tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001758506958002812024-03-13T21:44:23.049-07:00Plant AvenuePlant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-50796942357547590232010-07-04T20:40:00.000-07:002010-07-04T20:41:50.857-07:00Can You Save Pumpkin Seeds And Plant Them?The answer is a big resounding yes!! I wrote <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/11/saving-seeds-from-pumpkin-to-plant-in.html">this post</a> about harvesting and saving the seeds, and I planted the seeds shown in those photographs in my garden a couple of months ago.<br />
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Well here is a photograph, taken today (July 4, 2010 - happy Independance Day to our friends south of the border! :) and as you can see, the seeds worked very well. Next we'll see what kind of pumpkins will result from my efforts. I'll keep you posted!<br />
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<a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-10573883587096908242010-06-06T17:43:00.000-07:002010-06-06T17:44:36.050-07:00Success At Growing Strawberry RunnersIt worked!<br />
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I tried planting strawberry runners <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/growing-strawberry-runners.html">while they were still attached to their mother plants</a>, and lo and behold, I went from having six plants last year (which I purchased from a nursery), to having close to thirty this year.<br />
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First I lined up my original six in a row. <b>I then took small pots filled with earth, raised them up off the ground (using other overturned pots) so that they would reach the runners, and then simply pushed the runners into the soil in the pots.</b> I left them there all winter, and sure enough, they thrived. A couple of weeks ago I cut them free from their mother plants and transplanted them into larger pots (most were root bound at this point).<br />
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I'm not sure how many will produce berries. I've heard that plants produce more berries if you cut off their runners, so I think I'll try this with about half of them and see what happens. Meanwhile, I'm starting to feel like I run a strawberry plant nursery :)<br />
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<a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-26736301520396212272010-01-23T08:12:00.000-08:002010-01-23T08:12:29.057-08:00Time To Get Gardening?I'll admit it - I'm a fair weather gardener ;) I haven't been up to much this winter, other than watering my indoor plants and mulling over how to compost with frozen ground.<br />
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Now, nearing the end of January, we're having strangely warm weather for my area (south coast of BC, Canada). Bulbs are sprouting everywhere, making residents here question the temperatures of days to follow. There are even those who have already planted flowering plants in their garden beds, waiting to welcome spring.<br />
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Will the unseasonably warm trend continue into February? (It's bad timing with the Olympics coming to town - we need snow on the hills!!) Can we start our gardens early? It's soooo tempting to start making rows in the soil and dropping seeds - anything to extend our growing season!! I took a chance last year and started early and it worked out well, but planting seeds in January? (OK maybe not ;)<br />
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Meanwhile there is a lot I can get started on... pulling weeds, working the soil, and so on. Spring is just around the corner... I can't wait!!<br />
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<a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-57451103909802696512010-01-01T08:47:00.000-08:002010-01-01T08:48:07.343-08:00January 1, 2010Happy New Year everyone!!<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-46490525446363567942009-11-27T06:50:00.000-08:002009-11-27T07:14:18.658-08:00Soluble Salts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sw_oO01uWUI/AAAAAAAAAJI/V8wJC4NMB3Q/s1600/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+soluble+salts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sw_oO01uWUI/AAAAAAAAAJI/V8wJC4NMB3Q/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+soluble+salts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408797018895046978" border="0" /></a><br />Mystery solved!! I'd always wondered what that white build up was on the soil of my house plants, and now I know! It's soluble salts: minerals or fertilizers that are dissolved in water, and are left behind to accumulate after normal evaporation of water.<br /><br />I used to just take a spoon and mix them back into the soil... oops (don't do that!!). Instead you should scoop the whitish and yellowish film off the top of the soil and discard it. Soluble salts that are present in the soil in concentrations that are too high can damage the plant.<br /><br />Here's some info:<br /><br /><ul><li>Salts form a yellow or white crust at the top of the soil or at the bottom at the drainage holes.</li><li>They can cause salt toxicity, which can result in reduced growth, brown leaf tips, leaf dropping, wilting, root damage, root rot, reduced water absorption capacity.</li><li>Prevention: when you water, allow the water to run through soil and drip out of the bottom of the pot, but do not let the plant sit in that water. Empty and clean the drip tray (the salts will be reabsorbed back into the plant if it is allowed to soak up previously dripped water).</li><li>Every few months, plants should be leached: pour a lot of water on the soil and let it drain completely. Remove any salt crust layer at the top BEFORE leaching so that this salt is not reintroduced to the soil.