Your All Things Plants weekly news: April 27, 2013

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By dave
April 27, 2013 Harden Off Your Vegetable Starts Before Transplanting
Harden your vegetable transplants before installing them in the garden. Do this by giving them a little bit more time outside in the sunshine every day until they are finally ready to be outside 24/7.
(no comments)

By BookerC1
April 26, 2013 Garden with Children- Part 2
Give each of your kids a designated area of the garden (ornamental or vegetable, it doesn't matter!) in which they can plant anything they want. There is no better way to grow the next generation of gardeners than to put the power in their own little hands!
(4 comments)

By BookerC1
April 25, 2013 Garden with Children
If you want your kids to grow up liking vegetables, involve them in the growing, harvesting, and preparing. They are a lot more likely to eat a tomato if it is "their" tomato.
(4 comments)

By dave
April 24, 2013 ATP Podcast #15: Edible Wild Plants
In this episode, Dave and Trish talk about their favorite wild edible plants, the kinds of plants you might come across as you walk through the woods. Many of the plants on this list are sure to surprise you! (401 words - Read the full article)
(11 comments)

By dave
April 23, 2013 Hugelkultur with Margaret Roach of AWayToGarden.com
The highly popular gardening author, radio personality, and blogger at AWayToGarden.com interviewed Dave recently about hugelkultur, the raised bed technique that involves using whole logs of wood in your beds. (127 words - Read the full article)
(10 comments)

By patrob
April 22, 2013 Label as You Shop
Label plants by writing on plastic pots with acrylic paint pens, which are available in craft departments. If you are shopping at a nursery that does not label individual pots, write on the pot when you select the plant so you won’t have to guess what it is when you get it home. Take a paint pen with you to plant swaps and label plants you are given without labels.
(9 comments)

By Boopaints
April 21, 2013 Keep Baggies Handy
Keep a box of baggies in the car to hold cuttings from friends' gardens, should the need arise.
(3 comments)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Pacific Coast Iris (Iris 'Filoli') by zuzu:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Hoochie Coochie Man') by shive1:

Photo of Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'Haberer Boy') by picklepuff:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Spacecoast Francis Busby') by florange:

Photo of Silver Squill (Ledebouria socialis) by GigiPlumeria:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Cabaret') by Calif_Sue:

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies

OT - The Porch Swing • Spring 2013 daylily Daylilies forum 342

Help!!! The deer are destroying my daylilies and iris'. What do I do?? kimmer Daylilies forum 51

Lets watch our iris grow and bloom Paul2032 Irises forum 27

My 'Cobweb' cebenese is growing strangely/different jojoe Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 18

New plumie sfrangu Plumeria forum 18

NOID Alpine plant gg5 Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 17

Grrrrrr! Baby semps for breakfast Eviesmummy Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 15

ATP Series: The Daylilies of Oscie Whatley daylily Daylilies forum 14

Sedums That Still Look Good in Winter clintbrown Sedum forum 14

The most active threads this week:
Subject	OP	Area	Replies
OT - The Porch Swing • Spring 2013	daylily	Daylilies forum	342
Help!!! The deer are destroying my daylilies and iris'. What do I do??	kimmer	Daylilies forum	51
Lets watch our iris grow and bloom	Paul2032	Irises forum	27
My 'Cobweb' cebenese is growing strangely/different	jojoe	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	18
New plumie	sfrangu	Plumeria forum	18
NOID Alpine plant	gg5	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	17
Grrrrrr! Baby semps for breakfast	Eviesmummy	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	15
ATP Series: The Daylilies of Oscie Whatley	daylily	Daylilies forum	14
Sedums That Still Look Good in Winter	clintbrown	Sedum forum	14

Some new recommendations from our members:

dormantsrule recommended Judy Davisson Daylilies and wrote:
Judy Davisson is a magic maker of beautiful form and colors. She offers many taller cultivars that often have instant rebloom with heavy substance. You can easily find cv's for all blooms from ealy to late summer. The icing on the cake is her friendliness.
I will always be back for more.

