Signs from China

I enjoyed reading signs in China.  These photos are from late Oct, 2013

In the US, of course, we don't have any signs in Chinese.

Pink Banana Squash and other seeds. A nostalgia vegetable.

Pink Banana Squash image from wikipedia

Searching the web, I found seeds for pink banana squash.  Cucuberbita maxima. 

My dad's aunt Emma grew these and saved the seeds, which meant I grew them when I was a kid. I remember my mom being overwhelmed with what to do with the yield, cut it up and froze to make pumpkin pies.

I found a few sources, and added one to my seed "burden" for Spring

From www.rareseeds.com
Order Number: 100353504

 

Item Name
Jumbo Pink Banana Item No: SQ138	For nostalgia.   If we can't eat it all, the chickens will like it.
Anise Hyssop Item No: HB122	For the bees.
Shungiku Edible Chrysanthemum Item No: HB129	Something different.
Red Round Turnip Item No: TN112	Ning likes turnips.
He Shi Ko Bunching Onion Item No: ON111	I like scallions.  These will be a change.
Chioggia (Bassano) Beet Item No: BT104	Ning likes beets
Tall Mixed - Marvel of Peru Item No: FL444	I'll compare to the other seeds.

Ancient Seeds

Judean date palm - wikipedia image.

Going through my old seeds always makes me think about various efforts at germinating ancient seeds.  I like to search on those efforts.

I don't recall reading this one before  -

4,000 year old lentil germinated in Turkey.  Turkish newspaper article.   "Bingöl said the lentil is pretty weak – unlike its modern day versions – yet they hope it will be able to flower and produce seeds."  then....  obscurity.  Did it grow?  Did the seed turn out not to be 4,000 years old?  Heirloom-organics article on the same seedling.  According to wikipedia, as of 2010 this was not confirmed and not reported in science literature.

There's the Judean Date Palm, which has now bloomed for the 3rd time.   The tree came from an archeological dig, carbon dated at 2,000 years old, and the cultivar is thought to have gone extinct in 500 AD.  The tree turned out to be male.  Genetic tests revealed the cultivar is similar to Iraqi and Eqyptian dates, so a hybrid could generate a new lineage, 50:50 first generation, 75:25 2nd generation, etc?  Not knowing palm genetics, I don't know.  It would be a slow process.  It will also be interesting to see if other seeds from the same or other caches could be revived and germinated.  The seed was germinated by Elaine Solowey, director of the experimental orchard - "First she soaked the seeds in hot water to make them once again able to absorb liquids. Then she soaked them in a solution of nutrients followed by an enzymatic fertilizer made from seaweed."

 I don't find much else about germinating ancient seeds, that I haven't already read. 

Seed Organizing. Old Seeds.

Organized garden seed collection.

I organized the garden seed collection.  The packets were in boxes and scattered in drawers.  Some are old and may be dead.  There are multiple examples of multiple packets of the same or similar variety.  Wasteful on my part.

Now they are organized.  Each envelope is labeled with a category, such as Okra, Tomatoes, Peppers, Carrots & Radishes & Root vegetables, Squashes & Pumpkins, etc.  That way I can look in the envelope and see what I have.  For some I can do direct comparisons of different varieties this year, and see if there is a difference.

I should plant some of the oldest ones first this year.  Then if I have newer examples of the same variety, it should be good for next year.

Over the years I have germinated some pretty old seeds.  As I recall, some tomato seeds more than 5 years old, and some peppers more than 10 years old.  They are not in ideal seed storage conditions, just the house and some downstairs where it is cooler.

Bottom line is I have some old seeds to try.  I can plant old seeds and new seeds together, and compare the results.

This website "The Garden Bench" gives some expectations:

2 years: Sweet corn, lettuce, parsley, peppers, chard.
3 years: Bush and pole beans, carrots, cucumbers, melons, peas, squashes, tomatoes.
4: Radishes, turnips.
Seeds of annual flowers: 1 – 3 years
Seeds of perennials: 2 – 4 years.

From Gardening Know How - 
Corn and peppers - 2 years
Beans, peas, tomatos, carrots - 4 years
Cucumber, lettuce - 6 years

Tomatodirt.com-
Tomato seeds, depending on how stored and how germinated, can last 4 to 7 years, up to 10 years, and an expert has germinated 22 year old seeds.

