Re: Help please

Ceres,
There are about 50 species of Mirabilis so I checked to see if 'Baywatch'
was a jalapa and found that it was introduced by Plant Delights a few years
ago:
Mirabilis jalapa 'Baywatch' (L. Calhoun 1999) (N) 
The (N) indicates they named it and with their sense of humor, I can
believe it!

Yes, it would develop tubers that can be stored as you would Dahlias (tho
I've not personally done this).  I read somewhere that some Mirabilis
tubers in their native region can grow in the ground over a period of years
to weighing as much as 20 pounds.  I don't know how many stems you'd get
from a tuber that size.  I think most people are happy with the 4oclocks
they get from seed and don't want to go to the effort of digging them up
(or know that they can and that they'd get larger plants the second year). 
But with a special one like Baywatch - which I would guess might not come
true from seed, it might be worth storing for the winter - and dividing to
give to friends.  I just bet that David would love to have a piece of
Baywatch!

Kitty
(couldn't resist!)

> [Original Message]
> From: <Cersgarden@aol.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 3/6/2003 5:38:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Help please
>
> In a message dated 3/6/03 9:08:53 PM, kmrsy@earthlink.net writes:
>
> >Plant the seed one year and you can dig up the tubers that develop and
> >store them over winter. 
> Kitty, I purchased this as a plant one year and wintered it over as a
living 
> plant inside but let it go the following fall.  I did not know it
developed 
> tubers.  You also mentioned Mirabilis jalapa may be treated the same
which I 
> didn't know either.  I ordered Mirabilis 'Baywatch' from Singing Springs.

> This is a fragrant champagne yellow that grows to 9' (in sandy sites 6').

> Would this also develope a tuber?  Kitty,  you are a wonder.  Thanks for
the 
> infor!!
>     Ceres

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