dormantsrule recommended Thoroughbred Daylilies and wrote:
Annette and John Rice are like family to me. Over the last 3 years my endless questions are answered and the plants received are wonderful. I look forward to seeing the latest intro's but an older one will always have a place in the garden; Annette's Magic. It has a Chanel like timeless quality that makes your heart smile.

ge1836 recommended Pine Knot Farms and wrote:
It has been a couple of years since I first ordered from Pine Knot. Their service and fantastic packing haven't changed.
All plants arrive moist and with no dirt spillage. I cant praise them enough.

wildflowers recommended Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and wrote:
Ordered seeds last fall, some are planted and sprouting, some will be planted soon. I was excited to find Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and I like their policies; they do regular testing on their seeds and certify that they are all grown naturally by ecologically oriented farmers. They have a good variety of unusual heirlooms and other hard-to-find or endangered varieties from pure, true, open-pollinated seeds. Prices are very good and orders are shipped quickly.

They have a variety of perennial onion bulbs available in the fall that I would like to try; I'll be making an order.

OldGardener recommended Almost Eden and wrote:
I really like Almost Eden. I have placed 2 orders in the past 2 months (25 plants total) and have been pleased both times. The first time, USPS mis-shipped my plants (sent them to the wrong post office), but John immediately provided me with all of the information that I needed to locate my order. Although delivery was delayed, when my package finally arrived, it looked as if it had just been packed that morning. The second time I ordered, there were no mishaps and I received the plants in 2 days.

All of the plants have been consistently large, robust specimens with roots that won't quit! The prices are extremely competitive, customer service is great, and the plants are packed well. Because of their extensive catalog, I will definitely order again.

Some new recommendations from our members:
dormantsrule recommended Judy Davisson Daylilies and wrote: Judy Davisson is a magic maker of beautiful form and colors. She offers many taller cultivars that often have instant rebloom with heavy substance. You can easily find cv's for all blooms from ealy to late summer. The icing on the cake is her friendliness. I will always be back for more.
dormantsrule recommended Thoroughbred Daylilies and wrote: Annette and John Rice are like family to me. Over the last 3 years my endless questions are answered and the plants received are wonderful. I look forward to seeing the latest intro's but an older one will always have a place in the garden; Annette's Magic. It has a Chanel like timeless quality that makes your heart smile.
ge1836 recommended Pine Knot Farms and wrote: It has been a couple of years since I first ordered from Pine Knot. Their service and fantastic packing haven't changed. All plants arrive moist and with no dirt spillage. I cant praise them enough.
wildflowers recommended Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and wrote: Ordered seeds last fall, some are planted and sprouting, some will be planted soon. I was excited to find Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and I like their policies; they do regular testing on their seeds and certify that they are all grown naturally by ecologically oriented farmers. They have a good variety of unusual heirlooms and other hard-to-find or endangered varieties from pure, true, open-pollinated seeds. Prices are very good and orders are shipped quickly. They have a variety of perennial onion bulbs available in the fall that I would like to try; I'll be making an order.
OldGardener recommended Almost Eden and wrote: I really like Almost Eden. I have placed 2 orders in the past 2 months (25 plants total) and have been pleased both times. The first time, USPS mis-shipped my plants (sent them to the wrong post office), but John immediately provided me with all of the information that I needed to locate my order. Although delivery was delayed, when my package finally arrived, it looked as if it had just been packed that morning. The second time I ordered, there were no mishaps and I received the plants in 2 days. All of the plants have been consistently large, robust specimens with roots that won't quit! The prices are extremely competitive, customer service is great, and the plants are packed well. Because of their extensive catalog, I will definitely order again.

Some numbers from last week:

70 new members.
112 new threads.
3,840 new posts.
1,812 new images to the plant database.
103 new comments in the plant database.