</li><li>Salt toxicity happens in house plants because of the low light conditions: lower light results in lower water requirements for the plant, which reduces the opportunity for the excess salt to be leached away or diluted.</li></ul><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-28212276584578896822009-11-01T09:48:00.000-08:002009-11-01T09:58:18.383-08:00Saving Seeds From A Pumpkin To Plant In The GardenI've never tried planting pumpkins before, and usually on Halloween all the seeds that come out of our store bought pumpkins get roasted and eaten. However this Halloween as I was carving our pumpkins, the wheels in my head were turning: I thought maybe I'd try saving some seeds to grow next year!<br /><br />Apparently it's pretty simple - <span style="font-weight: bold;">you rinse them off, pat them dry, and then let them cure (i.e. dry thoroughly?) for about a month, before you store them in an envelope. </span><span><span><br /><br />Sounds good!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3Lpu8ooaI/AAAAAAAAAJA/AMiGtTIRWi0/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3Lpu8ooaI/AAAAAAAAAJA/AMiGtTIRWi0/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399195446124519842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3LpeW3DuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/i-n0kleRjc4/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3LpeW3DuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/i-n0kleRjc4/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399195441671114466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3Lo0Ddj0I/AAAAAAAAAIw/BhuC2gIZ_ds/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Su3Lo0Ddj0I/AAAAAAAAAIw/BhuC2gIZ_ds/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pumpkin+seeds+081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399195430315462466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-73074190149923866132009-10-28T05:11:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:58:07.209-07:00My (Endless ;) Avocado ProjectGuess what I found in my compost pile yesterday!! <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/growing-avocado-pits.html">Yet another rooted and sprouted avocado pit</a>. I brought this one indoors this time, instead of planting it and leaving it out do die in our cold winter. It doesn't get that cold where I am (Vancouver, BC), just too cold for avocados, apparently.<br /><br />I brought this one inside and gave it a good bath, to get any critters off. At the moment it's sitting in water on my kitchen counter, waiting for me to have a moment to plant it in a pot with indoor potting soil (I'll probably do this later today). Meanwhile here are some pics so you can see :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug265nk5oI/AAAAAAAAAIo/DIGl1Piq5vE/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+lying+on+counter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug265nk5oI/AAAAAAAAAIo/DIGl1Piq5vE/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+lying+on+counter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397624538930669186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26sUJX4I/AAAAAAAAAIg/6UzuubgbIKk/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+close+up+of+root.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26sUJX4I/AAAAAAAAAIg/6UzuubgbIKk/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+close+up+of+root.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397624535359512450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26Q7XHtI/AAAAAAAAAIY/-uopkr3uQ_c/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+lying+on+floor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26Q7XHtI/AAAAAAAAAIY/-uopkr3uQ_c/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rooted+avocado+lying+on+floor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397624528007798482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26N7-OPI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/COT7WUaWTgg/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+avocado+rooted+in+dirty+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug26N7-OPI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/COT7WUaWTgg/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+avocado+rooted+in+dirty+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397624527205054706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug25-W1L4I/AAAAAAAAAII/9d1NMh0pPGU/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+avocado+rooted+in+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sug25-W1L4I/AAAAAAAAAII/9d1NMh0pPGU/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+avocado+rooted+in+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397624523022741378" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-6080738633214684612009-10-22T10:21:00.000-07:002009-10-22T10:31:23.538-07:00How To Extract Marigold SeedsI wrote an earlier post about <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/07/growing-new-plants-from-old-without.html">how to get next year's seeds from dried Marigold flowers</a>, but now I actually have pictures, so I thought I'd post about it again:<br /><br />1) Pick the dead flowers from the plant and put them somewhere to dry completely.<br />2) Separate the top and bottom portion.<br />3) Open up the bottom portion to reveal the seeds.<br />4) Take the seeds out. Make sure they're completely dry before you store them in a sealed container (to prevent mold from growing).