I'm Digging Up My Baby Bamboo Shoot...

Sing the post title to the tune of "I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee...".  Add a huge amount of sheer glee, as we have germination and a baby Moso bamboo shoot (whom we shall call "Baby Boo #1")! Count them, just fifteen days to germination and ground break! Mind you, it's only a single seedling, but it lives!

So exciting!

I was expecting anywhere from a month to several to see the skinny green twig of a culm escaping the small plot of soil it would be lounging in, teasing us while we waited.  I've let it sit for a couple of days just to make sure it had sufficient humidity.  Bamboo should not be in the same level of humidity once there is any inkling of green rising from the pot.

This one sprouted on the coconut coir side of the sown seeds.  I will repot in nice soil with about 25% coir to avoid any shock.  As it turns out, this transplant was so simple--just pricked it out with a plastic spoon, set it on the 4" azalea pot, raked the mix over rhizome, tamped lightly, and set it in the window.  I am keeping it under warmth at night however as the window can get drafty with the furnace air return just under the sink.

Moso bamboo is very fast growing, so an inch a day on some days at this infant stage of the lifecycle is interesting to oversee and not uncommon. The growth will slow, but right now it is an amazing specimen to ponder.

Cross your fingers and green thumbs for the next!

My Asparagus Corral

Variety: Mary Washington Heirloom Asparagus
Sown: 8 APR 2013
Germinated 23 APR 2013

I thought these heirloom Mary Washington asparagus seeds would never give up the ghost! Really! I've never really known what asparagus looked like in the seedling stage, so it was definitely an interesting wait!  While I've had gardens since my early 20s, apparently asparagus was not on the radar--perhaps it was the 3 year wait, perhaps I didn't care for it back then.  At 40 something, I definitely have more patience and better taste. 

I researched asparagus seedling photographs and care, as well as the growth phases.  I truly thought these seeds would never give in!  I've noticed I have a bad habit of stirring around the seeds in the starter soil, but whether coincidence or not, tiny asparagus popped up soon after. After all, how would I know if they just simply rotted--that's a great justification.  I'm sure I will continue that bad practice until I potentially harm something...

When they reached about six inches, they were drawn to the heat of my hand and fell over.  I will not have perfectly pretty, little and ferny trees growing, but a tangled mass of tiny, green and ferny stalks. It was like a rodeo roundup of  their little stalks for transplant and during transplanting.

I had to manufacture, shall we call it, a corral.  An Asparagus Corral to be exact. While it likely isn't ideal, the seedlings are happy and are standing a bit more upright now.  They definitely have some curl from leaning on each other and the label stick.

As I try to harden them off, I notice a few brown ends, broken (wind blown) tips, so I'm keeping them inside for a bit longer until they can survive without my constant hand outdoors. 

Growing asparagus in a pot is a little out there, but I figure if I'm just going to be looking at it for the next three years, I may as well try.  I will try to document the growth pattern in said pots along the way.  There is definitely next to zero information out there on this particular method for asparagus.

I germinated these seeds successfully in both rich soil and some in coconut coir.  There was a notable difference in the growth in each, with the soil producing faster and heartier seedlings.  The seedlings in the coir needed to come out quickly, while the seedlings in the soil were still thriving wholly in the soil.

The Asparagus Corral is comprised of cotton kitchen twine and shishkabob skewers.  Speaking of skewers, I've discovered that they make a great gardening tool; the skewers hold up label stakes (address label wrapped around), rick out young seedlings for transplant with ease, stir soil when impatience reigns over intelligence (lol), and are great for digging earth out from under fingernails. 

Guardian Gatos of the Seedlings

Our feline family members are strictly indoor cats (all are rescues or adopted from no kill shelters).  The two youngest door dart occasionally and become so frightened of actually being outside that we've never had a problem getting them the two steps back into the door. The oldest rescue we found starved, a mere skeleton, several years ago--she will absolutely not go out the door, ever.  She knows what can befall her. 

We do know they long to explore the mysticism of the great outdoors, but for safety, alas, they must stay inside.   Any time there is something green within their reach, they must touch or taste.  They all simply adore the holiday season having a tree to lounge underneath.

So far, they have let the seedlings be and not made their own kitty salads.  BUT, when the trays are getting their sun bath, we must watch.  Weather is iffy at best, save for the spurts of constant warmth.  We are still enduring spring storms and showers, so the door is the strongest location for the trays. So while we are mistakenly serving up the greens while they are sunbathing also, the cats assume said greens are fresh for their nibbling. 

They have so far:

- Huffed half a tomatillo seedling, fresh from the soil. Literally snuffed it up!

