Your're probably wondering what the format of this newsletter will be. Actually, it's a "home page" on the World Wide Web. This is on a computer at UVM so anyone (Peter A. for example) can access it via Prodigy or Compuserve with a "Web browser" such as Netscape. I can easily include color photos (and fix typos).
There will be some regular features:
Well, I learned that Dahlias can be easily grown from seeds,
even though you usually plant tubers that are at least a year old
(actually I learned that a couple months ago). But the important
lesson is, that they grow SO FAST that you don't want to start them
til March, even from seeds. I started them in February and they
are full size plants already. Needless to say, Dahlias are your
next free plants! This particular variety (Piccolo) is
(thankfully) dwarf, mixed colors, blooms early (I'll say!) and can
be grown in containers or planted out.
And I learned that Begonias can be started from seeds, but they don't do well under lights... they seemed to rot whenever they were watered, even with heating cables. Same with the Verbena... maybe the lesson is simply: water sparingly... but there is a real fine line there.
I also learned again that even though snapdragons
seeds are tiny and look fragile, they germinate extremely well! I
have dozens of maroon snaps for this year, so save a place for
them, too!
Like the rest of the world, I learned never to count on any seeds that are "backordered" -- that's mailorder talk for "we don't know if we will ever have it." I ordered the petunia "purple wave" from them and it still hasn't come, though they sent my potato "eyes" already -- honestly, do they really think I would start potatoes in Vermont in April, but not need my petunia seed yet?
Outside, Snow Crocus (purple and cream) started blooming the
end of March and still look good. Just this week, the pink
Chionodoxa and Dutch Crocus are out. And big surprise, a pretty
blue Hepatica under the sugar maple clump is blooming already!
Not much else outdoors... people are still sugaring around here, so the maple buds are not swelling yet.
I have 4 different orchids in bloom right now... 2 varieties of Paphiopedlums (look like Lady Slippers), the pink Phalenopsis which is almost always blooming, and one new Dendrobium. Also, the Violas are blooming now... I hope yours is too. I still have 2 cyclamens blooming... they simply refuse to go dormant, though I have forced most of them to by withholding water... makes me feel so mean, but I find that mites are less of a problem if you make them dormant for the summer (start them up again in early August).
Also, the Cape primrose, long-lived house plants started from
seeds at least 4 years ago are blooming nicely, and one of the
cactus from Tucson. Last year, I started Laurentia (blue star-
shaped flowers) from seed, and I kept one indoors in a pot,
overwintered in the cold (weight) room... it has lots of flower buds now,
more than it ever did last year.
One of the seed packets I bought this year was a trailing geranium, in pink and white -- 5 seeds each! Expensive seeds! But all of them germinated, and by golly, they are blooming already from the seeds started in late January.
Also, if you haven't started tomatoes yet, get going. Fortunately, YOU will not need to start any because the plants you get for June are going to be tomatoes. This year I have a new variety called "Enchantment" in addition to the regular Early Girl, Homestead, Floramerica, Roma, and one I haven't started for several years, Orange Pixie, an early small sweet variety.
I wish I knew if I should start Godetia seeds yet. Probably will,
just to make sure I get some (seeding outside is just too risky).
Well, that's about it for April... sorry this issue was a little late, but then so was spring! (no complaints!).
Happy gardening!
Pat
psd@trillium.uvm.edu