<br /><br />That's it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWc04hliI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Y_rt3bun6RQ/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWc04hliI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Y_rt3bun6RQ/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395477775566083618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdJbcd0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/4LLWnFBUvH4/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdJbcd0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/4LLWnFBUvH4/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395477781081257794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdXpdAoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/7jDmx1LM478/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdXpdAoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/7jDmx1LM478/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395477784898110082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdknkoMI/AAAAAAAAAIA/JWT_lD8ckFk/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SuCWdknkoMI/AAAAAAAAAIA/JWT_lD8ckFk/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+extracting+marigold+seeds+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395477788379881666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-65874500857706281982009-10-18T12:44:00.000-07:002009-10-18T14:00:42.614-07:00Are Brussel Sprouts Safe To Eat After A Cabbage Worm Infestation?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SttwcTrqWzI/AAAAAAAAAHg/yI9wE-8M8uY/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+worm+eaten+brussels+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SttwcTrqWzI/AAAAAAAAAHg/yI9wE-8M8uY/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+worm+eaten+brussels+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394028610328353586" border="0" /></a>Supposedly. If you thoroughly examine and wash them, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Brussel</span> Sprouts are safe to eat even if the plant has been ravaged by <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/cabbage-worm.html">cabbage worms</a>. That's what they say, anyway.<br /><br />I think I'll pass. Call me paranoid, but after reading articles such as <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_brain-worm-cases-worry-doctors_1199219">this</a> about parasitic infections, I'm a little leery of eating something from a plant that I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> has been infested.<br /><br />What a shame! I love <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brussel</span> Sprouts. I was looking forward to having them fresh and organic from my garden, instead of the ordinary store bought kind. As you can see from the first picture in this post, they're growing nicely too! Not so much in the second picture, where you can see some worm damage.<br /><br />Maybe next year I'll get some nets to cover the plants and keep the butterflies off. Meanwhile I guess these plants will get pulled and tossed...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SttwbUbQ2aI/AAAAAAAAAHY/IBVUcmwo6IU/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+worm+eaten+brussels+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SttwbUbQ2aI/AAAAAAAAAHY/IBVUcmwo6IU/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+worm+eaten+brussels+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394028593348139426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-46915663621721556132009-10-16T09:46:00.000-07:002009-10-16T09:57:39.386-07:00Planting A Rooted Rosemary CuttingI thought I'd try planting this cutting, so I took some pics (I haven't figured out how to position them in the post the way I want yet... I'm still working on that).<br /><br />For anyone who's never planted a cutting before, it's pretty easy... <span style="font-weight: bold;">you simply put some potting soil at the bottom of the pot, then hold the cutting above it in the middle and scoop in more soil around it</span>. I prefer this method to filling the pot and scooping out a hole because I find it less messy, and I end up with better results.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fyi</span></span> I use a big plastic tub with a snap on lid for my potting soil - it saves me from having to reseal the plastic bag every time I use it (I'm kind of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bugaphobe</span></span> - if that wasn't a real word, it is now ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Stik_y8wTVI/AAAAAAAAAHA/TsrLkOYmkrk/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rosemary+cutting+in+water+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Stik_y8wTVI/AAAAAAAAAHA/TsrLkOYmkrk/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rosemary+cutting+in+water+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393241969691479378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StilAP9IWFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9Y8KP_fXhy0/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rosemary+cutting+in+water+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StilAP9IWFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9Y8KP_fXhy0/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+rosemary+cutting+in+water+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393241977477683282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StilAgMWj6I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/CX50uul7XcI/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+planted+rosemary+cutting+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StilAgMWj6I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/CX50uul7XcI/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+planted+rosemary+cutting+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393241981836496802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-86328567316141482362009-10-14T10:09:00.001-07:002009-10-14T10:45:42.464-07:00Heuchera Peach Flambe (Coral Bells)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StYF5FozS6I/AAAAAAAAAG4/AE9LOLJ9mFQ/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+027+Peach+Flambe+Heuchera.