Seedsavers forum discussion on germinating old seeds - they report using an organice nitrogen fertilizer soak, to improve germination.  Beans at 6 years old and cotton at 12 years old.  Tomatoes at 20 years old.

This writer reports seeds that were frozen for a couple of years, then stored in a cool room for about 10 years.  There was germination of at least a few, for most varieties.  That included tomatoes, brassicas, squash, cucumbers, peas, beans, and others.  Probably better than my storage conditions, but also longer.

From the Argonne National Laboratory website -
 "The Garden Dictionary lists corn, dandelion, onion, and parsnip seeds as having an average viability of two years. Beet, carrot, lettuce, squash, turnip, and watermelon seeds remain viable for an average of 5 or 6 years but under ideal conditions may exceed 10 years. Cucumber and endive seeds are good for 10 years at least."

From Iowa State University-

How long will vegetable seeds last if stored properly? -

Seed Type	Years	Seed Type	Years
Asparagus	3	Muskmelons	5
Beans	3	Onions	1
Beets	4	Peas	3
Broccoli	5	Peppers	2
Cabbage	5	Pumpkins	4
Carrots	3	Radishes	5
Cauliflower	5	Spinach	5
Corn	2	Squash	4
Cucumbers	5	Tomatoes	4
Lettuce	5	Watermelons	4

From 'Dirt Happy" website -

Estimated longevity of vegetable seeds, under good storage conditions.
5 years	4 years	3 years	2 years	1 year
Collards	Beets	Asparagus	Corn, sweet	Onion
Corn salad (mache)	Brussels Sprouts	Beans	Leek	Parsley
Cress	Cabbage	Broccoli	Okra	Parsnip
Cucumber	Cauliflower	Cabbage, Chinese	Pepper	Salsify
Endive	Chard, Swiss	Carrot		Scorzonera
Lettuce	Chicory	Celeriac
Muskmelon (Cantaloupe)	Eggplant	Celery
Spinach *	Kale	Kohlrabi
	Pumpkin	New Zealand Spinach
	Radish	Pea
	Rutabaga
	Sorrel
	Squash
	Tomato
	Turnip
	Watermelon

Indoor Garden. Orchids Blooming.

Cymbidium hybrid

Plant window in home office.  Cymbidium, Dendrobiums, and Oncidium.

Sanseveria and twinkle Oncidium orchids

Cold day.   Appreciate indoor garden.

The cymbidium hybrid was outside west of the house, out of full sun, all summer.  It did not get much water.  Brought inside in October.  Now blooming.  Watering with a diluted balanced mineral supplement.

Similar for the Oncidium hybrids.

The Sanseveria was left to languish in dry area on north porch, no water all summer.  I brought it inside and left it in garage, in October.  It's been there until today.  I cut off the dead  leaves.  It should regenerate by Spring.  Gives me something to appreciate growing.

Repotted the Yamamoto dendrobiums.  They had similar treatment.  I don't know what they'll do.  The look good considering how much they dried out.

I wondered how orchids and other plants survived the months-long journeys by ship in the Victorian era, and before that.  Many can handle extended period of dry, minimal light, and general neglect, for months.  Then regenerate when conditions are better.

There are other Cymbidiums.  One looks like it might also bloom.  The main issue with them - aphids.  The buds are covered with aphids when they are about to bloom.  A couple of sprayings with neem oil, and they look great.

It's nice to have plants that were dormant, or at least required minimal effort, in the summer, regenerate in the winter.

Another cold day 9°F

When I awakened today the weather channel listed 9°F.
After today it should warm up a little.
Will need to check on pipes at Battleground place tomorrow and see if still frozen.

4:00 's (Four O'clocks) Mirabilis jalapa

Mirabilis jalapa image from wikimedia commonsw

Miribilis jalapa image from wikimedia commons

Looking at catalogs for next year.

When I was about 10 years old, my neighbor, a widow I knew only as "Mrs. Winklejohn" had a big patch of "4 O'clocks" near her porch.    I remember she also grew a species oriental lily - something I grow now, and she had a parakeet.

