I forgot to mention that I add various other household things to my gardens too: banana peels, eggshells, coffee grinds...
I have had a nearly continuous supply of fish emulsion from my husband's fishing trips this year. He brings me all of the leftover minnows that he uses for bait. I just add water and let them do their thing. Some of my plants get the the whole fish, not just minnows either!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Rhododendron
I planted this rhododendron in the spring of 2014. The picture below was taken right after planting. I think it was about 6 inches tall.
The spot I chose was not getting enough sun. It didn't grow well here. Shade from the fence began around 1:00. I started reading more about rhododendrons (azaleas, roses...all things plants!) in the spring of 2015 and realized my soil was also not acidic enough for a rhododendron (or azalea).
In either early spring of 2015, I moved this plant to an area of my yard that gets more sunshine, but also also gets shade from a large tree. From early afternoon until early evening (5:00 or 6:00ish) the spot receives only dappled sunshine. I also purchased Epsoma Organic Soil Acidifer and planted the rhododendron with it and plenty of compost. My plant seems very happy now! It's height was about one foot, give or take several inches, and very leggy when I moved it. It is now about 3 feet tall and bushy (June 2015) It is also setting flower buds for the first time. I hope to finally see some of the lovely flowers next spring! Here is my rhododendron today.
And here are the flower buds. They are on most of the new branches now.
I still watch my plant very closely. Some of the older leaves are brown and spotty. I used some Serenade Garden anti fungus concentrate on the plant too,but at this point, I don't think it is fungus. I think the plant suffered a lot of winter damage.
My rhododendron is just about dead. I noticed some wilting a couple weeks ago, so I first thought it needed water, but when that didn't fix the wilting, I did some research and discovered it probably had root rot ( Phytophthora cinnamomi fungus)
This is terribly sad. As you can see, most all of the branches have flower buds now, so I was looking forward to blooms next spring. I poured an anti fungal solution (Serenade Garden) into the ground hoping that would help. It didn't. I had read that once root rot sets in, there is little hope for the plant. I guess I could have tried transplanting. Anyway, the above pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago. The plant is now turning brown and is obviously about to die. :(
Hydrangea
3/19/2016:
Here are a few pictures of this hydrangea. The bushy picture is from August 2015. It definitely made it from Kroger to my yard! The next three are from March 2016. Thankfully we had a very mild winter and it survived. I didn't consider the hardiness of the plant until now. We are expecting some freezing temps over the next couple of days. I will be covering this bush.
This is a closeup in early March.
(Taken on a rainy day - color is weird) This was March 19, 2016. You can see that some of the buds up the stem are showing life. I'm going to cover the plant the next few nights because we are expecting freezing temps.
This is early March, 2016. You can see some green sprouting from the ground.
I bought a foil wrapped hydrangea from Kroger for $3 (discounted from $25) around Mothers Day. It looked something like this (below - not my photo)
Here it is today (June 4, 2015)
I clipped the flowers and some leaves when they began dying. At first, it looked like the whole plant was going to die, but soon little leaves began sprouting from one of the branches. Yay. I transplanted it to the pot about 2 or 3 weeks after I bought it (after I noticed new growth). Soon new growth was appearing on the other two branches and at the bottom of the plant.
I'll put it in the ground sometime in August or September. Its sitting in the place I've selected now just to see how it does. The spot is about 20 feet from a large tree, but gets plenty of morning sun. Shade from the tree comes around 3 right now. This spot will allow my hydrangea to grow as large as it wants.
I've used my homemade fish emulsion (minnows and water) and miracle grow on the plant. I am going to put some aluminum sulfate in the ground well before planting along with plenty of compost. Assuming I will keep it in this place, I'll start preparing the plant's home soon.
Here are a few pictures of this hydrangea. The bushy picture is from August 2015. It definitely made it from Kroger to my yard! The next three are from March 2016. Thankfully we had a very mild winter and it survived. I didn't consider the hardiness of the plant until now. We are expecting some freezing temps over the next couple of days. I will be covering this bush.