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/StYF5FozS6I/AAAAAAAAAG4/AE9LOLJ9mFQ/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+027+Peach+Flambe+Heuchera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392504082146741154" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ahhh</span>... red foliage!!! I have a weakness for leaves that aren't green. I have to be careful that I don't buy too many red leaf plants, because my garden could easily be taken over by the colour. (Have I mentioned how much I love <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/09/can-you-grow-japanese-maple-from.html">Japanese Maples</a>?)<br /><br />I have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Heuchera</span> 'Peach Flambe' (a.k.a. Coral Bells), which is thriving in my front garden. Of course now I wish I'd bought more than one ;) Not to worry... I intend to propagate it somehow. Maybe I'll try a cutting.<br /><br />Here's some Coral Bells info:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>Herbaceous Perennial</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Saxifragaceae</span> family</li><li>Zones 4-9</li><li>Likes full sun or partial shade</li><li>Not a native of BC (but thank you to whoever brought it here :)</li><li>Grows tiny white blossoms on tall thin stems</li><li>Can be propagated by division, every 3-4 years</li><li>Preferred soil PH 6.0-7.0</li><li>Size: 14" spread, 7" leaf height, 16" flower stem height</li><li>Spent flower stems should be removed</li><li>Prefers moist but well drained soil</li></ul><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-30958208368245735302009-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:002009-10-07T10:21:46.852-07:00Pea Rooted In Water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SszN9gDT3hI/AAAAAAAAAGw/oPyrBWn4_tE/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pea+rooted+in+water+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SszN9gDT3hI/AAAAAAAAAGw/oPyrBWn4_tE/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+pea+rooted+in+water+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389909310515174930" border="0" /></a><br />Remember <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/09/saving-garden-peas-for-next-years-seeds.html">this post</a> which featured a picture of a pea I pulled from the ground that had started to sprout? I didn't have the heart to toss it in my compost tub (the poor thing is trying to live, after all ;) so I popped it in a glass of water to see what would happen. I used plastic food wrap to hold it up at the top, and put it on a sunny window sill. As you can see, not only has it grown more leaves, it's also grown new roots as well (the clean roots with no dirt on them are the ones that have grown since being in water). The only question now is what on earth do I do with it? I guess it's going to become an experimental new houseplant ;)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-11456799422266815172009-10-03T09:56:00.000-07:002009-10-03T14:27:55.243-07:00Fine Wine Weigela Florida Bramwell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsfBp7GXINI/AAAAAAAAAGo/JnjW3spjbuw/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+Weigela+008+LRFB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsfBp7GXINI/AAAAAAAAAGo/JnjW3spjbuw/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+Weigela+008+LRFB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388488405155258578" border="0" /></a><br />I planted my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Weigela</span> shrub in a shady spot, and as it turns out they prefer full sun (oops!). It should do well in the location I've put it, it just won't flower as much. (Note to self - research first!) <span style="font-style: italic;"> It's one thing to plant an annual in a less than ideal spot because the following year you can amend this, but a perennial shrub</span>... I suppose I could try moving it, but I don't want to risk killing it. Besides, it should be just fine where it is.<br /><br />I bought it at the end of August (when everything is on sale ;) so it has no blossoms in this photograph - just beautiful rich green and burgundy leaves (love it!). I can't wait to see it in bloom, at which point I'll take more pictures.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Weigela</span> info:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>Deciduous (so when it loses it's leaves in the winter I won't panic ;)</li><li>Perennial.</li><li>Can be pruned after flowering.</li><li>Prefers well drained, moist soil, with a PH range of 6.8 - 7.7 (no coffee grounds for this plant!)</li><li>Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.</li><li>Prefers full sun to flower more, but they will tolerate some dappled shade.</li><li>Cold weather hardy to -20F/-30C </li></ul><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-86076555617786659042009-10-01T13:49:00.000-07:002009-10-01T14:03:36.652-07:00How To Stop Cats From Eating PlantsI love my cats. I also love my plants.<br /><br />Cats need to eat greens, for hairball management, extra vitamins and fibre. They prefer grass, but if they're stuck indoors they may turn to house plants instead. House plants with long slender grass-like leaves. House plants like mine! (sigh)<br /><br />Since some plants are poisonous to cats, and since the plants no longer look as nice once they've been chewed on, I thought a quick review of cat deterring strategies would be useful.<br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>Water bottle squirts! Having direct personal experience with this one (think "keeping my cats away from new leather couches") I know this would work for plants as well.</li><li>Offering planted cat grass for them to have instead.</li><li>Placing the plant on some plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up (ouch! aw, that's just mean ;)</li><li>Surrounding the plant with tin foil - cats hate the noise and feel (again I can vouch for this one, having had success with it myself).</li><li>Spray the leaves with vinegar (although some plants might not like this either).</li><li>Try creating a homemade spray with ingredients such as lemon juice (not hot pepper sauce though because this can burn the cat's eyes).