Today was a productive day for me as I got 12 of my fall cuttings firmly planted inground. The day was cloudy, and they looked so happy to be outside in the breeze. Tomorrow, I will start repotting many of the remaining ones. I have decided that MN will be kind enough to not send another freeze my way this Spring. I can hardly wait for them to start blooming.
Way to go, Carrie! I just hope MN doesn't have any mean weather tricks up her sleeve for you. I figure I'm about 30 days away from being able to have pots sitting out 24/7 or planting any directly in the ground.
Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place
Way to go, Carrie. Can't wait for the rest of you to enjoy your new brugs as much as I am already this year. They truly do enjoy being in the ground and doing what comes naturally! We'll pray that MN is kind to all that venture outside with their youngsters at this time of the year.
Tom, if I remember correctly, April 15 is about the Average Last Date of Frost in our area...so...maybe!
Actually, I'm just about to undertake the building of a temporary lean-to greenhouse against my back porch. It will be a framework of 1/2" PVC pipes covered with 6-mil clear plastic. It will be 12' long & about 7'-8' wide. Because our temps. run pretty cool until well into summer, I'm hoping the greenhouse will boost the growth of cuttings & seedlings by giving them a warmer environment thru the spring.
Now, if the rain would just stop so I can work in dry weather!
Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place
This message has been edited by Celtguy on Mar 23, 2007 11:08 PM
Good for you! I wish it was warm enough here but I'm also a month away, at least. I did borrow my neighbor's hand truck and moved my brugs (and other plants) outside to enjoy the weather yesterday. I should really bring them back in tonight but it's so nice to walk around the house without having to pick a path through the plants. lol
Karyn
Patrick, I've mine out for several weeks, and the aborea already has blooms. Any frosts we get at this time of year usually dont get to bad. I am going to pur some in the ground to see if they do better in the heat this summer. I think that this will help keep the roots cool on the sangs and maybe bloom this year.
Allison do you really have them outside in Arlington already? That's just up the road from us. I think you've inspired me to put a couple out this weekend and see how it goes.
A bloomin' Arborea in the middle of March? Congratulations. I just threw out my Arborea seeds yesterday. Just too old, they all rotted. Keep up the good work!
Tom do you want a few seeds? My aborea had a pod last year, I haven't tried them to see if their good or not but worth a try.
I have been putting out my brugs in early March for many years. I keep an eye out on the weather and bring them in close to the house when a deep frost is coming. We had to do that once a couple of weeks ago but thats all. This weeks frost only touched one leave on one that was an old indoor leave that hadn't dropped off yet. The temps outside aren't much differant than in th camper where I keep them. They were starting to grow so needed more light.
Well it sounds like you've done good job of hardening them off & making a smooth transition. Mine have been a little warmer in the basement, but I'm still gonna try to put a Charles Grimaldi out in my semi-protected spot and see what happens.
Wow I would really love some seeds, thank you. I won't have much to give back in brugs for a little while because I lost most of mine over the winter in a garage-door-left-open accident. Lost Mountain Magic, Creamscicle, Sanguinea, Iochroma grandiflora, and several others, plus seedlings from some very desirable crosses. Of course wouldn't you know that the only 2 that weren't in the accident are the ones I didn't really care about (Charles G. and Isignis Pink). Oh well, live & learn. If you email me: tom@hulsetile.com we can arrange it. Many thanks for your kindness.
Let me just say I'm having serious zone envy right now ! I'm still about a month and a half away from feeling comfortable putting out my plants. Western Maryland is notorious for deceptively warm spring then a sudden nasty frost in late april or early may, after everyone has planted out their annuals.
Question for those in more Northern zones about growing in-ground. This is my first year doing so. I hope to rent a roto-tiller around the first week of april and tearing up my backyard. I'm attempting a "tropical-esque" feel, with healed-in containers of plumeria, a loquat tree, and a money tree, and my brugs, along with castor beans and some D. innoxia (if they ever decide to germinate!) and D. wrightii. Should I put that black plastic over my soil after I till to warm it up a bit? Not weed control plastic, the non-permiable stuff. Apperently if you do it right you can kill off weeds and any residual sod. Also, should I till in anything like bone meal or some other organic matter? The yard is 100 year old sod with a pretty thick O layer. The plants will be getting full sun from morning to around 2pm, and hopefully by the time summer really kicks in the castor will be providing some shade. Any other ideas or personal advice about in-ground growing in Zone 6b? I'll be pulling them out come fall and keeping them dormant this year, I'm getting tired of the aphids on my overwintering plants.
