HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Boojums growing in my house.
Date: 15 Oct 92 08:55:41 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1453300093@igc.apc.org>, ecologycntr@igc.apc.org (Ecology Center) writes:
> 
> I got a little pile of Idria columnaris seed at the Arizona-Sonora desert
> museum in Tucson last week: they're sprouting nicely in a bonsai tray
> filled with light commercial potting soil even as we "speak". 
> 
> Has anyone grown these critters before? FYI- these plants are known commonly
> as Boojums (Booji?), and are natives of Baja California, in the ocotillo
> family (I forget the Latin. Kay?)

Fouqueriaceae.

I started some boojum seedlings in southern California-- basically treated
them about like cacti, and they seemed to do OK.  I left them with another
of the grad students when I immigrated back to Iowa-- never heard what
happened to them.

_Strange_ plants!

Kay
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
From: ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern)
Subject: Re: Apple tree question
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 17:16:20 GMT

Frankly, I have no clue as to how to take proper care of my apple trees,
so I don't.  They don't seem to care.  Although last year we got very
few fruit (because of a late freeze), usually we get copious apples.
This year I made apple pies, apple chutney, applesauce, apple cookies,
and take apples for lunch, and there are still plenty on the trees!
Sure, worms get a few, but not that many -- we just don't seem to have
a major bug problem.  Ditto disease.  I don't spray or anything.
Fortunately, fallen-apple cleanup is taken care of by the local deer.

My experience with apple trees is that they are very forgiving to the
novice applist.  Your mileage may vary;  I live in Boulder, Colorado,
and the bug/disease situation may be different in other places.

-- 
/\     It's not denial.  I'm just very selective about the reality I accept.
  \_][ <--NCAR Ilana Stern dod#009 r.b. cliff swallow ilana@ncar.ucar.edu    
      \______________________________________________________________________
From: smt2626@hertz.njit.edu (sylvia m tou mfen stnt)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: mums and roses questions
Date: 7 Oct 92 15:12:17 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.
Originator: smt2626@hertz.njit.edu


I planted some mums I bought from the grocery store last month.  Someone
told me that mums are hardy and will bloom next year if I effective
slice off the top of the plant (cut off all the flowers) and strip the
stems of leaves and I should do this now.  My only problem with this
if this is what I have to do is they are still in full bloom.  I would
hate to have to cut off all the flowers while still in bloom.  Does
anyone know better?  Should I wait until the blooms die off or was what
I was fed garbage?  I would appreciate any info and opinions.

I also have a similiar question about roses.  There are 5 rose bushes
and I don't now if I should be pruning them and how and when should I do
this.  Any ideas.  I would again appreciate any info in this area.

Thanks.

		-- sylvia
From: langston@langston.cs.utk.edu (Mike Langston)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Dwarf apple trees
Date: 16 Oct 92 17:03:08 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Tennessee
Distribution: world
Reply-To: langston@langston.cs.utk.edu (Mike Langston)
NNTP-Posting-Host: langston.cs.utk.edu

keith rogers continues:

> langston@langston.cs.utk.edu (Mike Langston) writes:
>> -- i also suggest asking the advise of 
>>commercial orchardists (not backyard enthusiasts) in your area 
> you forgot
> Again you are forgetting
> Here I differ again.  You keep forgetting this is a suburban back yard
> poster and our concerns are very different from commercial operations.

please don't make assumptions about what i'm forgetting -- i forget
enough as it is without help!

in this case, i'm not forgetting at all because i produce apples both 
backyard style and commercially -- the best home orchardists around 
here IMHO attend demos held at commercial orchards -- most i know also 
take with a grain of salt anecdotal backyard info such as some that has 
been posted here recently -- that's not to say i don't welcome a difference 
of opinion, as long as opinion is clearly separated from fact

ok keith, you are welcome to the last word :)

-- 
mike langston <langston@cs.utk.edu>
department of computer science, university of tennessee
From: BHALL@MAINE.MAINE.EDU (Bradford Hall)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Source for apple tree scions?
Date: 15 Oct 92 15:39:11 GMT
Organization: University of Maine System

