[ad_1]
IF YOU THINK nothing’s on the to-do listing in winter, fellow gardeners—that we’re all meant to be dormant, just like the cannas within the cellar and the herbaceous perennials exterior and the flower beds—nicely, assume once more.
Most of us in colder zones, particularly, will not be actively prepping or planting open air in the meanwhile, in fact. However even throughout the realm of seed-related actions alone, there’s a lot wanting our consideration.
That’s what Ken Druse and I spotted after we bought to speaking seeds the opposite day on the cellphone. And one factor led to a different, and despite the fact that it’s not but full-on seed-starting time, we discovered ourselves with a listing of duties—and no, not simply the duty of seed procuring (although he did search out seed for Eryngium leavenworthii, above).
Ken Druse is an previous good friend, the creator of 20 gardening books, and my collaborator on our Digital Backyard Membership on-line class collection. And he’s presently sorting via leftover seeds, and likewise a pile of seed catalogs, over at his New Jersey house. Seedy duties for winter days was the topic of our dialog.
Learn alongside as you hearken to the Jan. 15, 2023 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant under. You may subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
serious about seeds, with ken druse
Margaret Roach: How’s it going over there, Ken?
Ken Druse: Hello, Margaret. Did you get some snow lastly?
Margaret: Oh my goodness, the very first winter day. I assume we bought 8 eight or 10 inches.
Ken: Good for you.
Margaret: One thing like that.
Ken: And now it’s 45 levels and all the pieces’s melting.
Margaret: Yeah, it hasn’t warmed fairly that a lot but, however sure. Sure, it can. After which we’re purported to have excessive winds and no matter. Yay! I believe there’s a stretch of chilly climate coming for a lot of the Northeast after this week, in order that’ll be fascinating to see. So how are you doing along with your seedy duties?
Ken: I believed that there was nothing to do-
Margaret: Proper.
Ken: … this time of yr.
Margaret: Proper. And it’s not simply seedy duties, both. It’s like with the bizarre climate that we have been simply talking about for a second, which has principally been unseasonably heat until now, I’m sort of apprehensive about a few of the stuff that’s in storage each in my barn and within the cellar. Are you aware what I imply? The temperatures aren’t proper in these locations. And by “proper,” I imply typical in these locations.
Ken: Effectively, I’m glad that we’ve some snow as a result of we haven’t had snow for a few years, measurable snow, and I at all times assume snow: good. That’s the blanket, the insulating blanket for the crops. They achieve this significantly better after they have snow. Regardless that it’s melting, I believe we’ll nonetheless have a number of inches on the bottom, in order that’s good. And I believed, “Effectively, I’m going to develop these great tomatoes that I grew final yr.” The ‘Juliet,’ proper, that you just really useful [above]. They usually have been so profitable. They’re like big grape tomatoes, or very small or tiny plum tomatoes.
Margaret: Sure.
Ken: So I went to the place I believed the seeds have been from final yr as a result of I had a lot left over, and I couldn’t discover them.
Margaret: Oops!
Ken: So I regarded one other place, and one other place, and I ended up with—I don’t know—six jars with seed packets, after which all of the seed packets of issues I had harvested from the backyard in a field in one other place. And I took an image [above], which I believe I despatched you, after which I’ve nonetheless discovered extra since then.
So I’ve bought to get this below management. I’ve bought to label the seeds in the event that they’re not labeled, put the date on and perhaps the place they got here from. Undoubtedly the date, boy. Particularly on my seeds.
Margaret: Particularly on those you’ve saved your self.
Ken: Yeah, and perhaps the date to sow them, proper on the packet, which I can get out of your calculator.
Margaret: Proper. I’ve the web seed-starting calculator.
It’s such as you simply wish to take a look at the brand new catalogs, and there’s that temptation, however… It jogs my memory of all the pieces in life. I wish to… [Laughter.] “Ooh, take a look at, perhaps I’ll get a brand new sweater.” Effectively, you recognize what, Margaret? Have a look at the sweater drawer, and the way’s that trying? ‘Trigger it’s trying a little bit of a large number.
