finnime
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Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
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Post by finnime on Jun 1, 2022 6:06:47 GMT -5
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jun 1, 2022 8:54:28 GMT -5
Are you sure it's been long enough Ken? Some of mine that I thought didn't make it, just sprouted after our last rain. Raining again today so will be cooler for me to get the bulbs in the ground the next couple of days. Need to finish planting any seeds that I have left.
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cooper88
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Post by cooper88 on Jun 1, 2022 9:10:47 GMT -5
I've had a horrible year for germination also. Everything I started inside was fine, except a few that a cat got into. The stuff I direct sow outside has been horrible. It was a cooler than normal early spring, followed by blazing hot and windy. Marigolds and okra have now been sown three times!
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ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jun 1, 2022 9:11:52 GMT -5
I planted these seeds in April after the last frost date. The temperatures were unusually above average which spoiled me. Then we got temps in the high 30's. I figured they'd wait until the soil warmed up so I didn't water them. I'd love to see them start now. If so I'll start watering them. I can't believe they all died. Mother nature has them in the ground since Fall and they survive. I did see that the squirrels had been digging there, but could they get every seed? Sunflowers yes, but Zinnias?
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jun 2, 2022 12:47:13 GMT -5
Does anyone know what this is? It's happening with the hostas in the courtyard. I searched online, but people just keep saying that it's flowering. That's not a hosta flower, which is thin and purple. I've never seen this before. It's like me having another head growing out of my current one, and saying it's just the hairdo.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Jun 2, 2022 13:20:13 GMT -5
Right, hostas really do flower!
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Jun 2, 2022 13:25:08 GMT -5
Oh, I see what you're saying. That's true; when my hostas flower, they don't grow a second head.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jun 2, 2022 13:27:08 GMT -5
Right, hostas really do flower! That's not a hosta flower. I don't know what it is. Can I cut it to propagate? Is it indicative of too much/too little sun, shade or fertilizer?
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CCL
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Gardening
Jun 2, 2022 13:48:44 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 13:48:44 GMT -5
Yeah, that's not a hosta bloom. Looks like it's trying to grow another plant. I'd try cutting it and put the bottom couple inches of stem in water see if it sprouts roots.
I've had it happen a few times, but never gave it much thought. I just cut them off and moved on.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 13:54:01 GMT -5
I've been buying some of my new seed varieties from rareseeds.com
Their germination rate has been fantastic. Most have sprouted in 2-3 days. They don't have as much variety as some of the other seed companies, but the ones they carry have been great for me.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 2, 2022 15:11:14 GMT -5
Does anyone know what this is? It's happening with the hostas in the courtyard. I searched online, but people just keep saying that it's flowering. That's not a hosta flower, which is thin and purple. I've never seen this before. It's like me having another head growing out of my current one, and saying it's just the hairdo. It's evolving and soon you will need to feed it human flesh.
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ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jun 2, 2022 15:26:29 GMT -5
I broke down and ordered Sunflower and Zinnia seeds from Burpee. Not too late to get started. I collected Hyathinth bean seeds last year from the 3 vines I had across 12' of my fence and started some inside. Put them into the ground last week and the rabbits are eating them.
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cooper88
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Post by cooper88 on Jun 2, 2022 15:37:26 GMT -5
CCL I really like rareseeds.com also. They sent me some free purple basil with an order this year. It's pretty.
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dannylion
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Gravity is a harsh mistress
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Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
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Post by dannylion on Jun 2, 2022 16:16:27 GMT -5
There are about 2 dozen tiny tomatoes on my Aerogarden tomato plants! This is Very Exciting! They are a variety of currant tomatoes, so they will be smaller than marbles when mature. And I won't lose any of them to squirrels or groundhogs!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 17:49:37 GMT -5
dannylion I am loving your enthusiasm about your tomatoes!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 18:25:08 GMT -5
My mistreated plant has at least 20 tomatoes on it. The others have between 5 and 10. I still haven’t had another grow as fast as that one mutant tomato. Mister and I went to his parent’s house Monday. His Mom took me in the backyard because she wanted to show me what she’s growing. She has 2 little tomato plants, neither had flowers, but one had a nice size tomato growing. She text me the next day with some angry faces because a squirrel or something got her little lonely tomato, took a bite out of it and left in her hostas. Mister said she was really upset about it when she told him, and he knew it because she called the squirrel a bitch. And she does NOT talk like that, so yeah, she was upset lol. I would be upset too though, if critters got my tomatoes. I REALLY hope that doesn’t happen. My feelings would be hurt. They’re MINE! If I do end up with a lot of tomatoes, I think I want to figure out how to make sauce I can freeze to cook with later. Is that even possible? We do cook a lot of dishes that require diced tomatoes or tomato sauce. I think countrygirl2 does that. Maybe she’ll hop over here and chime in. Advice and tips are welcome from all of you though!
