Notice to all containers on the patio!!! 80-80-80 warning

14 years ago

You guys know who you are.

If you are a container and you contain dirt and seeds and you have holes poked in your bottom and your sides cut almost off, this applies to you.

We've got 3 days in a row of eighty degrees. This means that you want drinks of water on a regular basis. This also means that you have all suddenly become classified as "high maintenance".

As such, this is your 10 days warning notice. One June first, (or earlier if I decide): Any ungerminated containers shall be evaluated. If your peers, that is other containers with similar seeds, have already germinated and you're not, you may get DUMPED. You may get dumped in a choice dump spot or you may get dumped back in the soil bucket or you may get dumped in the compost bin. The choice is mine.

Exceptions shall be granted for the hellebores and others requiring long germination periods.

So listen up, if you wanna grow, do it NOW!!!

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Comments (27)

tepelus
14 years ago
LOL! "Are you threatening me?" says the stubborn seeds.

Karen
dirtbert
14 years ago
I wish I could issue a warning here too! We've had highs in the UPPER 90s the last two days. And I haven't even reached my frost free date, what the heck!
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All of us do things a bit differently, but here's my feedback. We just recently planted some potted up roses here, and also some others about 3 weeks prior to that. I know what you are going through in worrying about the effect of the heat on the rose for planting now. We've had mostly weather in the nineties, including the high nineties, but our newly planted roses are doing wonderfully well here in spite of it. Fingers crossed that yours will do great too. Books. If you're fairly new to roses, there are some cheap, cheap, cheap used books available at Amazon with advice on things like the planting hole. My favorite is Liz Druitt's "The Organic Rose Garden" because of its thorough discussion of organic nutrients to put into the hole and to use for feeding your roses. But another excellent book is Judith McKeon's "The Encyclopedia of Roses: An Organic Guide to Growing and Enjoying America's Favorite Flower" and it has all the necessary information. 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dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
I already dumped the columbines in the shady bed, they could take all summer to germinate and their container was just too shallow. I am NOT watering that for the next three months.

However, the white petticoats (or something like that) columbines are in a deeper pot and I REALLY would like those, so they get the reprieve.
lgslgs
14 years ago
Most of my non-sprouters got tough loved out onto the hill next to the driveway today.

It's tough enough to keep the happy plants watered. Those who sulk can go fend for themselves.

Have I mentioned yet (again) today how much sea holly is winning me over? What a wonderful non-fusser. :)

Lynda
token28001
14 years ago
I did that this week too. I cleaned out the ghetto and kept two. Anything not planted out was given away or thrown away. I planted almost all of them. I think I can live without tansy in my yard for a few more years. I do sometimes wonder what happened to my container of Russian Sage. Never did find it.
teequiltbarbie
14 years ago
Well you all made me feel better. I've been hanging on to these non-sprouting jugs "wishing and hoping" for several weeks. Nothings sprouted since four little tomatoes early last week, but that's it. I think tomorrow's the day to toss all the non-achievers. Thanks for the absolution...I really can't stand them mocking me any longer. OUT to the compost in the am. Thanks kiddo's.
booberry85
14 years ago
"Hey, I'm a hosta. I germinate when I want to."
"Hey, I'm a datura. I germinate when I want to."
ROFL!

Yes, I have a few dumpers, but a few things I have to hold out on.
dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
Only a few of the hostas have germinated, but enough to save the containers. No no-shows there but definitely some slow movers.

I did dump the datura tho, think I might DS a few tho.

Three out of four lily containers germinated and even tho they prolly take a long time, the fourth one is gone also. The seeds didnt seem to be in good shape, notworth fussing over.
karendee
14 years ago
dorisl, I have some of those also. I may dump them tonight. I am sick of waiting and watering :)

I planted out my hosta containers in one large clump. there were some tiny ones growing but I was impatient. I have kept them watered and they are doing fine in the garden.

Karen
mmqchdygg
14 years ago
"You're not the boss of me.
I'm innocent until proven guilty. Get out your RSA book, woman, I'll germinate when I'm darned good & ready. WAIT! WAIT! NO! PUT ME DOWN! LEMME GO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!
MissMyGardens
14 years ago
mmqchdygg...ROFL...I already hold onto things until Fall clean up "just in case" and now I've got "plant dialogue" to haunt me!

I get nauseous now when I look at seedlings and seeds. They're all starting to press in on me because I've procrastinated expanding beds (cement clay) for the little creatures. I expanded mailbox bed last Fall and transplanted edging plants to perimeter. Now I realize I should have gone way farther out to fit things I've got to put in there.

