I thought you were going to say, "It's been three weeks since my last seed purchase."

Is there a 12-step program for WSers?

:)

It's 12 steps from my basement door to the containers. Does that count?

Ah- go ahead and plant them out; cuz we know they'll be blooming by the end of the week for you, and we'd hate to miss the bulletin!

(Personally, I'd plant them out, and if you were THAT concerned about it, bookmark the 'frost warnings' weather page for your zip and keep a cloche handy.

I thot it was 3 weeks since your last hot tub soak.

I'm not worried about the frost. I'm worried about the freeze. Although many of these plants have been through the winter since they sprouted in January, I'm just afraid of what 28 degrees will do to them. They're protected right now in their bottles at the end of the warm driveway. My anal retentiveness is getting to me and I want this "junk" cleaned up. LOL.

I'm going to wait. What's another 18 hours?

Speaking of blooms...my linaria 'flaming passion' is about to bloom. I'm curious to see what happens after tonight. Wintersown petunias in the hoophouse have buds on them too.

Next week, my redwood seedlings should be large enough to drive a car through. ;)

not kidding about the blooms/buds though.

How about plant 1/2 of them out? then if they freeze you have backups.

I have some stuff that was snowed on in the containers that I thought for sure would die but they survived and it was cold (petunia, dill and some other annuals)
Just some newbie ideas though...

Karen

Well it's 6:30, the water for my spaghetti is boiling and I am in my pajamas. I don't think I'll be worrying much about working in the yard this evening. It's 45 degrees and windy. I'm too fragile to be out in that.

Token: You better save seeds from "Flaming Passion." Although I could use some this year, another year doesn't matter much when last time I spoke that phrase was 1992. ;-)

Prof

token - I enjoy reading your garden blog... :0)

carrie

Thanks Carrie. It's just my way of recording what's going on so when I wonder next year why the dogwoods aren't blooming yet, I can remind myself that they didn't really get going this year until the first week of April.

Prof...Settle down buddy. I'll be sure to send you some of my seed.

{{gwi:378068}}

It's just toadflax, really.

...confession?!!!??! That's what popped into my head...too much "Catholic School" hangover!

LOL teequiltbarbie - me too! :0/

I thought he was going to confess something about baby oil and rubber sheets! You people really know how to get someone's attention around here!

I held off on planting out anything until this (hopefully) last freeze. I plan on starting to plant out Wednesday. I don't remember when I planted out last year. Heck I can't remember last week!

That is beautiful toadflax, Token. Looks like a true red. Will add it to my list for my red bed.

Those seeds came from Park Seeds. It's a really spindly plant. So I plunked the entire contents of the two liter jug in a single hole. They should spread and reseed.

Perennials would be fine planted out now. You're worried about 28 degrees? Don't.

When you say they're protected in their jugs now, do you mean they're still covered? If so get lids off at least but I'd plant them out into beds.

Karen

I'll be planting out this morning and afternoon when I'm not working. It's time. Tired of fussing with the covers, watering, etc. Gonna have to push them out of their nests.

token - I have yellow linaria and one clump spread very quickly - they look like snapdragons. I love the red and planting them in one clump is a good idea because they will eventually spread anyway.

I have found that they are spreaders but not "chokers" - Does that make sense? I love them.

Carrie

Thanks Carrie. It makes perfect sense. I have a few things out there that spread like that. The only real thug I have in the garden is Oxalis. I didn't plant it, but thanks to the pretty pink blooms that last from spring through summer, I have encouraged it. I may have made a mistake in doing that. :)

token, token - omg - I LOVE oxalis!

You can put the oxalis in a part shade area and enjoy the pink blooms throughout early spring/late spring/early summer (possibly if not too hot)... THen, the oxalis goes a bit dormant and then revitalizes in the Fall.

I love oxalis - don't get rid of it - I'll buy some from you! LOL

Carrie

I have yellow and pink. Far more pink than yellow.

{{gwi:378069}}

{{gwi:378070}}

Does it grow from bulbs? Tell me how to harvest plants and I'll send you LOTS! LOL.

Yes, they are supposed to grow from bulbs. You probably had them in the woods, right? I had to buy mine but a friend of mine found hers in the woods. She divided one up for me a couple of years ago, it had "bulbets".. but when I sliced mine that I bought in the nursery, there were only roots - but they transplanted fine.

I have pink and white - I actually have plenty- thanks for the wonderful offer - I just think they are so reliable and welcoming in spring when they bloom.

{{gwi:378071}}

I love oxalis and don't have any. After reading this thread this morning, I thought it might be a perfect groundcover solution for an area I have. Went online to research.

Apparently there are only a few cultivars that aren't highly invasive. Many horror stories--like it jumps, roads, rivers, tall buildings and will take over your kitchen windowsill during the night. Some people even report they wouldn't buy houses when they saw it in the yard.

So...now I'm re-thinking this unless I know for sure I can get the non-invasive type(s).

Aren't you all scared now? ;-)

Prof

My mounds just get bigger - as you can see they are very separate plants and I really should divide them (remember the picture above is last year, so the mounds are bigger but still not touching each other...yet)

Carrie

Mine was here when I bought the house. They're all through the yard and in all the beds. Prof, if you want some, let me know. I can dig them up and gladly send you these thugs.

I didn't know it was a perennial. I have mine (dark purple leaves and white flowers) in a pot on my windowsill.

pro....I'm not sure all of the varieties are perennial. These are the wild versions of oxalis. They grow in my yard all over. I have to constantly pull them out of flower beds. They've choked out acorn sprouts this spring.

There are all kinds of oxalis... The purple with white flowers (I think it is Triangularis..something like that), dies down here in the winter and returns...

My oxalis doesn't spread (at least I never noticed it, but then again it is surrounded by bricks (the picture above does not show the brick wall I made with pavers to the left of the mounds. I think if mine were to spread and take over, it would be annoying.

IT'S A WEED! KILL IT! LOL. I can't believe people plant them on purpose. That is just funny to me. But then, I've seen people sell dandelions too. Hey, if anyone wants either I have a yard full for free. Take them please. LOL
Pattie

I think in a wildflower setting, oxalis are great. In my yard, my semi-tended perennial bed, not so much. I would love an area where I can let them roam, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. They apparently reseed like crazy. Too bad they aren't as controllable as phlox.

Mine don't spread - wonder why?

Different strain? I have them all through the lawn. A small clump about 6" that I moved last year is now 2' across. I swear I can watch it grow.

I bought mine at a nursery - yes, could be a bit different, but the flowers are the same. i can see why you would be slightly annoyed by them, they seem to spread out and away and mine seem to "mound" up but I am definitely keeping an eye on mine - Luckily it is the only place designated for them - and there is now a brick wall on the other side (not shown on picture) that would help a bit.

Cute little flowers, though :0)

PS NEVER. NEVER buy a chameleon plant - they are horrible invaders and worst of all CHOKERS!

carrie

Will they choke out acorn seedlings? If so, where can I buy a truckload?

Wow. That stuff really is a flower, and not a weed? It comes up in the cracks in my mother's patio...we used to eat the stuff when we were kids. I've NEVER seen it flower, I don't think.