| Author | Content |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
January 18, 2007
8:43 PM Post #3098294
| this was taken about 3 weeks ago when I started building the frames...I switched over to 11/2 pvc pipes but even that wouldn't protect the width I had planted them in...thanks 
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Sparisi1122
Gloucester, MA
January 23, 2007
2:52 PM Post #3114576
| Your lucky to live in Texas. It is so cold here in The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
January 23, 2007
3:59 PM Post #3114775
| I just posted the good news under the Beginner's gardening site. Yes, I could never survive in cold weather. I tried it once in zone 6 in the mountains of New Mexico, got so depressed with the weather that I literally installed gro lights all over the house...the kids laughed as i had at least 50 gro lights going with plants and seeds.. |
Lenjo
Mount Angel, OR
(Zone 8a)
January 31, 2007
11:36 AM Post #3141908
| Bettygail, that is lot of snapdragons, can I be so nosy and ask what do you do with all them there snaps? Are they the rocket series that grows tall for cuts? |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
January 31, 2007
11:53 AM Post #3141977
| I am growing them for a weekend retreat for a prison ministry called Kairos Outside...for women who have loved ones in prison...an offshoot of the prison minstry called Kairos which is very active among churches in south Texas and involves many churches working together... I purposely planted the Rocket for a longer cut and the Liberty's grow about 18 to 20 inches tall. About 1/4 of the crop got some damage when I built tents for the frost cloth to cover them...that darn wind whipped around them so hard...won't ever cover them again in our zone...they could have taken the freezing weather for a few hours. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
2:59 PM Post #3157058
| Today is our first day of sun in weeks and weeks of cold and rain...I even have some snapdragons starting to bloom finally... 
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gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
3:02 PM Post #3157063
| The Libertys survived and are starting to bloom...although the frost cloth beat some down... 
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gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
3:05 PM Post #3157078
| one last pic of all the Rocket series trying to bloom with our first day of sun in a long long time 
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Lenjo
Mount Angel, OR
(Zone 8a)
February 4, 2007
3:29 PM Post #3157141
| Bettygail, did you sow your seed directly outdoors? I want to grow a bunch for a niece's wedding this late August but I could direct seed till probably beginning of June. Our growing season is so much shorter because we are wet so late in the year. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
5:10 PM Post #3157429
| I started mine by seed...they really hate the heat and I don't know how hot it gets in your area...I suppose you are like Austin, Texas...these plants will take hard freezes and bounce back...I plant mine in October or November so that I have time to cut them back to 4" once a month with Dec. 15 being the last cut back. How cool are you summers or how hot? If you tell me what you summers are like I may be able to help by choosing what would grow well at that time. Do you get warm enough to grow zinnias galore and Celosia 'Bombay' and the new Celosia 'Cramers'...cutting flowers are my favorite flowers...know we could find something for you that is pretty to bloom in august. My last daughter to get married was 6 years ago today...she used the brightest flowers in her bridesmaids' bouquets and hers, too...no traditional white |
Lenjo
Mount Angel, OR
(Zone 8a)
February 4, 2007
6:43 PM Post #3157719
| Thanks, Bettygail, here in my part of Oregon we stay mostly in the 80's or low 90's. Not to say we haven't had 100 plus but it is rare. Our humidity is low too. Yes, I am planning lots of zinnias and I have done snaps before from seed earlier in the greenhouse and then transplanted but it would be nice to avoid that step if possible. I am planting Bells of Ireland too. I raise lots of dahlias too and roses but I find roses aren't the greatest cuts. I will do the China aster too. I am considering larkspur too especially if I can sow them directly outside. My hubby will do some glads. Here in the Willamette Valley where I am is nursery paradise. On our farm we raise marionberries, Christmas trees(firs), and hazelnuts. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
7:04 PM Post #3157769
| I would think that if you can grow Bells of Ireland (which we can't in the summer).you would do great with snaps...Larkspur comes up easily for me when sown outside in the winter and then blooms in april for us. Don't you have a friend in the nursery business who would be nice and order the 72 cell flats of snaps for wholesale??? You would have lots of time to cut them back a time or two before you let them bloom. A friend offered to do that for me knowing that it was for a prison ministry. You niece's wedding is a very special occasion. Johnny's Selected Seed has the best offering of the Sublime series of larkspur in every color in the world. Park Seed offers the prettiest Echinacea in both seeds and plants...some brand new plants pretty for cutting. Do the rudbeckias grow well during your summer...The old standard Goldsturm cuts real well...I should have dmailed you but forgot i could...right click on my name and we can correspond without being on the internet. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
March 9, 2007
7:34 PM Post #3265806
| OK friends...someone sympathize with me. The retreat I was growing these for is this weekend and I didn't make it with the flowers in time. I believe it was those last two 27 degree nights at the very end of February that didn't help. Oh well, cheer up gail, someone will enjoy the flowers when they peak...going to post a few pictures if you can stand it!! Think of me when i pick up all the flowers needed at the florists in the morning...LOL
This is called learning to grow in a new zone and being grateful that they are going to at least bloom some...
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momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 9, 2007
9:03 PM Post #3266146
| Betty, you can always do cut bouquets and bring them to nursing homes to brighten up the places for the seniors. I guarantee they will enjoy the beauty and they will love you for it. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
March 9, 2007
9:28 PM Post #3266235
| I had already made up my mind that if they weren't ready, the local nursing home was exactly where i would go...you read my mind!!! |
momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 9, 2007
9:34 PM Post #3266258
| Great minds... |
momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 9, 2007
9:35 PM Post #3266259
| Or... There is this little patch of soil in Windsor Ontario... |
momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 9, 2007
9:35 PM Post #3266260
| oops, it printed twice... ignore this box completely. It is only a figment of your imagination.
This message was edited Mar 9, 2007 10:36 PM |
