Horticultural Hiccups | The Peterborough & Space Grasp Gardeners

By Marilyn Homewood, Grasp Gardener

At instances, these blogs appear somewhat like an Instagram Submit. We present our successes within the hope of inspiring you and in flip, present one thing of worth to you.  Nevertheless, that may be somewhat intimidating to much less skilled gardeners. In the present day, I assumed I’d showcase a few of my 2025 failures (to date).

Lisianthus

This one is a heartbreaker! In January, I had virtually 100% germination of my lisianthus. A pair weeks after germination, they regarded like this.

What occurred? After studying someplace that cinnamon prevents development of algae, this grower overzealously utilized cinnamon (I had bought a big bottle at Costco). The overlaying of spice initially smothered a few of the younger seedlings.  I then tried to rectify the state of affairs by wetting the vegetation (cinnamon is extraordinarily arduous to moist). 

The overwatering led to a gradual decline, killing extra seedlings by rotting the roots.  All was not misplaced nevertheless, I potted up the remaining seedlings into different containers they usually have been rising on.  Hopefully they’ll catch up in dimension over the lengthy rising season.

As Julia Little one was fond of claiming “all the things sparsely….together with moderation”

Bells of Eire

These seeds are notoriously arduous to germinate.  They should be stratified by exposing the seed to chill, moist situations to assist to interrupt dormancy.  The seed is positioned on moistened paper towel that’s then folded and positioned right into a Ziploc bag.  Then positioned into the fridge for a few weeks. After that, take away to a heat place (I exploit a warmth mat). 

After a time frame, the seeds are checked for germination and positioned on the floor of ready soil.  The every day checking goes on for just a few days and hopefully you get sufficient germinated seeds.  This years’ outcomes converse for themselves.  Arduous to know what went improper however it might be the seed supply.  My normal supply (that does germination testing on each lot) was out of seed so I bought from one other.

Dahlia Splitting

Final fall I used a brand new technique of splitting dahlias that saved time.  I exploit flagging tape to establish the vegetation dug up and the tubers being saved.  Because the dahlia afternoon wore on, a few of the tubers appear to get combined up and the standard of the labeling appeared to lower. This tuber may be a Ferncliff Copper after which once more, it may not be. Word to self – Take somewhat extra care with the labelling.

Forcing Tulips in Bulb Crates

Appeared like a terrific thought final October. I would not have a cool place that doesn’t freeze so I opted to relax my bulbs within the fridge. Bulbs in paper baggage went into the crispers of the fridge for over 14 weeks.  Throughout that point ethylene producing produce couldn’t be saved within the fridge as ethylene can negatively have an effect on bulbs and their bloom. 

After the coolness interval, bulbs had been planted in soiless combine in bulb crates and saved darkish for a few weeks to develop roots.  The crates had been then positioned in a sunroom to develop.

I received a complete of 20 beautiful tulips from about 150 bulbs.  Different bulbs did develop leaves however produced no flowers, some didn’t develop in any respect.  After I eliminated the bulbs from the soil, I did discover lowered root development on lots of the bulbs. This can be from insufficient chilling. 

The crate technique is clearly extra profitable when you may plant the bulbs up within the fall and place in a really cool spot that doesn’t freeze (or a cooler just like the flower farmer).  Bulb crates filled with soil is messy in the home even when they’re on tarps!

Regardless of these hiccups, I’ve a roomful of wholesome seedlings and enormous panorama beds awaiting extra backyard gaffes. 

Within the phrases of Janet Kilburn Phillips “There aren’t any gardening errors, solely experiments.”