I don't know what led me to think about these flowers again.  I grew them more than a decade ago.  I don't recall much about them then.

Mirabilis jalapa originates in Peru.  It's a tender perennial that is often grown as an annual.  They have a large root that can overwinter in mild climates, or be dug in colder climates and stored for next year.  Not that I have the energy to do that.

I found some 4 O'Clocks seeds on seedsavers.org and ordered them.  Part of my effort to grow heritage flowers. 

4 O'Clocks are reported to be deer resistant.  I could not find info about rabbit resistant. 

Mirabilis jalapa historic illustration

They are considered an attractant for bees and hummingbirds.  They produce seeds that can be collected for next year, as well as the perennial roots.

I remember the flowers as being quite small - an inch or two.  In some illustrations, the flower in the illustration can be larger than the real item.

If they grow, these could be a nice addition to the bee garden.

Most articles mention the fragrance of these flowers, which open in the afternoon and evening, but not in the morning.

In China Mirabilis jalapa is called "the shower flower" or "the rice boiling flower".   

We'll see how they do.

Winter is a good time to study and reflect.

Mirabilis jalapa historic illustration 1765

More seeds for Kitchen garden and bee garden.

Another order, seedsavers.org. 

Bean, Dragon's Tongue PKT
Bean, Pencil Pod Golden Wax PKT
Pepper, Hot Portugal PKT
Pepper, Maule's Red Hot PKT
Squash, Golden Zucchini OG
Tomato, Cherokee Purple OG
Tomato, Italian Heirloom PKT
Tomato, Mexico Midget OG PKT
Flower, Four O'Clocks PKT
Flower, Bee's Friend PKT
Flower, Starfire Signet PKT
Sunflower, Titan OG

Image from vintageprintable.com

All of these are in the "Master Plan".  The garden beds are planned and all but one are built and filled; that last one is built but needs a chicken-wire bottom for moles and to be filled.

The 4 O'clocks are reported as deer and rabbit resistant, and may be a bee forage flower.  Phaseala ("Bee's Friend") is considered a great forage source.  The signet marigolds will be used in companion planting for vegetables.

I have a lot of seeds from last year.  I may try some of those too. 

This helps keep me going until late winter when I can start planting.  Especially cold days like today.

Kitchen Garden Plan for 2014. Revised.

Kitchen Garden Plan for 2014

Here is the revised kitchen garden plan for 2014.  Same raised beds.  The main differences, bush beans were moved into one bed.  I'm accounting for some beds getting 2nd crops.  Again subject to change on whim.

Okra and eggplant are planted last.  Those beds could be used for a late winter / early spring crop as well.

Even colder. 8° F predicted.

I wonder if any of the fig trees will survive?  And what else will be effected?  I read this is colder than the record in 1972.

About to have the coldest day in years.

According to the forecast, today's low will be 15 and tomorrow's low will be 12 

I would be concerned about the fig trees I nurtured through this year, but I'm too tired.  Whatever happens, happens.

I should be more concerned about faucets. 

The only other plants that I'm concerned about are the Buddleias, that I nurtured through their first year.  I read they can freeze down in the midwest, but then grow from the roots. 

Other plants could be affected.  May not know until Spring.

We'll see.

from weather.com http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/98663

December

Sun   1 OBSERVED Hi  57°F Lo  48°F Precip (in) 1.80in.	Mon   2 OBSERVED Hi  52°F Lo  33°F Precip (in) 0.02in.	Tue   3 OBSERVED Hi  43°F Lo  25°F Precip (in) 0.01in.	Wed   4 OBSERVED Hi  39°F Lo  20°F Precip (in) 0in.	Thu   5 OBSERVED Hi  33°F Lo  16°F Precip (in) 0in.	Fri   Today Hi  31°F Lo  15°F Precip 50 %	Sat   7 Hi  29°F Lo  12°F Precip 0 %
8 Hi  33°F Lo  19°F Precip 0 %	9 Hi  38°F Lo  27°F Precip 10 %	10 Hi  41°F Lo  31°F Precip 20 %	11 Hi  43°F Lo  35°F Precip 100 %	12 Hi  45°F Lo  38°F Precip 50 %	13 Hi  45°F Lo  35°F Precip 60 %	14 Hi  43°F Lo  35°F Precip 60 %
15 Hi  43°F Lo  36°F Precip 60 %	16 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  57°F Lo  10°F	17 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  59°F Lo  6°F	18 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  60°F Lo  0°F	19 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  60°F Lo  3°F	20 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  61°F Lo  11°F	21 AVERAGES Hi  45°F Lo  32°F RECORDS Hi  61°F Lo  3°F

Bearded Iris Raised Beds Plan for 2014

Iris Bed #1.  Mostly historic varieties.

