Well, I killed my seedlings. I set up a 4 Tube light by hanging it from those 3M hooks. The weight of the light was just past the nominal capacity of the hooks, so of course one of the hooks failed, sending the light crashing down on the little babies. I was traveling, so this could have happened any time between Monday morning and Thursday evening. The Kale and Radicchio were burnt to a crisp. It's possible they just dried out. I was really hoping I could go without watering them for 4 days without totally killing them; I expected they would be wilted and sad, but that they'd perk up if I watered them as soon as I got back. Being first crushed by the light fixture, then pressed up against the bulbs, they cooked down to kale chips.
So that solves my problem of starting them too early. I popped all these things out of their cells and shook all the medium off to reuse it. They had crazy root development. They would have been root bound after another week, for sure.
I think I started these January 10th, so they definitely needed to be transplanted 3 weeks later (this being January 31st). I of course started another 6 pack of Kale and one of Radicchio today. I've also rigged up another completely ridiculous mechanism of holding up the light, we'll see how that holds up. But at least I will be here for the next 2 weeks. The Kale and Radicchio will be up soon, and if they grow like the first attempt, they would need to be transplanted pretty soon. Hm, soon I'll need to find some bigger containers to transplant them into when they're ready. I would transplant them outside around March 15th, a perfect 6 weeks from seed starting time.
I'll also probably start things like Lettuce and Spinach. Maybe those should be started 3 weeks from now, when I move the Kale and Radicchio up to bigger containers. (That's February 21st.) Lettuce and Spinach (and maybe Arugula) are going to get going faster, so if I start them then, after they're 3 weeks old (March 15th), I could probably transplant them the same time I do the Kale and Radicchio.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Worm Update
The worm bin seems to be working away pretty well. I've gotten into a routine of putting whatever's in the little crock through the food processor every weekend. Some things get processed better than others. Then I dump it onto the worm bin with a few handfuls of shredded newspaper.
It is starting to look like compost, but with half- digested chunks of food. I had a period with a lot of fruit flies, but that seems to have abated. The book says I just need to cover it with paper and coir so they can't lay eggs at the surface. It also says if I washed my produce in the first place, I wouldn't have the fruit fly eggs in the first place.
I believe I could "harvest" the original first tray. I think the lower third of the top tray is pretty much finished, so the bottom one must be. But, if I do that, and go through all that mess, what am I going to do with the finished stuff, other than feel all proud of myself? Put pictures of it on Instagram? #wormlife
The book says the worm casting can be stored for up to 3 years, if I dry it out a little first, and if I don't store it in an air tight container. If I don't do those things, it will get gross and stink like hell.
Or, I could just leave it where it is. I am going to need to add another tray soon, which means I need to take that shelf out of the cabinet. I guess I should put in a ton of coir and some of the mineral stuff, and maybe even some perlite. With enough of that other stuff, the top shelf should be ok for a week and not get too gross.
The earliest I can use this worm casting is probably when I plant my peas, March 15th. So that's another 7 weeks from now. It's possible the 2nd tray I have going right now could even be ready by then. I think I will actually buy a compost sieve, so I can easily get out any unfinished stuff, and of course try to save any worms. I'm pretty worried about this step. I cannot bring myself to touch the worms.
I just added the third tray, and it's sitting all the way on the top. The second tray is deep, deep in the first tray, so there's only an inch or two of worm castings in that tray... Did I put that tray on way too early, or does it just continue to break down so much that it reduces in size by a third? I guess either way it's fine.
It is starting to look like compost, but with half- digested chunks of food. I had a period with a lot of fruit flies, but that seems to have abated. The book says I just need to cover it with paper and coir so they can't lay eggs at the surface. It also says if I washed my produce in the first place, I wouldn't have the fruit fly eggs in the first place.
