It is not easy to discard seedlings and cuttings that have potential. We are supposed to sow several seed for vegetable plants where we ultimately want only a few, which typically produces a few extra. Feral seedlings for other types of plants commonly appear in the garden. I happened to grow a few seed that were marginally old, but that I did not want to discard. Nor do I want to discard deteriorating but lingering cool season annuals from last winter.
1. Since no new warm season bedding plants are going into the landscapes, cool season bedding plants are lingering until they succumb to the warmth. This pansy is not ready to give up yet.
2. ‘Roma’ tomato seedlings that got plucked to favor stronger seedlings got plugged in cells for later. They got sown very late, and plugged even later, but might become a nice second phase.
3. Extra summer squash seedling were also too good to discard. The main plants are producing now. This one should find a home quick. Since it can produce all season, no phasing is needed.
4. Ponderosa pines make extras too. This seedling got plucked along with other weeds, but was too exemplary to discard. (For the record, someone else salvaged it; so I can not be blamed.)
5. This is too blurry and dinky to look like much, but is a seedling of California fan palm. The seed was so old that I doubted its viability. I am very pleased with it, even if is the only survivor.
6. White California poppies are rare in nature. This one was left in the landscape while many of the orange poppies were removed along with weeds. There is another only a few yards away.
This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate:
https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/
I know just what you mean, it is very difficult to discard seedlings. Your pansy is very pretty, my violas are still going strong and like you I have nothing to replace them so they can keep on keeping on. Lovely white California poppy, I always think of you when I see one. Have a great week Tony.
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Our pansies are not being replaced because the facility is still closed to the public. These pansies were not in my own garden, but in one of the planters of the public landscapes. I grow no pansies in my own garden. The standards are different of course.
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Your tomatoes got sown very late as you said but they will catch up soon ! Very nice colors of Ponderosa pines
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‘Roma’ gets planted in phases anyway, so I do not mind planting some a few weeks after those that are out in the garden now. The blue of the ponderosa pine is the juvenile foliage. It does not keep it for long.
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I loved seeing that California poppy. So many of our blue or pink flowers will produce white sports, but I’d never thought of typically orange flowers doing so.
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When I was a kid, finding a white poppy was almost like finding a four leafed clover. Purple poppies were even rarer.
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I can’t bear to throw the seedlings either whether they self seed or ones I’ve sown. I then have to water all those little pots though, so I’m trying to be more self disciplined.
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It helps to share them with neighbors, but they can not take all of them.
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I either break them up to avoid keeping them, or post them free on Craigslist. When I divide plants I do that, expect for oregano. I’d have enough for the entire town!
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Ha! I break up some of the worst, but that is about all.
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Same here, I always have to find a home for a growing plant.
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Some of mine that do not find homes might get planted outside of the garden among the weeds. I can water them, but that is about all.
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I agree it is very hard to throw seedlings away. I too sowed tomatoes late and now have about thirty seedlings waiting to be planted out!
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It is a bad habit. I had the same problem in the nursery industry.
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You struck a chord there. The white poppy is fabulous and the pansy looks so fresh and and eager. I wish them all a great future.
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Oh, . . . well . . . the pansy gets no more future than what it has right now. It is in a pot that was removed from its planter and brought back here because we do not intend to plant anything new into it for summer. It will eventually succumb to the warmth of summer, although there is no need to dispose of it. Heck, It might survive through summer, and get cut back for next autumn. The white poppy is in a spot that gets irrigation, so could last for quite a while. They are naturally short lived annuals, but last longer where they get water.
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With ten gardens in my care, it is always a relief to know that a few of my customers, will always take my spares , it has been a good germination year ! Roma tomatoes have gone to many homes . Amaranthus has travelled to quite a few gardens as well. I cannot bear to disregard any seed that germinates, such a waste,
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Yes, it is not easy, even though we know that we must cull out some of the extras.
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