And I’m simply making up one instance, but it surely’s pare down, tidy up, arrange, make an evaluation of the standing of what’s available in all of these items in our lives. And then act, proper? To complement or pare down, or once more, much more or no matter; decide. However yeah, I’ve some seeds right here or there and in all places, too, I believe.
Ken: I’ve two units of garments. Garments that match and garments that I hope sometime will match once more.
Margaret: Oh, I see. Two wardrobes. O.Ok. [Laughter.] So that you’ve been doing that. And once more, with the climate and stuff, I preserve considering, “Oh, I must verify within the barn.” As a result of I’ve all my Japanese maples on the market and I’ve…
So it’s not simply the place are my seed packets, and what do I want and never must order once more. Nevertheless it’s additionally simply sort of taking stock of a few of the resting issues. Proper? Like I went-
Ken: Verify on dormant issues. That’s proper.
Margaret: Yeah, as a result of I went within the cellar and I’ve numerous tubers and various things, bulbs. I’ve all my cannas down there and so forth, and I believed, “It’s not as cool because it often is; it’s simply not.” And I believed, “Effectively, perhaps I’m going to place slightly little bit of… Perhaps a material excessive of a few of these issues, to maintain slightly moisture in, so to talk.” And yeah. Have you ever been taking a look at any of that stuff?
Ken: No [laughter], however perhaps after we speak. I preserve the Eucomis, the pineapple lilies, of their pots, and I allow them to go fully dry after they’re dormant. However previously I’ve had issues go so dry that both they’ve desiccated fully, which doesn’t occur fairly often, or they get a sluggish begin; they’re small. Effectively, final yr a few of the Eucomis didn’t bloom in any respect, and I believe it’s as a result of they bought too dry. So I’m simply going to go verify. I don’t wish to water them like regular in the summertime in any respect, but it surely’s only a sprinkle. So the medium is dry, however not desert bone dry.
Margaret: Proper. Proper.
Ken: Which occurs, particularly when the warmth’s on in the home, despite the fact that they’re in a spot the place there isn’t any supplemental warmth, but it surely’s nonetheless… Often it’s 40 levels, and this yr it’s 50 levels.
Margaret: So it’s an excellent time to do this as nicely. Form of verify that stock as nicely. It’s barely totally different from checking what seeds we’ve available. However nonetheless vital, as a result of that is our inventory, and people might be costly to exchange, that’s for certain.
Ken: Effectively, we’ve talked about storing… I do know you retailer your Japanese maples, deciduous issues, within the full chilly. And that’s principally so the pots received’t break, I think about. Effectively, partially for that.
Margaret: Proper. It’s an unheated barn. Sure, precisely.
Ken: However I’ve bought evergreens.
Margaret: And I’ve a pair additionally in there. Sure.
Ken: Oh, yeah? Good. I’ve a banana shrub, which is Magnolia figo, which is a broadleaf evergreen. And it does so nicely, simply takes slightly nap. After which I deliver it out within the spring and it blooms and all the pieces. It doesn’t even drop the buds. Illicium, have you learnt what Illicium is?
Margaret: Yeah. I don’t know what it’s common-
Ken: Hardy anise. Yeah, anise, the spice comes from Illicium and I’ve Illicium parviforum, and it has yellow leaves which are enticing and so they additionally scent nice, the leaves do. So these are a few issues that I’m going to verify on.
You will have a fig tree.
Margaret: Proper. I’ve at the least one huge fig in there. After which there’s a conifer or two. And people are difficult as a result of these usually are not awake, however they’ve foliage. So to begin with, I place these close to a window within the barn, so that there’s some mild. I imply, clearly it’s not a lot mild, but it surely’s slightly mild. And people, I fear in the event that they get a cue from I don’t know what temperature, mild, daylength—who is aware of what—to begin to get up slightly bit. I fear as a result of they’ve all that foliage on that they might actually dry out badly, get harmed.