I believe I could "harvest" the original first tray. I think the lower third of the top tray is pretty much finished, so the bottom one must be. But, if I do that, and go through all that mess, what am I going to do with the finished stuff, other than feel all proud of myself? Put pictures of it on Instagram? #wormlife
The book says the worm casting can be stored for up to 3 years, if I dry it out a little first, and if I don't store it in an air tight container. If I don't do those things, it will get gross and stink like hell.
Or, I could just leave it where it is. I am going to need to add another tray soon, which means I need to take that shelf out of the cabinet. I guess I should put in a ton of coir and some of the mineral stuff, and maybe even some perlite. With enough of that other stuff, the top shelf should be ok for a week and not get too gross.
The earliest I can use this worm casting is probably when I plant my peas, March 15th. So that's another 7 weeks from now. It's possible the 2nd tray I have going right now could even be ready by then. I think I will actually buy a compost sieve, so I can easily get out any unfinished stuff, and of course try to save any worms. I'm pretty worried about this step. I cannot bring myself to touch the worms.
I just added the third tray, and it's sitting all the way on the top. The second tray is deep, deep in the first tray, so there's only an inch or two of worm castings in that tray... Did I put that tray on way too early, or does it just continue to break down so much that it reduces in size by a third? I guess either way it's fine.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
More Seeds.
Yesterday I started a 6-pack of Coleus, and one of Creeping Thyme. I now have 6 6-packs, and really under the 2 bulb light, I have room for 4. The Coleus and the Thyme aren't going to germinate that quickly, I think. The Coleus says 12-21 days, and the Thyme says 14-21 days. I've found that I get germination faster than the packet says. The Kale and Radicchio showed in like, 3 days. So maybe I'm wrong, maybe these next things will be up in a week.
Right now, my light situation is kind of stupid. I cannot find the goddamn hooks I used last year. I know they're in the house somewhere. Most likely I put them in some little drawer or little box and thought, "I'll put these here, so that I will have them when I start seeds in the Spring." (Haha, it's January, that doesn't come close to counting as "Spring." More like, "I'll start seeds in the first quarter.") I think I need to buy new hooks, which is maddening, because I know I'll find these old hooks shortly after I do that.
I ordered a 4 bulb, 2 foot grow light, and supposedly I'll get it delivered middle of this week. That way I can get everything set up before I go away the following week. I'll put the 6 trays under the big light.
The 2 bulb light I might just put back on the curtain rod in the living room, where it will keep the Hibiscus and Jalapeno from getting too light-deprived. I don't know if it's a bad idea to give them pretty poor light for a few weeks, and then turn on a grow light on them for a week. The Hibiscus hasn't really stopped growing; it's grown another 6 inches with at least 10 new leaves and looks like it's putting out a few more soon. The Jalapeno hasn't looked happy for a long time, so I don't think more light could possibly hurt.
Anyway. The Kale seedlings are already showing a few "true leaves." It's a really obvious distinction, as the seed leaves are these soft, smooth, round things and the Kale leaves are pointy and textured. The books and stuff say to transplant seedlings once they have two sets of true leaves. I think I'd rather let them grow in these containers until they're actually pretty big. I found last year that I could easily pull out the clump of dirt, check the root situation, and put it back in if I wanted. I think it will be about a month before I really need to do that.
The other thing I need to think about is plant height. The Kale will get to be, like, 4 inches tall. The Coleus and the Creeping Thyme will probably still just be a few tiny leaves. So I should be able to use one light for the just-starting plants, and keep it close to the surface, and the other light I can put a little higher.
I have way more seeds that I should. For one thing, I bought seeds I didn't need to buy, because I had them from last year and they obviously are fine, I think I got like, 80% germination. I'm packing the unopened new ones in a plastic bag so they'll stay good for another year.
So what's next to start? I'm strongly considering growing Snapdragons this year. They're an annual that will bloom really well in the spring, when I don't have a lot else going on. I think that's the next thing to start, probably not for another 2 weeks or so. (So, like, January 31st.) And, I guess if everything works out, I can transplant them April 1st or so. I got some red-yellow-pinky mix, I'm hoping it will look nice with the Tulips...
