# Anyone want an ongoing gardening thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442 "2010-05-14T16:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/241 "2010-06-16T01:18:15Z")
I’m pretty sure my tree is dead. I am trying again with 12 more seeds. Hopefully one will take eventually… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/242 "2010-06-16T03:20:20Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I’m hoping someone can tell me what [this](http://www.flickr.com/photos/50335468@N03/4704155448/sizes/l/) is. It was planted by the previous owner but so frost damaged that I cut it all the way to the ground. I’d never seen anything like it, big smooth celery-like stalks, so I left it out of curiosity. What a pleasant surprise to see such huge, red flowers and it’s loaded with buds so we’ll be enjoying the color for some time to come. Its leaves looked kinda Hibiscus-like but the stems are fibrous instead of woody. It’s probably about four and a half feet tall. > > **Perciful** , here’s some more of the [Chinese Hat](http://www.flickr.com/photos/50335468@N03/4703516037/) and [Bleeding Heart](http://www.flickr.com/photos/50335468@N03/4704155576/sizes/l/in/photostream/). My first reaction when I saw the picture was “hibiscus.” I looked up hibiscus pictures, and I think it’s a hibiscus. [This is what we know as a bleeding heart around here.](http://www.tsflowers.com/dicentra_bleeding.heart2.jpg) I can see why my instructors always insisted on using latin names rather than common ones (we have _Dicentra spectabilis_ around here - I’m not sure what the latin name for your bleeding heart is). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/243 "2010-06-16T04:29:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > My first reaction when I saw the picture was “hibiscus.” I looked up hibiscus pictures, and I think it’s a hibiscus. > > [This is what we know as a bleeding heart around here.](http://www.tsflowers.com/dicentra_bleeding.heart2.jpg) I can see why my instructors always insisted on using latin names rather than common ones (we have _Dicentra spectabilis_ around here - I’m not sure what the latin name for your bleeding heart is). 🙂 Loved the pink and multi bleeding heart. I have only seen the red kind around here. That is a Hibiscus I think? Latin names are hard to pronounce amd remember! ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/244 "2010-06-16T04:37:13Z")
Today I pulled two wheel barrels of weeds from my clients garden. It does not take the buggers much time to take over. I took some suckers from a rose bush that looks wild but has small buttonear sized roses. Little or no scent but it climbs! A neighbor gave me some yellow primroses and threw then out back. I started palnting a few things out front but started to feel dizzy so I stopped. The sun was strong today and I have a tendency to over do. I felt fine once I got inside and cooled off. I have had Marigolds come back before. When they are dry and done flowering I bury the seeds and sometimes they pop up the next year. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/245 "2010-06-16T13:11:08Z")
Okay, thanks. I’d showed a cellphone pic to my nursery gal and she was at a loss too but that was pre-flower. I’ll go back with a cutting and try and get the latin name for it _and_ the BH. Your pinks are really nice and yeah, a completely different plant altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/246 "2010-06-16T17:28:38Z")
[Here’s a better picture of the bleeding heart type around here](http://www.naturework.com/images/Dicentra-Bleeding-heart.jpg) - they’re a really lovely plant, even after the blooms are done. They mostly like shade, and they just look beautiful, filling in a shady corner. Our bleeding heart was in full sun in our last yard, though, and it was thriving there, too. It did get leggy and yellow by August, though - probably a little too much heat for it. I’ll be putting some bleeding hearts in this yard, I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/247 "2010-06-17T22:38:00Z")
I agree that the red-flowered plant looks like a hibiscus. Pretty. And your bleeding heart (whatever it may be) is lovely as well, **lieu**. We have the same type of bleeding heart that **Cat Whisperer** linked to. (And yeah, duplicate common names is the best reason I’ve heard for learning Latin names.) > [@Stoid](#): > > Is it just mine, or is it pretty normal for tomato plants to be ratty looking around the bottom leaves? My plants could be photographed for a magazine, except for that. And it always happens, without fail. Not just yours. Not sure why they do that, but mine get ratty at the bottom too. > [@Khadaji](#): > > I’m pretty sure my tree is dead. I am trying again with 12 more seeds. Hopefully one will take eventually… ☹ My daylilies are starting to bloom. They’re pretty. Pics soon. But first I’ve gotta go out and get my last plants in the ground. It’s supposed to be really hot again starting tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/248 "2010-06-17T23:19:09Z")
We’re having a lot of rain here now - I find myself very glad I have most of my plants in for this year already (even if they did get a little frosty two weeks ago - man, what a balancing act gardening is this year!). I finally got a little tomato plant - no luck finding either lemon cucumber seeds or plants. It’s not looking good for cucumbers - I might try planting them again once the weather gets warm and stays warm. I’ve got my dill planted in a planter, and I’m going to toss some spearmint in a container, too. ETA: I was at the greenhouse looking at daylilies and asiatic lilies today - soon you will be mine, my pretties. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/249 "2010-06-18T19:46:15Z")
