Re: Echium handiensis and Eucomis alba Questions

Nan Sterman wrote:
> 
> Can anyone tell me how large Echium handiensis grows and the color of
> the flower?
> 
> Also, how drought tolerant is Eucomis alba?
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Nan in San Diego where we actually had some rain yesterday and are
> praying for the "big storm" that is rumored to hit tomorrow.  It has
> been DRYYYY!

Nan 
Hope you do get your drought-breaking storm.  There are occasionally get
some pretty bad droughts in parts of this country, but have never had a
real one in our local area, for which I am grateful, having grown up in
East Africa where catastrophic famine-causing droughts seemed to happen
regularly every few years (and judging by the news still do).

I am  not familar with the Echium, but someone else has anyway given you
an answer. I am not sure what you mean by Eucomis alba. Various species
can be white, including the dwarf E zambesica which is my favourite and
the only one I actually grow. However I don't think exact identification
is necessary to give you an answer, as all species seem to behave the
same, needing a moist but well-drained soil at least while in growth
(most of summer)

Botanica says they dislike moisture while dormant, but my zambesica and
the larger species I have seen in other local gardens  don't seem to
mind at all being out in our usually wet winters and survive quite
happily in the ground. Anyway several other recent local books on bulbs
don't make any mention of the need for dryness during dormancy, so I
wonder where Botanica got the idea from.

I think you could take it anyway that your Eucomis is not likely to be
very drought-tolerent. 

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New ZealandX-Mozilla-Status: 0009 17:48:33 2001
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From: Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
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To: Organic Gardening Discussion List <OGL@LSV.UKY.EDU>
Subject: Re: Strawberry  Spinach, Strawberry Sticks
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Queue wrote:
> 
> > Now you have called my attention to it I shall certainly give it a try,
> > as we are always looking for unusual leaf vegetable, especially those we
> > can use in salads.
> >
> > --
> > Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
> > Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
> 
> I want to grow it for the same reasons and also to see what the fruits taste
> like!
> As you seem interested in growing this vegetable here is the article from
> 'Coastal  Grower', March 1999.  (It is short but interesting.)
> 
> STRAWBERRY SPINACH
> an unusual vegetable with loads of history
>      by Kathleen Wilkinson....

Thank you so much for sending this useful article, which I am printing
out for my veg folder.

It looks that, translating the planting dates into local southern ones,
(anytime September through January) I am a bit late for this season, but
I shall certainly give it a go next spring.

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
WainuiomX-Mozilla-Status: 0009capital city of New Zealand)
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