Phaedra's 2023 Adventure

[Branching Out]

Wow Phaedra-- you continue to amaze me with your gardening energy!

 

[baymule]

Your own paradise! Your greenhouse is beautiful and bountiful, providing both flower and vegetable plants. When you love what you do, it’s not work!

 

[Phaedra]

The five Delphinium cuttings I took on March 20 successfully rooted - all of them. Initially, I was worried that the two cuttings were not taken deeply enough and looked pretty hollow. However, they all make it.

Lovely small roots
I repotted them from the 5cm to the 7cm pots; they can enjoy more sunlight now.

Earlier, I bought some different Mints and already planted them outside. I also took some long stems (to keep a more uniform look of the plants) and soaked them in the water.

The rooted ones were potted today, too.

The roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) seedlings suddenly grew up and moved in 7cm pots, too. As long as they could establish well in the future, propagating them via dividing will be very easy.

Another sedum, 'autumn joy' I divided in mid-Feb - even a single stem can root so well and become a new plant. I believe roseroots would have similar resilience once fully developed.

The latest batch of propagated new plants - I feel so great!

 

[baymule]

You are a champion at starting new plants from cuttings! Awesome!

 

[Phaedra]

A day of transplanting seedlings - they all went to the small area between two flocks.

This is how this area looked like six weeks ago when we started to alter the chicken run to add the roof.

Now, it's totally different.

Many pots from the previous house owner and we are moved here. Potted herbs and leafy greens are chosen as this area receives morning and afternoon sunlight for about 4 hours. Most of the plants are grown from seeds or cuttings.

Also, some flowers - I love container gardening, too.

This morning, I used some old alu wires to build a protection net for one bed. I once saw such a design in a magazine, but each piece cost a small fortune. Well, making similar things with Alu wires is much easier and causes much lighter damage to the wallet. Although it doesn't look so sexy....

Anyway, this area is pretty complete now - herbs, flowers, veggies, trellis, on-site rainwater collection, and compost nearby.

Mmm, not that sexy but sexy enough

Four outdoor tomato plants were already transplanted into 10L bottomless pots outside. In the worst situation, I can still bring them back to the greenhouse.

 

[Phaedra]

Re-doing the landscape in the garden

Since there are slopes everywhere, I decided to create some 'trails'.

 

[baymule]

That is the picture of happiness.

 

[Phaedra]

April and May are really busy months for gardening. It takes a lot of effort to maintain a dynamic balance among all kinds of tasks - sowing, repotting, transplanting, cleaning, and etc.
We are using the old pavers from the terrace and the plants I propagated to create trails. So far, it went pretty well. Later today, I will add chives, daylilies, and ox-eye daisies here between shrubs.

Overwintered chili plants - they are catching up! There are already about 10 small chilies on them.

During the daytime, they stay outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and the rain; after sunset, they have a nice rest in the greenhouse. I will prepare bottomless planters for them and transplant them soon.

Delphinium cuttings taken on March 21st and repotted in April develop stably.

I transplanted them in the same bed where the mother plants are growing.

The roses propagated from cuttings also look great now. I don't know how to describe the satisfaction I obtained from these new plants.

Sprouted and pinched dahlias - I will create a colorful Dahlia trail in early June - as I now have more than 60 sprouted ones like these.

Manual tools work greatly for 'harvesting' grass clippings.

Chickens love grass clippings, and I also need them as mulch or compost materials.

After cherry radishes, purple pak-choys were transplanted. The color is so attractive.

 

[baymule]

I love the trails, you are so creative.

 

[Phaedra]

On April 12, I trimmed a common sage (for better ventilation and growing space) bought from the gardening center. The mother plant was transplanted already in my herb area, and the stems were prepared for cuttings.

The mother plant is doing well.

And for the cuttings, they didn't wilt, rot or become black, and some even have new leaves.

Little rooted sexy things!

So impressive!

So, besides the mother plant, there are 17 young plants are now sitting in the greenhouse. They are now in their individual 5cm pot and fed with diluted seaweed fertilizer.

I did the same for the different varieties of Mints I have - they rooted easily in the water. They are now also in their own pots, and I have pinched them yesterday for encouraging more side shoots.