Yearly Archives: 2006

More Seedlings…

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Yesterday, I added an extension to the shelves in my room. The shelves I have are part of the IVAR storage system from Ikea. I’ve had them in my old apartment, and had to scale it down when I moved back home (I have a smaller room here). Luckily, I saved the extra side unit and shelves, and expanded my current setup. Now it looks huge, but at least I have room to setup my new grow lights.

Which reminds me… The ‘Brandywine OTV’ and ‘Great White’ Tomatoes have sprouted. I think the ‘William Guiness’ Columbine is sprouting too, but I can’t quite tell if it is or if it’s moldy. I also noticed that some pine nuts that I found and planted are emerging. Yeay!

And to top it off, the White Genoa Fig and Arguta Kiwi scions that I placed in cup of water are starting to bud.

First Seedling of the Year!

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I just checked the Jiffy-7 Mini-Greenhouse that I planted on Tuesday and I was surprised to see some seedlings coming up! Already! Just after 4 days!… Both peat pellets of the Coleus ‘Dappled Apple?’ have sprouted. I’m so proud of them… hehe… and to think these were collected from plants I grew last year!

The Mama Plant
Dappled Apple?

This plant was actually labelled ‘Wild Lime’, but it didn’t look like another ‘Wild Lime’ I had. It didn’t even look like the photo on the label. I think it is actually ‘Dapple Apple’ and will call it ‘Dappled Apple?’ until someone corrects me.

Coleus ‘Exhibition Magma’

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Coleus ‘Exhibition Magma’ (Young and Old)
Exhibition Magma   Exhibition Magma

Notice the differences in leaf coloration within the same plant.

Outgrown…

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Today after work, I stopped by Home Depot and bought myself a two bulb fluorescent shop light to use as grow lights, since I’ve out grown my aquarium. I got a warm bulb and used one of the cool white we had in storage; I hope this is the right combination. I just bought a 2 footer, because I have no room in my room for the 4 foot one.

I also got a bigger Jiffy Greenhouse (72 Pellets), so I can really start sowing seeds.

…And to top it off, I found a 3 pack of Dahlia ‘Peaches N Cream’. Imma grow one or two for our house and give one to my Aunt who has a collection of Dahlias.

Earlier This Week…

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Sunday Jan. 29, 2006

I was able to take some photos of the garden. I just haven’t downloaded them to my computer.

I potted the Yellow Crocus that my brother didn’t plant into two small rectangle pots that I found laying in the corner of the garden. I also potted the Giraffe Dahlia and the Yellow Peruvian Daffodils that I purchased the previous weekend into one gallon pots.

Tuesday Jan. 31, 2006

Five potted Coleus cutting (3 Kong Scarlet, 1 Pat Martin and 1 Velvet Lime) graduated from the Coleus Aquarium and are now in their new home at work to over-winter.

I purchased a Jiffy-7 Mini-Greenhouse with 12 Jiffy-7 Pellets, for $1.88 just to try it out since I never used it. I planted 2 pellets each of these seeds:

– Tomato ‘Brandywine OTV’
– Tomato ‘Great White’
– Eggplant ‘Scarlet Chinese’
– Coleus ‘Dappled Apple?’ (Collected from last year)
– Columbine ‘William Guinness’
– Carex sp.? (An ornamental grass that I collected)

I also bought a pack of small ZipLock-type bags to organize all the seeds I’ve collected, especially the Coleus seeds and Ornamental Grasses that where here and there.

The Jiffy pellet were convenient, but seemed small, but I may move the seedlings to bigger pots if they grow too big and not ready to go outside.

Wednesday Feb. 1, 2006

I bought three more Mini-Greenhouse as gifts; one for my coworker Purr and two for Michael’s birthday.

I also bought a few seeds packets:

– Columbine ‘Barlow Mix’ (Aquilegia vulgaris)
– Zinnia ‘Candy Cane Mix’ (Zinnia elegans)
– Zinnia ‘Envy’ (Zinnia elegans)
– Nicotiana ‘Peace Pipe’ (Nicotiana sylvestris)
– Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina glauca)

Books

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I almost forgot to return some of the books and video that I had borrowed. Luckily, the library doesn’t close until 9pm. So I quickly drove over, return the books and video and got a few more:

– 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden by Carolyn J. Miles
– Northern California Gardening – A Month by Month Guide by Katherine Grace Endicott
– Golden Gate Gardening by Pam Peirce

I haven’t had a chance to read and reply to my LiveJournal and Flickr accounts, so I’m behind on that. So if you commented or asked me a question… I’ll get back to you soon.

Happy Anniversary

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Today is my parents’ anniversary. If my Dad was still alive, they would have been married for 51 years.

To honor their special day, I took the day off so I can spend the day with my Mom.

Although it is raining outside, she is already in the (covered) patio in the back repotting some succulents. Which reminds me, I have to make more cacti mix for me (peat moss + perlite + sand).

Coleus – A Guide to Cultivation and Identification (1974)

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I just won this on eBay. On Amazon, it cost $77.53 used. I got it for GBP 4.20 (or $7.43) plus shipping.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeysplanting/92714506/

The description reads:

Coleus – A Guide to Cultivation and Identification

– Published Edinburgh, John Bartholomew 1974
– 8vo with 116 pages, colour plates/illustrations.
– Book in very good condition, with slighly faded dust jacket .
– First edition signed by both Pedley brothers who were Lancashire nurserymen.
– A delightful little book covering every aspect of cultivation of this versatile plant.