Peace,
Nate
Nate I'm sharing your zone envy big time. I uncovered the brugs I'd left out last winter. I don't see anything but dead stumps but we haven't had much warm weather yet so I'll give it another month before I say they're not coming back. I think you warm up a little slower than me but the proximity to the water moderates your temps more than here.
I use dark landscape material everywhere. I use plastic and the kind that is water permeable. I leave both on the ground all year. It gives me a few extra weeks on either end of the growing season and keeps the weeds way down. It would be next to impossible to keep the weeds clear without it, especially at the farm. I have to put it down by hand in my yard which is a hassle. Find a day that doesn't have any wind and get a couple helpers or you'll be chasing landscape fabric/plastic all over the yard. We have a machine that attaches to the tractor to put it down at the farm. It lays it out and immediately buries the edges under the soil. I wish I could use it here but the yard's just a bit too small. lol I use gravel to hold down the edges in my yard.
If you are tilling under a lot of sod you'll need to leave the plastic on for quite a while before it decomposes enough for you to plant. If you want to plant immediately I'd remove most of the sod then till the area. Do you have the same nasty clay that we have here? If so you'll need to ammend the soil. I add top soil, compost/leaf mold and builders sand. Without it the drainage is almost nil. It's like digging into a huge lump of red potter's clay. There's something called lasagna beds that I've read about but haven't tried. You just add layers of cardboard and soil or something like that and you can supposedly plant almost immediately. It's somewhere on GW, maybe the winter sowing forum? Have fun and definitely go for the landscape plastic. It makes the rest of the year so much easier.
Karyn
Karyn we've done some beds like that. We put down 6 layers of newspaper and then 6" of pure compost from the local yard waste recycler. This was very poor soil before, and the first year we had amazing growth on our plants, plus it cut way down on watering with the moisture-holding compost.
We also had never really seen worms in our soil before, but after a year or so every shovel full had nice big ones. I think they do a good job of mixing the soil layers a little. We didn't have to cover the soil at all because it had very few weed seeds. If I remember right I think the sod took about a year to decompose under there. That's right about how long it took for the newspaper to dissapear.
I would highly recommend this method. No weeding. No digging. Best growth we've ever had on our plants.
Tom H. Marysville, WA Zone 8a
This message has been edited by Grrrnthumb on Mar 24, 2007 12:29 PM
Nate, to enhance your tropical look, consider the species-flowered cannas. They look a little more natural (yet exotic) than the large-flowered hybrids. As a bonus, they're hummingbird attractors, too.
I love the really tall (about 9') 'Peach Gigantum', with impressive foliage that reminds me of bird-of-paradise. A red-flowered variety that is readily found is 'Robert Kemp' and 'Intrigue' offers both the flower form and colorful foliage. For great foliage alone, 'Tropicana' (aka 'Phaison') is very nice in warm, tropical colors. 'Stuttgart' has striking green & white foliage, but the white portion sun burns easily. Karchesky is a good place to see many cannas and find out if they attract hummers:
Tom I'm going to have to try making a few of those beds this year. I like the fact that you can plant right away. I'd read that by using cardboard it will decompose faster than the newspaper because it has all the little air cells in it. It seems so easy, almost too good to be true. I'd love not to have to till the soil. We have such hard clay that even tilling can be exhausting.
Karyn
I have an article I wrote for the ABADS Biannual newspaper in 2005 on building a lasagne garden if you are interested.
It is the best way I have found to garden on poor soil and clay and I have wonderfull success with it.
If memory serves me, I've seen results that you got using the lasagna bed method, posted on GW, Ruth Ann. I'd love to read the report your wrote on it.
Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place
Nate,
If you like the idea of cannas I have some that I'm throwing out, they multiply so fast they take over here. The leaves are a dark, reddish purple and the flowers are orange, they grow between 6' - 9' tall. I'm digging some out today that are sprouting where I don't want them.
Michele
Jacksonville, Fl
Zone 9a
Nature, in order to be commanded must be obeyed. Sir Francis Bacon
Patrick and Michele, thanks for the idea of cannas. I personally have no experience with the group, but from the research I just did online they seem very rewarding and an "Easy" grow (although I've had other "care-free" plants go terminal on me). Michele, if you have extra I'd be more than willing to pay the cost of postage for a few rhizomes to try my hand at.