</li><li>(<span style="font-style: italic;">Have you noticed that I haven't included "put your plant out of reach"? That's because my cat is an agile Manx who can climb and jump A.N.Y.W.H.E.R.E.</span>) However, relocating plants might be a useful tip that would work for someone else.</li></ul>So far, this time around, my cat has focused on one plant in particular, left all the others alone, and not had any ill effects from the plant she's been eating. I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ok</span> with that for now, but I'm glad to have some strategies in case the situation worsens in the future...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-61490863973121862552009-09-30T21:41:00.000-07:002009-09-30T21:58:29.681-07:00Stained Glass Hosta<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsQ2jXw28sI/AAAAAAAAAGg/HYq12oqmt0c/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+012+Hosta+Stained+Glass+blossom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsQ2jXw28sI/AAAAAAAAAGg/HYq12oqmt0c/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+012+Hosta+Stained+Glass+blossom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387491035544220354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My Stained Glass <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hosta</span> is starting to bloom! I didn't think it would this year, largely because I got the plants (two of them) quite late.<br /><br />Here's what I've found out about this new addition to my garden:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>They grow in zones 3 - 9.</li><li>They are perennial.</li><li>They bloom in late summer or fall (mine bloomed near the end of September).</li><li>The blossoms are very fragrant.</li><li>They are very sun tolerant, although prefer some shade.</li><li>They prefer rich and moist, but well drained soil.</li><li>They attract bees, birds and butterflies.</li><li>They divide easily, and root easily in water.</li><li>Here's how <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wikipedia</span> defines "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hosta</span>": <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosta">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosta</a></li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsQ2QyvG4wI/AAAAAAAAAGY/szfwgp4-iR4/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+034+Hosta+Stained+Glass+leaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsQ2QyvG4wI/AAAAAAAAAGY/szfwgp4-iR4/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+034+Hosta+Stained+Glass+leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387490716367119106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Hom</a><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">e</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-17901950112796049202009-09-28T08:58:00.000-07:002009-09-28T09:20:31.746-07:00PH Scale (My Version Of)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsDgWIoaLKI/AAAAAAAAAF4/I7Bxw4ZEYc8/s1600-h/c2009+PlantAvenue+PH+scale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SsDgWIoaLKI/AAAAAAAAAF4/I7Bxw4ZEYc8/s400/c2009+PlantAvenue+PH+scale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386551825213828258" border="0" /></a><br />This chart is a work in progress, and I'm not a botanist or chemist... I put it together as a guide for myself re: my plants and how they are compatible with the soil in my garden based on some of the types of things I compost. There are a few items on there that I don't compost, such as milk, that I've included just for interest.<br /><br />(If you double click on the chart you'll be able to see a larger version of it.)<br /><br />I've noticed an interesting thing: I drink a lot of coffee, which is acidic, and I compost all of the grinds and filters. On the other hand, we eat very few eggs (the shells of which contain lime, which can make your soil more alkaline).<br /><br />I haven't been able to grow lettuce for the past two years, and you'll notice on my chart that lettuce tends to prefer less acidic soil. My strawberry plants, on the other hand, are thriving (they apparently appreciate my morning cups of java ;)<br /><br />This adds an interesting element to garden bed planning and composting. I could create two compost piles (one for coffee grinds and one without) but that complicates crop rotation (i.e. potatoes). Instead, I think the easiest thing to do at this point is to not compost <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> of my coffee grinds...<br /><br />Oh and look where Geraniums are on the scale - they really don't like coffee!! On an impulse one day (before learning about PH) I dumped some cold coffee over the soil of a couple of geranium cuttings I have on my counter. Now they're not so happy. Oops...<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-74303659662647547602009-09-23T22:50:00.000-07:002009-09-23T23:10:20.123-07:00Can You Root A Rosemary Cutting?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SrsJIr4nXzI/AAAAAAAAAFw/WMJlmD85CGM/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+005+rosemary+roots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SrsJIr4nXzI/AAAAAAAAAFw/WMJlmD85CGM/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+005+rosemary+roots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384907824275349298" border="0" /></a>This is my second attempt to root a Rosemary cutting. The first time was successful, only to eventually die after it was planted in soil (not sure why - it might have been too small to survive the winter outside?).<br /><br />I thought I'd try again, this time indoors. I checked my cutting today and noticed something interesting.<br /><br />Last time the roots formed at the very bottom of the cutting, but this time the roots are growing out from where the green needles are, with no trace of roots at the bottom.<br /><br />I'm curious to see how this cutting fares once I plant it (maybe tomorrow?). I'm planning to keep this one indoors over the winter. Wish me luck!