Bearded Irises. Progress Report. 2.22.14

Selected Irises 2.22.14

Selected Irises 2.22.14

There is a clear difference in the bearded irises.  They have progressed from winter decline into sturdy early growth.  All have made progress.  Some have growth from underground, unexpected.  I thought Flavescens was nearly died out, but there are some new leaves. 

Daffodils are also growing with flower buds showing.  They are there partly as an animal deterrent, and also as the earliest of spring flowers.

I wondered of the Los Angeles rhizome would survive.  It appears to be making more growth now  The Pallida Dalmatica has more growth than I expected.

So far, so good.

I gave them all some organic slug bait.  Slugs start to make damage, this time of year.

Orchid Progress Report. Yamamoto Dendrobium. 2.22.14

Yamamoto-type Dendrobium nobile

This Yamamoto Dendrobium was in the kitchen East window sill at the Battleground place, for the summer.  I brought it to Vancouver when flower buds started.

Based on comparison to web photos on the Yamamoto Dendrobium site, I think this is Fancy Angel "Lycee".  The plant for is quite different, due to my growth conditions.  I leave old canes in place, too, for nutrient storage by the plant and because it makes me think of how the plant might look growing in the wild.  Although these are such refined hybrids, nothing like them would be in the wild.  This was originally a Trader Joe orchid, probably 5 or more years ago.

Dendrobium nobile Spring Dream "Apollon"

 Added this Dendrobium nobile from Trader Joes.  I looks like Spring Dream "Apollon".  Since I am not producing or selling them, I will label it as such.   Taller and robust.

Here is an unlabeled Miltoniopsis hybrid bought a few weeks ago.  Continues to bloom.  The entire bathroom is fragrant from this flower.  Also Trader Joe.  Possibly "Maui Sunset".

Dendrobium nobile and Miltoniopsis hybrid

Fig Cutting. Progress Report. 2.22.14

Lattarula Fig Cutting

The last of the Lattarula.  Impressive bunch of roots.  I did not remove more paper towel.  It will dissolve in the growth medium.  Planted and left in window sill.

Some of the cuttings that I planted then kept on the heating mat dried  out and died.  If I kept them in plastic bags they did OK.  I'm not in a hurry for them to grow.  Placing them in the window sill might mean a bit longer stems, but otherwise should be OK.

Late Winter Gardening. Start seeds for onions, peppers, oregano. 2.22.14.

"Flagpole Giant Green Onion" seeds

Greek Oregano Seeds

Peppers are germinating

My garden calendar for this week said to plant onions.  These were from Fred Meyer, "New Dimension Seed" "Flagpole Giant Green Onion".  They do not make bulbs, so are used as scallions year-round.  Something else to try in my raised beds.  Planting a used 6-pack.  I may be able to cut like a cake, when grown, for 4 sections per cell, 24 total.

The Greek Oregano seeds were as fine as sand.  Maybe finer.  Last year I grew catnip and lemon balm from similar size seeds.  Might grow.  Barely pressed them into the surface of seed starting medium.  Did not cover them.

The peppers are germinating.  I continue to keep them on seed starting warming mat.  So far the following have germinated:  Tabasco, Long Red Cayenne, Fish Pepper, Sweet Banana Pepper. Not all of the seeds of each.  Only one or two of each.

Flush with that success, I added another pot of seeds to start.  This time, "Hot Lemon".   There are others in my collection, but I think I will just start some more "Fish" because the variegation is nice and they would make a nice gift.  Later for those.

Ginger. More Pepper Seeds. 2.18.14

Ginger

Santa Fe Peppers

Today I transferred the ginger rhizomes to containers.  Regular organic potting soil.  Barely covered the rhizomes.

There is only room for one on the heating mat, so the other is in a south window.

I also started a container of seeds from Santa Fe peppers.  These seeds are left over from last year.