- Eaten jalapeno seedlings, as well as the difficult sweet California Wonders. 

- Plucked thriving tomato seedlings straight from their cups.

If we happen to catch the moment, the oldest of the triad of doom, will just brush her tail across anything it can reach, touching ever so slightly with a curl of her tail.

All in all, it has not been too bad--keeping up with the cats, that is, as I really expected to hear crashing pots in the middle of the night. So far, they have really behaved above all expectations.  They won't have their cat grass back until it is warm enough for the nightshades to go outside and stay.

After all, how's a silly feline supposed to tell the difference between which set of greens they can and cannot have! It shall be their reward.

Moso Bamboo Propagation from Seed

*Whew* Hopefully, my desire for  a privacy screen in a pot will be worth the effort of propagating Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis / Phyllostachys pubescens) from seed.  While this has little to do with my organic pot garden, I shall share my results with anyone who can gain from them. Besides, bamboo shoots are edible!

Delving into the sowing of Moso bamboo seemed daunting after much research.  Not too many years ago, there appeared to be little information on the topic available and those in the know were keeping that information close.  In the last several years, there have been many like me who have journaled their experiences in growing Moso, which has proven to be much more insightful than the generic information of "those in the know" that is so prevalent.

While Moso can reach grand heights of 70-80' in the right environment and maintain very thick culms (this is a timber bamboo, after all), I expect for the time we are indentured to our city lot that when the time comes to head South, that they will be bouncy, leafy, and manageable, clump-like juveniles in my current zone and still fairly simple to transport. 

While there are large bamboo growers in the PNW, we plan to work the up potting along the way the first few years.  I have always been drawn to well kept bamboo, but I am especially drawn to the Moso for its large leaves in the juvenile stage and the cascading small leaves at its larger size. 

This is truly a trial and error venture, but there is a certain satisfaction in growing your own from seed.  I may just be a glutton for punishment.  The germination rate is not fantastic, the environmental conditions must be well tended.

To begin, I hunted down two sources of seed as bamboo only flowers every 100 years, thereabouts.  Estimates vary in years and is not quite an exact science.  Did I mention bamboo can flower globally and then it dies?  Really.  Seed collecting is therefore, not too easy to accomplish and not particularly easy to come by from reputable sources.

I purchased a lot of 25 and a lot of 50 seeds.  Imagine the 50 count lot was 13 short.  *panic*  Luckily, the seed vendor sent me another packet of seeds (another packet of 50, which was also 16 short of 50).  In any event, I ended up with well over 50 from that supplier for a total of over 90 seeds.

I've sown 66 and hoping for a handful!  (Photo shows uncovered seed). I have read that the Moso seed can be planted a couple of inches into the soil, germinated in a Ziploc with moist towelette (wetted paper towel, coffee filter, toilet paper, etc.).  Most of mine were planted  horizontally across the top of the soil. I also tossed some in both directions (thick side up, skinny side up and vice versa) just to see if there is a difference in germination rate.

I am saving the last of the seed for experimental germination methods should the soil and coir mix fail to produce.  I did not soak or treat these, though I understand it is best to do so to avoid fungal problems and damping off later on.  I have 62 in a seed tray and 4 outside in large seeded colour pots.  Really, if it grows in near identical conditions in China, it ought to propagate here much the same without human interference.  We shall see how that goes (or not!).

Have any of you ventured into bamboo seed propagation? What species and what were your results?

What Was I Thinking?



It has been a while as I mentioned in the previous post--gardening, that is. Spring has sprung, right in my kitchen. Less than six days after sowing my seed, we've had amazing early germination, but also leggy seedlings that has resulted in reseeding and trying to light up the hyper running stems. 

Lesson number two (number one was obvious, no?) was one of laziness. Scattering seeds in peat pots. Problem number one is with lesson number two--peat pots are great wicks. I'm watering far too often, wondering when damping off is going to kick in. Problem number two with lesson number two is that some things just don't need an indoor start--even in the rainy northwest! Nor do they need to be so plentiful. Seems a waste of seed.  having backup seedlings is one thing--mine were on maximum overdrive.

Overcompensate much for potential crop failure?

Aside from that it is quite the bear to separate not only leggy seedlings, but tangled and leggy seedlings. Did I mention that lesson two included a mass of greenery taking over the kitchen?

Regardless of the previous two lessons, most seedlings are strong and healthy. Beans are, and will always be amazing to watch grow such as the Beanzillas, as we call the overperformers. The black turtle beans were a bit creepy to watch sprout, like they were going to swallow the rest of the seed tray without thought. Plant development is always amazing to watch.

