Hallson Gardens

Reldon's around the world balloon trip is apparently over. Welcome back Reldon!

OK, Alexa, now it's making more sense. It's a bacteria, not a fungus as was described to me, that feeds on the chitin. Chitin is in crab shells and nematodes and fungus. Bacteria are also small enough, theoretically, to get into the Hosta leaves and eat the pests and their eggs. If they stay just in...

Actually, I understand that the University of Vermont has done some research on it. I'm waiting for a reply from that person at Hosta College whom Chris mentioned. Actually, if the fungus will eat the exoskelton of my enemy, I'm all for it. What I wonder is how it gets into the leaves and crown. I'm...

Caliloo, I'm not familiar with Neptunes Harvest. What is it.

Also, could you use a little liquid dishwashing soap as a sticker/spreader?

Lion, are you sure of your directions? Hostas shouldn't burn in a NE exposure unless they were moved there, already leafed out, from deep shade.

Charla, I too am using one scoop (1/4 tsp.) 20-20-20 + minors of Peters, Miracle Gro, whatever is handy, from germination until now. I just increased for the 4+ leaf stage to 3/4 - 1 tsp. per gallon of water. A few drops of liquid soap or baby shampoo goes in every gallon too, per Mary Chastain's ad...

Molly, you're lucky. Those seedlings would already have been in my compost pile. Don't have the room to wait.

Molly, I don't believe the alleged Junes 2 and/or 3 differ more from the registered June than we've already seen Junes differing from different light exposures and times of year. I suggest you file it as useless, arcane information, and go on to something really important like culling seedlings, or ...

Molly, Fafard.com has a retailer locator. It gave me
Lowe's Farm Market
Honeoye , NY 14471-9768
Phone: (585) 229-5952
as within 10 miles of Canandaigua, NY.

Try them.

George

I'm with Marlys. If you can keep a young, indoor-outdoor cat in your townhouse, that's the ideal solution.

George

Molly, I use Fafard 52 mix. It has a high bark content.

George

In short, yes. Rodent bait in 2 PVC pipe sections with an elbow between is said to work. Our cat has kept the population down to this point, but she is getting older. The other problem is freeze-thaw. The layer of ice or snow melts on top of the pot, but underneath it's still frozen solid. If the wa...

Molly, a large percentage of my Hostas is in pots. I hybridize, and it's easier for me to be able to move them around. I have, however, lost a good number of potted plants over the winters. Trade gallon (3/4) and real gallon pots fare better, but are no guaranty. Closer to the house, a few feet, is ...

Yes, that's an idea. He can name this exclusive variety 'Better Late Than Never'.

Since I taught two sections of Hosta Hybridizing 101, I only took three classes: two from Bob Solberg, whose classes I always find stimulating, and one on Pulmonarias. The main topic in Solberg's class "Advanced Hosta Hybridizing" was tetraploidy in Hostas. After listening, I may try some pollen dab...

I've noticed a trend over the last year to try to hide not only your name but your location as well, and not just on this Forum. Sometimes it is difficult to try to intelligently offer help to someone, if you don't know at least their growing region and part of the country. Really, we're not going t...

Jamie, since the last printing of Zilis' Hosta Handbook was in 2003 or 2004, you were NOT hearing about a new book in 2003.

Mark is, for better or worse, trying to be all-inclusive. The book is still scheduled for late spring, hopefully by the AHS Convention.

George

Folks, Denise in particular, lighten up. Microsoft is always 1-2 years late with every new operating system, which is still not ready for prime time. Mark is doing this part-time. He'll be a few months later than anticipated, because he's added new material, I hear. If it's ready for St. Louis, I'll...

Ginger, that had to do with raising the ph level. Lilacs prefer a more basic soil.

George

Jamie, that worked. I had not mentioned that I was using IE 6, but it had worked fine last year. Last year, it wasn't directly connected to the Hosta Library home page, though.