Does anyone know of a source/supply house for apple tree
scions for grafting purposes?
From: smt2626@hertz.njit.edu (sylvia m tou mfen stnt)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Apple tree question
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:40:23 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.
Originator: smt2626@hertz.njit.edu



I was considering planting an apple tree in my yard, apples I could
pick and eat (or at least cook with).  Before I do this I would
like to have other people's opinion as to whether I am about to make
a big mistake or not.  Other than having to "collect" the rotten apples
that fall off and have been eaten off by animals and bugs what
other problems would I be facing.  Thanks.

		-- sylvia
From: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Magnetically Treated Water
Date: 10 Oct 1992 23:23:34 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, dgg@llcn2.jhuapl.edu (Dave Gawron) says:

>In <Bvv40G.9H3@andy.bgsu.edu> graue@andy.bgsu.edu (Louis Graue) writes:
>
>>If you'd like to grow brilliant blossoms; vibrant foliage; plus, green lawns;
>>luscious fruit, put magnets on your pipes.  Magnetic fields separate water
>>molecules, reducing surface tension and suspending minerals allowing water 
>>to flow freely.  The water penetrates more effectively, and reaches roots 
>>more quickly; evaporation is minimized.
>
>>I read this in a suppliment to my local newspaper and just wondered if any
>>of you in netland had any experience with this.
>

Boys! Grow Giant Mushrooms in Your Basement!  

Biomagnetics belongs in the Great Hall of Hoaxes or possibly on a debased
version of the Twilight Zone.  If the effects claimed for it were that
obvious and easy to achieve, don't you think it would have been
discovered and used eons ago?

I am reminded of an episode in Celine's DEATH ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN in
which the narrator's gullible ne'er do well uncle gets conned into a scheme
to grow superior vegetables by sending electric current through the soil
in his garden.  This fails, of course, and the poor man ends up shooting
himself, unable to live with this last evidence of his foolishness.

The only thing a magnet will do for your water pipe would be to collect
any iron filings that might be in it.

J. Del Col
-- 
Jeff Del Col      *    "Got a gypsy woman givin' me advice,      
A-B College       *     Got a whole lotta tricks keepin' here on ice."    
Philippi, WV      *          ---Got My Mojo Workin'--  P. Foster
                  *         
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
From: pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Re: Books!
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
	<1992Oct14.155615.7649@iscsvax.uni.edu> 
	<1992Oct15.170825.118791@watson.ibm.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 06:06:25 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.170825.118791@watson.ibm.com> 
clarke@watson.ibm.com (Ed Clarke) writes:
>Ok, that does it!  One thing this group really needs is a review of some
>specific books.  Kay mentioned "Hortus Third" before; I bought it and it's
>wonderful.  I did a small review of "How to know the Hornworts and 
>Liverworts" a while ago but never posted it.  It'd sure be nice if people
>would post review of outstanding books (FAQ fodder?) ...

OK, so you bought Hortus Third, that's the standard hort reference for
North American Plants, available in most libraries, but I have to admit
that a home copy is nice. It is a BIG book and carries a steep retail
price of around a hundred dineros, if you look around at used books
stores you can probably find it a half off or more since there is no
shortage of these books out there. Now, what book to buy next? It's
gotta be:
Cornucopia, A Source Book of Edible Plants, Stephen Facciola, Kampong
Pubs, 1870 Sunrise Dr, Vista, CA, 92084, ISBN:0-9628087-0-9
That's assuming you're interested in edible plants beyond what's available
at your local market or seed rack. This book lists the plants by species
and cultivars and lists what is edible and how and lists the mail order
sources. It's packed with info, for example maple tree flowers are
edible and taste quite good, like brocolli and maple syrup. It has 1050
firms from the US and Canada and 150 "overseas" and 150 non-commercial
sources that if you beg from may send you something. This book does not
tell you how to grow, like zones, that is what Hortus is for or other
books. OK, next book:
Sunset New Western Garden Book, Lane Pub, Menlo Park, CA, 94025,
ISBN:0-376-03889-6
If you live in the Western US, you've gotta get this book, it's in many
hardware stores and garden centers. But, even if you don't live in the
west of the west, it's still useful, particularly if you'd like to grow
western plants. It's too bad no one else has done this type of thing to
other parts of the world. Sunset has divided the West into some 25 zones
or so and is a very good listing of plants and plant types and how to
grow. It puts the USDA zone system to shame. Alright, one more:
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, Steve Solomon's Complete Guide
to Natural Gardening, Sasquatch Books, Seattle, WA, ISBN:0-912365-20-X
OK, OK, I know another regional book, but sometimes these types of books
are the best. Obviously if you live in this region you have to get this
book, it's the BIG one. But, it's also a very useful, honest, no
nonsense guide to general organic gardening. Price about $15. Enjoy!
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
From: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com (K. Rogers)
Subject: Re: Forcing oak acorns to germinate
Reply-To: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 15:49:24 GMT

