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Branching Out's Seeds and Sprouts
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Branching Out
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I was not feeling optimistic about sowing carrots in the summer heat, but in spite of the hot, dry weather there seems to be good germination. I read an entry in one of Carol Deppe's books that mentioned the importance of capillary action for seed sowing in summer, so I walked on the planting site to made sure I had a very firm seed bed to start with. Then I watered it deeply before firming in the carrot seeds. I also made the seed bed with edges to keep the water from running off when I irrigate; last year I didn't have edges, and it was really difficult to water. In between waterings I keep the area covered with row cover to retain moisture, and I also have a lace curtain over the row for a bit of micro shade. Kind of a funny look-- but its working and that's all I am concerned with.
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Branching Out
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Last year I grew Cosmos 'Daydream', and had only a few plants survive. The location I had them in was likely the most parched, dry spot in our garden so they had to really struggle. Thankfully conditions stayed warm and dry until mid-October, so I was able to save a few seeds. This year they are in a much better location, and have just started blooming. I planted two small successions (not because of good planning on my part, but due to poor germination the first time around). I hope to be able to trim the back row, and have the front row come in to flower at about the same time. This particular variety is a personal favourite; it's very pretty, and rather short at 3-4'. Some cosmos are 5' tall-- which can be too much of a good thing.
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ducks4you
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Carrots don't mind dry. I planted too early, but it was a bed Heavily amended, so that they wouldn't fork. I do have a handful, but I want them to get bigger before I harvest.
heirloomgal
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Very pretty cosmos @Branching Out. I really like those pastel pink dahlias (?) in behind too. I have a pink theme this year with most of my annuals, so I'm all about the pinks.
I grew some Black Boy bachelor's buttons on a whim this spring, and forgot that I even planted them by end of June. I had this little patch of weedy looking plants, with silvery stems. I nearly pulled them all out a bunch of times, but they flowered this week and it was the buttons. The color really is superb. A deep, dark burgundy. So glad I didn't weed them. The clarkia I planted are a wonderful surprise too. So many pretty annuals to try.
heirloomgal
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Got a pic today
flowerbug
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interesting, never seen those before. can you isolate them or the plant to see what hatches?
flowerbug
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Mom pulls my bachelor buttons out all the time. now i don't have any left.
lovely color! the ones i liked were the blue ones and those i would like to get back some day but not any time soon. also since they were outside the fenced areas they'd get nibbled on by the critters.
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Branching Out
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Hmmm..... it would be fun to isolate them, but I don't think I am up to that at the moment. And on closer inspection of the photo of the egg cluster it almost looks like there is an open 'hatch' on many of the egg chambers-- so maybe a bunch of the bugs have already left to make their way out in the world.
flowerbug
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i was actually wondering that myself from the picture. perhaps they're some kind of frogs, toads, snail or slug egg cluster? i could not find much of anything from the insects that looked like that.