Right now, my light situation is kind of stupid. I cannot find the goddamn hooks I used last year. I know they're in the house somewhere. Most likely I put them in some little drawer or little box and thought, "I'll put these here, so that I will have them when I start seeds in the Spring." (Haha, it's January, that doesn't come close to counting as "Spring." More like, "I'll start seeds in the first quarter.") I think I need to buy new hooks, which is maddening, because I know I'll find these old hooks shortly after I do that.
I ordered a 4 bulb, 2 foot grow light, and supposedly I'll get it delivered middle of this week. That way I can get everything set up before I go away the following week. I'll put the 6 trays under the big light.
The 2 bulb light I might just put back on the curtain rod in the living room, where it will keep the Hibiscus and Jalapeno from getting too light-deprived. I don't know if it's a bad idea to give them pretty poor light for a few weeks, and then turn on a grow light on them for a week. The Hibiscus hasn't really stopped growing; it's grown another 6 inches with at least 10 new leaves and looks like it's putting out a few more soon. The Jalapeno hasn't looked happy for a long time, so I don't think more light could possibly hurt.
Anyway. The Kale seedlings are already showing a few "true leaves." It's a really obvious distinction, as the seed leaves are these soft, smooth, round things and the Kale leaves are pointy and textured. The books and stuff say to transplant seedlings once they have two sets of true leaves. I think I'd rather let them grow in these containers until they're actually pretty big. I found last year that I could easily pull out the clump of dirt, check the root situation, and put it back in if I wanted. I think it will be about a month before I really need to do that.
The other thing I need to think about is plant height. The Kale will get to be, like, 4 inches tall. The Coleus and the Creeping Thyme will probably still just be a few tiny leaves. So I should be able to use one light for the just-starting plants, and keep it close to the surface, and the other light I can put a little higher.
I have way more seeds that I should. For one thing, I bought seeds I didn't need to buy, because I had them from last year and they obviously are fine, I think I got like, 80% germination. I'm packing the unopened new ones in a plastic bag so they'll stay good for another year.
So what's next to start? I'm strongly considering growing Snapdragons this year. They're an annual that will bloom really well in the spring, when I don't have a lot else going on. I think that's the next thing to start, probably not for another 2 weeks or so. (So, like, January 31st.) And, I guess if everything works out, I can transplant them April 1st or so. I got some red-yellow-pinky mix, I'm hoping it will look nice with the Tulips...
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Kale Babies
So... I started the kale and radicchio, and they sprouted after a few days, and then I put the light on, and their seed leaves are twice as big and dark green after two days. So... what am I gonna do next?
In two weeks, they will be nice little seedlings, and in a month, they'll need to be transplanted, and that will be early February. Then, I'll have kale and radicchio in little pots, and they'll need their own light situation. By mid February, I'll want to start a bunch of other things. I may have started too many too soon. Also, everything germinated, so I had no reason to buy new kale and radicchio. Oops. In a month, I'll have to start trying to get people at work to take my kale babies.
That being said- the next thing to start is Coleus. Get excited; we're gonna start some ornamentals.
In two weeks, they will be nice little seedlings, and in a month, they'll need to be transplanted, and that will be early February. Then, I'll have kale and radicchio in little pots, and they'll need their own light situation. By mid February, I'll want to start a bunch of other things. I may have started too many too soon. Also, everything germinated, so I had no reason to buy new kale and radicchio. Oops. In a month, I'll have to start trying to get people at work to take my kale babies.
That being said- the next thing to start is Coleus. Get excited; we're gonna start some ornamentals.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
How to Start Seeds
This will be the third season I've attempted to grow plants from seed. Last year I was able to get some nice results, but the first attempt was a total failure. I think I've learned a few valuable lessons and I could qualify as knowing what I'm doing. Of course, most of this is the same stuff you'd hear from Mike McGrath, but apparently I have to learn things the hard way.
