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Bedford Ramblings

Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.

Garden Gleanings: Weed'em & Reap, rooting begonias

Posted Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 7:00 PM

Photo of new begonia plants emerging.

The internationally famous garden club Weed'em & Reap will gather at the Hong Kong Restaurant on Madison Street in Shelbyville, Tennessee this coming Saturday! Gathering time is 6:30 with show time being 7:00.

What the heck is this guy rambling about? I'm just trying to get your attention and ATTENDANCE. We love to see new faces. No requirements, just show up.

Here are some brief (and I mean brief) notes from last meeting. http://www.mybedfordcounty.com/WeedemandReap.html

We also posted a description of how we started these cute little darlings you see in the picture. Debbi was nice enough to take pictures for me. It is not difficult and we would be happy to share some begonia leaves if you want to try it yourself.

Has anyone grown this type of begonia outside? I am sure they will do well in pots in semi shade, but what about IN the garden. I know they won't survive the winter, but will they survive full sun?

It is watercress season again! Ours is taking over our small waterfalls and goldfish pond so if anyone needs some rooted plants, let me know and I will bring them to the meeting.

For those who have not started their summer plants in pots yet, I am there with you. I have been too lax in getting seeds in the pots and I am trying to shame myself in to action. Ask me at the meeting.

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hey what is the best way to grow moon flower vine?? do they like sun or partial... wet or not??

thanks if you know..

Lesa

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Tue, Mar 31, 2009, at 7:04 PM
I have some moon flower seeds to grow this year but I have never grow them previously. I know they like full sun and I have been told they like well drained soil, but not extra dry.

I need to learn more myself and open it up for anyone who has grown them in this area. I expect the person who gave us the seeds will be at the garden meeting on Saturday, but she does not use a computer, so I know she will not answer here.

I believe at least two of our club members grow them read the blog, so maybe they can give us some guidance??

If they do not pick up on this blog within a day or so, I will do some research and give you the best info I can.

I look forward to putting them on our front patio so we can enjoy them at night from our kitchen. I might mix them with the red cypress vine so we have a daytime and nigh-time flowers in the same place.

-- Posted by stevemills on Tue, Mar 31, 2009, at 9:19 PM
From what little I can tell from the photo, the begonia is what we old timers called an Angel Wing. It will love being outside in filtered light, likes morning sun and even moisture, but not wet. Direct hot sun will burn it up, period. They are fabulous plants, but white fly and mealy bug can be a problem.

Moon vine, ipomoea alba, is basically nothing more than a morning glory, albeit a beautiful one. If morning glories do well for you, you should have no problems with moon vine. If you don't want a lot of volunteers next year, be sure and deadhead diligently. They can be very weedy.

-- Posted by dmcg on Wed, Apr 1, 2009, at 2:09 AM
Years ago while living in an apartment, the mealy bug was my biggest pest. Especially on my African violets. I tried a number of things, some of which killed the plants, but eventually settled on a cue tip soaked with rubbing alcohol.

I would dab the buggers one by one or in groups if they were clustered. It would take away the fuzzy covering and you would see the bare bug. The alcohol apparently dried them up.

Occasionally the white fly and spider mite will show up in the greenhouse. Insecticidal soap, yellow sticky traps usually bring them under control.

They must have natural controls outside, since I rarely have trouble wit them there. I do watch my plants closely when I bring them back in, but they are hard to spot. I usually wash all my plants before going out or coming in each year, so that may keep them in check.

I was afraid this particular begonia would burn up in our hot sun. They don't seem to like direct sun inside either. I don't have filtered light around the house, so I might as well plan on them staying inside.

In that case, I may bring these babies to a garden club meeting soon and share. My wife has laid down the law about any new plants adding to our collection inside. For a non-plant person before we married, she has adapted well, so I can not complain.

-- Posted by stevemills on Wed, Apr 1, 2009, at 7:13 AM

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