pmisra@desire.wright.edu writes:

>My previous message failed so I am trying again. I needed
>information on to force aok acorns to germinate. Do they
>need to be wintered over, if so, how do I accomlish that
>and when do I plant them in whatever groing medium etc etc

I've germinated our single local native species of oak, Quercus
gambleii, aka scrub oak.  This is not an oak you'll be familiar with.
It usually grows to only 10-15' and is more bush than tree like.  It
grows in large clumps forming thickets which are difficult to whack
your way through in the foothills.  I'm growing them to put in a
xeriscaped section of my yard, since they're only one of two "trees"
that grow naturally where I live (the other being utah juniper,
another 10' shrub).

It required no stratification or any other form of preparation.  I
simply gathered acorns as they fell off and laid them on the surface
of plain peatmoss sideways.  A transparent plastic cover kept
evaporation down and humidity up.  They germinated in 3-4 weeks.  I
kept them in a bright southwest window at work over the winter where
they continued to grow.  I transplanted them into 4" pots when they
had 3-4 true leaves.  Unlike many oaks, these transplanted well
inspite of a much sideways bent tap root from the shallow germinating
tray.

These oaks grow slowly.  After a full year they're still only 4" tall
with perhaps 6 leaves/plant.

In retrospect, the way I'll germinate any future plants will be in at
least tall 1 gallon pots to give the long tap root room to grow and
obviate the need for intermediate transplanting - just plant it
outdoors when it outgrows the pot.  This would be even more wise if
you're trying to grow virtually any other kind of oak which gets huge
and you only need one or two plants.  I need 50 or so to fill in a
6'x30' area.  Since nursery grown plants cost $20 a pot it's well
worth it in savings to grow my own.  If you just need one red oak
you'd be better off buying it, unless you just want the experience of
the procedure or have an acorn of a variety you'll never be able to
find or mail order in.
-- 
Keith Rogers
krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
From: kimf@amaryllis.EBay.Sun.COM (Kim Foster)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: mums and roses questions
Date: 7 Oct 1992 20:20:02 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Federal, Milpitas, CA.
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: amaryllis.ebay.sun.com

In article <1992Oct7.151217.16637@njitgw.njit.edu>, smt2626@hertz.njit.edu (sylvia m tou mfen stnt) writes:
|> 
|> I planted some mums I bought from the grocery store last month.  Someone
|> told me that mums are hardy and will bloom next year if I effective
|> slice off the top of the plant (cut off all the flowers) and strip the
|> stems of leaves and I should do this now.  My only problem with this
|> if this is what I have to do is they are still in full bloom.  I would
|> hate to have to cut off all the flowers while still in bloom.  Does
|> anyone know better?  Should I wait until the blooms die off or was what
|> I was fed garbage?  I would appreciate any info and opinions.
|> 

I planted most of my mums from the flourist type mums that I bought
from the store.  I don't cut them off until the flowers are faded.
After the flowers are faded, cut off all the stems and leave about
3 inches above the ground.   After 2 or 3 months, new stems will
form.  You will get a lot more stems and the new stems are taller
than the ones that you brough home.  However, the flowers are a lot
bigger too.  I normally pinch off the tiny buds that formed around
the stem and keep only the top bud.  Most of my pom-pom mum bushes
are very tall, the flowers are hugh and they bloom all year long.
I have about five mum bushes and they never stop blooming since
I bought them eight months ago.  