<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-43439806916273947222009-09-22T18:26:00.000-07:002009-09-23T10:01:46.155-07:00Saving Garden Peas For Next Year's Seeds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Srl5kCzn1kI/AAAAAAAAAFo/kuked7d-3NM/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+019+peas+for+seed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Srl5kCzn1kI/AAAAAAAAAFo/kuked7d-3NM/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+019+peas+for+seed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384468489633781314" border="0" /></a>I purposely left my peas planted this year, long after I'd finished picking them, so that the leftover peas could <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/harvesting-seeds-from-peas.html">dry out enough to be saved for next year's planting</a>. (This took longer than I thought it would, as interestingly enough the pods were the last part of the plants to stay green - the plants seemed to direct most of the water and nutrients they absorbed to the pods and peas).<br /><br />Today they were finally dry enough. I managed to find about 20 (see pic) that I can save for next year, and as I was scrounging around I pulled up what I though must have been a weed... nope! A fallen pea had started the next generation of plants already (foreground of pic).<br /><br />Nature definitely knows how to take good care of things :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-42404326198410980502009-09-17T20:00:00.000-07:002009-09-17T22:35:54.444-07:00My Asters And Other Ways To Attract BeesA quick footnote to my <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/09/asters.html">last post about Asters</a>: the bees love my new plant! I've noticed an increase in their numbers since its arrival, and every time I stop to look at the flowers, I see several bees hard at work.<br /><br />This got me thinking about <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/pollinating-blueberries.html">pollinating my fruit and veggie plants</a> in the back yard (I planted my Asters in the front), and I thought what a shame that Asters are late bloomers. But wait, I could certainly look into other bee-attracting tips, couldn't I?<br /><br />Here's what I found out:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>Plant a variety of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">florals</span> that will bloom in stages all season, that way you always have a place for bees to come.</li><li>Bees like a wider variety of blooms (as opposed to many of the same kind).<br /></li><li>There are many herbs that attract bees (check! I have some in my garden already).</li><li>Provide a water source (like a small pond). Bees need water as well as nectar.<br /></li><li>Do not use pesticides. I already don't, but it's still an important point (and one that makes sense).</li><li>Leave a portion of your garden as bare dirt (i.e. mulch and plastic free) to allow for bees that lay eggs in small tunnels under ground.</li><li>Leaving blooming weeds, such as dandelions, buttercups and white clover, can attract bees as well.</li><li>Here's a link to an article that lists good bee-attracting plants: <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/tips/2790">Buzzworthy Plants That Attract Bees</a>, by Brian Clark Howard.</li></ul>The wheels in my head are turning now, generating a to-do list:<br /><ol><li>Get a bird bath for the veggie garden.</li><li>Plant some marigolds all around the perimeter of the veggie garden, and maybe some black eyed susans inside.</li><li>Add more herbs, and spread them out throughout the garden instead of having them clumped in one area.</li><li>And the list goes on...<br /></li></ol>Happy bee luring!!<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-23528672549608351212009-09-13T07:48:00.000-07:002009-09-23T10:01:18.634-07:00Asters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sq0Gi7AQivI/AAAAAAAAAFg/HgCNZXCuFSM/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+059+Asters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/Sq0Gi7AQivI/AAAAAAAAAFg/HgCNZXCuFSM/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+059+Asters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380964326801705714" border="0" /></a><br />I have yet another addition to my garden! I bought a small Aster plant recently, and now wish I'd bought two or three. I chose this colour (see picture) because it's my daughter's favourite :) Here is some information about Asters:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>They are late bloomers, brightening up the garden in late summer and fall, and blooming until frost.</li><li>They attract butterflies, moths, bees, and even birds if they're left to go to seed.</li><li>They are perennials :)</li><li>If you divide your Aster plant every two or three years, it's appearance will benefit. Divide plants in the spring once they have finished blooming: remove older less healthy areas and replant the fresh, newer growth.</li><li>Watch out for powdery mildew: don't crowd plants, as this will prevent air <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">circulation</span>, and try to keep the leaves dry when watering.</li><li>Asters can be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">propagated</span> from seeds or cuttings (at the moment I have a cutting from the plant I bought, in some water :)</li><li>Asters can grow in zones 4 - 8.</li><li>They prefer full sun.</li><li>"Aster" is Greek for "star".</li></ul><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-26487852874437127892009-09-04T00:16:00.001-07:002009-09-04T15:57:10.891-07:00Can You Grow A Japanese Maple From A Cutting?