The plants/gardening thread!

[smurfette]

Thanks Brookie! I can't wait to put up the picket fence on the other side, which means more plant shopping. Woot!

[Mel1973]

Mel, did you wisteria bloom? Mine hasn't bloomed for at least 5 yrs now. She had a baby about 3 years ago and the baby didn't bloom either. Both got beautiful green leaves, but no flowers

It did NOT bloom. AGAIN! But, mine is just a baby. sort of. I think I planted it about 3 or 4 years ago and it's just never bothered to bloom.

[greysfang]

Okay guys, I need some help. I'm going to do an outdoor herb garden again for the first time in years. I gave up in disgust because the rabbits and prairie dogs around here are numerous and ravenous, but this weekend or next, the Viking and one of his friends are going to build me two raised plant boxes. I'm going to buy all my seeds this weekend and get them started in my indoor aero-grow and then move everything outside towards the end of April (believe it or not, the Farmer's Almanac says 4/20 is the time to plant in Colorado. dead serious).

I will be growing my standard favs that I always want in my kitchen, which is thyme, basil, cilantro, rosemary and chives; plus I'm going to grow some cherry or grape tomatoes and some serrano peppers. But someone at work suggested that I try to grow some tea as well, so I thought I would give it a try.

I am not the biggest tea drinker in the world since I spend most of my time on coffee, but I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of mixing my own teas. I'll probably try both a black and a green, but what should I grow to mix with it? I'm not a huge fan of camomile, but if you mix enough good stuff in it, it should work. I'm definitely going for some lavendar and maybe a couple of type of mint, but what are your suggestions?

Also, any soil suggestions? Will regular potting soil work? I normally just use the ground and then cover with a layer of potting soil and mulch, so some suggestions are welcome.

[choozen1ne]

What gardening zone do you live in? We use Miracle Grow Organic Vegetable Garden soil

[greysfang]

5b/6a.

[choozen1ne]

I never thought about growing my own tea before , it seems to need special types of soil and I have fallen into the rabbit hole looking at different stuff about how to grow it on Pinintrest
This site has a ton of stuff
https://tealet.com/usteaplanting

[sparkles]

Have a question about bulbs one usually plants in the fall-crocuses, tulips and narcissus etc... We live in zone 6a and at the moment crocuses are flowering. Anyway, I bought a number of beautiful bulbs with intentions to plant them in the fall. However, my mom had just died and I left the whole bag of bulbs in my front porch and never got around to planting them. The porch is enclosed but uninsulated and unheated so it was really cold during the winter. Is there any point in throwing the bulbs in pots or in the ground to see if they might bloom late this spring or do you think they are probably all toast?

[Bluebonnet]

Interesting history on the Poinsettia.


One of the most delightful decorations at Christmas is the poinsettia. The usual color choice is the deep, vibrant red. However, there is a wide array of other colors, including pink, white, marbled, speckled and yellow. The colorful parts of the poinsettia, the bracts, are actually modified leaves. The poinsettia flower is small, green or yellow and situated in the middle of the bracts.

The poinsettia is named after Joel R. Poinsett, who served as the USA's first ambassador to Mexico, from 1825-1829. He saw this indigenous plant with large scarlet leaves encircling small, greenish yellow blossoms, which was the Mexican Christmas flower. He sent specimens back to the USA, where they flourished. (source: Christmas-Day.org)

[MsDark]

I hate I didn't even think of this thread until now. I should have revived it over the spring/summer.

My tomatoes and peppers are actually in the garage right now. I'm going to see if I can make them last through the winter.