The problem in planting mums is finding the way to keep ants 
and aphids away.  I start to fertilize them every month with
systemic rose and flower fertilizer and they seem to be in
control.

Kim
From: neville@cs.washington.edu (Dorothy Neville)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Mystery greens still
Date: 17 Oct 92 00:59:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: beaver.1992Oct17.005927.10572
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle

In article <Bw8Mvn.D3J@ra.nrl.navy.mil> nrlfs1.nrl.navy.mil (Judy Karpen) writes:
>before.  If I recall correctly, they planted some seeds
>labelled Salad Mix or something equally uninformative, so that's why they
>don't know what it is. Whatever it is, it sure is thriving! 
>
>More guesses, anyone?  Anyone else even HEARD of mizuna? 

What salad mix?  I planted a salad mix this year, I consider it a
mistake, since there were now 5 things germinating that I could not
tell from the weeds.  This was supposed to have orache, mache,
claytonia and 3 other things, i forget what, but the only thing that
ever did anything was --- Mizuna!  And is was not on the label!  I had
no idea what it was, but it made a nice addition to a salad, finally
we saw it on a garden tour and got the mizuna id.

I think what I planted was from Shepherds Garden (dunno if it was the
new england or the california one)

Here are some more salad questions for you:

corn salad: (mache?) what do I do with it?  Eat as salad? Anything
else?  Cut and come again or all at once?  A neighbor gave me a box of
seed and I planted it and now I have nice greens.  Seed packet is in
German, and neighbor doesn't know more than I do about it.

raddiccio: I have two kinds growing, seed from the neighbor, seed
instructions in German.  I have heard that one type of radiccio is
green and is supposed to be cut way back, then in January you get nice
red heads.  Other kind doesn't need cutting, and grows red heads
anyway.  So, one type is all green leaves, should I cut this back, and
if so, when?  The other type has red and green mottled leaves and
looks like it will head, so I will leave it alone?

Broccoli: I planted purple sprouting broccoli in July for March
harvest, as stated on the packet.  It is gotten really huge!  Is that
ok, or should it be small plants for overwintering?


Thanks
Dorothy
From: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Paw Paws and Cerimoyas
Date: 16 Oct 1992 12:47:07 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu



Has anyone tried grafting cherimoyas to paw paw rootstock?
Paw paws are very good.  They grow wild in W. Viriginia.  Very
handsome trees with delicious fruit.  They are very cold tolerant.
Perhaps a paw paw/cherimoya cross would be viable and hardy?

Does anyone know a source of paw paw seedlings other than Gurney's?

J. Del Col
-- 
Jeff Del Col      *    "Got a gypsy woman givin' me advice,      
A-B College       *     Got a whole lotta tricks keepin' here on ice."    
Philippi, WV      *          ---Got My Mojo Workin'--  P. Foster
                  *
From: Bob.Batson@mtask.omahug.org (Bob Batson)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Mailorder source for oak trees?
Date: 14 Oct 92 16:42:29 CST
Reply-To: bob.batson@mtask.omahug.org
Organization: Multitasking Systems, Kansas City
Followup-To: rec.gardens

hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts) writes:

 >In <1992Oct13.004054.8271@macc.wisc.edu> heim@vms.macc.wisc.edu (JOHN
 > HEIM	) writes:

                              [TEXT DELETED]

 >I'd like to know too -- I've been wondering about becoming a source
 >of Ca. native oaks, actually.