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haapai
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Character
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Post by haapai on Jun 2, 2022 18:40:43 GMT -5
Does anyone know what this is? It's happening with the hostas in the courtyard. I searched online, but people just keep saying that it's flowering. That's not a hosta flower, which is thin and purple. I've never seen this before. It's like me having another head growing out of my current one, and saying it's just the hairdo. I've never seen hostas flower like that. It does, indeed, resemble something growing another head.
OTOH, the hosta plants in this picture resemble the things that I dug out of my grandmother's flower garden and were planted by her mother. They were hardy as heck, but they didn't form those neat compact clusters of leaves that most of us expect. Perhaps you are looking at a very old variety of hosta that behaves a bit differently than modern varieties.
Have fun watching what the second head does. Keep us posted if you wish to. I sure as heck want to know if that knob of leaves flowers.
ETA: Is this the only example of a hosta behaving strangely in your courtyard or are there other hosta plants growing in the same manner? Are the hostas new? Has something in their environment -- more sun, more reflected sunlight, earlier heat, more water, more fertilizer or just a fresh coat of mulch -- changed the behavior of long-established plants?
What you have photographed certainly reminds me of bunchy. But that is crazy, you are in Canada.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Jun 2, 2022 19:09:51 GMT -5
Pink, you can make sauce out of tomatoes. If you don't have canning equipment to work with try this.
First get boiling water in a big kettle, then dip the tomatoes in it until you see the peelings starting to come loss, maybe 2 or so minutes. Dip them out and chill in ice water. Then just slip the peels off and core. If you have a food processor drop in there and process. Then just take a strainer and a spoon and press in the sieve so the juice runs clear. You can throw the seeds and stuff away. Put the sauce in freezer containers and freeze. Or you can cook down, what you have right now will be unseasoned basically tomato juice.
If you want to get into canning and freezing the absolute best guide is the Ball Blue Book of Canning, even Walmart sells them at times.
As far as protecting your plants from squirrels get some chicken wire and bend around the plant, make it taller and they can't get to it.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 20:34:08 GMT -5
I've had a horrible year for germination also. Everything I started inside was fine, except a few that a cat got into. The stuff I direct sow outside has been horrible. It was a cooler than normal early spring, followed by blazing hot and windy. Marigolds and okra have now been sown three times! My marigold seeds I planted are blooming already.
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 24, 2024 5:55:06 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 20:36:48 GMT -5
Pink, you can make sauce out of tomatoes. If you don't have canning equipment to work with try this. First get boiling water in a big kettle, then dip the tomatoes in it until you see the peelings starting to come loss, maybe 2 or so minutes. Dip them out and chill in ice water. Then just slip the peels off and core. If you have a food processor drop in there and process. Then just take a strainer and a spoon and press in the sieve so the juice runs clear. You can throw the seeds and stuff away. Put the sauce in freezer containers and freeze. Or you can cook down, what you have right now will be unseasoned basically tomato juice. If you want to get into canning and freezing the absolute best guide is the Ball Blue Book of Canning, even Walmart sells them at times. As far as protecting your plants from squirrels get some chicken wire and bend around the plant, make it taller and they can't get to it. Yayyyy! I was hoping you’d respond to me tagging you. I am taking notes.
So far squirrels haven’t bothered my plants. We started seeing a lot fewer squirrels as soon as Mister brought OG home from staying at his parent’s house after we moved here. OG is gone now, but Newbie has a very strong prey drive, so maybe her presence will help keep them away still, even though she spends most of her time inside the house. But so did OG, and the squirrels still stayed away.