I never think things are going to sprout so I sow way too many seeds. Now it's do or they die...and I don't need any more plant guilt...LOL.
dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
"You're not the boss of me.
I'm innocent until proven guilty. Get out your RSA book, woman, I'll germinate when I'm darned good & ready. WAIT! WAIT! NO! PUT ME DOWN! LEMME GO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!

heehee

I might not be the boss of YOU, however, I AM the boss of the hose (you know, that rubber thing that the water you like so much comes out of) and I can also choose to let you dry up and die!!!!! mwahahahahah
karendee
14 years ago
all of you are so funny!!!
Karen
dawiff
14 years ago
LOL! Too funny! I remember days of being a slave to the seedlings! Not this year, but my turn will come again.
mo_girl
14 years ago
I dumped/planted out all but four containers. The others have a reprieve, but only for a week or two. I may keep the pulsatilla for a bit longer. You'll have to tell me if your threats work. If so, I'll give it a shot too ;) The neighbors might be concerned if I start yelling at my container though, I suppose.
dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
you dont have to yell, just give it piercing looks and whisper.

ps, the last couple that were in cell packs got dumped in a nice place. Those things dry out so fast in this weather, its not worth it. Some of them got potted to regular pots.

I dunno why I even used those. They work out OK for stuff that germinates FAST. Gotta be more choosy next year.
token28001
14 years ago
If the neighbors aren't already concerned, you're not doing it right. ;)
PVick
14 years ago
In my attempt to clear out some of the un-germinated containers, I think I (unintentionally) tossed a jug of Ladybird poppies which were sown late and still had promise. Can't find it anywhere. Drats!

PV
teequiltbarbie
14 years ago
REVENGE OF THE PLANTS: I did dump everything un-sprouted yesterday. Couldn't see wasting any more water...ghetto is gone, yard looks lovely.

ANYHOO...just as I was dumping last containers when walking by a rose bush it reached out and grabbed my shoelace and tried to wrestle me to the ground in retribution for my actions against its cousins. It succeeded to making me go flat on my face into the mulch. I just laid there think, "Please, God, don't make me have broken my arm or make me die here out in the sun among my beautiful garden" I didn't do either, but that rose bush is going to get a severe pruning!

I'm glad to be done...learned quite a bit and am already planning for next year. Like let my grandson WS tomatoes for me, his are doing fabulous. Mine didn't do anything.
karendee
14 years ago
I am dumping the un-sprouted this weekend! (except for the hot peppers I just sowed, I know late but they need hot)

I also have some sprouted to plant out.

I figure I can dump into my holding area/ veggie garden and if something sprouts then it is a bonus :)

Karen
dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
I guess it would help if I would STOP SOWING stuff. I thought I needed a few extra coral nymph salvia for extras and Zinnias and the spinach never really took off.....
mmqchdygg
14 years ago
Mine didn't even get notice. After the plant sale this weekend, I had about 60 containers not yet germinated, and they got the heave-ho into the wheelbarrow. They didn't even have weeds.
Now the question is...what to re-sow in these????? Guess I need to find the summer sowing thread. Maybe a nice looking Bi would work.
Or more zinnias...yeah..more zinnias.
lblack61
14 years ago
You might want to "dump strategically". Dump the containers in a place where you wouldn't mind (or would really LIKE) to see the non-germinator grow...I have at least five plants in my yard that didn't come up before my "get-these-jugs-outta-here" deadline.

One of them was a Ligularia that Tiffy was kind enough to point out to me the following year, "That's not Coral Bells..." lol.

So dump strategically. You may get a big surprise next year :-)

Linda
karendee
14 years ago
Linda that is a good point! I dumped a container of lettuce that i fried then I had lettuce sprouting in my flower beds :)

I dumped the rest in my holding bed and veggie garden so flowers there would be nice. I might go check if any have surprised me
Karen
mmqchdygg
14 years ago
Agree on strategic dumping. These particular 60 were WELL beyond their peers' though, so they got the heave-ho. They were all duplicates of things that were planted the same day as multiples which WERE germinated...I think they just missed the memo.
stage_rat
14 years ago
Some things, like pulsatilla, are going in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Mother nature isn't the boss of me! I'm not waiting until next year to know these seeds are duds, tell me now!

I haven't had enough hot weather to feel good about dumping stuff yet. Yesterday got up to 78, then nose-dived to 57 by evening with a shift of wind. Today is 58.
dorisl
Original Author
14 years ago
Yesteday and today were brutal. I even dumped (strategically) the hellebores. The seeds are from last year and this years plants are making new seeds even as we speak. If they wants to germinate where they are, thats fine with me. Same issue with two containers of grape hyacinth. Dumped them where the new seeds are going to be dropping soon. They can join their friends if they want to--or not-- fine with me.

I need to focus on the plants that are growing.

I was happy to see that the crocosmia heeded my warning and is making the cuties tiniest sprouts!!!

Dumped ALL the chrysanthemums. Not a single sprout in any of the containers. The seeds just all kinda disappeared. I got more seeds, maybe Ill do a couple new containers, then again, maybe not.

Notice to all containers on the patio!!! 80-80-80 warning

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