Karyn and Tom, thanks for the info about raised beds. Cumberland's soil (the valley part, not the mineral shale that makes up our mountains) is alluvial silt loam. Low laying spots are very clay, but its not that red cake I've seen East of us. I'm really not looking forward to prepping this bed. I'm thinking I'll take your advice though about the plastic...stay tuned for updates..lol
Peace,
Nate
I have most of mine planted in ground now.I have about 15 left to go.thats not even counting the seedlngs.Then I have my inground ones sprouting.Only waiting on /cypress gardens to re sprout.I just weeded that bed Friday.
I did my 2 hex beds the hard way.I dug the sod/grass up hauled to compost pile tilled& garden clawed.I garden clawed it with a bag of organic garden soil MG brand.I've set 5 brugs in and one red stemed EE.I'm still working on the beds.I worked this one some last year,but only grew some okra& sunk 2 brug pots.I'd have more done around here right now If had not bee fishing so much.I'm takeing a day of gardening today....to catch up. I did clean out my fence row(you'd be amazed Carrie.I was shocked myself.wish did 3 years ago.)
A few are budded
charles G
Daydreams
pink perfection
Charles will bloom next month for sure then the other 2 will follow.Daydreams is a whole 8 inches tall.
Nate.You should try growing canna seeds.I'll gladly send you some.they'll bloom in about 90 days from seeds.
Nate, you have the right idea about putting down black plastic after roto tilling. I think it's too late for tilling now (only for the grass to compose), but you could do that...then put down black plastic (anchored) & cut out holes where you want to plant(?) It will help keep weeds out.
I don't want any grass anymore, so this yr by fall, I will till it all, then spread out bone meal & in spring, till in compost & cover with black plastic to warm soil & keep weeds out. Wish I had you here to help me lay out my garden! It is a tough one to design, & hard to keep weeds out...my neighbor has the dreadful & messy box elder! Easy to mow down, but they have to be hand picked inbetween perrennials... ARRGHHH.
Yesterday was 80F (record breaker) & so tempting to bring plants out, but today is 40 & rain tomorrow. My Brugs, Figs, & citrus are too big to haul in & out in 1 day...they sure are dying for outdoors boo hoo
Oh Carrie, I'm sorry if I took your topic off! I have spring fever of 102F (physically) these last few days & am dreaming about planting out. Only enough energy to walk outside & dream of my new garden this year. Flu is big time here I guess...wouldn't you know, the first nice days & I'm sick! I need SUNSHINE & MORE WARM WEATHER.
Patty
Milwaukee, Wi
zone 5
This message has been edited by Ladyaqua on Mar 28, 2007 7:28 PM This message has been edited by Ladyaqua on Mar 27, 2007 10:32 PM
Carrie
You just gotta post some pics! That will help people like me get inspired to "get busy" with the planting. I have held off because of health reasons and I have been afraid of MN throwing another curve ball (which can STILL happen)
This weekend some brugs ARE going in the ground though!
It took me awhile to figure it out too! And still have problems at times.
Will try to take some after I get through some of the "projects this weekend.
I hope my brug babies did not wash away tonight - the rain was coming down at the rate of over 4 inches per hour at one time, but think we may be on the backside of the stormy weather for now.
Geeze Carrie, 4 inches per hour is a ton of rain! I hope your newly planted brugs can take it. Just put an umbrella over them?
Thank God they are thirsty little girls LOL.
Just did a walk through, and everything seems to be happy this morning. There was so much lightening with this storm that it greened everything up. I do love the looks of vegetation after a thunder storm.
Carrie, good to hear that all is well after the storm...was wondering about you. We're getting a drizzle this morning...nice and easy. Hubby mowed the law yesterday so everything looks clean and happy.
Argggh. Snow in April in Seattle? Outrageous! Woke up to an inch on the ground today and drove through a pure white-out on my way to work. Good thing I only put out 2 experimentals, and those are at least under a little cover.
I have all of mine in ground now.Butterfly has had a dogs paw visit it and the results are in a cup rooting I'm sure they are enjoying all the rain (BIL's fault....they came down from Indpls for fishing for the week...happens every year they come....)It's been muggy.had fog last night.all brugs in ground have returned,the seedling ones have been slower.
some bloomers from the past few weeks.1st time for my wandering jew to bloom(proably not watered since Dec either)
CARRIE!Did you see the weather?COLD saturday nite.Calling for 36 here with some wind so could feel like 26.