- Pick the right kinds of plants.
- Some plants are easy to start from seed. Some are more difficult, and some are just not going to work. By doing some retroactive research, I've noticed a lot of herbs are not really good to start from seed. Chives are super easy to grow but not usually from seed. Rosemary seems to be better to propagate from cuttings.
- If you just want one or two plants, just buy the plant at the nursery. A packet of seeds is about $5, and a plant will cost about the same, maybe less. I only have room to grow a maximum of 2 tomato plants, and if I grow a second plant, it's going to be a different variety. Since I have a very limited amount of space for seed starting, it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a pack of Tomato seeds, start a 6 pack or two and have that take up space for at least 8 weeks, and then only be able to actually grow one of them outside. It would make a lot more sense to just go to a good nursery (not Lowe's or Home Depot) and get a tomato plant or two.
- The plants that are worth growing from seed are plants where you want like, 6 or more. For me, that's vegetables like lettuce, kale, arugula, Swiss chard, maybe radishes, and peas and beans. For ornamentals, that's coleus, zinnia, morning glory and sunflower
- The bigger the seed, the easier it is to grow. Examples: beans, sunflowers, nasturtiums
- Best Vegetables to Start From Seed
- Green Beans
- Peas
- Leaf Lettuce
- Head Lettues
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Best Flowers to Start From Seed
- Nasturtiums
- Sunflowers
- Morning Glory
- Zinnias
- Use a grow light.
- In past years, I had tons of stupid little trays of seedlings on the floor in front of the glass doors, trying to grow them from the sunlight coming in the window. As they sat there next to a window on the cold tile, a lot of things didn't germinate at all until it got warmer, and the things that did germinate didn't do so well. I remember thinking, Oh great, they're getting so tall! I didn't know at that point that I want my seedlings fat and happy.
- I finally bought a grow light, which made me feel a little weird. I was kind of worried I'd get put on some kind of a watch list for drug dealers. I did this way out of phase, buying a light in like, August. I used the built in shelving in the laundry room on the third floor and rigged up a very inelegant situation of a light hanging from some hooks shoved into the holes where you'd put the shelf holders. This was great, I grew lots of greens like Swiss Chard and Bok Choy and then moved them to larger containers outside. One of my neighbors commented on the ridiculous volume of plants on my patio with a mix of encouragement and concern. She used the word "addiction" with a very serious tone. The problem was that I'd gotten this amazing light at the wrong time. I was using it only on these fast-germinating greens, so I was turning out plants faster than I could handle, and I couldn't really provide enough sun-filled space for all the seedlings I had. I joked that I was the welfare mom of plants- I just kept making babies I wasn't able to care for.
- Get real seed starting mix
- This wasn't really a tough lesson to learn. I was never inclined to go outside, dig up some regular-ass dirt and bring it into my house. Most of the early seed starting attempts were in the very early spring, when going outside wasn't that appealing. And of course I'd just go buy a nice bag of soil.
- The first time I tried this, I got one of those big trays with a ton of tine cells and a little pellet that should expand like crazy when you add water. Those are ok, I guess, but they don't expand all that much why not just buy the right stuff to begin with.
- Use good containers
- Those trays with all the cells and the little plastic cover are terrible. They are so damn tiny! They hold, like, a fluid ounce of soil. I like the plastic cover, but once the seed germinates and grows for a little while, if everything goes well, it will be root bound within a week or 2. Then they have to be transplanted, but they're so tiny and delicate they get totally destroyed in the process.
- Peat pots are even worse. They dry out like crazy. The material pulls all the water out of the medium and then it evaporates instantaneously. When I would go away for a week, everything died. And these were usually too thick and tough to just plant the whole thing in the ground and expect the roots to break through.