Just some picture updates since my last post on the Planter Garden. [Portugal](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115200.jpg) [Hot Peppers](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115224.jpg) and [Cayenne](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_121412.jpg) are growing really well. Have many fairly large [Bell Peppers](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115355.jpg). Heavy with [tomatoes](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115436.jpg). [Our new Puppy.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_150908.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/250 "2010-06-18T19:53:33Z")
Whoo - look at those peppers! And a puppy! My tomato that I planted in a container yesterday is the saddest little thing ever - about five inches tall and droopy. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/251 "2010-06-18T19:54:54Z")
The Cayenne Peppers planted on either side of the relatively larger fruited Portugal Hot Pepper seem to be exhibiting some traits of the Portugal Hot. Larger Fruit, a bit of a crazing that is more typical of the Portugal Hot. Is it even possible that they could cross. I’m really asking, as I don’t know if it is possible for them to cross pollinate? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/252 "2010-06-18T19:59:47Z")
My non-expert opinion is if they flowered and got pollinated and made fruit from that, then sure, why not? I had pansies and violas in my last yard, and I was sure there was cross-pollination going on - I had small, tough pansies going on at one point (come to think of it, I should have kept the seeds from those plants - they were an excellent mid-point between a viola and a pansy). ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/253 "2010-06-18T23:49:29Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Just some picture updates since my last post on the Planter Garden. > > [Portugal](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115200.jpg) [Hot Peppers](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115224.jpg) and [Cayenne](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_121412.jpg) are growing really well. Have many fairly large [Bell Peppers](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115355.jpg). Heavy with [tomatoes](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_115436.jpg). > > [Our new Puppy.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/06-18-10_150908.jpg) Awww, The puppy is adorable. What is his/her name? Your peppers and tomatoes look great. Mine still are without tomatoes. Garden traveler, It’s been raining a lot here to. My daylillies are getting ready and the Stargazers are out in all their glory. Cat Whisperer, I almost bought a bleeding heart today at home depot. I still may but like Leui’s one better as far as the colors. Lieu, Do you know what zone your bleeding heart is in? I loved the color of it. Tomorrow is D Day for the front garden. It’s going to be a scorcher but I am going to try and get these new plants in. I got a good hose today to replace my hose that lasted 2 days. 40 bucks for a hose? Nothing happening in the wildflower garden outback but am keeping the seeds moist. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/254 "2010-06-19T18:03:00Z")
Last of the free weekends for a bit, so I got the last of the vegetables potted. We now have 4 tomato plants going (2 hybrids in Topsy-Turvy planters, 1 heirloom and 1 cherry). The cherry tomato is growing like a weed, and is threatening to take over the corner of the back porch. We also have 2 Poblano, 2 Serrano and 3 Anaheim pepper plants going strong. Plus cilantro, catnip, gardenias, a couple of dwarf roses and a bougainvillea. All potted and hanging from the eaves or lining the porch. I just potted and hung the last tomato and Poblano an hour ago. I am contemplating much salsa in my future. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/255 "2010-06-19T19:57:08Z")
This year’s garden is quite dissapointing so far, both the Sunsugar and Beefsteak tomato plants in the new garden are just… there, the Sunsugars have started halfheartedly flowering, the beefsteaks are staying short and just getting a tad bushier, no vertical growth, the beans have stopped growing, cukes are struggling, the second batch of watermelons and the canteloupes have just given up, so I’ve given up on them this season, the broccoli and brussels sprouts are doing okay, not great, the single potato plant has been cranking out foliage like crazy the overflow garden is doing marginally better, nasturtiums, four o’clocks and Russian Mammoth sunflowers are going strong, california poppies are trying, but struggling, quinona is struggling, one compass plant has sprouted, the pumpkins on the corners are doing great, the backup Sunsugar is taking off well, decent flowering and a couple developing protomatoes, the Pineapple Tomato plant is sort of languishing the round carrots in the container garden are doing well, sprouted, and are putting out their first true leaves So, I picked off a couple suckers off the backup Sunsugar, and uprooted a slow growing Sunsugar from the main