I bought a foil wrapped hydrangea from Kroger for $3 (discounted from $25) around Mothers Day. It looked something like this (below - not my photo)
Here it is today (June 4, 2015)
I clipped the flowers and some leaves when they began dying. At first, it looked like the whole plant was going to die, but soon little leaves began sprouting from one of the branches. Yay. I transplanted it to the pot about 2 or 3 weeks after I bought it (after I noticed new growth). Soon new growth was appearing on the other two branches and at the bottom of the plant.
I'll put it in the ground sometime in August or September. Its sitting in the place I've selected now just to see how it does. The spot is about 20 feet from a large tree, but gets plenty of morning sun. Shade from the tree comes around 3 right now. This spot will allow my hydrangea to grow as large as it wants.
I've used my homemade fish emulsion (minnows and water) and miracle grow on the plant. I am going to put some aluminum sulfate in the ground well before planting along with plenty of compost. Assuming I will keep it in this place, I'll start preparing the plant's home soon.
Tractor Supply $2 Knockout Rosebush Bargains - Update
Here it is today (below), about a week later.
I think they are going to make it. Here is new growth on one of the bushes. The other as shown in the previous (first) post has two flower buds.
I'm pretty sure this plant was grown on its own root rather than grafted, so I'm optimistic by this growth at the base of the plant (above) rather than wondering about stock root. Update (about a week later) That new growth at the base shriveled and died away, but new life appeared on the other side of the cane and has taken off. See photo above.
New growth appeared a day or so after I clipped the only growing/green cane on the plant. I cut about 1/3 of it. I didn't do much of anything to the plant after I put it in the ground for the first week other than water and fertilize (fish, miracle grow, compost, and mulch). Nothing happened with this bush, but the other one seemed to be establishing itself without clipping. I started clipping a few days (obvious dead parts) to a week after planting.
Here is the plant right after I planted it (below). I felt so sorry for these plants! There were about 15 of them at Tractor Supply. All of them were pathetic looking. If there was such a thing as plant cruelty, this was it! I don't believe the plants were being watered in the dirt at all. The top of the plastic over the container was wrapped tightly in wire and only the [mostly dead] canes were exposed.
Here it is today, almost 2 weeks later (below). There are still dead canes, but I'll wait a little longer before cutting anymore. I might wait until March of 2016 before clipping the rest of them. I'm not sure yet.
Below are the before and after (almost 2 weeks later) pictures of the other Tractor Supply save.
I think they are going to make it. Here is new growth on one of the bushes. The other as shown in the previous (first) post has two flower buds.
I'm pretty sure this plant was grown on its own root rather than grafted, so I'm optimistic by this growth at the base of the plant (above) rather than wondering about stock root. Update (about a week later) That new growth at the base shriveled and died away, but new life appeared on the other side of the cane and has taken off. See photo above.
Here is the plant right after I planted it (below). I felt so sorry for these plants! There were about 15 of them at Tractor Supply. All of them were pathetic looking. If there was such a thing as plant cruelty, this was it! I don't believe the plants were being watered in the dirt at all. The top of the plastic over the container was wrapped tightly in wire and only the [mostly dead] canes were exposed.
Here it is today, almost 2 weeks later (below). There are still dead canes, but I'll wait a little longer before cutting anymore. I might wait until March of 2016 before clipping the rest of them. I'm not sure yet.
Below are the before and after (almost 2 weeks later) pictures of the other Tractor Supply save.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
First Garden Post
Many photos below...
I've had a vegetable garden for a few years. Each year I'm learning new tricks. I have a few strong tomato plants growing from seed as of June 2015, along with the regular transplants and direct sowed seeds (beans - saved from last year, cukes, zucchini, sugar snap peas). The sugar snap peas are new this year. I've harvested enough for a few dinners so far. Very tasty!
Last year I had some Morning Glories growing around the corn. I left it alone, was pretty. I have picked hundreds of Morning Glory seedlings from the garden this spring. I've heard these can completely take over a garden and that is exactly what it looked like was going to happen!