- I bought the plastic 6 pack trays from Burpee, and they've been great. They have plenty of room, so I can just grow seeds in them for a month or two and they can develop plenty of roots, and they pop out easily. They hold moisture well, but still drain, and they're very durable so I can reuse them over and over.
- Start early
- A lot of things need to be started 2 months ahead of time. You really can't decide you want to grow things from seed on April 1st and go to Home Depot and buy seeds for things you like. I think it was around that time that I realized, if I could grow some of these annual flowers from seed, that would actually be very cost effective. I was really interested in Coleus, but that needs to be started in February.
- I was in Home Depot or someplace buying seeds, and there was a terrible couple arguing over what seeds to buy. I think it was April. They were trying to buy one of everything, pretty much. I was kind of horrified by them, just because they were so awful to each other, but I wanted to jump in and tell them not to waste their money. Maybe I should have. Maybe this year I should just hang out near the seed section of hardware stores in the spring and intercede other well intentioned people.
- Don't start more plants than you can handle. Or, as E B White said, "Always count your chickens before they hatch." He was actually talking about chickens, specifically, but I think the same lesson applies. My proliferation of Bok Choy and Swiss Chard is an example of this.
- This article from gardeners.com is the best overview of the timing of seeds that I've found: http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/when-to-start-your-seeds/5215.html
First Seeds of 2015
I already put in an order on Burpee for some seeds. I'm starting to worry that I'll spend hours planning what to get, and then when I finally go to order, they'll be out of what I want, or I'll have a trip come up and I won't get them started soon enough.
I got:
They obviously aren't here yet, but I got all psyched up for it. I got a bag of seed starting mix- it's Jiffy brand, 60% peat moss and coir, vermiculite, and a little lyme. I think last year I mostly used the Miracle Grow brand, which of course has a little fertilizer. I'm able to reuse the trays I got from last year; they're pretty sturdy. I started 2 trays each of my old Lacinato Kale and Red Verona Radicchio. I've stored the Radicchio seeds in a pill container, and the Kale just in the packet, all of the seeds in a wooden box with lots of those silica packets. If these germinate, that will be great. I'm sure it was too warm and too humid for ideal seed storage, but we'll see what happens.
If they do work, I will feel kind of dumb for buying the same thing again. The Radicchio is 90 days to maturity, and the Kale is 60, so I'm hoping getting a really good head start will mean I can actually grow some and get them finished before summer starts.
I'm going to buy another grow light. This time, I'm going for the 2 foot 4 tube one. I think I can use that on 6 trays at a time, and use my current 2 tube light on 4 trays at a time. And, I only have 10 trays, so, that should be enough.
When this seed order gets here, I'll start some coleus, as many trays as I can. It needs to be started 8 weeks early, and probably can't go outside until May, since it's tropical. I realize that I would be starting it a month early, but I can transplant them to bigger containers inside and grow them that way until it gets warm enough. Since they're shade tolerant, they should be fine as house plants. Last year I wanted to get a ton of coleus, since it's the easiest thing to grow, it looks amazing, it gets big and full, it's just a great bedding plant all around. But for some reason, I couldn't really find any, or enough that looked good. The landscaping people at work must have bought all the coleus in the area, because every bed was crammed with it. And they never took care of it or pinched it back, so it was all tall and started to flower... I would much rather have it stay low and full.
I'll also get some Creeping Thyme started. I've pretty much given up on growing Thyme to cook with, but this will work as a ground cover and should have some nice smell and maybe some flowers. And it's perennial to Zone 5, so it should last for a while.