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SqC-5SBicHI/AAAAAAAAAFY/panihrqxIBM/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+031+Japanese+Maple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SqC-5SBicHI/AAAAAAAAAFY/panihrqxIBM/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+031+Japanese+Maple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377507846380482674" border="0" /></a><br />I love Japanese Maples! We have one in our back yard, and I'd love to have one in the front as well. I hadn't even considered the option of propagating a new tree from a cutting, until I stumbled upon the idea <a href="http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3147">here</a>. I surfed around again and found more info <a href="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Seeding-Propagation-733/start-cutting-Japanese-Maple.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />I think I'm definitely going to try. I'll have to look at our tree to see if there is any new growth I can clip to use - otherwise I might have to wait until spring.<br /><br />Here's a summary:<br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>Use a cutting from new growth, between 6 and 8 inches long.</li><li>Cut at an angle where a leaf meets the stem.</li><li>Remove all but the last two or three leaves.</li><li>Dip in a rooting hormone (such as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rootone</span>).</li><li>Put cutting in moist <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">perlite</span>.</li><li>Maintain humidity (seal in plastic, or mist regularly).</li><li>Place somewhere with good light.</li><li>Once roots have appeared (about 8 weeks later), you can then move the cutting out doors, if you allow it to gradually adjust to the new temperature.</li><li>Plant in the ground at least a month before the first frost.</li></ul><br />Rooting success is apparently <a href="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Seeding-Propagation-733/Japanese-Maple-Starts.htm">related to the age of the tree</a> - the younger the tree, the more likely your cuttings will be to survive. I'm not sure how old our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">JM</span> is, other than the fact that it was an established tree when we bought our house, eight years ago. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hmmm</span>. (I'm still going to try ;)<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nancypics-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000VBC6U0&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-10932925370962082622009-08-31T21:16:00.001-07:002009-09-13T10:00:09.183-07:00Nonstop Mocca Yellow Begonia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpygQqDC6FI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/tdLRl9FX524/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+093+begonia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpygQqDC6FI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/tdLRl9FX524/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+093+begonia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376348263198943314" border="0" /></a>Here's another addition to my front garden! It is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nonstop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mocca</span> Yellow Begonia</span>. It's a new floral for me, so I thought I'd do some research to aid in its care. Here's what I found out about Begonias:<br /><br /><ul><li style="font-weight: bold;">They like well drained soil, as they will rot if they become too moist, but the soil should not be left to dry out completely between watering.<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">They like sun, but should be protected from the most intense sun if your climate is hot and dry.</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Bring inside before first frost, but not into a room that's too warm.<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">When you bring them inside, start with the sunniest location you can find and then gradually allow them to get used to reduced amounts of light.</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Zones: 3-11 (Annual in zones 3-8; <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Perennial</span> in zones 9-11).</li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_172101_dig-store-tuberous.html">Tubers can be saved</a> over the winter to start new plants the following year.</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Leave foliage in place after blooming has finished for the season, as the leaves can continue to generate food for the bulbs/tubers. Foliage can be cut back once it turns yellow.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Begonias can be </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bradsbegoniaworld.com/prop.htm">propagated from cuttings</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /></li></ul><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-45083831475386042192009-08-25T14:05:00.001-07:002009-08-25T14:19:10.772-07:00Mold On Zucchini LeavesThis is my latest gardening hurdle: there is <span style="font-weight: bold;">powdery, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">grayish</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> mold on many of my zucchini leaves</span>. As it turns out, there are a few simple things you can try to combat this.<br /><br />First and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">foremost</span> - <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">never put moldy leaves in your compost</span>. The spores will survive and spread.<br /><br />As for getting rid of mold on leaves, I was able to find three different organic solutions that can be sprayed directly on the plants to alleviate mold:<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chamomile tea</span>. Make a strong brew and let it cool first before spraying. Chamomile tea is high in sulfur and is a natural fungicide. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baking soda and water</span>. Mix 1 tbsp of Baking Soda and 1 gallon of water and spray on leaves.