We have a lot of green tomatoes and many peppers (we've eaten a few peppers already). I've staked some tomato plants and caged a few, depending on the expected size of the plant and the tomatoes. My Purple Cherokee plants are staked, along with the Better Boys. Stupice and Juliet (Juliet is my fav for canning) are in cages. There are others too...
I became a bit obsessed with flower gardening in the Spring 2015. I am sure this is because I am so in love (married August 2014)! I am planning to have flowers blooming all season next year.
So far I have planted 20 Virginia Bluebell bulbs (native): April 2015, no blooms this year, the healthy foliage is pretty much gone now..to return with blooms March/April 2016. Ordered from Ebay and planted in April.
I ordered some seedlings from another Ebay seller: New England Asters (native), Fireworks Primrose (native) and Rose Campion. All are doing great. The primrose is blooming now, vigorous, hardy plant. The asters, also very vigorous and healthy, should bloom later in the summer. I hope! Although the rose campion is doing fine, I'm not really expecting to see flowers this year, but I look each day just in case.
Roses: I planted 7 rose bushes this year:
1) Two own root New Dawn bushes from Heirloom Roses (planted mid May, one is a little older than the other, ordered earlier) Beautiful and doing fantastic.
2) Three grafted rosebushes from Tractor Supply: Blaze climber (no blooms this year), Blue Girl (labeled incorrectly - 2 pretty white roses!) and a pink rosebush (I forgot the name...Mississippi Rainbow or something like that...one lovely large pink rose this year)
3) Late season/bargain buy from Tractor Supply: Two Knockout Rosebushes (one is a double knock out) These plants were in pitiful shape. I bought them for $2 a piece hoping I could save them. So far, I think they are going to make it! Both seem established with some new growth and I think one is setting a couple of rosebuds!
Hydrangea: Kroger had a foil wrapped blue hydrangea potted plant on sale for $3. I bought it hoping to transplant it. I have it in a larger pot and new growth looks great. I plan to put it it the ground late summer/early fall.
Lilacs: I planted some lilac suckers from my neighbors 50 year old bush. These are very iffy. I think the heat may have done them in. We were having days reaching 90+ degrees in May. A couple suckers look like they might make it. If not, I will plant some Bloomerang (continual blooming) lilac bushes in the fall or early spring next year alongside my deck.
The rhododendron planted last year, moved to a new location this spring, is doing well. It has set some flower buds so hopefully next spring the plant will flower for the first time.
Azaleas: I planted 3 small bushes. Two flowered this year. All seem healthy.
Boxwoods (?) My dad planted some small bushes for me a year or two after I moved into my house. I love them because my dad planted them. Unfortunately the azaleas he planted for me didn't make it. I think the boxwoods grew too much and smothered the azaleas. He doesn't think the buses are boxwoods, but that is what I call them. These are very hardy bushes and have thrived with very little care, but they attract flies! I have tried to find some other source for the fly attraction and cannot. I'm at a loss about it. Its been a problem for a couple of years. These bushes were very hard pruned this spring (regrowth is vigorous) and we are moving them to the back yard in the fall. I'm going to plant flowers in the spot (hopefully plants that will not attract any flies!)
I've planted many annuals, some from seeds....I received some surprise Marigold seeds from the Ebay seller who sent me the pea seeds (?) These are tallllll flowers, growing in a pot. They are finally setting a couple of flower buds. I'm looking forward to seeing them. I didn't know marigolds grew so tall! Some of my California Giant Zinnias are about to bloom (yay!) I have these scattered all over the yard, started from seeds (direct sow) I have a couple of Elephant Ears planted, one has sprouted. I also planted some Gladiolus bulbs (Dollar Store), a few have sprouted (these may return next year) I've had others that returned for a few years.
My oldest daughter asked me for a cactus this year, so I bought her an Easter/Spring Cactus. The bright red/orange flowers were beautiful! The plant's month long rest after bloom has just finished, and we have just repotted it. We will work on setting some new flower buds in the fall....
I bought a Purple Passion houseplant too....very pretty and interesting plant! Fuzzy purple leaves. Its just been repotted.
