What can you tell me about...........

18 years ago

your gardening experiences?

Since I am new to both seed trading and growing from seed, I am coming across many seed varieties that I have no experience with.

I try to do as much research as I can on my own, but I think we all know that zone hardiness ratings are not all that reliable, to say the least, lol.

Will it bloom first year? WS or indoor sow? Need winter protection?

So, to avoid having a bunch of separate threads about each unknown seed I get, I was hoping to put them all together here and we can all post our "new to me" seeds and let the experts chime in when they can.

Okay, here are my first three to get us all started:

Crape Myrtle (don't think so, but they're soooo purdy, lol)

Rose of Sharon

Lantana camara (maybe as an annual here?)

Thanks in advance for your input. You guys are awesome and I've learned so much from all of you already.

Cindy

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Comments (6)

abgardeneer
18 years ago
Whoa, you've got a real "southern belle" theme going there, LOL! Crape myrtle, rose of sharon and lantana are not hardy here, and, given their lack of frost tolerance, would not be winter-sowing candidates. All three would be most easily treated as annuals here, although, depending on your situation, you might be able to winter them over indoors. Lantana is pretty commonly available as a bedding or basket plant, and that's an easy way to get them - nice as a butterfly plant. Another thing that makes it a little tough for crape myrtle and lantana (well, lantana too, actually) to reach their full potential here, is that they are woody plants, and really need multiple seasons to develop as you would see them in warmer zones.
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
18 years ago
Lantana is so pretty! I've had trouble keeping it blooming outside, but overwintered it two years in a row in the house. Darn thing tended to bloom in February! LOL

I know a woman who lives in Thompson, MB, and she's had crape myrtle growing there - not as a perennial, though, of course!

Rose of Sharon is zone 5 or 6, isn't it? Maybe save that for if you move to Barrie! :) My sister-in-law has it in her garden in Toronto - very pretty!
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abgardeneer
18 years ago
Yeah, maybe I'm too hasty... rose-of-sharon really is probably okay to winter-sow, though I haven't heard any success stories for growing it around here... Anyone have luck with it north of zone 5?
FrozeBudd_z3/4
18 years ago
Years back I had grown crape myrtle as potted plants, rather nice! I think I had gotten flowers the first year from an early sowing.

I have two Rose of Sharon bushes growing in large pots which are kept in the coldroom for winter, they've grown and flowered rather well. These were purchased as rooted cuttings.

Terry
zone_envy
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated and the news is better than I thought.

By the way, I'm really NOT trying for a "Southern Belle" theme,lol, these seeds are usually extras sent by generous traders. I google them and get sucked in by the beautiful pics:)

Hmmmmm, now that I think about it, a Southern Belle themed garden would be fantastic. Ok, anything that shouldn't survive but does will get put into this new garden. Would make it easier to protect it all for the winter too I'd think. Gonna have to give this some thought.

Cindy
crazy_gardner
18 years ago
Hi! I'm new to the gardening web and " Love" some of these conversations. I am a pretty "frugal" gardener and experiment alot. I have overwintered a lantana (purple with a bit of yellow in the center) I have taken a dozen cuttings from it. They have bottem heat,lights and were dipped in a semi-woody growth hormone. They are doing well!! They are also undercover. Im not sure how fast they will grow but I thought someone else might like to try.
I propagate alot of other things as well.. Crazy

What can you tell me about...........

Comments (6)

abgardeneer

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario

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What can you tell me about...........

Comments (6)

abgardeneer

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario

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abgardeneer

FrozeBudd_z3/4

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