The latest dirt from my garden: February 2011

Friday

It's Time for Some Color!!!

I just bought masses of seeds to get started on the spring. I am so ready!!!!!! Pink is the first color of choice this time and off we go, planting our acquired seeds from the magnificent Pink Coral Vine

It's also called Queen's Wreath, Queen's Lace, Chain of Love, Chinese Love Vine

The Pink Coral Creeper is native to Tropical America. Not often seen, the rare coral creeper is a favorite for its showy flowers seen mostly in summer and fall. Makes a fabulous container plant in cooler areas.

Coral creeper climbs on tendrils and has interesting heart-shaped leaves. Plant in full sun in most any soil. Water to establish, prune to control. Best used to run up supports such as a tree or a trellis. According to the seller, it is a carefree plant to own.

Found here:

Moringa, Tree of Life

Also known as Moringa oliefera, Moringa pterygosperma, Drumstick tree, (Horse)radish tree, Mother’s best friend, West Indian ben, Árbol del ben, Morango, Suhanjna Moringa, is native to north India but is now found throughout the tropics. It grows fast and reaches up to 12m. The bark is gray and thick and looks like cork, peeling in patches. It looses its leaves from December to January and new growth starts in
February to March. Moringa produces cream colored flowers when it is 8 months old and the flowering season begins in January and continues through to March. The fruit ripens from April to June and the pods are triangular in cross section, 30 to 50cm long and contain oily, black, winged seeds.
Temperature
It will survive in a temperature range of 25ºC to 40ºC but has been known to tolerate temperatures of 48ºC and light frosts.
Soil
Moringa prefers neutral to slightly acidic soils and grows best in well-drained loam to clay-loam. It tolerates clay soils but does not grow well if waterlogged
This is a plant of wide and diverse uses.
· Human food
· Animal fodder
· Water purification
· Natural medicines
· Fertilizer
· Living fence
· Natural pesticide
· Domestic cleaning agent
· Fuel wood and other uses
Its leaves are said to contain 7 times the vitamin C of oranges, 4 times the calcium in milk, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 3 times the potassium in bananas, and 2 times the protein in milk.
Human food
All Moringa food products have a very high nutritional value. You can eat the
leaves, especially young shoots, young pods, flowers, roots, and in some
species even the bark. Leaves are low in fats and carbohydrates and rich in
minerals, iron and vitamin B.
Fresh leaves
Of all the products of the tree the leaves are used the most. They become
tougher as they get older so it is best to pick the growing tips and young
leaves. Remove the leaves from the woody stem, as this will not soften
during cooking. The leaves can be used in the same way as spinach. An
easy way of cooking them is to steam 2 cups of freshly picked leaves for a
few minutes in one cup of water, seasoned with an onion, butter and salt or
other seasonings according to taste.

Seeds Found here

Phanera Fairy Vine Bauhinia corymbosa

A stunning and hard to find evergreen vine in sub-tropical conditions, that can be semi-deciduous in cooler climates with older leaves dropping in cold winters. The beautiful vine has very attractive and unusual foliage and orchid-like flowers with unique 2 lobed leaves.

The pale pink flowers with dark veining are abundant from spring to autumn and are complimented by the purple tinged new growth. It is perfect for covering a pergola, fence or over a tree and is spectacular as a ground cover especially when in flower.

Found here: Bauhinia corymbosa

Tips for these hard to germinate seeds....

Starting seeds the traditional way usually includes a seed starting mix made up of equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. When mixed together with a little water, this mixture will hopefully support the growth of your new seeds. The risks are too much water, too little water and even seed rot if the soil is too wet. Here is how you can start to germinate seeds in more efficient manner.

Hydro Soil is the perfect medium to grow seeds, especially those difficult to start seedlings. Biodegradable and non-toxic.