LAS PILITAS NURSERY                     [CAT $4]
  Star Route, Box 23 X
  Las Pilitas Road
  Santa Margarita, CA 93453
  (805) 438-5992
Very extensive list of California Native Plants of all kinds.
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
From: pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Native plant sale in Palo Alto, Nov 1
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
Distribution: ba
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 03:39:33 GMT

Native Plant Sale, Sunday, Nov 1, 10-4, Peninsula Conservation Center,
2448 Watson Court, near 101 and Embarcadero, Palo Alto, 415-494-9301,
1-2 Robert Kourik will give slide/lecture on Drip Irrigation
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Fruitflies
From: kristen@telerama.pgh.pa.us (Kristen McQuillin)
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 20:59:24 GMT
Organization: Telerama

harlan@crchh347.bnr.ca (Bruce Harlan) writes:
: We were successful with a vacuum cleaner.  Our portable canister has
: a flap over the dust collection area (buggies can't get out when
: the vacuum is switched off), so unknown little flies checked in,
: but they didn't check out. Since they flew slow, it seemed to be
: an environmentally friendly way to deal with the problem. We had
: to sneak up on them, but once within the grasp of the nozzle, they
: were goners.

Hahahahah, I thought my husband was the only one who chased flies with
a vacuum (well, he uses our Dustbuster). Works well on slow moving
wasps, too! And ususally manages to make anyone around howl with
laughter as Tod dances and sways to catch the flies...
From: louiset@informix.com (Louise Twiggs)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Forcing oak acorns to germinate
Date: 9 Oct 92 14:53:20 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Oct7.194131.4618@desire.wright.edu> pmisra@desire.wright.edu writes:
>My previous message failed so I am trying again. I needed
>information on to force aok acorns to germinate. Do they
>need to be wintered over, if so, how do I accomlish that
>and when do I plant them in whatever groing medium etc etc
>
>Thanks in advance for you help.
>
>Pradeep Misra


Well, I can offer a little experience I recently had...

I live in central London (United Kingdom), I have no garden, but
do have a few tubs on a roof patio and some window boxes at the front
of the flat.  (I am on the first floor)

About 5 months ago, (May-ish), I noticed a seedling growing in one
of the window boxes at the front of the house.  I didn't pull it up
there and then so I forgot about it.  A few months later I spotted it
again and it looked remarkably like an oak sapling.  Nuh, I thought - 
how on earth would an oak tree start growing in my window box in the 
middle of London (especially as there are no oak trees around!)

I pulled it up (very gently) and - yep - there was an acorn buried
underneath it.  I say buried, but actually it was only about half
an inch under the surface.  I still couldn't figure out how it got 
there ? - Anyway, I decided I didn't really have enough room for
a full grown oak tree on my roof patio, so I potted into a small
pot an am going to make an oak bonsai.  6 months on and it is just
starting to get its autumn colours - it's real cute!

Back to how it got there...

About a month ago I saw a squirrel running up a tree opposite the flat-
so I can only assume that in a particularly wild moment the squirrel
climbed up to my window box and planted an acorn!

I would think that you would need to overwinter  I guess my squirrel
was coming back to bury more acorns - or maybe dig up the ones
it buried the year before.  Judging by how easily my accidental acorn 
germinated in pretty old and rather dry soil - I can't imagine it would
be difficult to force an acorn to germinate.

Louise
From: kimf@amaryllis.EBay.Sun.COM (Kim Foster)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Questions about Orchids and Mums
Date: 15 Oct 92 16:50:42 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Federal, Milpitas, CA.
NNTP-Posting-Host: amaryllis.ebay.sun.com

I have couple questions and hope that someone on the net can help
me.

1.  I received an ad from Willow Nursery Sales in Westport, CT
    about the exotic Hawaiian Orchid bulb (Arundina Bambusifolia).
    I couldn't find this name in the Western Garden Book.  So,
    I have no idea what is it.  The price on the ad is 4 bulbs
    for $2.99.  The ad also said that this is a gorgeous plant  
    with rich fragrance and bloom on any season of the year.  
    This sounds too good to be true.  I would appreciate any
    comments you have about the Willow Nursery and/or the 
    plant.

2.  If you know of any mail order Chrysanthemum specialist, I
    would appreciate the name and phone number.  

Thanks very much for the help,
Kim
Newsgroups: rec.gardens