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This seedling really surprised me.....

16 years ago

I don't get to this forum very often, and I have never posted before, but I wanted to show you this hosta I grew from seed. It is next to my pigeon loft, is three years old, shows a little blue and is puckered, which I like. This photo taken about a week ago. The plant is over 5 ft. wide and gets much attention{{gwi:1012832}}. Thanks for indulging me. Bob

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Comments (11)

caliloo
16 years ago
That is super looking!

Does each leaf have a white vein going straight up the middle?

Congrats on a nice looking seedling

Alexa
caliloo
16 years ago
And I forgot to say - welcome over to the "shady side" of life! I have been admiring your DL creations - you have some amazing beauties gworing at your place.

Glad to see you here too :-)

Alexa
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Sultry, I wonder if your crazy squash is a natural hybrid that is especially vigorous--do you have a photo? It sounds quite hilarious. I only get the random sunflower, courtesy of the birds and their black oil sunflower seeds I provide. You are so lucky to get those butterfly friendly plants to reseed for you. Wanton, I would love to see photos of these wonderful plants you mention. We just don't have the rain to support such neat displays. Our main displays on the draw below are huge swaths of blue flax which appears again and again if we get the slightest bit of precipitation. I grow a few of these in my flower beds. Katob, how wonderful you get some free hydrangeas. No way would that nice gift appear in my desert flower beds. I am jealous. Campanula, I would love to see photos of the tiny seedlings you describe, and I am utterly unfamiliar with--I know you don't post photos much, though. Below is one of my reseeded Red Rocks penstemon--really looks like a red rock, doesn't it. Also some randomly reseeded snapdragons amidst planted ones, and others that have come back from last year, which is a regular occurrence. And finally another photo of my striped semi double rudbeckia (it makes great bouquets) that has hybrized from my plain ones, along with a second type of striped rudbeckia, a single that isn't so dramatic. Diane
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highjack
16 years ago
When you get hot working in the daylilies, it is great to walk to the shade areas to work. Do be careful with growing hosta seeds, it is as addictive as daylily seeds.

Welcome to the cool side!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
welcome and come back more often.. nice plant.. ken
tedbug
16 years ago
Bob, she's a big beauty....and a fast grower!
Now....what exactly is a pigeon loft? Please explain....lol
Michele
luvtosharedivs
16 years ago
Well, here you are again! What a nice looking monster of a plant! You sure know how to feed 'em! Only three years old from a seed? Most of mine that I grow from purchased potted plants are BEHIND yours in growth!

****A special note to all you Hostaholics that also like to grow daylilies like I do....Bob also pollinates daylilies and grows them from seed. Check out the daylily forum and click on "This unusual form surprised me..."

Hey Bob, keep up the good work, esp. for us Northerners!

Julie
pollinatorbob
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, so much for my sneaking in as an unknown. You guys are sharp. Thanks for the kind remarks on my daylilies. Michele--a pigeon loft is a building where I raise show pigeons. I have trophies and ribbons I have won with them. I have been raising pigeons for over 50 years. My secret for growing large hostas?==I cover the plant with fresh pigeon manure right on top of the snow. By the time the weather warms up the manure has seeped into the ground and the hostas simply do marvelous. I think Chicken or Horse manure would have the same effect. Bob
botanybabe
16 years ago
Just for conversation, you could call it "Homing Pigeon."

Lainey
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
16 years ago
Bob, great looking plant.
Thanks for the tip regarding fertilization. So do you think it's ok to put chicken manure around the plant if snow isn't involved? I am in Georgia so would be waiting a long time to try your method. I have 2 chicken coops ( a total of about 40 birds), but have resisted using the droppings since I was worried it would burn the hostas or something else equally harmful.

Annette
pollinatorbob
Original Author
16 years ago
Annette. Chicken manure? you have a gold mine there. I'm not a 'specialist' in Hostas particularly, but I do grow many varieties of perennials and have for too many years. If you want to use fresh or dried manure, then simply 'salt' it around the plant. Sprinkle it lightly on the soil, but not up next to the stalk. I usually don't let it get much closer to the plant than say 10"--the rain or watering will do the rest. Hosta experts, add your two cents here, am I right? I would hate to ruin someone elses' plants. Bob
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
16 years ago
Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow ;)
I have been told that the chicken manure is about the best since it's pre-broken down (has something to do with a chicken's digestive system),unlike horse manure. We built the coop with a mesh floor in the sleeping area and that part of the coop is about 2 feet off the ground so we can rake out from under the coop. Of course I just haven't gotten around to it yet, but I'll start on it right away! After seeing your pic, it's a moral imperative!
Annette

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