One of the reasons I chose to put them in grow bags on the elevated deck was to try to minimize potential problems with critters and pests. Squirrels can get on the deck, but at least they have to do a little work to get on it, instead of just waltzing right over on the ground, and hope Newbie isn’t outside at the time.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 20:37:40 GMT -5
My mistreated plant has at least 20 tomatoes on it. The others have between 5 and 10. I still haven’t had another grow as fast as that one mutant tomato. Mister and I went to his parent’s house Monday. His Mom took me in the backyard because she wanted to show me what she’s growing. She has 2 little tomato plants, neither had flowers, but one had a nice size tomato growing. She text me the next day with some angry faces because a squirrel or something got her little lonely tomato, took a bite out of it and left in her hostas. Mister said she was really upset about it when she told him, and he knew it because she called the squirrel a bitch. And she does NOT talk like that, so yeah, she was upset lol. I would be upset too though, if critters got my tomatoes. I REALLY hope that doesn’t happen. My feelings would be hurt. They’re MINE! If I do end up with a lot of tomatoes, I think I want to figure out how to make sauce I can freeze to cook with later. Is that even possible? We do cook a lot of dishes that require diced tomatoes or tomato sauce. I think countrygirl2 does that. Maybe she’ll hop over here and chime in. Advice and tips are welcome from all of you though! I dice mine up and freeze them. I don't grow enough to make canning them worthwhile. I have plenty enough to last all winter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 20:48:01 GMT -5
My mistreated plant has at least 20 tomatoes on it. The others have between 5 and 10. I still haven’t had another grow as fast as that one mutant tomato. Mister and I went to his parent’s house Monday. His Mom took me in the backyard because she wanted to show me what she’s growing. She has 2 little tomato plants, neither had flowers, but one had a nice size tomato growing. She text me the next day with some angry faces because a squirrel or something got her little lonely tomato, took a bite out of it and left in her hostas. Mister said she was really upset about it when she told him, and he knew it because she called the squirrel a bitch. And she does NOT talk like that, so yeah, she was upset lol. I would be upset too though, if critters got my tomatoes. I REALLY hope that doesn’t happen. My feelings would be hurt. They’re MINE! If I do end up with a lot of tomatoes, I think I want to figure out how to make sauce I can freeze to cook with later. Is that even possible? We do cook a lot of dishes that require diced tomatoes or tomato sauce. I think countrygirl2 does that. Maybe she’ll hop over here and chime in. Advice and tips are welcome from all of you though! I dice mine up and freeze them. I don't grow enough to make canning them worthwhile. I have plenty enough to last all winter. Can you tell me exactly how you dice them and freeze them? I use more diced tomatoes than I do tomato sauce. I’m not the most knowledgeable cook, but I’ve learned how to doctor up diced tomatoes to use instead of tomato sauce. Do you mean that you freeze enough diced tomatoes to last all winter? I could be mixing you up with another poster, but I thought you lived in an area with a very long growing season for tomatoes, so I’m not sure if you mean your plants should supply you with enough tomatoes to last all winter.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 21:01:02 GMT -5
Yes I grow and dice up and freeze enough tomatoes to last all winter. There are 2 of us.
I'm thinking some people blanch their tomatoes before chopping and freezing, but I don't bother. We like them fine just chopped up. I rinse, hull, then chop them up in different sizes. Then I put them in quart size ziplock freezer bags and lay flat in the freezer.
I'm in Indiana, so our growing season isn't particularly long. I imagine yours is longer since you are farther south. My bigger tomatoes like beefsteak usually don't produce any ripe tomatoes til about August. I also grow cherry or grape tomatoes because they grow and ripen faster.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Jun 2, 2022 21:03:09 GMT -5
I will try rareseeds.com also. I give up on spinach, twice planted and soon will be too hot for it. Until the last 2 or 3 years never had a problem with seeds germinating. I think its. the seeds.
We are in southwestern Indiana, don't have a problem with the growing season here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2022 21:47:23 GMT -5
Yes I grow and dice up and freeze enough tomatoes to last all winter. There are 2 of us. I'm thinking some people blanch their tomatoes before chopping and freezing, but I don't bother. We like them fine just chopped up. I rinse, hull, then chop them up in different sizes. Then I put them in quart size ziplock freezer bags and lay flat in the freezer. I'm in Indiana, so our growing season isn't particularly long. I imagine yours is longer since you are farther south. My bigger tomatoes like beefsteak usually don't produce any ripe tomatoes til about August. I also grow cherry or grape tomatoes because they grow and ripen faster. I DID have you confused with another poster. I realized it as soon as I read you are in Indiana, and I thought DUH. I knew that. I know which poster I had you confused with as far as location. Anyway….. Thank you for sharing what you do. I’m lazy, and that sounds easy enough for me.