I think we need to make a bonfire.A big one.
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I did see that, Joy, and I am prepared to cover the smaller brugs in case we get below the predicted 39 degrees for here. But after Easter, we will probably settle in to some serious hotter weather. I don't think it will freeze, just hoping it won't frost --- I can't cover everything!!!
I just had SNOWFLAKES!for about 3 whole minutes.I've got mine covered.got a tarp& saw horses on fence line over 3& 13 gallon kitchen trashcan.I've got 3 step ladders in use 1 with tarp (off boat.he hee) 2 with comforters.trash cans,,,,1 pond liner insert..emptyed,5 gallon buckets,3 gallon plant containers.I just hope Charles keeps all 18 buds.
And my husband thinks I'm nuts,plus spent 2 hours bringing plants back indoors and moved some against house and clothe pinned blankets to the eves.Plus have a dolly& wheelbarrel rigged over a plant I just couldn't drag no closer to garage by myself.
It's 42 right now,was 46 when dragging stuff in.
Joy, you are 6 degrees colder there than I am here in North Texas --- what's going on??? Not that I am complaining that we are predicted to be only 34 in the morning. I did not take a chance, though, and hopefully have everything as protected as is possible. Good luck to you !!!
my videos come in windows media player(or I have set computer up to view from that)My vid don't have zoom& think would like a newer camera with better video,but this at lest takes good pictures.You can hear it falling.As cold as I seen it in yard was 37,but have a reading low stored of 34. You can see my ladder rigged covers& the blue tarp over fence covers 3 plants and a kitchen trash can covers the 4th.plant containers... The 3 I couldn't cover....we're fine.They said the wind chills we're in the 20s.now we are done with cold& by /wendsday I'll be sweating again when it's 84http://www.network54.com/Realm/Bobky/clown.gif
BIL said it snowed at Lake Fork too .Was heavier over the water& at the 515 bridge.His buddy got snow in Fort Worth about like we did.rain with a mix of snowflakes& sleet.
Carrie, I know we are on kind of the same zone, but I really think we are in zone 8 not 7 since we live only about 150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf has a lot ot do with our weather here. Did you have any damage to your plants? I got off work Friday, went home and worked till could not see. Most of the brugs. were to tall, so I went to my neighbors and borrowed gagbage cans. I have one that is at least 4 feet tall. All other potted plants I put on thesouthside of house. They were saying maybe 27 Sat. night. Needless to say it never got that cold, but they did say that our high of 48 was the lowest high ever recorded in April. It is supossed to be 87 by thurs. This weather is just plain crasy
Fortunately, it did not freeze here, Larry. Of course, I had moved what I could and covered the rest for the one night. I saw no damage to my brugs, but some of my in ground seedlings like morning glories, etc. look a little droopy. I think they just could not handle the extremes in temps. I have enough seed so I will just replant. Everything in my veggie garden made it through just fine. You are probably kept a little warmer than I most of the time, but this was one strange siege of weather. Joy was colder in southeast Texas than I was up here, and just south of me about 50 miles had two nights of freezing temps. I am very grateful that my plants were spared.
Michele, check your inbox again. I sent an e-mail to you a week ago and just saw the comment about you not hearing from me. I resent the email to mullinsm@bellsouth.net, see if it went through this time.
Peace,
Nate
Our air temps we're freezing but the actual temps we're above freezing.As low As I seen was 37.It was 42 when snowing and had dropped from 46.our dew point was 34.Weatherbug was showing wind temps of the upper 20s for wind chills.The 3 uncovered plants(one too tall& no ladder) survived just fine.Everything left uncovered looked fine.all I did with the MOT plants we're pull under eves.once the comforter got wet it wouldn't stay(cheap clothes pins)NOW we are done with cold weather& can move on to summer............
Charles did fine.buds still growing counted 23 with still more forming.will be a great flush...wish it had fast forward.
! I'm still about a month and a half away from feeling comfortable putting out my plants. Western Maryland is notorious for deceptively warm spring then a sudden nasty frost in late april or early may, after everyone has planted out their annuals. 
');
I'm sure they are enjoying all the rain (BIL's fault....they came down from Indpls for fishing for the week...happens every year they come....)It's been muggy.had fog last night.all brugs in ground have returned,the seedling ones have been slower.
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