This clump of daffodils is interesting as I never planted plain yellow daffodils. I had some doubles that I got years ago and I think they have reverted to their two parent plants - a yellow and a pale cream. I find it fascinating how some plants will revert over time. Anyway, all daffodils are lovely and cheerful. They come back every year and multiply, and no little creatures like to eat them.I started this basil from seed in January. Basil does very well on a windowsill even in the dead of winter. I am always surprised that it doesn't mind the chill by the window and the lower light levels. I have pinched off some of the top leaves to use in soup so it will branch out a bit more now.
Monday, April 22, 2024
A Story - "Ballerina Tulips" and Pulmonaria, Daffodils, and Sweet Basil
This clump of daffodils is interesting as I never planted plain yellow daffodils. I had some doubles that I got years ago and I think they have reverted to their two parent plants - a yellow and a pale cream. I find it fascinating how some plants will revert over time. Anyway, all daffodils are lovely and cheerful. They come back every year and multiply, and no little creatures like to eat them.I started this basil from seed in January. Basil does very well on a windowsill even in the dead of winter. I am always surprised that it doesn't mind the chill by the window and the lower light levels. I have pinched off some of the top leaves to use in soup so it will branch out a bit more now.
Monday, April 15, 2024
A Story - "Cards" and Blue Scilla, Fuschia, Dutchman's Breetches, White Crocus, Glory-of-the-Snow
So nice to see the spring flowers and to hear the frogs croaking away. Lots of birds especially in the mornings and some mourning cloak butterflies are drifting around.
Monday, April 8, 2024
A Story - "No Going Back" and Double Snowdrops, Planting Early Potatoes in Bags
I decided to plant them even though it is early. They are planted in old reusable grocery bags which is what I did last year with good results. I have put them just under the soil so the sprouts can get sunlight. Later as the sprouts get taller, I'll put more dirt on top of them. I fertilized the soil with about a tablespoon of Miracle Grow slow-release pelleted tomato food per plant bag. We are getting a good soaking rain in a couple of days so that will help them. I can easily cover them if a frost is predicted.
My favourite kind of crocus. I really like the striped petals. I don't have many as the chipmunks go after them but I still have the odd one usually coming up somewhere that the chipmunk planted it.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
A Story - "Deidre" and starting Geraniums from Cuttings
In February, it started to pick up and I fertilized it and watered it more regularly. It put out some nice growth.
Now I am taking off shoots and rooting them up. The shoots are about 3" long and I take off all but about 3 leaves. I dip the shoots in rooting hormone. I don't dip them into the rooting hormone container but make a small pile of rooting hormone on a plastic lid so that I don't contaminate the rooting hormone. You can root geraniums without rooting hormone but it increases the rate of success.
I want to have about 18 or 20 new plants and I have limited window space so I decided to put about 6 cuttings in a 4 or 5" pot. I cover them loosely with a plastic bag and put them in a bright spot but not in a window.
Whether I plant them directly in the ground or in a pot, I will fertilize them at planting time with a liquid fertilizer high in phosphorus, the middle number. That will stimulate root growth. Later I will feed them with slow release balanced fertilizer.