My other half told me that watching my seedlings grow was like watching water boil. I don't know if it was the soil, warmth of my kitchen, light, or a combination of all (I'd like to think it was a combination of perfect everything), but the seeds did germinate and sprout before the eye.

Nature is most wondrous. We never really stop and take the time to appreciate how delicate and strong nature is together and alike.

If you've ever taken a long hiatus from gardening, did you watch in awe when you started the next time?

Potted Colour Spot

I planned to do everything by seed where possible.  But every vegetable garden needs beneficial flowers for colour, variety, and companion and trap plants.  While I couldn't resist the instant gratification, at least something in here will be beneficial, haha.  Old habits die hard!

 

Wallflower - This died off within two weeks and is making a grand return.  I'd never seen them before and the light scent is simply amazing!

These striking deep purple and orange Violas will always be 'Johnny Jump Ups' to me and I find it odd that not many people know them by that name!

Violas, one of my all-time favorites.  Unfortunately, they did not live through a storm that cropped up in the middle of a nice dry and warm spell.  I think the winds all but tore them out of the soil by the root.

About the (Organic) Contrary Pot Garden



It's been years, oh yes, years (12 to be exact) since I have grown a vegetable garden. Being in Hawaii did not lend space nor time to tending veggies, especially with the vast number of legged and winged creatures that abound on island. Our house plants grew really awesome both inside and out and I will eternally miss my huge fanned white bird of paradise. Alas, I love gardening. I love plants. With a two year old running loose and inspectors constantly crawling around our house, I have not "restocked" the jungle. It is oddly barren for me. I am having green withdrawals. Flower withdrawals. Living things that don't poop, kine withdrawals.

With a two year old with those old medical things in the background, we try to keep her food as clean and healthy as possible and supplement with occasionally through the drive through, lol. She doesn't get sweets too often (rare) or other crap though that girl loves her some good breads in huge ways (I think she's a carbohydrate freak).

However if any of you buy organic, we all know it's financially impossible to eat that clean without breaking the bank (and personally, I will never ever pay $17 for freaking juice, I don't care how pure!). So, we are giving our hand at this organic garden, and if it gets tainted, well--it is still better and fresher than the grocery store produce.

I recently checked the local food coop for what used to be known as a crop share program. Where you pay a set amount and get a large take every week of the seasonal produce from local farmers. Unfortunately, times change and the farmers are charging the same as the store, if not more. Many (5-6) hundreds of dollars for 18 weeks of stuff we may or may not use and without any bulk to freeze or can. (I freeze--I'd be scared to kill someone with a bad canning job, lol). Not such a good deal anymore and that's too bad--one it's not worth it and two, I can grow it myself at half the price for countless times as much. What we can't use, freeze, store, share, or give away will go to the local food pantries as they accept produce from home gardeners.

Being that we lease, we can't really till up the back yard (though it could use it--the one thing they cheaped out on building this house was the back lawn!) So we are going to step into the adventure of container gardening, which most amuses me to call it the "Contrary Pot Garden" while others prefer "_______ (insert last name) Farm."

Our plot is unique--we've got a great patio and at least 80ish feet of river-rocked, (50' full sun, 30ish, partial sun and shaded) sidebeds on which to set some 50+ good sized pots (update: will be over 70+ pots). We just plan to intersperse the pots with veggies and flowers. Wish us luck that the soggy Pacific Northwest weather works with us (zone 8a, region 2, which apparently was once upon a time, zone 7). Right now, my kitchen island looks like a bench in a potting shed! I planted totally against the moon and season on April Fool's just after midnight.

I was thinking then, I may regret this--within the day, we were busting soil top and now, a week later, have 2 and 3 inch seedlings and almost everything has broken ground. I did not imagine having to tend to these things for a couple of weeks, but we have seedlings doing incredibly well already. Everything from asparagus to zucchini and a good handful of herbs we use on a regular basis (ok, the watermelon is a stretch due to shorter season, but worth a shot! (I've never been able to grow one larger than a softball in any previous decade (ok, only a couple)! It is definitely worth the seed to try though). We've got jellybean tomatoes with all the normal fare. I've already learned that such a late decision meant I am paying the same price for seed for a fraction of the seed had I had the forethought to get it direct from the seed companies. *facepalm*

How many of you have ever organic container gardened aside from tomatoes on the balcony, patio, walkway, driveway, corner of the lanai? If you've done any large scale container gardening and have any additional ideas, please share! While gardening is not new, whole pot gardens, are.  I am trying to keep it all companion planted and insect beneficial--so far, so good!