Ken: And you’ll’t let the medium in these pots dry out fully.
Margaret: No, however I can’t water them, both—totally water them. That’s an issue, too.
So anyway, again to seeds, actually, you’ve type of taken inventory of all the pieces. And are you doing germination exams, or what do you do subsequent?
Ken: Subsequent I clear up the place I’m going to sow those that I sow indoors, and likewise be conscious of those which are going to be sown open air. And a few of these can get sown straight away. After which we talked within the final class slightly bit about winter sowing, and we’re going to speak about that extra.
Margaret: You imply in our Digital Backyard Membership lessons on-line?
Ken: Proper. And I’m doing a little seeds within the empty milk jugs. Effectively, they’re empty till I fill them. I’ve one set on the market already…and label them! You know the way you sow one thing and also you assume you’re going to recollect what it was?
Margaret: Yeah, yeah. Certain.
Ken: Label, label, label. I never-
Margaret: It’s so vital. So that you mentioned you’re type of getting this spot prepared, your indoor seed-sowing gear, you’re getting that every one prepared. And so are you utilizing the identical germinating combine that you just’ve at all times used, or are you experimenting like so many individuals now with much less peat?
Ken: I’m going to make use of the Johnny’s combine as a result of I’ve some left over from final yr, and I’ve saved it closed. And I do know it’s a peat-lite combine, has different issues in it, too. So I’m not going to be experimenting this yr. I’ve finished coir. I haven’t tried the one with the paper referred to as PittMoss.
Margaret: PittMoss, proper, a model that’s I believe recycled composted newspaper perhaps, or one thing like that. And yeah, there’s every kind of various issues. Natural Mechanics is one other model that has options, coir and different parts in it, that aren’t peat. I’ve a small bag every of a few various things, and I’m tinkering.
So if individuals wish to attempt, and we at all times warn: Don’t one hundred pc change over for those who don’t know what a mixture goes to be like, as a result of they’ve totally different properties. And the watering, and the way the seeds reply to them could also be totally different. So don’t lose all of your seeds [laughter] by selecting a mixture that doesn’t fit your care routine. So that you’re getting all that prepared and I assume-
Ken: Yeah, so really I’m really sowing for the hardy annuals. And-
Margaret: So that you’re winter sowing some stuff.
Ken: Hardy perennials and hardy biennials. Effectively, perhaps some tender perennials, too. I imply issues like 4 o’clocks, we deal with them as annuals, however they’re perennials, they’re simply not fully hardy. So-
Margaret: Not the place we’re. Proper.
Ken: Proper. Attempting a few of these. And I do know you would do issues like spinach fairly quickly.
Margaret: Effectively, the very first thing I at all times sow will likely be onions and their kin, leeks, indoors. And that’s not till February often right here.
However what I discovered when it comes to once I regarded round and had that epiphany, what you have been speaking about the place you discovered seeds far and wide and I discovered my little stashes right here and there. And I sort of regarded on the dates and noticed, “O.Ok., I’ve loads of this, I’ve loads of that, however I’m going to want this and I’m going to want that as a result of these are too previous.”
What I discovered is that there have been sure issues that I at all times want would self-sow exterior. Talking of winter sowing, as a result of the pure model of winter sowing is issues that self-sow rather well, like numerous annual poppies do, and Verbena bonariensis does, and I don’t know, larkspur I suppose… I’m considering off the highest of my head of issues.
My angelica, Angelica gigas [above], does and so forth. However typically they don’t sow the place you need them, or within the density the place you need them, proper? They’ve a thoughts of their very own, in fact, from yr to yr. And also you wish to sort of change that up slightly bit.
And I believed, “You realize, Margaret, there’s a few these type of areas the place…” I’ve one with the tall verbena, the Verbena bonariensis, and I actually need it thickened up. I would like extra crops on this one space that’s between some pavement cracks and crevices. [Below, V. bonariensis with a spicebush swallowtail butterfly at Margaret’s.]