Iris Bed #2.  Mostly historic varieties.

 As with the kitchen garden beds, all of these are subject to change, including at whim.

Plus, these maps don't include the other bulbs, anemones, tiny ginkgo starts, and Chinese chives that I've planted in these beds.

These drawings include additions and subtractions planned for April, with 7 new plus 2 additional from Old House Gardens.  The 2 additional are on order to extend the Honorable and Flavescens, which didn't do well in 2013 but I like both.

Looking at them now, if I trade out Red Zinger and Red Hawk into bed #3, then Bed #1 will be entirely historic varieties.  I could replace Red Hawk with a tall variety, such as Immortality or Frost and Flame, and replace Red Hawk with a shorter variety, such as Mrs. George Darwin. 

Those trades would be after bloom season.

Then for bed #2, trade out Sunny Disposition for Accent, Los Coyotes for Immortality, and Owyhee Desert for Dauntless.
 

Iris Bed #3.  Mostly modern varieties

I'll have to see what that does with the colors. 

Another thought is eventually have one bed with the oldest historics, one with more recent ones, and one with moderns.  It's almost headed that way anyway.  Sort of.

That may be putting too much thought into it.  Plus the older ones don't have the color diversity of newer ones.

I already planned for next summer's addition, mainly Beverly Sills, a historic with vigor, fragrance, and clear flamingo pink.   Maybe also Amigo.  Depending on how I feel about Diety, that could go to the hedge row.  Romeo doesn't amount to much, so ditto.  The extra Edith Wolford bunch would be nice in the front yard.  Then I could move California Blue to Bed #2, and move a couple of favorite bunches from home to Bed #3.

Most will look much better when established as larger bunches, which may take a couple more years.

If I had to do it over, I would probably have ordered multiple rhizomes of some, to establish them faster.

Kitchen Garden Plan for 2014

Kitchen Garden Plan for 2014.

All raised beds are 4 foot by 8 foot, except the bed with Peppers.  That one is 2 foot by 8 foot.

Doubtless this plan will change significantly as I think about it, and on whim.

The Bush Bean / Eggplant bed was this years (1) winter onion and garlic and (2) melons.  The Okra bed is not yet constructed / filled.  The Shallots / Zucchini / Summer Squash bed was this year's tomato with a few okra and cucumber.  So I am working on crop rotations, no vegetable in a repeat raised bed, next year.  All beds save one are constructed and filled.  Two need weeding and a top dressing of compost.   The strawberries need weeding, removal of straw, addition of a compost top dressing, and  a different type of anti-rabbit anti-deer cage. The potato circle will be a 1/2 barrel or similar structure.

With construction of the okra bed, all intended raised beds will be built.   I'm happy to have the infrastructure in place and the soil environment becoming established.  If luck is with us, 2014 gardening will be much easier compared with 2012 and 2013.  And more productive.  Even though this year was very rewarding.

Looking Back. June 1 2013

Heritage Iris Bed #1

Pallida variegata

Looking back at June 1 2013.  Most of the heritage irises and some off the others were blooming.  Most of the heritage irises were in their first season here, so had not established.  This gave me a chance to view the flowers.  I think in their second year most will have more flowers, and they will be larger.  I think some will be clusters of flowers, instead of one stalk per rhizome.

The colors are very impressive.

Looking back, I didn't realize the NOID was so brilliant yellow, and the NOID plicata was so beautiful.

Honorable vs. Sans Souci

Quaker Lady

Caprice

 Gives me something to look forward to as we move into winter.

Iris flavescens

Iris pallida dalmatica

Pink Bubbles

NOID Yellow from Battleground WA

NOID plicata

NOID plicata