Gardeners! Share your garden photos and garden chatter here.

[SquarePeg]

Has anyone used grow bags for tomatoes? I’m thinking of using those instead of the big buckets I used last year. Might use them for the dahlias too so I can move them when needed. Been browsing dahlia tubers and trying real hard not to order any more!

This is one from last year. I tried to over winter the tubers in my attic but they must have frozen. I don’t really have any place to store them. No garage, heated basement is too hot and detached shed is too cold…

 

[terri]

Gorgeous pic!

I've never tried the bags. One year we did start tomatoes from seeds, since we were trying a lot of heirlooms that year. Growlight did great and most of them became terrific producers. But I confess to being lazy and just shopping early in the season to get small plants that just need to be planted when it's warm enough.

Like you, I have never had good luck wintering anything - bulbs or tubes.

 

[SquarePeg]

Gorgeous pic!

I've never tried the bags. One year we did start tomatoes from seeds, since we were trying a lot of heirlooms that year. Growlight did great and most of them became terrific producers. But I confess to being lazy and just shopping early in the season to get small plants that just need to be planted when it's warm enough.

Like you, I have never had good luck wintering anything - bulbs or tubes.

I’m going to try the bags for the tomatoes and the dahlias this year and see how they do.

 

[jeffashman]

I got a half barrel and planted tulips. They are coming up and it should only be a couple more weeks before they bloom. Planning on getting cedar planks to make some above ground boxes, since our soil here is a heavy clay. Haven't decided if I'll just plant flowers, or flowers and veggies and herbs.

feb14202303 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr

 

[SquarePeg]

I got a half barrel and planted tulips. They are coming up and it should only be a couple more weeks before they bloom. Planning on getting cedar planks to make some above ground boxes, since our soil here is a heavy clay. Haven't decided if I'll just plant flowers, or flowers and veggies and herbs.

feb14202303 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr

My tulips are a bit behind this but not much. The ones in the ground are still just peeking up, the ones in the large pots are close to this.

What will you do with the bulbs after they bloom? Remove and store or leave in?

 

[jeffashman]

My tulips are a bit behind this but not much. The ones in the ground are still just peeking up, the ones in the large pots are close to this.

What will you do with the bulbs after they bloom? Remove and store or leave in?

I will leave them in the planter, and overplant with petunias for the summer. Currently they are planted with pansies, which are making a comeback after the freezing weather, and should fill back in soon, before the hot weather nukes them.

The pic above is from Feb 14. Today it looks like this...
mar02202301 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr

 

[SquarePeg]

I will leave them in the planter, and overplant with petunias for the summer. Currently they are planted with pansies, which are making a comeback after the freezing weather, and should fill back in soon, before the hot weather nukes them.

The pic above is from Feb 14. Today it looks like this...
mar02202301 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr

Nice. I’m planning to overplant as well but I’ve read that many tulip bulbs will rot if they’re watered all summer???

 

[jeffashman]

Nice. I’m planning to overplant as well but I’ve read that many tulip bulbs will rot if they’re watered all summer???

I haven't encountered that, but the planters dry out extremely fast here with the dry heat we have.

 

[cgw]

Nice. I’m planning to overplant as well but I’ve read that many tulip bulbs will rot if they’re watered all summer???

Watered after the leaves have totally pooped out? Whaaaat? Biggest mistake I see made by OCD-Neatnik types is cutting the leaves after the blooms go. Deadheading is OK but the leaves recharge the bulb for next season. No leaves=weakened bulb=puny tulips. Still, they're not immortal and do need regular replanting for consistent displays.

Ever try these? Tough as nails for cold winters and very attractive massed on their own:

Tulipa tarda (Botanical Tulip)

First cultivated commercially in 1590, Tulip 'Tarda' is by far the most important real botanical species and looks just as Mother Nature introduced her. A top all-around performer, this diminutive species tulip displays bunches of elegant six star-shaped little flowers with chrome-yellow petals...

www.gardenia.net

 

[jeffashman]

Watered after the leaves have totally pooped out? Whaaaat? Biggest mistake I see made by OCD-Neatnik types is cutting the leaves after the blooms go. Deadheading is OK but the leaves recharge the bulb for next season. No leaves=weakened bulb=puny tulips. Still, they're not immortal and do need regular replanting for consistent displays.

Ever try these? Tough as nails for cold winters and very attractive massed on their own:

Tulipa tarda (Botanical Tulip)

First cultivated commercially in 1590, Tulip 'Tarda' is by far the most important real botanical species and looks just as Mother Nature introduced her. A top all-around performer, this diminutive species tulip displays bunches of elegant six star-shaped little flowers with chrome-yellow petals...

www.gardenia.net

I don't cut the leaves on mine, they'll just die out as the summer progresses. The petunias will grow around them. So far all the different bulbs I've planted have come back, hyacinth, tulips, tiger lilies, and calla lilies, although some vermin got into the tiger lily planter and ate everything this winter, so I'll; have to buy new ones.

 

[SquarePeg]

Watered after the leaves have totally pooped out? Whaaaat? Biggest mistake I see made by OCD-Neatnik types is cutting the leaves after the blooms go. Deadheading is OK but the leaves recharge the bulb for next season. No leaves=weakened bulb=puny tulips. Still, they're not immortal and do need regular replanting for consistent displays.

Ever try these? Tough as nails for cold winters and very attractive massed on their own:

Tulipa tarda (Botanical Tulip)

First cultivated commercially in 1590, Tulip 'Tarda' is by far the most important real botanical species and looks just as Mother Nature introduced her. A top all-around performer, this diminutive species tulip displays bunches of elegant six star-shaped little flowers with chrome-yellow petals...

www.gardenia.net

Last year hardly any of my tulips came up but the bulbs were cheapies from lowes and we had a very dry spring so maybe not enough water.

I planted more tulips than ever before last fall- about 250 good quality bulbs. It’s an experiment to see if they come up or if the critters get most of them. I don’t think the bulbs got dug up by the chipmunks but the bunnies like to eat them the minute they break ground! They like the fresh new tender leaves. I’m hoping the snow will protect them from the bunnies until they grow a bit.

 

[cgw]

Last year hardly any of my tulips came up but the bulbs were cheapies from lowes and we had a very dry spring so maybe not enough water.

I planted more tulips than ever before last fall- about 250 good quality bulbs. It’s an experiment to see if they come up or if the critters get most of them. I don’t think the bulbs got dug up by the chipmunks but the bunnies like to eat them the minute they break ground! They like the fresh new tender leaves. I’m hoping the snow will protect them from the bunnies until they grow a bit.

Barrier-wise, I've kept marauding rodents away from bulbs with that thin, flexible netting meant to protect fruit trees and berry bushes from birds. Way thinner than chicken wire, flexible and easy to cut and anchor.

 

[terri]

Barrier-wise, I've kept marauding rodents away from bulbs with that thin, flexible netting meant to protect fruit trees and berry bushes from birds. Way thinner than chicken wire, flexible and easy to cut and anchor.

That product is great! We had bunnies after our black-eyed Susans right after planting, and that barrier saved the day. Once they got established the rabbits lost interest. They went back to helping keep my dandelions weeded out.

 

[snowbear]

Not really a gardener (yet), but these are popping up in the front and back yards. The yellow ones are in the front and may have been planted by my father, years ago. The white ones are a=in an area that he would not have planted things, so squirrels are the primary suspects.

Daffodils?


cmw3_d750_DSC_4735.jpg by Snowbear Photography, on Flickr


cmw3_d750_DSC_4738.jpg by Snowbear Photography, on Flickr

 

[SquarePeg]

I think I see daffodil volunteers more than any other plant.