And I believed, “Purchase a packet of seats earlier than you overlook.” This was final fall, once I was sort of cleansing up the world, and I used to be considering, “It’s too sparse right here.”
And similar with Nicotiana. I used to be type of considering, “O.Ok., I had lots this yr, as I’ve had for 20-something years, self-sowns, however I don’t have sufficient of the darkish colours anymore. And I don’t have sufficient of the actually tall ones.” I imply, a few of them may get to be 6 ft—5 definitely, and even sometimes 6, however like 5 ft for certain. And I believed, “You realize what? It’s time to repopulate this slightly bit, add slightly little bit of extra genetics into the combo once more, refresh it.” And once more, heavy it up within the areas the place it’s getting sparse. I would like extra of an oomph sort of look. So I purchased some Nicotiana and I purchased some Verbena bonariensis.
When would you sow these? Would you sow these—earlier than a late snow or one thing in late winter or when?
Ken: I’d sow the Nicotiana proper now. And perhaps not all of them. Perhaps do some extra… Do them each three weeks or one thing. I imply Nicotiana goes to be nice, as you recognize. You have been speaking in regards to the Verbena bonariensis, a plant I can’t develop. I get these stunted little crops. There’s some sort of… It’s not a illness, it’s some sort of critter that assaults them.
Margaret: Oh, fascinating.
Ken: And ruins the leaves. And I at all times get a few crops from final yr’s crops. However I used to be considering, have you ever ever tried the brand new quick ones [like ‘Lollipop’]?
Margaret: I’ve seen that. I’ve seen this new selection that’s a scaled-down model, and I’ve by no means. And I believed, “Effectively, however I like the way it’s…” Effectively, the widespread identify is tall verbena.
Ken: They’re like wands, with the flowers.
Margaret: The tall one might be hip top and even taller, and I actually love that. However perhaps there’s some use for that, the shorter one. Perhaps I would really like it, or mix the 2. I don’t know. I haven’t tried it. Perhaps I ought to add that to my order.
However like I mentioned, I actually needed, with Nicotiana, I needed a few of the darker ones. There’s ‘Scorching Chocolate’ and ‘Chocolate Chip.’ There’s one referred to as Night time Flight, ‘Choose Night time Flight.’ Choose Seeds had it, and that’s one that may get to be 5 ft or extra. And it has darkish… These all have darkish flowers. [Above, ‘Select Chocolate Chip’ in photo from Select Seeds.]
And so we’ll see if the experiment works. Proper? If the place I put them they take, and so they deliver again the look that I had 10 years in the past once I had extra of that within the inhabitants. As a result of when issues self-sow, they specific totally different traits. It’s not like a hybrid the place it’s the identical factor yearly, the place you purchase a pack of seeds yearly and also you get the very same factor. It’s not like that.
Ken: F1, the tomatoes for the primary cross.
Margaret: Have you ever ordered something or are you looking for something the best way I used to be looking for these two specific issues?
Ken: Effectively, I noticed a few issues. I noticed one factor this yr, which I’ve by no means grown from seed. Which is we used to name it periwinkle, and we used to name it vinca. These widespread names are so nugatory, but it surely’s Catharanthus [below].
Margaret: Catharanthus. Yeah.
Ken: Catharanthus roseus.
Margaret: So one in every of its widespread names was vinca, but it surely’s not a vinca vine in the identical means. Huh. It’s a lookalike sort of?
Ken: Effectively, it’s shrubby. It’s like a-
Margaret: Does the flower appear like a vinca?
Ken: I assume it does, I assume. However I noticed one-
Margaret: What attracted you?
Ken: It’s like the colour of grape jelly, type of. And even blackberries with slightly white eye and it was… I shouldn’t say it, drop-dead attractive. That’s what it-
Margaret: Do you keep in mind the place you discovered it?