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jun 2, 2022 21:52:56 GMT -5
I will try rareseeds.com also. I give up on spinach, twice planted and soon will be too hot for it. Until the last 2 or 3 years never had a problem with seeds germinating. I think its. the seeds. We are in southwestern Indiana, don't have a problem with the growing season here. They also send an extra free packet of seeds with every order. It gives me the chance to try some things I would probably never order on my own. They've got some unusual plants and I like trying new varieties.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jun 2, 2022 22:33:22 GMT -5
Does anyone know what this is? It's happening with the hostas in the courtyard. I searched online, but people just keep saying that it's flowering. That's not a hosta flower, which is thin and purple. I've never seen this before. It's like me having another head growing out of my current one, and saying it's just the hairdo. I've never seen hostas flower like that. It does, indeed, resemble something growing another head.
OTOH, the hosta plants in this picture resemble the things that I dug out of my grandmother's flower garden and were planted by her mother. They were hardy as heck, but they didn't form those neat compact clusters of leaves that most of us expect. Perhaps you are looking at a very old variety of hosta that behaves a bit differently than modern varieties.
Have fun watching what the second head does. Keep us posted if you wish to. I sure as heck want to know if that knob of leaves flowers.
ETA: Is this the only example of a hosta behaving strangely in your courtyard or are there other hosta plants growing in the same manner? Are the hostas new? Has something in their environment -- more sun, more reflected sunlight, earlier heat, more water, more fertilizer or just a fresh coat of mulch -- changed the behavior of long-established plants?
What you have photographed certainly reminds me of bunchy. But that is crazy, you are in Canada. There are a dozen hostas in the courtyard. Two of them are growing second heads. It reminds me of the critter in Alien. I've never seen anything like that either.
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mollyc
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Post by mollyc on Jun 2, 2022 22:46:36 GMT -5
Q: Can anyone tell me what this is growing in the center of my hosta?Maybe this is the problem. Hosta expert Bob Solberg says: “The plant appears to be ‘Francee’ or possibly ‘Patriot’. Hostas will often produce a flower scape with leafy bracts, instead of the usual small ones, if their biological clock has been disrupted. Since this plant is blooming early it “thinks” it needs more leaves to produce enough food to support its flowers and hopefully seeds. The effect is environmental and will probably not appear next year once the plant has been acclimated to its new home. “Many of these plants were harvested in the fields of Holland in the fall and this early spring has forced them up earlier than normal. In fact sometimes, a hosta will go dormant just as it is preparing to bloom and next spring only a scape, no leaves at all, will come up in the spring. It will produce a huge amount of crazy leaves to try to feed itself. The next year it will again be normal.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jun 2, 2022 23:36:05 GMT -5
Q: Can anyone tell me what this is growing in the center of my hosta?Maybe this is the problem. Hosta expert Bob Solberg says: “The plant appears to be ‘Francee’ or possibly ‘Patriot’. Hostas will often produce a flower scape with leafy bracts, instead of the usual small ones, if their biological clock has been disrupted. Since this plant is blooming early it “thinks” it needs more leaves to produce enough food to support its flowers and hopefully seeds. The effect is environmental and will probably not appear next year once the plant has been acclimated to its new home. “Many of these plants were harvested in the fields of Holland in the fall and this early spring has forced them up earlier than normal. In fact sometimes, a hosta will go dormant just as it is preparing to bloom and next spring only a scape, no leaves at all, will come up in the spring. It will produce a huge amount of crazy leaves to try to feed itself. The next year it will again be normal. Thank you so much! I did a quick search online and all I could find was people insisting that it was blooming. It's not a new plant but we've had crazy weather. Too hot, then too cold, then a freeze, then too hot again.
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mollyc
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Post by mollyc on Jun 2, 2022 23:46:29 GMT -5
You're welcome. I think the problem may have been you asked a reasonable question. I typed in "why has my hosta grown a second head" and clicked on pictures that looked like yours.
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