You will need:

Hydro Soil (-flavorless, dye free prepared gelatin works also)
Water Sterilized containers such as baby food jars or small yogurt containers
Sheet of clear plastic or piece of glass
Powdered cinnamon

Prepare dry hydro soil per instructions. Pour at least 2 inches of the mass into sterilized containers and push at least 3 seeds in each gelatin filled container. Place your containers in a warm, sunny spot and cover with clear plastic or glass.

Be mindful of mold forming. To reduce the danger of mold, you can use boiling water to hydrate the dry soil crystals, but be sure to let it cool down before you plant any seeds. If you see mold, just dust with a little powdered cinnamon to keep the mold in check.

Once your seedlings have sprouted and are about an inch or two tall, transplant them (with the hydro soil) into the seed starting mix. It will continue to provide moisture for your seedlings as they grow and you have less risk of injuring your new seedlings.

You can also use regular baking gelatin instead of hydro soil, this works also.

Gelatin is made from animal bone and therefore has high level of nitrogen and other minerals.
It will continue to "feed" your seedlings as they grow and you have less risk of injuring your new seedlings.

Hydro Soil Source
.

canary creeper, nasturtium, grow, germinate, flower, edible, tropaeolum peregrinum, germination, germinate, growing light, ornamental seeds, amorphophallus, devils hand, mexican hand tree, garden, gardening, ornamental flower, garden seeds, seed propagation, australian seeds, rare seeds, exotic seeds, playing with seeds, germination instructions, garden blog, best garden blog, tropical garden blog, unusual flowers, exotic flowers, rare flowers, rare seeds, rare plants, mail order seeds, mom and pop seed shop, seed shop, international seeds, botanical garden, botany, rare botanicals, tropical garden, exotic garden, vertical garden, eclectic plants, eclectic flower, eclectic garden seeds, garden club, garden forum, ornamentals, gardening care, ornamental tree, bonsai, gardening plants, gardening care, home gardening, landscaping, hgtv, hydroponics, germinating seeds, garden, seed catalog, flower seeds, seed companies, garden seeds, plant seeds, seed shop, seed store, Aristolochia, Amorphophallus titanum, tropical plants, tropic, tropical, fragrant, fruit, flowering, blooming, trees, botany, rare, mail, order, online, purchase, herbs, spicery, spices, shipping, ethnic, tropicals, plants, gardening, growing, garden, exotic, unusual, catalog, encyclopedia, database, search, sale, cactus, succulent, orchid, tree, palm, flower, shrub, bush, gallery, botanical, identification, catalog, Mango, Lychee, Avocado, Dragon Fruit, Longan, Carambola, Sugar Apple, Guava, Fruit trees, Fruit tree nursery, Tropical fruit trees, Mamey, Jakfruit, Rare fruit, Exotic fruit, Punta Gorda, Florida, Spices, Abiu, Sapodilla, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate, Michelia champaca, Cacao, Miracle Fruit tropical plants, tropic, tropical, fragrant, fruit, flowering, blooming, trees, botany, rare, mail, order, online, purchase, herbs, spicery, spices, shipping, ethnic, tropicals, plants, gardening, growing, garden, exotic, unusual, catalog, encyclopedia, database, search, sale, cactus, succulent, orchid, tree, palm, flower, shrub, bush, gallery, botanical, identification, catalog, Mango, Lychee, Avocado, Dragon Fruit, Longan, Carambola, Sugar Apple, Guava, Fruit trees, Fruit tree nursery, Tropical fruit trees, Mamey, Jakfruit, Rare fruit, Exotic fruit, Punta Gorda, Florida, Spices, Abiu, Sapodilla, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate, Michelia champaca, Cacao, Miracle Fruit, seeds, free, catalogs, garden, palms, cacti, herbs, tobacco, trees, flowers, bonsai, software, contest, home income, house, plants, rainforest, pesticide, potpourri, vines, medicine, cigars, greenhouse, farm, health, smoking, gift certificates, unusual vegetables, oak trees, stevia