I got:
- Lacinato Kale
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard
- Radicchio, Red Verona (the round kind, not Trevisio)
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Toy Choi
- Joy Choi
- Radishes, Cherry Bell
- Creeping Thyme
- Coleus, Wizard Mix (big leaf)
- and "Burpee Booster," which was recommended for peas and beans
They obviously aren't here yet, but I got all psyched up for it. I got a bag of seed starting mix- it's Jiffy brand, 60% peat moss and coir, vermiculite, and a little lyme. I think last year I mostly used the Miracle Grow brand, which of course has a little fertilizer. I'm able to reuse the trays I got from last year; they're pretty sturdy. I started 2 trays each of my old Lacinato Kale and Red Verona Radicchio. I've stored the Radicchio seeds in a pill container, and the Kale just in the packet, all of the seeds in a wooden box with lots of those silica packets. If these germinate, that will be great. I'm sure it was too warm and too humid for ideal seed storage, but we'll see what happens.
If they do work, I will feel kind of dumb for buying the same thing again. The Radicchio is 90 days to maturity, and the Kale is 60, so I'm hoping getting a really good head start will mean I can actually grow some and get them finished before summer starts.
I'm going to buy another grow light. This time, I'm going for the 2 foot 4 tube one. I think I can use that on 6 trays at a time, and use my current 2 tube light on 4 trays at a time. And, I only have 10 trays, so, that should be enough.
When this seed order gets here, I'll start some coleus, as many trays as I can. It needs to be started 8 weeks early, and probably can't go outside until May, since it's tropical. I realize that I would be starting it a month early, but I can transplant them to bigger containers inside and grow them that way until it gets warm enough. Since they're shade tolerant, they should be fine as house plants. Last year I wanted to get a ton of coleus, since it's the easiest thing to grow, it looks amazing, it gets big and full, it's just a great bedding plant all around. But for some reason, I couldn't really find any, or enough that looked good. The landscaping people at work must have bought all the coleus in the area, because every bed was crammed with it. And they never took care of it or pinched it back, so it was all tall and started to flower... I would much rather have it stay low and full.
I'll also get some Creeping Thyme started. I've pretty much given up on growing Thyme to cook with, but this will work as a ground cover and should have some nice smell and maybe some flowers. And it's perennial to Zone 5, so it should last for a while.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
2015 Gardening Plans!
Promptly on December 31st, 3 different seed catalogs showed up in my mail box. I was so excited I shouted "Fuck yeah!" and did a little dance, and then looked around to see if any of my neighbors had seen me.
Obviously I need to be very careful to not over-order. Most of my seeds from last year are still good, I bet. I need to remember that the only seeds I should start myself (instead of just buying plants) are things where I want like, more than 3 plants of the same thing. So that's lettuce and stuff. I don't think I should bother trying to grow tomato from seed. I only have room for one or two tomato plants, and a plant costs about the same as a packet of seeds.
I do want to get the following seeds:
Oh crap, that's a lot.
The timing will be important... probably the first things to start are the Kale and the Radicchio.
So, I ordered a lot, and I'm going to go ahead and start some stuff this weekend. I really want to get some Coleus started, so I ordered a mix. They need to start 8 weeks ahead of when they go outside, but if I start them now-ish, like January 15th, I can transplant them March 15th and grow them as house plants for a while, because they're good in the shade, so they should be ok indoors. If I get enough of them, I can fill the whole patio raised bed with coleus, which will look amazing. I'll get another bag of Begonia bulbs, probably from Costco, and start them inside.
I was originally thinking this patio bed would be Begonias, Coleus, Elephant Ears, Caladium, Ferns, Hostas, Liriope, and anything else that I could think of to do well in shade. The Liriope are free, as long as I get around to dividing them, so that's good. But if I have 7+ different plants in a 12 square foot area, it's going to look insane.
So we got one flower- begonias, and the coleus will be amazing, if I can grow them from seed, they are practically free. The Liriope is also free, so... that's a nice combination of colors and textures. Elephant ears are so cool, to have these big, lush leaves, making the patio look like this tropical vacation. I might still get some and throw them in there. Hostas are kind if a cop out, and they're not really supposed to be in containers.
