Moving Lavender, Sage, and Rosemary Cuttings Outside. 30 Dec 24.

These are the lavender plants I started from cuttings last summer, plus one that was broken off from a 24 year old plant during cleaning up, plus one bought this fall at Winco (Godwin Creek Grey), and a French lavender that I potted to compare survival with one kept outside all winter.  

I decided to start keeping them outside, as long as the weather stays above freezing.  They are probably OK with that too, but being in containers might be less hardy.  They are drying out too fast in the sunroom, so being outside in cool and rain might also be better.

Spanish Lavender.  Also culinary sage cuttings that I took last summer.  They are doing great too.

Godwin Creek Grey, and the rescued TLC start.

The French Lavender.  Also, the Hesperaloe that I'm overwintering to plant in Spring.

The Rosemary starts.  I also rooted these cuttings last summer.

Up-Potting Pelargonium (Geranium) Seedlings. 30 Dec 24.

 I up-potted the Pelargonium seedlings.  These are the series Maverick, colors Scarlet, Coral, and White.

They were starting to look crowded, and the tops a bit weak, so I gave each a new pot.

Before.

The roots weren't all that crowded.  Not root bound.  There were 2 to 3 seedlings per cell.

I potted them into 3" round or 2" square - but- deeper, containers.

Considering how fast they've grown, I could have waited another month or two to start them.  Still, that just gives them a better head start.

Repotting Lavender Seedlings. 27 Dec 24.

 I repotted the lavender seedlings.  Now each is in its own 2x2 cell in eight-packs.  Sine they grow slowly,  I think that might be enough until spring.  It's possible they'll need to be up-potted once before it's time to plant in the border.

I think that since mature lavender can handle frost and freeze, these young plants will be able to handle early Spring weather by March.  They'll be bigger than now, but not too much to care for.   

I'm glad I decided to grow them from seeds.  That gave choices I haven't seen in the stores.  The expense of buying this many plants would also have been too much.  They germinated quickly and easily without need for stratification.  Maybe that's a sign of good quality seeds?  (Swallowtail gardens, on-line).  

These varieties were described as first-year blooming, compact-growing varieties.  Bandera purple, Bandera Deep Rose, Blue Spear, and in the first group, Blue Vicenza which I think will be somewhat larger.  I think the first two are Spanish type lavender, and the second two are English type.

Major Repair To Raised Bed. 24 Dec 24.

 This raised bed has been very helpful.  It's at a good height that I can work the soil and p,ants much more easily.  Also keeping weeds controlled and managing the irrigation.

Unfortunately underground animals undermined the side, and it was in danger of falling.

My initial thought was to make it narrower too, but that would have involved moving too much heavy soil.  So I decided to, just repair it.

That involved moving all of the blocks on that side, as well as the corners. Then I leveled and tamped the soil under the blocks.  When moles dig tunnels under the cinder blocks, they push the soil up into the blocks, leaving a hollow underneath resulting in leaning.  So I added a (recycled) hard foam underlayment to prevent them from moving the soil into the blocks.  I wanted to add posts or rebar inside the blocks, but didn't have any on hand.  I might, later.

Then I re-laid the cinder blocks.  That actually took a few efforts to make them straight and even, and match the corner blocks.   I had to dis-assemble part of both ends, down to soil level, to make it work.

Then I rebuilt the side.

I'm pretty happy with this result.  I haven't re-filled the soil there.  I will leave some open for trench composting through the winter.

The capstones are easily removed if I can find some posts or rebar for better stability.

Lavender Seedlings. 19 Dec 24.

 I repotted the first batch of lavender seedlings.  These are Vicenza Blue and Bandera Deep Rose.

I used a good quality, regular potting mix (Black Magic, I think).  I continue to keep them under LEDs.

These are slower than the Pelargoniums, but not at all difficult.  They just need some patience.