Phaedra's 2023 Adventure

Phaedra

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
2,645
Reaction score
12,938
Points
205
Location
Schleiden, Germany USDA 8a
Sowing Friday, I enjoyed my coffee and decided what I would like to sow.
P_20230210_095323.jpg

The lotus pond is still frozen, but the window view remains lovely. It's difficult for me to stay in most of the coffee shops, as I build so many cormers at home that are much better than them.
P_20230210_093643.jpg

My sowing was in fact interrupted by some project works, but as some preparations were done on Thursday evening, I still could finish most of the planned ones.

Five varieties of sweet peas, one field peas, two wonderful varieties of onion, lemon bee balm, plum tomato and salad cucumber.

P_20230210_101549_1.jpg

If everything works smoothly, more than one hundred onions and 50 field pea plants will grow from this tray.
P_20230210_221216.jpg


P_20230210_221212.jpg


More sowing will be continued tomorrow morning.

And my lovely hens~ chit-chatting?
P_20230209_093333_1.jpg
 

digitS'

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
25,717
Reaction score
28,716
Points
457
Location
border, ID/WA(!)
It's difficult for me to stay in most of the coffee shops
It looks very pleasant at home, Phaedra.

We watched "Antman and the Wasp," today. I don't really know why 🤷‍♂️.

:) Anyway, people are sitting in the window of a San Francisco coffee shop and a GIANT Antman slides by on the street while stopping a truck and tearing up pavement in the process. No one looks out the window and notices; they are too busy with their devices.

Your "psycho∙logical" funny in that thread the other day reminded me of a joke about seeing someone in Starbucks just sitting, drinking a cup of coffee - no phone or laptop. Just sitting there drinking coffee like some kind of psychopath!

Steve :D
 

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
15,878
Reaction score
23,768
Points
417
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
...
Your "psycho∙logical" funny in that thread the other day reminded me of a joke about seeing someone in Starbucks just sitting, drinking a cup of coffee - no phone or laptop. Just sitting there drinking coffee like some kind of psychopath!

Steve :D

it's downright anti-social!
 

ducks4you

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
11,149
Reaction score
13,821
Points
417
Location
East Central IL, Was Zone 6, Now...maybe Zone 5
There is cetainly a market Here for this stuff. If it isn't plants (unless it is seeds) "Etsy" has developed quite a online reputation for quality merchandise that you buy straight from the seller, so the stuff doesn't come from China and slave work.
Yesterday I heard one of the hosts on Sirius (radio) Classical talk about how he needed to hustle Saturday morning to get to his local Farmer's Market before they run out of sourdough bread loaves.
You can become quite popular! :love
 

Phaedra

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
2,645
Reaction score
12,938
Points
205
Location
Schleiden, Germany USDA 8a
I finished what I didn't sow on Friday. So, I'm actually on schedule.
2839.jpg

I love my mini-germination domes - they added some fun elements.
2835.jpg

After the germination, I will prick them out when they are in the right sizes. For example, those tiny seedlings are snapdragons sown on January 27th. Now, they are ready to move in module trays. And then the dome will be available for the sowing on coming Friday.
2829_0.jpg

Fennel for tea garden :)
2834.jpg

Hyssop - I choose two varieties, pink and blue.
2828_0.jpg

Another tiny seed - amaranth
The burgundy red can create some nice contrast in the summertime.
2830.jpg

Both the first and the second batches of Lisianthus keep sprouting. The seedlings are still very small as snapdragons, so I will prick them out a bit later. My microgreens are quite successful this winter, too.
2833.jpg


After a bitter winter, I lost quite some 2022-propagated young plants, especially roses. I underestimated the damage that could result from a long-lasting frost. Although I removed them from the greenhouse to the unheated room, it was too late.

Well, we all learn lessons from time to time.

However, other much more resilient plants like black currants, raspberries, honeysuckles, and elderberries are safe and sound. No matter the roots or the shoots, they are ready to start their new journey here once spring arrives.

All black currant cuttings from our neighbor in Köln survive. The roots have silently but well developed during the past few months. From this year, we will harvest a lot of black currant for sure.
2837.jpg

A new Honeysuckle from a tine cutting
2838.jpg

Autumn raspberry growing from a basal shoot with certain roots - to be honest, as long as you want, most of the berries can have endless daughter plants via propagation.
2836.jpg
 

Phaedra

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
2,645
Reaction score
12,938
Points
205
Location
Schleiden, Germany USDA 8a
May I ask for some tips on propogating? I tried my hand at it with blueberry cuttings my neighbor gave me, but they all died. I am sure it is my fault. I just don't know what I did wrong.
I am pretty new to propagation, but I'd love to share some factors that will affect the overall results. You can find many experienced growers who shared their tips under these topics online:

If we are talking about propagation via cuttings --
1. Type of cuttings - softwood / semi-hardwood / hardwood cuttings; you will need to know the suitable timing to make the cuttings, the advantages and disadvantages of using them.
2. Nature of the plants you want to propagate from cuttings - some plants are easier, and some are more challenging. Starting from the easier ones or a combination of easier and more challenging ones is helpful in building experiences and confidence.
3. Quality of cuttings - the fresher, the better.
4. Tools to prepare your cuttings
5. Environment to accommodate your cuttings
6. Is cutting the best way to propagate? From what I learned in 2022, basal shoots or runners with certain root systems are both effective ways to clone good-performance plants.

That's what I have in mind at this moment, and I'd love to be more helpful, if you have any questions.
 
Last edited:

Phaedra

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
2,645
Reaction score
12,938
Points
205
Location
Schleiden, Germany USDA 8a
Before the weather becomes bad again tomorrow, I did some hard work today and cleaned quite some shrubs, roses, and removed some wild Bramble stems.
2906.jpg

I also started the pre-sprout for one tray of the home-saved Dahlia tubers. So far, the storage quality is acceptable. Let's see how long it will take for them to wake up.
2905.jpg


I also updated my growing log and had a much better idea about how many seedlings I have at this moment, when and how many more I want to grow for the succession purpose.

So far, I'm confident to have at least 15 Lisianthus from seeds, and I ordered another variety, which has 25 seeds per portion. Don't know why, but we have terribly limited choices of Lisianthus in Germany. I must take very good care of whatever Lisianthus I grow this year and save the seeds (for selling, haha).

Besides, I will find a place to grow some foxgloves, which are originally not in my 2023 plan.
 

Phaedra

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
2,645
Reaction score
12,938
Points
205
Location
Schleiden, Germany USDA 8a
Besides the written notes (more for learning), I also made an excel file for tracking.
2927.jpg

I already sowed 26 veggies / 15 flowers / 10 herbs - and the number of seedlings should be more than 300. I will finish updating the excel this weekend.
331297535_561939365968118_895118178067439441_n.jpg


Tomorrow is again the sowing Friday!
 

Latest posts

Top