Ken: Yeah, I noticed it at my good friend’s backyard, she had it in a pot and he or she used to work at a nursery. So I believed, “I’ve bought to trace this down.” And I did. I tracked it down from seed, so I’m going to attempt that.
And final yr I noticed one thing that simply knocked me out, which was Eryngium, you recognize like a thistle. It’s Eryngium leavenworthii [photo, top of page]. And it’s an annual, in order that’s all I used to be serious about. Oh, it’s an annual and it’s magenta and it’s like slightly thistle and it’s actually lovely. And you then mentioned to me after we have been speaking about it some time again, “Like Kansas,” and I believed, “This can be a native plant and it’s an annual?” ‘Trigger you by no means take into consideration… Effectively, California poppies, however that’s not that chilly. However you don’t take into consideration a plant from a chilly place that’s an annual. I don’t consider that.
Margaret: Yeah, the Eryngium leavenworthii, the leavenworthii tipped me off that it was most likely from someplace within the center or south of the USA. And certain sufficient, it’s all through Texas and elsewhere type of above that. And it’s nice. Now you mentioned magenta—I consider it as sort of like a surprising purplish virtually. I don’t know. It’s actually vivid no matter it’s.
Ken: Vivid is a superb phrase for it. Visitors-stopping vivid.
Margaret: And I’m wondering if… Will it self-sow? So that you grew it first time final yr, did you say?
Ken: Proper, so I saved seed and I additionally purchased seed. Effectively, that’s one other story. So I couldn’t discover the tomato seeds. I couldn’t discover another seeds in packets. So I believed, “I’ve bought to get these once more earlier than they’re offered out.” So I ordered ‘Juliet,’ I ordered ‘Solar Gold’ tomato. I ordered a number of extra issues: $30. After which in fact, the following day I discovered them.
Margaret: In fact you probably did. Sure. It’s sort of like once I discover my glasses ’trigger I used to be searching for them for an hour, however I used to be sporting them [laughter]. It’s not often an hour, it’s often 5 minutes. However anyway, you get the concept.
Ken: It doesn’t price $30.
Margaret: No, but it surely’s fairly humorous. It embarrasses me for at the least $30 price of embarrassment. So yeah, the Eryngium are nice. I imply, typically they self-sow to a fault. I like… I don’t know if anybody’s ever seen, talking of native ones, Eryngium yuccifolium, the rattlesnake grasp.
Ken: Wow. Sure.
Margaret: Large, tall and silvery, loopy thistly-like heads. And that sharp foliage, that’s widespread to Eryngium additionally. And that’s actually dramatic and great, extra for a meadow-y scenario, sort of a wilder space, I believe, as a result of once more, it’s going to self-sow.
However yeah, I’m stalking seed of tassel flower, Emilia coccinea [above, photo from Select Seeds].
Ken: Oh, that’s fairly. And that’s self-sows typically, too.
Margaret: I didn’t have any self-sow, however I grew it in a giant container once I grew it a few years in the past. After which in fact, these are issues that you just’re not going to seek out on the backyard middle, and that’s why we’re mentioning be looking out for seed. As a result of for those who simply need common marigolds of a standard selection, and there’s numerous nice ones, or orange zinnias or yellow zinnias, you’re going to have the ability to discover these. So for those who don’t get them otherwise you don’t have room to start out them, O.Ok., you will have a backup on the backyard middle.
However with a few of these stuff you don’t. Just like the annual vines. A number of occasions they only don’t have the choice that I would like and the type of extra uncommon ones. However the Emilia, the yr I grew that… It has these little, prefer it says, tassel flowers, like fire-engine orange-y purple. There’s a few totally different varieties and so forth, totally different shades. However this one pot of them, I imply the pearl crescent butterflies have been overlaying it the entire summer season throughout the bloom time. It was superb. And I see that Choose Seeds firm has it. So I’m going to positively get a packet of that.