garden, and planted them in my Aerogarden, hopefully, I’ll get tomatoes from them I’m getting increasingly annoyed with the main garden, I almost want to say “screw it” and just till the whole lot under and use them for fertilizer Tomorrow I’ll be putting some humus on the main garden (about 30+ years of needles and clippings from the juniper bush growing over the driveway have decomposed to a rich, almost black, acidic soil), as well as some lawn clippings from when I mow the lawn tomorrow (three weeks of growth, due to rain on the weekends), hopefully that’ll put some nutrients back into the soil of the new garden ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/256 "2010-06-19T21:06:18Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > Awww, The puppy is adorable. What is his/her name? Your peppers and tomatoes look great. Mine still are without tomatoes. Her name is [Daisy](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/04-19-10_201019.jpg) [Sue](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/04-21-10_003459.jpg)and she’s a Shorkie (Shih tzu Yorkie mix). Lost our 16 year old Lhasa Apso in September and found we missed having a dog around… We’ve always had a dog as long as I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/257 "2010-06-20T00:20:10Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Her name is [Daisy](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/04-19-10_201019.jpg) [Sue](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/devilsnew/04-21-10_003459.jpg)and she’s a Shorkie (Shih tzu Yorkie mix). Lost our 16 year old Lhasa Apso in September and found we missed having a dog around… We’ve always had a dog as long as I can remember. Well she is adorable.. and your last dog lived to be 16, Wow! Enjoy Daisy Sue. Today went better then I thought. I have the Monet garden planted and took a pic of it. I am going to buy a small fence for the back of it to block the view of the gas meters. I’m tired and I am treating Percy and I to an ice cream for a job well done. Percy supervised from the shade. 🙂 [Monet Garden](http://s1031.photobucket.com/albums/y379/Perciful/Flower%20garden/?action=view¤t=Video31.mp4) ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/258 "2010-06-20T01:26:56Z")
Ooooh, nice plant combination in that Monet garden, **Perciful**. Be patient **MacTech** , the plants could still take off. How hot has it been? I got quite a few plants in this morning: one salvia ([Eveline](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://garden-splendor.com/showcase/_img/salvia-eveline-3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://garden-splendor.com/showcase/salvia-eveline.html&usg=__KIsEqPqf3ps7sxGfMAVD9uFjqhs=&h=2304&w=3456&sz=2518&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=-_s-AZlBuWrk0M:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsalvia%2Beveline%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1)), a couple of nepetas (Six Hills Giant and parnassica), a little hydrangea (leftover florist one), a dianthus and one Bells of Ireland. The beds I’ve planted in my treelawn are looking pretty because there are coneflowers and daylilies and several other flowers blooming. I’ve had some gorgeous daylilies so far this year. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/259 "2010-06-20T13:42:36Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > Ooooh, nice plant combination in that Monet garden, **Perciful**. > > Be patient **MacTech** , the plants could still take off. How hot has it been? > > I got quite a few plants in this morning: one salvia ([Eveline](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://garden-splendor.com/showcase/_img/salvia-eveline-3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://garden-splendor.com/showcase/salvia-eveline.html&usg=__KIsEqPqf3ps7sxGfMAVD9uFjqhs=&h=2304&w=3456&sz=2518&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=-_s-AZlBuWrk0M:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsalvia%2Beveline%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1)), a couple of nepetas (Six Hills Giant and parnassica), a little hydrangea (leftover florist one), a dianthus and one Bells of Ireland. > > The beds I’ve planted in my treelawn are looking pretty because there are coneflowers and daylilies and several other flowers blooming. I’ve had some gorgeous daylilies so far this year. 🙂 Garden Traveler, My neighbor across the street has the Evaline and it is a beautiful plant. I had never seen one till recently. Sorry about how soggy my garden was but it was a hot day and I had just watered everything so it was droopy. I’d love to see a pic of your new plantings if you have time. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442/260 "2010-06-20T23:59:15Z")
Actually, good point, **Gardentraveler** , it has been a bit on the cool side so far, maybe the tomatoes just haven’t gotten warm enough yet I mowed the lawn this afternoon, it had three weeks of unmown growth and was starting to go feral, so I took the grass clippings and put them on the new garden and around the tomatoes in the backup garden, I still had to make three trips with the lawn sweeper just to get the clippings off the front yard, the thatch was so thick it would have killed the grass underneath So I have a pile of fresh lawn clippings near the garden to use as mulch for the rest of the season [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-an-ongoing-gardening-thread/539442.md?page=14)