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skim milk and water</span>. Combine at a 50/50 ratio and spray on. This remedy supposedly changes the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pH</span> of the surface of the leaves, which prohibits the mold from surviving.</li></ol><br />PS - <span style="font-style: italic;">here's a handy link </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ghorganics.com/page15.html">http://www.ghorganics.com/page15.html </a><span style="font-style: italic;">with more remedies for other plant diseases (in addition to mold). </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-31610474232988337432009-08-24T09:22:00.001-07:002009-08-25T08:14:00.916-07:00Cabbage Worm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpK_QwKIfaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/fuX_vHYz254/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+cabbage+worms+016+LRFB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpK_QwKIfaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/fuX_vHYz254/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+cabbage+worms+016+LRFB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373567599932636578" border="0" /></a>Aw, he's cute!!! Too bad he and his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lil</span></span>' buddies are devouring my pretty blue ornamental cabbage.<br /><br />I picked off all the worms I could find yesterday, and tossed them in the yard as far away from the garden as I could (they turn into the <a href="http://organicgardening.about.com/od/pestcontrol/p/cabbageworms.htm">Cabbage White butterfly</a> so I didn't have the heart to kill them).<br /><br />My edible cabbage in the back garden has also been devoured, and although I can't find any worms, I do recall seeing these lovely little white butterflies flitting about (ah-HA!).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The butterflies deposit their small eggs on the underside of the leaf. After a short time (about a week), the eggs hatch and the worms start munching away, nourishing themselves to make their chrysalis for the next generation of butterflies.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hmmm</span></span>.<br /><br />I found a great article on this topic at <a href="http://blog.ecosmart.com/index.php/2009/05/02/cabbage-worms/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">EcoSMART</span></span></a>, which includes <span style="font-weight: bold;">a photo of the eggs</span>, as well as several solutions including:<br /><ul><li style="font-weight: bold;">Use floating row covers and/or nylon stockings to cover your plants.</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Remove and destroy the worms (does throwing them across the yard count? I'm thinking not, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lol</span></span>).</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Plant other things to deter these pests (such as RED cabbage, Mint, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme or Hyssop).</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Catch the butterflies with nets or sticky tapes.</span></li></ul>They also sell their <a href="http://ecosmart.com/">organic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">insectide</span></span></a>, which is another option to try.<br /><br />Another spray option, which I might try because I can mix it myself and is chemical free, is the combination of <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >1% garlic, 1% fish oil and 98% water</span>. You can visit <a href="http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/communications/highlights/fall97/sprays.htm">this site</a> for more information on this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flour, dusted on the leaves when they're damp from dew or rain, also works. The worms eat the flour, become bloated, and die.</span> I'm considering trying this as well, since it's a totally non-toxic option. <a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008811_home-remedy-cabbage-worms.html">This e-How article</a> by Chris McLaughlin describes the flour method.<br /><br />There are many things you can do to combat the Cabbage Worm - I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">planning</span> to add to this post as I come across more information. Meanwhile, I guess I'll try one of the remedies described above and see what works!<br />_____________________________<br /><br />PS - I just went out back and inspected my cabbage - I saw some eggs, although no big clusters of them - AND I saw some that had hatched into tiny baby worms (about 1-2 mm in length)!! Previously I had scanned for full grown worms and not seen any, but this time I looked closer...<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900175850695800281.post-35639119903004614712009-08-24T08:49:00.000-07:002009-09-04T00:28:51.402-07:00Strawberry Runners Propagation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpK64Q02MtI/AAAAAAAAADw/Orx4nUZfaWA/s1600-h/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+strawberry+runners+with+blossom+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m03Ez3NdPnk/SpK64Q02MtI/AAAAAAAAADw/Orx4nUZfaWA/s400/c2009+Nancy+Lovering+strawberry+runners+with+blossom+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373562781158486738" border="0" /></a><br />Here's an update on my strawberry runners - I tried propagating them by <a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/2009/08/growing-strawberry-runners.html">planting them in their own pots while they were still attached to the mother plant</a>. Apparently it's working, because <span style="font-weight: bold;">not only are they thriving, but one has even grown a blossom!</span> All I have to do now is decide when I'm going to cut them free...<br /><br /><a href="http://plantavenue.blogspot.com/">Plant Avenue Home</a>Plant Avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842695905285994808noreply@blogger.com0