tourenia that I had sprout just yesterday, but don't know if they will grow that slowly. Almost microscopic to see yesterday, though.
Lala, I am glad to hear that you are another one that likes stevia. I am anxious to try the powder since I tried liquid a few years ago and it was bitter. I have heard that some is sort of bitter, if it is processed with the stems. I also wonder if I just used too much, since I have also heard that you have to play with it a bit till you find the amount you like, since it really is so sweet. Some of the reading I have been doing on growing the plants talks about ways to process your own so you can use it. It even says you can put fresh leaves in your tea when it's brewing, like mint leaves, to sweeten your tea. Pretty amazing stuff and very healthy for you. Not like the other powders I have been putting in my body for so many years!
Edited to correct spelling
This message was edited Feb 25, 2009 10:49 AM
Torenia grows at a pretty good clip Tonya but they sure do start out tiny, don't they?
Star is your Cerinth standing tall like good girls and boys or are they flopping over? I've actually staked a couple of them and I don't think I'm supposed to have to. I wonder if I should replant them a little deeper?
maybe the reason they are so small is that they are actually in warmer climates perennials so they will take two years to reach maturity, they will not survive in my zone outside in the winter so I would need to take them in
but the store bought stuff is just as good also some bulk stores now carry it for so much cheapper
Mona you lost me on the bulk store thing. What are they carrying cheaper?
the sugar plant they have it at the bulk barn in my area stavia
Lala.. Mine are doign both. That is the nature of them, I usually don't try and stake mine unles s they real big and too too floopy. I was out transplantign mine a bit ago.
Do you have like two stems from one seed. Or just one stem per seed. I need to go back and look at the site too and see which ones we ordered, becaus e I have several seedling that have the spots on the leaves, and I thought we bought the one s with the blue/green leaves and no spots on the leaves. I prefer the no spotted leaf ones to the spotted. I hopig they gona grow out of their spots. But almost every single one of my seeds came up as a twin, and when I grew them before they didn't do that.
I really need the sun to shine everyday now lol my babies need the sun to grow
since I do not use light I really need the natural sunshine to do its thing
No twins and no spots Ella. I wonder if we have the same plant. So it won't hurt them to flop over?
Sorry for the confusion Mona. I thought you were addressing my post about the pentas.
I had some twins in my Cerinthe too. I wondered what was going on because the seeds were big, and I spread them out. Haven't transplanted those yet, do the twins separate easily?
Mine haven't started flopping yet, but I recall them doing that when I grew them a few years ago.
This message was edited Feb 25, 2009 4:22 PM
I have the Kiwi what kind do you have Lala and Gemini?
Gemini. All but two of mine were twins, so i planted themin the pot as twins, figrue d if anythign it wil just make a fuller plant. I took the two single oens and plante d them as a double too.
Not fair Lala if you got the kind I wanted.
Can anyone answer my question on Strawberry Field seeds?
How do i know if they are viable or not?
tcs. Only way I cna tell to find otu for sure, is put some on a coffe filter and in a baggy and see if any germinate. Just by lookign at them dry, no way to really tell.
OK... i just did not want to send anyone junk seeds.
thanks Star.
Star I ordered Blue Kiwi and I assume that's what I've got. But since I've never grown it before I haven't a clue.
I would assume it is just like any other seed
you can google it for specific info
Star, I think mine is Kiwi Blue too. It came from a member in northern California. It was labeled Shrimp Plant, so I was thinking the tropical shrub/house plant till they came up.
Terese, I have a hard time telling exactly which part is the seed in Globe Amaranth, but it seems there's typically viable seed in that fluff. I think Strawberry Fields would be the same. I've just crushed up dried flower heads and mixed it up with the potting soil a bit- and that was all I did to sow (WS)them.