seeds, rare palms, tobacco kiln, seed primer, seed germination, citrus seeds, banana seeds, datura seeds, pest repellents, fall vegetables, papaya seeds, acacia, houseplants, bible, chinese, essential oil, bottles, mother nature, xeriscape, extraordinary seeds, limited seeds, scarce seeds, singular seeds, strange seeds, subtle seeds, uncommon seeds, unique seeds, unlikely seeds, unthinkable seeds, seeds, unusual seeds, attenuate seeds, attenuated seeds, endangered seeds, isolated seeds, bizarre seeds, noteworthy seeds, unique seeds, odd seeds, rare seeds, exotic seeds, eccentric seeds, freakish seeds, unconventional seeds, weird seeds, extreme seeds, curious seeds, different seeds, alien seeds, alluring seeds, fascinating seeds, unfamilar seeds, enticing seeds, extraordinary seeds, ornamental seeds, stunning seeds, extraordinary plants, limited plants, scarce plants, singular plants, strange plants, subtle plants, uncommon plants, unique plants, unlikely plants, unthinkable plants, plants, unusual plants, attenuate plants, attenuated plants, endangered plants, isolated plants, bizarre plants, noteworthy plants, unique plants, odd plants, rare plants, exotic plants, eccentric plants, freakish plants, unconventional plants, weird plants, extreme plants, curious plants, different plants, alien plants, alluring plants, fascinating plants, unfamilar plants, enticing plants, extraordinary plants, ornamental plants, stunning plants, extraordinary flowers, limited flowers, scarce flowers, singular flowers, strange flowers, subtle flowers, uncommon flowers, unique flowers, unlikely flowers, unthinkable flowers, flowers, unusual flowers, attenuate flowers, attenuated flowers, endangered flowers, isolated flowers, bizarre flowers, noteworthy flowers, unique flowers, odd flowers, rare flowers, exotic flowers, eccentric flowers, freakish flowers, unconventional flowers, weird flowers, extreme flowers, curious flowers, different flowers, alien flowers, alluring flowers, fascinating flowers, unfamilar flowers, enticing flowers, extraordinary flowers, ornamental flowers, stunning flowers, extraordinary vegetables, limited vegetables, scarce vegetables, singular vegetables, strange vegetables, subtle vegetables, uncommon vegetables, gmo-free vegetables, organic vegetables, unique vegetables, unlikely vegetables, unthinkable vegetables, vegetables, unusual vegetables, attenuate vegetables, attenuated vegetables, endangered vegetables, isolated vegetables, bizarre vegetables, noteworthy vegetables, unique vegetables, odd vegetables, rare vegetables, exotic vegetables, eccentric vegetables, freakish vegetables, unconventional vegetables, weird vegetables, extreme vegetables, wild vegetables, curious vegetables, different vegetables, alien vegetables, alluring vegetables, fascinating vegetables, unfamilar vegetables, enticing vegetables, extraordinary vegetables, ornamental vegetables, stunning vegetables, extraordinary fruits, limited fruits, scarce fruits, singular fruits, strange fruits, subtle fruits, uncommon fruits, gmo-free fruits, organic fruits, unique fruits, unlikely fruits, unthinkable fruits, fruits, unusual fruits, attenuate fruits, attenuated fruits, endangered fruits, isolated fruits, bizarre fruits, noteworthy fruits, unique fruits, odd fruits, rare fruits, exotic fruits, eccentric fruits, freakish fruits, unconventional fruits, weird fruits, extreme fruits, curious fruits, different fruits, alien fruits, alluring fruits, fascinating fruits, unfamilar fruits, wild fruits, enticing fruits, extraordinary fruits, ornamental fruits, stunning fruits,

The latest dirt from my garden

Friday

It's Time for Some Color!!!

Moringa, Tree of Life

Phanera Fairy Vine Bauhinia corymbosa

Tips for these hard to germinate seeds....

The Gardener

Garden Helper.gov

Some Garden Helpers

Blog Archive

Other Things

Friends and Followers

Visitors

Blog Top Sites

Garden Blog Directories

Popular Posts

Note Pad: Currently looking for:

.