A way to extend your growing season...

15 years ago

"A few more weeks.." is all I ask.

As some of the hippies in the collection are not ready to sleep still producing new leaf growths. I avoid cutting this new leaves(immature) as the cut end tend to get mushy instead of drying out nicely. So I had to think of a way how to extend their growing season to at least have that new leaf come out and mature before I cut it.

We are now having upper 30s(lows) but we did have our first frosts a couple of days ago (low 30s). Just before those forcasted frosts came in, I brought out my $1 plastic drop cloths, covered the still growing hippies (except exotics and Papilios) and prayed....lol! I made sure they were not watered for like 2 days before the frost came in.

Here was how some of them looked like...

The next day, I practically ran outside to see if they were ok. The grass in the yard was frosted but the hippies were nice and cozy inside their "tent". This is the first time I have done this and I am amazed at how tough this guys are. They will now stay in this condition to give them time to have that new leaf mature. Very minimal watering at this stage is critical.

"A few more weeks"...is all I ask.

Welcome to the '08-'09 Hippeastrum Season!!!

{{gwi:428596}}

Happy Halloween to all!

{{gwi:428597}}

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Comments (12)

paxfleur
15 years ago
LOL Maria -- I had to laugh. You and I both live in Virginia so I know what 'frosts" last week you are talking about. I wish you had posted this sooner because 4 days ago, I got desperate and just chopped off all the leaves of all my bulbs (with the exception of Papilio and La Paz). I felt really bad because some of them had really really good looking leaves but I freaked out because of the cold temps and took my knife and a bucket of boiling water and chopped, chopped, chopped. I currently have them still outside covered in blankets. I haven't watered them in weeks so hopefully they got the hint that they need to sleep.

I really like this tent idea though (something to consider for next season) and love the picture of your puppy! =)
mariava7
Original Author
15 years ago
Hey Pax! Good Morning!

Yes, we love our hippies too much don't we. I used to "freak out" just like you when I see 40s temp. forcasted. But I promised myself that I would not stress myself out anymore as how I used to. Life is too short.

Cold and Dry are the most important factor in storing your bulbs

Pax, you did the right thing though in our growing conditions. There is only so much that we can do for them. Now look at what I learned and discovered by being lazy...lol! The "Drop Cloth Tent" works even at low 30s as long as they are dry.

Maya just got inside the house when that pic was taken. The girls decided to dress her up even if she had all this dirt in her paws and nose. She wanted to dig her way to China out there in the yard! She is the sweetest!
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blancawing
15 years ago
Maria, that "tent" was a fantastic idea.

You are very resourceful, and your bulbs will love you for extending their growing season.

Maya the Pumpkin girl is soooo cute!
paxfleur
15 years ago
Good morning Maria! =) I'm shocked to see you were still awake at this time.

Yes, we do love our hipps. =) I'm leaving mine outside under blankets (I've kept them covered 24/7 for almost a week now) untill the temperatures get really low because I'm lazy lol. I'm hoping that since I don't plan to water them, the colder temperatures will put them to sleep for good. I almost cried when I cut all those leaves. A lot of the bulbs "cried" and bled some kind of liquid from where I made the cuts.

It's amazing how fast Maya is growing. I still remember when you had first got her for Ana and she was a small puppy. =) Time goes by so fast. Has your Lemon Sorbet or Little Devil bloomed yet? I still haven't potted up my Jungle Bells and Zombie (eeek!! this weekend I hope!) but they are pushing up scapes. I just got my email from J.S that my bulbs shipped out so will post photos when they arrive. Take care and have a great weekend.
mariava7
Original Author
15 years ago
That "green thing" pictured above is Lemon Sorbet. The first flower of the season. It's a prrrttyyy little thing!
cuddlyotter
15 years ago
Hey Mariava:

It looks like that worked just fine for you! I'd do the same thing to try to extend the season a bit myself but living in an apt with little sun has left me no choice but to use my lights. Next year, I will avail myself of a friends help and see if I can take my hippies to his place to set out on the south side of his house. The only thing with plastic to remember is that it has poor insulating properties insofar as any leaves touching the plastic may get zapped by frost that way. Otherwise, that idea of yours is perfect.

Regarding the leaves getting zapped by frost when the hippies are outside at this time of year. I wonder if anyone has ever just allowed them to get zapped by frost a little bit to encourage dormancy or has that been too much for the bulbs and damaged them beyond recovery. I was thinking this in terms of digging up begonias, dahlias etc. I've always advised home gardeners to allow the frosts to zap the leaves which would encourage the tubers, corms etc to go dormant. Not sure if that would do the same thing for Amaryllis and one thing I realize is that with the bulbs that are not buried in the ground, they could get zapped by frost and be damaged irrevocably.
jodik_gw
15 years ago
My brother used to say, "A lazy man is a smart man... he comes up with ideas to save him work!"

I don't know if his way is always the best way, but it works for many things! Those $1 drop cloths can be found in the paint section of most stores... I use them for many things, not just for painting!

Since all of my bulbs are indoors, I don't have to worry about frost... but next year might be a different story as I really do need to get everyone outside in the sun!
mariava7
Original Author
15 years ago
Hey Blanca! I missed your post last night...sorry! Thanks! And by the way, the bulblets should be shipped to you soon. They are starting to go "night-night" here.

Hi Cuddlyotter! If ever the (old) leaves gets zapped, it doesn't really matter now, they will be cut away anyway in a few weeks time. It is the young leaves that I am wanting to give time to grow and mature.

If I am going to do this agin next season, I'd be more ready with a thicker drop cloth. Or get me one of those horticultural "season extenders" which are also plastic covers with better insulation. I have seen them somewhere, in a greenhouse supply website I think. It had very good reviews from buyers and even protected tender vegetable seedlings planted outside.

We will be having 25-27F lows on Monday morning. I think I cannot afford to be lazy anymore. Hehehe...
Or maybe, just maybe, I will leave some hippies outside and put them to test. I will need to double the drop cloth if ever.

Jodi girlfriend...Put up that greenhouse and your problem is solved.
paxfleur
15 years ago
Maria -- I moved all my hippies in tonight lol. No more laziness; I saw the weather forecasts for next week as well. Plus, it rained tonight and rain + cold temperatures = death. Good luck moving them all in. =)
blancawing
15 years ago
Maria,

Thanks, you are so sweet!

Are you becoming a night owl like me?

I am still on safari. Some leads have not panned out. Good news may come after November 1st. I will keep you posted.
dablo93
15 years ago
well done!
i brought the last ones today inside because here its too cold, between 30 and 50 F.. brr.
jodik_gw
15 years ago
Maria, I can't wait until that darn greenhouse goes up! I wish I could put it up myself! It will need a foundation, drainage tiling put in, power, gas, water... there's way too much involved in putting it up, and there's no way I can do it without a lot of help! I don't have the strength or the knowledge to do the construction necessary, but I wish I did!

Once that thing is built and hooked up to power, water and gas, it'll be so much easier to grow the tender bulbs and tropical plants I want... I can't wait!

A way to extend your growing season...

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