By sallyg on Apr 12, 2024 3:19 PM, concerning plant: Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii') I've had a Burford for decades. It gets berries all over, was really loaded this winter, but no birds have eaten them even now in April. I'm disappointed - passively feeding birds is something I value in the garden. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By PlantingOaks on Apr 12, 2024 7:35 AM, concerning plant: Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird') I am of two minds about this plant. On one hand, the scent is absolutely amazing, wafting through the garden sweet, plus it blooms later in the summer, which is rare for a bush. That, plus the small height suggests it be used near walkways or entrances where the scent can be appreciated. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Baja_Costero on Apr 10, 2024 7:36 PM, concerning plant: Echeveria 'Blue Bird' Chunky bluish white Echeveria with dense rosettes and understated reddish flowers. A really nice, full-looking plant with strong color. Apparent final size is about 10 inches if offsets are removed. Best color and form in strong light (like essentially all glaucous Echeverias). [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Baja_Costero on Apr 8, 2024 1:32 PM, concerning plant: Stenocereus beneckei Gray-green to bluish gray cactus with markedly tuberculate stems, whitish flowers, red fruit (at maturity). Shrubby habit to a few feet tall, stems to 2-2.5 inches wide. 1 central spine, 2-5 grayish radial spines. Nocturnal flowers near stem tips persist into daytime. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Baja_Costero on Apr 7, 2024 9:31 PM, concerning plant: Euphorbia (Euphorbia unispina) One of a handful of deciduous spiny stem succulents from West Africa that become large, chunky-stemmed, multi-branched shrubs after many years. The species name is misleading (there may be one main stipular spine, but usually also two more smaller ones). [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Baja_Costero on Apr 7, 2024 8:32 PM, concerning plant: Huernia (Ceropegia 'Sepalachi') Stem succulent from Suculentas Dzityá in Yucatán with very strange red flowers in summer and fall bearing pointy raised texture. An apparent hybrid of Ceropegia (Huernia) hystrix. Stems are green but turn purple when stressed. The name of this hybrid is a play on words in Spanish connoting its unknown origin. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Australis on Apr 7, 2024 2:59 AM, concerning plant: Orchid (Cymbidium tracyanum 'Outer Space') One of Royale Orchids' tetraploid tracyanums and used in several crosses, including two offerings from their 2012 catalogue: [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 3:21 PM, concerning plant: Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Naked Bear') This variety did have loads of hull-less seeds. They were wonderful. However, I did not find it to be good for pies or baking. If I only wanted the hull-less seeds, I'd grow it again. But I like edible winter squash for the space and water it takes, so it's not for me. Hot and dry summers here and water is precious. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 1:44 PM, concerning plant: Eggplant (Solanum melongena 'Bride') This is one of my all time favorite eggplants. It is an heirloom variety and starts producing later than many hybrids available. Once it does start - it keeps going even when the weather starts to cool. Mild flavor, high production, doesn't need peeling or any salt treatment. I grow this every season in my hot and dry summer climate. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 1:40 PM, concerning plant: Tromboncino (Cucurbita moschata 'Tromba d'Albenga') Love this squash - if you grow it you'll have plenty to share with EVERYONE you know. Prolific isn't a strong enough adjective for it. I use it as a summer squash, mild flavor. Love that the seeds are only in the bulb at the bottom and easy enough to scrape those out. Unlike other summer squashes - you're better off letting this one get bigger. When harvested small like a zucchini, it will start looking shriveled within the day. Still fine to cook with - but there is no reason to take this one small. I let mine curl -shape doesn't affect the flavor and I don't care if slices are exactly uniform. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 1:33 PM, concerning plant: Patty Pan Squash (Cucurbita pepo 'Sunburst') This is an F1 variety and an AAS winner. When small simply quartered it adds a nice crunch to salads. I often dip slices of the smaller ones in dressing and just munch away. Mild, sweet and prolific. Cook or bake as any summer squash/zucchini. I have a hot and dry summer climate and this variety does well for me. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 1:26 PM, concerning plant: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus 'Summer Dance') This is my fave cucumber and the only one I grow. It does stop here when we get insanely hot. But before then, it's mild and I enjoy snacking on it with nothing (dressing .. nada) on it. Have tried others that tasted soapy or bitter. Once I found this variety, I haven't strayed. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 1:04 PM, concerning plant: Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo 'Cocozelle') I'm a fan. Cocozelle is the heirloom zucchini I prefer. The light stripes make it an attractive fruit, it has a mild flavor, it's prolific and does well in my hot and dry summer climate. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:54 AM, concerning plant: Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo 'Zephyr') Very productive for me, handles my very hot and dry summer climate well and the yellow means it won't get lost in the leaves and is easy to harvest. Mild taste with a very thin skin. Also, pretty and that counts a tad when sharing the harvest. I've been growing this a few seasons as with a bit of fertilizer it just keeps knocking out gorgeous tasty fruit. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:29 AM, concerning plant: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Chocolate Cherry') Prolific, for me this one goes until a hard frost completely kills the plant - produces further into autumn than most. Tasty. Had a friend say they liked Black Cherry better - tried that, it was later and not as prolific. I didn't care for its taste as much either. Had to search out the seed for this season (a mix from Renee's had it). This is a fave for me and a neighbor that I start seed for (and who was also disappointed with the Black Cherry). Hot and dry summer climate here. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:23 AM, concerning plant: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Pink Bumble Bee') Prolific and tasty. I've been growing this one for a few seasons now. Sometimes marketed as Bumblebee one word and sometimes with Artisan Pink Bumblebee as the name. Does well in my hot and dry summer climate. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:16 AM, concerning plant: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Wapsipinicon Peach') I had been growing Manyel as my yellow but added this some years back and have since dropped the Manyel as this Peach is carried by companies I usually mail order from and is a bit more prolific. It's tasty as well. Hot and dry summer climate here so the mid size tomatoes fare better. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:10 AM, concerning plant: Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata 'Musquee de Provence') Hot and dry summer climate here. Mine didn't get as large as others. It is very tasty with a good amount of flesh compared to the seed cavity. It is not prolific at all for me - just a fruit or two per vine. I have others that handle my growing conditions better, but I occasionally grow it as it is lovely. I haven't tried to store it. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By Faerygardener on Apr 6, 2024 11:04 AM, concerning plant: Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata 'Neck Pumpkin') Very prolific and tasty large winter squash. Keeps well. This is my favorite of the large squashes. Stored a bit longer than the Tahitian from Baker Creek grown and stored under the same conditions. Wonderful for all winter squash recipes. For pie, I do spread the pureed squash on a cookie sheet and bake at 275/300°F for a bit to get it a bit denser. Although we don't comment on photos here, it does get Mildew at the end of the season - those photos were taken end of October. I'm in a hot and dry summer climate. [ | Reply to this comment ] |
By MarineBob on Apr 6, 2024 5:51 AM, concerning plant: Russian Sage (Salvia yangii) The notes suggest rabbit resistant. Here on Cape Cod, the zillions of rabbits will gnaw on everything and they eat my sage. I assume its rabbits as the stems are cut in way that looks like someone took a knife to it at 45 deg, nice and clean. Then last year they started on my roses. And not just the newer shoots. Didn't go after the older woody stalks but chomped off some 1/4 inch stems. But of course didn't eat those. Uuuugh...I hate rabbits. [ | Reply to this comment ] |