larry_gene wrote: It is hard to find the same volcanic soil, composted with forest debris, and the same seasonal (November to June) snow cover down here in the valleys. So it needs all those factors to be exactly right, huh? Thinleaf Huckleberry is the main variety found in the Cascade Mountains, and although widespread there, it only grows in niche environments and is restricted to certain elevations even in the mountains (3500-6000 feet). On top of that, fruiting is very inconsistent year-to-year. Few specialty retail nurseries offer it here. As a foliage plant, it might be as easy as an azalea to grow (given the exacting soil formula), but to get fruit down here is iffy. Well, I'll be happy if mine lives at least. I'll think about the fruiting later. :) Much better to use the evergreen huck; the fruit flavor is similar and the plant is commonly available. I'm glad that I have one of those too. It's doing better than the thinleaf and looks pretty decent in spite of the hot June.

Pippi, 2 things I am for sure going to plant on winter solstice!! I have been biting at the chomp to plant these seeds for at least a year and a half. They both need 3 months of a cold period, that is why also they are going down december 21st. Vaccinium Deliciosum (Cascade Huckleberry) Vaccinium myrtillus (European Blueberry Huckleberry) A few things I already have planted. A few more things I need to keep warm inside then plant, ughh I am behind. I am still deciding for sure what all I am going to plant but another good one would be Asimina triloba (pawpaw tree). That one also needs a long cold period. I am debating on trying to start my Euonymus americanus (strawberry bush) Some say it needs 3 to 4 months cold. Then some say it needs 3 months warm then 2 months cold. I tell ya what it is a shame the internet can not be consistent with advice given. Reading comes no where near the value of experience, ughh. I may just try it and see what happens. The fellow I got them from was extremely generous in our trade. I believe I can afford to try one each way. Trial and error right??

Congratulations cAROL!! You got a good start this year! Several of those are the seeds I sent you aren't they? I got 32 jugs done between yesterday and today. Tried to stick with things that need cold stratification but it's tough to nail it down with one or two seed types. There's conflicting information available so I just put those aside. I have far too many to get done to worry about the ones I'm not sure of. So far: Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors' & 'Cherry Brandy' Gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride' Pansy Penstemon 'Huskers Red' Russian sage Apple Pear Tricyrtis hirta/toad lily Phlox paniculata 'David' Stokesia 'Blue Danube' Hypericum Maiden grass Blackberry lily Trollius ledebouri/Chinese globeflower I'm most excited about the Russian sage. I harvested seeds--it's a lot of work getting at them so they'd better sprout! I've already had a comment from a neighbor who spotted the container ghetto on the breezeway. I would never have got so many done if I didn't prep jugs & write labels out way ahead of time. That's making a big difference this time. Silly me last year wrote out one label for each seed type when I actually needed multiples of each. Smartest thing I did was drag a bale of Fafard growers mix inside back around Thanksgiving. I've been taking snapshots along the way to share with everyone as the winter rolls on.

If these are the ones I have and they behave the same for you as me the fruit is quite inferior to that of highbush. If we lived on mountain ridges we could just step out the door and pick Vaccinium deliciosum. Heating bills would be murder, though.