True, it might be difficult if you have dust-like seeds like Lobelia unless you have so many that you're content to sling the water/seed mixture into your garden and just see what comes up....not that I've ever resorted to that method of seed-sowing

Muddy1 said:True, it might be difficult if you have dust-like seeds like Lobelia unless you have so many that you're content to sling the water/seed mixture into your garden and just see what comes up....not that I've ever resorted to that method of seed-sowing

I have done this with wildflower mixtures!

I think I've read somewhere that cinnamon can act as a natural fungicide. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid so it makes sense also. It would be like a vinegar solution. I'll have to keep that in mind, I have a bunch of different cinnamons in the spice rack just aging.

Cinnamon is a natural fungicide I think. I sprinkle it on the wounds of my dahlia tubers after I dig them in the fall.

Interesting method SSG. Let us know how it works for you.

Seq and Ric, according to that article:

"Cinnamon ... is the bark of a tropical tree that has evolved a range of potent natural antifungal and antibacterial chemicals to stave off the rampant growth of pathogens in the tropical rainforest. By making an extract of its bark you are effectively hijacking these chemicals and deploying them to defend any young plant you apply this to. It can work wonders for damping off (a common fungal infection that can kill many seedlings) and prevent new cuttings from rotting in the cool conditions and low light levels at this time of year. In my experience this can almost double the survival rates of tricky to root plants."

"Aspirin is a synthetic copy of salicylic acid, a growth-regulating hormone found in plants, and has been shown to work in a very similar way. When applied to newly sown cuttings it can turn on the genes that express the plant’s defence system, helping them stave off infections (ie rotting), while also boosting the growth of roots in a similar way to hormone rooting powder."

I keep forgetting to buy aspirin. It's a useful thing to keep around the house. I already have a huge Costco jar of cinnamon.

Cool SSG, thanks for the interesting information! I wonder what would happen using Aspirin and rooting hormone at the same time?

They would root well and NEVER get a headache.

I got more seeds yesterday (seriously, what the heck was I thinking buying more seeds), along with some seedling soil and a huge bag of perlite.

I'll be using this cinnamon/aspirin recipe this weekend. I'll let you know how it turn out!

JAN hahahahahaha

Jan

I think I ask before but does snow removal count as yardening? We anywho, Since it was off and on nice out today, I went out and finished a few paths with the blower and pushed back the parking area and edge of the road. That way if we get a more normal snowfall I have someplace to put it.

Blech; it counts but its not much fun!

Yep, I think it counts, too. Just take care of your backs. I'm talking to y'all out there.

Talk to my hubby! His ego won't let anyone shovel more than him. Or let anyone shovel alone or something. But he's not in serious pain, just the usual im-not-a-kid-anymore back.

We did better this year by parking the cars close to the street and pacing ourselves, since we couldn't go anywhere for two days after, no need to rush.

Great day for wintersowing! Sunny and comfortable with a light jacket, no wind, and pleasant enough to stand outside for hours preparing gallon containers and peat pots.

After I finished, I realized I had forgotten all about the cinnamon/aspirin mixture!

I'm starting most of my seeds indoors this year to avoid the problem I had last year with birds/cutworms/slugs.

Sally, my hubby is exactly the same way.

Eric4home said:I think I ask before but does snow removal count as yardening? We anywho, Since it was off and on nice out today, I went out and finished a few paths with the blower and pushed back the parking area and edge of the road. That way if we get a more normal snowfall I have someplace to put it.

It counts. Oh, yeah. I am glad my snow from last week melted and I didn't have to shovel any of it. I spent four hours outside weeding and mulching today. Temps were in the high 50s.

SS--
I am taking the plunge and gonna try WS with the gallon bottles.
Cut and filled 5 of them with soil--now to go through the seeds I put aside to WS.
Then--find a good place to keep them outdoors.
I have 2 beds that face east. One against the shed and the other against my house
Both get good sun until 2 or 3PM. Winds usually come from the west....

SS--you wrote about the problem with birds/cutworms/slugs. Is this in your WS containers?
Do you put your containers on the ground or on something more solid?
You mentioned the Cinnamon/Aspirin regiment. Are you mixing this into the soil in your containers?

I don't plan to do too many seeds indoors. Not worth it. Maybe a few......so she says.......
I can buy nice annuals in a 4-pak for a couple $$ at Chapel Hill. Will do basil and a couple tomatoes.

OK--Got to get ready for my one-day-a-week work. So tired of this..... Gita

Hi Gita, good to see you found the yardening thread!

The problems last year was with direct sowing. I had baby seedlings that were chomped down to nothing. And seeds that were broadcast didn't sprout. I imagine it was due to a combination of critters that love seeds and fresh seedlings. So I decided to either winter sow or start indoors with all of my seeds except for basil.

The cinnamon/ aspirin mixture is for soaking and watering. If you go back a page, there's s link to an article about it in the Guardian newspaper.