RE: what affects hosta growth
- Subject: RE: what affects hosta growth
- From: &* C* -* L* A* <M*@Bellsouth.net>
- Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:31:21 -0400
The only reason that I began my hybridizing program was that I wanted
something that would grow in the south. Many plants just will not survive
here. In one way it was fun to find that once I have something that grows
here it grows even better in the north but the other side is when I go
north and see the size of my plants there I feel like crying when I return
home. At that time I stop to be thankful that we can enjoy what we have.
Mary
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hosta-open@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On
Behalf Of Township
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 5:25 PM
To: hosta-open@hort.net; SECK138@aol.com
Subject: Re: what affects hosta growth
I couldn't agree more about seedlings! I have an area that is sucked dry by
tree roots, no soil to speak of (its dirt) and the volunteer seedlings that
have made this area their home are thriving! Some are kinda nice , too! I
have thought of moving them, giving them better conditions, but then say
why? They are doing just great where they are, compared to some of the
intentional plantings.
Smile,
Barbara
township@acbm.qc.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "W. George Schmid" <hostahill@Bellsouth.net>
To: <hosta-open@hort.net>; <SECK138@aol.com>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: what affects hosta growth
| Hi All,
|
| I didn't want to bring up what Andrew had the guts to do: Many of those
| "beautiful" cultivars are lousy growers, wimps, and a few other
| unmentionable things.
|
| Here in Tucker, Zone 7a - 1188 feet AMSL, 84-12'-30" West_33-51' North
with
| dry summers and late freezes and a few other nasty weather problems, the
| very best hostas are the seedling ones I dig up in the middle of a path,
| mostly all green. Usually, for a few years they have survived getting
| stepped on (a lot), get no fertilizer, get no extra water, grow in dense
| Georgia red clay, and bear all kinds of harsh events with aplomb. If it
| makes it through five years of such brutality, it gets moved to one of the
| woodland spots where it usually thrives even more. Yes, Andrew is right,
| soil is important in cultivating any plant, but the most important thing
is
| the genetic make-up of a hosta cultivar. To a hosta seedling with H.
| longipes in its background, soil doesn't seem to matter much. They grow on
| rocks back home and get splashed with a lot of water. Unfortunately, very
| few of the "fancy" cultivars have that kind of background and croak under
| most conditions. So, Andrew is right, pick good genes (for your growing
| area, soil, climate - i.e., research their parental background - that is
why
| parental info is so important as Andrew pointed out in a prior e-mail re
| registration). With good genes the plants will take care of themselves,
well
| almost.
|
| Few of us can afford to kill a plant three times before they give up (to
| paraphrase Tony Avent) and at 50 bucks per that wastes a lot of money. If
I
| want a good garden hosta I go find that unknown, trampled seedling that
| refuses to give up and I will have a hosta that will be a good garden
plant,
| or, I make my own hybrids using parents that have great survival genes.
| After all, hostas are supposed to be the best "low-maintenance" plant for
| shady gardens. I have had it with hostas that just won't grow, melt out,
| burn out, or get necrotic margins in early spring. Those trampled
seedlings
| not only have stamina but they possess a beauty all of their own. George
|
| W. George Schmid
| Hosta Hill - Tucker Georgia USA
| Zone 7a - 1188 feet AMSL
| 84-12'-30" West_33-51' North
| Outgoing e-mail virus checked by NAV
|
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: "Andrew Lietzow"
|
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