Have you ever ever grown calendula? As a result of I miss mine; I used to at all times have calendula self-sowing in my vegetable backyard for a few years. And it’s an edible flower as nicely, moreover being sort of insect pleasant and so forth.
Ken: Generally they name it pot marigold.
Margaret: Sure, precisely.
Ken: You may add it to soups. And there’s some actually cool, wild ones in sundown colours now, too. Used to simply be… They regarded like marigolds, however now there’s some extra fascinating ones. Sure. Years in the past I grew them and I believe I sowed them open air ’trigger they’re cold-tolerant. They’re hardy annuals, I assume.
Margaret: Sure. And they also’re straightforward. And the good factor is you are able to do a succession. So you are able to do them actually early and have type of spring into early summer season. And you then would possibly a second succession of peas, such as you’re going to do fall peas, you would do fall calendula. You could possibly sow extra calendulas and have a second crop. You could possibly try this with numerous annuals. However they’re actually good for that as a result of they like that cooler season, once more. There’s one, once more I believe it’s from Choose Seeds, it’s referred to as ‘Radio,’ and it’s like a cactus-shaped flower. It appears to be like like a cactus flower. What would you say, dahlias are available cactus flowers and a few zinnias, I believe, that cactus-shaped flower.
And it’s vibrant orange and it’s simply so distinctive. And I believed, “Oh wow.” There’s numerous bicolored ones with type, the backs of the petals are a distinct coloration. It’s the Flashback Sequence from Frank Morton at Wild Backyard Seeds. And also you’ll see these in different catalogs as nicely. I imply, there’s numerous actually dramatic ones. [Above, his ‘Solar Flashback.’]
So within the final couple of minutes, what about… What different issues, the rest that you just’re… I used to be taking a look at Nigella the opposite day. I haven’t grown that in 1,000,000 years.
Ken: I had Nigella and it was so weedy and there have been so many.
Margaret: It was?
Ken: Yr after yr, however after about most likely 10 years gone, by no means noticed them once more.
Margaret: And that’s what occurred right here, too. I had it for a very long time after which by no means once more. I used to be considering of nasturtiums, too, as a result of you may simply sort of direct-sow them after the massive frost hazard’s previous, and you can begin them a few weeks forward of time. However there’s sort of trailing ones, the longer trailing ones, what’s it, Tropaeolum majus, I believe is the species. However then there’s the Tropaeolum minus which are extra mounding, which are sort of extra petite.
Ken: I don’t know.
Margaret: They usually’re nice. Like edgers and…
Ken: Edible, too.
Margaret: Edible, too. For the sides of pots, and the colours now are astonishing. So anyway, you would simply get… So that you wish to inform us the rest? You’re nonetheless in your to-do listing over there.
Ken: I’m serious about what we’ve been speaking about this time of yr and a few seed… Effectively, learn the packets, as a result of some seeds… They name it stratification. They want the chilly.
Margaret: To germinate, proper.
Ken: To germinate. So make sure you learn that as a result of perhaps it’s the time of yr to sow some seeds and it’ll inform you that on the again of the packet most likely.
Margaret: Or to pre-chill them by placing them in a no matter it says. Put them in a plastic bag within the fridge. I imply, it’ll inform you a few of the methods you are able to do it.
Ken: It’s often not freeze, however usually refrigerate.
Margaret:. Precisely. All proper, so learn our packets. I believe Choose Seeds and I believe Johnny’s, too, each have actually good rising info. Each of these have actually good directions and inform these particulars like that.
choose the podcast model of the present?
MY WEEKLY public-radio present, rated a “top-5 backyard podcast” by “The Guardian” newspaper within the UK, started its 14th yr in March 2023. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Hear domestically within the Hudson Valley (NY)-Berkshires (MA)-Litchfield Hills (CT) Mondays at 8:30 AM Japanese, rerun at 8:30 Saturdays. Or play the Jan. 15, 2023 present utilizing the participant close to the highest of this transcript. You may subscribe to all future editions on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
[ad_2]
Source link