All of my plants are getting a lot of fish fertilizing! My husband loves to fish and gathers minnows on his trips. He brings them home to me to make my own fish emulsion. So far so good. I think the flowers and vegetables love it. Last year he threw some minnows in the corn and we had HUGE corn plants. I've also used some slow release basic fertilizer, an organic soil acidifer (roses, rhododendron, azaleas), plenty of Epson Salt, and some occasional shots of Miracle Grow. I like to stick to organics in the vegetable garden but I'm okay with Miracle Grow for the flowers - it works! I also use Serenade Garden (anti fungus spray). This is for the tomato plants (so far not needed this year) and I've sprayed my roses.
This is the pink rosebush (above). That tall shoot grew fast after a shot of Miracle Grow (as in a day or two!)
These are the two "New Dawn" plants (three photos above). The first one shows the new shoots of the first one (about two months older than the other, both planted in May). I'm expecting these plants to grow 20'+ in a few years, and cover the chicken coop wall (10'x50').
This is day 1 after planting the Knock Out roses (late May). I told you they looked pitiful (above). The wire wasn't removed from around the plastic container wrapping at the store. I don't believe the plants were getting any water in the dirt other than right on top of the new growth.
Here they are a couple of weeks after planting (4 photos above). I think one is going to bloom. I pruned the other on the one green cane because it wasn't showing any signs of new growth after many days. It is now! There are several new shoots beginning. Yay.
Here is the Primrose (below) a couple weeks after planting (planted in April, first picture taken in May, and again today - June 2) A lot of growth happened after a shot of Miracle Grow, but these are very hardy plants. They were flooded terribly in May. I thought they had been completely washed out...
I've had a vegetable garden for a few years. Each year I'm learning new tricks. I have a few strong tomato plants growing from seed as of June 2015, along with the regular transplants and direct sowed seeds (beans - saved from last year, cukes, zucchini, sugar snap peas). The sugar snap peas are new this year. I've harvested enough for a few dinners so far. Very tasty!
Last year I had some Morning Glories growing around the corn. I left it alone, was pretty. I have picked hundreds of Morning Glory seedlings from the garden this spring. I've heard these can completely take over a garden and that is exactly what it looked like was going to happen!
We have a lot of green tomatoes and many peppers (we've eaten a few peppers already). I've staked some tomato plants and caged a few, depending on the expected size of the plant and the tomatoes. My Purple Cherokee plants are staked, along with the Better Boys. Stupice and Juliet (Juliet is my fav for canning) are in cages. There are others too...
I became a bit obsessed with flower gardening in the Spring 2015. I am sure this is because I am so in love (married August 2014)! I am planning to have flowers blooming all season next year.
So far I have planted 20 Virginia Bluebell bulbs (native): April 2015, no blooms this year, the healthy foliage is pretty much gone now..to return with blooms March/April 2016. Ordered from Ebay and planted in April.
I ordered some seedlings from another Ebay seller: New England Asters (native), Fireworks Primrose (native) and Rose Campion. All are doing great. The primrose is blooming now, vigorous, hardy plant. The asters, also very vigorous and healthy, should bloom later in the summer. I hope! Although the rose campion is doing fine, I'm not really expecting to see flowers this year, but I look each day just in case.
Roses: I planted 7 rose bushes this year:
1) Two own root New Dawn bushes from Heirloom Roses (planted mid May, one is a little older than the other, ordered earlier) Beautiful and doing fantastic.
2) Three grafted rosebushes from Tractor Supply: Blaze climber (no blooms this year), Blue Girl (labeled incorrectly - 2 pretty white roses!) and a pink rosebush (I forgot the name...Mississippi Rainbow or something like that...one lovely large pink rose this year)
3) Late season/bargain buy from Tractor Supply: Two Knockout Rosebushes (one is a double knock out) These plants were in pitiful shape. I bought them for $2 a piece hoping I could save them. So far, I think they are going to make it! Both seem established with some new growth and I think one is setting a couple of rosebuds!
Hydrangea: Kroger had a foil wrapped blue hydrangea potted plant on sale for $3. I bought it hoping to transplant it. I have it in a larger pot and new growth looks great. I plan to put it it the ground late summer/early fall.