Oh my god, I love looking outside at all this snow... "Feels Like" -3 F. Last year, I was really fucked up about it. I just couldn't believe spring would ever come. I'm so glad I took pictures, so I can look at them and remember that things will grow again, and beyond that, things will grow like crazy if I let them. In the spring, when I see the first few bulbs come up, I could fucking cry. When I'm driving to work and the morning light shows those first buds forming on the redbuds, I do a little happy dance in my car.
Last spring I was in Irvine in early March, where they have Bird of Paradise in full bloom in the medians on the roads. I had a lovely hotel room with giant windows facing a pond with all these great plants, and I just stoop by the window gawking at everything. Then I had to go to work, and give a presentation in a dark room, "Hi guys, thanks for coming, it's too bad we can't have a training course outside today!" I said. I was met with confused faces. "I mean, it's such a gorgeous day..." I explained. "Oh, cause it's nice out." someone finally said. Yeah, you assholes. It's the most beautiful day ever. People on the east coast travel for hours to come to Longwood to see the plants you grow in the middle of the street.
Obviously I need to be very careful to not over-order. Most of my seeds from last year are still good, I bet. I need to remember that the only seeds I should start myself (instead of just buying plants) are things where I want like, more than 3 plants of the same thing. So that's lettuce and stuff. I don't think I should bother trying to grow tomato from seed. I only have room for one or two tomato plants, and a plant costs about the same as a packet of seeds.
I do want to get the following seeds:
- Pole Beans
- Bok Choy
- Kale
- Leaf Lettuce
- Romaine Lettuce
- Arugula
- Peas
- Radishes
- Radicchio
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Alyssum
- Coleus
- Nasturtiums
- Morning Glory
- Sunflower
- Zinnias
Oh crap, that's a lot.
The timing will be important... probably the first things to start are the Kale and the Radicchio.
So, I ordered a lot, and I'm going to go ahead and start some stuff this weekend. I really want to get some Coleus started, so I ordered a mix. They need to start 8 weeks ahead of when they go outside, but if I start them now-ish, like January 15th, I can transplant them March 15th and grow them as house plants for a while, because they're good in the shade, so they should be ok indoors. If I get enough of them, I can fill the whole patio raised bed with coleus, which will look amazing. I'll get another bag of Begonia bulbs, probably from Costco, and start them inside.
I was originally thinking this patio bed would be Begonias, Coleus, Elephant Ears, Caladium, Ferns, Hostas, Liriope, and anything else that I could think of to do well in shade. The Liriope are free, as long as I get around to dividing them, so that's good. But if I have 7+ different plants in a 12 square foot area, it's going to look insane.
So we got one flower- begonias, and the coleus will be amazing, if I can grow them from seed, they are practically free. The Liriope is also free, so... that's a nice combination of colors and textures. Elephant ears are so cool, to have these big, lush leaves, making the patio look like this tropical vacation. I might still get some and throw them in there. Hostas are kind if a cop out, and they're not really supposed to be in containers.
Oh my god, I love looking outside at all this snow... "Feels Like" -3 F. Last year, I was really fucked up about it. I just couldn't believe spring would ever come. I'm so glad I took pictures, so I can look at them and remember that things will grow again, and beyond that, things will grow like crazy if I let them. In the spring, when I see the first few bulbs come up, I could fucking cry. When I'm driving to work and the morning light shows those first buds forming on the redbuds, I do a little happy dance in my car.
Last spring I was in Irvine in early March, where they have Bird of Paradise in full bloom in the medians on the roads. I had a lovely hotel room with giant windows facing a pond with all these great plants, and I just stoop by the window gawking at everything. Then I had to go to work, and give a presentation in a dark room, "Hi guys, thanks for coming, it's too bad we can't have a training course outside today!" I said. I was met with confused faces. "I mean, it's such a gorgeous day..." I explained. "Oh, cause it's nice out." someone finally said. Yeah, you assholes. It's the most beautiful day ever. People on the east coast travel for hours to come to Longwood to see the plants you grow in the middle of the street.
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