Lilacs: I planted some lilac suckers from my neighbors 50 year old bush. These are very iffy. I think the heat may have done them in. We were having days reaching 90+ degrees in May. A couple suckers look like they might make it. If not, I will plant some Bloomerang (continual blooming) lilac bushes in the fall or early spring next year alongside my deck.
The rhododendron planted last year, moved to a new location this spring, is doing well. It has set some flower buds so hopefully next spring the plant will flower for the first time.
Azaleas: I planted 3 small bushes. Two flowered this year. All seem healthy.
Boxwoods (?) My dad planted some small bushes for me a year or two after I moved into my house. I love them because my dad planted them. Unfortunately the azaleas he planted for me didn't make it. I think the boxwoods grew too much and smothered the azaleas. He doesn't think the buses are boxwoods, but that is what I call them. These are very hardy bushes and have thrived with very little care, but they attract flies! I have tried to find some other source for the fly attraction and cannot. I'm at a loss about it. Its been a problem for a couple of years. These bushes were very hard pruned this spring (regrowth is vigorous) and we are moving them to the back yard in the fall. I'm going to plant flowers in the spot (hopefully plants that will not attract any flies!)
I've planted many annuals, some from seeds....I received some surprise Marigold seeds from the Ebay seller who sent me the pea seeds (?) These are tallllll flowers, growing in a pot. They are finally setting a couple of flower buds. I'm looking forward to seeing them. I didn't know marigolds grew so tall! Some of my California Giant Zinnias are about to bloom (yay!) I have these scattered all over the yard, started from seeds (direct sow) I have a couple of Elephant Ears planted, one has sprouted. I also planted some Gladiolus bulbs (Dollar Store), a few have sprouted (these may return next year) I've had others that returned for a few years.
My oldest daughter asked me for a cactus this year, so I bought her an Easter/Spring Cactus. The bright red/orange flowers were beautiful! The plant's month long rest after bloom has just finished, and we have just repotted it. We will work on setting some new flower buds in the fall....
I bought a Purple Passion houseplant too....very pretty and interesting plant! Fuzzy purple leaves. Its just been repotted.
All of my plants are getting a lot of fish fertilizing! My husband loves to fish and gathers minnows on his trips. He brings them home to me to make my own fish emulsion. So far so good. I think the flowers and vegetables love it. Last year he threw some minnows in the corn and we had HUGE corn plants. I've also used some slow release basic fertilizer, an organic soil acidifer (roses, rhododendron, azaleas), plenty of Epson Salt, and some occasional shots of Miracle Grow. I like to stick to organics in the vegetable garden but I'm okay with Miracle Grow for the flowers - it works! I also use Serenade Garden (anti fungus spray). This is for the tomato plants (so far not needed this year) and I've sprayed my roses.
These are some of the roses that bloomed this year (above). The New Dawn plant has another rose bud growing now for its second (repeat) bloom (first photo). The photo directly above was supposed to be "Blue Girl." Oh well!
This is "Blaze" (above). It is growing well, has more than doubled in size (planted in April, covered on colder nights). I'm sure I will have lovely red blooms next year. I have to build a trellis. I think this climbing rose bush will grow up to 15' tall!
Here is the Primrose (below) a couple weeks after planting (planted in April, first picture taken in May, and again today - June 2) A lot of growth happened after a shot of Miracle Grow, but these are very hardy plants. They were flooded terribly in May. I thought they had been completely washed out...
Below are the New England Asters (planted in April, first picture in May and then June 2):
I've been pinching the center leaves of the Asters. It making the plant grow very bushy, but I'm watching a few places that are turning dark on the edges (above)
Here are some Zinnias, planted from seed (below). I'm watching and waiting for the flowers!!
I pinched some of them...just curious..(zinnia buds above)
Below are the Marigolds, Purple Passion, Easter Cactus, and more Zinnias.
And here is a Marigold bud. Yay! (below)
Here are some pictures of the Rose Campion, planted in April (below). First photos in May, then today (June 2).
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